Barbara Bain Movies
A former University of Illinois sociology major, ash-blonde leading lady Barbara Bain studied for a theatrical career at New York's Actors Studio and Neighborhood Playhouse. While attending an actor's workshop in 1956, Barbara made the acquaintance of an intense young performer named Martin Landau. It was love at first sight, and they married in 1957. Landau and Bain strove to maintain separate careers, and while her husband tended to work more often than she did, Barbara was well-represented with guest appearances on such series as Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Get Smart and The Dick Van Dyke Show. In 1964, the Landaus worked together for the first time on an episode of The Greatest Show on Earth. They didn't care much for the experience, and vowed not to co-star again -- at least, not until producer Bruce Geller made them an offer they couldn't refuse with the weekly TV suspenser Mission: Impossible. Cast as silken espionage agent Cinammon Carter, Bain won three consecutive Emmies for her work on the series (if you're wondering why Cinammon never adopted elaborate disguises, as did practically everyone else on the program, it is because Bain suffered from claustrophobia, and could not abide being hemmed in by heavy makeup). Then, after three seasons' worth of Mission: Impossible, the Landaus quit the series in 1969, citing poor scripts and insufficient creative challenges. In later years, Bain would comment ruefully that leaving the show ruined her career. The record doesn't quite bear this out: indeed, during the early 1970s she racked up an impressive list of TV movie appearances, and was offered a great deal of money to reteam with Landau in the syndicated sci-fi TV series Space: 1999 (1975-77). In 1989, Bain appeared in her very first theatrical feature, Trust Me (1989), playing a truculent, dishonest art collector. Though long-divorced from Martin Landau, Barbara Bain did not express an aversion to the possibility of playing a cameo alongside her ex-husband in the 1996 film version of Mission: Impossible, should either one of them be asked to do so (alas, they weren't). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1968
Beautiful but dangerous enemy agent Felicia Vabar (Kate Woodville) engineers the theft of valuable NATO missile-defense plans. Fortunately, only half of the plans are in Vabar's possession: It is up to the IMF to protect the other half--and, of course, to recover the already stolen documents. Journeying far behind the Iron Curtain, Rollin puts his life on the line when he apparently arranges a deal with Vabar and her henchmen. Written by Barney Slater, "The Spy" was first telecast on January 7, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1967
Two of the three scientists working on a cobalt bomb have been kidnapped by enemy agent Eric Stavak (Albert Paulsen), who has hidden his captives somewhere in San Francisco. The IMF must protect remaining scientist Dr Robert Webster, who holds the equations for the deadly weapon. Posing as Webster, Phelps pretends to fall into a trap engineered by Stavak--while Barney prepares to simulate a devastating earthquake. Written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, "The Survivors" first aired on September 24, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1969
To get the evidence necessary to destroy mob kingpin Constantine Victor (Val Avery), the IMF preys upon Johnny Costa (James Patterson), Victor's most trusted henchmen. Knowing that Costa would never rat out his boss under normal circumstances, the IMF agents stage a complex scam to convince Costa that he is being framed for Victor's own financial double-dipping. Highlighting this episode is the use of a newly developed miniature "Snorkel" TV camera, long before this equipment became commonplace. First seen on January 26, 1969, "The System" was written by Robert Hamner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1969
In order to prevent Dr. Oswald Beck (David Hurst) from inaugurating wholesale bacteriological warfare against the Free World, IMF agent Rollin takes the place of a political prisoner chosen as Beck's guinea pig. To discredit Beck, Phelps and his colleagues are forced to make certain that the experiment is failure. Unfortunately, this assignment may well cost Rollin his life, no matter how it turns out. Written by Laurence Heath, "The Test Case" was originally aired on January 19, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1968
Taking a well-deserved vacation, Phelps finds himself in a small town populated almost exlclusively by political assassins. Captured, Phelps is drugged and left in a paralytic state. Despite his helplessness, he manages to blink a message to Rollin, who rallies the rest of the IMF to prevent the murder of a Russian defector. Future Waltons costar Will Geer delivers a nicely nasty performance as a duplicitious doctor. First shown on February 18, 1968, "The Town" was written by Sy Salkowitz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1967
The scene is the tiny European republic of Svardia. Dying prime minister Laryra (Rhys Williams) has arranged to be succeeded by his protégé Milos Pavel (William Windom), little realizing that Pavel intends to set up a Communist dictatorship. In concert with an Oscar-winning Hollywood art director and a distinguished heart surgeon, IMF agents Rollin, Cinammon and Barney carry out an elaborate ruse to scotch Pavel's schemes. Written by William Read Woodfield and Allen Balter and first telecast on March 18 1967, the Mission: Impossible episode "The Train" won an Emmy Award. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Hill, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1967
Guest star Eartha Kitt is cast as a petite circus contortionist named Tina. American agent Hughes (Lonny Chapman) has defected to the East, intending to sell top-secret information to the Communists. In order to retrieve that information, the IMF must penetrate an Iron Curtain embassy, via the air conditioning system--and that's where Tina comes in. Originally telecast on April 15 1967, "The Traitor" was written by Edward J. Lasko. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Hill, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1967
Though filmed as the twelfth episode of Mission: Impossible, "The Trial" was the seventeenth to be telecast, on January 28, 1967. While visiting an Eastern European nation, Briggs is mistaken for an American tourist and arrested by public prosecutor Josef Varsh (Carroll O'Connor). It is Varsh's intention to stage a propagandastic show trial and condemn Briggs to death, hoping to spark an international incident that will discredit the détente plans of deputy premier Kudnov (David Opatoshu). Though Briggs had deliberately placed himself in jeopardy in order to destroy Varsh, he may not be able to escape his present dilemma--not even with Rollin posing as his defense counsel. "The Trial" was written by Laurence Heath. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Hill, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1969
Nehemiah Persoff makes his second Mission: Impossible guest appearance, this time in the role of corrupt Latin American official Phillipe Pereda. Planning to loot his country's treasury of $40,000,000, Pereda intends to pin the blame on the country's honest president, De Varo (Rodolfo Acosta). The IMF is assigned to destroy Pereda by stealing back the money--from a high-tech safe which is controlled by sound waves and requires perfect pitch to open. Originally broadcast April 6 1969, "The Vault" was scripted by Judy Burns from a story by Burns and John Kingsbridge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1967
Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) takes over as head of the Impossible Missions Force in "The Widow." This time, the target is Alex Cresnic (William Cresnic), the world's largest heroin dealer. The IMF's mission is to persuade Cresnic's buyers that he has double-crossed them. First step: to convince Cresnic that Cinnamon is the widow of his partner Mark Walters (Joe Maross)--who is still very much alive. (Written by Barney Slater, "The Widow" first aired September 10, 1967, as the opening episode of Mission: Impossible's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1967
A priceless collection of Inca gold treasures has disappeared, threatening the financial stability of Santales, a tiny Latin American republic. The IMF is assigned to retrieve the treasures from master thief Jack Cole (Dan O'Herlihy), a task made doubly difficult by the treacherous terrain of Santales and the presence of a traitor in the nation's government. Mark Lenard, best known as Spock's Vulcan father on Star Trek, appears as Colonel Cardoza. First telecast September 17, 1967, "Trek" was written by Laurence Heath. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1968
Written by Sy Salkowitz, "Trial by Fury" takes place in a South American dictatorship. When resistance leader Manuel Delgardo (Ernest Sarracino) is thrown into prison, his associate Santos Cardoza (Michael Tolan) has himself arrested so that he can pass on valuable information to Delgardo's followers. Unfortunately, his fellow prisoners suspect Delgardo of being a spy for the government, and plan to assassinate him. IMF agents Phelps and Barney pose as convicts to save Delgardo and expose the genuine traitor. Paul Winfield appears in the supporting role of Klaus. "Trial by Fury" originally aired March 10, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1966
The IMF journeys to the Free World country of Valeria, where an election is about to be held. The police-controlled Nationalists intend to rig the votes so that they will emerge triumphant over the Liberty Party. The agents' mission is to "unfix" a crucial voting machine that has been tampered with by the Nationalists. Tension mounts as Cinnamon is targetted for surveillance by the police and Barney is shot in a skirmish. Written by Laurence Heath, "Wheels" was originally seen on October 29, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Hill, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1966
The IMF agents arrive in Austria, where widowed American scientist Dr. Martha Zubrovnik (Beartice Straight) has fallen under the influence of the Communists. Though Dr. Zubrovnik is not a traitor, she has been hoodwinked into cooperating with the enemy by phony medium Sigismund Poljact (Donald Davis), who claims to be in contact with the spirit of the scientist's husband Kurt. With the help of genuine psychic consultant Ariana Domi (Martine Bartlett), Rollin and Barney pose as a paranormal research team in order to convince Dr. Zubrovnik that her husband does not want her to cooperate with the enemy. Written by Robert Lewin, "Zubrovnik's Ghost" first aired on November 26, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Hill, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1985
Fed up with David's childish behavior, Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) bets him that he can't act in a mature manner throughout their next case. David (Bruce Willis) does his best, even though the case at hand--delivering the ransom money for a kidnapped concert pianist--offers ample temptation for him to cut up. By the time the situation is resolved, however, Maddie kind of misses the "old" David and would like to have him back. This is the episode with the infamous (and much-copied) "office limbo" scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
A charming doctor who kills his female patients is discovered by a private detective in this made for television movie. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1988
A pre-Will and Grace Megan Mullally guest stars in this episode as Molly Connors, the feisty daughter of West Virginia coal miner Eben Connors (Denver Pyle). When Eben dies in a suspicious mining accident, Molly sweeps into town to accuse the mine's owner of being responsible for her dad's death. Shortly thereafter, the owner is found murdered--and the murder weapon, a rifle, is located in Molly's car. All that is preventing Molly from being torn to pieces by the hostile local citizens is the presence of the girl's former creative-writing teacher Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), who as usual suspects that someone else has perpetrated the foul deed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Not long after ruthless journalist Jane Dawson (Jessica Walter) informs Jessica (Angela Lansbury) of her plans to publish an unauthorized biography of former movie star Ellen Lombard (Barbara Bain), Jane is found electrocuted in a hot tub, thanks to a TV set which "accidentally" tumbled into the water. Seen fleeing from the scene of the tragedy is Ellen's husband, Arthur Brent (Bradford Dillman)--who, inevitably, is one of Jessica's oldest and dearest friends. In her efforts to clear Arthur's name, Jessica leaves no stone unturned...nor does she fail to find out who it was who first "discovered" Jane's body. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A middle-aged man finds love in the last place he was looking -- his psychiatrist's waiting room -- in this dark comedy drama. Alex (William H. Macy) is a man in his mid-forties who is having something of a midlife crisis; he's unhappy with his life; his marriage to Martha (Tracey Ullman) is going through a rough patch; he's worried about his six-year-old son, on whom he dotes; and he wishes he hadn't bucked under to the wishes of his domineering father Michael (Donald Sutherland) and started working in the family business. Making things even more problematic is the family's line of work -- Alex is a killer-for-hire. Alex feels as if he's about to unravel from stress when he begins seeing Josh (John Ritter), a psychiatrist. One day, while waiting for his session with Josh, Alex meets Sarah (Neve Campbell), a sweet, pretty, but severely neurotic young woman with an omnivorous sexual appetite. Alex and Sarah take an immediate liking to one another, and Alex begins to pursue a romance with her, though he knows an affair could create more problems than it solves, especially after Michael informs Alex that Josh is his next target. Panic marked the feature debut for writer/director Henry Bromell, who previously distinguished himself as a novelist and a television producer. The supporting cast includes Barbara Bain as Alex's mother, who helped get her husband started in the business. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William H. Macy, John Ritter, (more)
- 1964
Scheming Harvey Scott (Tom Tully) has managed to regain control of his mining company while his nephew Rick (Henry Brandt) was in Acapulco, recuperating from an accident. To make certain that Rick doesn't return to the States to restake his claim on the company, Harvey orders his nephew's lovelorn niece Joanna (Anne Whitfield) to keep him occupied in Mexico. Eventually Rick tumbles to this scheme and heads to LA for a showdown. But when Harvey is killed, Rick is nowhere to be found--and Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) finds himself defending poor Joanna on a murder charge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Oilman Charles Houston (Byron Palmer) might have gotten away with murdering his wife had he not be "captured" on film by cagey wildlife photographer Robert Byrd (Harry Jackson). Before long, Houston is being blackmailed, and to add to his problems his sister-in-law Paula (Lori March) has been depleting his oil profits. It could be that Paula is also mixed up with blackmail--but before anything else can be revealed, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) must save Paula from the gas chamber after she is discovered in a locked room with Houston's corpse! Watch for a young, pre-Mission: Impossible Barbara Bain in a key supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
The made-for-TV Savage is worth seeing today as an example of early Steven Spielberg. Martin Landau stars as Paul Savage, a TV investigative reporter. In possession of a photograph that might destroy the career of a Supreme Court nominee, Savage finds himself the target of scrutiny from all sorts of shady types. Barbara Bain, then Mrs. Landau, costars as Savage's producer. Originally titled Watch Dog, Savage was the pilot for a potential TV series. Despite high network enthusiasm, the project never went any farther than its March 31, 1973 telecast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
In this exploitation film, a group of violent neo-Nazis invade a small town, causing murder and destruction wherever they go. However, when the skinheads make the mistake of murdering a tough man's girlfriend, he sets out to avenge her death ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
