The Elevator (1974)

Thanks for the memories!

Disapointment

Better Late Then Never

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The plot of "The Elevator" is incredibly simple. An armed robber is fleeing from his latest job and enters an elevator with several other people (his accomplices use another elevator). The elevator gets stuck...and so it remains for most of the film! This hardly seems like enough plot for a full-length made for TV movie...but apparently some folks thought it was. I suspect it was okayed for production because all sorts of disaster- type movies were the rage in the early to mid-1970s (such as Irwin Allen's "Towering Inferno", "The Poseidon Adventure" and "Earthquake")...and even the dumbest idea seemed like it would work. Plus, they had a couple over the hill actresses who were willing to work...another requisite for such a movie! But these other films had ideas which worked better (not great, mind you) because they weren't confined to one tight space and offered the possibilities of multiple perspectives. Not a recipe for a fantastic film...and a sad waste of Myrna Loy and Teresa Wright. Overall, you could certainly do a lot better than this formulaic and clichéd film. It's not horrible but isn't exactly a shining moment in the history of "The ABC Movie of the Week". It is, however, rather fun to watch near the end as there are several unintentional laughs!

The film isn't what you'd call outstanding, it's average at best but it's still interesting and pretty good to watch. Some of the cast you'll recognize while others you might not recall right off the bat - cast is fine.The story is a bit predictable and not very suspenseful but there is something about it that kept my interest. It's about a thief and murderer who is claustrophobic and scared that gets stuck in an elevator with others. He has two accomplices trying to get to him but building security will not allow them into the building that is closed to the public. Will anyone survive? This is a good early morning film or one for boring afternoon.6/10

I agree the movie is of its time - I love the fashions and the snobbery - it's not just Britain that has a class system! But I don't agree there's no suspense. The point of the movie is the claustrophobic atmosphere, it's actually a bit more subtle than you'd think from the blurb.

This film could not be more of its era. Old movie stars, good character actors and some unknowns locked in a lift. The problem is that you just know the lift cannot fall and therefore there is no suspense. Good work as usual from Roddy McDowell. Perhaps there is a challenge here for Joel Silver or Scott Rudin, remake this film and make it exciting.