Gone in a Heartbeat

March 22, 2024

Gone in a Heartbeat (Tues. (3), 9-11 p.m., CBS) Filmed in Alberta, Canada, by Carla Singer Prods. and World Intl. Network. Executive producer, Carla Singer; producer, Joan Carson; director, Jerry Jameson; writer, Ronald Parker; camera, Peter Benison; editors, Skip Schoolnik, Lenka Svab; production designer, John Blackie; sound, Ron Osiowy; music, Cory Lerios, John D'Andrea; casting, Holly Powell, Michelle Allen (Vancouver), Leslie Swan (Calgary). Cast: Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker, James Marsden, Shane Meier, Robert Wisden, Michael MacRae, Jerry Wasserman, Donna Larson, Gordon Michael Wooive, Enid Rae Adams, David Everhart, Colin Campbell, Mark Holden, Paul Cowling, Stephanie Mills, Stephen Holgate, Anthony Santiago, Christian Goutisis, Brian Martel, Doug MacLeod, Greg Lawson, Nancy MacDonald, Izabella Zalewski, Linda Kupcock. This taut little item, about a weak-hearted woman abducted by a pair of local teenagers in snowy Colorado, is directed to surefire effect by Jerry Jameson. Based on a true story, with "certain" characters and events referred to as "based on fact," telepic written by Ronald Parker should pull a good crowd. Jan and Mark Hale (Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker) have escaped from the big city for the mountain village life. They run an eatery, their grown children have moved away, and, though she endures a heart attack, they're prepared for a happy life. Popular high school whiz Michael Galler (James Marsden), knowing Jan and Mark have dough, brings in pal David Rattray (Shane Meier), who worships Galler, to snatch Jan and ask Mark for $ 100,000. Wearing dark glasses and stocking caps for disguise (Marsden's brilliant teeth alone should serve as an I.D. if Jan gets free), they grab her and stash away in her car among the snowy hills as a blizzard starts. Strong character Mark dismisses a no-police warning and hauls in the local chief (Robert Wisden). With police action tied up by red tape, Mark and the chief, under Mark's urging, fix on a plan. Writer Parker has worked out details in the story so it all seems to hold together. Jan, tied to the car and with handcuffs on ankles and wrists, might have just enough heart medicine to see her through the ordeal. Freeing herself from the auto, she finds it's too cold and has to retreat from the storm. Parker and director Jameson work out the basically simple plotline so that each action flows naturally. The flaw, of course, is the young men's inexperience despite their original alibi of being with a professor (Jerry Wasserman) at the appropriate time. This is hardly a daring, original suspenser. But it's well-handled, well-directed, polished and attention-getting. Eikenberry is a winner as the distressed but brave, determined heart patient, and Tucker (her husband off-screen as well) displays such devotion to his wife and such determination that he helps make the project work. Marsden is fine as the arrogant, handsome leader, and Meier, in a less flashy role, makes Rattray credible. Particularly effective is Wisden as a small-town cop coping with tough decisions about his authority and his humanity. Vidpic looks genuine with its Alberta locales, which Peter Benison's lensing captures effectively. John Blackie's design has been well selected, and the editing by Skip Schoolnik and Lenka Svab shrewdly builds the story's pacing. Cory Lerios and John D'Andrea supply a helpful score for a straightforward account of how two hollow people can inflict such pain on innocent folks. It's to be hoped that are no emulators out there watching. Tony Scott

Gone in a Heartbeat (Tues. (3), 9-11 p.m., CBS) Filmed in Alberta, Canada, by Carla Singer Prods. and World Intl. Network. Executive producer, Carla Singer; producer, Joan Carson; director, Jerry Jameson; writer, Ronald Parker; camera, Peter Benison; editors, Skip Schoolnik, Lenka Svab; production designer, John Blackie; sound, Ron Osiowy; music, Cory Lerios, John D’Andrea; casting, Holly Powell, Michelle Allen (Vancouver), Leslie Swan (Calgary). Cast: Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker, James Marsden, Shane Meier, Robert Wisden, Michael MacRae, Jerry Wasserman, Donna Larson, Gordon Michael Wooive, Enid Rae Adams, David Everhart, Colin Campbell, Mark Holden, Paul Cowling, Stephanie Mills, Stephen Holgate, Anthony Santiago, Christian Goutisis, Brian Martel, Doug MacLeod, Greg Lawson, Nancy MacDonald, Izabella Zalewski, Linda Kupcock. This taut little item, about a weak-hearted woman abducted by a pair of local teenagers in snowy Colorado, is directed to surefire effect by Jerry Jameson. Based on a true story, with “certain” characters and events referred to as “based on fact,” telepic written by Ronald Parker should pull a good crowd. Jan and Mark Hale (Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker) have escaped from the big city for the mountain village life. They run an eatery, their grown children have moved away, and, though she endures a heart attack, they’re prepared for a happy life. Popular high school whiz Michael Galler (James Marsden), knowing Jan and Mark have dough, brings in pal David Rattray (Shane Meier), who worships Galler, to snatch Jan and ask Mark for $ 100,000. Wearing dark glasses and stocking caps for disguise (Marsden’s brilliant teeth alone should serve as an I.D. if Jan gets free), they grab her and stash away in her car among the snowy hills as a blizzard starts. Strong character Mark dismisses a no-police warning and hauls in the local chief (Robert Wisden). With police action tied up by red tape, Mark and the chief, under Mark’s urging, fix on a plan. Writer Parker has worked out details in the story so it all seems to hold together. Jan, tied to the car and with handcuffs on ankles and wrists, might have just enough heart medicine to see her through the ordeal. Freeing herself from the auto, she finds it’s too cold and has to retreat from the storm. Parker and director Jameson work out the basically simple plotline so that each action flows naturally. The flaw, of course, is the young men’s inexperience despite their original alibi of being with a professor (Jerry Wasserman) at the appropriate time. This is hardly a daring, original suspenser. But it’s well-handled, well-directed, polished and attention-getting. Eikenberry is a winner as the distressed but brave, determined heart patient, and Tucker (her husband off-screen as well) displays such devotion to his wife and such determination that he helps make the project work. Marsden is fine as the arrogant, handsome leader, and Meier, in a less flashy role, makes Rattray credible. Particularly effective is Wisden as a small-town cop coping with tough decisions about his authority and his humanity. Vidpic looks genuine with its Alberta locales, which Peter Benison’s lensing captures effectively. John Blackie’s design has been well selected, and the editing by Skip Schoolnik and Lenka Svab shrewdly builds the story’s pacing. Cory Lerios and John D’Andrea supply a helpful score for a straightforward account of how two hollow people can inflict such pain on innocent folks. It’s to be hoped that are no emulators out there watching. Tony Scott