Howard Morton Movies

Several robberies have been committed in a prosperous neighborhood, and Officers Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) and Jim Reed (Kent McCord) pull weekend duty to investigate. Also on this episode's case log is an attempted arson, and a feisty old lady with an inordinate fondness for firearms. And in a situation combining humor and tension, the two cops try to mediate a violent argument between a church organist and a choirmaster. Featured in the supporting cast is former "Eddie Munster" Butch Patrick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It's Halloween, and Mel (Vic Tayback) dresses for the occasion as his favorite comic-book superhero Captain Galaxy, replete with cape and winged headband. En route to a Halloween party, the costumed Mel manages to foil a bank robbery. The ensuing publicity leads the swell-headed Mel to conclude that his future lies in being a "caped crusader" for all seasons! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Nobody in Edith's family cared much for nasty old Aunt Rose -- least of all Archie, who knew that Rose heartily disapproved of his marriage to Edith. But when Rose finally dies, Edith regards it as her duty to attend the old battleaxe's funeral. In this respect, Edith finds herself all alone. Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf wrote the script, from a story by Sam Greenbaum. "Edith's Final Respects" first aired on October 22, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Good Times briefly moved from its Saturday-night slot to Wednesday for this sixth season episode. Michael Evans (Ralph Carter) shocks his family, in general, and his mom Florida (Esther Rolle), in particular, when he announces that he wants to move into his own apartment "for more space." What really has Florida up in arms is Michael's new roommate -- an attractive young white girl. Janet Jackson (Penny Woods) does not appear in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Tony (Larry Hagman) has banished Jeannie (Barbara Eden), only to find out that he can't live without her. Worse still, Tony has been bumped from the space program and transferred to Alaska, thanks to the previous week's brouhaha involving Jeannie's uncle Suleiman (Jackie Coogan) and the ambassador of Kasha. Putting his own career on the line, Roger (Bill Daily) sets out to reinstate Tony and to reunite him with Jeannie. Ultimately, Tony finally proposes to Jeannie--only to find that he must now pass a rather rigorous test imposed by Suleiman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Martin (Ray Walton) is worried that the upcoming telecast of a vintage silent film will reveal his previous existence as a movie "sheik"--and thus tip off the fact that he's a space traveller. To avoid this, Martin and Tim activate the "CCTBS" time machine to return to the Hollywood of 1925, there to scuttle the filming of Martin's starring epic. Alas, history threatens to repeat itself, largely due to the blossoming romance between Tim and silent leading lady Viola Normandy (Arlene Martel). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hoping to land a hot scoop that will increase his prestigate as a reporter, Tim (Bill Bixby) uses the CCTBS time machine to solve the robbery of the famous Beaudelaire jewels. Instead, Tim is forced to help the jewel robbers--and ends up in jail for his troubles. Martin (Ray Walston) goes undercover as a convict to save Tim and expose the real crooks, who were allegedly behind bars when the heist took place. Look for a young Billy Green Bush (here billed as "William") as a bank guard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This spy thriller from future Death Wish (1974) director Michael Winner stars Burt Lancaster as the enigmatic Cross, a CIA agent who has hired a government assassin, Jean Laurier (Alain Delon), to kill an Arab terrorist. Once they return home, Laurier is arrested by his superior, McLeod (John Colicos), who wants to know why Cross is still alive, as Laurier was ordered to kill him as well. Laurier doesn't think that Cross is guilty of the crime, but he relents and agrees to carry out the contract for a higher price. Cross, suspected of selling secrets to the Soviets, learns that his life is in danger and flees to Vienna, where he is aided by a former comrade-in-arms from WWII, the sympathetic KGB agent Sergei Zharkov (Paul Scofield). When Cross learns that his wife (Joanne Linville) has been murdered by McLeod, he returns to the U.S. and kills him, leading to a bloody final confrontation with a reluctant Laurier, who is shocked to discover that his lover (Gayle Hunnicutt) is in league with Cross. Scorpio (1973) was the writing debut of David W. Rintels, who went on to author several critically respected made-for-TV films. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Paul Newman plays the title role in John Huston's surreal, revisionist western as the infamous Texas hanging judge. Upon arriving in the tiny West Texas town of Vinegaroon, Roy Bean draws a moustache on a wanted poster of himself, marches into a saloon, and declares his presence. He is immediately robbed, beaten within an inch of his life, tied to a horse and dragged out into the prairie, then left to die. Rescued by a young Mexican girl, Maria Elena (Victoria Principal), Roy Bean heads back into town and murders everyone in the local saloon, declaring that he'll kill anyone of the same sort who turns up. He also sets himself up as the sole arbiter of law and order and renames the town Langtry, in honor of the legendary actress Lily Langtry (Ava Gardner). The community prospers as Judge Bean dispenses his own brand of frontier justice upon strangers passing by, robbing or killing anyone who tries to make their way through the town. But when Maria dies, Bean's old associates begin to turn on him, one at a time (in response to his constant harping on their wives, many of whom were former prostitutes) and Bean is forced to leave. Years later, Bean rides back into town, called back to the place to save his daughter from trouble - and finds that the community has been taken over by a shady character called Frank Gass (Roddy McDowall) - a circumstance that requires Bean to dispense his own unique brand of justice once again. Stacy Keach lends a neat comic turn to the film as Bad Bob, an albino gunslinger whose dining habits consist of chowing down on raw onion, drinking hot coffee from a pot, and demanding that an entire horse be cooked for his supper. John Milius (Red Dawn) scripted.
~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

The Partridges have a pungent problem on their hands when their psychedelic school bus is invaded by a skunk. As Shirley (Shirley Jones) and the kids try to figure out a way to dissipate the horrible aroma, manager Reuben (Dave Madden), unaware of the situation, books the family for a benefit show at a children's hospital. Maybe a good dose of tomato juice will alleviate the odor--and then, maybe not! Songs: &I Think I Love You" and "A Brand New Me". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide