The Vintagent Classics: The films that inspired us.
PRAY FOR THE WILDCATS (TV 1974)
Run Time: 1:40:00
Producer: American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Director: Robert Michael Lewis
Writer: Jack Turley
Key Cast: Andy Griffith, William Shatner, Robert Reed
FILM MAKERS
Pray for the Wildcats is a 1974 American made for TV thriller about a psychopathic business executive chasing his workers on dirt bikes through the desert after he killed a young man. The film was directed by Robert Michael Lewis and starred William Shatner and Andy Griffith, Robert Reed, Marjoe Gortner, Angie Dickinson, and Lorraine Gary. It originally aired as an ABC Movie of the Week on January 23, 1974.
With the stars of four popular TV series cast against type, the film has since gained a cult following, especially due to Griffith’s performance as the sadistic villain, a drastic departure following his long run on The Andy Griffith Show. The film would lead Griffith to pursue more villainous roles over the next few years.
Trivia: The shirts the group wears in Baja are almost exact copies of the uniforms from Star Trek (1966). William Shatner and Andy Griffith wear command gold, while Robert Reed has a red security shirt.
SUMMARY
When a power-mad tycoon (Andy Griffith) challenges three advertising executives to a motorcycle trip down Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, their weekend getaway turns into a nightmare of desert warfare. For the trio (William Shatner, Robert Reed and Marjoe Gortner), the initial lure is a multi-million-dollar account, but a sudden terrifying incident along the ride reveals their unpredictable client’s real intentions: to test just how far the men will go to save their careers and their families. As the action intensifies, so do the fascinating character dynamics, driving this engrossing thriller to its startling climax.
RELATED MEDIA
Watch the FULL MOVIE on Cine Meccanica Youtube
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The Electronic Gladiator
I couldn’t get over the bizarre cast and those classic gold/red shirts like you mentioned—so surreal. But the real standout was the soft, surreal filming, like watching it through a haze. It hit me hard because I remember coming home from school and seeing my mom watching these shows—now it’s my turn! Oh, and that TR5 Trophy Trail is an absolute legend. I’ve never seen one in action until now. Thanks for sharing this gem—it was a blast to watch!
Don’t watch this