Frank Delfino Movies
Steve McQueen's last film concerns a modern day bounty hunter who searches for bail jumpers. Based on real life bounty hunter Ralph "Papa" Thorson, the film details his exciting life, traveling from one city to another, trying to track down fugitives and continually risking his life in the process. Buzz Kulik directed the confusing mish-mash that, nevertheless, features stunt work that anticipates the Lethal Weapon series. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Steve McQueen, Eli Wallach, (more)
- 1977
First telecast March 7, 1977, The Feather and Father Gang is the pilot episode for the weekly TV series of the same name. Stefanie Powers stars as Toni "Feather" Dalton, a clever female lawyer. Harold Gould co-stars as Feather's dad Harry Danton, a "reformed" con artist. Feather and Father work together to bring criminals to justice, Feather through legal channels and Harry via his many underworld connections and his repertoire of scams and stings. The Feather and Father Gang was rightly regarded as a rip-off of the popular Switch, which starred Robert Wagner and Eddie Albert (ironically, Wagner and Powers would later team up for the successful detective weekly Hart to Hart). The opening episode, which finds the Dantons trying to solve the murder of a relative, guest-stars Gene Barry as the prime suspect, a Greek shipping tycoon. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stefanie Powers, Harold Gould, (more)
- 1977
Filmed as the 72-minute pilot episode for the weekly ABC adventure series, The Feather and Father Gang, Never Con a Killer was held back from view until May 13, 1977, by which time the series proper had already been on for two months...and had already been canceled. Stefanie Powers and Harold Gould star as gorgeous attorney, Toni "Feather" Danton, and Toni's reformed con man father, Harry Danton. Figuring that the best way to catch a crook is to think like a crook, Toni and her dad concoct an elaborate sting operation to bring dishonest horseplayer E. J. Valerian (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) to justice. False identities, clever disguises and deft "switches" are the order of the day in this pleasant trifle, which when it was shown on ABC was not advertised as a movie, but instead as just another Feather and Father Gang episode. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
- PG
The "little cigars" are five midget criminals, masterminded by Billy Curtis. They team up with full-sized Angel Tompkins, a gangster's girlfriend who's on the lam from her homicidal "protector." Tompkins and the five little people form a travelling carnival as a front for their crooked activities. Two of the midgets kill off the mobsters who've been sent to rub out Tompkins; in gratitude, she begins an affair with Curtis. At first planning to desert the other midgets and abscond with their hard-earned stealings, Tompkins and Curtis have a change of heart, return the money to their chums, and ride off together for a most unusual romantic rendezvous. Though Little Cigars has been unfairly maligned by such "authoritive" books as The Golden Turkey Awards, the film is actually quite entertaining, and not nearly as exploitive of Little People as might be expected. Among the other well-known Hollywood midgets and dwarves in the cast are Angelo Rossitto, Felix Silla, and Jerry Maren. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1967
In this wonderfully Wagnerian episode, Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris brings the wrath of Valhalla down upon the Robinsons when he steals the gloves and hammer of the Norse god Thor (Bern Hoffman). Now Smith must engage Thor in mortal combat, lest everyone suffer mightily. Amazingly, Thor is vanquished, whereupon the neurotic deity loses all his confidence--leaving Valhalla vulnerable to attack from giant aliens. Sheila Matthews, the wife of series producer Irwin Allen, does a neat comic turn as the "Yo-do-ho"-ing Brynhilda...helmet, sword and all. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1966
The Clampetts are convinced that they've seen little green men from Mars. Actually, they're half right: The "Martians" are really a group of professional little people (Frank Delfino, Billy Curtis and Jerry Maren), hired by Mr. Drysdale as a publicity stunt to promote his bank. After they've gotten over their initial shock, the Clampetts graciously welcome the "aliens" into their mansion for a truly down-to-earth, home-cooked dinner. "The Flying Saucer" originally aired on December 28, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1966
In this psychedelic exploitation comedy, an air-headed bombshell of an actress is sent to a rest home by her producer. This facility is managed by a psycho shrink who slips acid to his patients and listens to their darkest fantasies. Among his other victims are an effete fashion designer, a movie star, a midget, a writer, an obese woman, and the man who made the film, Albert Zugsmith. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Strauss, Del Moore, (more)
- 1966
John Abbott guest stars as Sesmar, an alien scientist who has created an android named Raddion (played by the ubiquitous Dawson Palmer). The android is quite a piece of work, seemingly human in every respect save one: he lacks human emotions. To rectify this shortcoming, Sesmar drains the Robinsons of all their emotions and transfers them to his Raddion--leaving only Don (Mark Goddard) "complete" enough to rescue his companions...if he can. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
In this charming fantasy, a young lad is heading home from a hard day of playing hooky from school when he catches a frog in a pond. As he continues toward his home, he also encounters a kindly leprechaun who gives him seven magical coins with the power to grant him seven wishes. The boy then journeys through an enchanted wood where puppets come to life and a gypsy girl becomes a princess. He then discovers that his "frog" is really a spell-bound knight. Using a wish, the boy frees the knight who takes the lad over the rainbow to his home. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1963
In this classic-and hilarious-Bonanza episode, Hoss Cartwright returns to the Ponderosa with a strongbox of gold, which he claims to have received from a band of "Little People"-Leprechauns, in fact. Though Hoss' family and friends don't quite swallow his story of his tiny benefactors, they cannot deny that the treasure exists, and thus a mini-gold rush ensues. Meanwhile, the "Leprechauns"-actually a group of carnival midgets and dwarves-rebel against their boss, crooked impresario Professor McCarthy (Sean McClory). Featured in the cast are such well-known professional Little People as Frank Delfino, Harry Monty and Nels Nelson, the latter two veterans both of the 1939 theatrical feature The Wizard of Oz. Scripted with tongue firmly imbedded in cheek by Robert Barron, "Hoss and the Leprechauns" was originally shown on December 22 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
Danny Kaye spoofs medieval swashbucklers in this classic musical comedy. While the infant King of England awaits his rightful place as leader of the British Empire, his rule is usurped by Roderick (Cecil Parker), an evil pretender to the throne. Brave rebel leader The Black Fox (Edward Ashley) intends to remove Roderick from the palace and bring the crown back to its true owner, but in the meantime the baby king needs to be looked after, which is the job of a man named Hawkins (Kaye). The Black Fox travels with the little king and his rebels as they search for the key to a secret tunnel that will allow them passage into the castle. Maid Jean (Glynis Johns), one of the rebels, meets a man en route to the Castle who is to be Roderick's new jester. The rebels quickly hatch a plan: detain the jester and send Hawkins in his place; the king can then find the key and initiate the overthrow. Hawkins is able to persuade Roderick and his men that he is indeed a jester, but his espionage work gets complicated when Princess Gwendolyn (Angela Lansbury) falls in love with him, and he runs afoul of Sir Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone), the evil genius behind Roderick. Court Jester features Kaye's famous "Pellet with the Poison" routine. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, (more)
