Joan Tompkins Movies

1979  
 
With wheat prices plummeting, the farmers of Walnut Grove hold a meeting to decide whether or not to fix prices. The only farmer who doesn't go along with the plan is town bigot Larrabee (Don "Red" Barry), who refuses to charge the same price as a black neighbor. Outraged by this behavior, Jonathan Garvey (Merlin Olsen) embarrasses Larrabee in front of the man's family. Seeking revenge, Larrabee in turn heads to Garvey's home -- and ultimately finds himself facing a charge of barn-burning. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Michael LandonKaren Grassle, (more)
 
1977  
 
As John-Boy heads to New York to find out if his novel has been accepted for publication, he recalls the events leading to this critical and anxious moment. Presented as "flashback" are choice excerpts from the previous episodes "The Typewriter", "The Literary Man" and "The Burnout". This final episode of The Waltons' fifth season also marks the final regular appearance of Richard Thomas as John-Boy Walton. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1976  
 
Future Brady Bunch star Robert Reed appears in this episode as Martin Avery, self-proclaimed doctor who treats a fatally wounded policeman at a crime, only to vanish from sight. Stone and Keller want to locate the doctor, who is the only eyewitness to the killing, but they are stymied by the fact that the man has given them a false name. It turns out that "Dr. Martin Avery" isn't a physician at all, but a very clever and talented impostor--and it is this fact that puts the lives of the phony medico and several other people in dire jeopardy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1974  
 
Bob's first mistake is to allow his all-female consciousness-raising group to hold a session in his apartment. His second mistake is to let Emily sit in during the discussion. His third mistake is not to duck when his patients, enraged at Emily's "unliberated" marriage, kick Bob out of his own group. Featured in the cast as Rhoda Gemignani as Joan Rossi, Ann Weldon as Adele Sinclair, Inge-Maria as Ingrid, and Joan Tompkins as Mrs. Cowens. First shown on November 30, 1974, "We Love You...Good-Bye" was written by Charlotte Brown. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Bob NewhartSuzanne Pleshette, (more)
 
1973  
 
Bob has reached "the big four-oh," and Emily has bought him an expensive gold watch as a birthday present. Impishly, Bob intends to show off the watch at the surprise party he's not supposed to know about. But when he finds out how much the watch really cost, his insecurities kick in and he refuses to show up at the festivities. The guest cast includes Joan Tompkins as Aunt May, Mimi Torchin as Wendy Rivers, and Michael Lerner as Carolla. Written by Bill Idelson, "The Man With the Golden Wrist" first aired on January 20, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Bob NewhartSuzanne Pleshette, (more)
 
1973  
 
Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) are obliged to track down a perpetrator who under normal circumstances might have been the heroine of the story. Refusing to believe that her baby was stillborn, young mother Barbara Talmadge (Kity Winn) goes on a desperate search for her child, who has been spirited away by a crooked adoption agency. By the time the hapless Barbara catches up with the unwitting couple who have adopted her baby, she has already committed murder--and is willing to kill again if necessary! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1972  
 
Crime Club was the umbrella title given a series of monthly mystery novels in the 1930s and 1940s. Several films and radio programs ostensibly based on "Crime Club" stories were produced during that same period. The title was revived for a TV pilot film in 1972; this time the "Crime Club" referred to a high-tech crime solving organization which numbered among its members a private detective, a federal agent, a policeman and a judge. In the pilot, the private eye (Lloyd Bridges) and the judge (Victor Buono) pool their skills to solve the murder of a fellow club member. The film failed to lead to a weekly series, but another Crime Club pilot was commissioned in 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1972  
 
The FBI investigate a series of mysterious assaults in three different states. Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) has one clue to work on: each assault was somehow related to the message "Til Death Do Us Part." The villain of the piece turns out to be escaped convict Darryl Ryder (Dean Stockwell), who has sworn vengeance against everyone responsible for the annulment of his marriage. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1970  
R  
This romantic comedy finds Richard Burrows (Elliot Gould) as a medical student in residence engaged to marry the pregnant Jody (Brenda Vaccaro). When Jody abstains from sex and her mother moves in with the newlyweds, Richard engages in a series of love affairs with the hospital nurses. He meets Helen Donnelly (Angel Tompkins), the wife of a baseball player (played by Dabney Coleman). The two initially plan to divorce their respective spouses before Richard decides to work things out with his wife after the birth of their son. Jody loses weight at a health spa and also loses her desire for Richard. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Elliott GouldBrenda Vaccaro, (more)
 
1970  
R  
Taken from the autobiography of the world's first transsexual, George Jorgensen (John Hansen) is a woman trapped in a man's body who opts for surgery and hormone treatments to make him a woman. Events of his childhood are covered, showing young George preferring dolls over contact sports. Inducted into the Army, the sexually confused George learns to hide his emotions during his military experience. He travels to Denmark where a pioneering team of doctors agree to perform the surgical process for the first time ever. His kindly aunt in Denmark (Joan Tompkins) gives George the name of Christine after her late daughter. Hansen is unconvincing as a woman, and there are several passages in this biographical drama that lead to unintentional hilarity. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
John HansenJoan Tompkins, (more)
 
1970  
PG  
False Witness is the British title of the American thriller Zigzag, which in turn was partially inspired by the 1950 film D.O.A. George Kennedy plays an insurance investigator who learns that he is dying from a brain tumor. Hoping to provide for his family, Kennedy confesses to a murder he didn't commit, thereby collecting the reward money. During his murder trial, Kennedy collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Subjected to laser surgery, he emerges from the hospital completely cured--and now he must unravel the airtight case he's contrived against himself in court. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
George KennedyAnne Jackson, (more)
 
1970  
 
Jeannie (Barbara Eden) is appointed recording secretary for the NASA Officer's Wives Association. In this capacity, she learns of an upcoming "Best Husband" contest, the first prize being a vacation for two in Hawaii. In her zeal to win the prize, Jeannie uses her magic to prove how helpful her hubby Tony (Larry Hagman) is around the house--which nearly causes the all-but-comatose Tony to be washed out of the space program! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1969  
 
Mary Fickett is cast as Erin O'Donnell, an Irish girl raised by the Sioux in Paiutes. Falling in love with Erin, Hoss Cartwright does his best to shield her from the bigotry of the townspeople. But Erin regards Hoss' efforts as futile, citing the tribal prophecy that she is "the wolf child, born to fight and die for the Indian.". Given the mortality rate of the Cartwright boys' sweethearts, it isn't hard to predict the outcome of this melancholy tale. Written by Sandy Summerhays, "Erin" was originally telecast on January 26, 1969, then rebroadcast by NBC on June 4, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Lorne GreeneMichael Landon, (more)
 
1969  
G  
Add Popi to QueueAdd Popi to top of Queue 
Striving for a better life for his two sons, a Puerto Rican immigrant named Popi (Alan Arkin) goes about his mission in a singularly eccentric fashion in this comedy from director Arthur Hiller. So intent is Harlem resident Abraham "Popi" Rodriguez (Arkin) upon providing his boys with the American dream, that he puts off marrying his beautiful girlfriend Lupe (Rita Moreno) in order to carry out the mother of all harebrained schemes. After instructing his boys how to row with lessons in Central Park, Popi takes them to Florida and sets them adrift on the ocean, knowing that two cute "refugees from Cuba" seeking asylum in the U.S. will become celebrity cases and probably be adopted by rich WASP's. Popi's plan works like a charm, with his sons even earning an audience with the president, but a visit to the hospital where they're recovering from their ordeal at sea sinks his big plans. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Alan ArkinRita Moreno, (more)
 
1969  
 
Believing she would be closer to Tony (Larry Hagman) if their house wasn't so large, Jeannie (Barbara Eden) decides to "downsize" by selling the house and moving into a small apartment. Tony informs Jeannie that he doesn't want to move, but by this time the house has been sold to a military bigwig. In desperation, Jeannie takes the house off the market by rendering it invisible! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1968  
 
Anne Baxter guest stars as Ironside's attorney friend Carolyn White, whom the authorities have tagged as the "most obvious" suspect in the murder of her cheating spouse. Convinced that Carolyn is being framed, Ironside (Raymond Burr) dedicates himself to proving his thesis, while his colleagues accuse him of allowing his heart to rule his head. Meanwhile, the search goes on for the murder victim's missing body--a search that yields startling results. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1968  
 
Hoping that Samantha will abandon Darrin in favor of her former warlock boyfriend, Rollo (Ron Randell), Endora creates a love potion for Sam. Unfortunately, Endora downs the potion herself and instantly falls head over heels in love with Darrin's loutish client, Bo Callahan (Arch Johnson). Of course, Samantha takes a hand in resolving this crisis of the heart. Scripted by James Henerson and Ed Jurist from a story by Henerson, "Once in a Vial" first aired on January 4, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Elizabeth MontgomeryDick York, (more)
 
1967  
 
The sacred gold seal of the Far Eastern nation of Kuala Rokat has been stolen. Masterminding the heist is American industrialist Taggart (Darren McGavin), who intends to hold on to the seal despite the danger of a major diplomatic breakdown. The IMF is assigned to recover the seal, a job that requires a trained cat named Rusty and a healthy dose of the occult. Written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, "The Seal" made its first network TV appearance on November 5 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Peter GravesBarbara Bain, (more)
 
1967  
 
Using the alias "Gene Tyler", Richard Kimble takes a brief respite from his search for the One-Armed Man by attending a baseball game--where, unfortunately, he witnesses the kidnapping of Nadine Newmark (Lynda Day), daughter of publishing mogul Andrew Newmark (Martin Balsam) (No, this 1967 episode isn't based on the Patty Hearst abduction, which was still seven years in the future). The kidnappers demand that Newmark pony up a $2 million ransom, and that Kimble deliver the money. Thus, Kimble is once again trapped between a rock and a hard place: If he refuses to make the drop, Newmark will have him arrested--and if agrees, he'll be killed on the spot. Featured as one of the villains is former "Bowery Boy" Gabe Dell. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1964  
 
Using the name "Douglas Beckett", Kimble (David Janssen) is hired as a chauffeur by the wealthy Glenn family. Rebellious Joanne Glenn (Katherine Crawford) is in love with impoverished pool boy Dan Holt (Mark Goddard), a romance her imperious mother Madge (Joan Tompkins) does everything in her power to break up. Discovering Kimble's true identity, Dan blackmails the fugitive into helping him woo Joanne without arousing the family's suspicions. Watch for a young Peter Duel (Alias Smith and Jones) as a handsome socialite. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1964  
 
Lifelong parasite Rachel Gordon (Phyllis Hill) will be cut off without a cent by her rich Uncle Abner (Richard Hale) unless she immediately returns all the money she has syphoned from his bank account. Out of desperation, Rachel takes a shot at Albert while the man is sleeping. It turns out she needn't have bothered: Albert is already dead, and the police have charged his secretary--and main benificiary--Bruce Jay (John Napier). Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) knows that Bruce is innocent, and that Rachel wanted to be guilty but technically isn't...so whose alibi does he ultimately break down in court? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1963  
 
Extra! Extra! The unthinkable has happened! PERRY MASON HAS LOST A CASE! The jury brings in a guilty verdict, and Perry's client Janice Barton (Vera Miles) is convicted of murder and sentenced to the gas chamber. Though perennial also-ran Hamilton Burger (William Talman) should be elated, he is sympathetic towards the brooding Mason (Raymond Burr), who blames himself for Janice's plight. But it soon develops that Janice had virtually condemned herself by lying about her whereabouts when the murder was committed. Still convinced of his former client's innocence, Perry works feverishly behind the scenes to expose the real killer--whose identity will come as quite a shock to fans of 1960s sitcoms. This justifiably famous episode, ranked as #51 in the "100 Greatest TV Episodes of All Time" by TV Guide, was originally scheduled to air on October 3, 1963. (Curiously, it was removed from the series' syndicated package in 1966, and not seen again until it was cablecast in 1988). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1962  
 
Wilma Gregson (Kathryn Givney), imperious owner of the Gregson Cannery Company, is outraged when details of a secret merger with Super Brand Foods is made public. It turns out that the information was accidentally leaked by Wilma's little granddaughter Sandra (Chrystine Jordan) while corresponding to her pen-pal. Refusing to take Sandra's age and innocence into consideration, Wilma threatens dire conseuqences to the girl and her parents--thus setting herself up as a perfect candidate for murder. Accused of the crime is family friend Karen Ross, whereupon Sandra begs Perry Mason to defend Karen in court. Inasmuch as the hearing takes place in San Francisco, Mason's usual nemesis Hamilton Burger is supplanted by the local DA, played by Everett Sloane. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1960  
 
Beau (Roger Moore) finds himself in the middle of some deadly intrigue (not to mention a bitter family feud) when he wins half-ownership of the Golden Wheel Casino. Shortly after this windfall, Bart's new partner Rand Storm is shot and killed in self-defense by dance-hall gal Flo Baker (Kathleen Crowley). When Flo disappears, Rand's brother Luke (played by Bing Russell, the father of film star Kurt Russell) takes advantage of the situation by framing Bart for murder and claiming the Golden Wheel as his own. This episode was cowritten by actor Leo Gordon, whose wife Lynn Cartwright (best known as the "older" Geena Davis in the 1992 theatrical feature A League of Their Own) appears in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1960  
 
The year is 1922, and it is raining rocks in the town of Chico, California. Shortly after this disturbing phenomenon, an anonymous phone call is placed to the local newspaper. The caller not only takes "credit" for the "heavy" rain, but also predicts the exact time for the next downpour. Could all this be tied in with an earlier incident in Washington, D.C, involving an odd self-proclaimed inventor who claims to have created a revolutionary formula for converting water into gasoline? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More