Deborah Raffin in Killing at Hell's Gate

In 1981, Deborah Raffin co-starred in the TV movie Killing at Hell's Gate. In the film, she plays Anna Medley, a Oregonian river rafting guide. When an old boyfriend (Robert Urich) returns to town alongside a campaigning Congressman, she agrees to lead the politician and a small group on a whitewater rafting expedition. Trouble arises when a trio of drunken rednecks start to harass them as they make their way down the river which eventually leads to murder and desperation.

Deborah Raffin is second-billed in Killing at Hell's Gate though the actress has less time onscreen than one might expect. She does get a few good scenes and some nice close-ups, however, which really add something to the proceedings. It's a pretty good TV movie, predictable for sure, but nonetheless quite watchable. A number of familiar faces are featured, including Paul Burke, Lee Purcell, George DiCenzo, Brion James and Joel Higgins (who Deborah Raffin would re-team with for the 1984 TV movie Threesome).

Deborah Raffin with Robert Urich and Joel Higgins

A pair of newspaper clippings:

Here are some images of Deborah Raffin in Killing at Hell's Gate:

Deborah Raffin & Joel Higgins

with Paul Burke and Robert Urich

Deborah Raffin & Joel Higgins

Deborah Raffin & Robert Urich

Clip of Deborah Raffin in Killing at Hell's Gate

Here's a clip of Deborah Raffin alongside her two male co-stars, Robert Urich and Joel Higgins, from the 1981 TV movie Killing at Hell's Gate. This scene, taking place place about 11 minutes in, is Deborah Raffin's first appearance in the movie.

Clip of Deborah Raffin in Sparkling Cyanide

Here's a clip of Deborah Raffin and Anthony Andrews having lunch in the park in the 1983 TV movie Sparkling Cyanide.

Deborah Raffin in Sparkling Cyanide

In the late 1970s, Deborah Raffin started doing TV movies and by the early '80s she was one of the queens of the small screen. In 1983, Deborah Raffin co-starred with British actor Anthony Andrews in a made-for-TV adaptation of Agatha Christie's Sparkling Cyanide. The setting was updated to take place in the 1980s and as such seems to play out much like the popular television series of the time. However, Sparkling Cyanide is a fun movie featuring a cast of familiar American and British faces who all do their best to keep the proceedings enjoyably campy. Deborah Raffin does a fine job in her leading role, looking quite lovely throughout as she is romanced by the mysterious Anthony Andrews.

Click here to see some newspaper articles about the project.

Deborah Raffin and Anthony Andrews

Deborah Raffin & Anthony Andrews again

Deborah Raffin with Harry Morgan and Josef Sommer

Here are some images of Deborah Raffin and her various co-stars from Sparkling Cyanide:

Deborah Raffin and June Chadwick

Deborah Raffin and Christine Belford

Deborah Raffin and Nancy Marchand

And a few pictures of Deborah Raffin and her leading man, Anthony Andrews:

Here are some images of Deborah Raffin in Sparkling Cyanide:

Press for Sparkling Cyanide

Here is a selection of articles related to Deborah Raffin's 1983 TV mystery movie Sparkling Cyanide. One of the articles refers to Deborah Raffin as "one of the great beauties of our time," and I would tend to agree!

Click here to see some photos from the movie.