John Sebastian Movies
Not to be confused with the ex-member of the Lovin' Spoonful, New York-born actor John Sebastian specialized in tough guy roles for most of his career. He only appeared in two feature films, Paul Stanley's Cry Tough (1959) and Marc Lawrence's Nightmare in the Sun (1964) -- both gritty tales of underworld activity -- but he was a regular presence in any number of (usually) crime-related television dramas, most notably those produced by Jack Webb. Sebastian was a resident member of Webb's stock company of players, making nearly a dozen appearances on Dragnet and Adam 12, in addition to working on Mannix and Marcus Welby, M.D. -- and he even managed to appear in one episode of Get Smart ("Now You See Him, Now You Don't") as a KAOS agent. Built like a fire-plug with muscles, and vaguely resembling a young James Cagney and tough-guy actor Terry Becker, with a little bit of wry cynicism à la Brad Dexter thrown in, Sebastian sported a working-class New York accent that placed him in the streets, and usually pretty mean ones when he was in character. He was perfect for crime dramas, playing cops or, much more often, hoods. In the Dragnet episode "Police Commission -- DR-13," he was totally convincing as a grease monkey/strongarm man; and in the episode "The Squeeze," Sebastian was one of the most memorable thugs in the run of the show, calmly delivering the line, "In this business, it's not how tough you are, but how tough people think you are that matters," with the kind of easy, cool nonchalance that one might later more readily associate with the narration of Goodfellas. Sebastian retired from television acting at the age of 60, following an appearance in a 1975 episode of Adam 12. He died in 1993. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide- 1958
Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) search for an elusive check forger with extremely expensive tastes. The forger uses his ill-gotten gain to purchase fancy clothes, which he then sells at a tidy profit. The detectives' investigation leads to a very young girl (Dawn Richard with some very shady (and highly suspect) relatives. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Four hot rods have been stolen by thieves who intend to strip the cars for parts and accessories. Investigating, Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) cannot help but notice that three of the four missing cars had been entered in the same race just before their disappearance. As in the case of the earlier episode "The Big Rod", the two detectives are assisted in their efforts to track down the criminals by members of the National Hot Rod Association. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
This was the first film directed by Paul Stanley, and its theme of second-generation Puerto Ricans living in New York's Spanish Harlem would be picked up again in 1961's smash success, West Side Story. Miguel Estrada (John Saxon) was a member of a local gang before he went to prison for a year, and now that he is out he wants to walk the straight-and-narrow. His attempts at getting away from the life that binds him to the gangs are not anything his father can understand, and the gangs are not going to let him just walk away. At one point, he is forced into a knife fight with a gang member. A counterpoint to Miguel's dilemma is found in Sarita (Linda Cristal), a local "hostess" who prefers single bliss to marriage and its problems. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Saxon, Linda Cristal, (more)
- 1964
In this crime drama, a bored, but seductive wife of a wealthy old ranch goes cruising for trouble and finds it when she picks up a hapless hitchhiker who soon falls under her sexy spell. Like a fly to a spider's web, he is drawn to her bedroom. Unfortunately, the old rancher sees him leaving and flies into a rage, killing his cheating wife. The crooked county sheriff is delighted by the events as he can now begin blackmailing the rancher. To cover for the crime, he arrests the poor drifter who doesn't even know the woman is dead. In the end, the rancher kills the sheriff and confesses all. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Derek, Aldo Ray, (more)
- 1967
Ironside (Raymond Burr) is counting upon African American pro-football hero Charles "Bat" Masterson (Ivan Dixon) to help keep a group of inner-city kids on the straight and narrow. But Masterson is preoccupied with keeping his parolee brother Joe (Don Marshall) out of trouble--and is even willing to take a manslaughter rap for Joe's sake. It falls to Ironside to figure a way to save Masterson from his own tragically misguided sense of family loyalty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Ironside (Raymond Burr) comes to the aid of his old friend and comrade-in-arms Al Cervantes (Ricardo Montalban), a Mexican-American police detective accused of murdering an abortionist (which in 1968 was an illegal profession). Although the evidence against Cervantes seems overwhelming, Ironside suspects that the man is being framed. Other key players in this tense drama are crooked lawyer F.A. Hobarth (Robert Alda), shady boxer Valdez (Rafael Campos) and conspicuously missing B-girl Rita (Poupee Boucar). Future Marcus Welby MD costar Elena Verdugo appears as Cervantes' wife. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
An attempted kidnapping and rape in a bad part of town is one of several tough cases on tonight's log for Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner). The two mobile cops also stumble upon a restaurant robbery in progress, which proves to be bad news for the robbers. They also follow up a report on a brutal child beating. The supporting cast includes popular nightclub entertainer Beatrice Kay, future soap opera diva Susan Seaforth Hayes, and Ronne Troup, the daughter of future Emergency! star Bobby Troup. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
In stark contrast with Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner), fellow officer Ed Wells (Gary Crosby) has no time for "teamwork" with his partner Officer Brady (Hank Brandt); indeed, Ed prides himself on the fact that he and Brandt choose to work independently. This attitude proves disastrous when Wells runs up against a well-armed homeowner who mistakes the officer for a burglar. Perhaps coincidentally, this episode represents a rally of "second-generation" Hollywood talent: in addition to semiregular Gary Crosby, who of course was the son of Bing Crosby, the supporting cast features Deanna Martin, the daughter of Dean Martin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
