The Sentinel (1977)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Michael Winner

Writers:

Jeffrey Konvitz (novel)
Jeffrey Konvitz (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

12 May 1977 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

She was young. She was beautiful. She was next!

Plot:

Not ready for marriage, a fashion model moves into an unbelievably nice Brooklyn Heights apartment, where scary occurrences turn into a much more frightening turn of events.

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Model | Church | Cat | Birthday Party

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Chris Sarandon	...	Michael Lerman
Cristina Raines	...	Alison Parker
Martin Balsam	...	Prof. Ruzinsky
John Carradine	...	Fr. Halliran
José Ferrer	...	Priest of the Brotherhood
Ava Gardner	...	Miss Logan
Arthur Kennedy	...	Monsignor Franchino
Burgess Meredith	...	Charles Chazen
Sylvia Miles	...	Gerde Engstrom
Deborah Raffin	...	Jennifer
Eli Wallach	...	Det. Gatz
Christopher Walken	...	Det. Rizzo
Jerry Orbach	...	Michael Dayton
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Sandra
Hank Garrett	...	James Brenner
Robert Gerringer	...	Hart
Nana Visitor	...	Girl at end (as Nana Tucker)
Tom Berenger	...	Man at end
William Hickey	...	Perry
Gary Allen	...	Malcolm Stinnett
Tresa Hughes	...	Rebecca Stinnett
Kate Harrington	...	Anna Clark
Jane Hoffman	...	Lilian Clotkin
Elaine Shore	...	Emma Clotkin
Sam Gray	...	Dr. Aureton
Reid Shelton	...	Priest
Fred Stuthman	...	Mr. Parker
Lucie Lancaster	...	Mary Parker
Anthony Holland	...	Party host
Jeff Goldblum	...	Jack
Zane Lasky	...	Raymond
Mady Kaplan	...	Alice Marshak (student) (as Mady Heflin)
Diane Stilwell	...	Brenner's secretary (as Diane Stillwell)
Ron McLarty	...	Real estate agent
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Man on sidewalk talking to girl in red sweater (uncredited)
Joe Hamer	...	Detective (uncredited)
Ronald Hunter	...	Assistant to Michael Dayton (uncredited)
Charles Kimbrough	...	Hospital doctor (uncredited)
Bob Melvin	...	Background scary person (uncredited)
Vicki Michelle	...	Girl on TV (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Winner

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jeffrey Konvitz		novel
Jeffrey Konvitz		screenplay
Michael Winner		writer

Produced by
Jeffrey Konvitz	....	producer
Michael Winner	....	producer

Original Music by
Gil Melle

Cinematography by
Richard C. Kratina

Film Editing by
Bernard Gribble
Terry Rawlings

Casting by
Cis Corman

Production Design by
Philip Rosenberg

Set Decoration by
Edward Stewart

Costume Design by
Peggy Farrell

Makeup Department
William A. Farley	....	hair stylist
Robert Laden	....	special makeup (as Bob Laden)
Dick Smith	....	special makeup
Michael R. Thomas	....	makeup artist: J. Carradine (uncredited)

Production Management
Robert Grand	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Larry Y. Albucher	....	second assistant director
Charles Okun	....	assistant director
Ralph S. Singleton	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Russ Hill	....	dialogue editor
Les Lazarowitz	....	sound recordist
Teddy Mason	....	sound editor (as Ted Mason)
Edward McQueen-Mason	....	sound editor
Hugh Strain	....	sound re-recordist

Special Effects by
Tony Parmelee	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Albert Whitlock	....	special visual effects
Henry Schoessler	....	matte crew (uncredited)

Stunts
Diane Peterson	....	stunts (uncredited)
James Winburn	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph Di Pasquale	....	first assistant camera
Vinnie Gerardo	....	assistant camera

Music Department
Dan Blake	....	music editor

Other crew
B.J. Bjorkman	....	script supervisor
Steve Hancock	....	projectionist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Works Editora (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 (cut) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:18 (re-rating) | Argentina:X (original rating) | Australia:R | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Finland:K-18 (1986) (cut version) | Finland:(Banned) (1977) (uncut version)

Filming Locations:

10 Montague Terrace, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Kate Jackson was asked to play Alison Parker, but turned down the part.

Goofs:

Continuity: While Allison and the landlady are having coffee, the coffee cup is in the landlady's hand, then when the camera changes angles it’s on the table, then back in her hand when the camera angle goes back.

Movie Connections:

References The Exorcist (1973)

See this movie on Halloween......

No, this is not a great movie. But I give the casting director extra stars for the cast, Ava Gardner, Eli Wallach, Chris Sarandon, John Carradine, Burgess Meredith, a very young Christopher Walken (he was quite handsome then), Beverly D'Ángelo, and Jerry Orbach, among others.

The film quality of the 70's adds that special touch, the chrome, shag rugs and gaudy artwork. The apartment Cristina Raines rents for $400.00 per month would probably cost $7000.00 now, so it is fun to see Brooklyn Heights, and days when New York was a little cleaner, filmed during the turbulent 70's when we had Son of Sam, movies like the Exorcist, Amityville Horror, Helter Skelter, and the like.

I am not sure if this is a pro-Catholic film, as one reviewer said. The church is certainly portrayed as Cristina Raines' only salvation; I will have to read the book to see if that is the case.

At any rate, you will enjoy parts of this movie. Beverly D'Angelo is quite strange, Cristina Raines is believable, the scary scenes are a little weird, but if you are up for it, this is an okay movie.