Another late-in-the-game made-for-TV disaster movie from ever-reliable Irwin Allen, 'Cave In!' tells a decent if unspectacular story, largely constrained by the nature of network TV. Written by Norman Katkov, it shows us what happens when people touring the popular Five Mile Caverns are trapped in there when the caves (weakened by recent excess amounts of rain) start collapsing. Added into the mix: a criminal on the run (played by James Olson, cast against type but doing a solid job), who somehow ends up in there with the others and who is intent on acquiring a hostage.
Directed by Georg Fenady, a longtime TV veteran whose credits include 33 episodes of 'Emergency!' and 29 episodes of 'Quincy M. E.', this goes through its paces reasonably efficiently. It features two major set pieces: the characters having to cross a geothermal pit on slippery rocks, and having to also traverse a chasm on a rickety bridge. It's not surprising that the plotting & dialogue can get cheesy at times, with *numerous* silly flashbacks to the characters' previous lives. But the cast does an admirable job of treating their material with gravitas. Dennis Cole ('The Felony Squad') is the beefcake hero, Leslie Nielsen a detective who's lost his partner and been suspended, Susan Sullivan ('Dharma & Greg') the luminous leading lady, Julie Sommars ('Matlock') is Nielsens' supportive wife, Lonny Chapman ("The Birds") plays Coles' colleague, special guest star Ray Milland (in fine cranky form) a pompous professor, and Sheila Larken ('The X Files') is his overworked and under-appreciated daughter.
Although you never truly believe the actors are inside actual caves, the sets are still pretty fun, and the music by Richard LaSalle is very good. This story *does* play it awfully safe, however, in terms of the body count, which is next to nothing.
Although more for diehard lovers of disaster movies than truly discerning viewers, 'Cave In!' does show the former group a good time.
Although filmed in 1979, it didn't air until 1983.
Seven out of 10.
