Do people still download movies? In previous Halloween Countdowns, I've offered downloads of stuff not readily available on DVD in the US. But these days, just about anything can be found on YouTube, and even Netflix's rather haphazard streaming library contains several obscure gems. On the other hand, streaming quality can vary greatly, and due to licensing and copyrights on-line videos disappear almost as fast as they are put up. Personally, I like having my own copy of things, whether on disc or digital file, that I can watch when and how I want.
With that in mind, tonight's treat is Spectre, a 1977 made-for-TV movie produced and co-written by Gene Roddenberry. It follows the exploits of a pair of occult investigators, former criminologist William Sebastian (Robert Culp) and skeptical physician Amos "Ham" Hamilton (Gig Young), as they attempt to help a British family seemingly plagued by the supernatural
Spectre was a pilot for a potential series and it's a shame it wasn't picked up. I'm a big Robert Culp fan and he's a blast as a groovy "Me Decade" update of the ghost buster archetype. The pairing of a criminologist and a medical man was meant to evoke Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and in turn the added believer/skeptic dynamic surely must have inspired the development of The X-Files. The location shooting in the UK not only helps set a Gothic tone but also gives Brit TV fans a chance to spot some familar faces; most notably a very young John Hurt, but Gordon Jackson (Upstairs, Downstairs and The Professionals) and Ann Bell (Tenko) turn up as well. About the only sour note are some rather woeful creature effects, but that actually added to my enjoyment of the film because I'm a dork or something.
The file is my own rip from a DVD recording I made of a Fox Movie Channel broadcast of the international theatrical version of Spectre. (Whew!) Whether you partake of the download or stream the YouTube video, Spectre is just the kind of fun Halloween viewing we encourage here at the Sanctum.
Groovy or spooky? You make the call!
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