Don Rickles Movies
Believe it or don't: comedian Don Rickles--the "Merchant of Venom," "The Caliph of Calumny," "Mister Warmth"--was once a dedicated student at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. As a movie-struck kid, Rickles aspired to share the Big Screen with such idols as Clark Gable and James Cagney. He got his wish in his first film, 1958's Run Silent Run Deep, wherein Gable topped the cast. Rickles went on to receive critical plaudits for his villainous performance in 1960's The Rat Race, and also popped up with regularity on such TV series as The Thin Man and The Twilight Zone. But truly good roles for a short, baldpated young character actor were relatively few and far between. During a long period between acting assignments, Rickles decided to work up a nightclub act. He began as a traditional stand-up comic, but when annoyed by hecklers, he instinctively insulted the insulters back as a defense mechanism. Audiences laughed harder at his impromptu insults than his prepared material, and thus the dye was cast for Rickle's show-business future. The story goes that, upon spotting Frank Sinatra in one of his audiences, Rickles impulsively cried out "Come right in, Frank. Make yourself at home. Hit somebody." The normally combative Sinatra exploded with laughter, and from that point on Rickles was "in." While the bulk of his fame and fortune rested upon his nightclub work, Rickles still kept a hand in acting, playing guest spots on TV programs like F Troop, The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy and Run for Your Life (he was particularly good in the last-named series as a washed-up comedian facing a statutory rape charge). As his own vitriolic "self" (though rumors persist that Rickles is a pussycat off-camera), he convulsed the stars of such variety series as The Dean Martin Show and The Andy Williams Show. When Dean Martin altered his series to a "roast" format in the early 1970s, Rickles could always be counted upon for a steady stream of hilarious invectives; conversely, he took it as well as he dished it out when the Friar's Club elected him Entertainer of the Year in 1974. The one sore spot in Rickles' latter-day career was his failure to sustain a weekly TV series. The 1968 variety outing The Don Rickles Show was axed after thirteen weeks, while a 1972 sitcom of the same name barely survived the season. He had better luck as star of the 1976 comedy series C.P.O. Sharkey, which lasted two years; but in 1993, Daddy Dearest, which co-starred Rickles with "neurotic" comedian Richard Lewis, was on and off in only two months. In comparison, Rickles has done quite well in films, with choice secondary roles in such productions as Where It's At?, Kelly's Heroes (1970) and several of the "Beach Party" frivolities. In 1995, after several years away from films, Don Rickles resurfaced with a solid supporting part in Martin Scorsese's Casino, and as the voice of a singularly abrasive Mr. Potato Head in the animated Toy Story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The contrasting acting styles of Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster serve to increase the already high tension level of the WW2 drama Run Silent, Run Deep. Gable plays submarine commander "Rich" Richardson, who assumes command of the USS Nerka. Because his previous sub was sunk by the Japanese under highly suspect circumstances, Richardson inspires nothing but animosity from his new crew. Particularly hostile is executive officer Lt. Jim Bledsoe (Burt Lancaster), who'd assumed that he was next in line to command the Nerka. Obsessed with tracking down the Japanese destroyer that sank his old sub, Richardson drives his crew mercilessly, and even disobeys direct orders from his own higher-ups. The Nerka manages to blast the Japanese vessel out of the waters, but in so doing the sub is placed in dire peril in enemy waters. In his desperate efforts to save the Nerka, Richardson at long last wins the respect of Bledsoe and the rest of the crew. Featured in the cast of Run Silent, Run Deep are Burt Lancaster's old circus partner Nick Cravat, and, in his unbilled movie debut, Don Rickles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, (more)
- 1959
The Rabbit Trap was part of a cycle of 1950s films based on TV dramas; in this instance, the film was adapted from a teleplay by J.P. Miller. Ernest Borgnine plays a workaholic husband and father whose demanding job (the "rabbit trap" of the title) affords him little time for his wife (Bethel Leslie) and son (Kevin "Moochie" Corcoran). At long last, Borgnine earns a vacation, but his boss calls him back for an important assignment. Weighing his priorities, Borgnine chooses his family over his job. You could do that back in 1959. Appropriately, Rabbit Trap has an "all TV" cast, include Borgnine, Leslie, Jeanette Nolan and a young but already scrappy Don Rickles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernest Borgnine, David Brian, (more)
- 1960
A somewhat uneven but still entertaining comedy-drama, The Rat Race, by director Robert Mulligan, co-stars Tony Curtis and Debbie Reynolds as Peter Hammond, Jr. and Peggy Brown, two performers who meet in New York and are thrown together by their mutual poverty. Peter arrives on a bus from the Midwest with his sax in hand and high hopes for a career. He gets a one-room walk-up and then meets Peggy, a dancer down on her luck who needs a place to stay. Ever the gentleman, Peter offers her space in his apartment and they string up a modesty curtain to divide their separate domains. But luck is not kind to Peter, right from the beginning. Some pranksters hose him down with cold water on his first trip into the city and he later gets his precious saxophone stolen by a trio of devious musicians/thieves. Peggy offers companionship in the face of difficulties, and before long the platonic relationship has distinct romantic overtones. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Curtis, Debbie Reynolds, (more)
- 1961
First telecast March 3, 1961, this is a deft reworking of the first-season Twilight Zone episode "Mr. Bevis." Making his second appearance on the series, Burgess Meredith stars as Luther Dingle, a mild-mannered salesman whom a pair of Martians select for a most unusual experiment. The aliens endow Dingle with the strength of 300 men, a gift which he eventually abuses and loses. The ending of this one is a beaut. Don Rickles costars as an obnoxious horse player, displaying the same comic invective with which he infested his nightlclub act. Written by Rod Serling, "Mr. Dingle, the Strong" would be remade, after a fashion, as the third-season Twilight Zone entry "Cavender Is Coming." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burgess Meredith, Don Rickles, (more)
Dr. James Xavier (Ray Milland) is a brilliant but unorthodox researcher whose work with human sight has yielded an experimental chemical that may vastly increase the range of what we can see. Despite the misgivings and warnings of the two people closest to him, Dr. Diane Fairfax (Diana Van Der Vlis) and Dr. Sam Brant (Harold J. Stone), he uses it on himself and finds that he is able to look inside the human body in real-time. This gives him the ability to save the life of a patient in surgery, but in the process, he offends a top physician and calls his own judgement into question. He won't stop or even slow his experiments, however, and when Sam is accidentally killed trying to stop him, he is forced to flee. Soon he is living the life of a hunted man, and is protected and exploited by Crane (Don Rickles), a larcenous carny-man who sets him up as a "healer" on skid row, taking peoples' pennies while Xavier makes his diagnoses. After getting away from Crane, Xavier is found by Diane, who joins him on the run, and by now his own worst nature is coming to the surface. They head to Las Vegas, where his ability to see through objects allows him to win at most of the games in front of him, but he is discovered because of the attention that his "streak" draws to him. Pursued out of town, he heads out to the desert, and by now his ability to see transcends the boundaries of earthly space, leading him to a terrible quandry and a hideous solution to his plight, inspired by an encounter with a preacher. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ray Milland, Diana Van Der Vlis, (more)
- 1963
Highlights and outtakes from The Tonight Show make up the meat of this collection, which, for good measure, also tosses in some footage from Carson's early game show Who Do You Trust?. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In the conclusion of a two-part story, lovable convict Lyle Delp (Don Rickles) arranges for the staff of "The Alan Brady Show" to give a special performance for the men at the state penitentiary. Dressed in a convict costume for a dance routine with Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), Rob is mistaken for a genuine prisoner and locked up with a bunch of showbiz-happy inmates. The episode's musical highlights include "In Them Old Cotton Fields Back Home," "Sweet Sue," and -- delightfully appropriate to the prison setting -- "I've Got Your Number." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In the first episode of a two-part story, the staff of "The Alan Brady Show" is invited to put on a performance for the men in the state penitentiary. The convict arranging the show is Lyle Delp (Don Rickles), who turns out to be an old friend of Rob (Dick Van Dyke) and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore). In flashback, Rob recalls how he and a pregnant Laura first met Lyle when the hapless habitual criminal tried to hold them up at gunpoint (or rather, "comb-point") in a stalled elevator. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
The Beach Party Gang meets a coterie of muscle-men who try to take over their spot on the beach in Muscle Beach Party. Surfing sensations Frankie (Frankie Avalon) and Dee Dee (Annette Funicello) have their security threatened when Flex Martian (Rock Stevens) and a collection of well-oiled weight-lifters invade their turf. While tensions heat up on the beach, wealthy contessa Julie (Luciana Paluzzi) arranges for her business manager S.Z. Matts (Buddy Hackett) to entice Flex into becoming the latest in her long line of boyfriends. Julie's feelings change when she meets Frankie, who, honored by Julie's amorous attentions, returns her affections, causing a rift not only between Dee Dee and himself, but a further collapse in relations between the surfers and the body-builders, which is assuaged only by the music of Dick Dale and the Del Tones and Little Stevie Wonder. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, (more)
- 1964
The Beach Party gang is back in this third episode. This time out, the gang is visited by the handsome British pop star Potato Bug (Frankie Avalon in a dual role) who has come to CA for a little r&r. When Potato Bug sees the perky Dee Dee (Annette Funicello), he falls head over heels. This doesn't set well with her boyfriend, Frankie. Later the kids all join forces to keep aged developer Harvey Huntington Honeywagon from buying their beach and using it to build a senior citizen's resort. Honeywagon is assisted by Brandoesque biker Eric Von Zipper while the kids are helped out by the adolescent supporter Big Drag. Songs include: "Bikini Drag", "Love's a Secret Weapon", and "Because You're You". Special guest artists include Little Stevie Wonder, the Exciters and the Pyramids. Boris Karloff has an un-credited cameo. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, (more)
- 1965
Don Rickles guest stars as Bald Eagle, the much-feared renegade son of peace-loving Hekawi chief Wild Eagle (Frank De Kova). Captured by the troopers, Bald Eagle makes a concerted effort to mend his ways, but before long he's on the warpath again--and has kidnapped Captain Parmenter (Ken Berry) in the bargain. As it turns out, Bald Eagle is not so much dangerous as neurotic: Not only is he afraid of the dark, but he's still brooding over the fact that he flunked scalping in warrior school! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Part of American-International's "Beach Party" series, Beach Blanket Bingo was directed by William Asher. Frankie (Frankie Avalon) briefly deserts Dee Dee (Annette Funicello) in favor of pop star Sugar Kane (Linda Evans). Also around and about is a mermaid, appropriately named Lorelei (Marta Kristen). Scurrilous cycle gang leader Eric Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck) finds time to sing a tune, while Paul Lynde sneers a lot, Don Rickles insults a lot, Buster Keaton mimes a lot, and columnist Earl Wilson lets everybody know who he is by exclaiming "That's Earl, brother." The whole cast rushes to the rescue when South Dakota Slim (Timothy Carey) binds the lovely Sugar Kane to a buzzsaw. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, (more)
- 1965
Herman (Fred Gwynne) wants to escort Lily (Yvonne DeCarlo) to a dance at Marilyn's college, but is self-conscious about his lack of terpsichorean skills. Entering the portals of a crooked dance school operated by one Happy Havemeyer (played by legendary insult comic Don Rickles), Herman gleefully--and stupidly--signs up for 1500 lessons at a cost of $7.50 each. Making matters worse, Herman has somehow become convinced that he has been hired by Havemeyer as an instructor! Appearing as Havemeyer's partner-in-crime is Joyce Jameson, one of Hollywood's favorite "dumb blondes" (who of course was dumb like a fox!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Insult comic Don Rickles guest stars as Fred, a compulsive gambler. While squiring a lovely young lady named Phyllis (Sylvia Lewis), Jed Clampett visits the race track, where he makes Fred's acquaintance. Worried that Jed might succumb to the temptation of playing the ponies, Granny tries to head Jed off at the pass -- and ends up being bitten by the gambling bug herself. Brassy Iris Adrian rounds out the supporting cast as Fred's wife. "Jed's Temptation" originally aired on February 24, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Anticipating the imminent departure of Don Knotts from The Andy Griffith Show, the series' producers tested a number of actors to replace Knotts as Griffith's sidekick. One such actor was comedian Don Rickles, who played the title role in the April 12, 1965 episode "The Luck of Newton Monroe." A spectacularly unsuccessful travelling salesman, Newton suffers from a distinct lack of self-esteem. In trying to help Newton find his proper place in life, Andy hires him to paint the Taylor house-but Newton is as inept a painter as he is a peddler. "The Luck of Newton Monroe" was written by Bill Idelson and Sam Bobrick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Rickles
- 1966
Don Rickles guest stars as Norbert Wiley, a compulsive gambler turned compulsive thief. While hiding out on the island, Wiley manages to kidnap Mrs. Howell (Natalie Schafer), Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) and Ginger (Tina Louise)--one at a time, of course--and hold them for ransom. Eventually, Wiley is trapped by his own bungling, whereupon the Compassionate castaways try to rehabilitate him...with startling results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Rickles
- 1967
Don Rickles guest-stars as "Killer" Kiski, a mean-spirited physical fitness instructor who is convinced that astronauts Tony (Larry Hagman) and Roger (Bill Daily) haven gotten too soft for their own good. To whip our heroes into shape, Kiski subjects them to an exhausting exercise regimen during a wildnerness outing. Sense that her Master has been nearly exercised to death, Jeannie (Barbara Eden) attempts to save the day by trying to appeal to Kiski's "tender" side...assuming he has one! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Carl Reiner's semi-autobiographical novel Enter Laughing makes a largely successful transition to the screen. Reni Santoni plays the Reiner character, here named David Kolowitz. A machinist's apprentice in Depression-era New York, David dreams of becoming the new Ronald Colman. Defying the wishes of his parents (Shelley Winters, David Opatoshu), David lands a nonpaying job in a seedy theatrical production directed by broken-down ham Marlowe (Jose Ferrer). That the young aspiring actor knows nothing about his "craft" is evident the moment he speaks his first stage direction--"Enter Laughing"--as if it were a line of dialogue. Helped along by Marlowe's sex-starved daughter Angela (Elaine May), David manages to survive the rehearsal period, but his first public performance threatens to become a disaster when he can't find the entrance to the set. Still and all, David makes it through the play, cheered along by his now-supportive parents. Blessed with a marvelous supporting cast--including Jack Gilford, Don Rickles, Janet Margolin and veteran black comedian Mantan Moreland--Enter Laughing is a riot, especially for those viewers who have ever participated in amateur theatricals themselves. Only Reni Santoni fails to ring true as David Kolowitz (a role played on stage by Alan Arkin), though he has a few choice scenes, especially his impromptu performance on a subway. Watch for Rob Reiner in his film debut as a clumsy, self-conscious actor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- José Ferrer, Reni Santoni, (more)
- 1967
Don Rickles guests in this episode as Eddie Rickles (what a stretch!), a former boxer who wants to buy a flower shop. When Mooney (Gale Gordon) denies Eddie the necessary $3000 loan, Lucy (Lucille Ball) takes matters into her own hands by arranging a comeback for the punchy pugilist in a bout with the much-younger Sonny Shaw (Bruce Mars). Her efforts to bolster Eddie's confidence succeed all too well--especially when, after getting her hands on the three grand by other means, Lucy must convince Eddie that he's all washed up! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Rickles, Cliff Norton, (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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Ericson, Lola Albright, (more)
- 1969
- R
A.C. Smith (David Janssen) is a Las Vegas casino operator whose son visits during his summer vacation from Princeton. His son Andy (Robert Drivas) would rather go to Europe, but daddy dearest wants him to learn the ropes of the gambling business. Pappy approves of and pays for a showgirl to teach his son an extracurricular lesson in erotica. Molly (Brenda Vaccaro) is A.C.'s worldly secretary who watches the office, and Don Rickles has a small role as a crooked blackjack dealer who is caught with his fingers in the pie. Andy catches on quickly and acquires two-thirds of the controlling interest in the casino. He'll have the best story about how he spent his summer vacation when he returns (if he does) to the hallowed halls of Princeton and Ivy League living. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Janssen, Robert Drivas, (more)
Like M*A*S*H and Catch-22, both released the same year, this military comedy takes place in an earlier war but is really a thinly disguised treatise on the modern-day insanity and avariciousness then unfolding in Vietnam. Clint Eastwood stars as Kelly, a former lieutenant whose illusions about the glory of war, if he has any, are lost when he is busted in rank for following some poorly considered orders in World War II France. After capturing a friendly German officer, Kelly learns the whereabouts of millions of dollars in gold bars, earmarked to finance a military payroll. Taking advantage of a three-day liberty, Kelly assembles a motley trio of fellow soldiers to help him sneak behind enemy lines and retrieve the booty. They include Big Joe (Telly Savalas), a gruff sergeant; Crapgame (Don Rickles), a supply sergeant already enriching himself as a black marketer and con man; and the hippie-like tank commander Oddball (Donald Sutherland). Since crossing into enemy-held territory means heading in the opposite direction of the retreating Allies, Kelly and his men encounter armed resistance. Receiving word of their campaign, the vain General Colt (Carroll O'Connor) mistakes the quartet of freelancing scam artists for all-American heroes. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, (more)
- 1974
Grady (Whitman Mayo) is nervous when Lamont's ex-convict friend Herman (Ron Glass) spends the night. This nervousness extends to Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page), who at the suggestion of Lamont (Demond Wilson) hires Herman to work for her -- then fires him when she learns of his criminal past. Redd Foxx (Fred Sanford) does not appear in this episode due to an ongoing contract dispute. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Demond Wilson, Whitman Mayo, (more)
- 1974
Milton Berle hosts this 1974 program, a look back at comedy appearances on his variety show plus material from contemporary comics. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Milton Berle
