Tom Ewell Movies
His parents wanted him to be lawyer, but S. Yewell Tompkins decided instead to major in liberal arts at the University of Wisconsin. A professional actor from 1928, he toured in stock companies then spent several lean years in New York, during which time he changed his name to Tom Ewell. He appeared in the first of a string of Broadway flops in 1934, occasionally enjoying longer runs in such productions as Brother Rat and Family Portrait. A trip to Hollywood in 1940 led to a handful of bit parts but little else. After four years in the Navy, Ewell finally landed a bona fide Broadway hit starring in John Loves Mary in 1947. This led to his "official" screen debut as Judy Holliday's philandering husband in Adam's Rib (1949). Hardly the romantic lead type, Ewell's crumpled "everyman" countenance served him well in such screen roles as Bill Mauldin's archetypal G.I. Willie in Up Front (1951) and Willie and Joe Back at the Front (1952). Back on Broadway in 1954, he won a Tony Award for his peerless performance as a "summer bachelor" in George Axelrod's The Seven Year Itch, repeating this characterization opposite Marilyn Monroe in the 1955 screen version. He went on to play wry variations of this role in Frank Tashlin's The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (1955) and The Girl Can't Help It (1956), in which his screen partners included such lovelies as Sheree North, Rita Moreno, and Jayne Mansfield. In 1960, he starred in The Tom Ewell Show, a one-season sitcom in which he played a standard harried suburbanite. Various illnesses and recurrent alcoholism made it increasingly difficult for Ewell to find work in the 1970s; his best showing during this period was as Robert Blake's disheveled pal Billy on the weekly TVer Baretta. Tom Ewell retired in 1983, after a brief stint as Doc Killian in TV's Best of the West and a character role in the Rodney Dangerfield film Easy Money. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1986
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is appointed foreman of the jury in an apparently "open and shut" murder trial. The accused claims that he killed the victim in self-defense, when said victim found the accused in bed with his wife. Half of the jury is for conviction, half for acquittal; as for Jessica, she is convinced that there is more to the case than meets the eye. Indeed, she believes that more than one murder is in play here--and as usual, she's right! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Ideally tailored to the talents of Rodney Dangerfield, Easy Money casts Rapid Rodney as Monty Capoletti, the black sheep of a prominent family. Nothing can curb Monty's drinking, gluttony, gambling, smoking, or general carousing. Nothing, that is, except the possibility of inheriting millions from mother-in-law Mrs. Monahan (Geraldine Fitzgerald). For one whole year, Monty must toe the line and clean up his act. Can he do it? And will viewers laugh uproariously? The answer to the second question: Yes, they will! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rodney Dangerfield, Joe Pesci, (more)
- 1982
Terror at Alcatraz indeed! This 1982 TV movie is comprised of two never-shown pilot episodes for the short-lived TV series Fitz and Bones, which was telecast for a couple of months in 1981. Tom and Dick Smothers star as Fitz and Bones, a TV news team with a penchant for getting involved in causes. The main plotline concerns an old man (Tom Ewell) who, disgusted at the ill treatment afforded the elderly in the United States, begins bombing several San Francisco landmarks, including Alcatraz--hence the barely relevant title. A secondary plot (remember that this is a cobbled-together TV movie) concerns a shooting at San Francisco International airport, where the target may have been either the President or a notorious mob boss. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Stressed out from juggling her job as a cabbie with her responsibilities as a single mother and her burgeoning art-curator career, poor Elaine (Marilu Henner) finally snaps during a major art-gallery event. Reliable old Alex (Judd Hirsch) offers to drive Elaine home and help her calm down -- a gesture which Elaine apparently misinterprets as an invitation to have sex. But it is only after Elaine agrees to undergo therapy that Alex allows any thoughts of romance to dance in his own head. Cult-film favorite Mary Woronov (Eating Raoul) guest stars as an avant-garde artist, while future Star Trek: Voyager regular Robert Picardo also makes an appearance. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Ewell, Mary Woronov, (more)
- 1977
The "heavy" in this episode is a crooked federal narcotics agent. Enjoying a brisk sideline of peddling dope during his off-hours, the agent commits murder when one of his customers discovers his true identity. Meanwhile, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) tries to root out the rotten apple in the law-enforcement barrel. Originally slated to air on January 5, 1977, "Don't Kill the Sparrow" was bumped forward to January 12. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1977
The title character in this episode is Sister Barbara (Edith Diaz), a feisty and fearless nun who works in a barrio street clinic. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) admires the way in which Sister Barbara is able to reform the various drug addicts in her care. Less admiring is an unknown assailant who murders one of the nun's patients -- then prepares to kill her off as well. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1977
An Italian-American neighborhood is in the clutches of a swaggering Mafia don. By holding the residents in a grip of terror, the don manages to extort a great deal of money -- and undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) is helpless to do anything about it, thanks to the refusal of the locals to speak up. This episode affords ample acting opportunities for the versatile Ross Martin and the tempestuous Katy Jurado. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1977
Mario Roccuzzo guest stars as Joey, a reformed alcoholic. As a personal favor to his friend, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake), Joey pretends to fall off the wagon. It is all part of a scheme to get the goods on Joey's former boss, a blackmailer/pornographer/pimp who sidelines in murder. Onetime Bonanza star Pernell Roberts makes quite a meal of his supporting role in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake
- 1977
Oscar-winning character actor Strother Martin makes a return visit to Baretta, this time in the role of an embittered doctor named Shaner. Having given up on humanity, Shaner has become a professional bounty hunter. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) finds himself in the uncomfortable position of preventing Doc Shaner from killing a scuzzy drug pusher who caused the death of a wealthy banker's daughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
A doctor is murdered, and the chief suspect is a grieving young father who held the victim responsible for his son's death. Placed in custody, the perpetrator escapes, embarking upon a seemingly senseless murder spree. In his efforts to nab the rampaging killer, undercover detective Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) tries to figure out his quarry's motives -- and his next move. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
In order to bring a vicious motorcycle gang to justice, undercover detective Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) needs the testimony of one of the gang members. Unfortunately, the intractable Assistant District Attorney (Alan Mandell) refuses to plea bargain with the witness. As a result, Baretta is forced to infiltrate the gang to save his inside informant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
After a two-week preemption for network Olympics coverage, Baretta returned on February 18, 1976 with this episode. The focus is on Billy Truman (Tom Ewell), the manager of the fleabag hotel that undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) calls home. The tension begins to mount when Billy is kidnapped, and the ransom demanded is the 500,000 dollars in stolen bonds that Baretta may have recovered after thwarting a robbery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
Joan Collins guest stars as female undercover officer Lynn Stiles. Teaming up with Tony Baretta (Robert Blake), Stiles tries to nab a murderous pimp who covets full control of the city's prostitutes. In an incredibly suspenseful climax, Baretta is forced to place Stiles in grave danger for the sake of justice. Star Robert Blake's wife Sondra Blake appears as Candy Lee, a character she'd introduced in the first-season episode "The Mansion." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
This time, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) goes behind bars to nab a master criminal. Posing as a convict, Baretta blends into the prison population in search of a minor-league jewel thief. His real target, however, is the genius who commandeered a huge jewel theft -- and ordered two brutal murders in the process. Guest stars include future Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones and soon-to-be CHiPs star Erik Estrada. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
A young pickpocket who works in a major airline terminal is found brutally murdered. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) can't understand why anyone would have reason to bump off a two-bit thief. But he intends to find out, and to do that he poses as an experienced "dip." Sanford and Son regular Whitman Mayo appears in a key supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
Sanford and Son regular Whitman Mayo guest stars as John Rich, a ghetto father whose son is "on the junk." Witnessing the murder of the dope pusher who hooked his son, John takes credit for the killing, thereby becoming a neighborhood hero. He also becomes the next target of the pusher's real killers, obliging undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) to come to the rescue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
Samantha Eggar guest stars as daycare worker Laurie Eckhardt, the newest girlfriend of undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake). Things become tense when Laurie is paid a visit by an escaped murderer. Clearly, she and the escapee have a close personal bond, but until Laurie admits what that bond is, her life is in danger -- and not even Baretta can help her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
Kim Hunter guest stars as Crazy Annie, a skid row derelict. Undercover detective Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) invades the shadowy, squalid world of Annie and her fellow down-and-outers as he searches for an elusive killer. Before he quite knows what has happened, Baretta is kidnapped by Annie, who is convinced that the cop is her long-lost son. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
The central character in this episode is C.C. (Diego Gonzalez), a street-smart nine-year-old boy. The product of an impoverished family, C.C. steals to support his mother (Janet MacLachlan) and siblings. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) hopes to convince C.C. to give up his life of crime, but the kid is a little too fast for the intrepid hero. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
Several teenage lawbreakers from a so-called honor farm escape their captors while appearing in court. The kids hijack a bus and take two police officers as hostage. As the escapees demand a plane to Cuba, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) tries to straighten out the tense situation with a minimum of violence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
Most of this episode is related in flashbacks, as undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) reads a suicide note left behind by a close friend. The bulk of the story concerns policewoman Pat Harley (Anjanette Comer), who had teamed up with Baretta to investigate the death of her husband, likewise a police officer. The investigation dredges up frustrating memories of Pat's private turmoils, culminating in a shattering climax. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
In search of a courier for stolen diamonds, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) boards a cross-country bus. The problem: Baretta has no idea what the courier looks like. A bigger problem: The bus is being closely followed by the mastermind of the diamond heist, who intends to exact a horrible revenge from his double-crossing henchmen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) goes undercover to locate a vicious rapist-murderer. What he doesn't know is that the perpetrator is posing as a cop. The outcome of the investigation may well rest in the hands of a deaf-mute shoeshine boy (Charlie Martin Smith). Featured in the cast is Spencer J. Milligan, definitely cast against type for those who remember him as the kindly family man in the Saturday-morning fantasy series Land of the Lost. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
Geraldine Brooks guest stars as Judge Anna Gavin, who years ago straightened out the life of an aimless teenage punk named Tony Baretta. Now all grown up, Baretta (Robert Blake) is an undercover cop, eternally grateful to the dedicated female jurist who directed him toward the straight and narrow. Alas, all is not well with Judge Gavin, who is being blackmailed by the slimy loan shark over whose trial she is currently presiding. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
Andrea Marcovicci guest stars as Sandra Fleming, an intrepid -- and somewhat obnoxious -- newspaper reporter. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) is none too happy when Sandra begins tagging along on his latest investigation. If she isn't careful, Sandra will botch Baretta's efforts to solve the attempted robbery of 500,000 dollars in syndicate money -- and probably get herself bumped off in the bargain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
