William Marshall Movies
Dynamic African American leading man and character actor William Marshall trained in both grand opera and Shakespeare. In films from 1952, the NYU-educated Marshall didn't really hit it big until the "blaxploitation" era of the 1970s. He starred in the better-than-you'd-think contemporary vampire melodrama Blacula (1972) and its just-as-bad-as-it-sounds sequel, Scream Blacula Scream (1973). From 1987 to 1989, William Marshall was seen as the King of Cartoons on the Saturday morning TV kiddie show Pee-wee's Playhouse, a job he accepted on behalf of his grandchildren, who weren't yet permitted to see the Blacula flicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1996
Ths film takes an in depth look at the history of the vampire myth and its continuing hold on the public's imagination. Is there some truth to the legends and stories that would explain the endless fascination that humans have for the "children of the night"? William Marshall, star of the film Blacula narrates the show, which traces the vampire myth through various times and cultures. There is a wide sampling of vampire literature and lore, film clips from Hollywood's scariest vampire movies, and interviews with film stars whose work has led them to a deeper study of the vampire legend. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Marshall, Bela Lugosi Jr., (more)
- 1994
- R
In this dark tale of eroticism and the supernatural, Larry (Larry Poindexter) is an attorney rising through the ranks at a prominent law firm. Larry's wife Erica (Julie Strain) loves her husband very much and would do nearly anything for him -- which takes on a whole new meaning when one discovers that she's a witch with a firm command of her darker powers. Larry is in line for a promotion, but instead the senior partnership is given to Howard (Edward Albert), and Erica is just as upset as you might imagine; using both her sexual allure and her magical powers, Erica takes her revenge on Howard, leaving him in a wheelchair. However, it seems that Howard's wife Amelia (Linda Blair) is also a witch, and she's not about to allow the crippling of Howard to go unpunished. Sorceress also features Michael Parks and a cameo appearance from noted exploitation director Fred Olen Ray. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Blair, Edward Albert, (more)
- 1989
It's time to redecorate the Playhouse, and it promises to be a noisy event inasmuch as today's secret word is "House." (SCREAM REAL LOUD!) Borrowing a page from Tom Sawyer, Pee-wee tricks his friends Cowboy Curtis, Ricardo, and Miss Yvonne into doing all the work. When Reba the Mail Lady arrives to deliver Clocky, the gang unexpectedly meets two new friends: Floory and Mrs. Rene (Suzanne Kent). And to top it off, Miss Yvonne stages an impromptu tea party. William Marshall makes his debut as the King of Cartoons, bringing a vintage TV to the festivities. "Open House" was released on video in tandem with "Pee-wee Catches a Cold" in Volume 1 of Pee-wee's Playhouse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reubens
- 1988
Poor Pee-wee has no one to play with: all his friends are working. What to do? Make "Playhouse Day" a legal holiday, allowing everyone a 24-hour vacation -- even the King of Cartoons, who never gets a day off. And there are an abundance of screams thanks to today's secret word, "Thing." "Playhouse Day" was released on video in tandem with "Accidental Playhouse" in Volume 12 of Pee-wee's Playhouse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reubens
- 1988
Season three of Pee-Wee's Playhouse finds the irrepressible Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) and the whole Playhouse gang (human and otherwise) back for even more hilarious adventures -- though not as many adventures as in previous seasons, inasmuch as only a handful new episodes were produced. In "I Remember Curtis," Pee-Wee reminisces about his old pal Cowboy Curtis (yes, that's a young Laurence Fishburne) with the help of clips from previous episodes. Future Law & Order co-star S. Epatha Merkerson is prominently featured as Reba the Mail Lady in "Reba Eats, Pterri Runs." Jimmy Smits guest stars as a muscular computer repairman in "Conky's Breakdown." In "To Tell the Tooth," Pee-wee must practice what he preaches after admonishing his friends not to be scared by the dentist. A frantic search is conducted for several of Pee-Wee's favorite playthings in "Mystery." A popular singing trio is spotlighted in "Dr. Pee-Wee and the Del Rubios" "Front Page Pee-Wee" finds our hero transforming the playhouse into a newspaper office. And rascally Randy accidentally causes a"Fire in the Playhouse," though Fireman Frank (Stephen Parry) prevents things from getting out of hand. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reubens, Lynne Stewart, (more)
The 1987 portmanteau comedy feature Amazon Women on the Moon lampoons several film genres in general and the 1954 sci-fi cheapie Cat Women of the Moon in particular. Other sketches in Amazon Women include an opening bit with Arsenio Hall; a vignette titled "Son of the Invisible Man" wherein a naked Ed Begley Jr. runs around in full view of the nonplussed supporting cast; the It's Alive parody "Hospital", which offers the spectacle of Michelle Pfeiffer giving birth to Mr. Potato Head; and a Siskel & Ebert takeoff, featuring Arche Hahn as a TV viewer whose entire life is given a "thumbs down." Directed by several hands, including Joe Dante, Carl Gottleib, Peter Horton, John Landis, and Robert K. Weiss, Amazon Women on the Moon also features a satire of the Kroger G. Babb school of "sex hygiene" exploitation cheapies, with syphilis victim Carrie Fisher being counseled by unctuous doctor Paul Bartel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rosanna Arquette, Ralph Bellamy, (more)
- 1987
Today's secret word is "Day." The King of Cartoons drops over to play a round of miniature golf with Pee-wee, scoring a "birdie" when one of his golf balls hatches into a baby dinosaur. Then Captain Carl shows up for a snack, only to have Pee-wee improvise a fancy restaurant --- with the obligatory fancy prices. "Two dollars for a peanut butter sandwich?!" screams Captain Carl. "But with jelly, sir," replies Maitre D' Pee-wee. Originally telecast during the 1986-87 season of Pee-wee's Playhouse, "Restaurant" was issued on video in 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reubens
- 1987
The big news for season two of Pee-Wee's Playhouse is the selfsame Playhouse's "new look"--which extends to redesigning several puppet characters, notably Globey. Though Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens), Miss Yvonne (Lynne Stewart), Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne), and many other regulars are still in attendance, there are also several new faces including Suzanne Kent as neighbor lady Mrs. Rene and William Marshall as the King of Cartoons, replacing the previous season's Gilbert Lewis. The season's ten half-hour episodes include "Open House," in which Pee-wee supervises the Playhouse's makeover; "Puppy in the Playhouse," wherein our hero tries to adopt a doggy that already belongs to one of his best friends, Reba the Mail Lady (S. Epatha Merkerson); "Store," wherein Miss Yvonne goes shopping at Pee-Wee's imaginary convenience shop; "Pee-Wee Catches a Cold," an object lesson in how anything can be cured with a good dose of chicken soup; "Why Wasn't I Invited," in which a misunderstanding almost causes Pee-Wee to miss the Countess' big party; "Tons of Fun," highlighted by a lip-synched performance "That Certain Feeling" (original artist: Bob Hope); "School," which brings Christopher Columbus briefly back to the land of the living; "Spring," a study in disconsolation as Pee-Wee fails to make the baseball team; "Playhouse in Outer Space," which proves that even a secret word like "Zyzzybalubah" can crop up in casual conversation; and "Pajama Party," which delivers just what the title promises (and it's co-ed, too!) For its second season, Pee-Wee's Playhouse earned still another Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Children's Series. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reubens
- 1983
- R
This derivative Canadian thriller plays like a distaff version of Samuel Fuller's cult classic Shock Corridor fused rather crudely to a standard mad-slasher plot. The story takes place primarily at the country villa of a sleazy horror film director (scenery-chomping John Vernon), where auditions for the title role of his new film Audra are taking place. The casting session is called after the film's intended star had herself committed to an asylum in order to properly research her Frances Farmer-type role, then found herself unable to get out. It comes as little surprise, then, that the six actresses vying for the plum role in her absence are not long for this world, as a witch-masked marauder is wandering the premises with some well-honed implements. This film's surprisingly stylish look is probably due to the initial direction of acclaimed cinematographer Richard Ciupka, but the film was actually completed by a pseudonymous replacement. (The credited director, "Jonathan Stryker," is actually the name of Vernon's character.) ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Vernon, Samantha Eggar, (more)
- 1982
Somewhere between his starring role in Blacula and his stint as the King of Cartoons on Pee-Wee's Playhouse, William Marshall took time to guest star on The Jeffersons as bestselling author Tom Blake. Both the Jeffersons (Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford) and the Willises (Franklin Cover and Roxie Roker) are aware that Blake has done time in prison for killing his girlfriend. Alas, Florence (Marla Gibbs) is blissfully unaware of Blake's past when the charismatic author asks her to go out on a date. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
This is another adaptation of Shakespeare's famous tragedy. It is the sad story of Othello, Moor of Venice who is slowly driven insane by his jealous assistant Iago. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1974
An intriguing blend of 70's "blaxploitation" and Exorcist clone, William Girdler's Abby is an effective and chilling film that incorporates elements of ancient African spiritualism into the conventions of the demon-possession genre. The story begins in Nigeria, where Professor Williams (Blacula's William Marshall) discovers a suggestive-looking fetish artifact in a cave once used by members of the sinister cult of "Eshu." When the relic is opened, it releases a foul-tempered Eshu demon which quickly kills several people and pursues Williams all the way back to America, where it soon enters the home of the professor's son Reverend Emmett (Terry Carter) and takes possession of the Reverend's proper and lovely wife Abby (Carol Speed). Emmett first begins to suspect something is amiss when Abby attempts suicide during a church picnic, but only after she begins vomiting in church and tormenting his congregation does he realize that her condition may not be mere insanity, and he consults his father for help. By the time the two men finally corner Abby in a sleazy bar, she has already seduced and killed several men. The exorcism is performed right in the bar, as dashiki-clad Williams incorporates both Western and African religious rituals to purge the foul spirit from Abby's body. Although Warner Brothers sought legal action against this film for its similarities to The Exorcist, this is no more of a rip-off than countless Italian variations on the formula, and its strong use of African religious traditions gives it a strength lacking in many low-budget blaxploitation films of the era. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Marshall, Carol Speed, (more)
In this horror sequel from the director of Count Yorga, Vampire, a member of an American voodoo cult revives the fanged Prince Manuwalde (William Marshall), only to become his slave. Manuwalde then puts the bite on various victims, but finds himself fixating on pretty Lisa (Pam Grier), a voodoo princess whom he believes can finally put his soul to rest. Lynne Moody, Nicholas Worth, and Bernie Hamilton are among the familiar cast, but the various occult trappings seem somewhat out of place in the modern Los Angeles setting and the production values are pretty shabby. Blaxploitation and camp fans should still find it mildly amusing, however, and Shakespearean actor Marshall is a lot of fun as the obsessive vampire. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Marshall, Pam Grier, (more)
Advertised as the 100th production of American International studios, Blacula stars actor/singer William Marshall in the title role. An 18th century African prince, Blacula is transmogrified into a vampire while visiting Transylvania. Two centuries later, he rises from his coffin to wreak havoc in the Watts district of Los Angeles. Blacula's particular target is Tina (Vonetta McGee), whom he thinks is the reincarnation of his long-ago lady love. Thalmus Rasulala assumes the "Van Helsing" role as the vampire hunter who can't convince the authorities to cooperate. Yes, that is the same William Marshall who later played "The King of Cartoons" on TV's Pee-wee's Playhouse. A sequel, Scream, Blacula, Scream!, appeared not long after. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Marshall, Vonetta McGee, (more)
- 1970
- PG
False Witness is the British title of the American thriller Zigzag, which in turn was partially inspired by the 1950 film D.O.A. George Kennedy plays an insurance investigator who learns that he is dying from a brain tumor. Hoping to provide for his family, Kennedy confesses to a murder he didn't commit, thereby collecting the reward money. During his murder trial, Kennedy collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Subjected to laser surgery, he emerges from the hospital completely cured--and now he must unravel the airtight case he's contrived against himself in court. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Kennedy, Anne Jackson, (more)
- 1970
- PG
A team of anthropologists travel to New Guinea in search of the missing link in this routine adventure tale. The expedition is financed by Vancruysen (Paul Hubschmid) and lead by Dr. Sybil Greame (Susan Clark). Also on hand are Douglas Temple (Burt Reynolds) and the boozy Otto Kreps (Roger C. Carmel). The two men are on the lookout for phospherous. The party discovers a group that appears to behalf human and half ape. Otto entices the female creature Topazia (Pat Suzuki) with sandwiches. When phosphorous is discovered, the evil industrialist Vancruysen enslaves the primates to work in the mines. Otto, Topazia, and Douglas escape, but there quest is slowed by the stillborn birth of Topazia's child. Douglas tricks the doctor into signing the death certificate that claims the child was human, which forces a murder trial. Eaton (Wilfred Hyde-White) is the South African anthropologist and racist called on to judge the proceedings. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Susan Clark, (more)
- 1970
This jungle adventure is comprised of two episodes from the 1966-69 TV show. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Mask of Sheba was the pilot film for a potential TV series titled Quest. Eric Braeden, Stephen Young and Corinne Camacho play three daring adventurers with a predilection for archeology. They are hired to locate a missing safari in Ethiopia. The safari had been searching for an ancient golden mask of the Queen of Sheba. Off our threesome goes to Ethiopia (which looks a lot like Mexico, where the film was shot), encountering dangers and double-crosses along the way. Mask of Sheba has enough plot for three TV movies--and none of them would have made it as a weekly series, either. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Two former World War II pilots take to running an air-freight company in South Africa after the war. They get mixed up with Lee Harris (Harry Guardino), the dangerous black-market crime boss who flaunts his beautiful mistress Elana (Claudia Cardinale). Brynie (Rod Taylor) and Mike (Peter Deuel) are the former ace flyboys who get on the wrong side of Harris and his henchmen. The action starts at Al Poland's (William Marshall), a favorite watering hole where everyone has one ear on the live music as the other listens to the next sordid smuggling plan hatched by shadowy underworld types. Harris and his gun-wielding thugs mean to bring down the high-flying operation. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rod Taylor, Claudia Cardinale, (more)
The Boston Strangler adopts the split-screen technique then in vogue (see also The Thomas Crown Affair) to relate the true story of self-confessed mass murderer Albert DeSalvo. Adapted by Edward Anhalt from the book by Gerold Frank, the film covers the years 1962 to 1964, during which time a dozen women were raped and murdered in the Boston area. State-appointed officer John Bottomly (Henry Fonda) arrests as many known sex offenders as he can get his hands on in hopes of finding a clue as to the Boston Strangler's identity. As these things often happen, the police come across the necessary evidence through pure luck. Well-played by Tony Curtis (whose makeup is startling), DeSalvo himself does not appear until an hour into the film. When caught, the schizophrenic DeSalvo insists that he knows nothing of the murders. Under interrogation and hypnosis, his homicidal impulses are exposed. Meticulously cast, The Boston Strangler offers excellent vignettes by Sally Kellerman as the Strangler's only surviving victim and by Hurd Hatfield as an erudite sex pervert. When Boston Strangler was first shown on TV in 1974, a voice-over coda was added, noting that Albert DeSalvo was stabbed to death in prison on November 26, 1973, and that many experts were convinced that he was not the killer but that his confessions were the product of a delusional mind. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, (more)
- 1968
The Enterprise is chosen to participate in the secret experimental testing of the M-5, a supercomputer that is designed to replace the human leaders of a starship, in this episode of the popular 1960s science fiction series. Kirk reluctantly agrees to temporary hand over his command for the duration of a test exercise, to allow the computer to prove itself amidst Starfleet military drills. A programming oversight, however, causes the M-5 to mistake the practice exercises for actual combat, leading to the destruction of a friendly vessel. Additionally, the Enterprise crew discovers that the computer will not return power to human hands or allow communication with other vessels who are unaware of the experiment. Captain Kirk and the others must discover a way to regain control of the ship or else face destruction as a rouge vessel at the hands of their own colleagues. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- 1965
This film is essentially the original pilot for the popular 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. It was expanded to 92 minutes and shot in color for theatrical release. Robert Vaughn plays the master spy and adept action hero Napoleon Solo. He works for a shadowy supra-governmental enforcement agency called U.N.C.L.E. His partner is the suave Russian secret agent Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum). In this pilot, a sinister organization called W.A.S.P. assassinates the president of an African republic and his assistants. Solo is enlisted to stop W.A.S.P.'s plans to take over the country and turn it into a dictatorship. The plot and action proceed at lightning speed against the backdrop of a brewing Cold War superpower confrontation. Through a series of mishaps, a housewife, Elaine May Donaldson (Pat Crowley) is dragged into the fight and helps Solo thwart the coup attempt. Also released as a film in 1966 was another expanded episode from the TV series, The Spy with My Face. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Vaughn, Luciana Paluzzi, (more)
- 1964
This landmark Bonanza episode stars William Marshall (long before his tenure as "Blacula" and as "The King of Cartoons" on Pee-wee's Playhouse) in the role of celebrated black opera singer Thomas Bowers. Returning from a triumphant tour of Italy, Bowers encounters the rawest, most vicious forms of bigotry and prejudice when he arrives in Virginia City. Worse still, Bowers faces arrest as an escaped slave. The Cartwrights come to Bowers' aid. Others in the cast include Ena Hartman as Caroline, Kelly Thordsen as Sam, Jason Wingreen as Luke and Alice Frost as Mrs. Gable. This episode caused a stir in some areas due to its sensitive subject matter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1964
Pat Buttram (he was Mr. Haney on Green Acres) brings a macabre twist to his standard country-bumpkin characterization in this bone-chilling episode. Visiting a traveling carnival, farmer Charlie Hill (Buttram) is fascinated by one of the exhibits: a huge jar, filled with water and mysterious floating objects. Convinced that the jar possesses magical qualities, Charlie purchases the object and brings it home, putting it on display for his friends and neighbors -- who are equally fascinated, even mesmerized, by the jar's eerie "properties." All of this brouhaha annoys Charlie's promiscuous young wife, Thedy Sue (Collin Wilcox), who plans to expose the jar as a fake and humiliate Charlie in public just before running off with her current boyfriend. James Bridges earned an Emmy nomination for his adaptation of Ray Bradbury's short story The Jar, which also boasts an appropriately eerie minimalist musical score by frequent Alfred Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Herrmann. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pat Buttram, Collin Wilcox, (more)
