Jackie Coogan Movies
American actor Jackie Coogan belonged to a family of vaudevillians. At age four Coogan was already a stage attraction performing with his father when he caught the eye of Charles Chaplin, who immediately hired him (and his father as well). After giving him a bit part in the short A Day's Pleasure (1919), he made Coogan his co-star in the masterpiece The Kid (1921). This launched Coogan's film career and he went on to become one of the highest paid film actors of the day. Movie audiences worldwide doted on him, but his career as a child star petered out when he was 13 and too old to be "cute." In 1935 when his mother and stepfather refused to let him have the $4 million that he had amassed during his child acting days, he filed suit against them. When the settlement finally came, he received a mere $126,000., but the legal fight brought attention to such abuses, and resulted in the "California Child Actor's Bill" also known as the "Coogan Act" which protected the earnings of child actors. He was married to Betty Grable for 3 years, and to three other showgirls in succession afterwards. During his adulthood, he occasionally appeared in films playing character roles and worked frequently in television, most notably as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family TV series. He died on March 1, 1984. ~ All Movie Guide- 1983
The second volume in a three-part series on the life and career of legendary director Charlie Chaplin. Unknown Chaplin, Vol. 2: The Director focuses on the heart of his directorial heyday and his development into one of the most successful and respected movie directors of all time. The video offers interviews with Jackie Coogan, Lita Grey, and others who knew and worked with him, as well as rare production footage and clips from his films. Also included is insight into his transition from using simple sight gags and slapstick comedy to developing complex plots and characterizations in such classics as The Kid, City Lights, and The Gold Rush. ~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
- 1980
The title characters in The Kids Who Knew Too Much are young model-building aficionados. Three in number, they are portrayed by Rad Daly, Dana Hill and Christopher Holloway. The kids make the acquaintance of ace reporter Sharon Gless, who is investigating a murder. Everyone is plunged into peril when Gless and the kids discover that the murder was committed to hush up a major political conspiracy. The Kids Who Knew Too Much was firs telecast as a Wonderful World of Disney 2-hour "special" on March 9, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The original TV Addams family reunites in this comedy. The trouble begins when the bizarre clan hold their annual party and are so busy with the guests that they fail to notice three inept burglars attempting to rob them. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Sherlock Holmes in New York is a topnotch TV movie starring Roger Moore (surprisingly effective as Holmes) and Patrick MacNee (an intelligent, compassionate Watson). The Great Detective travels to the Big Apple of the 1890s to thwart arch-villain Moriarty, who plans to devalue the world's gold supply. Holmes is also reunited with his lost love Irene Adler (Charlotte Rampling), whose honesty--or lack of it--is just as much in doubt as it had been in Doyle's Scandal in Bohemia. The film combines the razor-sharp deductions of Holmes with the deeper, darker aspects of his character. Sherlock Holmes in New York underwent numerous script and concept changes while the producers awaited the availability of Roger Moore, who in the mid-1970s was being kept busy as James Bond. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Part of the prolific cartoon version of the Addams Family series, this episode finds Gomez taking on the New York Police Department when he decides he's the true heir to a little patch of New York City ground -- none other than Central Park. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1974
This video is more animated action from the Addams Family, when the ghoulish group finds there's sawdust in their veins and they heed the "call of the circus." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1974
Addams Family: Left in Lurch presents four issues from the animated version of the monster family TV series. Included here are: "Left in the Lurch," "The Mardi Gras Story," "The Voodoo Story" and "Aloha Hoolamagoola." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1974
In these zany cartoon creations of the Addams bunch, we find the family traveling coast-to-coast in a retrofitted castle-camper. Who says these guy have to stay home? These animated episodes, titled "Ghost Town," "Addams Go West," "Follow that Loaf of Bread," and "The Fastest Creepy Camper in the West," feature some original cast-member voices (Ted Cassidy and Jackie Coogan) as well as a famous visitor's voice, Ms. Jodie Foster! ~ All Movie Guide
- 1974
It is hardly a fond reunion when Ironside (Raymond Burr) is summoned to his home town by a letter from his former high school classmate Alice Schmidt (Fay Spain). Upon his arrival, the Chief learns that Alice never wrote the letter--and that her husband John has been murdered. When another member of the Class of 1940, Dick Gillis (William Bryant), likewise turns up dead, Ironside follows a trail of clues leading to an accidental killing that occurred 34 years earlier...thereby setting himself up as the murderer's next victim! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
In this thriller, an enigmatic phantom lives in the dank tunnels running beneath the ramshackle back lot of a former movie lot. When prospective buyers endeavor to purchase the property, the furious phantom goes on the rampage. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Jackie Coogan takes over from Ray Bolger in the role of Shirley Partridge's father Mr. Renfrew (now named "Walter" rather than "Fred"), while Rosemary DeCamp recreates her portrayal of Shirley's mom Amanda. The plot gets under way when Grandma Amanda goes to work as the Partridge's maid, if only to escape the rampant chauvinism of Grandpa Walter. Shirley (Shirley Jones) tries to patch up the argument between her dad and mom, succeeding only in sparking a gender-supremacy argument that divides the entire family. Finally, Reuben (Dave Madden) is enlisted to resolve the issue--but this requires him to impersonate a burglar! Songs: "Workin' on a Groovy Thing" and "Grandma". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Filmed in Greece and Italy, Cool Million was the pilot film for a shortlived 1972 TV series which ran as a recurring feature of the NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie. James Farentino stars as private eye Jefferson Keays, who takes cases only on the proviso that he is to be paid $1 million if he solves the mystery. Keays' current assignment is to locate the heiress to a $50 million fortune. With several candidates to choose from, the detective must use his million-dollar nose to sniff on the worthy one--and to find out if she's responsible for the peculiar death of her wealthy father. Cool Million was released to syndication under the title Mask of Marcella. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Former Vietnam medic Ed Marlow (Robert Pratt) signs on as a paramedic trainee with Squad 51--and quickly alienates the rest of the staff with his smug know-it-all attitude. Marlow's ego-tripping proves particularly troublesome as he accompanies the staffers on a variety of emergency calls, involving a boy who has fallen off a cliff, a woman who has o.d.'ed on prescription drugs, and a diabetic with a bad insulin reaction. Former child star Jackie Coogan appears as a slovenly junkyard owner who learns the hard way to appreciate the local fire-prevention laws. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Investigating a missing-child report, officers Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) and Jim Reed (Kent McCord) expose an illegal adopting ring. In another incident, the two cops probe a report of stolen narcotics on a college campus, following the trail of clues to a star football player. And this being Adam-12, the episode is capped by a high-speed car chase. Featured in the cast are two former child stars, Jackie Coogan and James Lydon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
The killer of police officer Randy Keating (Roger Perry) is himself killed by Keating's partner Frank Carlson (David Carradine)--whereupon Carlson finds himself facing a murder charge. Inasmuch as he attended police academy with both Keating and Carlson, Sgt. Ed Brown (Don Galloway) takes a personal interest in the case. With the help of his boss Ironside (Raymond Burr), Ed slowly but surely figures out that Carlson has been framed--but by whom? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Trying to make Danny (Danny Bonaduce) feel better about his pre-pubescent clumsiness, the family convinces him that he's a natural born comic. This well-meaning gesture backfires when Danny, determined to break into the Big Time as a stand-up comedian, hires broken-down gag writer Ziggy Shnurr (Morey Amsterdam) to provide him with a "sure-fire" act. Jackie Coogan, who would later replace Ray Bolger in the recurring role of the Partridge kids' grandfather, is here seen as a no-nonsense nightclub owner who must break the news to Danny that he's approximately as funny as a crutch. Song: "Somebody Wants to Love You". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Tony (Larry Hagman) has banished Jeannie (Barbara Eden), only to find out that he can't live without her. Worse still, Tony has been bumped from the space program and transferred to Alaska, thanks to the previous week's brouhaha involving Jeannie's uncle Suleiman (Jackie Coogan) and the ambassador of Kasha. Putting his own career on the line, Roger (Bill Daily) sets out to reinstate Tony and to reunite him with Jeannie. Ultimately, Tony finally proposes to Jeannie--only to find that he must now pass a rather rigorous test imposed by Suleiman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In the first episode of a pivotal two-part story, Jeannie (Barbara Eden) has found the perfect fifth-anniversary present for her master Tony (Larry Hagman). The gift turns out to be the entire country of Basenji, which is ruled by Jeannie's uncle Suleiman (Jackie Coogan). Unfortunately, Tony has been assigned to escort Hamid (Frank DeVol), the ambassador of Kasha--Basenji's longtime enemy. As a result of the chaos that follows, the infuriated Tony all but orders Jeannie to get out of his life forever! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Ironside (Raymond Burr) and Mark (Don Mitchell) show up at a prison, ostensibly to receive information about a recent crime. Instead, the pair has been lured into a trap by three desperate convicts who intend to use the Chief's van to make their getaway. How can Ironside turn this situation around to his advantage--especially since the convicts are also holding hostage the wife (Virginia Gregg) of the prison's warden (Arthur Space. Contrary to previously published reports, the role of convict Terry Wilson is not played by former child star Jackie Coogan, but instead by Coogan's son Jackie Jr. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This hilarious oater finds Jesse Heywood (Don Knotts) as a Philadelphia dentist who leaves his home to open a new practice on the western frontier. The hapless dentist is saved by the expert gun handling of Penny (Barbara Rhoades), a reformed bandit trying to earn a pardon by intercepting gun shipments to hostile Indians. After several more situations in which Penny saves the nervous newcomer, Jesse believes he has exceptional firearms prowess and believes himself to be a hero. Comedy ensues when the jumpy Jesse faces a bevy of bad men and nervously clutches a six shooter with a very unsteady hand. Penny has to help the pseudo-hero out of even more trouble before they can ride off together into the sunset. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Knotts, Barbara Rhoades, (more)
- 1968
Unable to sleep unless her television set is on, Lucy (Lucille Ball) borrows Mr. Mooney's TV while hers is on the blink. Predictably, she breaks the set, forcing her to moonlight as a carhop at a drive-in restaurant in order to purchase a replacement. While on the job, Lucy champions the cause of a young cyclist (played by Philip Vandervort, soon to be the husband of Ball's daughter Lucie Arnaz) who has been wrongly accused of stealing and stripping cars. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roy Roberts, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1967
Buffy (Anissa Jones) wants to join a club made up of neighborhood youngsters that have an aversion to "fancy" kids. To help Buffy along, Bill (Brian Keith) allows her to dress in ratty old clothes, and--much to the dismay of Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot)--also dons "hobo" duds himself. This gets Bill in dutch with blue-collar worker Tim Callahan, the father of two of the club members, who is offended because he thinks the Davises are making fun of poor folks. Cast as Mr. and Mrs. Callahan are two former child stars,Jackie Coogan (fresh from his "Uncle Fester" duties on The Addams Family) and Marcia Mae Jones. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Sean Connery attempted to make a clean break from his "James Bond" image in the boisterous comedy A Fine Madness. Connery plays Samson Shillitoe, a Brendan Behan-like poet with a mile-wide misogynistic streak. Try as he might to complete his latest masterpiece, Shillitoe is constantly interrupted by the women in his life. Driven to a nervous breakdown, he seeks help from the medical establishment -- and ends up a babbling shell of his former self. The film takes scattered potshots at a repressive society that forces the truly creative among us into near-madness; at times, it is sidesplittingly funny, though never quite as potent as the Elliot Baker novel upon which it is based. Sean Connery is brilliant, but the public wanted James Bond to behave himself, thus the film didn't do as well at the box office as it should have. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Connery, Joanne Woodward, (more)
- 1966
Appropriately enough, the 271st and final episode of Perry Mason concerns a murder which takes place during the filming of a TV show. No sooner has Perry (Raymond Burr) been able to establish the innocence of chief suspect Jackson Sidemark (Denver Pyle) than Sidemark himself is knocked off by the real killer (and wait until you see who THAT is!) Several members of the Perry Mason production staff, including executive producer Gail Patrick Jackson, appear in cameo roles, while series creator Erle Stanley Gardner shows up unbilled as a judge. Longtime fans of the series will enjoy the multitude of "inside" jokes in the script (including a barbed reference to the show's NBC competition Bonanza), but the best is reserved for last when Perry and his longtime courtroom adversary Hamilton Burger (William Talman) exchange words for the final time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
