I'll give this film credit. It's slightly better than the 1968 Doris Day comedy "Where Were You When the Lights Went Out", but that's not a difficult thing to do. This is based on the actual 1977 blackout that hit in the middle of summer, turning it into a combination potential Disaster Movie and crime drama as for nutcases go on a rampage and terrorize the small ensemble seen in this film. It's the mixture of old Hollywood with the sons of old Hollywood, James Mitchum and Robert Carradine representing the later and Ray Milland and June Allyson representing the former. You get to see what's going on inside the Con Edison power plant as lightning storms begin to strike the wiring and the lights go off as if it was 4th of July on the Hudson.

The characters are extremely cliched and the writing laughable. A good majority of the test doesn't even get character names, and the flashes of them on the screen don't really give you an opportunity to get you really care about them. It's also very cheaply made with blurry photography and poor sound, the type of film that probably didn't get many showings. It's a curiosity, like a sudden car accident you pass on a major highway that you know you shouldn't watch but can't help. I will say though that the lightning effects over the dark city are pretty though it's dangerous, especially when they show patients on life-support as they do with Allyson and her husband. Once again, Ray Milland plays a cranky millionaire businessman, facing another lost weekend. Belinda Montgomery and Jean-Pierre Aumont also get to put this film on their resume, one which probably made them wish that their agents phone hadn't been working or on its own blackout when they got the call.

A gang of dangerous and ferocious criminals led by the shrewd and ruthless Christie (a genuinely chilling portrayal by Robert Carradine, who's excellent in a rare full-blown villainous part) terrorize the hapless residents of a deluxe high-rise apartment during the infamous 1977 New York City power blackout. It's up to brave cop Dan Evans (a fine and credible performance by Jim Mitchum) to save the day. Director Eddy Matalon, working from a tight and absorbing script by John C.W. Saxton, relates the gripping story at a brisk pace, builds a substantial amount of nerve-rattling suspense, and maintains an appropriately tough, gritty, and serious tone throughout. The bad guys are a memorably foul and frightening bunch: Don Granberry as giggly, volatile nutcase Chico, Terry Haig as slimy rapist Eddy, and Victor B. Tyler as mute hulking brute Marcus. The sound acting from a tip-top cast keeps this picture humming: Mitchum and Carradine both do sterling work in the leads, with able support from Belinda Montgomery as the plucky Annie Gallo, June Allyson as the kindly Mrs. Grant, Jean-Pierre Aumont as suave French magician Henri, and Ray Milland as sour rich old grouch Richard Stafford. The moments of sudden ugly violence pack a pretty harsh punch. The climactic confrontation between Evans and Christie in a parking garage is extremely exciting and well staged. This movie deserves extra praise for its evenly balanced presentation of how a crisis situation brings out both the best and worst in people. Jean-Jacques Tarbes' sharp cinematography boats several impressive panoramic shots of the city. Didier Vasseur's robust score hits the rousing spot. A worthwhile film.

All the lights are gone in New York during a citywide power failure.Four dangerous criminals escape from the prison bus and hide in a posh apartment building owned by wealthy Ray Milland.The convicts begin to terrorize the residents and it's up to Jim Mitchum to stop the orgy of violence and abuse...I haven't seen Eddy Matalon's tedious "Cathy's Curse" yet,but "Blackout" is a pretty tense exploitation thriller.The action is exciting and the cast is impressive.The few scenes of violence are quite hard-hitting.If you are into 70's gritty and washed out excursions into urban paranoia give "Blackout" a chance.This obscure flick deserves to be seen.8 blackouts of 10.