Peter Graves Movies
The younger brother of Gunsmoke star James Arness, American actor Peter Graves worked as a musician and radio actor before entering films with 1950's Rogue River. At first, it appeared that Graves would be the star of the family, since he was cast in leads while brother Jim languished in secondary roles. Then came Stalag 17 (1953), in which Graves was first-rate as a supposedly all-American POW who turned out to be a vicious Nazi spy. Trouble was, Graves played the part too well, and couldn't shake the Nazi stereotype in the eyes of most Hollywood producers. Suddenly the actor found himself in such secondary roles as Shelley Winters' doomed husband in Night of the Hunter (1955) (he was in and out of the picture after the first ten minutes), while sibling James Arness was riding high with Gunsmoke. Dissatisfied with his film career, Graves signed on in 1955 for a network kid's series about "a horse and the boy who loved him." Fury wasn't exactly Citizen Kane, but it ran five years and made Graves a wealthy man through rerun residuals--so much so that he claimed to be making more money from Fury than his brother did from Gunsmoke. In 1966, Peter Graves replaced Steven Hill as head honcho of the force on the weekly TV adventure series Mission: Impossible, a stint that lasted until 1973. Though a better than average actor, Graves gained something of a camp reputation for his stiff, straight-arrow film characters and was often cast in films that parodied his TV image. One of the best of these lampoonish appearances was in the Zucker-Abrahams comedy Airplane (1980), in which Graves played a deceptively macho-male airline pilot who leeringly asked an admiring young boy "Say...do you like gladiator movies?" This "out of closet" appearance apart, Peter Graves has effortlessly maintained his reliable, authoritative movie persona into the '90s, successfully replacing Edward Herrmann as the resident documentary host on cable's Arts and Entertainment Network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 2005
Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) agrees to return to the clinic on one condition: House (Hugh Laurie) must take her out on a dinner date. As the rest of the staffers place bets as to the outcome of this auspicious social event, the clinic treats a young stroke victim (John Cho) whose condition may be the result of a mistake on the part of House--or it may be due to the patient's rather kinky "personal guru" (Christina Cox). Elsewhere, House must play counselor to a pair of senior citizens (Peter Graves June Squibb) who are squabbling over the man's heightened post-Viagra sex drive! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Otherworldly villains are on the loose again, and it's up to Earth's interstellar police force to bring them to justice in this sequel to the sci-fi comedy blockbuster Men in Black. Agent Jay (Will Smith) has become a high-ranking member of the Men in Black, the secret government task force designed to deal with unruly visitors from other worlds, while his former cohort, Agent Kay (Tommy Lee Jones), had his memory wiped clean and now lives a simple but contented life as a mailman. However, an especially nasty alien threat has reared its not-so-ugly head; Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle) is a shape-shifting Kylothian alien who is in pursuit of another escaped visitor who holds the key to powers that would allow her to destroy the world. Making Serleena all the more dangerous is the fact she's taken on the appearance of a lingerie model, making her irresistible to most men. When the rampaging Serleena takes control of the MIB offices, Jay is forced to turn to the only man who can help him save the world -- the former Agent Kay. After restoring Kay's memory, the two remaining Men in Black set out to conquer Serleena with a motley band of friendly aliens, including a handful of worm creatures and a talking dog named Frank (voice of Tim Blaney). Jay, meanwhile, has his head turned by Laura (Rosario Dawson), an attractive waitress who was an unwitting witness to an alien attack. Men in Black 2 also features Rip Torn, Tony Shalhoub, David Cross, Patrick Warburton, and Johnny Knoxville. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, (more)
Four of Tinseltown's greatest glamour queens came together for this tartly comic made-for-TV movie which pokes gentle (and not so gentle) fun at their histories and reputations. Kate Westburn (Shirley MacLaine), Addie Holden (Joan Collins), and Piper Grayson (Debbie Reynolds) are three legendary Hollywood stars who in their heyday were known to audiences for their beauty, charm, and musical talent -- and, within the movie industry, for their short tempers and industrial-strength egos. The three stars only worked together once, on a musical made in the early '60s called Boy Crazy, but when the film becomes a cult sensation in a late-'90s re-release, Gavin (Nestor Carbonell), a network television executive desperate for a hit, gets the idea of staging a reunion special starring the three divas. However, there's a hitch -- the three women can barely stand each other, and while they share the same agent, Beryl Mason (Elizabeth Taylor), Beryl and Piper haven't gotten along since Piper's husband left her to marry Beryl. But Gavin is determined to make the project work, and hires Kate's son Wesley (Jonathan Silverman) to work with Beryl to pull things together. Against all odds, the three stars agree to do the special, but while there's no small amount of cat-fighting behind the scenes, in front of the camera the ladies discover time has not been kind to all of them. These Old Broads was written and executive-produced by Carrie Fisher and Elaine Pope; Fisher, of course, is the daughter of Debbie Reynolds, whose husband Eddie Fisher had an affair with Elizabeth Taylor (Fisher later married Taylor after he divorced Reynolds), and Fisher wrote a character based on her mother for the novel (and subsequent movie) Postcards From the Edge, which was played onscreen by Shirley MacLaine. No word on where Joan Collins fit into this formula. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shirley MacLaine, Joan Collins, (more)
- 1999
They are the stuff of legends, ghost stories, and scores of horror movies. But do they really exist? Narrated by Peter Graves, Witches, Werewolves and Vampires examines the myths behind these frightening supernatural creatures, as well as their bases in fact. Included are interviews with people who claim to be vampires, investigations of contemporary witchcraft, and facts on medical conditions whose symptoms have caused some people to be identified as werewolves. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Doris Day: It's Magic employs film clips, newsreel footage, trailers, home movies, and interviews with a variety of people in order to tell the life story of Doris Day, an actress who symbolized the ideal American woman for much of the '50s. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1997
This edition of Biography chronicles the life of one of America's most endearing entrertainers, Andy Griffith. Griffith made his television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1954. That same year, he won a role in the TV version of Ira Levin's play, No Time for Sergeants. When the play was produced on Broadway in 1955, it became a hit, and Griffith was nominated for a Tony Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor. He was also a regular, with friend Don Knotts, on the NBC variety series, The Steve Allen Show, from 1959 to 1960.
A short time later CBS gave him his own sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show, in which he played the gentle, philosophical small-town Sheriff Andy Taylor. The show was a tremendous success, consistently ranking among the most popular sitcoms during the entirety of its eight-year run. Knotts co-starred from 1960 to 1965, as Taylor's high-strung deputy sheriff, Barney Fife. The young Ron Howard also co-starred, as the sheriff's red-haired son, Opie.
Griffith made a triumphant return to TV stardom in 1986 as the title character in the courtroom drama series Matlock, which aired during prime time on NBC from 1986 to 1992 and on ABC from 1993 to 1995. Meanwhile, fan allegiance to The Andy Griffith Show has continued through re-runs.
~ John Patrick Sheehan, All Movie Guide
A short time later CBS gave him his own sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show, in which he played the gentle, philosophical small-town Sheriff Andy Taylor. The show was a tremendous success, consistently ranking among the most popular sitcoms during the entirety of its eight-year run. Knotts co-starred from 1960 to 1965, as Taylor's high-strung deputy sheriff, Barney Fife. The young Ron Howard also co-starred, as the sheriff's red-haired son, Opie.
Griffith made a triumphant return to TV stardom in 1986 as the title character in the courtroom drama series Matlock, which aired during prime time on NBC from 1986 to 1992 and on ABC from 1993 to 1995. Meanwhile, fan allegiance to The Andy Griffith Show has continued through re-runs.
~ John Patrick Sheehan, All Movie Guide
The ghoulish cartoon family created by Charles Addams returns for a second big-screen outing darker and nastier than the first. When Morticia Addams (Anjelica Huston) gives birth to new baby boy Pubert, the other Addams children, Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) and Wednesday (Christina Ricci), devise any number of ways to kill off their new sibling. This leads Morticia and her husband, Gomez Raul Julia, to hire a nanny (Joan Cusack) to oversee all three children. But the nanny has an agenda of her own, packing the Addams children off to a horrid parody of summer camp and setting out to seduce Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd), all with the goal of getting her hands on the Addams family fortune. Of course, the Addams eventually triumph, with this blacker-than-most satire extolling the virtues of eccentricity and non-conformity above all. It was followed by 1999's direct-to-video Addams Family Reunion, with Darryl Hannah and Tim Curry replacing Huston and the late Julia. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, (more)
- 1992
This video chronicles the history of the Soviet Union beginning with the reign of Czar Nicholas II through the fall of communism through the use of rare film footage. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1992
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Each episode of this series presents different battles of the war. Each uses re-enactments, expert commentary, and readings by actors such as Burt Reynolds, Charlton Heston, and Richard Dreyfuss, to bring the events of the war to vivid life. Smithsonian's Great Battles of the Civil War, Vol. 2 focuses on the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, the Second Manassas, the Peninsula Campaign, and the series of battles fought for the city of New Orleans. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Each episode of this series presents different battles from the war. Each uses re-enactments, expert commentary, and readings by actors such as Burt Reynolds, Charlton Heston, and Richard Dreyfuss to bring the events of the war to vivid life. Smithsonian's Great Battles of the Civil War, Vol. 5 focuses on the siege of Vicksburg and the bloody Battle of Chickamauga. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1990
IMF agent Shannon Reed is dispatched to Bogota by air. Her mission: to locate vicious drug lord Luis Magdalena (Tony Xauet) and put him out of business for keeps. En route, Shannon's plane crashes, causing her to suffer a total loss of memory. Upon awakening, she falls in love with her handsome rescuer -- Luis Magdalena. Written by Frank Abatemarco, "Church Bells in Bogota" was first telecast on February 10, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1990
The IMF pays a visit to a popular Old West theme park in Nevada, but it isn't for the purpose of rest and relaxation. The park is the headquarters of former congressman Ian McClintock (Michael Greene), the head of an organization specializing in arming terrorists. Well aware that McClintock was responsible for the brutal murder of an FBI investigator, Jim Phelps nonetheless engages the villain in a potentially deadly poker game (both literally and figuratively!). Written by Ted Roberts, "Gunslinger" was originally broadcast on February 10, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1990
Having been soundly thrashed in the ratings wars by The Cosby Show, ABC wisely (if belatedly) moved the contemporary Mission: Impossible from Thursday to Saturday evenings on January 6, 1990. The first episode in the new time slot was "Deadly Harvest," written by Jan Sardi. In this episode, IMF agent Nicholas Black takes the place of Jared (Nick Carrafa), a research scientist who has been developing a dangerous virus on behalf of Orambaq, a terrorist nation. Unless the villains are stopped in their tracks, the entire wheat harvest in the United States will be permanently contaminated. Ritchie Singer appears as the head baddie, Jousseff K. (apparently Kafka-inspired). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1990
Written by Jeffrey M. Hayes, "The Sands of Seth" guest stars Tim Elliot as Dr. Selim, the curator of a Cairo archeological museum -- and head of an ancient Egyptian cult. Determined to restore the glories of the Egyptian empires of old, Selim murders anyone who does not share his lofty vision. To get the goods on Selim, the IMF fabricates a series of amazing archaeological "discoveries." With the original telecast of "The Sands of Seth" on February 24, 1990, the Mission: Impossible series revival of 1988-1990 was officially put on hiatus, never to return. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Several unlikely assassins, all minor government functionaries, have themselves died immediately after bumping off their employers. While investigating, the IMF discovers that all of the killers had been treated at the same Boston stress clinic. Posing as an alcoholic newspaperman, IMF agent Nicholas Black tries to get the goods on clinic head Dr. Philip Westerly (Peter Curtin), only to be subjected to Westerley's diabolical "reprogramming" process as well. Originally telecast on January 20, 1990, "The Assassin" was written by Cliff Greene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1990
Fugitive gangster Michael Otagi (Lani Tupu) has established himself as "the God" of a remote Pacific Island. With the help of his partner Regehr (Adrian Wright), not to mention a lethal mixture of "magic" chemicals, Otagi has also enslaved the native populace for the purpose of mining gold. Arriving on the scene, the IMF employs a bit of synthetic hocus-pocus to usurp Otagi's authority. Written by Dale Duguid, "Cargo Cult" first aired on January 13, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1990
In this Finnish comedy, which features all-English dialogue and nary a Scandanavian in it, Henri Boulanger (Jean-Pierre Leaud), is a colorless English civil servant, who was given a speedy retirement when his agency was "privatized," complete with a gold watch. His life is so barren that removing even the empty activities of his job makes it not worth living, so he attempts suicide by sticking his head in a gas oven - just as a gas service strike gets underway. Frustrated, he takes his savings from the bank and heads off to hire a contract killer to take his life from him. Then he really begins to enjoy life - so much so, that now he wants to avoid his imminent demise. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Pierre Léaud, Margi Clarke, (more)
- 1989
To avoid a Federal Grand Jury indictment, unscrupulous Washington journalist Arthur Six (Richard Romanus) blackmails Senator Oxenford (Terence Donovan) into silence. To put an end to Six's perfidy, the IMF assembles a deucedly clever "turnabout" scheme. Also appearing as a key player in the proceedings is John Calvin as Doyle. Set in the Florida Keys, but largely filmed in Australia, "The Fixer" was written by Walter Brough, and was first telecast on February 25, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1989
While in the Florida Keys to prevent deposed dictator Luis Berezan's (Michael Pate) return to power, the IMF tragically loses one of its best agents, the lovely Casey Randall. Thus, the team's efforts to thwart Berezan and his Evita-like wife Emilia (Barbara Luna) becomes a personal vendetta. Jane Badler makes her first Mission:Impossible appearance as agent Shannon Reed, replacing the late Casey Randall (Terry Markwell)--whose very existence was, of course, "disavowed" by the "Secretary." Ironically, guest star Barbara Luna, here cast as one of the villains, played a likewise expendable IMF agent in "Elena", a 1966 episode from the original Mission: Impossible. First telecast on February 18, 1988, "The Fortune" was written by Robert Brennan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1989
Even by drug-dealer standards, Greek millionaire Socrates Colonnades (Cesare Danova) is a particularly odious example. Using his lavish yacht as his headquarters, Colonnades callously diverts funds meant for Third World relief for his own nefarious purposes. To put the scoundrel out of business, the IMF concocts a scheme whereby Collonnades' distributors will think that they are being cheated by him. Written by Ted Roberts, "The Greek" originally aired on February 11, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1989
Prince Mikos (Jeremy Angerson), the 16-year-old heir to the throne of an Asian kingdom, is targetted for assassination by his uncle Ki (James Shigeta). To cover his tracks, Ki has arranged for the murder to take place during Mikos' traditional "Test of Kings" ritual. The IMF shows up to make certain that Mikos --- or "Mike", as he is known to the agents --- is given a fair chance to complete the endurance test, and to expose Ki for the scoundrel that he is. First telecast on February 4, 1989, "The Lions" was scripted by David Philips, from a story by James Crown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
