Don Taylor Movies
A Pennsylvania-born actor/director, Don Taylor appeared in such movies as Father of the Bride and Stalag 17 before switching to directing in 1961 with the juvenile comedy Everything's Ducky. His second film, Ride the Wild Surf (1964), was an above average teen exploitation movie that was very successful. But Taylor hit his stride as a serious filmmaker in 1968 with a jewel of a television feature called Something for a Lonely Man, a drama starring Dan Blocker and Susan Clark that became a favorite among critics. His next movie, Five Man Army (1970), was a popular spaghetti western, and his Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) secured good reviews and assured the series' survival beyond its third installment. Island of Dr. Moreau (1977) was a solid, handsomely produced version of the H.G. Wells story, and a hit, as was Taylor's Damien: Omen II (1979). Final Countdown (1980) proved a success as well, perhaps the last non-slasher/non-fantasy related science-fiction adventure to reach audiences with low-tech special effects. Taylor's subsequent work was confined to TV movies, where he was busy throughout the '80s. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide- 1974
This suspense film is about a lawyer who defends a high-society woman charged with killing her husband. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Honky Tonk represented an attempt by writer/director Douglas Heyes to create a TV series based on the 1941 Clark Gable-Lana Turner film of the same name. In Heyes' version of Honky Tonk, the role of gambler Candy Johnson, originally essayed by Gable, is filled by Richard Crenna, while Margot Kidder portrays Turner's character Lucy Cotton. A romantic triangle forms between Johnson, Lucy and dance-hall chanteuse Gold Dust (Claire Trevor in 1941, Stella Stevens in 1974). Meanwhile, Johnson and Lucy's old reprobate father (Will Geer) try to take advantage of every boom-town prospector within shouting range. Wisely running some 15 minutes shorter than the original, the TV-movie Honky Tonk was originally telecast April 1, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Mark Twain's classic tale is brought to the screen for the fourth time, this time with a tuneful score by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, who also wrote the screen adaptation. Johnny Whitaker stars as Tom Sawyer, with Jeff East in his first film role as Huck Finn. Jodie Foster is also on hand, playing the role of Becky Thatcher. This enjoyable family fare was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Art Direction, Best Song Score and Best Costume Design. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnny Whitaker, Celeste Holm, (more)
- 1971
- G
- Add Escape from the Planet of the Apes to QueueAdd Escape from the Planet of the Apes to top of Queue
Escape From the Planet of the Apes is the third in the series of films based upon the Planet of the Apes characters created by novelist Pierre Boulle. At the end of the second film, the centuries-in-the-future world colonized by simians was destroyed, but apes Cornelius (Roddy McDowall) and Zira (Kim Hunter) were able to escape in the space vessel left behind by 20th century astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston). Cornelius and Zira pass through another time warp, finding themselves in the Earth of the 1970s. When they reveal their ability to speak, the apes are first treated as curiosities, then as threats when the government, believing the story that the Earth will eventually be inherited by monkeys, tries to prevent the birth of Zira's baby. They are ultimately given shelter by sympathetic circus owner Armando (Ricardo Montalban). This film was followed by the fourth "Apes" entry, 1972's Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, (more)
- 1971
Heat of Anger is about a sharp female lawyer who defends a businessman charged with the murder of a blue-collar construction worker. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1970
- PG
Five Man Army can best be described as a marked-down Magnificent Seven. Peter Graves, James Daly, Bud Spencer, Testuro Tamba and Nino Castelnuovo play the quintet of the title. Caught in the middle of the 1914 Mexican Revolution, the five men pool their individual skills in hopes of incapacitating the enemy. With Mission: Impossible star Graves in the lead, it's only natural that the plan involves the "impossible" task of relieving a nasty general of a large gold shipment. Set in Mexico but filmed in Italy, this spaghetti western was bankrolled by MGM, the same folks who brought you the popular The Dirty Dozen and who were undoubtedly hoping that lightning would strike twice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, James Daly, (more)
- 1970
While tension runs high between Americans and Mexicans in Texas, a group of Army engineers travel in disguise, with female prisoners posing as their wives, while they attempt to map important routes for the war effort. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Little Tonio (Gerald Michenaud) is convinced that flying nun Sr. Bertrille is his dead mother returning from Heaven. Trouble is, Tonio's dad, Luis (Nico Minardos), is about to walk down the aisle with his new bride, Manuela (Arlene Martel). How can Sr. Bertrille straighten things out without breaking Tonio's heart? Originally telecast on January 4, 1968, "Tonio's Mother" was written by Albert Mannheimer, John McGreevey, and Krishna Shah. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Dan Blocker made his first non-Bonanza appearance in nine years in the 1968 TV movie Something for a Lonely Man. Blocker plays a blacksmith, John Killibrew, who leads several Easterners to a boomtown in the High Sierras -- only to discover that the town is slated for extinction because the railroad has decided to bypass the community. Now the laughing stock of his comrades, Killibrew determines to save the town by turning it into an industrial center. To do this, he "borrows" a derailed steam engine from the railroad and drags it into town. When things look the darkest for Killibrew, he takes comfort in the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson -- and the affections of pretty Mary Duren (Susan Clark). Widely regarded in 1968 as one of the best TV movies to date, Something for a Lonely Man retains its low-key appeal a quarter of a century later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
The success of several 1960s-era cat-burglar movies depended upon the suave and agreeable machinations of the film's antiheroic hero, as he stylishly worked to remove surplus wealth from the obscenely wealthy. That formula reaped a box-office bonanza, and here the producers are back with it again, with Jeff Hill (George Hamilton) learning the ropes of being a gentleman-thief from the redoubtable Ace of Diamonds (Joseph Cotton). Unfortunately, there is a reason these fine gents weren't cast in the original films, and despite good performances (and direction) all around, the magic just didn't strike this time. Three female movie stars (Carroll Baker, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Lilli Palmer) play themselves as the burglar's wealthy victims. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Hamilton, Joseph Cotten, (more)
Fabian, Tab Hunter, and Peter Brown star as three surfers--Jody, Steamer and Chase--who make a pilgrimage from California to the north shore of Oahu for a vacation. Surfers from all over gather here every winter to compete with each other for the title of "the last ride" champion. While surfing the gigantic waves of the Pacific, the three young men each find romance with attractive young ladies (Shelley Fabares, Susan Hart, and Barbara Eden). Ride the Wild Surf features extensive surf footage of the Hawaiian Islands by cinematographer Joseph Biroc. Biroc was credited for a total of five feature productions in 1964. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fabian, Shelley Fabares, (more)
- 1962
A little talkative but otherwise up to par, this western by director Michael Carreras in cooperation with a Madrid studio, is set in the Mexican valley of Sonora not that far south of the state of Arizona. The time is just after the American Civil War, and a former Confederate officer, Mike Summers (Don Taylor) has taken refuge in a small town in the valley. He has married and is hoping to live in peace the rest of his life. Instead, he and his wife and the rest of the town are suffering the depredations of a brutal gunman, Danny Pose (Alex Nicol), and his gang of outlaws. Summers holds off picking up a gun because of his personal vow of non-violence. But the situation deteriorates and a new ally comes into the picture, Steve Fallon (Richard Basehart), a wandering gunslinger who may not be able to handle the bad guys alone. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Basehart, Don Taylor, (more)
- 1961
This fantasy-comedy is directed by Don Taylor whose specialty is horror and action flics, and clearly not talking ducks and children's tales. Beetle McKay (Mickey Rooney) and Admiral John Paul Jones (Buddy Hackett) are two wacky sailors who make friends with a talking duck, a verbose avian that possesses a secret formula. It seems the formula is needed by the Navy satellite program and so the talky mallard is worth quite a bit. But in the meantime, the duck is hooked on booze and is a failure at taking to the water or even sounding like a normal duck. So the sailors have their work cut out for them as the deadline for launching the satellite approaches. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Rooney, Buddy Hackett, (more)
- 1959
Although Albert Magnum (Alan Hewitt) has the reputation of being a playboy, his friendship with Virginia Pond (Joanna Moore) is strictly platonic. Thus, when Albert warns Virginia to steer clear of her violently jealous ex-husband, Joseph (Gary Merrill), he is acting out of the purest motives. Unfortunately, Joseph doesn't quite see things the same way, as Albert learns to his regret when he confronts Joseph during a fishing trip. This is the final episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents' fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Recently released from prison, an infamous Civil War guerilla named Ben Harvey (George Mathews) insists that he wants to change his ways and start life anew. To this end, he hires Paladin (Richard Boone) to escort himself and a wagonload of trade goods to the town of Gila, where Harvey's brothers run a general store. Unfortunately, the Harvey boys aren't the reforming kind: in fact, each and every one of them has a price on his head. A young and menacing James Coburn appears as Jack Harvey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Recently returned from hunting Tigers in India, sportsman Ellsworth (Parley Baer) declares that he has been placed under a curse. Unless he can find a way to prevent it, Ellsworth is convinced that he will be killed by a huge tiger--even though he lives in Houston! Drawing upon his own experiences in India, Paladin (Richard Boone) does everything he can to dissuade Ellsworth from his seemingly unfounded fears...but this is one curse that is not to be taken lightly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Fashion expert Jan Manning (Nancy Olson) faces the loss of her department store when the bank turns down her loan request. She tells her troubles to her salesman boyfriend, Mel Reeves (Ralph Meeker), who suggests that she torch the store and collect a huge insurance settlement -- and to this end, Mel agrees to hire an arsonist. Later on, the store goes up in flames as scheduled, but what happens next to Jan and Mel isn't on anyone's schedule...especially theirs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Bookkeeper Harold Goams (John McGiver) has come to the conclusion that he is no longer an individual, but merely a "statistic," one among millions of similar statistics. Hoping to escape his drab, insignificant life, Harold decides to do something shocking. And what could be more shocking than to dispose of his domineering sister, Margaret (Vivian Nathan) -- and then confess to the crime? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Mr. Johnson (Edgar Stehli) claims to have had a vision of the serial strangler who is terrorizing the city. Unfortunately, no one will listen to Mr. Johnson: not the police, not his priest (Rusty Lane), not even his own wife (Edith Evanson). Besides, the cops already have a suspect in custody, and the case against the man seems airtight. But Johnson insists that his vision is accurate -- and tragically, it turns out to be just that. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Shortly after murdering Arthur Chaundry (Arthur Gould-Porter), Jack Lyons (Denholm Elliott) marries Arthur's widow, Phyllis (Hazel Court). Although she is naturally distraught over her first husband's demise, Phyllis seems equally concerned with her missing crocodile-skin makeup case. To mollify Phyllis, Jack reports the loss of the case, providing the police with a thorough description of the missing item -- a description which, alas, turns out to be just a wee bit too thorough. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Eccentric Sadie Grimes (Jeanette Nolan) demands an exorbitant price (fifty thousand dollars!) for her dilapidated house. The reason? Sadie's criminal son, Michael (James Drury), was killed in the house after hiding 200,000 dollars in stolen money somewhere on the premises. When prosperous-looking Mr. Waterbury (Robert Emhardt) expresses a desire to purchase the house -- even at the outrageous price -- Sadie's suspicions are aroused. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
You knew what you were in for when you saw the title, so don't grouse. Don Taylor stars as a doctor/adventurer who ventures into the South America jungle with explorer Eduardo Cianelli. Taylor and Cianelli stumble upon a race of green-skinned Amazon women, all of whom look suspiciously like unemployed startlets. The Amazons are hold white woman Gianna Segale captive as a good-luck fetish (shades of Trader Horn). Some nice Brazilian location photography by Mario Page lifts this nonsense above the usual perils-in-the-jungle syndrome. Love Slaves of the Amazons was produced, directed and written by Curt Siodmak, who in happier days penned the scripts for Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1942), Son of Dracula (1943) and Beast With Five Fingers (1946). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Taylor, Gianna Segale, (more)
- 1957
Handsome young plumber Jack Staley (Lee Philips) supplements his income by blackmailing his female customers, threatening to tell their husbands of their "illicit" romances. But Staley's career as an extortionist comes to a formidable roadblock when he tries the same shakedown on Margot Brenner (Phyllis Thaxter). It turns out that Margot has a bit of a larcenous streak as well...and she's just a shade smarter than both Jack and her husband (played by Carl Betz). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
