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- 1976
In the opening episode of Baretta's third season, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) searches for the thugs who killed a young Nisei girl. Complications ensue when the dead girl's father takes the traditional Japanese vow to kill everyone connected with his daughter's death. Could this mean that Baretta himself is on the grieving father's list? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
In his third Baretta appearance, Burt Young is cast as Johnny Chekko, the longtime best friend of undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake). Unfortunately, Chekko has taken a different path in life, and is now employed as a professional hit man. Thus it is that Baretta enters into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with his former friend to prevent a high-profile assassination. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) works side by side with a federal agent to find the courier for a dealer in illegal weapons. Normally, Baretta's assignment would be fraught with danger. This time, however, that danger comes from an unsuspected but deadly source: Tony, his partner, and the fugitive have all been exposed to a particularly vicious form of contagious spinal meningitis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1976
Shelley Duvall guest stars as Aggie, an incredibly naïve young waitress. Aggie is the only witness when a cop accidentally kills his girlfriend. Preying upon Aggie's childlike faith in the infallibility of authority figures, the killer persuades her to finger another man as the culprit -- but undercover detective Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) smells a rat. This was the final episode of Baretta's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
In this first episode of Baretta's second season, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) goes after heroin dealers who are trafficking in a very pure, and very lethal, grade of the addictive drug. Singer-composer Paul Williams, who co-wrote the script, guest stars as a music emporium owner who sidelines as a dope pusher -- and who is unwittingly doling out the deadly "horse." Edward Grover joins the cast as Lt. Hal Brubaker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
Harris Yulin guest stars as Detective Grissom, a law enforcement officer who is more interested in self-glorification than in justice. Grissom's insatiable thirst for fame proves to be a royal pain for his temporary partner, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake). In his efforts to catch a gun dealer who sells to teens, Baretta is constantly flustered by Grissom's egomaniacal interference. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
A pre-One Day at a Time Mackenzie Phillips guest stars as Mindy, a runaway teenager. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) manages to catch up to Mindy and to handcuff himself to the girl. Anxious to return to headquarters, Baretta and Mindy clamber into a police squad car and ask the uniformed drivers for a lift. Unfortunately, the two "cops" at the wheel turn out to be a pair of homicidal holdup men (played by Strother Martin and Gary Busey). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) is anxious to clear his partner of a trumped-up shooting charge. To that end, Baretta seeks out the only person who saw the shooting and can tell the truth. Alas, the syndicate also wants to catch up to the witness -- and to silence him for keeps. This episode was shown on October 1, 1975, in place of the scheduled Baretta installment "Nobody in a Nothing Place," which in turn was moved to December 17 of that year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
Rocky co-star Burt Young makes his second Baretta appearance, this time in the role of immigrant Jewish watchmaker Solomon Goldfarb. No stranger to persecution, Goldfarb defiantly stands up to a gang of protection extortionists who have been terrorizing his neighborhood. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) makes it his personal mission to protect Goldfarb from mob retribution. The actual telecast date of this episode is in doubt: Originally scheduled for November 19, 1975, it was reportedly not seen until over a year later, on December 29, 1976. However, a summer 1976 telecast of the episode was listed as a "rerun" in the pages of TV Guide, suggesting that "The Big Hand's on Trouble" first aired sometime in December 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
A murder is committed, and the only witness is a restaurant busboy. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) tries to locate the missing busboy before the bad guys catch up to him. Originally scheduled to air on October 1, 1975, this episode was rescheduled at the last minute, finally seeing the light of day on December 17 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) goes undercover as a stevedore to investigate a series of dockside murders. Unfortunately, a waitress with a long-standing grudge against Baretta recognizes him. Will she blow the whistle on his cover, thereby putting both Tony and herself in jeopardy? Susan Tyrrell essays a dual role in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
This time, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) is on the trail of a professional arsonist. In hopes of expediting his assignment, Baretta enlists the aid of a retired pyrotechnics expert -- who, after sustaining serious injuries in a tenement fire, may turn out to be too unstable to be of any help. Series star Blake is afforded the opportunity to ad-lib to his heart's content in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
Charles Durning guest stars as Hatch, a veteran safecracker whom undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) sent to prison. When a series of jewelry store robberies hits his district, Baretta realizes that there is only one man who can help him bring the perps to justice. Need it be added that the man in question is none other than the hapless Hatch? Former B-Western leading lady Peggy Stewart appears in a cameo role as a teacher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
When a retired cop falls off the roof of a building, his death is ruled as accidental, brought about by excessive drinking. But the cop's grandson doesn't buy this verdict, insisting that the old man was murdered. It is up to undercover detective Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) -- and a hitherto hidden witness -- to solve the mystery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
Slim Pickens makes his first Baretta guest-star appearance in the role of retired mugger Harry Muzursky. When Harry claims that he has "found God" and renounced his life of crime, detective Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) wants to believe him. But after an unidentified cat burglar seriously injures the wife of his latest victim, hapless Harry finds himself at the top of the Likely Suspect list. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
Karen Valentine guest stars as Holly Dean, the fiancée of a former mobster. When her boyfriend dies, he entrusts his "little black book" to Holly's care. Since the book contains the itemized accounts of several local mobsters, both the good guys and the bad guys would like to get their hands on the valuable legacy. But when Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) approaches Holly and asks for the book, she lies about having it -- a misguided act of loyalty to her late sweetheart that may cost the lives of both herself and Baretta. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) investigates when a blind hot dog vendor is murdered. The only witness is a hungry little girl named Molly (Elizabeth Cheshire), who got a good look at one of the killers. Unfortunately, both of the perpetrators got a very good look at Molly, meaning that her life won't be worth a bottle of mustard unless Baretta comes to the rescue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
A desperate young mother wants to reclaim the baby she sold into adoption. The woman approaches undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake), begging for his help. Baretta takes on the case, and in so doing exposes a "black market baby" racket. This episode was first telecast on November 19, 1975, in place of the scheduled Baretta installment "The Big Hand's on Trouble," which was moved to December of the same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1975
Future Rocky supporting player Burt Young guest stars as Willy, the mentally challenged friend of undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake). Though he'd like to spend more time with Willy, Baretta must first solve a series of bizarre burglaries. As the evidence mounts up, Baretta comes to the uncomfortable conclusion that Willy himself may be involved in the crimes. The title of this episode refers to the song heard during the credits of Baretta, sung by Sammy Davis Jr. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Dana Elcar, (more)
- 1975
"The Mansion" is a huge estate in which vices of all sorts are bought and sold. With the Syndicate holding the Mansion in an iron grip, the police have been unable to shut the place down. Hoping to succeed where his colleagues have failed, Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) gains entrance to the Mansion by posing as a gangster on the lam. Sondra Blake, the then wife of series star Robert Blake, is one of the supporting players in this tension-packed episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Dana Elcar, (more)
- 1975
Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) may be at home on the Mean Streets, but he is totally out of his element amongst the rich and privileged. Nonetheless, Baretta is forced to "invade" an upscale village community, in search of a missing heiress. One thing is certain to the hero: Bad guys are bad guys, no matter how much they have in their bank accounts. With this episode, Season One of Baretta came to an end. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Dana Elcar, (more)
- 1975
Margot Kidder guest stars as Terry Lake, the erstwhile girlfriend of small-time hood Danell (Nicholas Colasanto). A murder has been committed, and Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) is convinced that Danell is the guilty party. Protesting his innocence, the hoodlum is confident that Terry will supply him with an alibi -- but both he, and Baretta, are in for several surprises. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Dana Elcar, (more)
- 1975
Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) investigates when the wife of a high-profile attorney is found murdered. It turns out that the dead woman was once a "lady of the evening" -- and that she made several enemies amongst the Syndicate while plying her trade. Hoping to trap the killers, Baretta enlists the aid of his elderly landlord, ex-cop Billy Truman (Tom Ewell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Dana Elcar, (more)
- 1975
Much against his better judgment, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) allows his girlfriend Andrea (Ann Prentiss), a freelance photographer, to tag along with him on his latest investigation. Somewhere along the line, Andrea stumbles upon a sack containing 500,000 dollars in Syndicate money. Hoping to scoop her journalistic rivals, the girl discreetly hides the loot -- thereby virtually signing a death warrant for herself and Baretta. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Dana Elcar, (more)
- 1975
Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) is partnered with neurotic, pill-popping police officer Scotty (Michael Parks) during a frustratingly long drug stakeout. What Baretta doesn't know -- at least not at first -- is that Scotty is at the end of his financial rope, having been spent into the poorhouse by his selfish girlfriend. Can it be that Scotty is open for a bribe from the very perps he has been assigned to nab? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Dana Elcar, (more)
