MGM’s “A Stranger Is Watching,” a story of high terror and chilling suspense, was filmed on location in New York City, directed by Sean Cunningham, who also directed the successful, taut chiller, “Friday the 13th.”

The picture was produced by Sidney Beckerman and directed by Sean Cunningham from a screenplay by Earl Mac Rauch and Victor Miller, based on the novel by Mary Higgins Clark. It will open___at the _____Theatre. It is being released in the United States and Canada by MGM/United Artists Distribution and Marketing.

Starring in the picture are Kate Mulgrew, Rip Torn, James Naughton, and Shawn von Schreiber is introduced in the role of Julie. Lalo Schifrin composed the score for the film.

“A Stranger Is Watching” was filmed entirely in the New York metropolitan area including Grand Central Station, a shuttered Post Office in the West Village, a midtown sound studio, an executive suite in the Time-Life building, Riker’s Island Correctional Facility, a railroad yard in the borough of Queens and a tiny home in Queens.

New York's Grand Central Station, once known as the crossroads of a million private lives, emerges again in a starring role in MGM’s -‘A Stranger Is Watching.” The film's plot calls for psychopath Rip Torn to kidnap television newscaster Kate Mulgrew and eleven-year-old Shawn von Schreiber, drag them through Grand Central and keep them prisoner in a tiny room in the catacombs beneath the station.

Star Kate Mulgrew, kidnapped by “psychopath” Rip Torn and held prisoner in a tiny room in the catacombs beneath Grand Central Station, is used to harrowing experiences. As the star of the TV series, “Mrs. Columbo” and “Kate Loves A Mystery.” Kate was involved in many brushes with death.

Her role in “A Stranger Is Watching” was not exactly a fun-filled one either. In the film she is kidnapped by psychopath Rip Torn, manacled to a post, constantly menaced and then knifed and left bleeding.

Eleven-year-old Shawn von Schreiber, who makes her film debut playing Mulgrew’s fellow victim, is an intelligent young lady. A student of Public School 6. Shawn is a member of the school's Intellectually Gifted Class Program.
 

Kate first became popular with television viewers in the role of Mary Ryan in the popular daytime drama series, “Ryan’s Hope.” She went on from there to star in the title role of “Mrs. Columbo’ and then “Kate Loves A Mystery”.

“I had some harrowing experiences in all those shows,” says Mulgrew, “but nothing as frightening as in ‘A Stranger Is Watching.’ I play a television newscaster who is kidnapped by a psychopath, at the same time he kidnaps my boyfriend's daughter. The kidnapper is Rip Torn, and Rip looks and acts SO mean when he's threatening us, that I'm sure audiences are going to be scared out of their wits.”

“It's not exactly a fun-filled role,” Mulgrew continues. I'm involved in a death struggle with him. Its quite different than Mother Seton,” she admits with a broad smile, referring to another of her roles.

One scene calls for Torn to drag TV newscaster Mulgrew through crowded Grand Central to a tiny room in the catacombs of the station. Although in the scene she disguised in an old jacket and hat to prevent her being recognized by her TV fans, the real people strolling by do indeed recognize the actress from her many television appearances, including her acclaimed portrayal of religious leader Mother Seton in ‘A Time For Miracles.”

But whether she is playing a religious leader or a woman goaded into violence, Mulgrew seems to be a director's delight.

“Kate is a consummate professional, says director Sean Cunningham. “She sometimes looks so fragile and ladylike that I was convinced she wouldn't be up to engaging in a street brawl with Rip Torn. But when the cameras started to roll some inner toughness surfaced and she proved equal to the challenge.”

“A Stranger Is Watching” stars Rip Torn, Kate Mulgrew and James Naughton and introduces Shawn von Schreiber as Julie. It was directed by Sean Cunningham from a screenplay by Earl Mac Rauch and Victor Miller, based on the novel by Mary Higgins Clark. Sidney Beckerman produced “A Stranger is Watching.”