James Darren Movies

Not technically a feature film, Aliens from Another Planet consists of two 60-minute episodes from the vintage Irwin Allen sci-fi TV series The Time Tunnel. James Darren and Robert Colbert star as Tony Newman and Doug Phillips, two research scientists working on a huge, high-tech time machine. Sucked into the mechanism in Episode One, Doug and Tony are compelled to pay danger-laden visits to the past and future, courtesy of the 20th Century-Fox stock-footage department. The first episode included herein is Chase Through Time, originally telecast February 24, 1967, in which the Time Travellers are projected into the far distant future by an unhinged nuclear technician (played by no less than Robert Duvall). In the second installment, Visitors From Beyond the Stars (original air date: January 13, 1967), a group of extraterrestrials land on Earth in the year 1885. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This fast-paced, entertaining drama set in a high school is directed by Paul Wendkos who has a talent for turning teen-oriented movies into hits, as proven just before this release (his 1959 Gidget). The ever-young Dick Clark plays Neil, a new, dedicated history teacher who becomes involved with the lives of his students and always for the better. He also becomes involved with Joan (Victoria Shaw) the attractive secretary in the principal's office. In an era before cocaine, crack, and school shootings would destroy the nation's image of high schools forever, the problems of "delinquents" like Griff (Michael Callan), or Buddy (Warren Berlinger), whose mother is unfaithful, may seem archaic to some audiences. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Irwin Allen, praised in some circles as a science fiction genius and damned in others as a shameless schlockmeister, produced and directed this fanciful TV-movie. Set in the 21st century, the film concentrates on a group of colonists dwelling in a modernistic underwater city called Pacifica. The emphasis is on drama rather than special effects, as we see the deep-sea denizens struggling to cope with the pressures of their new existence--and their own personal animosities. Stuart Whitman heads a large cast of TV veterans, including Time Tunnel regulars James Darren, Robert Colbert and Whit Bissell, and onetime Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea star Richard Basehart (as the US President). Expanded from a short "demo" pilot film, City Beneath the Sea is the one Irwin Allen project that could have matured into a truly worthwhile TV series; unfortunately no network was interested in subsidizing this expensive effort. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this beach movie, a group of teenagers hang out at the Silver Palms everyday after school. Because things can get quite raucous in the club, the protagonist's grandfather wants to shut it down. When the clever kids discover that grandpa used to be a bootlegger, they blackmail him into keeping it open. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This second film in the "Gidget" series stars Deborah Walley as Francie Lawrence, better known as Gidget. After being disappointed in love by surfin' dude Moondoggie (James Darren), Gidge joins her parents (Carl Reiner, Jeff Donnell) on a Hawaiian vacation. Complications ensue when Moondoggie likewise arrives in the islands, only to find Gidget "that way" about local beach stud Eddie Horner (Michael Callan). In general, Gidget Goes Hawaiian isn't up to the standards of the original Gidget, though there are a few bright moments, including a satiric dream sequence. Once more, the film proved successful at the box office, spawning even more sequels and no fewer than two weekly TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The highly variable Tab Hunter delivers his best film performance in the grim western Gunman's Walk. Hunter plays Ed Hackett, the son of gunslinger-turned-land baron Lee Hackett (Van Heflin). Out of respect (and fear) of his father, the hotheaded Ed is given a wide berth by the resentful townsfolk. The elder Hackett doesn't make things any better when he tacitly approves of Ed's violent behavior, all the while giving short shrift to his law-abiding younger son Davy (James Darren). Inevitably, Ed goes one step too far, forcing his father to make a devastating decision. Kathryn Grant, future wife of Bing Crosby, registers well as the half-breed girl with whom Davy falls in love. Gunman's Walk is seen at a disadvantage on television; director Phil Karlson's inventive use of the CinemaScope lens will be largely lost on a 22-inch screen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Actress-activistTheresa Saldana, who after surviving a brutal knife attack by a deranged fan founded the organization Victims for Victims, plays a semi-autobiographical role in this episode. Seven years after being jailed for attempting to murder famed pianist Jenny Hartman (Saldana), demented "number one fan" Ralph Flager (Andy Wood) is paroled--and once he's back on the street, he makes no secret of his intention to finish the job on Jenny. Since there is no real proof against Flager, the police can do nothing officially: unofficially, however, Hunter (Fred Dryer) vows to shield Jenny from harm during his off-hours--prompting Flager to add Hunter's partner McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) to his list of potential victims! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) and an informant are gunned down during a police investigation of a prostitution ring operating out of RV's on the Los Angeles Freeway. Working on available evidence, Hunter (Fred Dryer) becomes convinced that a notorious pimp named Big Jack Hemmings ordered the hit. As McCall hovers between life and death, Hunter heads to Mexico in search of Big Jack--and it seems a certainty that only one of the two men will come back alive! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season Four of Hunter begins as police detectives Hunter (Fred Dryer) and McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) investigate the seemingly motiveless murder of a skid-row derelict. It turns out that the "bum" was anything but, and that he had been deliberately targeted by a hit man. Despite the interferences of the Feds, Hunter is determined to get the whole truth--and to save the life of the hapless bag lady (Beah Richards) who witnessed the hit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Working undercover, Metro officer Jake Janowitz (Beau Starr) witnesses the murder of a Treasury agent. Hunter (Fred Dryer) becomes curious over the fact that Janowitz has not only turned in a confused and muddled report of the incident, but he has also filed the report way past the required due date. Even more puzzling is Janowitz's attitude since the killing: he seems not to care at all whether he lives or dies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A pint-sized pooch with enormous Hollywood ambition wanders the streets of Hollywood and Malibu beach in search for her big break in this canine adventure for the entire family. After a pair of run-ins with Vincent Price and James Darren, Mooch sneaks into a major movie studio for a visit with Jill St. John - who subsequently orders her hairdresser to give the star-struck pup a new hairdo. Later, Mooch crosses paths with actor Jim Backus, who takes her along to a big industry party attended by her old friends, Price, Darren, and St. John. While her showbiz connections fail to land her a starring role, Mooch soon meets a kindly master who will accept her for the fun loving canine companion that she truly is. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

In this frantic service comedy, a group of bored-to-tears American GI's stationed at a medical facility in France would like nothing more than to have a big party to let off steam -- except for the possibility of having a big party with some of the nurses they work with. However, it seems that the nurses are officers and the GI's are enlisted men, which means the Army forbids them to socialize, and Capt. Locke (Ernie Kovacs), the camp's Commanding Officer, is not a man to bend the rules. But Private Hogan (Jack Lemmon) is not the sort of guy to let the rules get in the way of a good time, and with the help of Yancy Skibo (Mickey Rooney), a sergeant with a talent for scaring up needed supplies, and Mme. LaFour (Jeanne Manet), a local hotel manager with a soft spot for making money off American servicemen, Hogan hatches a plan to make his dream a reality. Hogan's lady friend, Lt. Betty Bixby (Kathryn Grant), isn't quite as convinced as her beau on the potential success of this scheme. Operation Mad Ball was the first directorial effort from former actor Richard Quine, and afforded Jack Lemmon his first starring role; Blake Edwards also contributed to the screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this sci-fi drama, part of the Time Tunnel TV series, a female scientist is abducted from the Time Tunnel projects' underground complex by an alien time traveler. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide