Leif Erickson Movies

In 1959 Sweden, young Ingemar (Anton Glanzelius) lives with his dying mother and his nasty older brother. He survives all of life's knocks by comparing himself to those who are worse off--such as Laika, the little Russian space dog who was rocketed to his death and had nothing to say in the matter. Ingemar begins to identify with Laika more and more as his mother's health deteriorates, at times dropping to all fours and baying at the moon. When his mother is advised to get some peace and quiet away from her children, Ingemar is sent to live with his loveable uncle and aunt. For the first time, the boy is surrounded by relatives and classmates who pose no threat and who genuinely like him. He even has a sexual awakening. When his mother dies, he no longer rationalizes his misfortunes by comparing himself to those less fortunate; from now on, he can conjure up pleasant memories of his summer away from home to sustain him through the hard times. My Life as a Dog (Mitt Liv Som Hund) is based on the autobiographical novel by Reidar Jonsson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When a sheepman's son vows revenge on the killers of his father and 2 brothers, a ghostlike aura begins to surround him. ~ All Movie Guide

This 90-minute pilot for the weekly TV series Fantastic Journey debuted February 3, 1977. A scientific expedition disappears in the Bermuda Triangle. Emerging from an eerie green mist, the crew finds themselves in the Strange New World, where past, present and future coexist. In subsequent episodes, the regulars would stumble upon special guest stars who likewise "dropped in" (one of these, Roddy McDowall, stuck around until the series' final episode, which aired June 16, 1977). The supporting characters include medical expert Carl Franklin, young mind-reader Ike Eisenmann, and requisite drop-dead-gorgeous mystery woman Katie Saylor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

If familiar with the Patty Hearst episode, the viewer will likely believe this is a spin-off because it has most of the elements: wealthy white upper-class gal abducted by terrorists and held for big stakes--this time the ransom is the demand that a wealthy-man's palace (a high-rise condominium) be bombed in defiance of capitalist policy. However, the real source of the movie was a Harrison James novel published before the Hearst drama. This is an exploitative film, focused upon violence, nudity, lesbianism and of course, sex. ~ All Movie Guide

It is hardly a fond reunion when Ironside (Raymond Burr) is summoned to his home town by a letter from his former high school classmate Alice Schmidt (Fay Spain). Upon his arrival, the Chief learns that Alice never wrote the letter--and that her husband John has been murdered. When another member of the Class of 1940, Dick Gillis (William Bryant), likewise turns up dead, Ironside follows a trail of clues leading to an accidental killing that occurred 34 years earlier...thereby setting himself up as the murderer's next victim! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Joshua Cabe (Buddy Ebsen) is a trapper in the old west. He hopes to set up his own homestead, but new government laws won't allow him any land unless he has a family. Cabe's own daughters refuse to come west to live with their dad, so Joshua hires three "shady ladies" (Karen Valentine, Lesley Ann Warren and Sandra Dee) to pose as his offspring. A made-for-TV movie, Daughters of Joshua Cabe did well enough in the ratings to encourage producer Aaron Spelling to develop a series based on the property. Unfortunately, neither of the two subsequent pilot films--New Daughters of Joshua Cabe and Daughters of Joshua Cabe Return, each with brand-new casts--aroused network or sponsorial interest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The New Healers was a one-hour pilot film for the unsold series Med-Ex. The "crusty head physician" assignment was given to Leif Erickson, playing the supervisor of a small rural California hospital. Erickson's son, who'd done a tour of duty as a Vietnam medic (and thus is the "sensitive" character in this concept), is played by Robert Foxworth. Other staff members are Kate Jackson, playing a nurse just before her longer stint as a "woman in white" on The Rookies, and priggish administrator Jonathan Lippe. The plot involves the staff trying to gain the confidence of the local farmers and merchants. Expanded from 60 to 75 minutes in syndication, The New Healers never gets around to explaining who the "old" healers were. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this airborne disaster movie, a passenger and a flight attendant are forced to fly a commercial jet when the passengers and crew are incapacitated by food poisoning. Later they are rescued by a courageous ex-combat helicopter pilot who helps them land the giant bird. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This nostalgic video is comprised of two hour-long episodes from the television western series The High Chaparral. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A dazed man, David Stillwell (Gregory Peck), wanders down the stairs of a New York skyscraper during a power blackout, only vaguely aware of who he is, where he's been, and why he has this nagging feeling that danger lurks all about him. Stillwell does know that many of the people in the building are acquainted with him -- and that he is somehow linked with the death of wealthy philanthropist Charles Calvin (Walter Abel), who has fallen 27 floors to his death (a special effect that was remarkable for its time). From this point onward, everyone Stillwell meets is connected with Calvin's death, or is in some way threatening Stillwell's well-being. When he seeks the help of Dr. Pepper-imbibing private eye Ted Caselle (Walter Matthau), he is told that "you don't want to remember" -- shortly before Caselle is murdered by persons unknown. Only the enigmatic Sheila (Diane Baker) evinces any real sympathy, and she too is part of the conspiracy aimed at silencing and/or neutralizing the dumbfounded Stillwell. Mirage has far too many twists of plot to go into here, but if you stay with it, everything is satisfactorily explained. Less than three years after its initial release, the black-and-white Mirage was remade in color as Jigsaw. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Clint Howard is the center of attention on this Bonanza episode as impressionable young Michael Thorpe. When his father Evan (Simon Scott) is seriously wounded, Michael takes literally the words of Ponderosa ranchhand Lijah (Rodolfo Acosta), who mournfully declares that "Only God" can save Evan now. The boy sets off on a trek into the mountains to search for God-and believes he has gazed upon the face of the Almighty when he meets fugitive mountainer Tom Caine (Leif Erickson). Originally shown on December 19, 1965, "All Ye His Saints" was written by William Blinn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide