Dennis Allen Movies
Supporting actor/comedian Dennis Allen may best be remembered for being a regular on Laugh-In from 1970 to 1973. Prior to landing on the show, Allen had been a regular on two short-lived television series, What's It All About World? and The Leslie Uggams Show (both 1969). He made his film debut in Me Natalie (1969), starring Patty Duke. Before launching his professional career, Allen earned a bachelor's and a master's of fine arts from the Boston School of Fine and Applied Arts. Upon graduation, he went to New York to work in live sketch comedy and then became a standup comic. Over the next four years, he broke into television and radio commercials until landing an off-Broadway role in How to Steal an Election. He was spotted during a performance by Laugh-In producer George Schlatter who hired him as a regular. Following his stint on Laugh-In, Allen's career fizzled, due in part to multiple substance abuse. He then went to Kansas City and successfully completed a rehabilitation program. For a time, Allen worked in a program to help emotionally disturbed boys, but then returned to acting, finding a comfortable niche in Kansas City repertory and dinner theater. He made his final film appearance in Knights and Emeralds (1985). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1985
- PG
In a gritty teen drama-comedy about racial tensions and high school competition, Christopher Wild stars as Kevin, the son of a white racist who goes against his father's prejudices by making friends with many black kids at school. The blacks have a band and majorette corps called the Crusaders that are blessed with talent but not much discipline. The white kids at school have their own marching band called the Knights, and Kevin is a hot-shot drummer for this otherwise pretty awful group of musicians. The Knights team up with the gorgeous majorette troupe known as the Emeralds and get ready for the big up-coming competition. Kevin gets invited by the Crusaders' conga drummer Melissa (Beverley Hills) to come practice with them and from those simple beginnings, he is caught up in a new romance and racial biases all at the same time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Wild, Warren Mitchell, (more)
- 1969
- PG
Since she was a child, Natalie Miller (Patty Duke) has always thought she was an ugly ducking. When a boy called her "clown face", the six-year-old knocked out his front teeth with a shovel. Despite her mother's encouragement that she will grow up to be pretty, Natalie has never believed it will happen. When her parents bribe a young medical student to date her, Natalie discovers the ruse and moves out of her parent's house. She rents a Greenwich Village apartment from an eccentric landlady (Elsa Lanchester) and gets a job at the Topless Bottom Club. She rides a motorcycle to work, decorates her loft with a moose head, and rides up and down a dumbwaiter to get to her apartment. There Natalie meets David (James Farentino) an artist, and the two have a love affair before she discovers he is married. She considers returning home after finding him in bed with his wife. Al Pacino makes his first screen appearance in a minor role in this engaging drama. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patty Duke, James Farentino, (more)
