Henry Darrow Movies
Not wishing to be typecast in Latino roles, actor Henry Thomas Delgado changed his professional name to Henry Darrow -- only to spend his first dozen or so years in show business playing Hispanics. Darrow gained nationwide attention when briefly cast as a Mexican lawyer on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital; he had previously been active in Spanish-language soap operas, and as a Hollywood voice-over artist, dubbing Hispanic films into English. While appearing in an L.A.-based stage play in early 1967, Darrow was spotted by TV producer David Dortort, who was then in the process of casting the upcoming Western series The High Chaparral. Dortort created the character of aristocrat-turned-ranchhand Manolito Montoya with Darrow specifically in mind; the actor remained in this role until High Chapparal completed its four-season run in 1971. Darrow was then seen in a handful of films (Badge 373, Maverick, etc.) and a whole slew of weekly TV programs, including The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1973-1974 season, as stage manager Alex Montenez) and Time Trax (1993). He also returned to the daily-serial grind as Rafael Castillo on Santa Barbara (1984-1992). In 1983, Henry Darrow was starred on the spoofish series Zorro and Son as Zorro Sr. (aka Don Diego de la Vega), a character he'd previously played via voice-over on the Saturday morning cartoon weekly The Tarzan/Lone Ranger/Zorro Adventure Hour (1981); and in 1989, he was seen as the title character's father on the Family Channel cable series Zorro. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The longest (26-1/2 hours), most expensive ($25 million) and most complicated (four directors, five producers, five cinematographers, almost 100 speaking parts, several hundred extras) project made for television up to that time, Centennial was shown in two- and three-hour installments over a period of four months. An adaptation of James Michener's best-selling novel, it told the story of the settling of the American West by looking at the founding of the fictional town of Centennial, Colorado, from the settling of the area in the late 18th century to the present. Emmy-nominated for film editing and art direction, it boasts of sterling performances from Richard Chamberlain as frontiersman Alexander McKeag, Robert Conrad as the French-Canadian trapper Pasquinel, and a surprisingly powerful performance from former football star Alex Karras as compassionate but iron-willed immigrant farmer Hans Brumbaugh. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In this comedy, young Willie alarms the members of his small town when he shows off his computer-programming genius. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In this comical actioner, a whiz-kid devises a strange electronic contraption and ends up robbing the town bank. This not only creates problems for him, but puts his father the town sheriff in a very sticky situation. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Originally telecast as a component of The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie, the feature-length opening episode of Quincy, M.E. quickly establishes the prickly personality and crusading nature of LA County Coroner's Office medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman). We're also introduced to several others series regulars, including Quincy's current girlfriend Lee (Lynette Mettey), his talented young assistant Sam (Robert Ito), his overcautious supervisor Dr. Robert Astin (John S. Ragin) and his police contact Lt. Frank Monahan (Garry Walberg). In the opener, Quincy investigates the possible links between a the rape and murder of the mayor's secretary, and the mysterious death of a city controller--and in the process, unearths a wide-ranging conspiracy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Previously seen on Streets of San Francisco as a Latino cop determined to purge his old barrio neighborhood of drug pushers, A Martinez appears in this episode in the radically different role of a hapless illegal alien named Rudy Costa. During a raid by immigration officials, a security guard is murdered, and Costa is fingered as the killer. As they pursue the fugitive Costa, Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) uncover evidence that their quarry may have been framed. Much of this episode was filmed on location in Napa Valley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
In the opening episode of Baretta's third season, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) searches for the thugs who killed a young Nisei girl. Complications ensue when the dead girl's father takes the traditional Japanese vow to kill everyone connected with his daughter's death. Could this mean that Baretta himself is on the grieving father's list? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
This TV-movie update of the old H.G. Wells fantasy novel stars David McCallum as brilliant scientist Daniel Weston. He's so brilliant that he develops an invisibility serum, which he applies to himself. Two inconveniences: Weston must wear a special mask so that his wife (Kathleen Fee) can see him; and enemy agents, headed by traitorous scientist Alex Henteloff, would give their eye teeth for the serum. Much was made in the press releases of the "blue screen" process that created the illusion of invisibility; would that as much time have been expended on the ho-hum script. Despite its flaws, Invisible Man resulted in a weekly TV series, which ran from September 1975 to January 1976; its format was later refashioned for two more short-lived series, Gemini Man and The Man From Atlantis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
The made-for-TV Requiem for a Bride opens with San Francisco police commissioner McMillan (Rock Hudson) congratulating an old friend (Henry Darrow) on the friend's recent marriage. McMillan's words ring hollow when the bride (Susan Sullivan) is murdered. Complicating the issue is the growing suspicion that the killer had been gunning for McMillan. Susan St. James costars as "Mac"'s inquisitive spouse, Sally. Requiem for a Bride originated as the October 26, 1975 episode of TV's McMillan and Wife. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rock Hudson
- 1974
Long before Sally Struthers began promoting mail-order college degrees, she starred in this made-for-TV melodrama. Struthers plays Sara Moore, a young woman suffering from a rare blood disease. There's a slim possibility of her survival, but anxious surgeon Dr. Lawrence Maddox (James Franciscus) can't wait; he needs Sara as an organ donor for a crucial heart transplant, and he needs her now. Sara escapes to Hawaii, enjoying the sights and rebuilding her health -- with unkindly Doctor Maddox just one step behind her. Aloha Means Goodbye was the sort of ridiculous film fare that convinced Sally Struthers to keep her day job on All in the Family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
The plot is set in motion by a corrupt banker who has stolen several million dollars in US bonds. Also playing key roles in the intrigue are a mob fence and a professional assassin. Truly, crimefighting makes strange bedfellows: In his efforts to capture the banker and foil the other villains, NYPD lieutenant Kojak (Telly Savalas) is forced to team up with a cat burglar (Henry Darrow). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Richard Widmark is Brock, a salty NYC cop who retires to a small town in California. Brock's plans to become a peaceful orange farmer are interrupted when his Native American ranch hand (Henry Darrow) is accused of murdering the local sheriff. Before long, Brock himself has been appointed sheriff, and has trouble adapting his big-city technique to the less hectic style of his adopted community. Brock's Last Case was supposed to be the pilot for a weekly series. As it turned out, the title was prophetic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
- R
The title of this Bob Hope vehicle Cancel My Reservation is a multiple pun, referring to elements in the story. The ever-youthful Hope plays Dan Bartlett, a late-night TV talk show host. Frazzled, he takes a much-needed vacation in Arizona. There, he stumbles upon a murder and a conspiracy by local rancher, John Ed (Ralph Bellamy) to defraud a local Native American group of part of its reservation. Dan is a suspect in the murder, and must investigate in order to clear his name. Though the story is rather light, celebrities of all sorts have either small parts or cameos in this film, and much of the film's entertainment value comes from spotting them. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) dispatches his operatives to the Oregon wilderness, where a gang of jewel thieves have converged after pulling off their latest heist. Seeking an escape route, the thieves make a desperate effort to navigate the treacherous Rogue River rapids--and if this ordeal doesn't kill them, their mutual animosity will finish the job. This episode was filmed on location near Grant Pass, Oregon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
While starring on the TV western The High Chapparal, Henry Darrow took time off to play a villain on the Mission: Impossible episode "The Blast." Darrow is cast as revolutionary leader Gregory Tolan, whose group has committed several robberies in hopes of financing a revolution against the United States. It is up to the IMF to trick Tolan into revealing the identity of the mastermind behind the revolutionists, a man known only as Mr. Brice.First telecast on January 30, 1971, "Blast" was written by James L. Henderson and Sam Roeca. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Leonard Nimoy, (more)
- 1967
Henry Darrow guest-stars as Amigo, a role originally written for Sammy Davis Jr.). Persecuted all his life merely because of his Mexican heritage, Amigo has cast his lot with a band of terrorists, led by the vicious Cap Fenner (Gregory Walcott). When Ben saves his life, Amigo's loyalties are torn between the Cartwrights and the outlaws-with Joe Cartwright finding himself a pawn in the struggle. It has been reported that Henry Darrow landed his costarring role on The High Chaparral on the strength of his performance in this episode. First shown on February 12, 1967, "Amigo" was written by John Hawkins and Jack Turley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
