Biff Elliot Movies
Relatively few people remember the name Biff Elliot today, but as an actor, he carved a special place for himself in popular culture during the '50s -- in a role that he spent years living down. Born Leon Shalek in Lynn, MA, a working class town, he aspired to an acting career and came to New York in pursuit of that goal. He got some stage and television work, mostly playing tough, working-class characters, and then a seemingly big break in Hollywood playing the lead role in the crime thriller I, The Jury (1953), directed by Harry Essex. In the history of popular culture, Ralph Meeker might have earned a place playing Mike Hammer in the best movie ever made from one of Mickey Spillane's books; Spillane himself may have played the best Mike Hammer on the big-screen (and Brian Keith the best Mike Hammer on the small-screen); but Biff Elliot had the honor of being the first actor to portray Mike Hammer anywhere in that 1953 movie (made in 3-D) based on the first of the Hammer books. It should have been a breakthrough role, but the movie ended up being an albatross around his neck.Over the next few years, there were other offers for more roles in which, in the manner of Spillane's hero, he was mostly pummeling other characters. Elliot did get some film work in movies such as Between Heaven and Hell, Good Morning, Miss Dove, and The Enemy Below (as the ship's quartermaster) at Fox, and Pork Chop Hill for Lewis Milestone at United Artists, but mostly he worked in television. In 1959, Elliot got a seemingly good break when playwright Clifford Odets happened to see I, The Jury and offered him a role in The Story on Page One, which Odets wrote and directed. Alas, the latter movie fizzled -- mostly thanks to Odets' convoluted approach to directing -- and did nothing to help the career of anyone in it. Elliot was mostly seen on television over the next decade or so in roles of varying sizes -- in the Star Trek episode "The Devil in the Dark" as Schmitter, the mining colony crewman joking about the anticipated arrival of the Starship Enterprise who is dissolved by the title creature in the pre-credit sequence. During the '70s, he was once again seen regularly in movies, including Save the Tiger and The Front Page. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Telly Savalas wrote and directed this drama about an unconventional psychologist who battles for his own mental health while dealing with the stress of his profession. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Telly Savalas, Laura Johnson, (more)
- 1974
Cindy Britton (Belinda Balaski), a teenaged girl from a small town, runs away from home. She ends up in the seedy Venice Beach district of Los Angeles, alone, hungry, and very frightened. Teaming up with a streetwise younger boy named Francis (Claudio Martinez), Cindy endeavors to survive her daunting new environment as best she can -- while the authorities conduct a frantic search for the girl. This Emmy-winning ABC Afterschool Special was filmed on location. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Belinda Balaski, Claudio Martinez, (more)
- 1972
This is a remake of The Asphalt Jungle with an all black cast. In it a paroled convict plans to steal $3 million work of jewels, sell them, and use the bread to start a bank to back black businesses. He is assisted by two pals, his half-brother, and a preacher who also works as a thief. The operation is ultimately backed by a man who cheats on his wheelchair-bound wife with a sexy woman. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Once again, the IMF agents must break the bank of a popular casino to bring down a master criminal. In this case, the villain is Syndicate chieftan Orin Kerr (Orin Kerr), who controls not only the casino but the entire resort town where it is located. The IMF's mission is twofold: Hit both the casino's gaming tables and its vault simultaneously. Originally broadcast on February 19, 1972, "Casino" was written by Walter Brough and Howard Berk. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
Jamie is a member of a boy's club which delights in forcing new members to undergo a grueling initiation process. Unfortunately, one of these hazings results in the death of a hapless teenager. Though the townsfolk blame Ted Hoag (Ronny Howard), a homeless youth, for the boy's death, Jamie and the other members demonstrate their inherent maturity by shouldering the responsibility themselves. Written by Douglas Day Stewart, "The Initiation" first aired on September 26, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
In the second half of the two-part Mission: Impossible adventure "The Contenders", crooked sports promoter Charles Buckman (Ron Randell) still hopes to gain control of all professional and amateur athletics in the United States. Posing as an aspiring boxer, IMF agent Barney has managed to insuniate himself into Buckman's upper circle, the better to foil the villain's schemes with a "double fix." Former boxing champion Sugar Ray Robinson appears in a surprising characterizations, while Robert Conrad of Wild Wild West fame shows up unbilled. Written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, part two of "The Contenders" was originally telecast on October 13, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1967
US Senator William Townsend (Kent Smith), the head of a right-wing extremist group, has been assassinated. Confessing to the crime is Andreas Solowiechek (David Sheiner), a member of a Communist Trade delegation, who insists that he was acting on orders from his own government. In truth, however, the assassination was engineered by Townsend's own followers, who hope to spark a dangerous international incident. It is up to the IMF to force Solowiechek to change his tune. First telecast on February 25, 1967, "The Confession" was written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Hill, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1966
Comedian Godfrey Cambridge guest stars as federal agent Bond -- Harry Bond, that is -- who has been assigned to locate a supposedly deported gambler. It turns out that the best location for Bond's stakeout is the bedroom of Ritchie Petrie (Larry Mathews), meaning that Ritchie's dad Rob (Dick Van Dyke) must permit the government surveillance to be headquartered in his home. Though he has promised to stay out of the way of the feds, Rob cannot help but make a nuisance of himself as he expresses amazement and admiration over agent Bond's arsenal of high-tech gadgetry -- and as result, Bond's target may very well escape detection. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Godfrey Cambridge, Steven Geray, (more)
- 1966
Jason Evers guest stars as wounded GI Jim Cully, an ill-tempered Virginia hillbilly who trusts absolutely no one. While Kirby (Jack Hogan) visits Cully in the hospital, we flash back to the tumultuous events leading up to the present moment. Essential to the action (and its outcome) is Pvt. Littlejohn (Dick Peabody), the only member of King Company willing to befriend the taciturn Cully--an act which may prove fatal to him. Watch for cult-film favorite Dick Miller in a small role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
An underwater research station headed by Dr LaSatier (Gary Merrill) finds evidence of a very fast-moving undersea craft, and request assistance from the United States Navy. which sends its top submarine officer, Commander Wayne (Scott Brady). He is able to confirm that there's no submarine, on our side or in the Soviet navy, that can match the size and speed of what has been tracked by LaSatier's people -- and the United States Navy wants to know what this object is. The visitor finally reveals itself as a saucer-like creation that sets down on the ocean floor near the sea-lab. Head diver Hugh Maddox (Mike Road) and photographer Sandra Welles (Wende Wagner) investigate the saucer and find a chamber containing an odd-looking capsule, which they bring back to the laboratory. No sooner do they get it aboard, however, then they realize that the capsule is getting larger, and starting to emit dangerous high-frequency sound-waves. Before anyone can prevent it, the capsule bursts open and a powerful and dangerous extra-terrestrial amphibian bursts out, attacking the scientists and crew and isolating them on the ocean floor. The creature's obvious intelligence, coupled with the fact that it carries a deadly microbe, convinces Wayne that the Earth is facing a full-scale invasion. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Brady, Sheree North, (more)
- 1964
Bizarre weather patterns bring blizzards to the American southeast, and Nelson (Richard Basehart) seeks the help of a scientist (Milton Selzer) who may hold the answer. He doesn't know that the man has been kidnapped and brainwashed, and programmed to kill the admiral. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1963
The men of King Company are anxious to leave the small French village where they've been billetted. One look at the local female population, however, and the guys immediately change their minds. In particular, squad members Kirby (Jack Hogan), Caje (Pierre Jalbert) and Nelson (Tom Lowell) want to cozy up to a trio of gorgeous mademoiselles, and to that end they promise to throw the girls a party--regulations or no regulations! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
This WW II adventure chronicles the real-life courage of President John F. Kennedy when he was a Navy lieutenant in charge of the illustrious PT 109. Among the adventures they had was the courageous rescue of Marines stranded upon the isle of Choiseul. As they flee, their little boat is split in half by a Japanese destroyer. The survivors then make a long, dangerous swim to an island. One of them is too badly injured to do it, so Kennedy helps him. Later, the future leader braves many dangers to get to another island to radio for help. This video also contains a newsreel chronicling the President's assassination and a cartoon short featuring Foghorn Leghorn. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cliff Robertson, Ty Hardin, (more)
- 1961
Alfred Hitchcock himself directed this nailbiter, featuring prolific child actor Billy Mumy. When his uncle Rich (Steve Dunne) returns from Africa, little Jackie Chester (Mumy) is delighted, knowing that Rich has brought him a surprise. Secretly rummaging through his uncle's luggage, Jackie finds what he thinks is a toy gun. Only it isn't a toy, but the real article -- fully loaded. For the rest of the day, Jackie goes all over town, aiming (but not firing) the gun at various human targets...while his frantic parents conduct a desperate search for the boy, hoping to catch up with him before a tragedy can occur. The most memorable (and frightening) sequence in this episode is shot from Jackie's point-of-view as he looks down the barrel of the gun -- a camera angle reminiscent of one Hitchcock had previously deployed in his 1945 theatrical feature Spellbound. As a bonus, Hitch foregoes his usual comic epilogue to deliver a stern warning about inappropriate use of firearms. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
A round robin of betrayal and murder takes up most of the running time in this episode. First off, Elise Taylor (Diana Van Der Vlis) falls in love with Bish Darby (James Best), who is married to a woman named Jackie (Madeleine Sherwood), who in turn makes arrangements for Bish to die and for Elise to be blamed. But someone beats Jackie to the punch -- namely, the husband of another woman with whom Bish is fooling around. Ultimately, Elise is punished for her indiscretion...but not in the way that Jackie had expected. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Alcoholic Lottie Mead (Claire Trevor) bursts into the home of Ralph and James Birdwell (Robert Sampson, Patricia Smith), the couple who have been caring for Lottie's daughter ever since the girl's mother deserted her. Now Lottie declares that she will take the girl away from the Birdwells unless she is given a 25,000-dollar payoff. When the couple refuses, Lottie cooks up a kidnapping scheme with a seemingly dishonest detective named Phil Ames (Biff Eliott) -- who turns out to have an agenda of his own. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
A newspaper headline prompts Clete Vine (John Craven) to recall an incident in his childhood, 35 years ago. Growing up in a gang-infested neighborhood, young Clete (played by Glenn Walken, the brother of Christopher Walken) idolizes local mob boss Mr. Rose (Dennis Patrick), while Clete's best friend, Iggy (Barry Gordon), reserves his idolatry for his own father (Biff Elliot). When both boys witness Rose in the act of killing a man, Clete is intimidated into silence, but Iggy immediately heads to the police -- thereby setting off a four-decade marathon of duplicity, disillusionment, and death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
When a man collapses and apparently dies on the street, the wallet he is carrying is stolen by impoverished Joe Helmer (Jeremy Slate). Examining the wallet's contents, Joe finds a card indicating that the wallet's owner is suffering from a disease that causes a deathlike state. Consumed by guilt over his failure to check if the man was truly dead, Joe makes a full confession to the police -- little knowing that he is in for the surprise of his life! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Hoping to divorce her husband Walter (Walter Prescott) so she can marry her sweetheart Jimmy McLain (Biff Elliot), Ruth Prescott (Stacy Graham) is terrified that Walter is trying to kill her. Actually, it may be the other way around: Walter turns up dead, and Ruth is charged with the crime. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is convinced that Ruth is innocent, and that there is more to this seemingly open-and-shut case than meets the eye. Based on a 1936 novel by Erle Stanley Gardner, this is the final episode of Perry Mason's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
A suspenseful courtroom drama, The Story on Page One was the second and last film directed by the distinguished American playwright Clifford Odets (who also wrote the screenplay). Jo (Rita Hayworth) and Larry (Gig Young) are lovers accused of murdering Jo's husband. Their trial lawyer, Victor Santini (Anthony Franciosa) has his work cut out for him on two different fronts. For one, he has to overcome his own tendency to hit the bottle, and for another, he has to somehow win this case. As revealed in the beginning, Jo's husband died accidentally. Yet the unpredictability of the courtroom proceedings indicate that a verdict of "not guilty" is going to be anything but automatic. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rita Hayworth, Gig Young, (more)
Actually, this retelling of the life of outlaw Jesse James is only as true as its predecessor, the highly fanciful 1939 Tyrone Power-Henry Fonda starrer Jesse James. Generous chunks of stock footage from the earlier film are reused here, albeit reframed to accommodate the CinemaScope process. Robert Wagner makes an interesting James, though he is upstaged throughout by Jeffrey Hunter as his brother Frank. Adhering to the Canon, the film insists that the James boys were forced into a life of crime by greedy railroad men -- hence, their ongoing vendetta against trains. Director Nicholas Ray adds a few psychological nuances not found in the more prosaic 1939 film. John Carradine, who played "dirty little coward" Bob Ford in the original Jesse James, appears in the remake as Rev. Jethro Bailey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Wagner, Jeffrey Hunter, (more)
The Enemy Below is a study of submarine warfare from the vantage point of both sides. Robert Mitchum plays the captain of an American destroyer, who despite having lost his family in the war endeavors to let his head rule his heart in combat. Curt Jurgens co-stars as a German U-boat commander, depicted as being as honorable and compassionate as Mitchum. The two men develop a grudging mutual respect as they pursue one another throughout the North Atlantic. Based on a novel by D. A. Rayner, The Enemy Below was the last theatrical film directed by Dick Powell, who hereafter concentrated on his extensive television work. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Mitchum, Curd Jürgens, (more)
Robert Wagner stars as insensitive Southern landowner who gets a much-overdue dose of humility and democracy when he's drafted into the army. Unable to curb his arrogance, Wagner runs afoul of a sadistic military officer (Broderick Crawford), who makes it his mission in life to break the recalcitrant recruit. After rescuing a fellow soldier (Buddy Ebsen), Wagner discovers he has the inner strength to change his outlook on life, and to stand up to the vicious Crawford. Based on a novel by Francis I. Gwaltney, Between Heaven and Hell features uncredited appearances by Frank Gorshin, Scatman Crothers, and Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Wagner, Terry Moore, (more)
- 1955
This distaff variation of the Goodbye Mr. Chips theme is based on a novel by Frances Gray Patton. While confined to a sickbed, ageing New England schoolteacher Miss Dove (Jennifer Jones) recalls the many students who passed through her classroom. Among her now-grown-up prize pupils are surgeon Tom Baker (Robert Stack), policeman Bill Holloway (Chuck Connors) and playright Maurice (Jerry Paris), all of whom were able to overcome difficult childhoods and strive for success with the help of Miss Dove. As it turns out, it is Dr. Tom Baker who is to perform the operation that may save the life of his ailing former teacher. A 60-minute TV adaptation of Good Morning Miss Dove, with Phyllis Kirk in the Jennifer Jones role, was seen in 1956 as part of the weekly anthology The 20th Century-Fox Hour. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Jones, Robert Stack, (more)
- 1953
Mike Hammer, author Mickey Spillane's brutal-but-eloquent private eye, made his screen debut in this cleaned-up cinemadaptation of the Mickey Spillane best-seller I, the Jury. Galvanized into action by the murder of a friend, Hammer (Biff Elliot) barges into the rarefied worlds of art collecting and psychoanalysis. Along the way, he gets beaten up several times by nameless thugs, and also administers several bloody beatings himself. He also indulges in Spillane's standard gay- and commie-bashing, with nary a "politically correct" moment in the film's 87 minutes. The finale is lifted directly from the deathless final pages of the original novel, right down to Hammer's laconic "It was easy!" The cast includes the requisite bosomy females, including Peggie Castle, Margaret Sheridan, Frances Osborne, Mary Anderson and twin sisters Tani Seitz and Dran Seitz. The male supporting players range from Preston S. Foster as Hammer's "friendly enemy-" police-department contact to an unbilled Joe Besser as an elevator operator. Originally filmed in 3D, I the Jury was released in 2D in most theaters. The property was remade in 1982, with Armand Assante as Hammer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Biff Elliot, Preston S. Foster, (more)
