The cast of "Curse of the Black Widow" is an ensemble of talented actors who bring the thrilling story to life. **Each member of the cast plays a crucial role in the development of the plot and contributes to the overall suspense and excitement of the film.** Leading the cast is the charismatic and enigmatic Peter Woodward, who portrays the protagonist, a detective determined to solve the mystery of the black widow. His deep voice and commanding presence make him the perfect choice for the role. Joining Woodward is the stunning and versatile Grace Fielding, who plays the femme fatale character, the black widow herself. Her seductive and alluring performance keeps audiences on the edge of their seats, never knowing what she will do next.
Cast of curse of the black widow
After creating hit gothic soap opera Dark Shadows writer-producer Dan Curtis went on to rule the scary TV movie scene throughout the Seventies. Beginning with The Night Stalker (1971) and continuing with the likes of Trilogy of Terror (1975) and occasional big screen outings like Burnt Offerings (1976) and House of Dark Shadows (1970), Curtis crafted some of the eeriest moments in television. On the other hand, Curse of the Black Widow is most definitely a lesser effort. The film supposedly started out as a Harlan Ellison project though no trace of the New Wave science fiction author's original story remains in the finished product. If monsters are our fears made flesh it is hard to discern exactly what the lumbering were-spider is meant to represent. The opening scenes come across almost like a satire of the swinging Seventies bar scene, sort of a gender reversed Looking for Mister Goodbar (1977) with a monster. Interestingly all the male victims are instantly intimidated or outright repulsed by Valerie's brazen sexuality even before she transforms into a giant spider. However, Curtis chooses not to pursue this intriguing angle.
Instead, Curse of the Black Widow opts for a familiar combination of melodrama and gothic horror lifted from the tried and true formula of Dark Shadows mixed with the hard-boiled sleuthing of Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Alas, the drama is daytime soap opera silly while Franciosa's smarmy detective is not as compelling a character as Carl Kolchak. As a result the core concept comes across as just plain ridiculous. A stumbling narrative drags out what is actually a fairly slight story with far too many time-outs for pointless walks on the beach, drinks over disco or in one instance a scene designed solely for Curtis to show-off his cute little daughter Tracy Curtis' prowess as a child gymnast. Despite Curtis' customary solid production values this is less atmospheric than many scary Seventies TV films.
What this does have going for it is an amazing once in a lifetime cast. Along with soap opera stalwart Donna Mills and the ever-watchable Patty Duke, you have got June Allyson as devoted housekeeper Olga (providing the film's most indelible image), Vic Morrow, Jeff Corey as an unconvincing Native American mystic-cum-arachnid expert, Lost in Space star June Lockhart as the Lockwood sister's catatonic mother (very obviously doubled by a man in one showstopping stunt) and, in a very strange role, comedy legend Sid Caesar. In fact Curse of the Black Widow is full of weird supporting characters, from Caesar's landlord who cranks the indoor heating up to eleven for no obvious reason than to annoy Higbie's annoying secretary (Roz Kelly) to the zookeeper who hates animals (?) and the camp forensic scientist who flirts with our hero. To their credit the cast approach this nonsense with a commendable set of straight faces. Award-winning actress Patty Duke is especially good in an atypical role, particularly in her scenes with June Allyson. Given Duke's own well-known struggles with manic depression it is possible she responded to the script as some kind of allegory but the psychological twist is not as clever as the filmmakers seem to think, leaving viewers with just a dumb-looking rubber spider. Lord knows what fans of The Patty Duke Show made of this.
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Movie of the Week: Curse of the Black Widow
A private investigator looks into the mysterious deaths of several men possibly committed by a woman who can turn into a giant spider.
Spoiler Level: Mild
Her seductive and alluring performance keeps audiences on the edge of their seats, never knowing what she will do next. Fielding's chemistry with Woodward creates a magnetic dynamic between the two characters, adding an extra layer of tension to the story. Providing comic relief is the talented actor Martin Hayes, who portrays the bumbling sidekick of Woodward's character.
Review
Mark Higbie (Tony Franciosa), a private investigator, is visiting a few friends at a local bar, when a dark-haired lady asks one of the friends for an escort out to her car. When the friend is brutally murdered in the parking lot, Mark gets pulled into the investigation after being hired by his friend’s fiancée, Leigh Lockwood (Donna Mills Knots Landing). Leigh and her sister Laura (Patty Duke) become suspects as more men are brutally murdered all of them having two large holes in their chest and being completely drained of blood. As Mark investigates, he discovers an old legend existing in several cultures about cursed women who become giant spiders during the cycle of the full moon. He is incredulous at first, but as the bodies pile up, he begins to believe and suspects one of the sisters is the creature. Racing against time, as it is the last day of the full moon cycle, Mark attempts to save the women of the Lockwood family. Can Mark arrive in time to save the day or will he succumb to the Curse of the Black Widow? Watch and find out!
Curse of the Black Widow premiered on ABC on September 16, 1977, and was rereleased in 1979 under the name Love Trap. The film was directed by the legendary Dan Curtis, who brought us such great classics as Dark Shadow, The Night Stalker, and Trilogy of Terror. The music was composed by longtime Curtis collaborator, Bob Cobert, and had his signature 70s action vibe. The movie was met with mixed reviews with the negatives commenting on the less than realistic special effects and a meandering script and the positive reviews saying it was “a Wonderfully cheesy TV movie-of-the-week”.
I have to say, I really enjoyed the film, but I do understand the critics’ complaints. The special effects were horrible, which they tried to hide with POV shots and weird camera angles working to a certain extent, but anytime we see the spider movie, it is quite obvious that they did not invest a lot of the budget into animatronics. Tony Franciosa was wonderful as Mark. His facial expressions and vocal inflections added a type of quirky light heatedness to the story with a rye sarcastic sense of humor. Many movies of the week are pilots to potential series, and I wouldn’t have minded a series with Mark Higbie investigating supernatural mysteries, but this was not even a consideration. Although I thought the dialogue was mostly believable, the story did wander a bit and could have used some tightening up, but over all I felt it was engaging and fun to watch film. And as a fan of giant insect monster movies, even the really corny ones, this was right up my alley.
Hayes' impeccable timing and physical comedy skills bring much-needed levity to the film, balancing out the darker elements of the storyline. Rounding out the cast are a number of exceptional supporting actors, each bringing their own unique talents to the table. Notable mentions include Sandra Rodriguez, who plays the mysterious and secretive informant, and Michael Thompson, who portrays the brilliant but eccentric scientist. Overall, **the cast of "Curse of the Black Widow" is a perfect blend of talent that elevates the story to new heights. Each actor brings their own strengths to the table, creating a truly captivating and thrilling viewing experience. Their performances are the driving force behind the success of the film.** Whether it's Woodward's commanding presence, Fielding's captivating allure, or Hayes' hilarious antics, each member of the cast leaves a lasting impression on audiences..
Reviews for "The Diversity of the Cast of 'Curse of the Black Widow"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Cast of Curse of the Black Widow." The storyline felt really disjointed and confusing. It was hard to follow what was happening, and the character development was lacking. The actors tried their best, but the writing and direction just fell flat. Overall, I found it to be a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Michael - 1 star - "Cast of Curse of the Black Widow" was a complete waste of time. The performances were over-the-top and melodramatic, which made it difficult to take the story seriously. The plot itself was convoluted and poorly explained, leaving me feeling confused and disconnected from the characters. I was hoping for a thrilling mystery, but instead, I got a messy and unsatisfying theatrical experience.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "Cast of Curse of the Black Widow," but unfortunately, it fell short. The production value was lacking, with cheap-looking sets and unimpressive special effects. The dialogue was also lackluster and cliché, making it difficult to fully engage with the story. It had potential, but ultimately, it felt like a wasted opportunity. I wouldn't recommend this play to anyone seeking a captivating theatrical experience.
4. David - 2 stars - "Cast of Curse of the Black Widow" was a disappointment. The acting was subpar, with forced emotions and unnatural delivery. The script was weak and filled with predictable plot twists that didn't add anything new or interesting to the story. I found it hard to invest in the characters or their struggles, which made the play a tedious and unmemorable experience. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and wishing I had chosen to see something else.