Lola Albright Movies
Lola Albright's meat-and-potatoes job as switchboard operator of an Ohio radio station led to on-the-air work in minor roles. She then worked as a model before travelling to Hollywood in 1948. Impressed by Lola's hands-on-hips self-assuredness, producer Stanley Kramer cast her opposite Kirk Douglas in 1949's Champion. The film should have secured Lola's stardom, but didn't; for nearly a year after its release she couldn't get an acting job, and for a long period she subsisted on peanut-butter sandwiches. After marrying her Good Humor Man (1950) co-star Jack Carson, Lola found that her husband preferred her at home rather than in the studio. She acceded to his wishes, taking film and TV work only sporadically; still, by 1958 the marriage dissolved due to the very career conflicts that both Lola and Jack had tried to avoid. From 1958 through 1961, Lola played sultry nightclub songstress Edie Hart on the TV private eye series Peter Gunn. Lola's post-Gunn film roles have alternated between fascinating (especially her over-the-hill stripper in Cold Wind in August [1964]) and merely rent-paying (David Niven's antiseptic spouse in The Impossible Years [1968]). In 1966, Lola Albright briefly replaced a seriously ill Dorothy Malone in the role of Constance McKenzie on the prime time TV serial Peyton Place. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 1983
Embarking upon their honeymoon, Quincy (Jack Klugman) and Emily (Anita Gillette) accept the invitation of an old friend, Judge Blake, to spend a "private" weekend at a ski lodge. Alas, the weekend proves anything but private when several other guests, all of them in the law-enforcement business, start pouring into the lodge. Making matters worse, an unknown maniac is murdering the assembled guests one by one--and a raging blizzard has cut off all avenues of escape. Yes, it's "Ten Little Indians", Quincy-style, with a dash of the 1932 film classic The Old Dark House thrown in via guest star Henry Gibson's portrayal of an inscrutably mute caretaker. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1977
Delta County USA was the feature-length pilot film for a proposed prime-time serial. The titular county is an old, hidebound Southern community, harboring ever so many dark secrets. The dramatic tension of the film is manifested in the lack of understanding between the older citizens and the young set. Jim Antonio heads the cast as "Jack the Bear," who's smarter than the av-er-age...you know. Delta County USA was initially telecast May 20, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
Not long after a brand-new staff goes to work at the Duchess Jewelry Company, the owner is found murdered. At first, it looks like a simple mugging, but Kojak (Telly Savalas) suspects that something more sinister is afoot. Launching an investigation, Kojak ends up targeting a smuggling ring trafficking in stolen jewelry--but first he must find out the identity of the inevitable "inside" person, and figure out how the crooks are transporting their illicit cargo without arousing suspicion. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1968
This light romantic comedy is set during the November 9th power outage of 1965 that darkened New York and much of the East Coast. Margaret (Doris Day) is a theater actress who storms out on her architect husband, Peter (Patrick O'Neal), when a pretty female reporter spends too much time interviewing him for Margaret's liking. Later, Waldo Zane (Robert Morse), an embezzling business executive, has car trouble while fleeing his company. Margaret's house is nearby, so he sneaks in, and, after taking a drink of her elixir, he falls asleep beside her by mistake. Naturally, her husband soon appears, and comedy ensues in cases of mistaken identity and scheduling mix-ups. Columnist Earl Wilson makes a cameo appearance as does director Hy Averback. Steve Allen plays the radio announcer, Jim Backus a car dealer, and Pat Paulsen deadpans his usual facade in his role as a train conductor. Though this romantic comedy came out a couple years after the infamous New York City-wide blackout, it is based on French playwright Claude Magnier's production Monsieur Masure, which was written in the '50s. The actual power failure resulted in a population explosion exactly nine months later, and over double the average number of kids started school in 1971 as a direct result of the darkness. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Doris Day, Robert Morse, (more)
- 1968
The Money Jungle is an innovative mystery concerning some greedy oil companies in competition to secure off-shore drilling rights. Detective Blake Heller (John Ericson) is the hard drinking sleuth hired by the oil companies to try and keep the proceedings above board. He contends with a group that opposes the proposal and later finds there are elements against him in the very organization that hired him. Blake goes to local police lieutenant Dow Reeves (Nehemiah Persoff) when geologists start dropping like flies after being gunned down. Comedian Don Rickles stars in the straight role of crooked oilman Harry Darkwater in this offbeat detective story. Lola Albright croons two songs in her role as a gold-digging nightclub singer who turns out to be the ex-wife of one of the oil barons and owns lots of stock in the company. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Ericson, Lola Albright, (more)
- 1968
Helicopter Spies is a Man From UNCLE "feature film"--actually spliced together from a two-part adventure from the UNCLE TV series, then shown theatrically overseas. The Men from UNCLE, as always, are Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn), Ilya Kuryakin (David McCallum) and Alexander Waverly (Leo G. Carroll). This time they're dispatched to a faraway fortress in the deserts of Iran, where dwells megalomaniac Luther Sebastian (Bradford Dillman). Under the guise of the serene head of a religious cult, Sebastian has developed a nuclear prism, designed to zero in "death rays" upon unsuspecting aircraft. Helicopter Spies was originally telecast as "The Prince of Darkness Affair" on October 2 and 9, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1967
In this made-for-TV crime melodrama, Robert Wagner plays a handsome ex-GI determined to wreak vengeance on millionaire Peter Lawford, who caused Wagner to suffer public humiliation. Getting himself invited for a cruise on Lawford's yacht, Wagner dallies with the millionaire's bikini-clad daughter Jill St. John before returning to the matters at hand. It turns out that Lawford has been involved with an international political conspiracy, all evidence of which is destroyed by coconspirator Walter Pidgeon, to whom Wagner has been relating his story in flashback. The story ends with the destruction of Lawford's yacht, followed by a closeup of Robert Wagner winking at the audience. The film was released theatrically in Europe as Deadly Roulette. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1967
The rest of the Ponderosa men are astonished when Hoss Cartwright shows up reeking of cologne and dressed to the nines. It is all part of Hoss' scheme to prove that mercenary saloon gal Dolly Bantree (Lola Albright) only loves grungy miner Buford Buckelew (Jack Elam) for his money. Paul Brineger, fresh from his lengthy stint on Rawhide, appears as Rev. Written by Robert V. Barron, "A Bride for Buford" first aired January 15, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
Senator William J. Tadlock (Kirk Douglas) enlists the help of veteran scout Dick Summers (Robert Mitchum) to lead a wagon train of settlers from Missouri to Oregon in this plodding, routine western. A scared settler accidently shoots an Indian boy who is mistaken for a wolf, prompting Summers to order newlywed triggerman Johnny Mack (Michael Witney) to be hanged to avoid an Indian attack. Sally Field appears in her first big-screen role as the slatternly Mercy McBee. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, (more)
An intelligent, eccentric high school senior devotes his life to indulging the every whim of the beautiful girl he adores in this quirky, dark-humored comedy. Roddy McDowall plays Alan Musgrave, an odd duck who immediately falls for the school's new student, Barbara Ann Greene (Tuesday Weld). Using his quick wits, he helps her win acceptance amongst the popular girls and a cushy job in the principal's office. Never demanding anything in return, Alan doesn't even complain when she falls for an upper-class college boy, and he does everything he can to bring the two together. However, as time passes, this seemingly well-intentioned dedication spins out of control, with results that become increasingly bizarre and even potentially fatal. The irreverent attitude and erratic tone may be an acquired taste, but the film's audacious humor and idiosyncratic approach have won it a cult following. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Starring:
- Roddy McDowall, Tuesday Weld, (more)
- 1966
Child actress Suzanne Cupito, who went on to a long and rewarding adult career under the name Morgan Brittany, essays the title role in this, the final episode of Branded. The daughter of a bank robber, 11-year-old Kellie has sworn to kill the man responsible for her father's death: namely, Jason McCord (Chuck Connors). Making return appearances in this series finale are Lola Albright as feisty newspaperwoman Ann Williams and John Carradine as Jason's grandfather, General Joshua McCord. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1966
Lola Albright returns in the role of crusading frontier newspaperwoman Ann Williams. Once again, Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) comes to Ann's aid in her efforts to break an important news story. This makes Jason a very busy man: He has already hired on as surveyor for a railroad, thus also making him a target for extermination by train-hating freight line owner Tad Evers (John Ireland). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
Lola Albright makes the first of three Branded appearances in the role of feisty newspaper publisher Ann Williams. When refuses to endorse the election of ruthless town boss Paul Mandell (Kevin Hagen), Ann is targeted for persecution--and ultimate extermination. Needless to say, Ann's fellow "outcast" Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) is eager and willing to champion her cause. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1964
Rob (Dick Van Dyke) becomes temporary producer of "The Alan Brady Show" when temperamental guest star Paula Marshall (Lola Albright) refuses to work with Mel Cooley (Richard Deacon). Because Paula is one of Rob's favorite performers, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) is none too happy that her husband and the sexy celebrity will be in such close quarters. As it turns out, however, Rob's problem is not avoiding Paula's charms, but instead trying to figure out a diplomatic way to make her stop being so egotistical and disruptive on the set. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lola Albright, Richard Deacon, (more)
- 1964
Married to a middle-aged tightwad named Henry (George Kennedy), the promiscuous Eva (Lola Albright) yearns for the day that she can separate her husband from his money so that she can run off with her latest boyfriend. Enter George (Barry Nelson), who claims to be the gas man in order to gain access to the Martin home. Eva figures out that George isn't what he pretends to be, but that hardly matters: the handsome stranger has come up with a perfect plan to get ride of Henry. Only at the last minute does George reveal his true identity -- and by this time it is too late for both Henry and Eva. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lola Albright, Barry Nelson, (more)
Alain Delon stars as Marc, a small-time swindler and Casanova who finds himself on the hit-list of an American gangster. He escapes the first attempt on his life in Monte Carlo and hides out serving as a chauffeur for the married Barbara (Lola Albright). Marc seems to have gotten into a bigger mess when he finds that Barbara's husband was murdered by her lover Vincent (Robert Oumansky), whom she is now hiding in her chateau. Barbara is planning to pass Marc off as her lover, hoping he will be knocked off by the authorities rather than Vincent. Attempting to save Marc -- or just complicating matters -- is Barbara's niece Melinda (Jane Fonda), who has fallen in love with Marc. If Marc plays his cards right, he may be able to get out of his uncomfortable predicament. Cinematographer Henri Decae also worked with Fonda on Roger Vadim's 1964 La Ronde -- a film wherein Fonda was granted a great deal more exposure. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Jane Fonda, (more)
- 1963
Lola Albright guest stars as gold-digging bank secretary Gloria Buckles (inside joke: Gloria Buckles was the name of series creator Paul Henning's secretary). Determined to get her well-manicured hands on the Clampett millions, Gloria decides to trap Jed Clampett into matrimony. She is helped along by a few doses of Granny's "spring tonic" -- but of course the faithful viewers of The Beverly Hillbillies knew that Gloria's plan would explode before the final commercial. "Granny's Spring Tonic" made its first network appearance on March 27, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1962
After suffering a blow on the head, Phil Townsend (Richard Basehart) awakens to discover that he has long been suffering from amnesia. Realizing that he's slated to be married, Phil rushes to the house of his fiancée, only to discover that he is three years late. Soon afterward, he finds out that he has spent those three years living under the name of David Webber -- and as it happens, "David Webber" is suspected of murdering the wife of his ex-employer. This episode is based on a novel by Cornell Woolrich, previously filmed in 1942 as Street of Chance (with Burgess Meredith as the amnesiac protagonist) and thereafter adapted several times for the radio anthology Suspense. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This musical boxing drama finds Walter (Elvis Presley) as a recently discharged soldier looking forwork in New York's Catskill Mountains. He happens across Grogan's Gym, a boxing emporium that helps perfect the "gentle art." Proprioter Willie Grogan (Gig Young) and trainer Lew (Charles Bronson) run the camp for aspiring pugilists. Walter saves Grogan's long suffering girlfriend Rose (Joan Blackman) from an assault by a gangster when he knocks out the goon. He earns the nickname "Kid Galahad" and a chance to show off his talents in the boxing ring. While Walter trains for the big fight, Lew is approached by unsavory gamblers, who want Lew to be lax in repairing any cuts Walter sustains in the ring for a slice of the economic pie. Lew refuses and has his hands broken by the gambling goons. Although Walter knows the fix is on, he battles his way to victory against overwhelming odds and an intimidating opponent. Walter exacts revenge on the men who broke Lew's hands, which may be the first and only time in cinematic history that Charles Bronson needs any outside help. Presley delivers seven songs, the most memorable being "I Got Lucky." United Artists got lucky with the release of Kid Galahad, which drew legions of loyal Presley fans at the box office. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Gig Young, (more)
- 1962
Escaped convict Ray Bardon (Charles Bronson) robs a gas station and kills the attendant (Ray Montgomery), then hitches a ride with a woman named Lisa (Lola Albright). Although Lisa knows that Ray is a murderer, she bypasses several opportunities to escape from him or summon the police, and even begins to help him in his flight from justice. The hard-boiled Ray is both impressed and dumbfounded by this display of devotion -- never suspecting that Lisa has an ulterior motive. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1961
Alexander Singer directed this low-budget independent American film from 1961 featuring Lola Albright in a sexy, tactile performance as a bored stripper in her late 30s who, as an afterthought, seduces her 17-year-old downstairs neighbor (Scott Marlowe). After bedding down the young virgin, the stripper discovers a kind of sexual ecstasy she never imagined in her wildest burlesque hallucinations. Unfortunately for her ecstasies, when the boy finds out her line of work, he is shocked and disgusted and he leaves her, moving on to sexual conquests with women closer to his own age. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lola Albright, Scott Marlowe, (more)
- 1959
In this volume of episodes from the stylish and exciting television detective series from the late '50s, the suave and sexy detective Gunn solves two puzzling cases: "The Comic" and "Streetcar Jones." ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1958
Oregon Passage proves that even out west, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. John Ericson plays idealistic young Cavalry lieutenant Niles Ord, who hopes to peacefully capture renegade Shoshone chief Black Eagle (H. M. Wynant). Ord is convinced that his knowledge and understanding of Shoshone traditions and battle strategies will enable him to complete his mission without bloodshed. Alas, Ord's commanding officer Roland Dane (Edward Platt) is thoroughly and belligerantly ignorant of the ways of the Indian, and it is his pigheadedness that results in tragedy. Though relatively light in the action department, Oregon Passage succeeds by virtue of its avoidance of cliches. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Ericson, Lola Albright, (more)
