Kathleen Cody Movies

Susan Clark won an Emmy for her performance as legendary woman athlete Babe Didrickson (1916-1956). The film starts in Port Arthur, Texas, with teenaged Babe depriving herself of a social life in order to excel at track and field. Her well-honed skills and fierce competitive spirit win Babe a slot at the Los Angeles-based 1932 Olympics. Able to excel in practically any sport, Babe becomes a pro golfer, tennis player and billiard champ. In 1940, she meets and marries roughhewn ex-wrestler George Zaharias (played by Alex Karras, Clark's real-life future husband), who becomes her mentor and manager. Despite the anticipated career and personal conflicts, George stays by Babe's side for the next sixteen years, ultimately buoying her spirits during her three-year ordeal with terminal cancer. Babe was adapted by Emmy nominee Joanna Lee from Babe Didrickson Zaharias' autobiography This Life I've Led. Footnote: for a glance at the real Babe Zaharias in action on the golf links, see the Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn vehicle Pat and Mike (52). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rummaging through a second-hand purse which she has purchased in anticipation of going to a dance with John-Boy's friend Mike (Ted Eccles), Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) finds a valuable ring. Allowing vanity to get the better of her, Mary Ellen decides to wear the ring to the dance, even as its previous owner Mrs. Breckenride (Adrienne Marden) announces that the ring is missing. A crisis ensues when our heroine loses the ring somewhere in the school gym--necessitating a nocturnal "burglary" involving two of the Walton kids. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A concerned father decides to become closer to his daughter the hard way in this live-action comedy from Walt Disney Pictures. Charlie McCready (Bob Crane) is the father of Wendy (Kathleen Cody), a pretty teenager soon to enter college. Like most parents, Charlie only wants the best for his daughter, but he has little use for her circle of friends, most of whom he regards as half-witted and lazy. Determined to set a better example for his daughter (especially since most of her friends will be joining her at college), Charlie decides to become Wendy's new best friend, imposing himself upon her as often as possible and shoe-horning his way into her social circle, even if it means taking up surfing and water skiing to do it. Charlie's not-always-welcome presence doesn't change Wendy's feelings about her boyfriend Bart (Kurt Russell), but when Charlie decides to break up their romance, he gets even more trouble than he anticipated. Superdad also stars Barbara Rush as Charlie's wife Sue, and Joe Flynn as the memorably named Cyrus Hershberger. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Thomas J. Schmidt directed this little-known exploitation film getting a second life on video thanks to a double bill re-release with Werewolves on Wheels as part of the "Golden Age of Leather" series from Anchor Bay. After an unusual credit sequence featuring busty cult starlet Uschi Digart, the film follows the story of two girls (Kathleen Cody and The Fifth Floor's Diane Hull) on their way to a hippie encounter session run by Ralph Waite (The Waltons). They pick up a crazed Vietnam veteran (Michael Ontkean from Twin Peaks) who has grainy flashbacks in both black & white and distorted color, aside from having a bipolar mood disorder. He might just be the serial killer who is murdering hippies in Waite's peaceful village by the ocean, and the average viewer will figure out the answer in less than ten minutes. Familiar faces in this rather dull Fanfare International drive-in dud include Charles Picerni, Ruth Warshawsky, and Paul Sorenson. Schmidt, who had been working in films since the mid-'60s, died in 1975 with this his only credited feature as director. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

In this light-weight Disney family fare, Dean Jones plays Johnny Baxter, who -- along with his wife Sue (Nancy Olsen) and his two kids, Chris (Kathleen Cody) and Richard (Johnny Whitaker) -- decides to leave the New York City rat-race for the clean air and easy living of the Colorado ski country. Baxter has inherited a decaying Gothic mansion and, with the love of his family and a little bit of money, he converts the old house into a popular ski lodge. While preparing his lodge for the tourists and ski bums, Baxter has to deal with a few plumbing problems, a scheming banker (Keenan Wynn), and a grizzled old miner (Harry Morgan). In typical Disney fashion, the plot culminates in a wild, slapstick snowmobile race. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

On the strength of Grimes' deathbed accusation, Quentin (David Selby) is found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to be beheaded in the public square. As a result, things don't look too good for Quentin's accused co-conspirator, Desmond, and, it also appears that Gerard's (James Storm) diabolical scheme has come to full fruition. This episode was originally telecast on January 8, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Contrary to all appearances, Morgan (Keith Prentice) has not gone insane; rather, he has been possessed by the restless sprit of James Forsythe. Confronted by Julia (Grayson Hall), Forsythe's ghost insists that he was not responsible for the curse on the Collins family. And Daphne (Kate Jackson) becomes enraged when Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) intends to visit the impregnated Catherine (Lara Parker). This episode first aired on March 4, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In a page right out of Wuthering Heights, giddy Daphne (Kate Jackson) believes that Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) is truly in love with her, but Catherine (Lara Parker) knows that Bramwell is merely marrying Daphne on the rebound. Both Catherine and Bramwell's mother, Josette (Mary Cooper), try to dissuade Daphne from going through with the marriage, but she refuses to listen. Meanwhile, Carrie (Kathleen Cody) experiences a grim vision of the future. This episode was first broadcast on February 24, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Having been visited by the ghost of Justin Collins, Melanie (Nancy Barrett) tells Quentin (David Selby) and Julia (Grayson Hall) that the lottery must be held again. Later, Julia tries to bribe Kendrick (John Karlen) to leave Collinsport, lest he become too emotionally involved with Melanie. And Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) returns -- stark raving mad. This episode first aired on February 22, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

On the verge of finding out who her birth mother is, Melanie is prevented (Nancy Barrett) from doing so by a nervous Julia (Grayson Hall). As Flora (Joan Bennett) and the family discuss the future of her demented son, Gabriel (Christopher Pennock), he escapes from the Collinwood tower room. This episode first aired on March 18, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Preventing Morgan (Keith Prentice) from killing Julia (Grayson Hall), Quentin (David Selby) locks Morgan up for everyone's own good. A séance is held to purge Morgan of the ghost of James Forsythe. In the course of events, Morgan escapes, forcing Julia to run after him, and, hopefully, get to the truth behind the curse of the Collins family. This episode was originally broadcast on March 12, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Possessed by the ghost of James Forsythe, Morgan (Keith Prentice) digs up the remains of Forsythe's sister, Sarah. Suddenly, the ghost of Brutus Collins (Louis Edmonds), the man who betrayed Sarah back in 1680, makes an appearance, immediately engaging in a violent quarrel with the equally ethereal Forsythe. Meanwhile, Kendrick (John Karlen) discovers that Melanie (Nancy Barrett) was never in the orphanage where she was reportedly raised. This episode initially aired on March 5, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi