The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series) Cry Help! (1974) User Reviews

Good

[TurboarrowIII · 7/10 · 10 January 2017]

The Streets of San Francisco is currently being repeated in the UK. I saw this episode today.

I thought it was good. Karl Malden and Michael Douglas work well together and it looks like they were friends in real life too as there is a relaxed feel to their on-screen relationship.

There was a bit of a twist in this episode too. It appeared that one of the boys (played by David Gruner) was being physically abused by his step father. However, it is later revealed that it is his mother (played by Mariette Hartley) who is the abusive one. When the step father is shot the mother tries to pin the blame on her son's friend (played by Clint Howard) although she did the shooting.

The performances are very good I think. Hartley is particularly good as the mother who realises she has problems and has been attending counselling for her abusive behaviour. Overall I enjoyed it.

Saw the ending coming a mile away!

[mm-39 · 6/10 · 23 July 2022]

Cry Help! Is a 70's social message story. Many a parent would take out there frustrations and problems out on their children, which unravels as the story plays on! Of course there is a murder, always one, for a seventies murder mystery. Then there is the main suspect, and a plot twist. Just like on Columbo and McCloud! The formulated 70's style had me seeing the big plot twist coming a mile away. Still entertaining tho! 6 stars.

Another "message show" from the '70's, this one about child abuse.

[FloridaFred · 4/10 · 20 July 2021]

No action, no plot, no nothing. Just another propaganda script about neglected and abused children.

Over-rated actress Mariette Hartley is terrible in her part.

Were the writers/producers trying to make a statement about evil step-fathers? Or sleaze-ball mothers who don't care about their teenage children? Who knows, who cares.

This is one of the worst episodes of a so-so police drama from the 1970's. Don't waste your time on this one!