Murder by Phone
Murder by Phone (also known as Bells and The Calling)[2] is a 1982 science fiction slasher film directed by Michael Anderson. Its plot follows a series of murders committed by a disgruntled phone company employee who designs a device that kills victims when they answer their telephones.
| Murder by Phone | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Anderson |
| Screenplay by | Michael Butler Dennis Shryack John Kent Harrison |
| Story by |
|
| Starring | Richard Chamberlain John Houseman |
| Cinematography | Reginald H. Morris |
| Music by | John Barry |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | New World Pictures[1] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Countries | United States Canada |
| Language | English |
Cast
- Richard Chamberlain as Nat Bridger
- John Houseman as Stanley Markowitz
- Sara Botsford as Ridley Taylor
- Robin Gammell as Noah Clayton
- Gary Reineke as Lt. Meara
- Barry Morse as Fred Waites
- Alan Scarfe as John Websole
- James B. Douglas as Jack Gilsdorf
- Ken Pogue as Fil Thorner
- Neil Munro as Winters
- Tom Butler as Detective Tamblyn
- Colin Fox as Dr. Leon Alderman
- Jefferson Mappin as Alex
- Luba Goy as Beth Freemantle
- Lenore Zann as Connie Lawson
- George R. Robertson as George Lord
- Angus MacInnes as Colin Bartell
- Neil Affleck as Phone Tracer
Novel
The movie was preceded by a novel called Phone Call written by the screenwriters Michael Butler and Dennis Shryack under the pseudonym Jon Messman. It was published in 1979, three years before the film version. It is never credited in the film's credits. The link was mentioned on the cover in later editions of the book.[3]
Production
Murder by Phone was filmed in 1980 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[4]
The score by John Barry is electronic, played entirely with synthesisers. This was a rarity for Barry. Whilst he composed and conducted the score, it was performed by Jonathan Elias and John Petersen. Elias later went on to work with Barry on the scores for Jagged Edge and A View to a Kill.
Release
Murder by Phone was released in the United States on October 8, 1982.[lower-alpha 1]
Critical response
Leonard Maltin noted the film's cast and direction as being legitimately "talented," but deemed the film a "hoary horror exercise."[6]
Home media
Murder by Phone was released on VHS by Warner Home Video in 1984.[7] The VHS was reissued in 1998.[8]
Notes
- The earliest newspaper sources displaying showtimes for the film are dated for the weekend of October 8—10, 1982.[5]
References
- Muir 2011, pp. 116–117.
- Hunter, Rob (June 26, 2017). "That Ringing In Your Ears? It's 'Murder By Phone' Calling". Film School Rejects. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- "Phone Call". Grady Hendrix. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- Fischer 2011, p. 50.
- "Midnite Movie Express". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. October 8, 1982. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
- Maltin 2009, p. 946.
- Murder by Phone (VHS). Warner Home Video. 1984 [1982]. 24005.
- Murder by Phone (VHS). Warner Home Video. 1998 [1982]. ASIN 6300271919.
Works cited
- Fischer, Dennis (2011). Science Fiction Film Directors, 1895–1998. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-48505-5.
- Maltin, Leonard (2009). Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide. New American Library. ISBN 978-0-451-22468-2.
- Muir, John Kenneth (2011). Horror Films of the 1980s. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5501-0.