View source for Halloween with the New Addams Family

{{Short description|1977 television film}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Addams Family Halloween 1977.JPG
| image_size           =
| image_alt            =
| caption              = Ted Cassidy, Carolyn Jones and John Astin in a publicity photo for the special.
| genre                = Halloween television movie
| creator              =
| based_on             =
| writer               = [[Charles Addams]] (characters; uncredited)<br />[[George Tibbles]]
| screenplay           =
| story                =
| director             = Dennis Steinmetz
| starring             = {{plainlist|
* [[Carolyn Jones]]
* [[John Astin]]
* [[Ted Cassidy]]
* [[Jackie Coogan]]
* [[Henry Darrow]]
* [[Jane Rose]]
* [[Ken Weatherwax]]
* [[Elvia Allman]]
}}
| narrated             =
| theme_music_composer = [[Vic Mizzy]]
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_episodes         =
| executive_producer   = [[Charles W. Fries]]
| producer             = David Levy
| location             =
| editor               = Ken Baker
| cinematography       = Jacques R. Marquette
| runtime              = 74 minutes
| company              = Charles Fries Productions
| budget               =
| network              = [[NBC]]
| released             = {{Start date|1977|10|30}}
| related              = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[The Addams Family (1973 TV series)|The Addams Family]]'' (1973 series)
* ''[[The Addams Family (1992 TV series)|The Addams Family]]'' (1992 series)
}}
}}
'''''Halloween with the New Addams Family''''' is a 1977 American [[television film|made-for-television]] [[comedy horror|comedy horror film]] based on the 1964–1966 sitcom ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]''. In contrast to the "new" in the title, most of the original series regulars reprised their roles, including [[John Astin]], [[Carolyn Jones]] (billed as a "special guest star"), [[Jackie Coogan]], [[Ted Cassidy]], [[Lisa Loring]], [[Ken Weatherwax]] and [[Felix Silla]]. Eleven years after the cancellation of the 1960s TV series, it was the only presentation that brought together most of the original cast in a color production, shot on videotape.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://midnitereviews.com/2015/10/halloween-with-the-new-addams-family|title=Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977)|work=Midnite Reviews|date=31 October 2015 |access-date=August 10, 2024}}</ref>
==Plot==
Gomez's brother Pancho is staying with the family while Gomez goes to a lodge convention in [[Tombstone, Arizona]]. Gomez is jealous of his brother, who once courted Morticia. Halloween is nigh and Pancho tells the legend of Cousin Shy, who distributes gifts and carves pumpkins. Actually, Gomez has been lured off by crooks who have bugged the house in order to steal the family fortune.
The lead crook "Bones" Lafferty sends Mikey to investigate. Wednesday (Senior) is home from music academy, where she studied the [[piccolo]] (she breaks glass with it). Pugsley (Senior) is home from [[Nairobi]] medical school, where he is training to be a [[witch doctor]]. Mikey panics and flees after treading on Kitty Kat's tail. The crooks have a fake Gomez and Morticia to help in their plans, along with two strong-arm goons, Hercules and Atlas. Gomez returns home for the Halloween party and trimming of the [[scarecrow]].
Lafferty poses as Quincy Addams (from Boston) to get in. He has his men tie up Gomez and Morticia and his doubles take their places, confusing Pancho, who's still infatuated with Morticia. Lurch scares off the thugs and terrifies the assistant crook Louie the Lard (who was dressed as Little Bo Peep). Fester, trying to be nice, puts Lafferty on the rack. Lafferty tries to escape through the secret passage and steps on Kitty Kat's tail. When the police arrive upon responding to a noise complaint, Lafferty and his gang surrender.
The Addams family are then free to celebrate Halloween happily, ending the night by singing together in welcome for Cousin Shy.
==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Carolyn Jones]] as [[Morticia Addams]] / Ophelia Frump
* [[John Astin]] as [[Gomez Addams]]
* [[Ted Cassidy]] as [[Lurch (The Addams Family)|Lurch]]
* [[Jackie Coogan]] as [[Uncle Fester]]
* [[Jane Rose]] as [[Grandmama (The Addams Family)|Grandmama Eudora Addams]]
* [[Lisa Loring]] as [[Wednesday Addams]] (senior)
* [[Ken Weatherwax]] as [[Pugsley Addams]] (senior)
* [[Felix Silla]] as [[Cousin Itt]]
* [[Elvia Allman]] as Granny Hester Frump
* [[Henry Darrow]] as Pancho Addams
* [[Jennifer Surprenant]] as Wednesday Addams (junior)
* [[Ken Marquis]] as Pugsley Addams (junior)
* [[Parley Baer]] as Bones Lafferty
* [[Patrick Campbell (actor)|Patrick Campbell]] as Louie the Lord
* [[Vito Scotti]] as Mikey
* [[Dean Sothern]] as Fake Gomez
* [[Terry Miller (actress)|Terry Miller]] as Fake Morticia
* [[David B. Johns]] as Hercules
* [[Clinton Beyerle]] as Atlas
* [[George Ranito Jordan]] as First Cop
* [[Suzanne Krazna]] as Countess Dracula
}}
==Production==
[[Blossom Rock]], who had originally portrayed Grandmama, was ill at the time of the production (she died in January 1978, nearly three months after this special aired), causing her role to be given to [[Jane Rose]]. [[Margaret Hamilton (actress)|Margaret Hamilton]], who had portrayed Mother Frump, declined to appear in the film; her role was played by [[Elvia Allman]]. Character actors [[Parley Baer]] and [[Vito Scotti]], who both had recurring roles in the original series, also appeared in the film, but as different characters than those they had portrayed originally.
==Home media==
In 1989, [[GoodTimes Entertainment|GoodTimes Home Video]] released ''Halloween with the New Addams Family'' on [[VHS]].
==See also==
* [[List of films set around Halloween]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0126771}}
{{The Addams Family}}
[[Category:1977 television films]]
[[Category:1977 films]]
[[Category:1977 comedy horror films]]
[[Category:American comedy horror films]]
[[Category:NBC original films]]
[[Category:Television films as pilots]]
[[Category:Television series reunion films]]
[[Category:Films based on television series]]
[[Category:Television films based on television series]]
[[Category:Halloween television specials]]
[[Category:The Addams Family films]]
[[Category:American films about Halloween]]
[[Category:Films scored by Vic Mizzy]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by George Tibbles]]
[[Category:American drama television films]]
[[Category:1970s American films]]
[[Category:1977 comedy-drama films]]