Buddy Ebsen Movies
A dancer from childhood, Buddy Ebsen headlined in vaudeville in an act with his sister Velma. In 1935, Ebsen was signed by MGM as a specialty performer in The Broadway Melody of 1936, wherein he was shown to good advantage in several solos. He worked in a number of subsequent musicals, including Shirley Temple's Captain January (1936), teaming with Shirley for the delightful number "At the Codfish Ball." MGM assigned Ebsen to the role of the Scarecrow in 1939's The Wizard of Oz, but Ray Bolger, who'd been cast as the Tin Man, talked Ebsen into switching roles. The move proved to be Ebsen's undoing; he found that he was allergic to the silver makeup required for the Tin Man, fell ill, and was forced to bow out of the film, to be replaced by Jack Haley (however, Ebsen's voice can still be heard in the reprises of "We're Off to See the Wizard").Ebsen then returned to the stage, taking time out to provide the dancing model for a electronically operated wooden marionette which later was used at Disneyland.In 1950 Ebsen returned to films as comical sidekick to Rex Allen, gradually working his way into good character parts in "A" pictures like Night People (1955). Walt Disney, who'd remembered Ebsen from the dancing marionette, offered the actor the lead in his 1954 three-part TV production of Davy Crockett, but at the last moment engaged Fess Parker as Davy and recast Buddy as Crockett's pal George Russel. Ebsen continued to pop up in films like 1961's Breakfast at Tiffany's (as Audrey Hepburn's abandoned hometown husband), and in TV westerns, where he often cast his image to the winds by playing cold-blooded murderers. Comfortably wealthy in 1962 thanks to his film work and wise business investments, Ebsen added to his riches by signing on to play Jed Clampett in the TV sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, which ran for nine years to excellent ratings. A millionaire several times over, Ebsen planned to ease off after Hillbillies, but in 1972 he was back in TV in the title role of Barnaby Jones. Few observers gave this easygoing detective series much of a chance, but they weren't counting on Ebsen's built-in popularity; Barnaby Jones lasted until 1980. The actor now confined himself to special events appearances and occasional guest-star roles, though he did play the recurring part of Lee Horsley's uncle in the final season of the TV mystery show Matt Houston (1983-85). One of Buddy Ebsen's final roles was in the 1993 theatrical film version of The Beverly Hillbillies -- not as Jed Clampett but in a cameo as Barnaby Jones! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Clips from the popular 1960s comedy series are interspersed with interviews in this video tribute. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
Penelope Spheeris directed this compulsively faithful film adaptation of the popular 1960s television series. The familiar story 'bout a man named Jed Clampett (Jim Varney), a poor mountaineer who barely kept his family fed, continues to follow the TV show's format. Jed discovers oil on his Arkansas property and overnight becomes a multi-millionaire. He moves his family to Beverly Hills, wanting to turn his daughter Ellie May (Erika Eleniak) into a sophisticated woman. At his new Beverly Hills mansion, he meets Mr. Drysdale (Dabney Coleman), a kow-towing banker, and Drysdale's assistant, the repressed crone Miss Hathaway (Lily Tomlin). Jed announces that he would like to re-marry, and that leaves the door open for Drysdale's scheming lackey Woodrow Tyler (Rob Schneider) and his fortune-hunting partner Laura Jackson (Lea Thompson) to make the moves on Jed. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Diedrich Bader, Dabney Coleman, (more)
Working Trash's ad copy consisted of a photo of a large threaded screw, with the caption "Tonight, two working stiffs are going to do to Wall Street what it's done to us." Wink wink, nudge nudge. The two stiff workers--er, working stiffs--are George Carlin and Ben Stiller, janitors in a large brokerage firm. By utilizing the inside information they've gleaned from their employers' wastebasket, Carlin and Stiller proceed to strike it rich on the market. Buddy Ebsen costars as the head broker, looking as confused as we are at finding him in this TV movie. Working Trash premiered on the Fox Network--as if there was any doubt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A dog named Milroy is adopted by Santa in this animated Christmas adventure for kids. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1987
The made-for-TV The Stone Fox is set in 1905 Wyoming. Young Joey Cramer is determined to enter his dog--played by a canine named O.J., previously the star of the "Disney Family Movie" Skeezer--in an adult-dominated sledding race. It's all for the sake of Cramer's ailing, destitute grandpa Buddy Ebsen. The boy's competition for the $150 prize is more than formidable: the winner for the past several years has been taciturn Shoshone Indian Stone Fox (Gordon Tootoosis) and his intimidating team of Samoyeds. Filmed in Canada, The Stone Fox was originally telecast March 30, 1987--smack-dab opposite the annual Academy Awards ceremony (no wonder you've never heard of the film). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Paul Bunyan's story is told in Reading Rainbow: Paul Bunyan, as viewers hear the legend of the gigantic lumberjack and his amazing strength. Trees were important to the character, and the program contains information about reforestation and the importance of tree conservation practices. Smokey the Bear makes an appearance and accompanies LeVar Burton to Paul Bunyan's home state, Maine, where Smokey receives instructions on battling forest fires. The young critics of the program review Whale in the Sky by Anne Siberell and The Star-Spangled Banner, illustrated by Peter Spier. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- LeVar Burton
- 1984
An informative video series that looks at the Lutheran ideals of everyday religion. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1981
Ten years after the cancellation of the cornpone comedy series The Beverly Hillbillies, the property was revived -- mercifully briefly -- in the form of a two-hour movie. Originally titled Solving the Energy Crisis, The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies found Buddy Ebsen, Donna Douglas and Nancy Kulp recreating their sitcom roles as millionaire hillbilly Jed Clampett (who'd moved back to the hills after dividing up his fortune amongst his loved ones), his daughter Elly May (now the owner of a small petting zoo), and bank secretary-turned-government functionary Jane Hathaway. Max Baer Jr. took a pass on the project, thus the role of Jed's nephew Jethro Bodine-now a "sophisticated Hollywood producer"-was played by Ray Young. And with Irene Ryan (Granny) and Raymond Bailey (Milburn Drysdale) having passed on, their replacements were Imogene Coca, and former Hogan's Heroes regular Werner Klemperer as government bureaucrat C. D. Medford, Jane Hathaway's new boss. Also on hand was bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs, who with his late partner Lester Flatt has composed and performed the original Beverly Hillbillies theme song "The Ballad of Jed Clampett"; Shug Fisher and Shad Heller, who'd appeared in several 1969 episodes of the original series; and two veterans from The Beverly Hillbillies' sister series Petticoat Junction, Linda Kaye Henning and Charles Lane. The plot, if anyone cares, finds the Clampetts joining forces with Miss Jane to solve the energy shortage, using Granny's "white lightning" as a fuel substitute. As the film draws to a close, it looks as if Miss Jane and her boss Mr. Medford are about to be hitched in a good ol' Ozark wedding. Originally telecast on October 6, 1981, Return of the Beverly Hillbillies was intended as the pilot for a full-scale revival of the earlier series, but this was not to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
A 1962 novel by Edward Abbey was the source for this 1981 TV movie. Buddy Ebsen plays a stubborn oldster who refuses to leave his mountain property when it is targeted for a government missile base. Not even a promised $100,000 compensation will induce Ebsen to leave. Young land developer Ron Howard is sent to vacate Ebsen, but soon Howard joins the older man in defying the military. Soon it boils down to a battle of wills between Ebsen and the equally bullheaded army officer Michael Conrad. Fire on the Mountain may have your typical "all-TV" cast, but it's a good one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ron Howard, Buddy Ebsen, (more)
- 1979
In this drama, a prestigious lawyer chucks it all to begin a quest for his long-lost son who is now living somewhere in Hawaii. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1978
At the height of his Three's Company popularity, John Ritter accepted an intensely dramatic role in the made-for-TV Leave Yesterday Behind. The carefree life of college athlete and veterinary student Paul Stallings (John Ritter) is grotesquely altered when he is paralyzed in an accident during a polo match. Attractive horse trainer Marny Clarkson (Carrie Fisher) tries her best to lift Paul out of his funk after his tragic mishap, and in so doing falls in love with him, leaving her fiance (Robert Urich) in the lurch. Some much-needed laughs are provided by Carmen Zapata as Paul's Mexican housekeeper, while Buddy Ebsen as the hero's country-doctor grandfather dispense his usual crusty sagacity. Leave Yesterday Behind was first offered by ABC on May 14, 1978. ~TV Guide/Marrill/Internet/Expert ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Critical List divides its four-hour running time between a big city hospital and a courtroom where the hospital heads are battling numerous malpractice suits. Medical director Lloyd Bridges is obliged to juggle the travails at the hospital with his own deteriorating marriage. Prosecutor Buddy Ebsen seems obsessed with bring medicos to justice; his reasons are deep and complex. Prosecutor's assistant Barbara Parkins compromises her objectivity of entering into a romance with Bridges. And head doctor Robert Wagner has a colorful past that he'd like to keep buried. The story concludes with a major health-fund scandal that threatens Bridges' appointment as the first Secretary of National Health. Advertised as a "world premiere movie", Critical List was actually two TV-series pilot films strung together. Both were based on novels by Marshall Goldberg MD. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Produced for the syndicated "Operation Prime Time" series, The Bastard is the first of John Jakes' "Kent Family Chronicles" (followed by The Rebels and The Seekers). Presented in two parts, the story begins in 1771, with 17-year-old French commoner Philippe Charboneau (Andrew Stevens) discovering that he is the illegitimate son of a British Duke. He goes on a long journey, girdling several countries, to claim his birthright, with his mother (Patricia Neal) along for the ride. Settling in America in 1772, our hero--now known as Phillip Kent--becomes involved with the American Revolution. The all-star cast includes Buddy Ebsen, Barry Sullivan, Harry Morgan, Lorne Greene, Donald Pleasence, Tom Bosley (as Ben Franklin), William Shatner (as Paul Revere) and William Daniels (as Samuel Adams). Distributed nationally beginning May 22, 1978, The Bastard was re-titled Kent Family Chronicles in the more conservative TV markets. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
This disaster movies chronicles the many dramas of the people involved in a 39 car smash-up on a California freeway. The wreck occurs on the final day of a holiday weekend. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1973
This much-laundered adaptation of Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer was first presented as a 90-minute TV special on March 23, 1973. Josh Albee is Tom, Jeff Tyler is Huckleberry Finn, Jane Wyatt is Aunt Polly and Buddy Ebsen is Muff Potter--all acceptable but antiseptic shadows of the Twain original. Only Vic Morrow, oozing venom from every orifice as Injun Joe, conveys the raw energy of the novel. The film was shot in Ontario, with the St. Lawrence river subbing for the Mississippi. Tom Sawyer was carefully scheduled to premiere several months in advance of the expensive Disney theatrical film version starring Johnny Whittaker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Josh Albee
- 1972
Joshua Cabe (Buddy Ebsen) is a trapper in the old west. He hopes to set up his own homestead, but new government laws won't allow him any land unless he has a family. Cabe's own daughters refuse to come west to live with their dad, so Joshua hires three "shady ladies" (Karen Valentine, Lesley Ann Warren and Sandra Dee) to pose as his offspring. A made-for-TV movie, Daughters of Joshua Cabe did well enough in the ratings to encourage producer Aaron Spelling to develop a series based on the property. Unfortunately, neither of the two subsequent pilot films--New Daughters of Joshua Cabe and Daughters of Joshua Cabe Return, each with brand-new casts--aroused network or sponsorial interest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Fresh from his nine-year stint on The Beverly Hillbillies, Buddy Ebsen is cast as Ponderosa hired hand Cactus Murphy, fired for incompetence by Ben Cartwright. His dander up, the old hand challenges Ben to do all the work Cactus does in a week-and without using the Cartwright money or power to his advantage. Taking up the cudgel, Ben signs on to his own spread as a wrangler named "Ben Brown"-and does he learn a painful lesson! Richard Farnsworth appears in the supporting role of Tate. First broadcast on January 16, 1972, "The Saddle Stiff" was written by Samuel A. Peeples and John Hawkins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1972
A crisis ensues when Air Force One crashes while on a flight out west, apparently killing all those aboard, including President Jeremy Haines (Tod Andrews). The United States is in the midst of a confrontation with China that could lead to a nuclear war between the two countries, and the government is now in the hands of Vice President Kermit Madigan (Buddy Ebsen), a not too intelligent or sophisticated man, who was deliberately kept out of the loop. His confidence on foreign policy issues virtually nil, Madigan seeks to carry out Haines's intended policy in confronting the Chinese but gets two completely different accounts of what that policy was to be. Secretary of State Freeman Sharkey (Raymond Massey), a career diplomat, claims that Haines was pursuing firm but peaceful containment of the problem, while National Security advisor George Oldenburg (Rip Torn) says that Haines was ready to go eyeball-to-eyeball with the Chinese and go to war if necessary -- and Oldenburg quickly picks up on how to gain Madigan's confidence. As if Madigan doesn't have enough problems, the stunned Washington community cannot help but openly doubt his competence, while his ambitious wife (Mercedes McCambridge) sees this unfolding tragedy as a way for herself and her husband to finally get some respect and settle a few scores with those who belittled the Second Couple. Even more troubling, as the search teams comb the wreckage, another mystery ensues -- they can't seem to find the president's body. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Featuring a smorgasbord of has-beens and never-weres only a Love Boat casting director could love, this silly '70s movie-of-the-week involves a demonically-possessed Druid artifact from an English monastery coming to supernatural life aboard a transatlantic airline flight, taking control of one of the passengers, and causing lots of made-for-TV mayhem. Panicked personnel include William Shatner as a besotted former priest, Buddy Ebsen as a boisterous tycoon and Chuck Connors as the gung-ho pilot. Even Gilligan's Island alum Russell Johnson is along for the ride. Shatner's performance falls a bit short of his eye-popping histrionics as another terrorized air traveler on an episode of The Twilight Zone. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1970
The opening story arc of The Beverly Hillbillies' ninth and final season finds the Clampett family briefly leaving Beverly Hills for a location-filmed jaunt to Washington D.C, there to help the president fight the scourge of air pollution. Upon arriving in the nation's capital, hillbilly millionaire Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen) once again falls into the clutches of glib con artist Shifty Shafer (Phil Silvers), who proceeds to "sell" the Clampetts all of the famous Washington landmarks! After returning to the California, the family is enmeshed in the series' longest and most labyrinthine story arc to date, in which Elly May Clampett (Donna Douglas) becomes engaged to Naval officer Mark Templeton (Roger Torrey). Much of the humor of this situation arises from the fact that Mark is a "frogman," leading Granny (Irene Ryan) to conclude that her favorite granddaughter is about to become hitched to a six-foot amphibian. Later plotlines involve the Clampett's brief foray into grunion fishing (they are convinced that grunions are actually invading space aliens!), Elly May and Granny's involvement in the Women's Lib movement at the behest of born-again feminist Jane Hathaway (Nancy Kulp), and a two-parter in which the Clampett mansion is transformed into a geisha house. Arguably the most intriguing of the season's episodes is "Elly, the Secretary," featuring Louellen Aden, a nonprofessional who landed this guest-star spot as the result of a nationwide contest. Although the ratings for The Beverly Hillbillies had been declining during the past two seasons, the series' cancellation at the end of season nine was due not to diminishing viewership, but because CBS was endeavoring to "de-ruralize" its audience demographic in hopes of appealing to the more affluent urban viewers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, (more)
