Allen Emerson Movies
- 1973
Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) make a memorable foray into the San Francisco artists' colony after a painter falls from his studio window to his death. Determining that the victim was murdered, the detectives zero in on the most likely suspect: urban poet and notorious jailbird Yale Courtland Darcy (Roscoe Lee Browne). Convinced that his daughter Jenna (Brenda Sykes) is the guilty party, Darcy takes the rap for the girl--who is equally convinced that her dad did it, and equally determined to cover up his "crime"! Without giving away the ending, it can be noted that the title of this episode is a quote from Henry David Thoreau, referring to the unreliability of "The Obvious". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Rancher Drake Farron (Earl Holliman) has always considered his younger brother James (Bryan Montgomery) to be a thorn in his side. With this in mind, it is only natural that Drake should hire two-bit thug Lee Chard (Henry Silva) to murder his brother. When this scheme goes awry, Chard opts for a quick turnover by kidnapping James and demanding a huge ransom from the boy's father (Jim Davis)--thus bringing FBI Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) into the family intrigue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Miffed that Darrin refuses to allow Samantha to use witchcraft, Endora dispatches Sam's lookalike cousin, Serena, to the 14th century, there to cast a spell on one of Darrin's ancestors. As a result, the modern-day Mr. Stephens is transformed into a warlock for a 24-hour period, and the havoc wreaked during those 24 hours obliges Sam to take a little visit to the past as well. Though Elizabeth Montgomery plays both Samantha and Serena, the latter role is credited to one "Pandora Spocks," as it would be in virtually all future episodes featuring Serena. Written by Ed Jurist, "The Return of Darrin the Bold" originally aired on February 4, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1970
Guest star Richard Kiley is cast as Sheriff Gideon Yates, one of Nevada's most admired lawmen. When Joe Cartwright comes to Yates claiming that he has witnessed a murder, the Sheriff realizes to his horror that the killer was his own wife Lydia (Terry Moore). With grim determination, Yates quietly decides that Joe must be silenced for keeps, leading to one of the most thrilling showdown sequences in Bonanza history. Written by Ken Pettus, "Gideon, the Good" was first shown on October 18, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1970
Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) heads to North Dakota in search of escaped murderer Vic Kiley (Gerald O'Loughlin). Having hijacked the car owned by widow Anne Williams (Mary Fickett), Kiley is forcing her to help him get by the many FBI roadblocks. Also targetted for terror is Anne's rebellious teenage son, played by a pre-superstardom David Cassidy. Throughout the episode, neither the kidnap victims nor the viewer is ever quite certain if the mercurial Kiley will kill his hostages, or keep his promise to release them once he has gotten away. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Successful racecar driver Capua (Paul Newman) falls in love with Elora (Joanne Woodward). The two marry and settle down with Elora's 13-year-old son Charley (Richard Thomas). The honeymoon is short-lived as Capua must spend his time away from home on the racing circuit. Soon the racer's luck begins to change as his main rival Luther Erding (Robert Wagner) begins to best him at every race. Capua has a one-track mind and realizes too late that his wife is being lapped by the rival racer not only on the track but in the bedroom as well. He comes home to find his wife in bed with Luther, and he promptly leaves. Young Charley hitchhikes across country in an attempt to bring the couple towards a reconciliation. Richard Thomas, who would later star in the television series "The Waltons," makes his film debut. Spectacular footage from Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin and Indianapolis is used, including a 17-car pile-up. Cameo appearances are made by racers Bobby Unsur and Tony Human. After doing all his own driving during filming, Paul Newman would develop a lifelong passion for auto racing beginning with this film. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, (more)
Thomas Crown (Steve McQueen) is a self-made Boston millionaire who masterminds a bank heist in hopes of leaving it all behind. Tired of being part of the Establishment, he has hopes of pulling off the caper and flying to Rio. Erwin Weaver (Jack Weston) leads the cast of crooks who never actually meet Crown but manage to pull off the robbery without a hitch. Crown deposits 3 million in a Swiss bank account, pays off the crooks, and waits for the insurance company to repay the bank for the loss. Eddy Malone (Paul Burke) is the savvy detective who helps insurance investigator Vicky Anderson (Faye Dunaway) find the mastermind behind the heist. Thomas Crown Affair became one of the first films to employ many split-screen images throughout its running time, as devised by editor Hal Ashby. Michel Legrand's score was nominated for an Academy Award, and the song The Windmills Of Your Mind, written by Legrand with Alan and Marilyn Bergman took home the coveted Oscar. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway, (more)
- 1968
Anne Baxter guest stars as Ironside's attorney friend Carolyn White, whom the authorities have tagged as the "most obvious" suspect in the murder of her cheating spouse. Convinced that Carolyn is being framed, Ironside (Raymond Burr) dedicates himself to proving his thesis, while his colleagues accuse him of allowing his heart to rule his head. Meanwhile, the search goes on for the murder victim's missing body--a search that yields startling results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) issues an A.P.B. for Ralph Stuart (Jeffrey Hunter), a Red agent wanted for murder and the theft of a secret rocket fuel formula. Meanwhile, the wounded fugitive hides out in the home of Allen Harmon (Al Freeman Jr.), whose life Stuart saved in Vietnam. Torn between two loyalties--to Stuart and to his country--Harmon may very well make the worst decision of his life. Cicely Tyson is prominently cast as Harmon's troubled wife Judy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
In the first episode of a two-part story arc, Nancy Kovack makes a return appearance as Darrin's former girlfriend, Sheila, the daughter of important client J.P. Sommers (Frank Wilcox). Aware that Samantha is still jealous of Sheila, and not wishing to lose Sommers' account, Darrin orders Sam not to use witchcraft against Sheila during a dinner party. But when even Darrin can no longer tolerate Sheila's snobbery, it's every woman for herself. Written by Ed Jurist, "Snob in the Grass" originally aired on January 11, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, (more)
- 1967
A vague clue provided by a dying spy prompts Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) to investigate the possibility of espionage within the hierachy of corporate America. The villain of this piece is Steve Ramsey (Andrew Duggan), a veteran Communist agent posing as a top-ranking CEO. Also figuring into the intrigue is Ramsey's missile-scientist brother Alec (Richard Anderson), who may or may not be as corruptible as Steve. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
FBI agent Rhodes (Stephen Brooks) goes undercover as a truck driver to locate the site where hijacked shipments of nitroglycerin are being sold to enemy spies. Teamed with trucker Carl Munger (Gerald S. O'Loughlin), who is being stongarmed into cooperating with the hijackers, Rhodes is ordered to drive a particularly volatile shipment of explosives over some extremely rough terrain. Meanwhile, Rhodes' every move is being monitored by his boss, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.)--who cannot move in and make an arrest without forfeiting the lives of everyone concerned!. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Little does Richard Kimble (David Janssen)--alias "Paul Miller"--know what he is getting into when he traces the elusive one-armed murderer Fred Johnson (Bill Raisch) to the town of Clark City, Kentucky. It seems that Johnson, travelling under the name "Cramer", is employed by the gambling syndicate which owns the town lock, stock and barrel. Johnson orders Kimble to be beaten and chased out of town by a pair of corrupt cops, but Kimble turns the tables and arranges for Johnson's arrest. Unfortunately, the gambling bosses have decided that under the circumstances, both of the "fugitives" are eminently disposable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Sidney Pollack marked his feature film directing debut with this taut suspense drama, based upon an actual incident reported in Time Magazine. Sidney Poitier stars as Alan Nuell, a student volunteer at a medical clinic in Seattle who answers the phone to find Inge Dyson (Anne Bancroft) on the other end. Inge, depressed about her life, has just taken an overdose of sleeping pills. With Inge slowly dying, Alan tries to keep her talking on the phone while the police try to trace the call and save her life. Inge tells Alan that she has decided to end it all because her husband has discovered that he is not the father of her son. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sidney Poitier, Anne Bancroft, (more)
- 1957
Fos Capper (Andrew Duggan) wants to marry Flora Stancil (Peggy Webber), but her brutish brother Ben (Robert F. Simon) refuses to give permission: after all, if Flora leaves home, who could Ben find to do all his chores for free? So determined is Ben to break up his sister's romance that he tries to provoke Capper into a gunfight. Knowing Ben's reputation as a dirty fighter, Matt (James Arness) tries to intervene, but things take a surprising turn just before fadeout time. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of June 17, 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
