Short Walk to Daylight

Like a few other comments here, I too saw this as a ten year old when it first aired as a TV movie of the week. I think it was right after the Poseidon Adventure came out and I was on my disaster movie kick. But I really loved this one. I remember being riveted to the TV, the hot, steamy subway at night and the dark, moody sets and effects. From what I remember there was an earthquake in Manhattan, and the implication was there wasn't much for them to escape to once they got out.

That's why I hated the longer version that was released a few years later. They explained it all away as a terrorist explosion or something. It was all padding, probably to fill a 2 hour slot (just like that awful Debra Lee Scott padding they added to Earthquake for its TV airing.)

I would also love to see this again. Or maybe not... maybe it would ruin the memories.

FYI: another fun TV movie from this era was Terror At 30,000 Feet, with William Shatner as 747 pilot and his demonic cargo.

RELEASED TO TV IN 1972 and directed by Barry Shear, "Short Walk to Daylight" chronicles events when eight people struggle to make it out of the dark tunnels of the New York subway system after an apparent earthquake.

Although "Airport" (1970) is considered the first 'disaster film' of the 70s, it was "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972) that drove the craze home and honed the genre, leading to movies like "Earthquake" (1974), "The Towering Inferno" (1974), "Rollercoaster" (1977) and "Meteor" (1979). "Short Walk to Daylight" had a similar plot to "The Poseidon Adventure," both featuring a small group of people trying to escape a disaster and not all making it. But "Short Walk to Daylight" debuted on TV seven weeks BEFORE "The Poseidon Adventure" was released in theaters. "Short Walk" came out October 24, 1972, while "Poseidon" debuted December 13th.

Despite this, "Short Walk to Daylight" is actually the knock-off. What happened is this: Producers caught wind of the big production of "The Poseidon Adventure" and rushed to take advantage of the situation by producing a low-budget movie with a similar plot. This happens all the time to this day. Yet you can't really call "Short Walk" a 'knock-off' since the disaster is so radically different. Plus "Short Walk" doesn't have a whiz kid.

The later wannabe blockbuster "Daylight" (1996) used "Short Walk to Daylight" as a blueprint. I much prefer "Short Walk" myself, which is more realistic. "Daylight," as I remember, was a typical overblown Stallone action flick, which isn't to say it's worthless; it's just not gritty realistic like "Short Walk."

The appeal of movies like "Short Walk to Daylight" and "The Poseidon Adventure" is that they bring ordinary people from different walks of life together in a confined setting wherein they are forced to work together to survive. None of them are heroes and they're all flawed in some manner, but they mostly rise to the challenge and formulate working relationships, even if they're undeclared 'adversaries' in normal life. The macho police officer who tries too hard (James Brolin) and the 'cool' black dude, Al (Don Mitchell), are a prime example.

"Short Walk to Daylight" is probably too low-key for most modern viewers, but there's some decent (melo)drama and it works up some quality suspense in the last half hour. I found myself caring and rooting for the protagonists. But it's too small of a movie to rival the superb "The Poseidon Adventure" (the original). Plus it fails to take advantage of its feminine resources as "Poseidon" excellently did. Speaking of the women, you might remember Laurette Spang, who plays the druggie's babe, Sandy, as Cassiopeia from the original Battlestar Galatica (1978-1979). At the end of the day "Short Walk to Daylight" is a fairly effective disaster flick in its subdued, realistic way, although it's hampered by flashes of contrived melodrama. The on-location sets are quite impressive.

THE ORIGINAL TELECAST VERSION RUNS 1 hour, 13 minutes (with a 1 hour, 8 minutes version currently available on Youtube). I should add that there was a syndicated version that came around in the 80s, which contained additional footage about terrorists who caused the disaster with explosives, which bulked up the runtime to about 90 minutes. This unnecessary subplot bogged the film down. LOCATIONS: Brooklyn, New York City. WRITERS: Philip H. Reisman Jr. and Gerald Di Pego wrote the teleplay from Edward Montagne's story.

GRADE: B

Ahhh Sweet Memories! ABC used to cook up some great flicks on Friday nites when I was a kid (60's & 70's) like Trilogy of Terror, Bad Ronald and Haunts of the Very Rich. One of these little gems that I remember was entitled "Short Walk To Daylight" The plot is simple....New York is hit with a strong earthquake and the WORST place you want to be is riding the subway! And that is what happens to a small cast of characters who now have to find a way out before it is too late. Lead by a policeman played by James Brolin (who has one of the most STRONG Bronx accents!) he encounters the drama of leading these people to safety---rushing water mains, breaking all candy vending machines for food and watch out for that third rail please!! The acting is not that bad because on the way out we get introduced to each of the characters and their life stories while they fight for survival and....each other.

I wish someone could get a small collection of these ABC movies and past programs---you never know where there could be a market for it (hint hint) If you do find this movies among the mothballs or packed in a bin selling dollar DVD's in Walmart---see this little movie and go pop the popcorn!

I remember when this movie was first broadcast on the ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week - a 90 minute slot, so you basically had to produce a 75 minute or so movie. It was also out at a time when disaster movies were gearing up. Except for the junkie committing suicide, it worked well.

A lot of good movies were produced for that slot. Most notable: Steven Spielberg's "debut", "Duel". Also notable: "The Night Stalker" and "The Night Strangler", featuring Darren McGavin as reporter Carl Kolchak. The character was subsequently given a weekly series.

One other note: I believe there was an alternate version I saw on cable, where the disaster is given an explanation: A radical group planted a series of bombs at locations that caused the survivors to keep hitting dead ends. It detracted by adding unnecessary padding, and taking us from the survivor's point of view.

I read one of the comments submitted and wanted to say I also saw this movie when I was about 10 years old. I only saw it once on TV but vividly remember the people trapped in the subway tunnel. I would love to watch this one again! I cannot believe that others remember and share the same memories. I have been on the NYC subways all of my life and this movie, I remember was very true in terms of reality. If anyone sees this upcomming in a TV listing please pass it along. I only wonder if it will ever get released on VHS or DVD. This is a cult classic. I simply refuse to spend money on the garbage movies being released on an assembly line today. Not to mention the pool of lousy actors that are practically trillionaires! Lets all keep our eyes open and hope this one gets released sometime soon. kj944