Harold Ayer Movies
- 1952
As directed by Stuart Heisler (The Glass Key) and produced by David E. Rose, this slick and glossy, Technicolor-drenched romantic melodrama stars two onetime screen heartthrobs, Linda Darnell and Tab Hunter. She's a nurse, Elizabeth Smythe, and he's a Marine corporal, Michael "Chicken" Dugan; the pair wind up stranded on a tropical isle following the explosion of a military ship in the Pacific. For some time, Michael and Elizabeth find themselves at odds, and spend lengthy periods quarreling, but romance eventually blossoms and the two fall in love. Unfortunately, that romance soon hits the rocks given the arrival of a third party on the isle, a gravely injured RAF pilot named William Peck (($Donald Gray). Elizabeth nurses William back to health, and in the process, competition between the men for Elizabeth's affections grows overly fierce. This saga was originally released under the title Saturday Island but was also issued in some quarters as the more-alluring Island of Desire. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Linda Darnell, Tab Hunter, (more)
- 1952
Also known as Glory at Sea, a World War II British commander and his crew wage a fierce sea battle against the Germans in spite of their inferior vessel. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- Trevor Howard, Richard Attenborough, (more)
- 1953
When Lippert Pictures first released the British River Beat in 1954, the ad campaign made a big deal over the fact that its star, Phyllis Kirk, had previously appeared as Vincent Price's potential victim in House of Wax. This time around, Phyllis is a damsel in distress once more. The actress plays a radio operator working on an American freighter, which tools along the Thames throughout the picture. Unbeknownst to Phyllis, she is the unwitting dupe of a diamond-smuggling racket. Police inspector John Bentley intends to arrest the girl, but he falls in love with her instead. Bentley figures that by allowing Phyllis to continue as a patsy for the criminals, she'll eventually lead him to Mister Big--and, of course, he's right. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Phyllis Kirk, John Bentley, (more)
- 1953
Based on a novel by Martin Albrand, Desperate Moment is set in postwar Germany. Simon van Halder (Dirk Bogarde) serving a life term for murder, escapes to prove innocence. After linking up with his girlfriend Anna de Burgh (Mai Zetterling), Simon relates, in flashback, the events leading up to his current dilemma. He also explains why he initially confessed to the crime. To tell more would be to tell all. It's rather enjoyable to watch the hero and heroine outwitting both British and German authorities, who aren't depicted as stupid, simply not equipped for so resourceful a fugitive. Billed at the bottom of the cast list, Theodore Bikel has a pivotal role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dirk Bogarde, Mai Zetterling, (more)
- 1954
In this comedy, the routines of two British army barracks are disrupted when they are invaded by a Hollywood film unit while their CO is away. Trouble ensues when he returns unannounced. Now the filmmakers must convince him to allow them to keep filming. To do so, they employ the charms of a full-bodied blonde starlet. Filming finally resumes, but then a larger military impresario decides to drop by for a snap inspection; the film crew is unable to offer an acceptable explanation for their presence in the camp. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1955
The British-filmed The Blue Peter was released in the US under the title Navy Heroes. This was an oblique reference to the protagonist, a wartime hero played by Kieron Moore. Disoriented and aimless after the war, Moore accepts a job as a physical trainer at a school for boys. In helping these kids find their proper niche in society, Moore helps himself to find his own ultimate purpose in life. Filmed in color, The Blue Peter scores best in its exterior scenes, wherein we see the salutary results of Moore's tough but compassionate training methods. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1964
A major metropolis has been thrown into panic by a series of bomb threats. Making matters worse, an eccentric artist named James Bellington (Donnelly Rhodes) has shown up at various municipal buildings bearing a variety of ticking packages. In each instance, the contents of the package prove to be harmless, and the authorities are invariably forced to let Bellington go. The question: is Bellington a lunatic who is crying wolf so that he will ultimately be able to plant a real bomb -- or does he have another insidious scheme in mind? Watch for David Carradine at the end of this episode in an unbilled bit role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Donnelly Rhodes, Lonny Chapman, (more)
- 1965
Standard TV sitcom procedure dictates that the husband always forgets his wedding anniversary. Surprisingly, Oliver (Eddie Albert) has no trouble remembering the day he and Lisa (Eva Gabor) became man and wife -- he just doesn't recall the year it happened. This premise proves to be an excellent opportunity for a series of zany complications, culminating in Oliver and Lisa spending their anniversary behind bars! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1968
This musical chronicles the rise to fame of C&W singer Grady Dodd (Hank Williams Jr.). The tale begins as the talented young man defies the uncle who raised him and tries to break into the music business. As a result of the conflict, the boy learns that his mother, whom he doesn't remember, was a singer who died after she ran away with another musician. Songs include: The Humming Bird, It's All Over But the Crying, Rock in My Shoe (Hank Williams, Jr.), A Man Is On His Own (John Scoggins, Williams, Jr.), Money Can't Buy Happiness, Old Before My Time (Steve Karliski), Next Time I Say Goodbye, I'm Leaving (Larry Kusik, Eddie Snyder), and A Time to Sing (Scoggins). ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hank Williams, Jr., Shelley Fabares, (more)
- 1968
This exploitation film about the evils of marijuana finds art teacher Phil Blake (Fabian) discovering some of his students are smoking pot. Although he admits to the students he tried it himself in college, he is dumber than a bag of hammers about student drug use. Phil has eyes for fellow teacher Ellie (Diane McBain) until he discovers she is the main dealer, along with the star of the football team. Included in the cast is actress (Patty McCormick), all grown up since her appearance in Bad Seed, and Terri Garr, who makes a brief appearance as a student. This unintentionally laughable film, a feeble attempt to cash in on the sensationalism of marijuana use, was co-written by Richard Gautier and Peter Marshall of "Hollywood Squares" television fame. This film, along with similarly overblown 1930s anti-marijuana diatribes, cost the "straight" world a great deal of credibility at the time, and it became an instant "camp" classic. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Fabian, Diane McBain, (more)
- 1969
Charged with murdering her husband, Tracy Oliver (Dana Wynter) is set free because of a hung jury. But in some cases, "free" is only a relative term: Unable to withstand the innuendos and accusations of an insensitive public, Tracy attempts suicide, whereupon opportunistic TV reporter Len Leavitt (Mort Sahl) decides to capitalize on the woman's anguish. Tracy's old friend Ironside (Raymond Burr) is galvanized into reopening the murder investigation, hoping once and for all to establish the truth--even if the truth is not something that he wants to hear. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1972
The Pennsylvania Amish are profiled in this drama that follows the life of a young Amish woman who, desiring to experience the world, leaves the sect to be with her lover, a hippie religious fanatic. After she finds herself impregnated, the woman goes horseback riding and deliberately falls in order to have a miscarriage. She does and she then returns to her people where she finds true peace and fulfillment. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1977
Quincy (Jack Klugman) is under pressure from an insurance company to determine the time of death of a patient who drowned in a bathtub at the Thalep Clinic, an "alternative" health spa. In the course of his investigation, Quincy uncovers evidence of gross medical negligence--and also butts heads with shifty attorney Walter Kingman (Peter Mark Richman), who specializes in shielding the clinic from negative publicity. Originally scheduled to air on September 30, 1977, this is one of a handful of second-season Quincy,M.E. episodes to be afforded two network rerun showings. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1977
Much to his dismay, Quincy (Jack Klugman) finds himself at odds with his friend and mentor Dr. Herbert Stone (Barry Sullivan) at a coroner's inquest. At stake is a huge insurance settlement, which will be decided only after the identity of a charred corpse is firmly established. Called in as an expert witness, Dr. Stone insists that the dead man is indeed a wealthy businessman, who has apparently died in a fire. But Quincy is unconvinced that the businessman was the victim, or even that he's actually dead--and worse, he suspects that Stone has "sold out" to the dead man's greedy family. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1979
This two-part episode (originally telecast as a single two-hour "TV movie") was a byproduct of Robert Altman's theatrical feature H.E.A.L.T.H, in which costars James Garner and Lauren Bacall hit it off so well that Bacall asked to play a guest role on Garner's TV series. The screen legend is cast as Kendall Warren, jet-setting best friend of Princess Irene Rachevsky (Dana Wynter). When it becomes obvious that someone is trying to kill Kendall, the Princess asks Jim (James Garner) to investigate. The trail of clues leads to a lethal costume party, capped by the inevitable arrival of Jim's perennial "bete noire" Lt. Chapman (James Luisi). And keep an eye out for that celebrated socialite "Lord Evelyn Martin"--who looks an awful lot like our old friend Angel (Stuart Margolin. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1979
When a woman being treated for an ulcer by Dr. Barri Stoddard (Frances Lee McCain), a practitioner of holistic medicine, suddenly dies, an outraged Quincy (Jack Klugman) prepares to expose and denounce Stoddard as a quack. He changes his mind when he meets Barri and falls in love with her, though he is still skeptical of the woman's "all-natural" medical methods. Ultimately, Quincy ends up crusading to keep Dr. Stoddard's clinic open despite mounting public pressure to close her down--and this requires him to expose the person who was actually responsible for the ulcer patient's death. This is the final episode of Quincy, M.E.'s fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1980
Condominium is a two-part, four-hour TV adaptation of the novel by John D. McDonald. The setting is a hastily constructed Florida high-rise, assembled at the least possible cost by its greedy owners. An oncoming hurricane threatens to topple the structure and its residents into the ocean. Various degrees of greed, lust, terror and concern are displayed by stars Steve Forrest, Dan Haggerty, Ralph Bellamy, Barbara Eden, Stuart Whitman, Jack Jones and Pamela Hensley. Produced for the syndicated "Operation Prime Time" series, Condominium was first made available to local stations on November 20, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
John Derek directed this 1981 vanity production of the Tarzan tale as a bon-bon for his wife Bo Derek. The Bo Derek version answers any questions viewers may have had concerning Tarzan and Jane's sex life. The film begins as Jane (Bo Derek)'s father Parker (Richard Harris) heads to the African interior on the pretext of searching for hidden jungle secrets. He is actually looking for Tarzan (Miles O'Keeffe), whom he plans to kidnap and bring back to England dead or alive. Jane accompanies her manic father, along with his unassuming assistant Holt (John Phillip Law). Realizing that Parker is on his trail, Tarzan kidnaps Jane and it is love at first sight. Parker forges on, trying to capture Tarzan and save his daughter. But Tarzan finally saves the day when Jane is kidnapped by a band of African mud worshippers, who are preparing her to be sacrificed to the gods. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bo Derek, Richard Harris, (more)
- 1982
Having agreed to submit to a genetic research project headed by Dr. Paul Flynn (Lane Smith), cancer victim Cindy Oliver (Kate Linder) leaves Flynn's hospital--and promptly dies. Soon thereafter, several other people who'd come in contact with Cindy also turn up dead. Investigating, Quincy (Jack Klugman) comes to the sobering conclusion that Dr. Flynn's experimental cancer-cure serum has spawned a mutant respiratory virus--which is not only fatal, but may also be unstoppable. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
- R
Sam Cooper (Steve Gutenberg) is an attaché in the U.S. State Department when, on the day before his wedding, a dying scientist hands him a formula that induces invisibility, and Sam finds himself fleeing with the maid of honor to escape both Russian and U.S. agents. Hotly pursued by everyone, Sam has to use the formula on himself, inviting a series of minor disasters. The very decision to make a movie about an invisible man in 3-D should have warned of trouble ahead. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Steve Guttenberg, Jeffrey Tambor, (more)
- 1986
In Boston, Jessica agrees to serve as honorary chairperson at a charity tennis tournament where her former student Carol (Linda Hamilton) is one of the players. It so happens that Carol is the girlfriend of a much-hated tennis star, who ends up being blown to bits by a bomb planted in Carol's car. At first, it appears that Carol was the intended target of the bombing, but when a second murder occurs, she ends up accused of both crimes--and as everybody knows by now, no relative of Jessica Fletcher can ever be guilty of anything, least of all murder! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1987
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, Rovi
A group of teens plan a Halloween party at an abandoned funeral parlor in this well-crafted horror film. The home is rumored to be haunted after the owner slaughtered his family and killed himself years before. The teens plan on scaring their classmates, unaware that demons from hell are released for a night of terror for bad behavior. One by one, the teens fall victim to the evil that dwells within the parlor. The audience is left guessing who, if anyone, will be alive the following morning. This fright feature is rife with references to other teen slasher flicks. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lance Fenton, Cathy Podewell, (more)
- 1988
Glitz was a disappointment for fans of the Elmore Leonard novel on which it was based. Jimmy Smits stars as a savvy Miami police detective Vincent Mora, who is wounded in a shoot-out. Convalescing in Puerto Rico, Mora falls in love with a beautiful woman who later dies under suspicious circumstances. Unable to pursue the case officially, Mora conducts a private investigation of the case. Along the way, he makes the acquaintance of a sprightly lounge singer (Markie Post) and a seriously disturbed ex-con (John Diehl). To many viewers, the title was appropriate: Glitz was plenty of style with little substance. The film was first telecast October 21, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1988
When an institutionalized patient who is forcibly released commits murder, the treating psychiatrist's career is in jeopardy. ~ Rovi
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