Ray Singer Movies
- 1988
John Astin returns as Buddy, perennial mental-home habitue and self-proclaimed stepfather of Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson). Obliged to spend an inordinate amount of time keeping Buddy from being permanently committed by his condescending brother Phil (Alex Henteloff), Harry may well miss yet another opportunity to meet his idol Mel Torme, forcing an empathetic Dan (John Larroquette) to take drastic action. Also appearing is Shelley Berman as Al, a man suffering from self-imposed catatonia...not to mention a "noogie" fetish. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Dick Van Dyke is the Drop-Out Father in this lighthearted TV movie. A successful but unsatisfied insurance executive, Van Dyke decides one day to kick over the traces. As his wife (Mariette Hartley) and family listen in fascinated horror, our hero announces his plans to move from the suburbs to a Manhattan loft, there to "find himself." With the exception of his loyal youngest daughter, Van Dyke's family elects to stay put, permitting him to carve out a new life on his own. Peter Matz won an Emmy nomination for his sprightly musical score. Originally telecast September 17, 1982, Drop-Out Father was followed in 1988 by a made-for-TV sequel, innovatively titled Drop-Out Mother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Another of the many Arthur Hailey literary properties which were transformed into TV miniseries in the 1970s, the five-part, ten-hour Wheels took place in Detroit sometime in the late 1960s. Rock Hudson starred as Adam Trenton, executive in charge of project development at the fictional auto-manufacturing firm of National Motors. Ambitious and ruthless, Adam let nothing stand in the way of his development and production of a new, youth-marketed car known as the Hawk. Meanwhile, Adam's bored and neglected wife Erica (Lee Remick, who earned an Emmy nomination for her performance) drifted into an extramarital affair and a brief "career" as a shoplifter. Eventually, Adam himself acquired a mistress, who in turn fell in love with Adam's son Kirk (James Carrol Jordan). As if things couldn't get any seamier, Kirk's brother Greg (Howard McGillin) was plagued by a blackmailer, while crooked car dealer Smokey Stevenson (played by miniseries stalwart Anthony Franciosa) cooked up a sinister deal that threatened to destroy National Motors. Originally telecast from May 7 to 15, 1978 on NBC, Arthur Hailey's Wheels posted such disappointing ratings that, when it was later rebroadcast, the property was whittled down from ten hours to four -- with episodes three and four summarily dropped from the proceedings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rock Hudson, Lee Remick, (more)
- 1969
- G
Cashing in on the popularity of their comedy series Laugh-In, comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin team up ala Abbott and Costello in this spoof of old horror movies and mysteries. Rowan plays a pornographic film producer and Martin plays his star, who is having trouble sleeping at night and seriously suspects that he has become a werewolf. To verify this, the two travel to a "haunted" Gothic Long Island mansion and end up embroiled with Julie Newmar while searching, amidst a series of murders, for a missing diamond. Rowan and Martin's television show was hip and funny. Alas, this film is neither and bombed at the box-office. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, (more)
- 1968
Attacked by a gang of hoodlums, Tony (Larry Hagman) manages to rout them with a lucky punch. What Tony doesn't know is that his show of strength was the result of magic performed by Jeannie (Barbara Eden). Unfortunately, the folks in charge of the Armed Forces Boxing Tournament don't know this either--and before long, Tony (aka "One-Punch Nelson") has been scheduled for a championship bout with a muscular Marine named Killer Culligan (Pepper Martin). Real-life heavyweight contender Jerry Quarry appears as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Anticipating a huge bonus, Lucy (Lucille Ball) tries to convince comedian Jack Benny to open an account at the bank. Hollywood's most notorious tightwad scoffs at this notion, observing that he already has a burglar-proof bank vault in his own cellar, replete with a moat, a collection of alligators and a 200-year-old security guard. However, Jack is willing to strike a bargain: If Lucy can convince him that her bank is even more secure than his vault, he will gladly open an account. The climax of this classic episode is a masterpiece of visual and "mechanical" humor, as Lucy gives Benny a guided tour of the most impenetrable (and gadget-laden) vault this side of Fort Knox--and by episode's end, both Lucy and Jack are up to their necks in quicksand! (Incidentally, the episode was cowritten by Milt Josefsberg, who had worked for Jack Benny during the comedian's "Golden" era on radio and TV). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Benny, Roy Roberts, (more)
- 1967
Hoping to attend a sale at Stacy's Department Store, Lucy (Lucille Ball) ducks out of work by fabricating a story about being seriously ill. Unfortunately, the ruse blows up in her face when she shows up at Stacy's and is promptly lauded as the store's ten-millionth customer. The trick now is to prevent Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) from seeing Lucy's picture in the paper. Just when it looks as if Lucy's goose is cooked, Mooney's boss Mr. Cheever (Roy Roberts) unexpectedly comes to the rescue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Jane Croft, Roy Roberts, (more)
- 1967
Singer-comedian Dennis Day guest stars as Cornelius Heatherington Jr. the octogenarian president of the Wesleyan bank. To keep Heatherington in a good mood while he and boss Cheever (Roy Roberts) arrange a banquet in the old guy's honor, Mooney (Gale Gordon) persuades Lucy to be Heatherington's date--a task that requires our heroine to don an elaborate "age" makeup, complete with grey wig and shawl. What results is one of The Lucy Show's most energetic episodes ever, as the young-at-heart Heatherington enthusiastically squires Lucy's superannuated alter ego "Amelia Van Dyne." (Trivia note: At the time this episode was filmed, Dennis Day was actually all of 49 years old--or roughly eight years younger than Lucille Ball!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Day, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1967
Former movie villain turned Hollywood producer Sheldon Leonard arranges to film a scene for his latest TV pilot at Mr. Mooney's bank. Unaware of this, Lucy (Lucille Ball) jumps to the wrong conclusion when she hears Leonard, "in character" as a gangster, planning a major bank heist. Thus it is that Lucy and Mary Jane (Mary Jane Croft) disguise themselves as scrubwomen to foil the sinister schemes of the "crooked" Mr. Leonard. This final episode of The Lucy Show's fifth season closes with a marvelously Pirandellian moment, as Sheldon Leonard contemplates creating a new series built around the antics of a zany redhead! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sheldon Leonard, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1967
After another of her many fights with boss Mooney (Gale Gordon), Lucy (Lucille Ball) quits her job and signs up with the "Unique Employment Agency" (ironically the same firm that would employ Lucille Ball and Gale Gordon on the later sitcom Here's Lucy). For her first assignment, Lucy is sent to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Winslow to babysit for the couple's three children. Imagine our heroine's surprise when those "children" turn out to be a trio of trained simians--or, more specifically, the famous Marquis Chimps. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Wickes, Jonathan Hole, (more)
- 1966
In a moment of weakness, Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) permits Lucy (Lucille Ball) to try on a $6000 ring that he has purchased as an anniversary present for his wife. Of course, Lucy's finger immediately swells up, making it impossible to remove the valuable ring. This makes our heroine so upset that she downs several tranquilizers to calm down--leaving Mooney with the problem of not only retrieving the ring but escorting the semi-comatose Lucy back to her apartment without arousing undue attention! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Jane Croft, Don Beddoe, (more)
- 1966
Angling for a raise, Lucy (Lucille Ball) hopes to collect on a favor owed her by ventriloquist Paul Winchell) by arranging for him to perform at the annual bank banquet. This premise enables Lucy to go through an elaborate "Am I Surprised!" charade when she confronts Winchell's dummies Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smif, who seem to have voices (and minds) of their own. Later on, Lucy inadvertently misplaces Winchell's newest "creation", a blond dummy named Tessie--and as a result Winchell performs his act with an unusually tall and inordinately lively female dummy! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Winchell
- 1966
In a moment of weakness, Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) permits Lucy (Lucille Ball) to try on a $6000 ring that he has purchased as an anniversary present for his wife. Of course, Lucy's finger immediately swells up, making it impossible to remove the valuable ring. This makes our heroine so upset that she downs several tranquilizers to calm down--leaving Mooney with the problem of not only retrieving the ring but escorting the semi-comatose Lucy back to her apartment without arousing undue attention! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Confusion reigns supreme when a draft notice intended for a "Lou C. Carmichael" shows up in the mailbox of Lucy Carmichael (Lucille Ball). Despite the frenzied efforts of Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) to correct this bureaucratic snafu, Lucy is forced to undergo basic training at a Marine boot camp until the higher-ups receive official word that she is "Lucy" and not "Lou C." Jim Nabors shows up briefly in his familiar "Gomer Pyle" guise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Nabors, Harry Hickox, (more)
- 1966
Popular professional hypnotist Pat Collins appears in this episode, in which Lucy (Lucille Ball) seeks out a cure for Mr. Mooney's insomnia. In the course of Collins' nightclub act, a hypnotized Lucy and Mooney (Gale Gordon) impersonate Laurel and Hardy, and Lucy does impressions of Jackie Gleason and Carol Channing. Eventually, Collins comes up with a post-hypnotic suggestion that will enable Mooney to catch a little shut-eye--and which, of course, Lucy will inadvertently trigger at all the wrong moments! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Per the episode's title, Phil Silvers appears as Oliver Kasten, the gung-ho efficiency expert hired to get the bank in top shape. Within a few minutes, Kasten has demoted the "inefficient" Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) and promoted Lucy (Lucille Ball) to the position of administrative assistant. Determined to prove her worth, Lucy organizes an assembly-line demonstration at the Grantland Toy Factory--whereupon, in the words of William Shakespeare, "Confusion hath made his masterpiece"! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phil Silvers, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1966
Popular professional hypnotist Pat Collins appears in this episode, in which Lucy (Lucille Ball) seeks out a cure for Mr. Mooney's insomnia. In the course of Collins' nightclub act, a hypnotized Lucy and Mooney (Gale Gordon) impersonate Laurel and Hardy, and Lucy does impressions of Jackie Gleason and Carol Channing. Eventually, Collins comes up with a post-hypnotic suggestion that will enable Mooney to catch a little shut-eye--and which, of course, Lucy will inadvertently trigger at all the wrong moments! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patricia Collins, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1966
Don Rickles guest stars as Norbert Wiley, a compulsive gambler turned compulsive thief. While hiding out on the island, Wiley manages to kidnap Mrs. Howell (Natalie Schafer), Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) and Ginger (Tina Louise)--one at a time, of course--and hold them for ransom. Eventually, Wiley is trapped by his own bungling, whereupon the Compassionate castaways try to rehabilitate him...with startling results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Rickles
- 1960
In this youthful adventure, the teenage clientele of an older man's establishment resist the Mob's attempts to force him to use one of their juke boxes. Songs include: "Free Passes to the Movies", "Picnic Day", "Drip, Drip", "Lost", and "Suzie Rock". ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1953
When Gloria Grahame signed her contract at Columbia Pictures, she had no idea the studio would require her to appear in anything available. Rather than go on suspension, she consented to star in the "Arabian nights" fiasco Prisoners of the Casbah, but her discomfort with the assignment is obvious in every scene. Grahame plays a Moroccan Princess, while Turhan Bey is the lowborn thief who loves her. The plot decrees that Grahame must marry Turhan to escape death at the hands of her enemies, and the script has a lot of fun with the custom of a groom being able to wed or cast away his bride simply by saying "I Marry You" or "I Divorce You" three times. Cesar Romero, playing the villain, is the only actor who looks like he's enjoying himself. Prisoners of the Casbah was another tarnished gem from anything-for-a-buck producer Sam Katzman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gloria Grahame, Cesar Romero, (more)
- 1951
Lippert's Mask of the Dragon was filmed simultaneously with Fingerprints Don't Lie, utilizing the same director and cast. Richard Travis plays Phil Ramsey, a private eye, headquartered in San Francisco. He is obliged to investigate the murder of an old friend, a Korean war vet who had recently delivered a jade dragon to a Chinatown merchant. Aided by heroine Ginny O'Donnell (Sheila Ryan), Ramsey follows the trail of clues to a deserted TV studio (actually Los Angeles' KTLA). Sid Melton provides comedy relief as the head villain's dopey henchman. Though cheaply produced, Mask of the Dragon doesn't stint entertainment-wise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Travis, Sheila Ryan, (more)
- 1949
Esther Williams and Red Skelton share equal screen time for once in the MGM Technicolor musical Neptune's Daughter. The title character is, of course, Williams, here cast as Eve Barrett, a bathing-suit manufacturer (and sometimes model). Skelton plays Jack Spratt, the masseur at a fancy polo club, who falls for Eve's sister (Betty Garrett). To prove worthy of her love, Jack poses as dashing Latin polo star Jose O'Rourke (Ricardo Montalban), resulting in a wealth of comic complications. The slapstick setpieces include a hilarious horse-mounting routine and a climactic set-to between Skelton and petty crook Mike Mazurki; there's also a few inspired moments from Mel Blanc, cast as a slow-talking Mexican. While Xavier Cugat is on hand as "himself," the film's musical high point is the Oscar-winning Baby It's Cold Outside, performed first by Williams and Montalban and then by Skelton and Garrett. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Esther Williams, Red Skelton, (more)
- 1945
Joan Davis, the daughter of a famed woman detective, has inherited none of her mother's deductive prowess. Nonetheless, Joan teams with patrolman Leon Errol to solve a series of blowgun murders. The two erstwhile Sherlocks track down the alleged murder weapon to a theatre, where it is being used as a prop in a play. After disrupting the performance, Davis determines that the murders weren't committed by blowgun, and that the culprit is a mild-mannered gentleman to whom murder is a "hobby." The title She Gets Her Man clues us in on the finale, and also refers to the shaky but affectionate relationship between Joan Davis and Leon Errol. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1940
Producer Walter Wanger's House Across the Bay serves as an excellent showcase for Wanger's then-wife Joan Bennett. She is cast as nightclub singer Brenda Bentley, the wife of high-rolling gambler Steve Lawrett (George Raft). When Steve is railroaded into Alcatraz by duplicitous attorney Slant Kolma (Lloyd Nolan), Brenda promises to remain faithful to her husband during his incarceration, even going so far as to purchase an apartment "across the bay" from the island prison so that she can be near him. But while Steve is serving his time, he discovers that Brenda has succumbed to the charms (and innate decency) of handsome Tim Nolan (Walter Pidgeon). Enraged, Steve vows to kill Nolan, staging a daring escape attempt to realize his goal. But will Steve be able to get off "the rock" in one piece, succeeding where so many others have failed? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Raft, Joan Bennett, (more)
