Someone I Touched

Cloris Leachman, wire-drawn and over-anxious (but with glossy, flowing blonde hair), plays a somewhat-unhappily married woman in her 30s who learns she's four months pregnant...but the fetus may in danger after Leachman's husband discloses he had a fling with a 20-year-old cashier and contracted syphilis. Non-exploitative TV movie doesn't delve at all in the treatment involved; it does, however, include the usual statistics which come with the territory (here, the VD numbers arrive courtesy of a polite County Health Department worker, who keeps popping up like a detective-saint). As Cloris's husband, James Olson is so angst-ridden that one begins focusing on the throbbing veins in his temples rather than on his performance, but Kenneth Mars (Leachman's co-star the year prior in "Young Frankenstein") is solid in a surprising dramatic role that adds a much-needed twist to the story.

TV movies generally deal with inoffensive (and often trite) subjects. Some are subdued horror films, many deal with relationships, and a few (especially in the 1970s) have sci-fi plots. However, this TV movie directly confronts STDs (referred to with the dated acronym "VDs") in a surprisingly frank way.

Children's book author Laura Hyatt (Cloris Leachman) and her bland businessman husband Sam (James Olson) discover that Laura is pregnant. However, Sam soon receives a most unwelcome visit from public health guy Mr. Berlin (an extremely sincere Andy Robinson) who informs Sam that he has Stage I syphilis. Meanwhile, nubile young college student Carrie (Glynnis O'Connor) also receives a visit from Mr. Berlin with the same shocking message. Carrie and Sam had a recent one night stand, so the rest of the film describes the various hard feelings and character interactions related to a number of syphilis cases. The film ends with a surprising plot twist involving Laura's boss Paul Wrightwood (Kenneth Mars, very good in an unexpected dramatic performance).

Over the years, many people have laughed at this film or slammed it as poorly made, but I thought it was pretty good. Leachman, Mars, and a very young O'Connor are excellent, while Olson spends most of his onscreen time looking very serious and worried, wondering how he's going to get out of his predicament. Andy Robinson, who often played psychos during the 1970s, perfectly captures his role of a concerned but direct public servant.

The movie's subject matter may turn some people off, but the cast and performances are very good. I think it's well worth watching.

Who knew Syphilis could be so melodramatic?

This is a made-for-TV movie worth watching just for the entertaining camp value and the inclusion of the glorious and underused Cloris Leachman.

This movie is a quasi fascinating time capsule. Chock full of 70's speak.

Bad 70's clothes. Bad 70's home decor. Fluffy male hairdo's and mustaches. Huge ugly 70's cars. This movie has it all, baby!

The cashier who Cloris's husband sleeps with looks all of 15 which adds a whole level of creepiness to the proceedings.

Cloris sings the title song.

Great acting and drama....BUT....even in the 70's pregnant women were warned against drinking alcohol. How many times did she partake in this move? She miscarried before and her selfishness spoiled the entire movie.

1970s exploitation TV movies are a lot of fun and this is among the best! From a time when people at least pretended to have some class and morals.