Don Richardson Movies
Don Richardson directed television and theatrical productions. At the end of his career, he became a respected acting teacher whose book Acting Without Agony: An Alternative to the Method has been used worldwide. Famous Richardson students include Anne Bancroft, Grace Kelly, John Cassavetes, and Zero Mostel. His television credits run the gamut from Bonanza to Lost in Space to One Day at a Time. As an instructor Richardson taught at Barnard College and at both the East and West coast campuses of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He was awarded a professorship at Tel Aviv University in Israel. Richardson continued teaching after retirement, holding workshops for directors and actors through U.C.L.A. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1967
Demented space pirate Admiral Zahrt (Ronald Long) shanghais Will (Billy Mumy), Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) and the Robot, forcing the trio to work as his crew. Zahrt needs as many hands as he can get in his never-ending quest to find his mutinous first mate Mr. Christiansen, who had stranded the Admiral on the Robinsons' planet years earlier. Meanwhile, the rest of the Robinsons, along with Don West (Mark Goddard), do what they can to rescue the kidnapped trio (and, incidentally, to remind the viewers that they're still on Lost in Space too). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Hans Conried guest stars as Sir Sagramore of Altair, a Quixotic space knight who is kept alive by his four-year quest for the "ferocious" dragon Gundemar. Fascinated by Sagramore's tales of chivalry and courage, Will (Billy Mumy) agrees to act as the knight's page--only to be sorely disillusioned when he discover that Sagramore is only a prevaricating blowhard, and that the supposedly fierce Gundemar is about as lethal as a kitten. This episode features some terrific scenes between those two inveterate hams Hans Conried and Jonathan Harris, as a well as an entertainingly existential finale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Having escaped the doomed planet in the nick of time, the Robinsons set the Jupiter 2 back on course to Alpha Centauri, their original destination. Unfortunately, Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) is determined to go back to earth, and he uses every underhanded means at his disposal to achieve his goal--resulting in several near-fatal disasters. To top it off, a green-skinned girl named Athena (Vitina Marcus) shows up to hypnotize the "handsome pretty handsome" Smith into giving her all of the Robinsons' fuel supply! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Hit by a strange missile, the Jupiter 2 crash-lands on a fog-shrouded planet, ruled over by a curious hermit named Captain Tiabo (Wally Cox) and his monstrous pet bird. Vowing to wipe out the Robinsons, Tiabo schemes to create a huge and loyal army to destroy the Jupiter 2--and never mind that the diminutive soldier's dreams of conquest are only pathetic delusions. But though Tiabo ultimately proves to be a washout, Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) definitely poses a threat to all concerned when he drinks a "nectar" that transforms him into a human bomb! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Stumbling upon a vending machine for the "Celestial Department Store", Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris accidentally places an order for a gorgeous--and emotionless--female android named Verda (Dee Hartford). Enter Zumdish (Fritz Feld in his first series appearance), the pompous CEO of the Celestial Department Store. With a crook of the eyebrow and a "pop" of the hand, Zumdish demands that Verda be returned immediately--but alas, the android has been "ruined" by the Robinsons, who have endowed the curvaceous android with human emotions. This is the episode which establishes the Robinsons' deutronium fuel supply as the "Euro" currency of the universe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
A fifteen-year-old Kurt Russell appears in this episode as Quano, the 11-year-old prince of a faraway planet. Accompanied by his father, the Ruler (Michael Ansara), Quano arrives on the Robinsons' planet, where the two aliens challenge John (Guy Williams) and Will (Bill Mumy) to a test of superiority. The two Robinson men accept the challenge, little realizing that if they win, the rest of their family loses. . .their lives! This episode allows Guy Williams to show off the swordfighting prowess that had distinguished his previous TV stint as Zorro. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
While his family takes refuge in a huge cave, Will (Bill Mumy) comes across the ruins of a long-dead civilization--and also finds a young girl (Kym Karath) in a state of suspended animation. Awakening her with a kiss, Will discovers that the girl is actually a princess, and that according to the rules of her race he must now marry her. This is daunting enough, but there's more to come: Will is now also expected to lead the survivors of the Princess' civilization (also awakened from suspended animation) on a military campaign to conquer the universe! Watch for part of the "Seaview" set from the concurrently produced Irwin Allen series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Also: this episode reunites child actresses Angela Cartwright and Kym Karath, who had previously played two of the Von Trapp kids in The Sound of Music. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Injured after falling down a hole in a cave, John (Guy Williams) awakens to find himself a changed man. Specifically, the spirit of the centuries-old alien warrior Canto now possesses John's body and a good portion of his mind--a portion which increases every time John falls asleep. Thus enslaved by Canto, John imprisons the rest of his family and prepares to murder his own son Will (Bill Mumy)! Listen as the Robot sums up the cowardice of Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) by paraphrasing "The Prisoner of Zenda" in this, the final episode of Lost in Space's first season, and the last one filmed in black and white. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
In one of the series' most famous episodes, an incredibly handsome "golden man" named Keema (Dennis Patrick) materializes before the the astonished eyes of the Robinson women. The head of an alien civilization, Keema begs the ladies to help him defeat his mortal enemy, a hideously ugly froglike creature (Ronald Cans). Only Penny (Angela Cartwright) is able to see through Keema's gorgeous façade and to realize that--surprise, surprise!--beauty is only skin deep. (As a bonus, we get to see another of the Robinsons' time-saving inventions: the "potato-chipulator"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
John Abbott guest stars as Sesmar, an alien scientist who has created an android named Raddion (played by the ubiquitous Dawson Palmer). The android is quite a piece of work, seemingly human in every respect save one: he lacks human emotions. To rectify this shortcoming, Sesmar drains the Robinsons of all their emotions and transfers them to his Raddion--leaving only Don (Mark Goddard) "complete" enough to rescue his companions...if he can. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
After playing on a strange-looking harp, Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) ends up where everybody said he would end up...or so it seems. Transported to what looks like Hell, Smith comes faces to face with the demonic Morbus (Gerald Mohr), who demands the destruction of the aforementioned harp, else Smith will remain "down below." It takes the combined efforts of Don (Mark Goddard) and Judy (Marta Kristen) to rescue Smith and prove that Morbus isn't exactly whom he claims to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Malachi Throne, a very busy guest star on the TV sci-fi/fantasy circuit, is here cast as Sheik Afi Ben Bad, self-proclaimed Thief of Outer Space. Capturing Will (Billy Mumy), Penny (Angela Cartwright) and Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris), the Sheik forces them to assist him in his quest to locate the princess that was "stolen" from him 200 years before. In a twinkling,.Will is made an apprentice thief, Penny becomes a pampered harem girl, and Smith is subjected to the "pit and the pendulum" treatment. Fans of the Three Stooges will appreciate the presence of the hefty Maxine Gates as the damsel who isn't in too much distress. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Scolded by Herman (Fred Gwynne) for tracking mud into the house, the Munsters' fire-breathing pet dragon Spot runs away from home. The disgruntled Spot takes up residence in the city's sewer system, throwing the populace into a panic (and no doubt scaring off dozens of baby alligators!) The situation reaches the crisis stage when the mayor (J. Edward McKinley) declares his intention to dynamite the "monster" into oblivion! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
