Bernard Fox Movies

The Arnold of Arnold, like the Harry of The Trouble With Harry, is stone cold dead from the outset of this film. That doesn't stop Arnold's mistress Stella Stevens from marrying the corpse so as to come into his millions. The trick is to hide the fact that Arnold is indeed stiff as a mackerel. To accomplish this, a series of murders is a necessity. Special guest victims include Stevens' wastrel brother Roddy McDowall, her dotty sister Elsa Lanchester, handyman Jamie Farr, as well as lawyers Farley Granger and Patric Knowles. Also on hand are such dependables as Victor Buono, Shani Wallis, John McGiver and Bernard Fox. The script is by TV-sitcom stalwarts Jameson Brewer and John Fenton Murray. As one-joke films go, Arnold is as good as any. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The title of this episode refers to a rare ailment which befalls Endora. In his efforts to cure Endora of her allergy, Dr. Bombay inadvertently transfers all of Endora's magical powers to dotty old Aunt Clara. At first delighted that his mother-in-law can no longer plague him with witchcraft, Darrin soon learns to his chagrin that a powerless Endora is even more irritating than her former self. Written by Richard Baer, "Allergic to Macedonian Dodo Birds" (originally the "dodo" was supposed to have been a "road runner") was originally telecast on November 16, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jilted again, Esmerelda turns to Dr. Bombay for assistance. The doctor creates a love potion designed to cause one Mr. Norton (Cliff Norton) to fall madly in love with Esmerelda. Instead, the potion is accidentally served as a snack at Samantha and Darrin's dinner party for Darrin's new client, Mr. Meiklejohn (Charles Lane) and his wife (Sara Seegar). Written by Richard Baer, "Make Love Not Hate" first aired on April 15, 1970, as the final episode of Bewitched's sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mala Powers guest stars as Darrin's new client, M.J. Nilesmuster, who turns out to be his former girlfriend, Mary Jane. Certain that the woman harbors ill feelings towards him, Darrin is amazed that Mary Jane agrees to give him her account, but then accuses Samantha of using her witchcraft to cinch the deal. What he doesn't know is that Sam has temporarily lost her powers, and must rely upon the mercurial Dr. Bombay to restore her sorcery skills. Written by Barbara Avedon, "No Zip in My Zap" first aired on October 12, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When dotty old Aunt Clara tries to affix a soundtrack to Darrin's home movies of Tabitha, her spell characteristically goes awry. As a result, Samantha finds herself speaking out of sync, her lip movements failing to match her words (or, in the words of an anonymous TV Guide editor, Sam sounds like "a badly dubbed foreign film"). Dr. Bombay comes to the rescue, but the cure proves worse than the ailment. Roy Roberts takes over from Robert F. Simon in the role of Darrin's father, Frank Stephens. Written by Ed Jurist, "Out of Sync, Out of Mind" originally aired on November 2, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Darrin is perplexed when Samantha suddenly gains weight -- several tons, in fact -- while outwardly remaining her usual thin self. Dr. Bombay diagnoses the ailment as "Gravititis Inflammitis," then helpfully prescribes an antidote. As usual, the cure is worse than the disease; now Sam is so light of weight that she literally floats away. And also as usual, the entire situation serves to benefit the ad firm of McMann and Tate. Written by Michael Morris, "Samantha Is Earthbound" originally aired on January 15, 1972, the same day that Bewitched moved from its Wednesday-night timeslot to a Saturday berth opposite CBS' All in the Family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Expectant mother Samantha is having the usual cravings for exotic foods. Unfortunately, these cravings are wreaking havoc on her magical powers, and as a result all manner of bizarre edibles continue to appear and disappear at the most inopportune times. In attempting to cure Sam, Dr. Bombay manages to make things worse, and Sam's husband, Darrin, and his boss Larry Tate bear the brunt of Bombay's bungling. First telecast on October 9, 1969, "Samantha's Curious Cravings" was written by Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Darrin suffers an unusually long spell of bad luck, a fact which he wrongly attributes to his contentious mother-in-law, Endora. Samantha must utilize psychology to smooth Darrin's ruffled feathers and give him his confidence back. Frequent Bewitched supporting actor Charles Lane is once more magnificently typecast as Darrin's intractable client, Mr. Harmon. Written by Shirley Gordon, "Samantha's Magic Potion" made its network debut on December 17, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sexy witch Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery) continues to be compelled to cast various and sundry magical spells despite the objections of her mortal ad executive husband, Darrin Stephens (Dick York), as the fantasy sitcom Bewitched enters its fourth season. Also returning for more fun, frivolity, and wacky witchcraft are Agnes Moorehead as Samantha's imperious witch mother, Endora; Erin Murphy as Darrin and Samantha's daughter, Tabitha (who is beginning to exhibit certain "special powers" herself); David White as Darrin's overzealous boss, Larry Tate; Sandra Gould and George Tobias as the Stephens' neighbors Gladys and Abner Kravitz; and, on occasion, Paul Lynde as Samantha's prankish warlock Uncle Arthur. Conspicuous by her absence throughout most of season four is Marion Lorne as "Sam's" befuddled Aunt Clara, whose magical spells somehow always go awry. Seriously ill and suffering from a rapidly failing memory, the 84-year-old Marion Lorne was forced to severely cut back her work load; the actress died just after filming wrapped for the season, on May 9, 1968. Season four's best episodes include "Long Live the Queen," in which "Sam" must assume the position of Queen of the Witches, with Darrin as her reluctant consort; "A Safe Sane Halloween," wherein little Tabitha exercises her newfound powers to brings a few storybook goblins to life; "Samantha's Thanksgiving to Remember," which finds the Stephens family accidentally zapped back to the 17th century, whereupon Darrin and not Sam is accused of witchcraft; and "A Majority of Two," featuring the delightful character comedian Richard Haydn (Uncle Max in The Sound of Music) as a Japanese businessman who falls in love with Aunt Clara. ~ Hal Erickson, 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

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

Bernard Fox makes his first appearance in the role of eccentric warlock physician, Dr. Bombay. Unaware that Bombay is "bewitched," Darrin and Larry rush to market the good doctor's miracle cold pills. Not unexpectedly, the pills cause some truly bizarre side effects, which only Bombay can cure -- if he wants to, that is. Milton Frome appears as pharmaceutical manufacturer Mr. Hornbeck (hint to the episode's outcome: actor Frome was bald as an egg). Written by Paul Wayne and Ed Jurist, "There's Gold in Them Thar Pills" first aired on May 4, 1967, as the final episode of Bewitched's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide