The Runaways (1975 film)

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The Runaways
The Runaways 1975 TV film 1986 VHS cover.png
1986 VHS cover
GenreAdventure
Family
Drama
Based onThe Runaways novel by Victor Canning
Written by John McGreevey
Directed by Harry Harris
Starring Dorothy McGuire
Van Williams
Josh Albee
Music by Earle Hagen
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer Lee Rich
Producer Philip Capice
Production locationsThe Burbank Studios, Burbank, California
Cinematography Russell Metty
Editor Marjorie Fowler
Running time76 minutes
Production company Lorimar Productions
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseApril 1, 1975 (1975-04-01)

The Runaways is a 1975 American made-for-television drama film directed by Harry Harris. Starring Dorothy McGuire, Van Williams, and Josh Albee, it follows a teenage boy and an escaped leopard. [1] It first aired on the CBS network on April 1, 1975.

It was the most viewed primetime program in the United States for the week when it debuted in April 1975. [2]

The movie was adapted from a 1972 novel of the same name by British author Victor Canning. [3] [4] It was adapted for television by John McGreevey, one of the writers for The Waltons . [5]

The film was originally intended to be two hours in length, but was trimmed down to 90 minutes, which created some gaps in the storytelling. The leopard used in the film was named Spot, and a jaguar named Clyde used for the running scenes. [5]

The film was released on VHS in 1986. [6]

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References

  1. (1 April 1975). Boy, Leopard Share Spotlight, Corpus Christi Caller-Times
  2. (11 April 1975) Ratings, Long Beach Independent, p. 47 (" "The Runaways," about a boy and a leopard, topped the national Nielsen ratings for the week ending April 6. It a i r e d on Tuesday- night on CBS, with Josh Albee, Dorothy McGuire and Van Williams heading the cast.")
  3. (1 April 1975). 'The Runaways' is More Family Fare, Florida Today
  4. (13 February 1972). The Runaways (review), The New York Times
  5. 1 2 Whitbeck, Charles (30 March 1975). Josh Albee and Leopard Spotted, Willoughby News Herald
  6. (15 November 1986). New Releases - Home Video, Billboard, p. 46