John Cliff Movies

In order to qualify for a top-secret assignment, Ironside (Raymond Burr) must first undergo an evaluation conducted by psychologist William Danner (Bradford Dillman). This involves a "stress test" to see how far Ironside can be pushed before he will break. Unfortunately, Danner has a hidden agenda which places Ironside in physical as well as emotional jeopardy--and worse still, it seems as if none of the Chief's assistants will be on hand to rescue him in the traditional nick of time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A student revolt is fomenting on a college campus, prompting police headquarters to dispatch a riot squad. Among those summoned to nip the hostilities in the bud is mobile officer Pete Malloy (Martin Milner). The problem: Malloy is currently taking classes at the troubled college--and several of his fellow students regard him as a traitor for taking the side of the "pigs." Watch for pro heavyweight boxer Jerry Quarry in a small supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second of three episodes filmed in New York City, Phil Silvers guest stars as glib con artist Shifty Shafer. Posing as one "Honest John," Shifty has already sold Central Park to the impressionable Clampetts. Now for good measure, he throws in the Staten Island Ferry ("picked up last month from my friend Alexander Staten") and, inevitably, the Brooklyn Bridge ("picked up at auction last week from the estate of Oscar Brooklyn"). "The Clampetts in New York" first aired on November 5, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Money Jungle is an innovative mystery concerning some greedy oil companies in competition to secure off-shore drilling rights. Detective Blake Heller (John Ericson) is the hard drinking sleuth hired by the oil companies to try and keep the proceedings above board. He contends with a group that opposes the proposal and later finds there are elements against him in the very organization that hired him. Blake goes to local police lieutenant Dow Reeves (Nehemiah Persoff) when geologists start dropping like flies after being gunned down. Comedian Don Rickles stars in the straight role of crooked oilman Harry Darkwater in this offbeat detective story. Lola Albright croons two songs in her role as a gold-digging nightclub singer who turns out to be the ex-wife of one of the oil barons and owns lots of stock in the company. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

The Gnome-Mobile was Walt Disney's first all-out fantasy since Mary Poppins. Walter Brennan stars in a dual role, as kindly lumber tycoon D. J. Mulrooney and the irascible (and much tinier) 943-year-old gnome Knobby. Mulrooney likes Knobby and his fellow gnomes, but the feeling isn't reciprocal, since Knobby considers Mulrooney a threat to his beloved forest. Meanwhile, the tycoon's vice-president Ralph Yarby (Richard Deacon), hearing his boss' claims that he's been consorting with gnomes, decides that the old guy is insane and has him committed. Rescued by his grandchildren Rodney (Matthew Garber) and Elizabeth (Karen Dotrice), D.J. seeks out Knobby and Knobby's own grandson Jasper (Tom Lowell), who are hiding somewhere in the woods with gnome-king Rufus (Ed Wynn, in his final film role). There follows an amusing rite of passage wherein Jasper becomes engaged to gnomette Shy Violet (Cami Sebring), leading to a happy ending for all concerned. The film's title refers to D. J. Mulroney's precious 1930 Rolls Royce, which is "adopted" by the gnome population. Gnome-Mobile is a virtual inventory of Disney's most beloved trademarks, ranging from excellent miniature and special-effects work (including the producer's newest innovation, audio-animatronics) to a zany slapstick car chase. Walt Disney did receive a producer credit on this film, which was actually made in 1966 - the year of his death - and released nationally in 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A jaunty harmonica-music score by Tommy Morgan was the main redeeming feature of this otherwise pedestrian Twilight Zone episode. John Dehner stars as Jared Garrity, a frontier con artist who convinces the citizens of a sleepy western town that he possesses the ability to bring the dead back to life. After a few examples of his power, the townsfolk are convinced -- and are willing to pay through the nose to make sure that certain people remain dead. An amusing but predictable twist caps this episode, which was scripted by Rod Serling from a short story by Mike Korologos and first aired May 8, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Larry, Moe and Curly Joe work in a pharmacy where a young professor works on a time machine. When the machine is sabotaged by foil Ralph Dimsal (George N. Neise), the Three Stooges, the professor and beautiful Diane (Vicki Trickett) are transported back in time to ancient Greece. The group lands in the middle of a fierce battle between rival armies. Meeting up with the might Hercules, they soon discover their appearance in the battle helped turn the tide in favor of the wrong side. A series of mishaps and a stint as galley slaves plague their efforts to correct historical accuracy. They battle mythological monsters and the evil General Odius (Neise) to set the historical record straight. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

The year is 1777: the place, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. With his troops demoralized and facing starvation, General George Washington (Robert Douglas) writes a letter to the Continental Congress, asking permission to negotiate peace terms with the British. As he wrestles with his conscience over whether or not he should deliver the letter, Washington experiences a miraculous vision of future events--a paranormal phenomenon that will change the course of history. And yes, this episode is based on a true story. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Kingston Trio's hit song with the lyrics "hang down your head Tom Dooley, hang down your head and cry..." may have been the inspiration for this well-wrought drama, but the film stands on its own. Three Confederate soldiers learn too late that the stagecoach they just attacked, killing two Union soldiers, was off-limits because the Civil War was over. Killing the former enemy after peace has been declared is considered murder, so the three young men decide to head for refuge further south. One of the three, Tom Dooley (Michael Landon) takes a detour to find his Northern sweetheart and marry her before escaping. That, it turns out, was a fatal mistake and the beginning of a folk hero and a folk song. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

George Nader plays a reporter whose career is ruined by liquor. A comeback opportunity presents itself when Nader is a bystander at the arrest of a well-known criminal. The reporter knows that the crook, who has been accused of an ambush murder, is innocent, and he sets about to collar the real killer. Nader goes "cold turkey" on the booze despite tempations at every turn, and gets his man. Appointment with a Shadow is one of a handful of films directed by onetime I Led 3 Lives star Richard Carlson. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this western, the battle between ranchers and farmers provides the background for a battle between two disparate brothers. One is the outlaw gangleader of the Blue Chip gang; the other is a hard-bitten lawman. The outlaw is only too happy to witness the land conflicts as he plans on stealing the lands of the dead on both sides. Fortunately, his good brother causes him to change his bad-guy ways, side with the farmers and go straight. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this tense murder mystery, a San Francisco traffic officer vows to find the killer of the kindly priest who raised him. Unfortuantely, his superiors assign the case to others. Angrily the cop quits the force and launches his own investigation. The cop's prime suspect is the priest's best friend. When this friend invites the cop to live with him and his lovely cousin, the cop accepts, hoping that he can prove the friend's innocence. Sure enough, the priest's friend is innocent. Relieved, the cop begins a romance with the cousin that culminates in their marriage. It is then that a terrible secret is revealed. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi