Pursuit (1972) (TV)

Director:

Michael Crichton

Writers:

Michael Crichton (novel)
Robert Dozier (writer)

Release Date:

12 December 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A political extremist plans to spread stolen nerve gas in a city where a political convention is being held. Government agents are sent to catch him.

Plot Keywords:

Political Convention | Nerve Gas | Count Down | ABC Movie Of The Week | Adaptation Directed By Original Author

Cast

Ben Gazzara	...	Steven Graves
E.G. Marshall	...	James Wright
William Windom	...	Robert Phillips
Joseph Wiseman	...	Dr. Nordman
Jim McMullan	...	Lewis
Martin Sheen	...	Timothy Drew
Will Kuluva	...	Dr. Wolff
Hank Brandt	...	Agent
Quinn K. Redeker	...	Captain Morrison (as Quinn Redecker)
Conrad Bachmann	...	Second Officer
Joe Brooks	...	Cop
Robert Cleaves	...	Gleason
Walt Davis	...	First Officer
Dan Ferrone	...	Salesman
Sid Grossfeld	...	Stack
Diki Lerner	...	Nerve Gas Victim
Len Wayland	...	Karley

Directed by
Michael Crichton

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Crichton		novel "Binary" (as John Lange)
Robert Dozier		writer

Produced by
Robert L. Jacks	....	producer
Lee Rich	....	producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Robert L. Morrison

Film Editing by
Gene Fowler Jr.

Casting by
Hoyt Bowers

Production Design by
Robert Emmet Smith

Art Department
Robert M. Anderson	....	property master

Production Companies

• 20th Century Fox Television
• ABC Circle Films
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Also Known As:

Binary

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

Michael Crichton's first directing credit.

Above average cat & mouse suspense thriller.

One of my local UHF channels showed this movie on a Saturday afternoon. Overall, it is very well done, especially for a made-for-TV movie. The movie moved along at a good pace and the acting was good all around. It is a little reminiscent of the early episodes of "Columbo". Ben Gazzara is pursuing E.G. Marshall, who he knows is planning to do something at a Democratic national convention in San Diego. The two repeatedly try to outwit each other, all the while knowing that the other guy is watching every move. This makes for some interesting plot twists and blind alleys. Crichton, as usual, pays very close attention to technological details, making the premise very realistic, unlike a lot of "caper" movies where plot hinges on an essential piece of knowledge the character could not possibly have had. I'm really surprised this hasn't been remade for the big screen, given Michael Crichton's popularity.