Gene Lindsey Movies
- 1982
Dick Van Dyke is the Drop-Out Father in this lighthearted TV movie. A successful but unsatisfied insurance executive, Van Dyke decides one day to kick over the traces. As his wife (Mariette Hartley) and family listen in fascinated horror, our hero announces his plans to move from the suburbs to a Manhattan loft, there to "find himself." With the exception of his loyal youngest daughter, Van Dyke's family elects to stay put, permitting him to carve out a new life on his own. Peter Matz won an Emmy nomination for his sprightly musical score. Originally telecast September 17, 1982, Drop-Out Father was followed in 1988 by a made-for-TV sequel, innovatively titled Drop-Out Mother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Conspiracy film specialist Alan J. Pakula turned journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's best-selling account of their Watergate investigation into one of the hit films of Bicentennial year 1976. While researching a story about a botched 1972 burglary of Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate apartment complex, green Washington Post reporters/rivals Woodward (Robert Redford, who also exec produced) and Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) stumble on a possible connection between the burglars and a White House staffer. With the circumspect approval of executive editor Ben Bradlee (Jason Robards), the pair digs deeper. Aided by a guilt-ridden turncoat bookkeeper (Jane Alexander) and the vital if cryptic guidance of Woodward's mystery source, Deep Throat (Hal Holbrook), Woodward and Bernstein "follow the money" all the way to the top of the Nixon administration. Despite Deep Throat's warnings that their lives are in danger, and the reluctance of older Post editors, Woodward and Bernstein are determined to get out the story of the crime and its presidential cover-up. Once Bradlee is convinced, the final teletype impassively taps out the historically explosive results. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, (more)
- 1970
Roxanne Drew's brother Randall (Gene Lindsey) asks Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) several pointed questions pertaining to Roxanne's death. Upon learning that Barnabas and Julia (Grayson Hall) have come from 1970 to prevent Roxanne (Donna Wandrey) from becoming a vampire (among other things), Angelique (Lara Parker) is forced to act quickly to foil their scheme. This episode originally aired on November 11, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Ossie Davis makes his directorial debut a smashing success in the trend-setting action crime comedy Cotton Comes To Harlem. Coffin Ed (Raymond St. Jacques) and Grave Digger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge), two plainclothesmen on the Harlem detail, are assigned to investigate the goings-on of suspicious local preacher Deke O'Malley (Calvin Lockhart), whose "Back to Africa" political movement turns out to be a scam to bilk the community of their hard-earned cash, with the scam-money hidden in a bale of cotton. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Godfrey Cambridge, Raymond St. Jacques, (more)
- 1970
Randall (Gene Lindsey) exposes the vampiric Roxanne (Donna Wandrey) to the light of the sun, instantly destroying her and releasing Julia (Grayson Hall) and Lamar (Jerry Lacy) from her spell. Locked in the basement of the Old House, Lamar begins to suspect that someone, or something, is bricked up behind the wall. Quentin (David Selby) and Daphne (Kate Jackson) hold a séance in hopes of reaching Daphne's sister {%Joanna. This episode first aired on November 20, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) is able to save Julia (Grayson Hall) from death, but is it too late to prevent Roxanne (Donna Wandrey) from becoming a full-fledged vampire. After being attacked by Roxanne, Lamar (Jerry Lacy) seems to be in her power. Roxanne's brother Randall (Gene Lindsey) prepares to put her out of her misery with the traditional stake through the heart. This episode originally aired on November 19, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Farmer Mordecai Grimes (Thayer David in his latest Dark Shadows incarnation) joins Lamar in accusing Quentin (David Selby) of witchcraft. Gabriel's wife Edith sees Randall entering Gerard's room and tells Gerard (James Storm). Finding the jeweled mask of Judah Zachary, Randall (Gene Lindsey) is promptly strangled to death. This episode first aired on November 26, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Lamar (Jerry Lacy) finds a voodoo doll that belongs to Quentin -- further "proof' that Quentin is a warlock. Randall (Gene Lindsey) makes a pair of startling discoveries. Another letter from the deceased Joanna arrives, warning her sister Daphne (Kate Jackson) to stay away from Quentin. This episode originally aired on November 25, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
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Alien invaders kidnap everyone's favorite right jolly old elf in this low-budget mixture of children's comedy and sci-fi adventure. Christmas is not far away, and countless children are glued to their family's TV sets, watching reports about Santa Claus (John Call). However, this is happening on Mars, and leaders of the Red Planet aren't sure what to do for their kids who are pining away for a visit from the gift-bearing earthling. Martian leader Kimar (Leonard Hicks) dispatches two of his emissaries, the chronically grumpy Voldar (Vincent Beck) and the moronically cheerful Dropo (Bill McCutcheon), to Earth to bring Santa back for a visit. After arriving on Earth, Voldar and Dropo abduct two children, Betty (Donna Conforti) and Billy (Victor Stiles), and order the kids to show them the way to Santa's workshop, from which all three are taken to Mars against their will. As Santa, Betty, and Billy try to find a way back to Earth, Voldar becomes enraged with the Earth kids, while the children bond more comfortably with the intellectually-challenged Dropo. Shot on a shoestring budget on Long Island, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians has developed a rabid cult following over the years, and yes, it's true, Kimar's daughter Girmar really is played by a ten-year-old Pia Zadora. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
