Richard Kiel Movies
We shouldn't say it, but...at seven foot two, American actor Richard Kiel was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Making the cast-call rounds while working as a nightclub bouncer, Kiel began picking up bit roles in the early '60s. He was the misleadingly altruistic alien in the classic 1962 Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man" (you'll remember that climactic line "It's a cookbook!") and was less prestigiously starred in that masterpiece of bad cinema, Eegah! (1962). Ambling through a series a tough-lug and town-bully roles, Kiel attained full stardom as the menacing, steel-dentured Jaws in the the 1977 James Bond flick The Spy Who Loved Me. So well-received was this appearance that the scriptwriters contrived to bring Jaws back from the dead in the next Bondfest, Moonraker (1979), wherein Kiel becomes a good guy before the end and even gets a girlfriend. In 1992, Richard Kiel turned producer/director (in addition to starring) with the appropriately titled The Giant of Thunder Mountain, a "four waller" which was released on a city-by-city basis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Country and western star Ferlin Husky plays a backwoods yokel who inherits a Las Vegas saloon staffed by barmaid Mamie Van Doren. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Gilligan (Bob Denver) is unable to convince the Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.) that he has seen a ghost. Before long, however, everyone believes Gilligan's story, as the ghost goes on a full-scale haunting rampage. Fighting fire with the fire, Gilligan and company cook up a scheme to scare the spectre away for good. Richard Kiel, the towering actor best known as "Jaws" in the James Bond films, appears (or is it disappears?) as the troublesome ghost. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Kiel
- 1965
Whisked back to ancient Persia, Tony (Larry Hagman) must avenge Jeannie's honor for an insult committed by Ali, the Killer of Giants (played by "giant" actor Richard Kiel). Though Tony may well be killed by Ali, he can take comfort in the knowledge that Ali will then be killed by Jeannie (Barbara Eden). The befuddled astronaut also meets Jeannie's parents (Florence Sundstrom, Henry Corden) who find Tony to be a bit "odd"to suit their daughter! This and the following seven episodes includes a different opening credits sequence, in which the familiar "dancing Jeannie" animation is replaced by a narrated recap of the events which led up to Jeannie adopting Tony as her master (that's Paul Frees as the narrator, by the way). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Charlie Rogers (Elvis Presley) is a coffeehouse singer who joins a financially troubled carnival in Roustabout. He is hired by owner Maggie Morgan (Barbara Stanwyck) and soon catches the eye of his pretty female co-worker Cathy Lean (Joan Freeman). Cathy's irate father Joe (Leif Erickson) clashes with Charlie when he tries to romance his daughter, but Charlie's singing helps bring in the much-needed money for the failing carnival and keeps the wolves from the big tent show. A disagreement has Charlie joining another carnival before things are smoothed out. Watch for Raquel Welch and Terry Garr in bit parts. Presley delivers 11 songs, the highlight being the Mike Leiber/Jerry Stoller tune"Little Egypt". ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Barbara Stanwyck, (more)
This parody takes a poke at Cold War espionage films as it tells the tale of two Red spies who sneak into the U.S. and onto a Western dude ranch with an infectious bunny. It is hoped that the little hopper will cause a deadly epidemic. Once on the ranch, the Soviet agents finds themselves surrounded by similarly disguised agents from all over the world. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mischa Terr, Arch Hall, Jr., (more)
- 1964
Kolos (Richard Kiel) is a space alien sent to Earth in this low-budget science fiction story. His mission is to make duplicates of the world leaders in an effort to take over the world. Government agents Glenn Martin (George Nader) and Gale Wilson (Barbara Nichols) are called on to stop the scheming alien. Watch for Hugh Beaumont (best known as Ward Cleaver in the television series Leave It To Beaver) in his last screen role. Kiel would gain fame as the villainous character known as Jaws in several James Bond spy thrillers in the 1970s. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Nader, Barbara Nichols, (more)
This unappealing suspense film stars Ronald Foster and Erika Peters as a couple who arrive at a decrepit old mansion only to find that the previous occupants -- a group of circus freaks -- have yet to vacate the premises. Worse, it seems that the mischievous tenants are quite adamant about defending their territory against all outsiders while waiting for their keeper to return, and their methods of dissuading unwanted guests apparently include murder. This is a passable spook-house exercise, with lots of severed limbs flung at the hapless protagonists and and a silly cop-out ending, but the use of actual circus freaks as the villains (probably a cost-saving measure for the filmmakers) is more than a little disconcerting. The circus giant is played by a young Richard Kiel. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Lassie's Great Adventure is the feature-film version of a three-episode cliffhanger, originally presented on the Lassie television series. It all begins when the faithful collie accompanies his master Timmy (Jon Provost) to the market. While nosing around the vegetables, Lassie wanders into a van, which is promptly locked up. By the time she makes her escape, Lassie is hundreds of miles from home. Meanwhile, Timmy never gives up hope that his beloved Lassie will eventually return. Written by Sumner Long, Lassie's Great Adventure (original title: Lassie's Odyssey) was first telecast February 18, 24, and March 4, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Everybody knows the "punchline" of this classic Twilight Zone episode, but that doesn't make this entry any less entertaining. Told in flashback (a last-minute decision, judging by the original script), this is the story of the Kanamints, a race of giant space aliens who arrive on Earth, ostensibly on a mission of goodwill. The Kanamints offer all manner of scientific advancements; all they ask in exchange is that the earthlings trust them without question. Meanwhile, a team of scientists, headed by Dr. Chambers (Lloyd Bochner), work day and night to translate a Kanamint book, the title of which is, of course, "To Serve Man." Richard Kiel, the 7-foot-plus actor who gained fame as "Jaws" in the James Bond series, appears as the Kanamint leader (though his voice is dubbed by Marvin Miller. Scripted by Rod Serling from a short story by Damon Knight, "To Serve Man" was originally telecast March 2, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lloyd Bochner, Richard Kiel, (more)
Considered by many to be one of the worst films ever made, Eegah! is the story of a gigantic Neanderthal who has managed to survive into modern times living in California's Mojave desert, and who falls in love with and kidnaps the teenage girl who discovered him in a cave. A handsome young man (Arch Hall, Jr., the director's teenage son) proves to be her savior and while he and his rock & roll band play, the police shoot the caveman to bits. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Kiel, Marilyn Manning, (more)
In this fun-filled adventure-fantasy, a rookie knight embarks upon a valiant quest to save a princess who has been captured by a malicious magician. Along the way he must battle the usual assortment of dragons, ogres and other mythical beings. He is assisted by a good witch who gives him a magic sword. Unfortunately, the magic fails and suddenly he must find his own magic from within. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Basil Rathbone, Estelle Winwood, (more)
In this off-beat sci-fi adventure an astronaut must make a forced landing upon a remote asteroid. His ship is damaged and he must breathe the planet's atmosphere. Soon he begins shrinking and once he gets down to six inches discovers the place populated by diminutive people who have turned the flying rock into a ship. He soon joins forces with the little people to defeat the monstrous solarites, terrifying creatures out to eat them. The leader of the wee-folk is Francis X. Bushman who was once a popular romantic lead in silent movies. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
