Dick Sargent Movies

In this first episode of a two-part story, Samantha's father, Maurice, gives Darrin a most unusual birthday present: a pocket watch, which endows Darrin with the powers of a warlock. Mired in another troublesome ad campaign, Darrin figures that it wouldn't hurt to try out his new magical skills just once. Unfortunately, witchcraft proves to be much more addictive than anyone could imagine. Written by Rick Mittleman, "Daddy Comes to Visit" first aired on November 20, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Samantha's new baby son has been born, and no one is prouder than her father, Maurice. Determined that his will be the most beautiful grandson in the maternity ward, Maurice casts a special which causes everyone -- including other expectant fathers -- to go into paroxysms of delight when they see the baby. As a result, Larry Tate hires Sam's new arrival as a model for a baby-food company, and the Witches Council fumes at Maurice's irresponsible behavior. Written by Richard Baer, "And Something Makes Four" first aired on October 16, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hoping to help Samantha in the kitchen, witch/maid Esmerelda tries to whip up a caesar salad. Instead, she produces Roman Emperor Julius Caesar (Jay Robinson), who is incensed that history has branded him a dictator. Unable to rid herself of the volatile house guest, Samantha decides to lure Caesar back to his own time by conjuring up Cleopatra (Elizabeth Thompson). "Samantha's Caesar Salad" was written by Ed Jurist, who later collaborated with guest star Jay Robinson on the Krofft-produced children's series Dr. Shrinker. The episode originally aired on October 2, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Believing that she's been insulted, Endora casts a spell that will turn Darrin into a mouse at midnight unless he apologizes. Samantha tries to head off the hex without violating the rules of witchcraft, and without appearing to break her "no magic" promise to Darrin. Alas, Sam's cure may be worse than the disease. Bernie Kopell, who appeared in the previous week's episode "A Bunny for Tabitha" as a lecherous client, is here cast as the warlock Apothecary. Originally telecast on November 13, 1969, "Samantha's Secret Spell" was written by Ed Jurist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As with the previous season's "Twitching for UNICEF," this Bewitched episode is a half-hour endorsement for the United Nations Children's Fund. Not wishing to see her "national holiday" exploited, Endora refuses to allow Samantha and Tabitha to go trick-or-treating on behalf of UNICEF. When Sam defies her, Endora retaliates by transforming Darrin into a hideous Halloween witch. By episode's end, however, Endora is won over to the UNICEF cause -- and so, presumably, is the viewer. Written by Shirley Gordon, "To Trick or Treat or Not to Trick or Treat" first aired, appropriately enough, on October 30, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Yes, that's Elizabeth Montgomery, still securely in her role as glamorous witch Samantha Stevens as the fantasy sitcom Bewitched enters its sixth season. But, gosh, doesn't Samantha's mortal husband, ad executive Darrin Stephens look a bit different this year? This, of course, is because Dick York, who'd played Darrin since the series' debut in 1964, was forced to leave the show at the end of season five for health reasons (a serious, degenerative muscular injury) that were discreetly hidden from the public at the time. Thus, beginning in season six, Darrin Stephens is played by Dick Sargent, who takes over with such assurance and aplomb that, after a few episodes, it is hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Sargent would remain with Bewitched until the series shut down production three years later. Otherwise, the rest of cast remains as before: Agnes Moorehead as Samantha's imperious witch mom, Endora; David White as Darrin's supercilious boss, Larry Tate; Erin Murphy as Samantha and Darrin's daughter, Tabitha (a budding witch in her own right); Sandra Gould as the Stephens' snoopy, suspicious next-door neighbor Gladys Kravitz; and Paul Lynde as "Sam"'s prankish warlock uncle Arthur. However, season six features the debut of a brand new character. Originally telecast October 16, 1969, the episode "And Something Makes Four" marks the birth of Darrin and Sam's second child, a baby boy named Adam. Portrayed by a variety of uncredited twin infants during his first few appearances, Adam would be played by twin boys David and Greg Lawrence beginning in season seven. With the arrival of Adam, it behooves Darrin and Sam to hire a housekeeper, who also happens to be a witch: thus is introduced Alice Ghostley as Esmerelda, whose chronic inability to cast a spell without causing chaos was intended to evoke fond memories of the late Marion Lorne as Sam's Aunt Clara. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

O'Farrell (Bob Hope) is a navy sergeant who tries to boost the moral of the men by bringing in a shipment of beer. When the beer turns up missing, he calls an all-out search for the suds. In the process, O'Farrell captures a Japanese submarine single-handedly and tries to pilot the boat to safety. Phyllis Diller stars as the nurse who does absolutely nothing for troop moral in this uneven and poorly conceived comedy. Gina Lollobrigida and Jeffrey Hunter also star in the feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Luther Heggs (Don Knotts) is a typesetter at a newspaper who longs for a chance to be a reporter. Editor Beckett (Dick Sargent) gives Luther his big break and assigns him to spend the night in a house generally considered to be haunted. The situation allows a broad canvas for Knotts to react to sight gags with the special brand of eye-popping nervousness that made him a star. Former Playboy Bunny Joan Staley plays the pretty girlfriend of star reporter Ollie Skip Homeier. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Billie is a screen version of Ronald Alexander's perennial stage favorite Time Out For Ginger. Patty Duke plays a tomboyish high schooler who excels in athletics but who continues to strike out socially. Jim Backus and Jane Greer perform yeoman service as Duke's parents, who wonder how long it's going to be before their daughter stops trying to be their son. Backus is particularly concerned because he's running for mayor on a platform of "male supremacy" (this is 1965, remember?). From time to time, Duke expresses her frustration in song: her big number finds her holding her gym shoes in one hand, a bottle of perfume in the other. Warren Berlinger also stars as Duke's long-suffering boyfriend. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this romantic comedy, Deke Gentry (Kirk Douglas) is a lawyer who gets an unusual assignment from Chloe Brasher (Thelma Ritter), a wealthy widow, owner of a successful hotel chain, and one of his most prominent clients. Chloe has three daughters, sensible Kate (Mitzi Gaynor), bohemian Jan (Leslie Parrish), and heath food fanatic Bonnie (Julie Newmar), and she wants Deke to find them husbands. Though Deke protests that matchmaking is outside his traditional area of expertise, Chloe is insistent, and he ends up taking the job. To be sure that he's going through with it, Chloe assigns her security chief Joe (William Bendix) to keep his eye on Deke. Eventually, Deke fixes up Bonnie with Harvey Wofford (Richard Sargent), a meek IRS agent, and pairs Jan with artist Sam Travis (William Windom), but Kate turns out to be the hardest Brasher sister to marry off, until he throws his own hat into the ring. Richard Sargent would later shorten his first name to Dick and find success on the popular television comedy Bewitched. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

When people refer to Doris Day as "the world's oldest professional virgin," they generally have the 1962 comedy That Touch of Mink in mind. It isn't that Cathy Timberlake (Day) is above a bit of hanky-panky; it's just that she wants such tangibles as a marriage license and wedding ring first. Thus, when playboy businessman Philip Shayne (Cary Grant) begins actively pursuing Cathy (they "met cute" when Philip's limo splashed mud on the hapless Cathy), she won't say "I will" until he says "I do." She is of the idealistic opinion that she can bring out the best intentions in him, even when he repeatedly tips off his worst intentions by inviting her to accompany him to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Bermuda. After not a few complications and misunderstands, Cathy finally finagles a proposal out of Philip. The film is essentially much ado about nothing, but it is so well-acted and attractively photographed that the audiences are willing to go along for the ride. The high-powered supporting cast includes Gig Young as Roger, Philip's moralistic financial advisor; Audrey Meadows as Connie, Cathy's wise-cracking roommate; Alan Hewitt as Dr. Gruber, a confused psychiatrist; John Astin as Beasley, Cathy's slimy would-be beau; Dick Sargent as a neurotic honeymooner; and an unbilled Richard Deacon as an all-around letch. Best scene: the baseball-dugout rhubarb involving New York Yankees Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Yogi Berra. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rear Admiral Matt Sherman (Cary Grant) visits the submarine Sea Tiger on the morning of its decommissioning and reminisces about his time as the first commander of the boat, in 1941. Three days after Pearl Harbor, the sub is damaged during an enemy air raid in the Philippines; rather than abandoning her, Sherman and his chiefs refloat the boat. He's forced to accept the services of Lt. (jg) Nick Holden (Tony Curtis), who has no sea experience. Sherman appoints Holden -- a born conniver, deal-maker, and scrounger (his motto: "In confusion, there is profit") -- as supply officer, and through a series of burglaries and petty thefts he gets the Sea Tiger seaworthy again. Up to this point, the movie is an increasingly amusing service comedy, akin to the lighter moments of Mr. Roberts, running on Grant's wry exasperation and Curtis's cool arrogance, coupled with Arthur O'Connell's periodic sardonic yet optimistic jabs at their situation and Gavin MacLeod's fidgety nervousness. The Sea Tiger puts to sea ahead of the Japanese with a quintet of stranded army nurses aboard. The film shifts to a new level of humor as the officers and crew try to cope with living in close quarters with five attractive women in their midst. Grant gives a very witty performance as a man who is both exasperated by the situation he is in, having to adjust his masculinity to keep it from clashing with the feminine sensibilities of his guests, and also trying to control the mating urges of his men, starting with Holden, who can't stay away from Lt. Duran (Dina Merrill). Complicating matters more is Grant's awareness that the Sea Tiger is a "virgin" -- she has never engaged the enemy, but when they finally do, the accident-prone Lt. Crandall (Joan O'Brien) causes their torpedo to miss a tanker and sink a truck (probably the funniest sight gag in the movie). The boat also gets an accidental coat of pink paint when their supply of red and white runs low, and ends up carrying several Filipino families -- including two pregnant women. Since neither the Japanese nor the Americans officially has a pink submarine, the Sea Tiger ends uphunted by both sides and come under attack by an American destroyer. That's where the women's presence becomes a godsend. The movie ends 18 years later, with Holden a serious career navy man and responsible father, married to Duran, and Grant married to Crandall, who is as accident prone as ever. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

Ultra-pasteurized pop singer Pat Boone makes his feature film debut in this comical and tuneful look at adolescent life in the late 1950s. A group of teen-age boys discuss the attributes of the perfect girl and proceed to create a mental image of their dreamboat. Later they find her in the form of Jean, the new telephone operator in town. One of the lads, Sanford Wilson, falls hard for the comely lass. They begin dating, but as final exams approach, Sanford must temporarily shift his attention to his school work. To keep her from the other less-honorable boys who want her, he has handsome Lieutenant Langley Beaumont squire her around. Unfortunately, she and Langley soon fall in love, causing the anguished Sanford to join the military and leave for a year and a half. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide