Maurice Evans Movies
Internationally acclaimed British stage star Maurice Evans is celebrated for his lyrical speaking voice and his great performances in the classics. The son of an amateur playwright, he sang professionally as a boy and later acted in his father's adaptations of Thomas Hardy's novels. In 1926 he made his professional stage debut, and first appeared on the London stage the following year. While establishing his reputation he supported himself by running a cleaning and dyeing establishment. In 1929 his triumphant performance in Journey's End allowed him to become a full-time actor. He appeared in a handful of British films from 1930-35, but otherwise remained exclusively a stage actor. He joined the Old Vic company in 1934, then moved to the U.S. in 1935, when he began a long and illustrious career on Broadway; he was most revered for his work in plays by Shakespeare and Shaw. In 1941 he became a U.S. citizen. During World War II he was put in charge of the Army Entertainment Section, Central Pacific Theater; with the rank of major, he toured Pacific military bases in a streamlined version of Hamlet. He returned to the screen in 1951 in Kind Lady opposite Ethel Barrymore, but again went on to make only a few films over the next two decades, none of which matched the stature of his stage productions. His best-known role was as the ape Dr. Zaius in Planet of the Apes (1968) and Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970). He also did much work on TV, most memorably on the sitcom Bewitched, in which he played Elizabeth Montgomery's warlock father. ~ All Movie Guide- 1983
Helen Hayes plays Agatha Christie's amateur sleuth Miss Jane Marple in A Caribbean Mystery. Recuperating from an illness at a resort in the Bahamas, Miss Marple makes the acquaintance of a genial British major (Maurice Evans). When her new friend is murdered, Miss M takes on the case herself. She certainly has a carload of suspects this time, ranging from the near-bankrupt owners of the resort to a secretive hotel doctor. Originally titled Agatha Christie's The Caribbean Mystery, this TV movie first aired October 22, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
John D. MacDonald's offbeat semifantasy novel The Girl, the Gold Watch and Everything was enjoyably hoked up for television in this "Operation Prime Time" presentation. Robert Hays stars as Kirby Winter, an unprepossessing chap who inherits a gold watch from his late uncle. Kirby soon discovers that the watch has the power to stop time. It also provides a clue to a hidden fortune, meaning that there's trouble aplenty in store for Kirby and his air-headed girlfriend Bonnie Lee Beaumont (Pam Dawber). First syndicated to local stations on October 13, 1980, The Girl, the Gold Watch and Everything was offered in two versions: as a standard 2-hour movie, and as cliff-hanging series of five half-hour programs. So successful was this non-network effort that it spawned a 1981 sequel, The Girl, the Gold Watch and Dynamite. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Carl Reiner directs Steve Martin (who co-wrote the script with Carl Gottlieb) in this gag-laden comedy about an idiotic white man, raised by a poor family of black sharecroppers, who doesn't realize he's not black. Navin R. Johnson (Steve Martin) is told the horrible truth when he finds himself instinctively tapping his feet to an easy listening tune on the radio, instead of a low-down blues. His mother (Mabel King) tells him he's white and Navin takes to the road (in a World War II bomber helmet and goggles) to start a new life in St. Louis. A filling station owner, Harry Hartounian (Jackie Mason), give Navin his first break, hiring him to pump gas. One day at the station, Navin has a brainstorm, concocting an invention called "The Opti-grab," a combination handle and nose-brace for eyeglasses. But Navin runs into trouble when a crazed killer (M. Emmet Walsh) picks out his name at random from the telephone book and tries to kill him. Navin escapes to a traveling carnival, where he wrangles a job as the "guess-your-weight" man. At the carnival, he discovers his sexual nature, thanks to stunt rider and S&M enthusiast Patty Bernstein (Catlin Adams). But Navin meets the beautiful Marie (Bernadette Peters) and he quickly falls in love. In the meantime, the "Opti-grab" has taken off and soon Navin is a millionaire. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, (more)
- 1975
This 2-hour TV movie stars Janet Leigh as a onetime musical star who dreams of a comeback. Leigh's autocratic and much-older husband Sam Jaffe refuses to finance her re-entry into show business. Leigh responds by killing Jaffe and placing the blame elsewhere. The plan almost works....and then Lieutenant Columbo (Peter Falk) comes waddling in. The Forgotten Lady was originally telecast September 14, 1975, as the first Columbo episode of The NBC Mystery Movie's fifth season. Watch for the closing clip from the early-1950s Universal musical Walking My Baby Back Home--starring Janet Leigh. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Eminent Shakespearean actor Maurice Evans guest stars as Leopold Summer, a history teacher dismissed from his job because he is a firm proponent of corporal punishment. Upon learning that one of his former colleagues has been shot in a tough high school, the already disturbed Summer goes completely off the deep end. Setting up a "classroom" in a deserted warehouse, Summer kidnaps several indolent high schoolers, chains them to desks, and forces them to learn history at gunpoint! Bernie Kopell (The Love Boat) appears unbilled as Summers' ex-boss, while among the imperiled students is future Welcome Back, Kotter costar Robert Hegyes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
- PG
Murder abounds at a wax museum after the owner decides to sell it, and seemingly waxen figures come alive. By the way, are wax images normally supposed to breathe when being filmed? ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1971
In the sixth episode of a seven-part story arc, Samantha and Darrin arrive in Paris, only to face the wrath of Sam's father, Maurice. Incensed that the Stephenses did not pay him a visit in London, Maurice gets his revenge by sending Darrin to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Want to bet that this rash act will prove beneficial to Darrin's new client, European tour packager Henri Sagan (Maurice Marsac)? Written by Michael Morris, "Paris Witch's Style" first aired on October 20, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1971
Samantha's father, Maurice, must prove that his grandson, Adam, is a warlock, lest the Council of Witches declare the marriage of Sam and Darrin to be null and void. In his efforts to cover up Adam's "mortal-hood," Maurice sets himself wide open for a few startling surprises. This time around, Diana Chesney and Maryesther Denver are cast as "councilwomen" Enchantra and Grimalda. First telecast on December 29, 1971, "Adam, Warlock or Washout?" was written by Ed Jurist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1971
Because of her marriage to Darrin, Samantha is stripped of her powers by the Witches' Council. Unaware of Sam's plight, her father, Maurice, kisses her on the cheek and promptly loses his powers as well. Grudgingly resigning himself to the life of a mortal, Maurice makes a pest of himself at the Stephens home and at Darrin's office. Even worse, Darrin cannot kiss his own wife lest her loss of powers become permanent. Written by Ed Jurist, "A Plague on Maurice and Samantha" first aired on November 10, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
Bewitched enters its eighth and final season with the usual dramatis personae present and accounted for: Elizabeth Montgomery as sexy, spunky witch Samantha Stephens; Dick Sargent as "Sam"'s long-suffering mortal husband, ad executive Darrin Stephens; Agnes Moorehead as Sam's imperious witch mother, Endora; Erin Murphy as Darrin and Sam's enchanted daughter, Tabitha; and, appearing as the Stevens' son, Adam, twin child actors David and Greg Lawrence. Also making recurring appearances are Alice Ghostley as klutzy witch Esmerelda, the Stevens' housekeeper; David White as Darrin's dyspeptic boss, Larry Tate; Maurice Evans as Sam's erudite warlock dad, Maurice; Paul Lynde as her prankish warlock uncle Arthur; Bernard Fox as resourceful warlock general practitioner Dr. Bombay; and Sandra Gould as the Stephens' snoopy neighbor Gladys Kravitz. Highlights during the series' terminal season include the two-part opener, in which Sam is transported back to 16th century London, only to become the fiancée of that old head-chopper Henry VIII; a journey to Scotland, in which the Stephens learn the surprising secret of the Loch Ness monster; Endora's capricious spell which brings a statue of Venus to life; and the final episode, in which poor Darrin is placed under a spell compelling him to speak the absolute, unvarnished truth -- at the worst possible time! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1970
Glenn Ford plays a man who joins a mysterious fraternity, "The Brotherhood of the Bell", while in college. Upon attaining wealth and prominence, Ford discovers that the Brotherhood has been keeping tabs on him, and expects certain favors from him in the private sector. It dawns on Ford that the Bell is a sinister, subversive organization bent on world domination. When he tries to bring this to the attention of the public on a TV program hosted by a "gonzo" talkshow star (William Conrad), he is mocked and humiliated. Realizing that the Brotherhood of the Bell is too big and powerful to be defeated by conventional methods, Ford attempts to take on the organization in his own way. The Brotherhood of the Bell was previously presented as a "live" hourlong television drama in the 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
- G
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Sometime after the events of the first Planet of the Apes, the climax of which is repeated frame for frame at the beginning of this sequel, another set of astronauts arrives on the far-future Earth that is the titular planet. This time it's Brent (James Franciscus) who survives the crash landing and learns that evolved simians have taken over the world, post-apocalypse. After hooking up with Nova (Linda Harrison), the mute, fur bikini-clad beauty who spent the first film being squired by astronaut Taylor (Charlton Heston), Brent confers with Zira (Kim Hunter) and Cornelius (David Watson, giving Roddy McDowall his only break during the five-film series), the ape scientists whose adherence to scientific principles makes them friendly to the possibility of intelligent human life. Something of a military coup has taken place among the apes, who dispatch an army to the desolate "Forbidden Zone" where Taylor has coincidentally disappeared. With the apes and the humans both rooting about in the ruins of 20th century civilization, it's only a matter of time before they all find out what happened to the other survivors of the nuclear holocaust. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, (more)
The seventh season of the fantasy sitcom Bewitched is launched by a multi-episode story arc, representing the first time that the series was filmed on location outside of Hollywood. In "To Go or Not to Go, That Is the Question," "Salem Here We Come," "Samantha's Hot Bedwarmer," and several other episodes, glamorous witch Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery), her mortal husband, Darrin (Dick Sargent), and their two children are compelled to pay an extended visit to Salem, MA, a community that has historically been hostile to witches (even pretty ones). These episodes were largely lensed in the actual town of Salem, much of which had of course been redesigned in classic 17th century fashion for the tourist trade. The journey to Salem proved to be a terrific ratings boost for Bewitched, which after six years on ABC was beginning to show signs of wear and tear. In subsequent season-seven episodes, Imogene Coca guest stars as the Tooth Fairy, who accidentally gets plotzed on medicinal brandy while trying collect a tooth from the Stephens' daughter, Tabitha (Erin Murphy); Bob Cummings appears in a tale of a toy troll come to life, with Felix Silla (formerly "Cousin Itt" on The Addams Family) playing said troll; and future Happy Days regular Tom Bosley is seen as the mortal boyfriend of the Stephens' klutzy witch housekeeper, Esmerelda (Alice Ghostley). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1969
On another of his "no witchcraft" kicks, Darrin wants nothing to do with the magical cigarette lighter given to him as a birthday present by Samantha's father, Maurice. His feelings hurt, Maurice pays Darrin back for his stubborness by transforming him into a mule. This metamorphosis coincides with Gladys Kravitz's strident efforts to clean up zoning violations in the neighborhood -- beginning with the "unsanitary" mule in the Stephenses' living room. Written by Michael Morris, "Daddy Does His Thing" first aired on April 3, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, (more)
- 1969
Samantha once again finds herself in the position of saving the 2,000-year-old marriage between her mother Endora and her father, Maurice. This time, the couple is squabbling over Maurice's attentions (and intentions) toward his pretty young secretary, Abigail Beecham (Janine Gray). Sam's announcement that she is going to have another baby has the positive effect of ending the hostilities, but for how long? Written by Richard Baer, "Samantha's Good News" originally aired on April 10, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Agnes Moorehead, (more)
- 1969
In the conclusion of a two-part story, an enchanted pocket watch has endowed Darrin with the powers of a warlock. Alas, Darrin's newfound magical skills have gone to his head, delighting Endora and Maurice, while devastating Samantha. Clearly, Sam's parents will have to be convinced that Darrin would be better off as a mortal. As it turns out, however, Darrin is not quite as intoxicated by his powers as it seems. Written by Rick Mittleman and Ed Jurist, "Darrin the Warlock" was originally telecast on November 27, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1969
In this first episode of a two-part story, Samantha's father, Maurice, gives Darrin a most unusual birthday present: a pocket watch, which endows Darrin with the powers of a warlock. Mired in another troublesome ad campaign, Darrin figures that it wouldn't hurt to try out his new magical skills just once. Unfortunately, witchcraft proves to be much more addictive than anyone could imagine. Written by Rick Mittleman, "Daddy Comes to Visit" first aired on November 20, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1969
Assuming that Samantha will name her new baby after him, Sam's father, Maurice, is outraged when Darrin declares that the child will be named after Darrin's dad, Frank. Not one to do things by halves, Maurice expresses his anger by trapping Darrin inside of a mirror. Sam saves the day by applying a bit of reverse psychology, and all viewers know, the Stephenses' new son is ultimately named Adam. Written by Ed Jurist, "Naming Samantha's New Baby" originally aired on October 23, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1969
- PG
Produced by Britain's Trigor Pictures, Thin Air stars Patrick Allen as Bob Megan, an investigator called in to solve a bizarre mystery: During training courses, British parachutists are disappearing in a strange red mist, leaving no trace. Even more mysterious is the fact that they later turn up, with their bodies filled with lethal doses of radiation. Megan, aided by Jim Radford (Neil Connery, brother of Sean Connery), begins an investigation, which uncovers an unearthly beauty ($Lorna Wilde who somehow is incapable of being photographed. Eventually, Megan and Radford discover that the parachutists are being kidnapped by aliens from the planet Mygon, who use the men to try to impregnate Mygonian women, thereby saving their dying civilization. Unfortunately, a side effect of this plan seems to be the irradiation of the earthlings. [%Megan exposes and foils the alien plan, but he also decides to lead an effort to discover a way of saving their race from extinction. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Yes, that's Elizabeth Montgomery, still securely in her role as glamorous witch Samantha Stevens as the fantasy sitcom Bewitched enters its sixth season. But, gosh, doesn't Samantha's mortal husband, ad executive Darrin Stephens look a bit different this year? This, of course, is because Dick York, who'd played Darrin since the series' debut in 1964, was forced to leave the show at the end of season five for health reasons (a serious, degenerative muscular injury) that were discreetly hidden from the public at the time. Thus, beginning in season six, Darrin Stephens is played by Dick Sargent, who takes over with such assurance and aplomb that, after a few episodes, it is hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Sargent would remain with Bewitched until the series shut down production three years later. Otherwise, the rest of cast remains as before: Agnes Moorehead as Samantha's imperious witch mom, Endora; David White as Darrin's supercilious boss, Larry Tate; Erin Murphy as Samantha and Darrin's daughter, Tabitha (a budding witch in her own right); Sandra Gould as the Stephens' snoopy, suspicious next-door neighbor Gladys Kravitz; and Paul Lynde as "Sam"'s prankish warlock uncle Arthur. However, season six features the debut of a brand new character. Originally telecast October 16, 1969, the episode "And Something Makes Four" marks the birth of Darrin and Sam's second child, a baby boy named Adam. Portrayed by a variety of uncredited twin infants during his first few appearances, Adam would be played by twin boys David and Greg Lawrence beginning in season seven. With the arrival of Adam, it behooves Darrin and Sam to hire a housekeeper, who also happens to be a witch: thus is introduced Alice Ghostley as Esmerelda, whose chronic inability to cast a spell without causing chaos was intended to evoke fond memories of the late Marion Lorne as Sam's Aunt Clara. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
In Roman Polanski's first American film, adapted from Ira Levin's horror bestseller, a young wife comes to believe that her offspring is not of this world. Waifish Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) and her struggling actor husband, Guy (John Cassavetes), move into the Bramford, an old New York City apartment building with an ominous reputation and only elderly residents. Neighbors Roman and Minnie Castevet (Sidney Blackmer and Ruth Gordon) soon come nosing around to welcome the Woodhouses to the building; despite Rosemary's reservations about their eccentricity and the weird noises that she keeps hearing, Guy starts spending time with the Castevets. Shortly after Guy lands a plum Broadway role, Minnie starts showing up with homemade chocolate mousse for Rosemary. When Rosemary becomes pregnant after a mousse-provoked nightmare of being raped by a beast, the Castevets take a special interest in her welfare. As the sickened Rosemary becomes increasingly isolated, she begins to suspect that the Castevets' circle is not what it seems. The diabolical truth is revealed only after Rosemary gives birth, and the baby is taken away from her. Polanski's camerawork and Richard Sylbert's production design transform the realistic setting (shot on-location in Manhattan's Dakota apartment building) into a sinister projection of Rosemary's fears, chillingly locating supernatural horror in the familiar by leaving the most grotesque frights to the viewer's imagination. This apocalyptic yet darkly comic paranoia about the hallowed institution of childbirth touched a nerve with late-'60s audiences feeling uneasy about traditional norms. Produced by B-horror maestro William Castle, Rosemary's Baby became a critically praised hit, winning Gordon an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Inspiring a wave of satanic horror from The Exorcist (1973) to The Omen (1976), Rosemary's Baby helped usher in the genre's modern era by combining a supernatural story with Alfred Hitchcock's propensity for finding normality horrific. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, (more)
- 1968
FBI Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) agrees to act as go-between for jeweler Victor Toler (played by eminent Shakespearian Maurice Evans), who wants to ransom a fortune in stolen diamonds. This requires the Inspector to take a crash course in the diamond business, the better to convince the villains that he is a genuine gem expert rather than a federal agent. Featured in the supporting cast is future Rookies star George Stanford Brown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Originally intended as a project for Blake Edwards, the film version of Pierre Boule's semisatiric sci-fi novel came to the screen in 1968 under the directorial guidance of Franklin J. Schaffner. Charlton Heston is George Taylor, one of several astronauts on a long, long space mission whose spaceship crash-lands on a remote planet, seemingly devoid of intelligent life. Soon the astronaut learns that this planet is ruled by a race of talking, thinking, reasoning apes who hold court over a complex, multilayered civilization. In this topsy-turvy society, the human beings are grunting, inarticulate primates, penned-up like animals. When ape leader Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans) discovers that the captive Taylor has the power of speech, he reacts in horror and insists that the astronaut be killed. But sympathetic ape scientists Cornelius (Roddy McDowell) and Dr. Zira (Kim Hunter) risk their lives to protect Taylor -- and to discover the secret of their planet's history that Dr. Zaius and his minions guard so jealously. In the end, it is Taylor who stumbles on the truth about the Planet of the Apes: "Damn you! Damn you! Goddamn you all to hell!" Scripted by Rod Serling and Michael Wilson (a former blacklistee who previously adapted another Pierre Boule novel, Bridge on the River Kwai), Planet of the Apes has gone on to be an all-time sci-fi (and/or camp) classic. It won a special Academy Award for John Chambers's convincing (and, from all accounts, excruciatingly uncomfortable) simian makeup. It spawned four successful sequels, as well as two TV series, one live-action and one animated. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, (more)
With the exception of Marion Lorne, who passed away in the spring of 1968, the familiar cast members of the fantasy sitcom Bewitched are all back on the job as the series enters its fifth season. Heading the cast as always are Elizabeth Montgomery as attractive witch Samantha "Sam" Stephens; Dick York as her long-suffering mortal husband, ad executive Darrin Stephens; Agnes Moorehead as Sam's overbearing witch mother, Endora; and Erin Murphy (occasionally spelled by her twin sister Diane Murphy) as Sam and Darrin's daughter, Tabitha, who has obviously inherited her mom's special conjuring skills. Making more and more appearances during this season is Sam's funloving, hippie-like identical cousin, Serena, who is given a marvelous showcase in the two-part "Cousin Serena Strikes Again." As in previous seasons, the actress playing Serena is billed as "Pandora Spocks," though one would have to be extremely naïve or obtuse not to recognize her as Elizabeth Montgomery. Conversely, series co-star Dick York is noticeably absent from several episodes. The industry rumor at the time was that York was tired of playing Darrin Stephens, and was staying home to protest the sillier aspects of his character. The truth, which was carefully hidden from the public for many years, was that the actor was suffering from back injuries sustained years earlier while filming the theatrical feature They Came to Cordura. As it turned out, Dick York left Bewitched at the end of season five, paving the way for the legendary "Darrin Number Two," (aka Dick Sargent). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, (more)
- 1967
The success of several 1960s-era cat-burglar movies depended upon the suave and agreeable machinations of the film's antiheroic hero, as he stylishly worked to remove surplus wealth from the obscenely wealthy. That formula reaped a box-office bonanza, and here the producers are back with it again, with Jeff Hill (George Hamilton) learning the ropes of being a gentleman-thief from the redoubtable Ace of Diamonds (Joseph Cotton). Unfortunately, there is a reason these fine gents weren't cast in the original films, and despite good performances (and direction) all around, the magic just didn't strike this time. Three female movie stars (Carroll Baker, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Lilli Palmer) play themselves as the burglar's wealthy victims. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Hamilton, Joseph Cotten, (more)
