Sharon Tate Movies

The tragic Sharon Tate plays a crucial role (her last-ever appearance before the cameras) in 12 Plus 1 (aka The Thirteen Chairs). If the plot sounds familiar, it is because it's based on a popular Russian novel, also filmed in 1945 as It's In the Bag and in 1971 as The Twelve Chairs. Vittorio Gassman inherits a fortune, only to find that the money is hidden in one of thirteen antique chairs. Trouble is, he's auctioned off the chairs to pay for his transportation costs to and from his late aunt's mansion. The bulk of the film concerns Gassman's fevered scrambled throughout Europe to track down the Twelve-Plus-One chairs. Orson Welles and Vittorio De Sica turn up in cameos. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cahiers du Cinema favorite Phil Karlson may have directed the "Matt Helm" extravaganza The Wrecking Crew, but the only "auteur" around these parts is star Dean Martin, coasting through yet another sexy spy romp. This time, secret agent Helm must prevent a billion-dollar gold hijacking, masterminded by the unspeakable Count Massimo Contini (Nigel Green). Aiding and abetting our hero is all-thumbs Scandinavian spy Freya Carlson (a brilliant comic turn by the late Sharon Tate). Sidebar: future action-star Chuck Norris plays a minor role, while Bruce Lee served as the film's martial-arts advisor. The last of the Matt Helm films, The Wrecking Crew was sort of based on a novel by Donald Hamilton; like the other films in the series, the title bears precisely no relation to the plot. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A cinematic take on a 1960s best-seller, Valley of the Dolls traces the ups and downs of three young women as fame, booze, pills, and men consume their lives. Well-bred, small-town Anne Welles (Peyton Place star Barbara Parkins) arrives in New York eager for fame but settles for a job assisting theatrical attorney Henry Bellamy (Robert H. Harris). The job leads her to cross paths with Helen Lawson (Hollywood veteran Susan Hayward), the grand dame of Broadway musicals, and Neely O'Hara (sitcom star Patty Duke), an up-and-coming performer whom Lawson unceremoniously boots from her latest show. Neely lands on her feet thanks to a series of nightclub gigs, and soon she and Anne befriend Jennifer North (Sharon Tate), a buxom starlet. As Neely becomes a huge star of stage and screen and Jennifer appears topless in a string of European "art" films, Anne becomes a wealthy cosmetics spokeswoman and suffers though a passionate but failed affair with aspiring writer Lyon Burke (Paul Burke). As the pressures of fame and failed romance take their toll on all three women, they take refuge in food, sex, liquor, and pills -- especially Neely, who becomes downright monstrous (the titular "dolls" are the uppers and downers to which she becomes hopelessly addicted). Although the film's characters are fictitious composites, Neely most closely resembles Judy Garland; Garland herself was originally cast as Lawson, but she was replaced after only a few days by Hayward. Although the film's trailer played up the story's titillating subject matter, the script for Valley of the Dolls actually toned down Jacqueline Susann's novel. And despite the fact that Dionne Warwick can be heard singing "(Theme From) The Valley of the Dolls" twice during the film, contractual snags kept her from releasing the soundtrack version; a different arrangement later became a number two pop hit in 1968. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

A pair of bumbling vampire-hunters attempts to destroy an undead nobleman and his cronies and rescue a buxom maiden in actor/director Roman Polanski's playful update of the venerable vampire genre. Bat expert and vampire obsessive Professor Abronsius (Jack MacGowran) barely survives his journey through the Alps into snowy Slovenia to continue his oft-maligned research into the undead. Thawed out by his hapless assistant, Alfred (Polanski), and the frisky local innkeeper, Shagal (Alfie Bass), Abronsius quickly notices the overabundance of raw garlic as a decorating motif in the inn and its environs. Too ineffectual to save Shagal from having his blood sucked, the professor and Alfred miss the boat again when the mysterious Count Von Krolock (Ferdinand Mayne) kidnaps Shagal's built, beautiful daughter, Sarah (Sharon Tate). The itinerant vampire hunters must travel through the icy wilderness to Von Krolock's abode and evade his manservant and his effete son Herbert (Iain Quarrier) before Sarah joins the ranks of the ghouls. They soon learn, however, that the luxury-starved lass actually enjoys her captors' lavish attentions. The action climaxes during a costume ball attended by a phalanx of blood-suckers, although the laughs and surprises continue until the very end. Sixteen minutes of unauthorized cuts have been restored in some video editions of The Fearless Vampire Hunters, although the animated credits sequence that replaced them is also retained. The film marks the feature debut of Tate, who replaced Polanski's original choice, Jill St. John, on the advice of producer Martin Ransohoff. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

The Clampetts prepare to head back to the mountains to celebrate the annual Possum Day festival. The occasion is very important for Granny, who assumes that she has been selected as Possum Queen. Meanwhile, banker Drysdale, unwilling to let the Clampetts out of his grasp, tries to convince the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce to stage a Possum Day celebration of its own. The first episode in a two-part story arc, "Possum Day" originally aired on October 13, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Byron Foulger is cast as meek Commerce Bank bookkeeper Leroy Lester. After 40 years' faithful service, Leroy is put out to pasture when Mr. Drysdale replaces him with a computer. The Clampetts come to Leroy's rescue, proving irrefutably (or at least for the time being!) that no machine can take the place of a human being. "The Clampetts Versus Automation" first aired on May 12, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Clampetts call the Beverly Caterers to help them prepare a tasty meal, consisting mainly of jackrabbit stew. Meanwhile, Mr. Drysdale receives a kangaroo as a practical joke from an Australian banker. Anyone who's ever seen one of the Warner Bros. "Hippity Hopper" cartoons will be able to guess what happens next. Originally telecast January 8, 1964, "The Giant Jackrabbit" received a 44 percent ratings share, making history as the highest-rated half-hour program since 1960. Over 40 years later, it remains one of the 20 top-rated TV episodes of all time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Try as they might, the Clampetts just can't seem to fit in with Beverly Hills society. Sadly, they tell banker Drysdale that it is time for them to pack up and return to the Ozarks. Not wishing to lose the Clampett account, Drysdale promises to help the Clampetts "get culture," which is how this episode got its title. Eleanor Audley makes a return appearance as Jethro's schoolteacher, Millicent Potts. "The Clampetts Get Culture" was originally broadcast on December 18, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Determined to disavow the existence of her hillbilly neighbors, Mrs. Drysdale stages a fancy society garden party. Though the Clampetts have not been invited, they mistakenly believe that they have, and thus they show up at the party in full "go-to-meetin' clothes" regalia. Before long, all of Mrs. Drysdale's guest have gravitated to the Clampett mansion to partake in some of Granny's best "rheumatizz medicine." Curt Massey, who recorded all the background music for The Beverly Hillbillies, appears as a violinist, while Sharon Tate plays a bit as a party guest. "The Garden Party" originally aired on December 4, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jed decides that it's high time Jethro went a-courtin' for a bride. The Clampetts are set aback when Jethro brings home his new sweetheart -- a brassy exotic dancer named Chickadee Laverne (Barbara Nichols). The fun really begins when Chickadee demonstrates how she earns her living! Originally telecast on October 30, 1963, "Jethro's First Love" was the first episode in a two-part story arc, which concluded with the following week's "Chickadee Returns." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The millionaire Clampetts are astonished to learn that their bank account is overdrawn to the amount of 34 dollars and 70 cents. It turns out that there's been a mix-up in the bank records; the hillbillies have received a bank statement intended for J.D. Clampett (King Donovan), an unemployed actor. Conversely, J.D. discovers that his account suddenly contains Jed Clampett's 25 million-dollars -- and he intends to take full advantage of this clerical boo-boo. Shirley Mitchell appears as J.D.'s equally avaricious spouse, Opal. "The Clampetts are Overdrawn" made its first network appearance on November 13, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi