Woodrow Chambliss Movies
- 1981
In this made-for-TV docudrama, Sam Elliott stars as John Hill, a Houston plastic surgeon accused of the murder of his socialite wife Joan, the daughter of oil baron Ash Robinson. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1981
- PG
After a string of box-office hits, including Coming Home and Being There, director Hal Ashby announced in 1979 that his next film would be a "personal" project called The Hamster of Happiness. Two years would pass before this effort would appear on screen, by which time it had been heavily retooled in the editing room (by Ashby himself) and retitled Second-Hand Hearts. Robert Blake plays a boozing drifter, who while drunk as a skunk marries waitress Barbara Harris. The newlyweds set off on a long car trip to California, with Harris' two wretched children in tow. For this we waited two years? Weighted down with allegory, symbolism and "meaningful" character names, Second-Hand Hearts was the beginning of the end of Hal Ashby's glory days. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Barbara Harris, (more)
- 1980
- PG
This is a routine story about Bradley (David Carradine), a stunt flyer who loves flying more than anything else, as apparently does the director, Barry Brown. Bradley is devoted to his brother who suffers from Downs syndrome and he helps a new flyer to ditch a potentially disastrous flirtation with drugs. He is clearly a "good guy" even though humanity in general tends to take a backseat to flying, as far as he is concerned. He is less successful in his relationship with his girlfriend Helen (Jennifer O'Neill) partly because of his interest in flying. The extended stunt flying sequences might cause some viewers to wish the pilot spent more time on the ground handling his personal relationships than in the air looping and twirling. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Carradine, Jennifer O'Neill, (more)
- 1980
The family plays host to Zadok Walton (Woodrow Chambliss), the highly eccentric cousin of the late Grandpa Walton. After a few rambling statements about a legacy of some sort, Zadok makes himself at home -- and before long it is obvious that he has no intention of leaving, causing great consternation amongst his kinfolk who have good reason to believe that Zadok is a bit gone in the head. And in a story development of farther-reaching significance, Jason Walton (Jon Walmsley) runs afoul of a tough female Army sergeant, Antoinette "Toni" Hazelton (Lisa Harrison in her first series appearance). After she butts into his affairs once too often, Jason tells her off in as loud and insulting a manner as possible -- and it is at this point that the two antagonists fall hopelessly in love. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
- PG
- Add Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band to QueueAdd Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band to top of Queue
Pop star Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees star in this musical, loosely based on the popular 1967 Beatles album Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In the story, Billy Shears, who now heads the Lonely Hearts Club Band, is the grandson of the famous Sergeant Pepper. He is confronted by the need to save the magical musical instruments of the band from the bad guys, led by music tycoon B.D. Brockhurst (Donald Pleasance), who want to steal them. If they succeed, the magic which infuses "Heartland U.S.A." will disappear. Among the many Beatles' songs performed in the film by well-known popular artists are: "She's Leaving Home" (Bee Gees, Jay MacIntosh, John Wheeler), "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" (Steve Martin), "Got To Get You into My Life (Earth, Wind & Fire), "When I'm 64" (Sandy Farina), "Come Together" (Aerosmith), "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (sung by the Bee Gees, Paul Nicholas), "With a Little Help from My Friends" (Peter Frampton, the Bee Gees), "Fixing a Hole" (George Burns), and "Get Back" (Billy Preston). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Frampton, Barry Gibb, (more)
- 1978
According to the network press release, the made-for-TV Forever was concerned with the "joys and anguish" of teenage romance. The teenage romancers herein are played by Stephanie Zimbalist and Dean Butler. It is the first serious relationship for both, and so far as they are concerned, it will be the only such entanglement in their lives. The script, based on Judy Blume's novel, details in bittersweet fashion how "forever" is a relative term when one is very young and impressionable. The film was originally telecast January 6, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
In this actioner, a rebel leader hijacks a boat and holds the passengers hostage in the hopes of beginning a coup. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1975
It's still the same old story...but what a story. This umpteenth filmization of the classic Mark Twain novel stars Ron Howard as Huck and Donny Most as Tom Sawyer. After faking his own murder to escape his brutish Pap (played by Howard's real-life father Rance), Huck and fugitive slave Jim (Antonio Fargas) fashion a raft and head off down the Mississippi. The darker elements and sociological commentary of the Twain original are carefully excised from this version, the better to allow more time for the antics of those "royal" rapscallions, the King (Jack Elam) and the Duke (Merle Haggard). Mark Twain himself makes a guest appearance, in the person of Royal Dano. Filmed along the Sacramento River in California (a frequent movie "stand-in" for the Mississippi), Huckleberry Finn was first broadcast March 25, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This horror oddity tells the story of a well-networked throng of devil-worshipers populating a small Arizona town who possess a strange crystal icon which houses the captive souls of their sacrificial victims. The coven, led by the thick-browed Jonathan Corbis (Ernest Borgnine), are also determined to get their hands on a diabolical "Book of Names" which contains the identities of those victims. After the family of Tom Preston (Tom Skeritt) are murdered by the coven for concealing the book, Tom sets out to avenge them. During an outrageous climax -- in which none other than William Shatner is offered up in sacrifice and Borgnine is transformed by a lightning bolt into a chunky horned demon -- the receptacle of souls is shattered, releasing the title storm and causing the congregation to melt into puddles of multicolored goo (a scene which seems to last forever). Produced in 1975 but released two years later, this film touted John Travolta's name at the height of his popularity, though his role is remarkably small (he does melt nicely at the end, however). ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernest Borgnine, Eddie Albert, (more)
- 1973
The made-for-TV The Class of 63 is set at a ten-year college reunion. Joan Hackett and Cliff Gorman play a married couple who eagerly anticipate meeting old friends at the event. But Gorman's festive spirit dissipates when Hackett's old boy friend James Brolin makes an appearance. In fact, Gorman harbors dreams of eliminating Brolin for keeps. First telecast March 14, 1973, Class of '63 was filmed on location at Princeton University and USC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This spy thriller from future Death Wish (1974) director Michael Winner stars Burt Lancaster as the enigmatic Cross, a CIA agent who has hired a government assassin, Jean Laurier (Alain Delon), to kill an Arab terrorist. Once they return home, Laurier is arrested by his superior, McLeod (John Colicos), who wants to know why Cross is still alive, as Laurier was ordered to kill him as well. Laurier doesn't think that Cross is guilty of the crime, but he relents and agrees to carry out the contract for a higher price. Cross, suspected of selling secrets to the Soviets, learns that his life is in danger and flees to Vienna, where he is aided by a former comrade-in-arms from WWII, the sympathetic KGB agent Sergei Zharkov (Paul Scofield). When Cross learns that his wife (Joanne Linville) has been murdered by McLeod, he returns to the U.S. and kills him, leading to a bloody final confrontation with a reluctant Laurier, who is shocked to discover that his lover (Gayle Hunnicutt) is in league with Cross. Scorpio (1973) was the writing debut of David W. Rintels, who went on to author several critically respected made-for-TV films. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, (more)
- 1972
Incorporating themes from horror films of both the '50s and the '70s, this suspenseful TV movie stars Cornel Wilde and Jennifer Salt as an archaeologist and his daughter, who discover a strange skull on display at a roadside tourist trap. After the museum owner is killed during an attack from an unseen foe, the pair are subsequently pursued across the American Southwest by a tribe of humanoid creatures that bear a striking resemblance to the gargoyles of myth, leading to a manic game of cat-and-mouse across the desert. This enjoyably spooky film essentially riffs on this one-note premise for over 70 minutes -- sort of an inversion of Night of the Living Dead's claustrophobic scenario -- and fortunately comes off quite well thanks to superb use of the desert locations, an eerie score, uniformly good performances, and Emmy award-winning monster costumes from Stan Winston. A young Scott Glenn appears as a roguish biker who throws in with the good guys after taking a shine to the professor's daughter. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1972
- R
In this western a rookie gunfighter decides to switch careers before he is killed. He is traveling when he encounters a group of Indian prisoners under cavalry guard. They are led by a cruel-hearted sergeant, Wilbanks. He later, runs into the band again. This time, most of the Indians have been slaughtered by the troop. Xochitl is one of the survivors. The ex-gunman tries to take the survivors to a safer place. En route he and the woman fall in love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1972
- NR
In Greaser's Palace, Alan Arbus plays a zoot-suited character named Jesse, who is not only a Christlike figure, he is Christ. En route to Jerusalem, where he hopes to find work as a "singer-dancer-actor," Jesse finds himself in a dusty western town. At first, he is targeted for extermination by town boss Seaweedhead Greaser (Albert Henderson) but all this changes when he brings Greaser's son Lamy (Michael Sullivan) back from the dead. Jesse's healing powers lead to all sorts of wacked-out complications and, inevitably, a bizarre confrontation with the town looney, exotic dancer Cholera (Luana Anders). A very young Robert Downey Jr. (the son of the director) appears as a Quasimodo-like child. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Director Jim McBride took his first step from the avant garde underground to Hollywood with this beautifully photographed bit of thoughtful science fiction. Glen (Steven Curry) and Randa (Shelley Plimpton) are a couple in their early twenties who forage for survival after an unspecified apocalypse has wiped out civilization. Drifting from one camp of survivors to another, Glen and Randa behave like arrested adolescents with limited knowledge of the world that existed before their birth, which now seems like folklore. Glen has heard of the cities which existed many years ago and is convinced that they still exist. When they encounter a self-styled traveling "magician" (Garry Goodrow) who demonstrates ancient home appliances and plays old Rolling Stones records for his tiny audiences, Glen asks him about "the city." After the magician warns him that the cities are in ruins, Glen pilfers his collection of maps and Wonder Woman comics and sets out with a now-pregnant Randa to find Metropolis. After months of traveling, Glen and Randa arrive at the seashore where they are befriended by Sidney Miller (Woodrow Chambliss), an elderly man who gives them a place to stay and tells them tales of the world that once was. Originally rated X for several non-exploitive scenes of nudity, Glen and Randa starred Steven Curry and Shelley Plimpton who first worked together in the original Broadway production of the rock musical Hair. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1971
- G
Fires and tornados add to the difficulties of the Tanners, a Pittsburgh family of three which has pulled up stakes and moved to what they thought would be a fully functional ranch in Wyoming. Instead they find a broken down ruin. In addition to having to rebuild and battle the elements, they have a fight on their hands. Their cattleman neighbor controls the water, and he hates farmers. As the mother (Vera Miles) gets the household in order, the father and son (Steve Forrestand Ron Howard) struggle the get the ranch in working order; they are aided by a mountain man, Thompson (Jack Elam), and Two Dog, a Native American (Frank de Kova). When the showdown over water rights comes, these two new friends are at their side. This Technicolor western, set in the 1880's, is loosely based on the book "Little Britches," by Ralph Moody. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1968
This pilot film for the 1969-1970 TV series Then Came Bronson stars Michael Parks in the title role. A young, ambitious journalist, Bronson realigns his priorities after his best friend (Martin Sheen) commits suicide. Borrowing a page from Kerouac, Bronson gives up the rat race for the road. He mounts his friend's motorcycle, speeding up and down the California coastline in search of life's meaning. Along the way, he meets a runaway bride (Bonnie Bedelia) who briefly joins him on his odyssey. The best sequence takes place in a nomad encampment, presided over by Zorba-like Akim Tamiroff. Everyone who grew up in the late-'60s seems to have fond memories of the series; why, then, was the show canceled after only one season? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bonnie Bedelia, Akim Tamiroff, (more)
- 1965
Clara coerces Andy into taking up a collection to buy a new church organ. But when time comes for the donors to ante up the money that they promised, everyone begs off. Taking matters in her own hands, Clara tries to charm the owner of the organ-a taciturn bachelor named Harlan Robinson (Woodrow Chambliss)-into donating the instrument for free. Written by Paul Wayne, "The Church Organ" was originally telecast on December 13, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Wild Seed was produced by Universal as part of the studio's short-lived "new talent" policy, which permitted untried actors and/or directors a low-cost opportunity to prove themselves with a theatrical feature. Director Brian G. Hutton was no newcomer, having been a TV actor and director for several years, but Wild Seed was his first big-screen directorial effort. Michael Parks plays a young drifter who forms an alliance with runaway girl Celia Kaye. Parks helps guide the girl on her trek to California, falling in love along the way. The plotline is wafer thin, but Wild Seed was a particular favorite of cinematographer Conrad Hall, who welcomed the opportunity given him by director Hutton to tell most of the story through imagery and visual juxtapositions rather than dialogue (the film was also Hall's first major studio credit). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Parks, Celia Kaye, (more)
- 1965
Sensing that Andy and Helen feel guilty about leaving her home alone at night, Aunt Bee pretends to have a new boy friend. When pressed for details, Bee intimates that her sweetie is local butter-and-egg man Orville Hendricks (Woodrow Chambliss). This little deception results in big trouble when Barney discovers that Orville is already married-or, as Barney so delicately puts it, he's a "chicken-coop Casanova!" Written by Ben Joelson and Art Baer, "Aunt Bee's Invisible Beau" originally aired on March 29, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Matt Weaver (George Segal) returns home after fighting for the South in the Civil War to his home in the New Mexico territory. He discovers that in his absence his ancestral house and land have been sold by Sam Brewster (Pat Hingle), an unscrupulous land developer. Matt tries to kill Sam, but when the attempt fails, Matt barricades himself in the place he once called home. Sam sends for the colorful hired gun Jules Gaspard D'Estaing (Yul Brynner), a well-educated dandy whose mother was a black slave and father was a Creole. Jules is as adept with card and piano playing as he is with a six gun. When Jules gets drunk and tears up the town, Sam tries to make a truce with Matt to get rid of the deadly drifter. Janice Rule also appears, along with Bert Freed in his familiar role as the local sheriff. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yul Brynner, Janice Rule, (more)
- 1958
Although the trial of young Theodore Balfour (Tyler MacDuff), who was accused of killing his father Lawrence (Bruce Bennett), had ended in a hung jury, Theodore's lawyer had advised him to plead to the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. Outraged that Theodore seems to have been railroaded into prison, his grandfather Addison (Richard Hale) asks Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) to reopen the case, clear the boy, and expose the real killer. This episode is based on a 1957 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Perry's client Janet Morris (Bethel Leslie) is charged with poisoning her husband Dr. Morris (Sheppard Strudwick), who has been reported killed in a plane crash. As it turns out, however, the crash victim is not Dr. Norris but instead David Kirby (Dabbs Greer); Norris has faked his demise so he can run off to Mexico with his girlfriend (played by Maxine Cooper, best known for her work in the 1955 cult film favorite Kiss Me Deadly). No matter: Janet must now stand trial for Kirby's murder, meaning that Mason will have to dig up the elusive Dr. Morris to prove his client's innocence...but who exactly is guilty? Based on a 1954 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner, this episode would be remade in 1965 as "The Case of the Vanishing Victim". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Paladin (Richard Boone) is hired by Colonel Lathrop (Robert F. Simon), a wealthy and aristocratic ex-military man who claims to be writing a history of the West. Lathrop wants Paladin to find out what became of a legendary saloon queen who once presided over a now-deserted Nevada mining town. The job turns out to be a lot more dangerous than it first appears: no one previously hired by the Colonel to find the missing lady has ever returned alive. Supporting players Denver Pyle (Clay Sommers) and Peggy Rea (Lulu) were later reteamed on another popular TV series, The Dukes of Hazzard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
