Richard Dawson Movies
Trained in British repertory, actor Richard Dawson achieved prominence in the late '50s as a cabaret and TV comedian. Arriving in the U.S. in 1961, Dawson made the variety-show rounds with an act consisting largely of quickie celebrity impressions. One of his first acting assignment was as Peter Sellers' takeoff Racy Tracy Rattigan in a 1963 episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show. A solid dramatic role as a military prisoner in King Rat led to a longer stint as resourceful cockney POW Peter Newkirk on the popular sitcom Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971). After appearing as a regular on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Dawson settled into his true niche as a wisecracking game-show host. From 1976 through 1985, he emceed TV's The Family Feud, winning an Emmy Award for his troubles (he later resumed his Family Feud hosting chores in the 1994 syndicated version). Fittingly enough, Richard Dawson's first feature-film role after Feud was as the smarmy host of a futuristic life-or-death quiz program in Arnold Schwarzenegger's The Running Man (1989). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Directed by former Starsky and Hutch TV star Paul Michael Glaser, this post-apocalyptic science fiction yarn satirized American entertainment, mocking pro wrestling, game shows, and law-and-order reality programming. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Ben Richards, a cop in the totalitarian America of 2019, framed for massacring rioting civilians during a famine. After escaping from jail, Richards tries to prove his innocence, but his efforts are thwarted at every turn by a regime in need of a scapegoat. Richards is captured along with an innocent civilian, Amber Mendez (Maria Conchita Alonso), and they are forced to participate in a violent game show called "The Running Man," hosted by the unctuous Damon Killian (Richard Dawson). The object of the game for Richards and Mendez: obtain freedom by staying alive against a gauntlet of skillful assassins like "Subzero" (Prof. Toru Tanaka) and "Captain Freedom" (Jesse Ventura), each armed with unique weapons like razor-sharp hockey sticks and chainsaws. With the help of some fellow "contestants," Richards is able to tap into government computers and prove his innocence. The Running Man was very loosely based on a short story by Stephen King, who wrote it under the name Richard Bachman. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso, (more)
- 1978
Though Desi Arnaz Jr. gets star billing in How to Pick Up Girls, the film's true leading man is third-billed Fred McCrarren. He plays a clueless Nebraska boy whose efforts to score with chicks in the Big City come to naught. Finally he stumbles upon the "secret" to successful dating with the help of his superstud roommate (Desi Arnaz Jr.) McCrarren is transformed into a makeout king--much to consternation of the nice girl (Bess Armstrong) who likes him for himself. Based on the book by Eric Weber (which one supposes was supposed to have been taken seriously), How to Pick up Girls is a made-for-TV smarmfest. At that, it is a few notches above the standard "horny teenager" flick which glutted the market in the early 1980s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this adventure, a plucky young lad with a treasure map boards a boat and begins an exciting quest. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Dawson, Davy Jones, (more)
- 1971
Hogan intends to use a fundraising tea party, orchestrated by the wives of several German officers, as a cover to relay penicillin to an injured Underground agent. The scheme relies heavily upon Newkirk's ability to convincingly adopt female drag as a General's wife! Alice Ghostley, who previously made a one-shot appearance as General Burkhalter's sister Gertrude, is here cast as Mrs. Mannheim. Written by Arthur Julian, "That's No Lady, That's My Spy" was originally scheduled to air on January 3, 1971, but was moved back to January 24 due to a late-breaking news special. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Hogan's Heroes utility player Dave Morick is spotlighted in this episode as a Nazi spy posing as an American officer named Lt. Miller. To dupe "Miller" into revealing the identity of his German contact, Hogan and his men stage an elaborate masquerade, transforming Klink's office into Nazi headquarters in Berlin and having Sgt. Carter give out with his legendary impersonation of Adolf Hitler. Oscar Beregi) appears as Herr Schneer. Written by R.S. Allen and Harvey Bullock, "The Meister Spy" first aired on January 17, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Klink's fellow officer Captain Hugo Hauptmann (Sandy Kenyon) is exposed as a traitor. Put on trial, Hauptmann finds that his life is in the hands of Klink, who has been chosen as counsel for the defense on the theory that he will bungle the job. It is up to Hogan to save both Hauptmann and Klink in order to steal a map of German submarine installations. First telecast on February 7, 1971, "Klink for the Defense" was written by Bill Davenport. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Duplicitous German officer Col. Becker (H.M. Wynant), hoping to trade assignments with Klink, tries to persuade the Kommandant that being transferred to the Russian front wouldn't be so bad. Learning of Becker's schemes, Hogan concocts a plan of his own whereby Klink will unwittingly appropriate some top-secret German documents. To cinch the deal, Hogan arranges a cozy tête-à-tête between Klink and sexy Soviet spy Olga (Ruta Lee). Written by Arthur Julian, "To Russia Without Love" first aired on January 31, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Can it be that Hogan has gone to the other side? It sure seems that way when he agrees to accompany Klink on an underground mission to England to steal a revolutionary new American plane. In truth, however, Hogan merely pretends to go along with the scheme, the better to expose a Nazi spy ring operating in London. Cynthia Lynn, who played Klink's secretary Hilda in several first-season episodes, is here cast as Eva; also in the cast is a pre-Police Academy George Gaynes as the General. Written by Laurence Marks, "Easy Come, Easy Go" originally aired on January 10, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Marlyn Mason returns as leggy German chanteuse Lily Frankel, who moonlights as an Allied agent. With Lily's assistance, Hogan hopes to destroy a trio of mobile guided-missile launchers. The problem: How to evade a veritable minefield of German radio detectors. Written by Arthur Julian, "Rockets or Romance" originally aired April 4, 1971, as the 168th and final episode of Hogan's Heroes (though it was actually the 156th episode to be filmed). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Hogan and his crew hope to redirect a German rocket to their contacts in England so that the missile can be examined and duplicated. Unfortunately, Hogan finds himself up against two dilemmas: How to get the rocket into Stalag 13 and how to deal with mercurial Russian spy Marya (Nita Talbot), who is now the wife of German rocket designer Dr. Otto von Borneman (Henry Corden). Like so many other episodes of Hogan's Heroes, this one was written by Richard M. Powell. "The Kamikazes Are Coming" first aired on February 21, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Kathleen Freeman returns as General Burkhalter's Wagnerian sister Gertrude. By virtue of her engagement to Major Wolfgang Karp (Lee Bergere), Gertrude has been placed in command of Stalag 13. This development puts a crimp in Hogan's plan to smuggle an American general into London -- but only temporarily. Leslie Parrish, best known for her portrayal of Daisy Mae in the 1959 film version of Li'l Abner, is here cast as Karen Richter. Written by Laurence Marks, "Kommandant Gertrude" originally aired on February 28, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Hogan must discredit the testimony of Gestapo Major Pruhst (Malachi Throne), who has irrefutable photographic evidence of Hogan's sabotage operation. There is nothing else to do but convince the German high command that Hogan has an exact double -- a Nazi officer. Frequent series guest star John Hoyt appears as Field Marshal Von Leiter. Written by Phil Sharp, "Hogan's Double Life" was originally telecast on March 7, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Written by Arthur Julian, this episode finds Hogan and his crew trying to harness the forces of nature in order to create an avalanche. It is all part of a scheme to redirect a full-scale Panzer assault, which has been routed through the slippery slopes of Mount Hoffenstein. Harold J. Stone heads the guest cast as General Stromberger. Originally telecast on March 21, 1971, "Look at the Pretty Snowflakes" was the last episode of Hogan's Heroes to be filmed, though not the last one to be shown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Klink orders the prisoners to send home pre-written recorded messages. Hoping to turn the tables on his captors, Hogan plans to use the recording equipment to transcribe a top-secret SS meeting. The plan hinges on Schultz, who is convinced (by Hogan) that he has what it takes to be a major singing star. Jack Riley, who later played the neurotic Mr. Carlin on The Bob Newhart Show, is here cast as an SS Man. First shown on November 15, 1970, "The Big Record" was written by R.S. Allen and Harvey Bullock. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Monte Markham essays one of the first of his many "hidden villain" roles as Lt. James Martin, Stalag 13's newest POW. By sheerest luck, Hogan discovers that Lt. Martin is actually a top-ranking Gestapo spy. Alas, it may too late to do anything about it: Martin already has all the necessary information on Hogan's latest espionage assignment. Originally telecast on November 8, 1970, "Eight O'Clock and All is Well" was written by Laurence Marks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Arlene Martel makes her final series appearance as Underground agent Louise Monet -- code name "Tiger." Having been captured by the Gestapo, Tiger is sentenced to be executed in Berlin. To rescue their curvaceous comrade in arms, Hogan and his crew must infiltrate -- and destroy -- a heavily guarded train. Even allowing for the fact that the villains are brutal Nazis who thoroughly deserve extermination, Hogan's callousness in disposing of them is quite startling for a situation comedy. Written by Laurence Marks, "Operation Tiger" first aired on November 29, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Hogan must determine the location of several bridges that have been booby-trapped by the Nazis. Failing that, he must hijack a truck loaded with dynamite -- which, thanks to an unusually resourceful Hochstetter, keeps vanishing from its predetermined route. The supporting cast includes Michael Fox as Berger and Lyn Peters as Elsa. Written by Laurence Marks, "It's Dynamite" made its first network appearance on November 22, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
In the conclusion of a two-part story, bungling British POW Col. Crittendon (Bernard Fox) is still impersonating his double, the traitorous Sir Charles Chitterly (also Bernard Fox). Though Hogan's plan to scuttle Chitterly's espionage mission receives the unexpected assistance of Sir Charles' wife (Anne Rodgers), he is still worried that Crittendon will not be able to fool Chitterly's bosom companion Adolf Hitler. Meanwhile, the real Sir Charles escapes from Hogan's barracks. Written by Richard M. Powell, part two of "Lady Chitterly's Lover" originally aired on October 18, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Schultz becomes temporary Kommandant when Klink is called to active duty. Depending upon Schultz's ineptitude, Hogan works up a plan to smuggle an Underground courier and a cache of uranium out of Stalag 13. Unfortunately, Schultz's newfound power goes to his head (where there's plenty of room), and he morphs into a minor-league dictator. Written by Laurence Marks, "Kommandant Schultz" originally aired on November 1, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Major Strauss (Joseph Ruskin) of the Gestapo takes charge of Stalag 13 and ships Klink and Schultz off to the Russian front. Hogan devises an elaborate masquerade, contingent upon Newkirk's gift for celebrity impressions. Bruce Kirby, the father of film star Bruno Kirby, appears as Otto Baum, while Martin Kosleck, who played Josef Goebbels in many an American propaganda film during WWII, is here cast as General Mueller. Written by Laurence Marks, "The Gestapo Takeover" first aired on October 25, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
This week, Hogan is assigned to smuggle an anti-radar device into London. The plan is contingent upon the superstitious nature of Col. Klink. To exploit that nature, Hogan's operative LeBeau claims that he has the ability to predict the future. As one prominent Hogan's Heroes fan has observed, it is amazing that LeBeau is suddenly able to find an earring -- and an attractive one at that. Written by Harvey Bullock and R.S. Allen, "The Gypsy" originally aired on December 13, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
