Anthony Lawrence Movies

Bobby McCain (Christopher Atkins) travels to an Australian beach to close a land development deal for his father (Elliott Gould) and to masquerade as a lifeguard to get the skinny on any potential competition. Once there, Bobby becomes sympathetic to the plight of the attractive club-owner who is trying to hold on to her land and her life guard team which is going to lose its certification if they don't get into shape. Using everything he ever learned in LA aerobics and fitness training classes, the buff Bobby does all he can to save her resort. He then begins working to sabotage his father's deal. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

The first volley in the never-ending "Presley movie" blitzkrieg, the made-for-TV Elvis: The Movie stars Kurt Russell as the King, Season Hubley as Priscilla, Pat Hingle as Col. Parker, Shelley Winters as Elvis' mom, and Bing Russell (Kurt's real-life father) as Elvis' dad. The film recounts Presley's life from age ten to his 1969 Vegas comeback. Presley imitator Ronnie McDowell expertly dubs in Kurt Russell's renditions of "Love Me Tender," "Heartbreak Hotel," et al. When first telecast on February 11, 1979, the ratings for Elvis: The Movie went through the roof, even beating out a competing telecast of Gone With the Wind. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Vengeful ex-convict Harlan Betts (Lawrence Pressman) is determined to get even with high-profile attorney Larry Drake (Lawrence Pressman), who when serving as deputy district attorney sent Betts to prison. At the same time, Charlie Finn (Pernell Roberts), a businessman facing bankruptcy, is further weighed down by divorce proceedings instigated by his wife's attorney--Larry Drake. With grim inevitability, these two separate storylines converge, bringing homicide detectives Keller (Karl Malden) and Robbins (Richard Hatch) onto the scene. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of Ironside's Season Eight opener, Chief Ironside (Raymond Burr) now knows that college coed Susan Todd (Sian Barbara Allen) was not truly responsible for the murder of her mother. The real villain of the piece is Susan's deranged psychiatrist Theodore Gallin (Bill Bixby), who specializes in brainwashing his patients to do his bidding. The situation takes a truly sinister turn when Gallin "programs" policewoman Fran Belding (Elizabeth Baur) to kill Ironside! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Elvis Presley hits the high seas in this musical comedy. Ted Jackson (Presley) is a former Navy frogman who divides his time between twin careers as a deep sea diver and nightclub singer. Ted discovers what he believes could be a fortune in Spanish gold aboard a sunken ship and sets out to rescue it with the help of go-go dancing yoga expert Jo Symington (Dodie Marshall). However, Gil Carey (Skip Ward) is also after the treasure and uses his girlfriend Dina Bishop (Pat Priest) to foil Ted's plans. Elvis sings six tunes in this picture, including the deathless "Yoga Is as Yoga Does" and "The Love Machine." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Now using the alias "Paul Keller", Kimble (David Janssen) gets a job at a carnival with the help of pretty Tina Andresen (Joanna Pettet). Unfortunately, Tina's uncle Harry (Andrew Duggan) is a retired detective with a very suspicious mind. . .and he's certain he's seen Kimble's face somewhere before. Having falling in love with the fugitive, Tina offers to help him escape--only to reveal herself as a dangerous psychotic when Kimble refuses to take her along with him. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Charlie Rogers (Elvis Presley) is a coffeehouse singer who joins a financially troubled carnival in Roustabout. He is hired by owner Maggie Morgan (Barbara Stanwyck) and soon catches the eye of his pretty female co-worker Cathy Lean (Joan Freeman). Cathy's irate father Joe (Leif Erickson) clashes with Charlie when he tries to romance his daughter, but Charlie's singing helps bring in the much-needed money for the failing carnival and keeps the wolves from the big tent show. A disagreement has Charlie joining another carnival before things are smoothed out. Watch for Raquel Welch and Terry Garr in bit parts. Presley delivers 11 songs, the highlight being the Mike Leiber/Jerry Stoller tune"Little Egypt". ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

The third of the "Ben Cartwright's Wives" trilogy (his marriages to first wife Elizabeth and second wife Inger were recounted in 1961 and 1962, respectively), "Marie, My Love" originally aired on February 10, 1963. While his son Joe hovers between life and death after suffering a fall, Ben Cartwright recalls his years with Joe's mother, New Orleans belle Marie (Felicia Farr), and also recalls the scandal which nearly tore the couple asunder. Also appearing are Eduard Franz as Marius and George Dolenz as Marcy. The script, by Anthony Lawrence and Anne Howard Bailey, provides a satisfactory resume of the eventful life and untimely demise of Marie Cartwright, even though certain "facts" do not jibe with those set forth in previous Bonanza episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the 1961 Bonanza episode "Elizabeth, My Love," Ben Cartwright's thoughts drifted back to his first wife Elizabeth, the mother of his oldest son Adam. In the April 15, 1962 installment "Inger, My Love", Ben recalls his life with wife number two, Scandanavian émigré Inger Borgstrom (Inga Swenson), who would ultimately bear him his second son Hoss. It all began in Galesburg, where young Ben was given a job by tavern owner McWhorter (James Philbrook). During his brief stay in town, Ben fell in love with McWhorter's fiancee Inger, and also ran afoul of Inger's hotheaded brother Gunnar (Jeremy Slate). Organizing a wagon train to California, Ben headed out for the "promised land" with his 5-year-old son Adam and new bride Inger at his side-but his happiness over his latest marriage would inevitably prove short-lived. All of this occurs in flashback, as Ben prepares a birthday party for the grown-up Hoss. This pivotal Bonanza episode was cowritten by David Dortort, Frank Cleaver and Anthony Lawrence. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Cartwrights rescue 11-year-old Gabrielle Wickham (Diane Mountford), a blind orphan girl whom they find wandering aimlessly in the snow. Gabrielle is hoping against hope to locate her grandfather, Zachariah Wickham (John Abbott). Alas, Zachariah turns out to be a contentious hermit who hates people in general and relatives in particular. Also appearing is Kevin Hagen as Everett. Written by Anthony Lawrence, "Gabrielle" originally aired December 24, 1961, as Bonanza's Christmas present to its many fans. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Considered to be a witch, gypsy girl Tirza (Susan Harrison) has been condemned to death by her own tribe. Taking refuge on the Ponderosa, Tirza falls in love with Joe Cartwright, who is determined to prove to one and all that the girl is not the sorceress she appears to be. Cult film director Hugo Haas appears as tribal leader Zirka, with Arthur Batanides as Spiro and Lily Valenty as Bruja. Originally broadcast on April 23, 1960, "Dark Star" was written by Anthony Lawrence. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A family friend of 17-year-old Lois Brewster informs Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) that he has come into possession of some pornographic pictures in which the girl is prominently featured. It turns out that Lois was the victim of two phony talent scouts, who after promising to make her a star tricked her into a life of degradation and prostitution--whereupon the girl committed suicide. B-movie favorite Yvette Vickers has a flashy role as the dead girl's roommate, who has also been dragooned into the dirty-picture business. This episode is based on the Dragnet radio broadcast of December 7, 1950. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi