Dana Elcar Movies
Brusque character actor Dana Elcar was usually assigned roles calling for blunt imperiousness. He became especially handy in films and TV shows of the 1970s, portraying curt, dour, meticulously groomed authority figures at odds with dishevelled "hippie" and "gonzo" types. Elcar's first film after many years' stage work was 1968's Pendulum; other film credits include Soldier Blue (1969), W.C.Fields and Me (1976), and The Nude Bomb (1980). In 1985, Dana Elcar was cast as Peter Thornton, boss of troubleshooting Richard Dean Anderson, on the TV series MacGiver; Elcar continued playing the role into the 1990s, at which time the actor's real-life blindness required him to incorporate dark glasses and a cane into his characterization. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1968
Schuyler (Kirk Douglas) is a hard-boiled detective who turns in his badge when he believes the criminals are being handled with kid gloves and too much respect. He is hired by prominent attorney Fredericks (Eli Wallach) as a bodyguard for his client Rena (Sylva Koscina), who is accused of murdering her husband. Her playboy boyfriend Fleming (Kenneth Haigh) is also under suspicion. Schuylur keeps one eye on his beautiful suspect while trying to uncover more information about the murder. Fredericks displays a disarming, folksy nature which belies his shrewdness. The detective soon comes to believe that Rena is being framed for the murder. Singer Jackie Wilson delivers the song "A Lovely Way To Die" during the opening credits of this murder mystery. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Sylva Koscina, (more)
- 1968
The direction of Michael Ritchie, who later piloted such films as Downhill Racer, Smile and The Bad News Bears, is disappointingly commonplace in the made-for-TV Sound of Anger. Burl Ives is an expensive lawyer hired to pursue the defense on a murder case. The victim was a wealthy man; the accused are the man's daughter and her lover. Confronted by the sister of the male suspect, Ives confesses that he's been told to defend only the daughter and allow the lover to twist slowly in the wind. He rectifies this set-up as the case progresses. In addition to Burl Ives, Sound of Anger also starred James Farentino; both actors would appear in the spin-off series, The Lawyers (one of three rotating series on the umbrella weekly The Bold Ones). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) orders Julia (Grayson Hall) to kill Willie (John Karlen) when the latter finally emerges from his coma. Things take a different turn (and a more positive one for Barnabas) when Dr. Woodard (Robert Gerringer) declares Willie to be insane. This episode first aired on September 28, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) is saved from Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) by the timely arrival of Joe (Joel Crothers) and Carolyn (Nancy Barrett). Prevented from returning to his coffin, Barnabas must figure a way to stay alive -- and, incidentally, to locate and permanently silence the still-missing David (David Henesy). This episode first aired on September 5, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Still trapped in the secret room of the Collins Mausoleum, the exhausted David (David Henesy) falls asleep. In his slumber, David does not hear Roger (Louis Edmonds) and Joe (Joel Crothers) as they enter the mausoleum in search of him. This episode originally aired on September 6, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Dr. Woodard (Robert Gerringer), the Sheriff (Dana Elcar), and Sam (David Ford) spread the story that Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) has completely recovered her memory. They hope thereby to bring Maggie's kidnapper out in the open -- still unaware that the man they seek is Barnabas (Jonathan Frid). This episode first aired on September 14, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
The man who was shot down while rushing towards Maggie's cottage turns out to be Willie Loomis. Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) worries that Willie will tell all once he emerges from his coma -- and what about the troublesome David? This episode originally aired on September 20, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) tells the Sheriff (Dana Elcar) that she and McGuire (Jason Patrick) hid the body of her husband in the storage room of the Collinwood cellar. Following her directions, the Sheriff and Burke exhume the old trunk in that room -- but the case is far from over. This episode first aired on July 11, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
The trunk which supposedly contains the body of Elizabeth's husband, Paul Stoddard, turns out to be empty. Jason McGuire (Dennis Patrick) then reveals that Elizabeth never killed Paul at all. This episode originally aired on July 12, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Willie (John Karlen) makes some curious statements as Sam (David Ford) continues painting Barnabas' (Jonathan Frid) portrait. Shortly therafter, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) manages to escape from the Old House. She is spotted by Sam, but he is unable to catch up with her. This episode originally aired on June 6, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Maggie's escape attempt is thwarted when she is caught by Barnabas (Jonathan Frid). To "punish" Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott), he locks her in a coffin -- thereby fulfilling her prophetic nightmare. Meanwhile, Sam (David Ford) becomes convinced that he never saw Maggie at all, and Willie (John Karlen) again defies Barnabas. This episode first aired on June 7, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
David (David Henesy) tells Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) that he has seen the ghost of Josette Collins. Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) acts quickly to prevent anyone from taking David seriously. And the captive Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) again tries to attract attention to her plight. This episode originally aired on May 29, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Jason McGuire (Dennis Patrick) and Willie Loomis (John Karlen) are questioned by Sheriff Patterson (Dana Elcar) about Maggie's disappearance. Upon the Sheriff's exit, McGuire orders Willie to leave Collinsport -- but not because of Maggie. This episode first aired on May 23, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Carolyn's (Nancy Barrett) increasingly self-destructive behavior forces Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) to take drastic action. With Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) as her witness, Elizabeth confesses that she killed her husband, Paul Stoddard. This episode originally aired on June 22, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
The Borgia Stick opens with a funeral: the "guests of honor" are also the film's stars, Don Murray and Inger Stevens. In flashback, we learn that Murray and Stevens were for all intents and purposes a happily married suburban couple. Before long, we discover that the couple wasn't married at all, nor were they particularly happy. In fact, Murray and Stevens were employees of an all-powerful crime syndicate, plunked down in suburbia to lay the groundwork for a mob takeover. When the couple decides to go straight, they sign their own death warrant....maybe. A tremendous improvement over the handful of made-for-television films that preceded it, The Borgia Stick was the first TV movie to enjoy favorable notices from the critics. Its first telecast on February 25, 1967, was one of the highest-rated events of the 1966-67 season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
More dead animals, drained of blood, have been found near Collinwood. Not so coincidentally, Willie Loomis (John Karlen) has become dangerously anemic. Jason (Dennis Patrick) is convinced that Willie has been robbing graves, despite his weakened condition. This episode originally aired April 28, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Could the woman (Diana Millay) who calls herself Laura Collins actually be an impostor? These and other questions will have to wait for an answer; in the meantime, Laura and Burke (Mitchell Ryan) are surprised by a gun-wielding Roger (Louis Edmonds). This episode originally aired on January 4, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Art seemingly imitates life in this episode, as Sheriff Patterson (Dana Elcar) reports that Laura Collins died in a fire in Phoenix -- just like the woman in Sam's portrait. Roger (Louis Edmonds) rejects the Sheriff's statement, noting that Laura has returned to Collinsport, or at least, a woman that looks like Laura. This episode originally aired on January 3, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Burke (Mitchell Ryan) wants Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) to find out the truth concerning his arrest ten years earlier on a manslaughter charge. He hopes that by getting to the facts, he will be able to prove that Roger killed Malloy. And housekeeper Mrs. Johnson (Clarice Blackburn) becomes a key player in the drama. This episode first aired on September 27, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Roger (Louis Edmonds) tries to enlist his son David's aid in forcing Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) to leave town. As for David (David Henesy), he tells Victoria that on the night of the accident, he heard his mother and Roger arguing over Burke. This episode originally aired on September 28, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Matthew (Thayer David) orders Burke (Mitchell Ryan) to get out of Collinsport -- or else. A fight ensues, with Burke getting the worst of it. Will the Sheriff (Dana Elcar) arrive in time to prevent further mayhem? This episode was originally telecast on September 22, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
The Sheriff (Dana Elcar) questions Roger (Louis Edmonds) as to the events leading up to Malloy's death. Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) is asked to provide moral support for Roger. David (David Henesy) tells Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) that Roger killed Malloy, but where did he get this information? This episode originally aired on September 15, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Burke (Mitchell Ryan) tries to convince Sheriff Patterson (Dana Elcar) that either Sam (David Ford) or Roger (Louis Edmonds) is responsible for Malloy's death. Sam begins "opening up" about his involvement in the tragic events which sent Burke to prison several years earlier. This episode first aired on September 16, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Burke tells Sheriff Patterson that Malloy was probably murdered to prevent certain facts from being made public. Victoria prepares for a meeting with Maggie and Sam, while Maggie tries to pump the Sheriff for additional information concerning Malloy's death. This episode first aired on September 13, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
When questioned by the Sheriff (Dana Elcar), Sam (David Ford) claims not to know why Malloy wanted to arrange a meeting between Sam, Roger (Louis Edmonds), and Burke (Mitchell Ryan). David (David Henesy) tells Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) that he has several new friends -- all of them quite dead. This episode originally aired on September 14, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
