Thayer David Movies

In this TV movie based upon the Marvel superhero, college student Peter Parker suffers a spider bite which turns him into the amazing webbed crime fighter. The plot finds a no-good scientist using mind power techniques in an attempt to pocket big bucks by extorting world leaders. this Swackhamer-produced tale presents some excellent special effects portraying the wall climbing Spider-Man. This was also the pilot for the Spider-Man TV series that would follow. ~ All Movie Guide

Rex Stout's corpulent, orchid-loving detective Nero Wolfe would eventually headline his own 1980s TV series, courtesy of star William Conrad. This earlier unsold TV pilot stars Thayer David, whom some Stout devotees consider the best of the many media Wolfes (which included Walter Connolly and Sidney Greenstreet). Frank D. Gilroy wrote and directed this adaptation of the Stout novel The Doorbell Rang, in which Wolfe protects his client (Anne Baxter) by taking on "the whole damned federal government". As always, Wolfe remains in his easy chair to do the brainwork, while his faithful assistant Archie Goodwin (Tom Mason) handles the rough stuff. Nero Wolfe tested well in the ratings, and might well have gone on immediately to a regular weekly series, but the sudden death of star Thayer David put the whole project in mothballs--until Bill Conrad was available. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy is a TV dramatization of the notorious Cold War incident of 1960. The story is told from the point of view of Powers (Lee Majors), an American pilot who was shot down over Russia while taking photographs on behalf of the CIA. The event occurs just before a crucial summit meeting between American President Dwight D. Eisenhower (James Flavin) and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev (Thayer David). Eisenhower tries to cover up the incident, allowing Khrushchev to make propagandistic hay of the whole affair. Robert E. Thompson's teleplay tends to depict the Americans as jerks, and the Russians as essentially good guys; even Powers' Soviet interrogator, portrayed by Nehemiah Persoff, comes off comparatively sympathetic. Also in the cast are Noah Beery as Powers' father and Lew Ayres as Allen Dulles. Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy was originally telecast September 29, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Kojak (Telly Savalas) is certain that he has finally nailed an elusive heroin dealer when the man is accused of shooting and killing a prominent plastic surgeon. Problem is, the victim may have already been dead when the dealer shot him. Once it is determined that the surgeon did not die of natural causes, Kojak is faced with two unpleasant possibilities: His prize suspect could be entirely innocent, and there may be another, even more slippery murderer on the loose. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Most TV movies about obscene phone callers concentrate on the reactions of the victims--and the subsequent dangers they're exposed to. The Secret Night Caller takes a different tack, telling its story from the point of view of the caller. What makes the film doubly disturbing is that the dirty-mouthed phoner is played by Brady Bunch star and TV icon Robert Reed. Reed portrays an IRS agent (and seemingly contented family man) who is overtaken by his compulsion to phone strangers and whisper profanities. Even worse, Reed's access to tax-office records enables him to ring up people all over the country. The drama concentrates on Reed's mounting realization that he has to stop himself before someone else does. Though seedy and manipulative at times, The Secret Night Caller is elevated by the multifaceted performance of Robert Reed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This hippie parable, co-written and directed by James Ivory and produced by his long-time partner Ismail Merchant, tries to make a heavy-handed parallel between civilization and corruption. A tribe of nameless natives (played by Sam Waterston, Susan Blakely, Salome Jens and Martin Kove, among others) finds a croquet ball and, rolling it along the ground mystified by what it might be, stumbles upon an estate. They enter and occupy the mansion and don the clothes and trappings of civilized luxury. A dividing line begins to develop between strong and weak tribe members, with the weak becoming subordinate to the others. A lavish party is thrown that resembles nothing so much as a summer weekend gathering of sophisticates. After a game of croquet, however, the natives begin to tire of their masquerade and devolve back into their original, more primitive state, and disappear into the forest. Cinematographer Walter Lassally makes the film's point more blunt and obvious by filming the prologue in black and white and then switching to color once the tribe discovers the estate. One of Ivory's co-writers was Michael O'Donoghue, infamous bad boy of the original Saturday Night Live writing staff. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

This is the second full-length motion picture feature based on the popular television soap-opera/horror melodrama Dark Shadows. The first film was House of Dark Shadows. This film lacks the grand guignol glee provided by Jonathan Frid and Joan Bennet. However, it has a new storyline, not a rehash of one previously explored in the television series. Here, artist Charles Collins (David Selby, who performed the same part in the TV series) brings his new bride to live in the family mansion, which he has just inherited. The gentle and sensitive young Collins, the last of his clan, has troubled sleep. He dreams of the past, of his family, and of the house. Perhaps his dreams are not just dreams? Increasingly deranged by these visions, it begins to look like he will re-enact the atrocities committed by his family in the past. It is interesting to note that the film uses the mansion of 1890s railroad robber/baron Jay Gould for its setting. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Quentin (David Selby) persuades Daphne (Kate Jackson) to put off her marriage to Gerard (James Storm) until the outcome of his trial. Meanwhile, Gerard arranges the death of Mordecai Grimes (Thayer David), but not before securing a letter in which Mordecai accuses Quentin of witchcraft. This episode initially aired on January 7, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

At last realizing he is truly in love with Angelique (Lara Parker) , Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) must stand by in heartbroken helplessness as she dies of gunshot wounds administered by the vengeful Lamar Trask (Jerry Lacy). Stabbed by Barnabas, Lamar survives just long enough to escape into parallel time, where his body is disposed of by the "other" Julia (Grayson Hall) and Flora (Joan Bennett). On a happier note, Desmond (John Karlen) and Leticia (Nancy Barrett) announce their engagement, while the real-time Julia (also Grayson Hall) and Prof. Stokes (Thayer David) escort Barnabas up the Time Staircase and back to the Collinwood of 1971 -- where, thanks to the revised events of 1841, everything has returned to normal. Originally telecast on January 27, 1971, this episode marked the end of the "modern" continuity of Dark Shadows -- though there was still plenty of intrigue awaiting viewers in the parallel time version of 1841. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ben (Thayer David) saves Julia (Grayson Hall) from being strangled by Daniel Collins (Louis Edmonds), the mentally unhinged patriarch of 1840 Collinwood (and a dead ringer for his 20th century counterpart, Roger Collins). Daniel is convinced that Julia is his wife, whom he killed a decade earlier. To explain away her presence in the 19th century, Julia claims to be the sister of the Collins family's English cousin, all the while planning to release Barnabas (whom she knows to be a vampire) from his coffin. Looming over the proceedings is a sinister clairvoyant by the name of Gerard Stiles (James Storm). This episode originally aired on September 28, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Julia (Grayson Hall) remains in the Collinwood of 1840, where shifty psychic, Gerard Stiles (James Storm), is conspiring with his confederate, Leticia Faye (Nancy Barrett) -- who looks a lot like Carolyn Stoddard from the 20th century -- to fleece the Collinses of their fortune. Back in 1970, a grieving Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) attends the funerals of Elizabeth, Daphne, David, and Hallie, all of whom have died because of Gerard's malevolent spirit. With the surviving residents of Collinwood veering toward madness and self-destruction, Barnabas asks Prof. Stokes (Thayer David) to help him return to 1840 to prevent Gerard from inflicting his damage upon the future. This episode initially aired on September 30, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Despite his inability to return to the past, Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) is determined to do so, if only to save the life of Julia (Grayson Hall), who has crossed over into the 19th century. Meanwhile, back in 1840, Julia (still posing as the sister of the 19th century version of Barnabas) meets Roxanne Drew (Donna Wandrey), whom Julia knows is fated to become a vampire. She also makes the acquaintance of Roxanne's fiance, Lamar Trask (Jerry Lacy), the son of the villainous Rev. Trask whom Barnabas disposed of in 1797. In keeping with his "heritage," Trask is a bounder, and Roxanne, who is being forced into marriage, hates him with a passion. This episode was originally telecast on October 1, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide