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A 1970s TV disaster movie where trauma gets worse than the altitude sickness.
TMDB
66
IMDb
53

Hanging by a Thread (1979)

vintage cheesemelodrama overloaddisaster flashback fever dream

Overview

ActionDramaTV MovieThriller

A group of old friends on an outing re-live various traumas and tragedies via flashback whilst trapped high above a ravine in a disabled cable-car.

Flag of USUS
Content warning
told in flashbackdisaster moviecable carirwin allenaerial tramway
repressed traumamarital rotsurvivor's guiltfriendship decay

Standout Aspects

Practical Effects

Shaky cable car sets that genuinely look ready to collapse.

Acting

Patty Duke screaming at altitude like her life depends on it.

Best for:Solo: When you want to suffer with 1970s TV stars in polyester.·Friends: Mystery Science Theater 3000 energy required.
Heads up:Emotional: Child death and miscarriage flashbacks hit hard.
G

Director

Georg Fenady

ReleasedMay 8, 1979
Runtime3h 16m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Paceslow
Intensitymedium
Tonedark
Feelheavy
NBC
Warner Bros. Television

Top Cast

Sam Groom

Sam Groom

Paul Craig

Patty Duke

Patty Duke

Sue Grainger

Joyce Bulifant

Joyce Bulifant

Anita Minton

Bert Convy

Bert Convy

Alan Durant

Burr DeBenning

Burr DeBenning

Jim Grainger

Peter Donat

Peter Donat

Mr. Durant

Donna Mills

Donna Mills

Ellen Craig

Cameron Mitchell

Cameron Mitchell

Lawton

Roger Perry

Roger Perry

Mitchell

Michael Sharrett

Michael Sharrett

Tommy Craig

Ted Gehring

Ted Gehring

Jim Croft

Lonny Chapman

Lonny Chapman

Charles Minton

Jacquelyn Hyde

Jacquelyn Hyde

Mrs. Durant

Brendon Boone

Brendon Boone

Marty

Ask about Hanging by a Thread

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

This was one of Irwin Allen's last TV disaster productions before his theatrical flops like 'The Swarm' ended his reign.

Cultural

The 3+ hour runtime was designed to fill a full network movie slot with commercials—peak 1970s broadcast bloat.

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