George O'Hanlon Movies
The son of vaudeville and burlesque performers, George O'Hanlon made his own stage bow as a dancer at age 16 -- only to be fired after a few weeks over a salary dispute. O'Hanlon made the rounds in summer stock and burlesque, then registered with Hollywood's Central Casting as a film extra in the early '30s. While hoofing away in the choruses of many a Warner Bros. musical, O'Hanlon took acting lessons at the Bliss-Hayden theater in Beverly Hills. His big break came when he was hired by fledgling director Richard Bare for a U.S.C.-subsidized short subject, So You Want to Give Up Smoking (1942). After the war, O'Hanlon and Bare teamed for a series of shorts for Warners release; informally titled Behind the Eight Ball, these one-reel gems starred O'Hanlon as benighted "everyman" Joe McDoakes. This popular series ran from 1946 through 1955, amassing a total of 56 entries, three of which were nominated for Academy Awards. Outside of his McDoakes assignments, O'Hanlon appeared as Gillis in 45 episodes of the 1950s TV sitcom The Life of Riley, and also wrote and directed several installments of such TV weeklies as The Roaring 20s, 77 Sunset Strip, and Petticoat Junction. He played supporting roles in films like The Hucksters (1946), The Tanks are Coming (1951), and Kronos (1957), and directed the 1959 Tommy Noonan/Pete Marshall vehicle The Rookies. Children of the 1960s will remember George O'Hanlon as the voice of George Jetson on the Hanna-Barbera prime-time cartoon series The Jetsons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Hanna-Barbera's Space Age clan made the leap to the big screen in this animated feature, in which George and the family are transferred to a remote space outpost. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George O'Hanlon, Mel Blanc, (more)
- 1985
George Jetson inherits a fortune in this animated holiday tale. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Even the characters in animated sci-fi sitcoms can afford to learn a lesson about the true meaning of Christmas, and in this holiday special, it looks like it's going to be a glum Yuletide for George Jetson (voice of George O'Hanlon) when his boss, Mr. Spacely, (voice of Mel Blanc) decides to make him work on an important project on Christmas day. While the Jetson family wonders what's become of George, Spacely is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marsely (also voiced by Mel Blanc), who tries to teach Spacely a lesson about the importance of giving. The Jetson's Christmas Carol also features the rest of the voice cast from the popular animated series of the 1960s, including Penny Singleton as Jane Jetson, Janet Waldo as Judy, Daws Butler as Elroy, and Don Messick as Astro. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1984
While teaching a college investigation class, Magnum (Tom Selleck) tries to stem the alarming dropout rate by agreeing to take a case from one of his students on a pro-bono basis. At first, it appears that all Magnum has to do is locate the student's missing fiancee--but as the plot thickens, our hero becomes enmeshed in an entirely different mystery(or is it?) Guest star Tom Shadyac is better known for his latter-day accomplishments as a writer, director and producer on such Jim Carrey projects as Ace Ventura, Pet Detective, Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When the drug craze of the '60s invades the straight-laced world of a military academy, a group of young cadets turn the school upside down. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1978
- R
This superbly chilling haunted-house opus stars Richard Crenna as a therapist who, with wife Joanna Pettet, selects a lavish mansion for use as a drug rehab clinic. No sooner have the staff and their assistants set up housekeeping when a nightmarish force emerges from a trap door in the basement, and the house begins preying on the occupants in horrendous ways, from freak electrical bursts to sudden flash fires (leading to some extremely graphic scenes of people being burned alive). Director Gus Trikonis keeps the tension unbearably high and drives the plot on the strength of an excellent cast -- especially Victor Buono in a magnificent but brief role as the Devil himself. Amazingly, some prints of the film deleted his appearance altogether. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Crenna, Joanna Pettet, (more)
Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a Philadelphia boxer, is but one step removed from total bum-hood. A once-promising pugilist, Rocky is now taking nickel-and-dime bouts and running strongarm errands for local loan sharks to survive. Even his supportive trainer, Mickey (Burgess Meredith), has given up on Rocky. All this changes thanks to Muhammad Ali-like super-boxer Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). With the Bicentennial celebration coming up, Creed must find a "Cinderella" opponent for the big July 4th bout -- some unknown whom Creed can "glorify" for a few minutes before knocking him cold. Rocky Balboa was not the only Cinderella involved here: writer/director Sylvester Stallone, himself a virtual unknown, managed to sell his Rocky script (one of 35 that he'd written over the years) on the proviso that he be given the starring role. Since the film was to be made on a shoestring and marketed on a low-level basis, the risk factor to United Artists was small. For Stallone, this was a make-or-break opportunity -- just like Rocky's million-to-one shot with Apollo Creed. Costing under a million dollars, Rocky managed to register with audiences everywhere, earning back 60 times its cost. The film won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, (more)
- 1976
This disaster movies chronicles the many dramas of the people involved in a 39 car smash-up on a California freeway. The wreck occurs on the final day of a holiday weekend. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1974
The Missing are Deadly depicts a disastrous chain of events sparked by an immature misstep. Teenager George O'Hanlon Jr. is on the outs with his father Ed Nelson, a research scientist. Feeling lonely, O'Hanlon makes a pet out of a rat from his dad's lab--a rat infected with a deadly and highly contagious virus. Armed with the reassuring information that the virus can kill 100,000,000 people within three weeks, the whole country is in plunged into mortal terror as the teenager wanders aimlessly and anonymously through the streets. The Missing are Deadly was made for television, but that shouldn't be held against it. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
In this made-for-TV movie, the majority of the Earth's population is wiped out during a solar explosion, leaving the Anders family as some of the few remaining people struggling to stay alive. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1973
- G
Finding that he hasn't much time left to live, a man makes needed changes in his life with the help of an angel in this Disney feature. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Elizabeth Ashley, whose guest-star turn as a pathetic alcoholic on the sixth-season Mission:Impossible episode "Encounter" won her the praise of critics and viewers alike, again tackles a difficult and demanding role in the seventh-season entry "The Question." This time, Ashley is cast as IMF agent Andrea, who poses as an operative of the "Federal Intelligence Service" to find out if alleged defector Nicholas Varsi (Gary Lockwood) is telling the truth to his Federal captors. George O'Hanlon, best known to TV fans as the voice of cartoon favorite George Jetson, appears as Captain Douglas. First broadcast on January 19, 1973, "The Question" was written by Stephen Kandel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
- G
- Add Now You See Him, Now You Don't to QueueAdd Now You See Him, Now You Don't to top of Queue
If anyone is interested in seeing what Kurt Russell used to do before transforming into Snake Plissken in Escape From New York, they can look no further than this labored Disney slapstick marzipan sequel to The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. Kurt Russell, once again, is Dexter Riley, a science major at Medfield College, who, along with fellow science majors Schuyler (Michael McGreevey) and Debbie (Joyce Menges), concocts an invisibility spray. A gang of thieves, headed by A.J. Arno (Cesar Romero), want to get a hold of the formula to use in a bank robbery. The kids find themselves the prey of the crooks, as the bad guys attempt to get the spray. Meanwhile, Dexter employs the spray at a golf tournament, much to the surprise of apoplectic college president Higgins (Joe Flynn). But before Higgins can spout out "Wha? Wha? Wha?,." Arno continues onward with the chase for Dexter and the invisibility spray. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero, (more)
- 1971
The Partridges join the "Save the Whales" movement thanks to Laurie (Susan Dey), who has talked them into recording her own composition "Song of the Humpback Whale". In search of authentic whale sounds, the family heads to Marineland of the Pacific, where they're given a crash course in ecology--and in human avarice! Howard Cosell makes a cameo appearance (NOT as himself, amazingly!), while future Partridge Family semi-regular Bert Convy shows up as Dr. Whelander. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Moving to a new Wednesday-night slot for its fourth season, Adam-12 wastes no time getting down to business. This time, Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) are working the waterfront beat, where a nasty gang of extortionists specializes in targeting elderly Jewish businessmen. George O'Hanlon, better known to baby boomers as the voice of cartoon character George Jetson, appears as a vengeful drunk who makes some very bizarre threats against the two cops. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In $1,000,000 Duck, the titular duck is exposed to radiation and begins laying golden eggs, which brings it under the scrutiny of the treasury department, the FBI, and a gang of comic-opera crooks. The cast includes Disney perennials Dean Jones and Joe Flynn, with Sandy Duncan taking over the part usually assumed by someone like Michele Lee or Stefanie Powers. $1,000,000 Duck was directed by Vince McEveety. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sandy Duncan, Dean Jones, (more)
- 1969
It's silliness on the high seas as two sneaky sailors race across the South Pacific in this fast-paced and campy comedy. The fun begins when one bets the other $20,000 that he, with an all girl crew, be the first to Tahiti in a sailboat race. The other, not to be outdone, has a few monkeyshines up his sleeve and actually wins the race. The beaten bettor then makes the claim, that he can beat the victor to the mainland using a crew comprised of baboons. That is too much to resist for the other and the race is on. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1966
The local PTA is staging the deathless romantic drama "Romerorock and Julietstone" as a fundraiser. Wilma is to play Julietstone, but she falls ill just before curtain time. With the "help" of The Great Gazoo, the show goes on all the same, with "Romerorock" Fred performing the balcony scene with a leading lady who looks a lot like his pal Barney! The script for this episode was written by George O'Hanlon, best known to Hanna-Barbera fans as the voice of George Jetson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Having been away from civilization so long, and living together in such close proximity, has caused the Castaways to become cranky and argumentative. The Professor (Russell Johnson) concludes that the seven strandees are suffering from the first stages of "island madness", which always gets worse before it gets better. What is called for is an elaborate ruse to get the Castaways' minds off their hostility and to work together in harmony once more. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Gilligan (Bob Denver) arouses the other castaways with some startling news: The island has been invaded by murderous gangsters. That's the conclusion arrived at by Gilligan when he overhears two threatening-sounding voices discussing buried treasure and the elimination of witnesses. Little does anyone suspect that both voices are emanating from the same source--a talking parrot! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Blanc, Herb Vigran, (more)
- 1965
George O'Hanlon, best known to baby boomers as the voice of cartoon character George Jetson, is both guest star and screenwriter for tonight's episode. O'Hanlon casts himself as enterprising circus boss Harry Harmon, who hopes to swindle Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) into putting up his circus troupe for free at the Shady Rest. But Uncle Joe, burned by too many previous boarders who've skipped without paying, isn't about to be conned again--or is he? Featured in the supporting cast are perennial hard-boiled blonde Iris Adrian and dwarf actor Felix Silla, whose other roles include Cousin Itt on The Addams Family and the robot Twiki on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. This is the last episode of Petticoat Junction's second season, and the last one filmed in black and white. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Fred and Barney have promised to take wives to dinner on the same night they're slated to compete in the bowling playoffs. The Great Gazoo comes to the rescue by creating duplicates of our two heroes, with the Fred clone programmed to say only "Yes Yes Yes", and the Barney lookalike to say only "No No No." needless to say, it isn't long before this brilliant scheme falls apart--spectacularly so. Actor George O'Hanlon, who'd once provided the voice of Hanna-Barbera cartoon icon George Jetson, wrote tonight's episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
The Bradley girls want to invite rock star King Ring-a-Ding to perform at their football-team benefit show, but Kate (Bea Benaderet) vetoes their choice in favor of syrupy balladeer--and former Hooterville resident--Herbie Willets. Imagine everyone's surprise when King Ring-a-Ding and Herbie Willets turn out to be one and the same! Curiously, the actor cast as the versatile Herbie, Ray Hemphill, was billed only as "King Ring-a-Ding" in the original closing credits. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In this beach movie, a group of teenagers hang out at the Silver Palms everyday after school. Because things can get quite raucous in the club, the protagonist's grandfather wants to shut it down. When the clever kids discover that grandpa used to be a bootlegger, they blackmail him into keeping it open. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Darren, Pamela Tiffin, (more)
- 1963
The misadventures of the Space Age family--George Jetson, his boy Elroy, daughter Judy, and Jane, his wife--are collected in this animated series. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
