George Maharis Movies
George Maharis was one of seven children of Greek immigrant parents. Though he could very easily have gone into his father's restaurant business, Maharis decided to try for a singing career. When his vocal chords were injured by overuse, Maharis switched to acting, studying at the Actors' Studio and making one of his earliest appearances as a Marlon Brando parody on the 1950s TV sitcom Mr. Peepers. Maharis was very active in the off-Broadway scene, appearing in Jean Genet's Deathwatch and Edward Albee's The Zoo Story. He gained a fan following (primarily female) through his weekly appearances as handsome drifter Buzz Murdock on the TV series Route 66. He played Buzz from 1960 to 1963, leaving the series for a variety of reasons, among them artistic differences and a bout of hepatitis. His subsequent film career failed to reach the heights of his TV work, and by 1970 Maharis was back in the weekly small-screen grind in the adventure series The Most Dangerous Game. When not performing in nightclubs, summer stock or films, George Maharis spent a good portion of the 1970s and 1980s indulging in his pet hobby, impressionistic painting. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This confusing but enjoyably weird film stars Drew Barrymore (still toying with her good girl/bad girl image) as Holly Gooding, a young woman who apparently stabs her mother to death in New York then shows up on the doorstep of young L.A. screenwriter Patrick (George Newbern), in response to his ad for a prospective roommate. Despite his attraction to her, Patrick is increasingly bewildered by the appearance of Holly's apparent double, whose existence she neither confirms nor denies. At the same time, Holly is tormented by recurring visions of her mother's death and the persistent snooping of an FBI agent. When Patrick becomes convinced that Holly is being pursued by her own evil twin, he learns from ex-nun and phone-sex operator Sister Jan (Sally Kellerman) that the deadly double is Holly's "doppleganger," a supernatural creature which haunts a human being after assuming that person's shape. One plot twist follows another before unraveling completely in a ridiculously contrived double-surprise climax. This film does boast good performances and manages to avoid most standard low-budget horror conventions -- that is, until the last five minutes, wherein its cleverness is derailed by plot holes large enough to fly a zeppelin through. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Drew Barrymore
- 1990
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) heads to California, there to link up with her niece Victoria (Genie Francis), now employed as a real estate broker. Showing up at a dilapidated mansion to close a deal with the house's owner, Victoria finds that the owner is in no mood to bargain--mainly because he's dead. Inevitably, Victoria is held on suspicion, obliging Jessica to get her niece off the hook once again. Dean Butler (Little House on the Prairie) takes over from Jeff Conaway in the role of Victoria's husband Howard. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1990
Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) finds herself facing a lawsuit--and a possible prison term--as Murder She Wrote launches its seventh season. The litigant is the daughter of a man whom Jessica sent to prison, and who subsequently died in a botched escape attempt. As out heroine fends off charges of perjury and bribery, the plot thickens with the murder of an eyewitness to the original crime. The suspects are certainly a motley crew this time, ranging from a sleazy lawyer to the wife of a temperamental chef! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This is an unusual entry in the knights-in-armor genre. Set in medieval England, the film follows the exploits of a young swordsman, Talon (Lee Horsley). Working as a mercenary knight, Talon possesses a unique three-bladed sword which fires its two extra blades when he touches a button. By chance, Talon learns that he is a prince who has forgotten his royal heritage. Using his sword and his wiles, he attempts to regain control of his kingdom, which has been taken over by a sadistic tyrannical knight and an evil sorcerer. In doing so, he can save a princess who has been taken hostage by the usurpers. Comedy is interspersed with gory and licentious drama throughout the film, which was directed and written by Albert Pyun. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kathleen Beller, Simon MacCorkindale, (more)
- 1978
Originally made for television and based on true events from 1972, the story concerns an airline crash in the Everglades and the courageous adventures of the 73 survivors. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- 1977
There's no love lost between Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) and female detective Joanne Long (Joan Van Ark), who much against her will has been transferred to Kojak's department from the rape squad. Even so, the two antagonists must bury the hatchet long enough to capture an elusive drug peddler who has added rape and murder to his list of crimes. Featured in the small role of an attendant is Jeffrey Jones, long before his days of prominence in such feature films as Amadeus and Beetlejuice. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1977
Death Flight was originally known as SST: Death Flight when it was first telecast February 25, 1977. Though fairly expensive so far as TV movies go, the film is brought down to earth by its standard B-flick plot. On its maiden flight, America's first supersonic transport runs into deadly danger high in the sky-and may never get to land. In true Airport fashion, the plane is populated with celebrities (at least by TV standards): Barbara Anderson, Bert Convy, Peter Graves, Lorne Greene, Tina Louise, George Maharis, Burgess Meredith, Doug McClure, Martin Milner, Robert Reed, Susan Strasberg, Billy Crystal, and even Regis Philbin. The film's working title was Death of the Maiden, but this was too close to Death and the Maiden, the 90-minute pilot episode of the 1973 Jimmy Stewart TV series Hawkins. Death Flight was later syndicated as SST: Disaster in the Sky. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1977
A sequel to the 1977 TV movie Fantasy Island, this film was originally titled Fantasy Island II and slated to air on November, 1977, but was instead re-christened and broadcast as the initial episode of the weekly Fantasy Island series. Once again, six people spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to fulfill their dreams on a lavish island resort overseen by the enigmatic Roarke (Ricardo Montalban) and his dwarf assistant, Tattoo (Herve Villechaize). This time, "de plane" arrives on the island with a passenger roster including Charles Fleming (Horst Buchholz), who allegedly wants to restore the memory of his amnesiac wife, Janet (Karen Valentine); love-struck executive, Benson (George Maharis), and his bitchy boss, Margo Dean (Adrienne Barbeau), whom Benson hopes to woo and win Taming of the Shrew style; and long-married couple Brian and Lucy Faber (Joseph Campanella and Pat Crowley), who yearn to be reunited with the child they gave up for adoption years earlier. Return to Fantasy Island premiered January 20, 1978, on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1976
More ambitious and expensive than ABC's first "novel for television" miniseries QB VII, the eight-episode, 12-hour Rich Man, Poor Man was the one that truly put the genre on the map, its phenomenal success in the ratings making possible the even more spectacular Roots. Adapted from the mammoth novel by Irwin Shaw, the miniseries covers the years from WWII to the 1960s, detailing the vacillating fortunes of the immigrant Jordache brothers. "Rich Man" Rudy Jordache (Peter Strauss) is determined to use his hard-earned education -- and his inherent ruthlessness -- to carve out a business and political empire not unlike that enjoyed by Joseph P. Kennedy and his progeny. "Poor Man" Tom Jordache (Nick Nolte), a quick-fisted hothead, goes an entirely different route, first as a professional boxer, then as a functionary of the evil gangster chieftain Falconetti (William Smith). Naturally, both brothers become entangled in romance along the way, with Julie Prescott (Susan Blakely) ending up as Rudy's benighted spouse. Originally telecast on February 1, 2, 9, 16, 23, and March 1, 8, and 15 in 1976, Rich Man, Poor Man earned 20 Emmy nominations and led to a weekly sequel, Rich Man, Poor Man -- Book 2, in the fall of 1976 (this version necessitated a title change for the original, which was rebroadcast as Rich Man, Poor Man -- Book 1 in the spring of 1977). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Strauss, Nick Nolte, (more)
- 1976
This sequel to the smash hit chiller Rosemary's Baby (1968) chronicles the childhood of Rosemary's demon spawn. The still distraught mother, whose husband sold his soul, thus allowing Satan himself to father her child, is helped out by her charming neighbors the devil worshippers. The film is also titled Rosemary's Baby II. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
While bound for London from New York, the occupants of a 747 are terrorized by a mad bomber. The jet's pilot (Robert Stack) and several brave passengers must thwart the plot. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- 1974
Warning, Will Robinson! The "death in space" referred to in the title may have been suicide, or may have been murder. The crew of an orbiting space capsule must get to the bottom of things when their commanding officer vanishes during a space walk. If murder is indeed the verdict, then there's only a limited number of suspects to choose from (it's not likely to have been an outside job). George Maharis, Cameron Mitchell and former child star Margaret O'Brien head the cast of this videotaped ABC Wide World Mystery presentation. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
This thriller stars Eileen Brennan as a much-too-clever housekeeper. Brennan is aware that she isn't exactly a fashion plate, and that her chances of attracting the handsome master of the house (George Maharis) are slim to none. She also realizes that the master has murdered his brother, and uses this knowledge to blackmail her boss into matrimony. But there's a twist ending that literally puts the scheming domestic in her proper place. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
While stealing computerized Syndicate secrets, minor hoodlum Tom Bachman (George Maharis) injures mob chieftan Matt Drake. With Drake hot on his trail, Bachman escapes to the jungles of Mexico --- where the IMF is waiting for him. Hoping to extract the aformentioned secrets from the fugitive crook, the IMF agents convince him that he has stumbled upon the fabled Fountain of Youth, which explains why Phelps, Willy, and Casey are made up to look like senior citizens. But if they don't get the necessary information before Drake catches up with Bachman, no one will grow any older. Written by Stephen Kandel, "The Fountain" first aired on January 26, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
In this suspenseful drama, a terrible storm strands a young woman in a spooky old house where she is unwittingly stalked by a mysterious killer. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Vince Carden (Telly Savalas) is the violent Apache-hating landowner obsessed with driving the Indians from the region in this action-packed western. Cavalry troops are sent in to try and bring peace to the troubled area. Vince soon discovers the government plans to donate land for an Indian reservation, causing him to redouble his murderous efforts against the tribe. He and his thugs rob a stagecoach and make it look like an Indian attack. Vince's brother Paul (George Maharis) returns and the brothers resume a long-standing battle over a deceased former flame. As the Indians lay to waste the Forge River settlement, the two brothers face each other in a showdown where only one will ride away. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Telly Savalas, Arlene Dahl, (more)
- 1969
This violent western finds a son leaving his father and family behind in the wake of the elder's violent guerilla warfare against society at large. David Galt (Vince Edwards) leaves his Confederate war-veteran father Josiah (Jack Palance) behind and settles in Texas. The son changes his name, living in relative solitude until his father's gang invades Texas six years later. Father and son battle it out in the inevitable showdown in this family feud. Neville Brand plays the Federal marshall. George Maharis and Christian Roberts play the sons of Parson Josiah Galt, the man driven insane by the death of his wife during the Civil War. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vince Edwards, Jack Palance, (more)
- 1969
The Monk stars George Maharis as neither simian nor seminarian. Instead, he plays Gustavus "Gus" Monk, a San Francisco private eye/bodyguard created by Blake Edwards. The Monk is hired by an underworld lawyer (William Smithers) to deliver an envelope containing damning information about a powerful gangster. Monk isn't interested until he meets the lawyer's sexy wife (Janet Leigh)--and then he's off on a corpse-laden path of deceit and double-cross, with the man who hired him as Victim Number One. The Monk has a large cast of familiar faces (from Jack Albertson to Joe Besser) in its favor; unfortunately, this wasn't enough to secure a series sale for this one-shot TV pilot film. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1968
During the twilight of World War II, American forces battle their German counterparts to find a noted Austrian atomic scientist who is marked for death. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
- 1968
Made for television, Escape to Mindinao stars George Maharis and Ronald Remy as two GIs interred in a Japanese POW camp. Effecting a daring (and economically filmed) escape, Maharis and Remy make off with a secret Japanese decoding device. During their efforts to get back to their own lines, the fugitives cross the path of mercenary Dutch captain Nehemiah Persoff and his lovely daughter Willi Koopman. Maharis and Remy very nearly lose their top-secret booty to a black market ring before their journey is over. Escape to Mindinao was filmed on Luzon, in the Philippines. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1967
Four neophyte criminals get some unexpected help from their first victim in this caper comedy. A quartet of Miami Beach bohemians -- Sureshot (Michael Parks), Taurus (George Maharis), Herby (Robert Walker Jr.), and Sandy (Faye Dunaway) -- are looking for kicks and some fast money, and they hatch a scheme that they're sure will bring them both. Roc Delmonico (Anthony Quinn) is a well-known local restaurateur believed to be connected with the Mafia; the four beach bums kidnap Roc and hold him for ransom. To the surprise of the first-time kidnappers and the great annoyance of Roc, neither his wife, Monica (Martha Hyer), nor his business partners are willing to pony up 200,000 dollars to set the former gangster free. The angry Delmonico soon joins forces with his kidnappers, and with his background in crime, he advises them on how to make a hostage situation work. Roc's advice is right on the money, and the price for his safety zooms from 200,000 dollars to three million dollars. Roc's new friends are happy about this unexpected windfall, and Delmonico likes the idea of putting the screws to the so-called "friends" who let him down, but actually getting their hands on the money turns out to be far more complicated than any of them expected. The theme song from The Happening proved to be a major hit for Diana Ross & the Supremes -- in fact, a much bigger hit than the movie itself. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, George Maharis, (more)
- 1966
In this courtroom drama, a Mexican American judge must preside over the case of the town ne'er-do-well, who is accused of killing his wife. The film is set during the 1920s in the Southwest. The murderer is convicted and sentenced to hang, but on execution day, he has a fight and kills the hangman. At the same time, another man confesses. While this gets the first man freed for the first killing, he must now stand trial for the hangman's death. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- George Maharis, Laura Devon, (more)
- 1965
Carroll Baker, the Sharon Stone of the sixties, plays another classy-looking blonde with a sordid background in Sylvia. Millionaire Peter Lawford is about to marry the glamorous but secretive Sylvia (Baker). Before taking the plunge, he hires private eye George Maharis to do a background check on the girl. Whew, what he finds out! Apparently the only sin Sylvia doesn't commit is robbing parking meters, but we have no idea what might happen after the final fadeout. Shortly before it opened, Sylvia was the subject of several magazine articles, trumpeting the fact that Carroll Baker had conducted extensive interviews with real-life prostitutes in order to prepare herself for her role. This apparently left her no time to consult an acting coach. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Carroll Baker, George Maharis, (more)
Rating Systems
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