Don Weis Movies
Leaving his Milwaukee home in 1942 in hopes of attending the University of Southern California, Don Weis secured work as a messenger at Warner Bros. After war service as a technician in Warners' army training film unit, Weis became a dialogue director at Enterprise Productions, working on such films as Body and Soul (1947) and Arch of Triumph (1948). Hired as a director for Ida Lupino and Collier Young's Filmakers Company, Weis was wooed to MGM by that studio's head man, Dore Schary. His first effort for MGM was a brief sequence in It's a Big Country (1951), followed by his first full-fledged feature, Bannerline (1951). Weis' helming of such lightweight MGM musicals as I Love Melvin (1953) and The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953) earned him a brief cult reputation with foreign film critics, though he was hardly confined to the song-and-dance genre. He entered television in 1956, eventually winning several Director's Guild Awards. During his TV years, Weis was busiest with comedy programs like The Jack Benny Show and The Andy Griffith Show, and slick adventure series like Burke's Law and It Takes a Thief; one of his more notable TV assignments was the 1959 pilot film Head of the Family, Carl Reiner's precursor to the popular Dick Van Dyke Show. In the mid-'60s, Weis directed several of the American-International teen-oriented musicals, among them Pajama Party, Ghost in the Invisible Bikini, and Looking for Love (which has earned latter-day notoriety as being the first and last film to star Johnny Carson). After completing the never-released Darren McGavin feature film Zero to Sixty (1977), Don Weis closed out his career with such episodic TV efforts as Charlie's Angels and MASH. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
This early-'80s made-for-TV movie includes most of the cast of the original Munsters TV series. An evil scientist creates android replicas of the Munster family in order to frame them for the robbery of an art-gallery. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In this episode of the "CHiPs" television series, the adventures involving officers Jon Baker and Frank Poncherello are nostalgically recalled by other officers. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1978
- PG
Mike Nolan (Darren McGavin) is a Beverly Hills resident whose divorce case -- blown by a hopelessly inept, possibly larcenous attorney (Dick Martin) -- has left him with no home, no job, and no assets, except for his car. And when the car is driven off by 16-year-old repo agent "Larry" (Denise Nickerson), Mike gives chase and finds himself hired by the brassy owner (Sylvia Miles) of the auto repossession company the girl works for. He and Larry are teamed together to go after a car being driven by luscious deadbeat Gloria Martine (Joan Collins), but before long Mike is up to his neck in trouble, not only fending off unwanted advances from Larry but trying for some extracurricular activity with Gloria. And that's not even taking into account the hoods, motorcyclists, and other irate citizens that he runs afoul of in his new "career". ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1978
A crisis arises when the 4077th is deluged with wounded British troops. Someone has been stealing the camp's precious penicillin, and the evidence points to a ring of black marketeers. Klinger (Jamie Farr) and Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) risk life and limb to acquire some fresh penicillin, a task exarcerbated by a rash of "culture clash" within the camp. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
The original TV series The Millionaire ran from 1955 through 1960. Marvin Miller starred as Michael Anthony, general factotum to "the late, fabulously wealthy" John Beresford Tipton, whose hobby was to anonymously dole out million-dollar checks to people he'd never met. The 1978 TV-movie revival of The Millionaire stars Robert Quarry as Michael Anthony and the back of someone's head as John Beresford Tipton (who'd never been seen on the older TV series). The film concentrates on three different stories of how sudden wealth effects "plain folks", played by wealthy actors (Martin Balsam, Edward Albert, the Hudson Brothers, Ralph Bellamy, Jane Wyatt etc.) Telecast during Christmas week of 1978 under the title The New Millionaire, this film was intended as the launching pad for a Millionaire series of the 1980s. Trouble was, a million bucks ain't what it used to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Charles (David Ogden Stiers) hopes to profit from inside information that the Army intends to change the color of its scrip (the paper used in lieu of money during wartime). Purchasing the old blue scrip from the local Korean villagers at bargain-basement prices, Charles intends to turn it in for the new red scrip at full value. This clever scheme is neatly foiled by Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
This episode begins on a serious note, as B.J. (Mike Farrell) receives word that he is the target of a military investigation. Before long, however, tension has segued into laughter as Hawkeye (Alan Alda) merrily engages in a battle of practical jokes against his old pal Bardonaro (James Cromwell). The question: Which of the two mirthsome combatants will have the titular "Last Laugh"? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Col. Potter (Harry Morgan) hopes to whip the camp back into shape by holding an Olympics. Since the first prize is a three-day pass, even the languine Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell) agree to participate. Admidst the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, Margaret's husband Donald (here played by Mike Henry) pinch-hits for an ailing Klinger (Jamie Farr). Any resemblance between the M*A*S*H Olympics and the real-life 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki (represented by brief film clips throughout the episode) is not only coincidental, but a sheer miracle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
In the opening episode of Baretta's third season, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) searches for the thugs who killed a young Nisei girl. Complications ensue when the dead girl's father takes the traditional Japanese vow to kill everyone connected with his daughter's death. Could this mean that Baretta himself is on the grieving father's list? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
Ironside (Raymond Burr) is skeptical when Isabel Fredericks (Katherine Cannon), the daughter of Judge John Fredericks (Joseph Campanella), insists that her father's life is in danger. What the Chief doesn't know (at least at first) is that the Judge's new wife Eleanor (Ina Balin) once had ties with the Underworld. Hoping to start life anew as Mrs. John Fredericks, Eleanor finds that she cannot purge her criminal past, which threatens to destroy both herself and her husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
The Demon and the Mummy is a jerrybuilt "TV movie" comprised of two episodes from the 1974-75 TV series Night Stalker. As always, reporter Karl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) stumbles onto evidence of the Supernatural. And as always, his editor Tony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland) refuses to believe Kolchak. The "Demon" of the title is a Succubus, a devil in female form (Carolyn Jones). The "Mummy" is of the Aztec variety, requiring fresh human hearts to stay alive. The original titles of the two Night Stalker episodes included herein were "Demon in Lace" and "Legacy of Terror." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
The first episode of the series, following the television films The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler, "The Ripper" attempts to condense the better elements of the longer entries into a workable hour-long format. Now based in Chicago and working for the news agency INS, reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) continues his crusade to expose the supernatural as printable fact much to the dismay of editor Tony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland, reprising his role from the two films). Removed from covering a string of Ripper-like murders because of a predilection for pestering police, Carl finds himself writing for the agony column. Only Kolchak can find a way to answer the letters of the lonely-hearted and solve the murders. Although lacking the sharp writing of Richard Matheson and skillful direction of Dan Curtis, the series retains much of the two films' wit, grittiness, and imagination. Originally aired September 13, 1974, on ABC. ~ Paul Durica, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Everyone in the 4077th has spring fever, and few are more "feverish" than Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson), who decides to take advantage of a lull in hostilities by shooting a few rounds of golf. Elsewhere, Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) relies upon a balky short-wave radio to perform a marriage ceremony between Klinger and his Toledo-based sweetheart; a grateful patient (Alex Karras) inextricably attaches himself to a bewildered Hawkeye (Alan Alda); and Radar falls for a nurse who shares his love of poetry. Said nurse is played by comedienne Mary Kay Place, who also co-wrote the script. "Springtime" first aired on October 15, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Before The X-Files thrilled and chilled viewers with tales of the occult and supernatural occurrences, there was Kochak: The Night Stalker, the tale of a newspaper reporter who tries in vain get the world to believe that its most fearsome monsters are not imaginary figments. This video contains two episodes from the series: "Jack the Ripper" and "The Vampire." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Ironside (Raymond Burr) is reunited with his old friend Dr. Juan Domingo (Desi Arnaz), an eccentric Cuban-born doctor currently residing in a small California town. When not being sidetracked by an odd assortment of patients (which include an expectant duck!), Dr. Domingo likes to dabble in crime-solving, much to the dismay of his nurse Big Sue (Linda Foster) and local police chief Cardiff (L.Q. Jones). At the moment, the good doctor is trying to prove that an alleged heart attack victim was actually murdered while flying his own plane. This episode was originally the pilot for a potential Desi Arnaz detective series called Dr. Domingo, which unfortunately failed to make a network sale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
While Ed (Don Galloway) is escorting an extradited murder suspect to San Francisco, his plane is grounded in Reno. Knowing full well that the suspect's criminal cohorts are planning to kill him, Ed and his prisoner are forced to hide out in an abandoned bar until help arrives. Unfortunately, it turns out that the mob assassins are the least of Ed's problems. Prominent in the supporting cast is Andy Robinson, playing an interesting variation of his psychotic character in 1971's Dirty Harry. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
James Gregory, of Barney Miller fame, guest stars as celebrated American General "Iron Guts" Kelly. During his visit to the 4077th, Kelly abruptly dies in action -- said "action" being conducted in the bed of Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit). Hoping to head off an embarrassing public-relations boondoggle, Kelly's aide, Col. Wortman (Keene Curtis), conspires with Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Trapper (Wayne Rogers) to fabricate a more "heroic" demise for the hapless general. "Iron Guts Kelly" first aired on October 1, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
All Hawkeye (Alan Alda) wants is a new pair of boots, but oh, what a labyrinthine route he must take to achieve his goal. Supply Sergeant Zale (Johnny Haymer, in his first series appearance) might be able to locate some boots, but only if he can wangle an appointment with overworked army dentist Futterman (Michael Lerner). Futterman agrees to see Zale, but only if he is given a three-day pass to Tokyo. Henry (McLean Stevenson) will okay the pass, but only if Hawkeye can mollify the contentious Margaret (Loretta Swit). Margaret will shut up only if her sweetie, Frank (Larry Linville), gets a surprise birthday party...and so it goes, on and on, round and round. "For Want of a Boot" first aired on January 12, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
It is time for the men and women of 4077th to undergo their annual medical checkup. When Radar (Gary Burghoff) is diagnosed with an ulcer, it looks as though he'll be shipped stateside, an event which calls for a gala farewell party. On a darker note, the usually cheerful Trapper (Wayne Rogers) unexpectedly bristles at the notion of being examined, and doesn't care who knows it -- but only at the end of the episode does he explain why. "Check-Up" originally aired on October 22, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Crackle of Death is a hybrid feature film comprised of two episodes from the 1974 TV series Night Stalker. Series regulars Darren McGavin and Simon Oakland head the cast, playing, respectively, reporter Carl Kolchak and editor Tony Vincenzo. It was Kolchak's weekly habit on the series to run across an example of supernatural phenomena, then to try to convince the disbelieving Vincenzo to run the story. The two Night Stalker episodes represented herein are "The Energy Eater", in which a new hospital is bedevilled by a creature that thrives on electrical energy, and "Fire Fall", in which a famed pianist is troubled by his evil alter ego. Guest stars in the 94-minute Crackle of Death include Philip Carey, William Smith, Elaine Giftos. Directors for the individual components were Alex Grasshoff and Don Weis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
John Williams guest stars as Bill Walston, a British police inspector who shows up in San Francisco, ostensibly to a attend a convention. Linking up with his old friend Ironside (Raymond Burr), Walston effusively offers to help the Chief in his investigation of a robbery. What Ironside doesn't know is that Walston is seriously ill--and that the good Inspector was himself the mastermind behind the heist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Sgt. Ed Brown (Don Galloway) is dismayed to learn that his priest friend Steve Timmins (Christopher Connelly)has been targeted for murder. Even more dismaying is the fact that Father Steve knows the identity of the would-be killer, but is bound by the rules of the Confessional to remain silent. As Ed and Chief Ironside (Raymond Burr) endeavor to save Steve in spite of himself, they come across three seemingly random murders--and in each case,the victim is a drug dealer working in Steve's parish. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Policewoman Fran Belding (Elizabeth Baur) has a new man in her life: Jim Marshall (Gary Lockwood), a police detective who is long on charm but dangerously short on temper. Marshall's well-known propensity for violence catches up with him when he is suspected of two murders. Ironside (Raymond Burr) wants to know if Marshall's current dilemma is linked to a case he once pursued with his former partner--a private detective who is no saint himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
