Art Napoleon Movies
Art Napoleon directed a few Hollywood features during the '50s and '60s including Ride the Wild Surf (1964), but he is primarily a director of television shows. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1969
A student is caught up in the turbulence of political activism and campus protest. Mike Corbet (Michael Smith) joins a group that plans to delay the induction of draftees from reaching the Iocal military induction center. His girlfriend Lee (Lesley Gilbrun) is concerned for Mike's safety as anti-war protesters and police clash at the scene. Professor Williams (Tom Maier) is the sympathetic instructor who observes the student protest. A nude scene seems to have been inserted merely for exploitation value and to seek an "X" rating to draw more viewers. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Smith, Tom Maier, (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)
- 1958
Too Much, Too Soon was adapted from the warts-and-all autobiography of actress Diana Barrymore, the troubled daughter of "great profile" John Barrymore. As played by Dorothy Malone, Diana is a basically decent young lady who suffers mightily from lack of parental love. Her famous father, played with boozy bravado by Errol Flynn, is the soul of graciousness and affection when sober, but a human monster when drunk -- which is often. Her poetess mother, Michael Strange (Neva Patterson), is too preoccupied by her bitterness against Barrymore to pay much attention to Diana. Striking out on her own as an actress, Diana vainly seeks personal happiness with several husbands: actor Vincent Bryant (actually Bramwell Fletcher), played by Efrem Zimbalist Jr.; jealous, possessive tennis player John Howard (Ray Danton); and another actor, alcoholic Robert Wilcox (Ed Kemmer). Unable to find satisfaction in her work or her private life, Diana follows family "tradition" by turning to liquor; this leads to extended sanitarium stays and innumerable suicide attempts. It is suggested at the end of the film that she is on the road to recovery, thanks in part to her biographer Gerold Frank (Robert Ellenstein); the sad truth is that two years after the release of Too Much, Too Soon, Diana Barrymore killed herself at the age of 39. This filmed version of Diana's tragic life seldom rises above soap-opera level, save for Errol Flynn's knowing performance of his old friend and drinking companion John Barrymore. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Malone, Errol Flynn, (more)
- 1957
Man on the Prowl was produced by Jo and Art Napoleon, the same team responsible for TV's The Whirlybirds. James Best stars as Doug Gerhardt, a young homicidal maniac who invades the home of housewife and mother Marian Wood (Mala Powers). Having already killed a girl who turned him down, Gerhardt threatens to harm Marian's children if she doesn't give in to him. He also intends to take over the garage owned by Marian's husband Woody (Jerry Paris). Ted de Corsia, taking a breather from his usual screen villainy, plays the homicide detective who may be Marian's only hope for salvation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mala Powers, James Best, (more)
