Michael Dante Movies

Kim Novak is clearly out of her depth as legendary Broadway actress Jeanne Eagels, but one can't fault her for trying very hard. As this filmed biography gets under way, wide-eyed Eagels finds herself stranded in a tank town by a smooth-talking traveling salesman. Carnival operator Sal Satori hires Eagels as a kootch dancer, but her ambition is to become a serious dramatic actress. When she and Sal reach New York, she signs up for acting lessons under the tutelage of a Mme. Neilson (Agnes Moorehead). Before long, Jeanne is understudying on Broadway, and in 1922 she takes audiences and critics by storm with her unforgettable portrayal of Sadie Thompson in Rain, a role she landed by ruthlessly double-crossing the actress originally slated for the part (Virginia Grey). When her rival commits suicide, the chastened Jeanne turns to booze and drugs to assuage her conscience. The real-life Jeanne Eagels died of narcotics addiction in 1929, a fact that the Hollywood version skims over. Eagels' family sued Columbia Pictures over the "distortions" offered in Jeanne Eagels. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Conceived as a Gone With the Wind for the CinemaScope generation, Raintree County wasn't quite as successful as its role model, but it still proved a moneyspinner for MGM. Elizabeth Taylor stars as a spoiled Southern belle who falls in love with pacifistic Indiana youth Montgomery Clift. Though Clift is engaged to Eva Marie Saint, what Taylor wants, Taylor gets, and she isn't above using the dirtiest of deceptions to win Clift's affections. When the Civil War break out, Clift, a staunch abolitionist, joins the Union, much to the dismay of true-to-Dixie Taylor. While Clift is off fighting the war, Taylor descends into a depression that deepens into insanity. At war's end, Clift tries to come to terms with Taylor's lunacy for the sake of their child. But the strain proves too much for both of them, leading to an operatic climax which curiously segues into a happy ending (happy for some of the characters, anyway). If Montgomery Clift's performance--and appearance--seems to fluctuate wildly throughout the film, it is because he was involved in a serious auto accident during shooting, one that left both physical and emotional scars from which he never completely recovered. The 187-minute Raintree Country (reduced to 168 minutes after its initial roadshow engagements) was adapted by Millard Kaufman from the best-selling novel by Ross Lockridge, Jr. (whose own life story was infinitely more tragic than anything in his book). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Good samaritan Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly) offers assistance to two tired travellers with only one horse. They repay his generosity by stealing his horse--and then framing him for bank robbery and murder. When one of the thieves is killed, the other escapes with a posse hot on heels. . .while Bart cools his own heels in jail, under the watchful eye of Sheriff Edwards (Dick Foran). Clearly, the only way Bart can clear himself is by capturing the remaining outlaw--but how is he going to get past the sheriff? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While travelling on a stagecoach, Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly) strikes up a conversation with Ann Saunders (Pat Crowley), an Easterner who claims to have come West to meet her cousin. En route, the coach is robbed, and Bart cannot help but notice that Ann seems to be acquainted with one of the masked holdup men. Things get even curiouser when Ann helps the robbers escape from jail, leaving Bart to face the wrath of the authorities. Former cowboy star Don "Red" Barry plays a sheriff in this episode, which was written by western-movie veteran Winston Miller. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Discredited professor Edward G. Robinson organizes a seven-person criminal gang. Robinson plans to steal a fortune from the underground vaults of the Monte Carlo casino. Despite a few tense moments, the plot moves like clockwork. Alas, Robinson isn't around long enough to enjoy the fruits of his labors. As for the other criminals, they find that fencing their stolen booty is next to impossible. All they come away with is $3000--won legitimately at the gaming tables. Those not interested in the male contingent of Seven Thieves (Robinson, Rod Steiger, Eli Wallach et. al.) are advised to feast their eyes upon leading-lady Joan Collins, in her considerable prime. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This conventional wartime drama is comprised of an inexplicable mix of moods and genres as a U.S. submarine in World War II heads out to the island of Bikini in the South Pacific to destroy the remains of a sunken sister ship. The ruined ship has some delicate radar equipment on board that cannot fall into enemy hands. Meanwhile, the Japanese naval command is sending out its ships as control over the Pacific is at issue. This builds up into a major sea-going confrontation as the forces on each side are strengthened and expanded. Incongruously mixed in with the growing tension is a love story between Lt. Morgan Hayes (Tab Hunter) and the voluptuous Reiko (Eva Six). Frankie Avalon, as one of the seamen, sings a few songs, and others contributing to the action are Jim Backus as a chief bosun's mate, and Gary Crosby as another seaman. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Kelly (Constance Towers), a prostitute who wants to transform her life, beats up her pimp, takes the 75 dollars he owes her, and leaves town. Winding up in the small town of Grantville, she turns a trick with Griff (Anthony Eisley), who is actually the sheriff. After paying her for sex, Griff tells Kelly that Grantville is a clean town and orders her out, though he refers her to a brothel in a neighboring city. Instead, Kelly makes a final break with her past and becomes a nurse's aide at the local children's hospital. In that capacity, she meets Grant (Michael Dante), who is a benefactor of the hospital, a descendant of the town's founder -- and Griff's best friend. As Grant and Kelly fall in love, Griff viciously accuses Kelly of using her hospital job to hide ongoing illicit activities. When Kelly tells Grant about her past, he seems to accept her without reservation and proposes marriage; however, Kelly soon learns the perverse truth about her fiancée and takes matters into her own hands. Samuel Fuller's raw film noir exposes the hypocrisy of a supposedly proper society. Beneath the veneer of respectability lies an exploitive abuse of power, no different from that of any pimp. ~ Steve Press, All Movie Guide

Former silent-movie idol Ramon Novarro guest-stars as Jose Ortega, a prevaricating old windbag who claims to possess a Spanish land grant deeding him the Ponderosa and most of the surrounding territory. Of course, nobody believes Ortega, and everybody takes turns beating him up. Rescued from another pummelling by Joe Cartwright, Jose rewards Joe with a valuable gift, which leads the Cartwrights' lawyer to conclude that maybe Ortega was telling the truth about his land holding after all-and that the Ponderosa may indeed no longer belong to Ben Cartwright. Michael Dante costars as Ortega's avaricious nephew Miguel. First telecast September 26, 1965, "The Brass Box" was written by Paul Schneider. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Perry (Raymond Burr) and Paul (William Hopper) arrive in beautiful Hawaii to investigate the viability of a land deal between Jarvis Logan (John Van Dreelen) and the Pan-Pacific Hotel chain. Logan wants to purchase Kameamea Point, which cuts into his property straight down the middle, but the deal goes sour when the owner of the Point, Anona Gilbert (Wende Wagner), is jilted by mercenary beachcomber Douglas Kelland (Michael Dante). When Kelland is speared to death (yes, speared to death!) Anona is accused of the crime, forcing Perry to forget about the pleasures of the Islands and focus exclusively on business. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Legend of Custer is an expanded version of the pilot film for the weekly Custer television series. Wayne Maunder stars as "Old Yellow Hair," who in the early 1870s is shipped off to command a Cavalry post in the Black Hills. Here he is introduced to a crew of misfits and goldbricks, whom he must whip into shape. Like the Custer series itself, the film doesn't address the complexities of General Custer's personality, and, understandably stops well short of Little Big Horn. The series' regulars include Slim Pickens as California Jim Milner, Peter Palmer as Sgt. James Bustard, Grant Woods as Capt Keogh, and Michael Dante as Crazy Horse. Appearing the "special guest star" category in The Legend of Custer are Mary Ann Mobley, Alex Davion, William Mims, Rodolfo Acosta. Custer debuted on September 6, 1967, surviving a mere 13 weeks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This cult favorite from director/producer Sig Shore featured the music of Earth, Wind and Fire and had a #1 soundtrack album, but went belly-up at the box-office. That's a shame, because what other film offers viewers Harvey Keitel as a record producer who skates at an all-black disco rink, Bert Parks as a child molester, and squeaky-clean singer Jimmy Boyd ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus") as a hardcase junkie? Other treats on hand include the manager of a Christian pop band threatening to stick an ice pick in Keitel's ear and appearances by noted disc jockeys Murray the K and Frankie Crocker. Amidst all of this insanity, Cynthia Bostick's female-lead turn as a Joplin-like junkie singer named Velour is lost. The film ends with a number of Earth, Wind and Fire songs, but by that point most viewers will be in bad-movie shellshock. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

In this actioner, a WW II vet attempts to run his own farm and finds himself in dire straits when he cannot pay his mortgage. In desperation, he hits up a gangster for financial aide. Unfortunately, in exchange for money, the gangster wants the vet to kill a few people. The would-be farmer does just that and each killing is quite graphically presented. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide