Oblomov-2

There were some interesting Made-for-Television feature length films in the early 1970s and A COLD NIGHT'S DEATH is among the best of the lot. The remote Arctic setting, the feeling of isolation and gradually mounting nervous tension between the two main characters are all superbly handled. The quiet loner Robert Culp and the nervously edgy Eli Wallach are perfect foils for each other and their byplay heightens the creepy 'something lurking nearby' feeling prevalent for most of the film. Maybe, just maybe, some viewers will guess what's really going on midway into the film but even so it is a brilliantly chilling movie worthy of any collection.

Although the story where a person seems to disappear without trace and no one believes he or she existed except their companion has been repeated often, I had high hopes for DANGEROUS CROSSING. But the movie was ultimately disappointing because of uninspired handling of a good plot. No one involved seemed to be very interested in what was going on and the sequence of events looked horribly contrived. Jeanne Crain's hysterical overacting gets on one's nerves 10 minutes into the film and never lets go. Dull direction and wooden performances by rest of the cast do not help much and even the normally reliable Michael Rennie looks like he wants to be somewhere else. Overall a forgettable little film.