Thayer David Movies
Actor Thayer David did quite well for himself on stage, screen and television. By virtue of his prominent eyebrows and chin and his brutish frame, David tended to be typecast as villains, notably as the odious Count Sacnusson in Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1959), the shadowy arsonist in Save the Tiger (1973) and the untrustworthy boxing promoter in Rocky (1976). But in 1977, David was on the verge of TV hero-dom, thanks to an excellent showing in the title role in the 90-minute pilot film Meet Nero Wolfe. Alas, he died of a heart attack before the pilot could be spun off into a series. Thayer David was at one time married to actress Valerie French. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1966
Matthew (Thayer David) suspects that Mrs. Johnson (Clarice Blackburn) is up to no good, and he tries to scare her away from Collinwood. Meanwhile, Mrs. Johnson continues filing reports with Burke (Mitchell Ryan) about the goings-on at the mansion. This episode first aired on October 17, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Accompanied by a nervous Victoria (Alexandra Moltke), David (David Henesy) wanders around the Old House, where he confronts a ghost which has emerged from Josette's portrait. Matthew (Thayer David) tries to scare David and Victoria off. This episode first aired on September 30, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
The fountain pen given to Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) by Burke has disappeared. Could Roger (Louis Edmonds) be responsible, and what exactly is the pen's significance in the death of Malloy? The answers may lie on Widow's Hill, the site of many a previous family tragedy. This episode originally aired on October 7, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Fugitive killer Matthew (Thayer David) begins to consider silencing David (David Henesy) -- just as permanently as he silenced Bill Malloy. Meanwhile, the Sheriff (Dana Elcar) tells Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) that Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) has still not been found. This episode was originally telecast on December 12, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Burke (Mitchell Ryan) intensifies his search for the missing Victoria (Alexandra Moltke). David (David Henesy) begins to suspect that Victoria is in the clutches of Matthew (Thayer David). And Matthew is attracted to an eerie light emanating from the portrait of Josette Collins. This episode first aired on December 13, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Unaware that Matthew (Thayer David) has kidnapped Victoria (Alexandra Moltke), David (David Henesy) sneaks some food and cigarettes to the fugitive. Bound and gagged, Victoria desperately tries to attract David's attention. This episode originally aired on December 9, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Having abandoned the helpless Victoria (Alexandra Moltke), David (David Henesy) is ordered to rescue the girl by the ghost of Bill Malloy (Frank Schofield). Meanwhile, Victoria manages to loosen her bonds, only to be recaptured by Matthew (Thayer David). This episode originally aired on December 16, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Preparing to dispose of Victoria (Alexandra Moltke), fugitive murderer Matthew (Thayer David) is stopped in his tracks by the ghost of Josette Collins. The arrival of another spirit, that of his victim Bill Malloy (Frank Schofield), causes Matthew to literally die of fright. But will Burke (Mitchell Ryan) and Roger (Louis Edmonds) be able to rescue Victoria from the restless wraiths? This episode first aired on December 19, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Already on edge, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) is further disturbed by the arrival of a strange woman (Diana Millay, making her first Dark Shadows appearance) who seems interested in Collinwood and its occupants. Meanwhile, David (David Henesy) stumbles upon Victoria's hiding place. This episode first aired on December 14, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Having found Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) tied and gagged in the Old House, David (David Henesy) decides not to release her, for fear of getting into trouble with the police. But David is in more immediate danger at the hands of Victoria's abductor. Meanwhile, the beautiful stranger (Diana Millay) relates the legend of the Phoenix to the confused Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott). This episode first aired on December 15, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Escaping the Sheriff's manhunt, Matthew (Thayer David) squirrels himself away in the Old House. David (David Henesy) finds Matthew, but promises not to reveal his hiding place. Mrs. Johnson (Clarice Blackburn) tells Burke (Mitchell Ryan) what has been going on at Collinwood. This episode originally aired on November 30, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Caught in the act of trying to kill Victoria (Alexandra Moltke), Matthew (Thayer David) tells Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) that it was he who murdered Malloy, and then runs off into the darkness. As the Sheriff (Dana Elcar) launches a manhunt, Victoria tries to make amends to Roger (Louis Edmonds), whom she suspected of the crime. This episode first aired on November 29, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Having confessed to Malloy's murder, Matthew (Thayer David) is about to murder Victoria (Alexandra Moltke). Suddenly he stops short -- but what has stopped him? On another front, Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) has a tense conference with family lawyer Frank Garner (Conrad Fowkes). Episode 111 of Dark Shadows (due to network pre-emptions, there were no episodes 109 or 110) first aired on November 28, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) is missing, and everybody at Collinwood joins in the search. Meanwhile, Matthew (Thayer David) prepares his escape, intending to take the bound-and-gagged Victoria along with him -- but his plans are suddenly and unexpectedly thwarted. This episode first aired on December 7, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Again kidnapping Victoria (Alexandra Moltke), Matthew (Thayer David) hides her in a room in the Old House. Meanwhile, Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) and Mrs. Johnson (Clarice Blackburn) learn that Victoria did not arrive in Bangor as planned. This episode originally aired on December 5, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) tries to convince David (David Henesy) that his loyalties lie with the Collins family. Searching for David at the Old House, Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) again comes face to face with the murderous Matthew (Thayer David). This episode first aired on December 2, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) is nearly struck and killed by a car -- but she can't identify car or driver. Sam (David Ford), Elizabeth (Joan Bennett), and Roger (Louis Edmonds) all seem to know more about the incident than they're letting on. This episode originally aired on November 17, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Roger (Louis Edmonds), claims that when he arrived at Lookout Point on the night of Bill Malloy's murder, Malloy was already dead. Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) doesn't believe him, and continues to regard Roger with fear and trepidation. Meanwhile, David (David Henesy) makes several pointed comments to Matthew (Thayer David) about the ghost of Josette Morgan. This episode first aired on November 15, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Kidnapping Victoria (Alexandra Moltke), Matthew (Thayer David) inadvertently confesses to Malloy's murder. The terrified Victoria realizes that she is next on Matthew's list. This crucial episode of Dark Shadows was originally networkcast on November 23, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Lawyer Frank Garner (Conrad Fowkes) raises doubts about the official theory concerning Malloy's death. While exploring the Old House in search of the missing David, Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) nearly meets death at the hands of Matthew (Thayer David). This episode originally aired on November 22, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This Biblical epic stars Elana Eden as Ruth, who serves in the temple where the High Priestess (Viveca Lindfors) leads the worship of the Pagan idols of the people of Moab. When Ruth falls in love with Mahlon (Tom Tryon), a Hebrew, she must come to terms with his spiritual beliefs, but in time she embraces his faith and converts to Judaism when they marry. Ruth travels with Mahlon and his mother Naomi (Peggy Wood) to their homeland of Bethlehem. Ruth suffers hardship and religious persecution, and when Mahlon dies, Ruth's faith is severely tested. But her belief in God survives this trial by fire, and in time Ruth finds a new love with Boaz (Stuart Whitman). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stuart Whitman, Tom Tryon, (more)
- 1959
- G
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There was neither a heroine nor a villain in Jules Verne's 1864 novel Journey to the Center of the Earth, but scenarist Charles Brackett evidently knew what he was doing by adding both to the 1959 film version. The picture proved to be a significant success in an otherwise disappointing year for 20th Century Fox. James Mason stars as amusingly absent-minded professor Oliver Lindenbrook, whose first step on a fabulous journey is prompted by a lump of lava brought to him by his student Alec McEwen (Pat Boone -- and, yes, he gets to sing). Melting down the curiously composed lump, Lindenbrook discovers a hastily scrawled message from long-lost explorer Arne Saknussem, with directions for reaching the earth's core. Accompanied by Carla (Arlene Dahl), widow of a famed geologist, and Icelandic guide Hans (Peter Ronson), Lindenbrook and Alec head down, down below. They are closely followed by the villainous Count Saknussem (Thayer David), descendant of the lost explorer who wrote the directions; the count hopes to use Lindenbrook's discoveries for his own personal and political gain (we know he's really bad when he eats Han's lovable pet goose). What follows is a festival of superb special effects, fabulous subterranean sets, and gigantized reptiles posing as dinosaurs, all brilliantly accompanied by Bernard Herrmann's ominous musical score. Journey to the Center of the Earth would later be adapted into a Saturday-morning cartoon series, again produced by 20th Century Fox. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pat Boone, James Mason, (more)
- 1958
Douglas Sirk directed this doomed World War II love story, seen from the German side of the war, as filtered through a distinctly late-'50s Hollywood banality. The film is based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque, the author of the classic World War I anti-war novel All Quiet On the Western Front -- and who makes a cameo appearance in the film as an elderly schoolteacher. The film stars John Gavin as Ernst Graber, a young Nazi soldier home on leave during the height of World War II. While on leave, he falls in love and marries Elizabeth Kruze (Lilo Pulver). With bombs falling all around the young couple, they set up house with a kindly old woman. Then Elizabeth becomes pregnant. But before Ernst can grasp the reality of his becoming a father, he is sent back to the war -- to fight the brutal battle along the Russian front. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Gavin, Liselotte Pulver, (more)
- 1958
Legend of the Sea Wolf is the alternate title of two separate film versions of Jack London's allegorical The Sea Wolf. The first of the two, released in 1958, was originally titled Wolf Larsen. Barry Sullivan stars as the brutal captain of a scavenger ship, who rides his men mercilessly and bristles at the slightest hint of weakness. Despite his cruelties, Sullivan fancies himself an intellectual, and welcomes the opportunity to spar both mentally and physically with bookish shipwreck victim Peter Graves. Ultimately, the ship's crew stages a mutiny. Having gone suddenly blind, Sullivan forces Graves to maintain the illusion that Sullivan is still sighted, and still all-powerful. The ruse fails, and both Sullivan and Graves sink to the bottom of the sea. Very well made (especially for an Allied Artists production) and possessed of a thrilling musical score, Wolf Larsen withal runs a distant second to the definitive Sea Wolf of 1941, which starred Edward G. Robinson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Sullivan, Peter Graves, (more)
- 1957
Fittingly directed by Illinois native and bad-guy filmmaker Don Siegel, this action-packed film stars Mickey Rooney as the unflinching, trigger-happy member of the infamous Dillinger gang that besieged the Midwest circa 1933. Rooney is Lester "Baby Face Nelson" Gillis and Carolyn Jones his gun moll, Sue, in this fictionalized tale of a scrawny street tough turned psychotic gangster. After being released from prison, Nelson goes to work for mob boss Rocca (Ted De Corsia), who eventually recognizes that a madman is in his service and turns him in to the cops. Managing to elude capture, Nelson kills Rocca and takes Sue with him. He then joins Dillinger's gang in a series of savage robberies, obliterating anyone who gets in his way. Inevitably, FBI agents ambush and injure Nelson, who finally admits his own ruthlessness to himself and Sue, conceding that he would even murder children if necessary. He orders Sue to kill him before he commits any more savage acts. This is a coarse and deliberately aggressive film, distinguished by Rooney's frenzied performance as an unruly and deranged criminal. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Rooney, Carolyn Jones, (more)
