Wally Cox Movies
American actor Wally Cox looked and played the role of the bespectacled, introverted intellectual both before the cameras and in life. Fascinated with all things scientific and devoted to the study of insects, Cox seemed as unlikely a candidate for major stardom as he was an improbable roommate for Marlon Brando. In fact, he was both. While building his reputation in small clubs as a monologist, Cox shared quarters with Brando, his best friend since childhood. Cox didn't really tell jokes in his club act; he would relate the offbeat exploits of his boyhood pal Dufo or do a dead-on imitation of his humorless, doltish Army drill sergeant; these were characterizations rather than routines, a gentler version of the sort of work done years later by Whoopi Goldberg. Playing occasional small parts on TV (he appeared very briefly as a baker in the 1952 film The Sniper, minus his familiar eyeglasses), Cox was tapped by producer Fred Coe to appear in a 1952 summer-replacement comedy series on NBC, Mr. Peepers, where he played Robinson Peepers, the shy, knowledgeable high school teacher at Jefferson High. Mr. Peepers garnered excellent ratings and won numerous awards, including an Emmy for Cox. As big a star as he would ever be, Cox was rushed into numerous nightclub engagements, which unfortunately fell flat because of inappropriate bookings and because audiences didn't want to see Cox as anyone other than Peepers. A 1955 sitcom, The Adventures of Hiram Holliday, starred Wally as an unlikely globe-trotting adventurer; alas, it was scheduled directly opposite ABC's powerhouse Disneyland. Cox would spend most of the rest of his career playing variations of Peepers on other star's sitcoms and variety series, occasionally breaking the mold by playing a murderer or bon vivant. He also tried his hand as a playwright, a field in which he displayed considerable skill. Once again under contract to NBC in the mid '60s, Cox became a regular on the comedy quiz show Hollywood Squares, where he adopted the image of a bored know-it-all. It is this Wally Cox that most viewers remember, not the brilliant comic actor who convinced his '50s fans that he was Mr. Peepers, not just a man playing a part. Wally Cox died of a sudden heart attack in 1973; he was cremated, and his ashes were discreetly scattered at an undisclosed spot (and in defiance of municipal laws) by his old friend and ex-roommate Marlon Brando. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1973
The Night Strangler is the sequel to the enormously successful 1972 TV movie The Night Stalker. Darren McGavin returns as seedy reporter Carl Kolchak, who previously ran into conflict when Las Vegas authorities refused to acknowledge Kolchak's uncovering of a modern-day vampire. Now he's in Seattle, on the trail of a mysterious strangler who drains the blood of his victims. Kolchak's quest takes him to a hidden underground city beneath Seattle and the bizarre residents therein. Margaret Hamilton (The Wizard of Oz) is seen briefly as an expert on alchemy; John Carradine also makes cameo. The success of this telemovie and its predecessor inspired a brief 1974 TV series, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, also starring McGavin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
At last the secret has been revealed! Prime-time network programming is determined by a chimpanzee! That's the premise of Disney's The Barefoot Executive, a highly amusing spoof of the TV bizz. Kurt Russell plays a page boy at a bottom-rated TV network. Stuck with his girl friend's (Heather North) pet chimp, Russell discovers that his hairy friend has a genuine gift for picking hit TV series. Appointed head of programming, Russell keeps the fact that the chimp is doing all the work hidden from the public. But when his former boss Joe Flynn and his rival John Ritter find out, all heck breaks loose (we'd say "all hell", but this is a Disney flick). A strong supporting cast of comic "regulars"-Wally Cox, Harry Morgan, Alan Hewitt, Hayden Rorke et al.--keeps The Barefoot Executive moving at a fast clip ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn, (more)
- 1971
Susan St. James stars as Timothea Lamb, an American language student in Rome who hires on as a tour guide. For some reason, Timothea cannot help but get involved in the problems of her customers, notably a handsome "stowaway" who turns out to be a fugitive from the law. Filmed on location and first broadcast by ABC on November 6, 1972, Magic Carpet was intended as the pilot film for a weekly TV series (either a half-hour sitcom or hour-long "dramedy"), with Susan St. James and costars Jim Backus and Nanette Fabray (the wife of producer-writer Ranald MacDougall) as regulars. Instead, the project failed to post a sale, and St. James went on to costar in McMillan and Wife. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Quarantined is set in a clinic maintained by a famous family of physicians. Dr. John Dehner and his son Dr. Gary Collins struggle to control a widespread cholera epidemic. One plot complication involves a testy movie star (Sharon Farrell), who refuses treatment when she exhibits the symptoms of cholera. Another problem involves a kidney transplant: Where to find a suitable organ donor in a city full of sick people? Quarantined was the February 24, 1970 entry in ABC's Movie of the Week. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
In this made-for-television western adventure, a gambler has many exciting experiences while looking for the rightful owner of a stolen cache of cash. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
The inept Ensign Garland (Robert Morse) battles a trio of jewel thieves in this Walt Disney comedy. Garland starts by spilling paint on the lovely Kate Fairchild (Stephanie Powers). Harry (Phil Silvers), Max (Norman Fell) and Charlie (Mickey Shaughnessy) try to recover the jewels accidentally dumped by Garland into a picnic basket. Garland's superior is Commander Taylor (Don Ameche), who hounds the harried ensign for being a constant bumbler. Jason Bennett (Wally Cox) is the playboy who has replaced his yacht engine with a wine cellar. Character actors Joe E. Ross and Al Lewis witness the sight gags and react to the seafaring shenanigans. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Morse, Stefanie Powers, (more)
- 1970
- R
Brazen, determined CEO of the Mother Knows Best Toy Company, Julie Newmar, goes to extremes to convince introverted, sexually repressed company salesman Wally Cox to market the wooden dolls he designs as a hobby. He refuses though. So she persuades her son to hire a prostitute to convince him. Later she finds out the salesman is secretly in love with her, not because she is drop-dead gorgeous, but because she reminds him of his domineering mother. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
In this comedy, an accountant aids a group of children to help save the local zoo from being razed by those wanting to build a museum in its place. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Charley (Dan Blocker) is the kindly but simple-minded blacksmith who sends a year's earnings back East for a mail-order bride. When he and the town turn out for the woman's arrival at the train station, he is embarrassed when she never appears. The saddened giant plans to leave town. The townspeople recruit the new saloon-girl Sadie (Nanette Fabray) to pose as the bride-to-be so the residents will retain the services of the blacksmith. Jim Backus is the sheriff who runs for mayor. Wally Cox plays Mr. Bester, the henpecked husband of his harridan wife (Marge Champion). Mickey Rooney, Stubby Kaye, Iron Eyes Cody and Jack Cassidy also appear in this western comedy. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Blocker, Nanette Fabray, (more)
- 1969
In this comedy western, a town rallies together to help a heart-broken blacksmith find new love after his mail-order-bride is a no show. They end up pairing him with a dance hall girl. The story is also called Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1968
- G
- Add The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band to QueueAdd The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band to top of Queue
Set in 1888, this tuneful fact-based Disney production concerns the attempts of a musically talented family of Dakota pioneers -- who are politically divided on the upcoming presidential election -- to wrangle an invite to that year's Democratic convention in cosmopolitan St. Louis. Incumbent Grover Cleveland is attempting to win his second straight election and is challenged by Benjamin Harrison. The results are that Cleveland won the popular vote, but Harrison won the electoral vote to be declared President of the United States. Cleveland would win the next election to become the only President to ever serve two non-consecutive terms. Walter Brennan, Buddy Ebsen, Janet Blair, Richard Deacon, Wally Cox, John Davidson and Leslie Ann Warren round out the adult cast. Along with the moppets, they sing and dance to espouse their political allegiances to the candidate of their choice. Look closely for Goldie Hawn in her first film role as a laughing chorine. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Brennan, Buddy Ebsen, (more)
- 1968
As a result of a wager, Hoss and Joe Cartwright decide to enter politics, each supporting an opposing mayor candidate for the upcoming Virginia City election. Comic chaos ensues when both brothers become campaign managers for their respective candidates, and are thus forced to suck up to the man holding the deciding vote: Their own father Ben! Tom Bosley and Wally Cox guest-star as competing candidates Titus Simpson and Phineas Burke. Written by Robert Vincent Wright, "The Last Vote" first aired on October 20, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
Ed Stander (Robert Morse), with the help of an all-star cast, teaches Paul Manning (Walter Matthau) the fine art of philandering in A Guide for the Married Man. Paul, happily married to sexy Ruth (Inger Stevens), has no burning desire to cheat, but Ed makes the prospect sound very attractive. Finally taking the "big step" with a glamorous brunette after months of careful preparation, Paul finds that he loves his wife way too much to betray her -- while the ever-careful Ed ends up in divorce court. Among the myriad of "advisors" peppered throughout Guide for the Married Man are Art Carney, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Jayne Mansfield, Terry-Thomas, and Carl Reiner. The best guest-star vignette features Joey Bishop as a man caught in bed with another woman by his wife -- whereupon he calmly puts on his clothes, straightens up the room, and quietly responds to his wife's outrage by saying "What bed? What girl?" Adapted by Frank Tarloff from his book of the same name, Guide for the Married Man was directed by Gene Kelly, who makes a cameo "appearance" of his own as a voice on a TV set. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Robert Morse, (more)
- 1967
Ever the champion of the underdog, Hoss Cartwright is determined to prove that the gold mine owned by his friend McNulty (Wally Cox) is not as worthless as everyone claims. To this end, Hoss is gulled into purchasing a "gold detector"-which, amazingly, actually seems to work! A gang of impressionable crooks decides to steal the detector, leading to complications both amusing and adventuresome. The supporting cast includes such TV-western stalwarts as Paul Fix, Dub Taylor and Chubby Johnson. Originally telecast on December 24, 1967, "The Gold Detector" was written by Ward Hawkins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1967
In this 2-hour "NBC World Premiere" pilot film for the TV series Ironside, we learn how San Francisco chief-of-detectives Robert Ironside (Raymond Burr) came to be confined to a wheelchair. Felled by a sniper's bullet, Ironside is retained by the force as a special officer for the Frisco police force. With the help of Sgt. Ed Brown (Don Galloway) and officer Eve Whitfield (Barbara Anderson), the irascible Ironside is assigned to find out who his assailant was. Appearing in cameo roles are Wally Cox, Lilla Skala, and an unbilled, pre-Laugh In Tiny Tim.The Ironside pilot premiered on March 28, 1967; the series itself ran from 1967 through 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
In the conclusion of a three-part story arc, Elly May is still enchanted by dedicated birdwatcher P. Caspar Biddle (Wally Cox). Totally wrapped up in his hobby, Biddle barely acknowledges Elly's existence. All this changes when the meek and mild Biddle is transformed into a romantic lion by a few gulps of Granny's "spring tonic" -- which was originally intended to expedite a romance between Caspar and Jane Hathaway. "Granny Tonics a Birdwatcher" first aired on April 27, 1966. ~ 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
Underdog must come to the rescue again in this animated adventure. Includes the antics of Tennessee Tuxedo and Chumly, the Go-Go Gophers and Commander McBragg. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1966
In the first episode of a three-part story arc, guest star Wally Cox is cast as P. Caspar Biddle, the head of the Beverly Hills Birdwatching Society. Impressed by his rapport with our feathered friends, Elly May falls in love with Biddle and joins his little band of bird fanciers. Meanwhile, movie idol Dash Riprock (Larry Pennell) can't understand why Elly is ignoring him. "The Bird Watchers" first aired on April 13, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) has thrown his hat in the ring for the local city-councilman election. As part of his campaign, Rob is slated for a TV debate with his opponent, the deceptively nerdy Lincoln Goodheart (Wally Cox). As the telecast progresses, Goodheart proves that he is by far the better candidate -- so much so that Rob is all but prepared to vote for Goodheart himself! The ending of this episode indicates that the producers of The Dick Van Dyke Show were contemplating story possibilities for the series' next season -- even though star Van Dyke had already decided that there would be no next season! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wally Cox, Ann Morgan Guilbert, (more)
- 1966
Returning from a much-needed vacation, Briggs is asked to take his Impossible Missions Force to the South American dictatorship of Santa Costa. General Rio Dominguez has gotten hold of two nuclear warheads and locked them in the impenetrable vault of the Hotel Nacionale. Briggs' mission--should he decided to accept it--is to remove the warheads, and, hopefully, discredit Dominguez. Fortunately, IMF agent Rollin Hand bears a striking resemblance to Dominguez; equally fortunate is the fact that Briggs has enlisted the aid of master safecracker Terry Targo (Wally Cox). First telecast September 17 1966, the inaugural episode of Mission: Impossible was written by series producer Bruce Geller, who won an Emmy Award for his efforts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Hill, Barbara Bain, (more)
Bernhard Wicki directed this hard-hitting World War II espionage drama. Marlon Brando plays Robert Crain, a German deserter who is coerced by British Intelligence officer Colonel Statter (Trevor Howard) to impersonate a Gestapo officer in order to get aboard a German blockade runner that is conveying a valuable rubber cargo from the Orient. Crain's assignment is to save the rubber by finding a way to deactivate the explosives that the ship's captain would use to destroy the ship if captured by the enemy. Crain finds his way aboard the ship, but the ship's commander Captain Mueller (Yul Brynner), skeptical of the Nazis, refuses to let Crain out of his sight. When survivors of a sunken vessel board the ship, and Crain realizes that his identity may be exposed by two rescued German submarine officers, he incites Mueller's officers and the new arrivals to mutiny before his true identity is revealed. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marlon Brando, Yul Brynner, (more)
The Bedford Incident was an attempt by Columbia Pictures -- which had previously made Dr. Strangelove and released Fail-Safe -- to tap the well of public anxiety surrounding nuclear weapons and the Cold War one more time. Reporter Ben Munceford (Sidney Poitier) is allowed aboard a navy ship on patrol near the Arctic Circle, under the command of Captain Eric Finlander (Richard Widmark). His job is to observe the ship in action and do an article on Finlander, a hard-as-nails sailor and a dedicated anti-Communist with a patriotic zeal that's extraordinary even in a man of his rank and position. Finlander's main problem, however -- when he's not sparring with the reporter -- is tracking and hunting a Soviet sub that he knows is patroling the same waters. What alarms Munceford (and the audience) is that Finlander acts like there is an actual "hot" war going on; he drives his men mercilessly, up to and past the breaking point, trying to hunt down the submarine and force it to surface, and nothing -- not the questions of the reporter, the angry protests of the newly-arrived medical officer (Martin Balsam), or the quietly voiced concerns of retired U-Boat commander Commodore Shrepke (Eric Portman), aboard as an observer, can get him to relent. Then, when it looks like Finlander has been proved right and has gotten away with his provocation of the "enemy," a mistake by one over-tired young officer (James MacArthur) suddenly unleashes all of the destructive power with which Finlander has been flirting. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier, (more)
- 1964
Written by Bernard Schoenfeld, this moderately amusing Twilight Zone outing stars Wally Cox as nerdish computer technician James Elwood. Falling in love with secretary Millie (Sue Randall aka "Miss Landers" on Leave It to Beaver), Elwood begins receiving romantic advice from a most unlikely source -- his own giant computer "Agnes." Unfortunately, it turns out that Agnes has an agenda of her own. According to some reports, "From Agnes with Love" was intended as a pilot for a Wally Cox TV series; whatever the case, it first aired February 14, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wally Cox, Sue Randall, (more)
- 1964
When trouble is brewing and it seems as if the forces of evil may win out over the powers of good, only one superhero can be trusted to save the day and restore order for the peace-loving denizens of the big city - Underdog! A typical shoeshine pup that possesses the unique ability to transform into a superpowered do-gooder, Underdog takes to the sky to protect the common people and save pretty television reporter Polly Purebred from a series of nefarious villains.
~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wally Cox
