Sam Edwards Movies
During his lengthy career, American character actor Sam Edwards appeared in numerous feature films and also frequently worked on television. The son of vaudeville performers and the brother of actor Jack Edwards, Sam got his start in the theater and in radio. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1981
- R
- Add The Postman Always Rings Twice to QueueAdd The Postman Always Rings Twice to top of Queue
Bob Rafelson's remake of 1946's The Postman Always Rings Twice, with a screenplay by the award-winning playwright David Mamet, stars Jack Nicholson as Frank Chambers, a depression-era drifter who ends up at a diner run by Nick Papadakis (John Colicos), who offers Frank a job. Frank takes him up on the offer, but quickly begins a torrid affair with Nick's wife Cora (Jessica Lange). The adulterous lovers soon hatch a plan to kill Nick and share in the insurance payout. The second big-screen adaptation of the James M. Cain novel, the film garnered a certain degree of notoriety for the explicit sex scenes between Lange and Nicholson. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Nicholson, Jessica Lange, (more)
- 1979
Mel Tillis, who'd later show up as "himself" on Dukes of Hazzard, is here cast as horse-farm owner Burl Tolliver. Mr. Tolliver owns an extraordinarily fast stallion, which Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) plans to steal and enter in the "Mrs. J.D. Hogg Stake Race"--after framing Bo (John Schneider) and Duke (Tom Wopat) for the crime, of course. Unfortunately for all concerned, the prize horse has also attracted the attention of some professional rustlers who have a bad habit of killing people. Seen as Burl Tolliver's wife Sherri is Dorothy Collier, who later married series regular James Best (Roscoe P. Coltrane). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
No sooner has Walnut Grove's first telephone been installed in the town's hotel than self-appointed operator Mrs. Oleson (Katherine MacGregor) begins eavesdropping on her neighbors. Overhearing a conversation between Alice Garvey (Hersha Parady) and her mother, Mrs. Oleson is shocked to discover that Alice was married before her union with her present husband, Jonathan (Merlin Oleson). This revelation causes a serious rift in the Garvey household -- at least until Jonathan finds out the real reason that Alice has never talked about her first husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1976
Detective Mike Stone (Karl Malden) is none too thrilled when his daughter Jeannie (Darlene Carr) falls in love with charismatic but recklessly irresponsible motorcycle cop Larry Wilson (played by superstar-in-the-making Don Johnson). This plot device ultimately links up with a second storyline, involving a gang of criminals who use motorcycles to make their getaways. Future Little House on the Prairie regular Alonzo Dean Butler plays a minor role in this episode, which was originally scheduled to air on October 14, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
A young boy tames and befriends a grey wolf and then must struggle to save the life of his friend when the locals mistakenly label the beast as a vicious killer. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1976
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The third and final TV-movie in the "Joshua Cabe" saga, this ABC effort stars John McIntire as rascally rancher-turned-sheriff Joshua Cabe, a role played by Buddy Ebsen in the original The Daughters of Joshua Cabe) and by Dan Dailey in The Daughters of Joshua Cabe Return. This time out, Cabe is accused of a murder he didn't commit and carted off to jail, there to await hanging. Coming to his rescue are Joshua's "daughters"--actually three unrelated shady ladies named Charity (Liberty Williams), Ada (Renne Jarrett) and Mae (Lezlie Dalton)--who devise a brilliant and thoroughly unbelievable escape plan. The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe aired on May 29, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This fast-paced Disney endeavor stars Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann as two adolescents with acute psychic powers. The kids are actually space aliens, but suffer from amnesia and are unaware of their origins. Pursued by greedy business-mogul Ray Milland, who wants to harness their special powers for his benefit, Kim and Ike are rescued by likeable camper Eddie Albert. He and the kids escape to the mountain of the title when Albert's RV suddenly acquires the power of flight. In 1978, the film spawned the sequel Return from Witch Mountain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Albert, Ray Milland, (more)
- 1974
A robbery gang comes to the attention of homicide detectives Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) when the crooks murder a fellow gang member. Going undercover, Keller tries to determine if there is a link between the criminals' activities and a sultry nightclub singer. Lola Falana makes a rare dramatic appearance as the songbird in question, who happens to have been the murdered man's sweetheart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Arrogant rookie cop George Barrett (John Elerick) has trouble following orders during his probation period--and Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord), Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) and Ed Wells (Gary Crosby) bear the brunt of his insubordination. Messing up a variety of cases and forever jumping to the wrong conclusions on the job, Barrett proves to be danger to himself and his coworkers. Things come to a head when Barrett panics during a confrontation with a bombing suspect. This episode is highlighted by a slyly misleading opening sequence (Don't worry, our heroes aren't really dead). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
With his birthday rapidly approaching, Officer Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) sternly informs his partner Jim Reed (Kent McCord)--and anyone else who will listen--that he does not, repeat, DOES NOT, want a surprise birthday party. So guess what happens. Elsewhere, the Rampart division is kept busy with a rash of purse snatchings and other more serious crimes, and a shootout between the cops and a gang of service-station burglars. Featured in the cast as Officer Snyder is William Wellman Jr., son of the famed Hollywood film director (Wings, A Star is Born, The High and the Mighty, etc.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
The Old West is just not the same, what with so few cattle being run, and law-abiding folk running around like they own everything. In this family comedy drama, it's too much for John McCanless (Brian Keith). He is a cranky old rancher and former gunslinger who has no intention of selling his beloved acres to some fool who wants to build a dam and flood them all. Going "gently into that good night" is not in the cards at all, and this latter-day Quixote prepares to wage a lonely battle against the namby-pamby modern world. His ranch hand, Paco (Alfonso Arau), an illegal immigrant, and his bemused daughter, Amanda (Michele Carey) do what they can to help. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Keith
- 1971
William Shatner delivers a bravura performance as septugenarian hoodlum Thomas Kroll. In order to solve a 34-year-old mob murder for which Kroll was responsible, the IMF has to stage a meticulous re-enactment of the crime. The easy part is constructing a realistic replica of a 1937 Chicago neighborhood (actually the familiar Paramount Pictures backlot); the hard part is convincing Kroll that he is nearly four decades younger! Stephen Elliot makes his final Mission: Impossible appearance as IMF agent Dr. Dougl Lane, here posing as Kroll's victim. First telecast September 25, 1971, "Encore" was written by Harold Livingston. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1969
Tonight's case load for Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) is a hectic one indeed. The two patrolmen run the gamut from protecting a grocer from a knife-wielding bandt, and hauling in a hippie who has supped too full of "controlled substances." The central crisis involves a runaway boy (played by future Bonanza regular Mitch Vogel) who becomes lost in a cave. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Filmed in 1966 (when screenwriter Richard Breen was still around), this made-for-TV feature marked the return of Jack Webb's classic 1950s cop series Dragnet after a seven-year absence. Ordered to cut his vacation short, Sgt. Joe Friday (played by Jack Webb) is assigned to investigate the mysterious disappeances of two beautiful models and a pretty young war widow. In concert with partner Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan), Friday does his best to follow the trail of evidence, only to be continually stymied by contradictory or reluctant eyewitnesses. Before arriving at the disturbing conclusion that the missing girls have been the victims of a voyeuristic serial killer, Joe and Bill manage to solve another, unrelated murder involving a visiting Frenchman. Several members of Jack Webb's radio and TV Dragnet stock company are cast in colorful supporting roles, including Virginia Gregg, Victor Perrin, and Herb Ellis, while L.A. Dodgers catcher John Roseboro is seen as a fellow cop. A powerful opening sequence and an thrilling action climax more than compensate for the unevenness of the script (the last such by veteran Webb collaborator Richard Breen) and the occasional pokiness of the direction. Although this 97-minute Dragnet was good enough to convince NBC to revive the vintage Jack Webb series on a weekly, half-hour basis (it ran successfully for three seasons), the film itself was shelved for several years, not making its network TV debut until January 27, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
After the mysterious death of a juror in the trial of a dangerous mob functionary, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr. investigates the possibility of jury-tampering in the case. Meanwhile, Ana Nieves (Pilar Seurat, the wife of another juror, is threatened with death or disfigurement at the hands of an assailant who uses acid as a "persuader." The supporting cast includes several FBI "regulars", including the formidable R.G. Armstrong. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) and Steve (Mike Minor) find their household budget severely strained by deficit spending. The limit comes when, having made a mutual promise to start economizing, each of the newlyweds purchases new furniture without telling the other. Once again, it falls to Kate (Bea Benaderet) to straighten out the mess. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Turncoat scientist Lawrence Underwood (Linden Chiles) manages to steal some top-secret documents from an atomic lab in Idaho. Picking up Underwood's trail, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) methodically tracks the man down. What Erskine doesn't know is that Underwood has been exposed to deadly atomic radiation--and is contaminating everyone with whom he comes in contact. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Andy hopes to beat his longtime rival Sheriff Blake (Ken Mayer) at the Mount Pilot Sheriff's Annual Barbershop Quartet Sing-Off. Unfortunately, on the eve of the contest, Mayberry's star tenor Howard gets laryngitis. A desperate Andy finds an unexpected replacement in the form of golden-throated Jeff Nelson (Hamilton Camp)-who happens to be a prisoner in the Mayberry jailhouse. First telecast on September 26, 1966, "The Barbershop Quartet" was written by Fred S. Fox. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Andy nominates Howard Sprague for membership in the Regal Order of Good Fellowship. Thanks to the intervention of Howard's domineering mother (Mabel Albertson), Goober is persuaded to blackball the hapless Mr. Sprague. This episode was written by Jim Parker and Arnold Margolin, later two of the leading lights of the comedy anthology Love, American Style. "The Lodge" originally aired on September 19, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Jack Burns joins the series as Andy's overzealous new deputy Warren Ferguson. Even more of a "letter of the law" stickler than his predecessor Barney Fife, Warren immediately makes his mark by arresting several bingo-playing old ladies for gambling. When he refuses to drop the charges, Andy has to figure out a way to "humanize" Warren. Written by Ben Joelson and Art Baer, "The Bazaar" first aired on October 11, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
A team of surveyors determines that the Shady Rest Hotel has been built right in the middle of the border between two counties. Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) hopes to exploit this phenomenon by building up the hotel as a tourist attraction. Unfortunately, Joe hadn't reckoned with such exigencies as bureaucracy and taxes. The strong supporting cast includes radio veteran Sam Edwards (Dragnet, Gunsmoke etc.) and comic actor Milton Frome, the latter best known to contemporary viewers for his appearances on the Superman TV series and in the Three Stooges two-reelers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Oliver (Eddie Albert) wants to plant 160 acres of wheat on his farm -- just wheat, nothing else. Stumble-tongued agricultural agent Hank Kimball (Alvy Moore) informs Oliver that unless he practices parity (that is, varying his crops) he will be hit with a huge fine. Normally, a situation of this nature wouldn't arouse much laughter, but this is Green Acres, not "The Morning Farm Report"! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
The tiny Himalayan village of Khumjug is being terrorized by what seems to be a race of Abominable Snowmen. Investigating the phenomenon, the Quest team discovers that there is a lot more to the story than meets the eye. Henry Corden, later the voice of Fred Flintstone, growls his way through the role of the fearsome "yeti." "Monster in the Monastery" was originally telecast on March 4, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Mathieson, Mike Road, (more)
- 1963
Based on the novel by Irving Wallace, The Prize takes place in Stockholm, where several laureates gather to accept their Nobel Prizes. At first, the film concentrates on iconoclastic novelist Paul Newman, but he is temporarily shunted to the background when physics expert Edward G. Robinson is kidnaped and replaced by his wicked twin brother. The real Robinson is to be spirited behind the Iron Curtain, while the "fake" Robinson is to disrupt the awards ceremony with an anti-American tirade. Newman gets wind of the plot, and with the help of Swedish foreign office functionary Elke Sommer, he endeavors to rescue the real Robinson and expose the phony-who has yet another trick up his sleeve before the film is over. We'll go along with the fantastic plot convolutions of The Prize, provided we don't have to swallow the premise of another man's voice emanating from that familiar Eddie Robinson mug. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Edward G. Robinson, (more)
