Joe Connelly Movies
The producer/writer and co-creator of the television sitcom classic Leave it to Beaver, Joe Connelly moved into television after finding success in radio comedy. Born in New York City in 1917, Connelly worked for the merchant marine early on, later hired by advertising giant J. Walter Thompson. It was while working for Thompson that Connelly would meet future partner Bob Mosher, and the duo quickly departed from the Thompson agency to pursue a career in radio with work on the "Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy" radio show, later writing for numerous other radio programs before serving a 12-year stint on "Amos and Andy" (both the radio and television versions). The duo was nominated for an Oscar for their work on the film The Private War of Major Benson, though the majority of their success lay in such television series' as The Munsters and Leave it to Beaver. Connelly's young sons were the inspiration for Wally and the Beaver, and the famous nickname of the title character came from a moniker given to one of Connelly's merchant marine shipmates. After producing Elvis Presley's final feature, Change of Habit (1969), Connelly's career was sidelined by a near fatal aneurysm. A twice-married widower and father of seven, Joe Connelly died as the result of stroke complications in February 2003. He was 86. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Dr. John Carpenter (Elvis Presley) helps the economically disadvantaged in an inner-city medical clinic. Three nuns are assigned to help out at the facility and are allowed to wear regular clothes instead of the traditional habits. Sister Michelle (Mary Tyler Moore) is the speech therapist who Dr. Carpenter would like to examine personally after hours. Along with the other sisters (Barbara McNair and Jane Elliot), Michelle is subjected to the criticism of the local parish priest (Regis Toomey) in the social experiment of non-traditional dress. Two spinsters even mistake the nuns for prostitutes without their habits. The priest wins out in the end, and the nuns must again don their habits. As the good doctor sings to the ailing children, Sister Michelle is transfixed both by a crucifix hanging on the wall and by Elvis Presley in an ironic and symbolic scene that flashes between the two icons. This was Presley's last studio feature and he welcomed the move from stifling screen images as he returned his focus to live performances and recording for the remainder of his illustrious career. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Mary Tyler Moore, (more)
- 1966
Dr. Victor Frankenstein IV (John Abbott), a descendant of the scientist who "created" Herman Munster, has in his possession a primitive, brutish Herman lookalike named Johann (also Fred Gwynne). Unfortunately, Johann escapes from Dr. Frankenstein's lab at precisely the same time that his Herman and his wife Lily have arrived at a small motel for their second honeymoon--and the inevitable mixups wreak havoc on all concerned. Incidentally, one scene finds Johann watching a TV broadcast of an old cartoon series named Calvin and the Colonel--which, like The Munsters, was produced by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher (who also wrote this episode). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Herman Munster and his ghoulish clan leave the confines of their 1960s television series The Munsters to try their luck on the big screen in this feature length comedy that chronicles their adventures in merry England where Herman has inherited a large estate. Unfortunately, the Munsters do not realize that their new home is already inhabited by a ring of counterfeiters determined to frighten the family back to the United States. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, (more)
- 1966
At Herman's insistence, the Munsters spend their vacation in Buffalo Valley. While the rest of the family relaxes, Herman (Fred Gwynne) manages to get himself lost in the desert, ultimately wandering into a Native American village. This proves to be a most exciting happenstance for elderly Indian medicine man Powatuma (played by Felix Locher, the father of movie star Jon Hall), who insists that Herman is the reincarnation of the Mighty Spirit Wanitoba! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
In this final episode of The Munsters, former Petticoat Junction costar Pat Woodell appears as schoolteacher Miss Thompson, who gives Eddie (Butch Patrick) the assignment of writing an essay about his home life. After reading Eddie's account of the Munster Mansion and its residents, Miss Thompson concludes that the boy suffers from a too-vivid imagination. Thus it is that a brace of school officials pay a visit to the Munsters to find out the "real" story--and boy, do they ever! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Accidentally striking the Munster Koach, female motorist Mrs. Kingsley (Dorothy Green) takes one look at Herman (Fred Gwynne) and assumes that he's been horribly disfigured in the "accident". The guilt-ridden woman sends an insurance man to the Munster Mansion, hoping to settle out of court for $10,000. But Herman misunderstands the situation and thinks that he is being sued by Mrs. Kingsley--and rather than see his family disgraced, he runs away from home! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
During a family camping trip in a large national park, Grandpa (Al Lewis) hears some faraway wolf calls and begins waxing nostalgic about his youth in Transylvania. Before long, Grandpa has transformed himself into a wolf so that he can briefly recapture his salad days. Unfortunately, he is unable to reverse the spell--and as a result ends up being hunted down by the park's tireless staff! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Paying a visit to niece Marilyn's college, Herman (Fred Gwynne) had intended to simply discuss a matter of tuition with the main office. But through a series of bizarre occurences, he ends up being mistaken for the college's latest sports acquisition, basketball whiz Moose Mallory (played by master dialectician Robert Easton). The fun begins when the real Moose's surly dad (none other than "Mr. Haney" himself, Pat Buttram) shows up to wreak vengeance on "impostor" Herman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Ham-radio enthusiast Herman (Fred Gwynne) picks up two kids conversing on their walkie-talkies. Misunderstanding the boys' "secret" message, Herman is convinced that he has contacted the planet Mars--and once they catch on, the capricious youngsters decide to have some fun with dumb-dumb Herman. A superb closing gag caps this memorable episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Although Herman (Fred Gwynne) blanches at the thought of Eddie (Butch Patrick) having his tonsils removed, the boy undergoes the operation and spends the night in the hospital. Hoping to pay an after-hours visit to his son, Herman sneaks into Eddie's ward, whereupon he is mistaken for an accident victim and rushed to the operating room! A few whiffs of laughing gas later, Herman manages to escape and get home--where his incessant giggling leads Lily (Yvonne DeCarlo) to once again jump to the wrong conclusion. Featured as one of the doctors is comic actor Dayton Allen, a legendary fixture of such early TV series as Howdy Doody and The Steve Allen Show. ~ 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
- 1965
When Eddie (Butch Patrick) brings home a tape recorder he has borrowed from friendly disc jockey Dick Willet (Gary Owens), Herman (Fred Gwynne) amuses himself by recording his own rendition of "Dry Bones." Upon hearing Herman's vocal histrionics, Willet declares publicly that the "unknown"singer is on the verge of stardom. Predictably, Herman's ego swells to ridiculous proportions, forcing Grandpa (Al Lewis) to take drastic measures involving "Nothin' Muffins" (a gag apparently lifted from one of Al Capp's "Li'l Abner" comic strips). This episode was originally telecast December 2, 1965; one week later, The Munsters was pre-empted for a little animated special called A Charlie Brown Christmas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Herman (Fred Gwynne) begins sneaking out of the mansion on a nightly basis in order to complete a correspondence course as a private detective. Jumping to conclusions as usual, Lily (Yvonne DeCarlo) thinks that Herman is having an affair with another woman. The upshot of all this finds Lily hiring a private eye, sight unseen, to put a tail on her husband--little imagining that would-be gumshoe Herman will end up following himself! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Believing that she is no longer needed in the Munster Mansion, Lily (Yvonne DeCarlo) returns to the working world, landing a job as a model. Upset by this turn of events, Herman (Fred Gwynne) and Grandpa (Al Lewis) cook up a scheme to convince Lily that she's better off at home. This involves passing Herman off as a swinging playboy, with a beautiful blonde on his arm--said blonde being none other than Grandpa! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Season two of The Munsters finds that monstrous Munster aggregation -- Frankenstein Monster look-alike Herman Munster (Fred Gwynne), his vampirish spouse ,Lily (Yvonne de Carlo), their werewolf son, Eddie (Butch Patrick), and Lily's Dracula-like "Grandpa" (Al Lewis) -- still innocently terrifying their neighbors, random visitors, and potential boyfriends of the Munsters' gorgeous niece Marilyn (Pat Priest), the only normal-looking member of the family. Of course, we all know that, despite their fearsome appearance, the Munsters are gentle and good-hearted...but if the rest of the world knew this, there wouldn't be any show, would there? The first of the season's 32 episodes is "Herman's Child Psychology," in which Eddie plans to run away from the Munster Mansion (provided he can avoid the full moon, one supposes!) Later episodes of note include "Happy 100th Anniversary," with Herman and Lily taking odd jobs (the odder the better) to afford anniversary presents for one another; "Just Another Pretty Face," wherein a bolt of lightning causes Herman to become "disfigured" -- that is, he looks like handsome Fred Gwynne without makeup; "Zombo," a classic outing with Louis Nye as a dyspeptic TV horror-show host; "Herman's Sorority Caper," if for no other reason than it features a decidedly pre-One Day at a Time Bonnie Franklin; and the last episode filmed for the series, "Prehistoric Monster," in which a nutty professor (Harvey Korman) concludes that Herman is the Missing Link! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yvonne De Carlo, Fred Gwynne, (more)
- 1965
Leo Durocher, longtime manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, appears as himself in this episode, which also features a guest cameo by sports legend Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch. Playing baseball with son Eddie (Butch Patrick), Herman (Fred Gwynne) knocks out a home run that travels seven blocks before knocking Durocher cold. Upon recovering consciousness, Leo decides to sign Herman for the Dodgers--but after a chaotic tryout session, he begins to reconsider shipping Herman off to Vietnam instead (No kidding. Vietnam is actually used as a punchline in this 1965 episode)! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Child actor Billy Mumy, who ironically had been the Munsters producers' first choice for the role of Eddie Munster, guests in this episode as Eddie's bratty new friend Googie Miller. After pulling off a wide variety of practical jokes on Eddie (Butch Patrick) and his family, Googie caps his deviltry by convincing everyone that Grandpa (Al Lewis) has turned him into a chimpanzee. What results is a comedy of errors that has the whole family--and Googie's family--going "ape". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Herman (Fred Gwynne) wants to escort Lily (Yvonne DeCarlo) to a dance at Marilyn's college, but is self-conscious about his lack of terpsichorean skills. Entering the portals of a crooked dance school operated by one Happy Havemeyer (played by legendary insult comic Don Rickles), Herman gleefully--and stupidly--signs up for 1500 lessons at a cost of $7.50 each. Making matters worse, Herman has somehow become convinced that he has been hired by Havemeyer as an instructor! Appearing as Havemeyer's partner-in-crime is Joyce Jameson, one of Hollywood's favorite "dumb blondes" (who of course was dumb like a fox!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Herman (Fred Gwynne) comes to the rescue of little Galen Stewart (Brian Nash), who has gotten his head caught in an iron fence. Unfortunately, Galen's parents don't believe his story about being saved by a benevolent monster, and the bundle the boy off to a Viennese psychiatrist (played with a broad musical-comedy accent by Harvey Korman). It is up to Herman to convince Mr. and Mrs. Stewart that he actually exists--but this proves to be more difficult than he thinks. This is the final episode of The Munsters' first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Season Two of The Munsters begins as that cute li'l werewolf Eddie (Butch Patrick) once again decides to run away from home. Using reverse psychology on his son, Herman (Fred Gwynne) feigns indifference to Eddie's defection, and even pretends to seek out a "replacement." The plan backfires when, thanks to a long and labyrinthine series of misunderstandings, Herman "adopts" a performing circus bear! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Once again laboring under the misapprehension that his father is capable of anything, Eddie (Butch Patrick) enters Herman (Fred Gwynne) in a rodeo bronc-busting contest for Mockingbird Heights' Frontier Day Weekend. To prep Herman for this ordeal, Grandpa (Al Lewis) gives our hero an extra-strength "bravery" potion. Meanwhile, the duplicitous rodeo promoters cook up a scheme to "bust" Herman rather than the bronc in order to avoid doling out the prize money. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Cadaverous John Carradine makes his first series appearance as mortuary owner Mr. Gateman, the employer of Herman Munster (Fred Gwynne). At the prodding of wife Lily (Yvonne DeCarlo), Herman asks Gateman for a raise--and gets fired for his troubles. To keep his unemployement a secret from his family, Herman picks up work wherever he can find it, at one point laboring away at a Chinese laundry run by the excitable Tom Fong (played with a blissful lack of political correctness by dialect comedian Benny Rubin! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Inheriting $180,000 in gold doubloons from their Uncle Gilbert (Richard Hale), the Munsters dutifully deposit the gold in their local bank. Shortly thereafter, bank clerk Alan Benson (Charles Robinson) shows up at the Munster Mansion and apparently falls in love with Marilyn (Pat Priest) at first sight. Thrilled that their "homely" niece has finally landed a beau, Herman (Fred Gwynne) and Lily (Yvonne DeCarlo) do everything they can to encourage the romance--blissfully unaware that Mr. Benson is actually a heartless fortune hunter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Having taken one of Grandpa's 24-hour sleeping pills, Herman (Fred Gwynne) falls asleep at the county museum while waiting to pick up his niece Marilyn (Pat Priest). The next morning, the museum curators find Herman comfortably ensconsed in an Egyptian sarcophagus--and immediately jump to the conclusion that the moribund Munster is actually the mummy of King Amenhotep IV! Future One Day at a Time costar Pat Harrington Jr. appears as Mr. Thatcher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Why is Herman (Fred Gwynne) prancing around the mansion singing "Shuffle Off to Buffalo"? Well, it seems that he's in line for a big promotion, which he will receive if he relocates to Buffalo with his family. Unfortunately, Eddie (Butch Patrick) has just been made captain of his high school baseball team and doesn't want to move. Ultimately, Herman decides to remain in Mockingbird Heights--just as Grandpa (Al Lewis) has made arrangements to have the Munster Mansion demolished! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
