Alice Ghostley Movies

Different than the 1954 feature film version "New Faces," this show features more than 20 musical numbers. Among the faces to be seen are the stars of the original 1952 revue. ~ All Movie Guide

"Just one word: plastic." "Are you here for an affair?" These lines and others became cultural touchstones, as 1960s youth rebellion seeped into the California upper middle-class in Mike Nichols' landmark hit. Mentally adrift the summer after graduating from college, suburbanite Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) would rather float in his parents' pool than follow adult advice about his future. But the exhortation of family friend Mr. Robinson (Murray Hamilton) to seize every possible opportunity inspires Ben to accept an offer of sex from icily feline Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft). The affair and the pool are all well and good until Ben is pushed to go out with the Robinsons' daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross) and he falls in love with her. Mrs. Robinson sabotages the relationship and an understandably disgusted Elaine runs back to college. Determined not to let Elaine get away, Ben follows her to school and then disrupts her family-sanctioned wedding. None too happy about her pre-determined destiny, Elaine flees with Ben -- but to what? Directing his second feature film after Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Nichols matched the story's satire of suffocating middle-class shallowness with an anti-Hollywood style influenced by the then-voguish French New Wave. Using odd angles, jittery editing, and evocative widescreen photography, Nichols welded a hip New Wave style and a generation-gap theme to a fairly traditional screwball comedy script by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham from Charles Webb's novel. Adding to the European art film sensibility, the movie offers an unsettling and ambiguous ending with no firm closure. And rather than Robert Redford, Nichols opted for a less glamorous unknown for the pivotal role of Ben, turning Hoffman into a star and opening the door for unconventional leading men throughout the 1970s. With a pop-song score written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon & Garfunkel bolstering its contemporary appeal, The Graduate opened to rave reviews in December 1967 and surpassed all commercial expectations. It became the top-grossing film of 1968 and was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Actor, and Actress, with Nichols winning Best Director. Together with Bonnie and Clyde, it stands as one of the most influential films of the late '60s, as its mordant dissection of the generation gap helped lead the way to the youth-oriented Hollywood artistic "renaissance" of the early '70s. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide

A young widow with three children and a sheepdog marries a widowed man with a young daughter and a French poodle in this amusing comedy. Abby (Doris Day) is the owner of a lumberyard who falls for Jake (Brian Keith) when her sister Maxine (Pat Carroll) introduce the two at a party. The couple is initially reluctant and somewhat embarrassed over the blatant matchmaking attempt but meet later at an all-night store. The two marry and deal with constant canine and sassy sibling rivalries. Jake falls out of the family trailer on vacation, leading Abby to recruit a group of hippies to find her lost husband. Jamie Farr is the far out hippie, Barbara Hershey is Jake's daughter Stacey, comedian George Carlin plays Herbie Fleck, owner of a local hamburger stand, and Alice Ghostley is the harried housekeeper in this engaging romp. The Grass Roots provide some of the music in this feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

While entertaining Tabitha and Adam, Esmerelda goes into another of her magical sneezing fits and conjures up Mother Goose (Jane Connell), whose arrival coincides with a visit from Darrin's mother (Mabel Albertson). Passing Mother Goose off as Sam's eccentric aunt, the Stephenses find they have another dilemma on their hands -- Darrin's parents have quarreled, and are on the verge of divorce. Complication piles upon complication when Darrin's dad (Roy Roberts) seemingly takes quite a shine to Sam's "kooky relative." Originally aired on December 4, 1969, "Sam's Double Mother Trouble" was written by Peggy Chantler Dick and Douglas M. Dick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hoping to help Samantha in the kitchen, witch/maid Esmerelda tries to whip up a caesar salad. Instead, she produces Roman Emperor Julius Caesar (Jay Robinson), who is incensed that history has branded him a dictator. Unable to rid herself of the volatile house guest, Samantha decides to lure Caesar back to his own time by conjuring up Cleopatra (Elizabeth Thompson). "Samantha's Caesar Salad" was written by Ed Jurist, who later collaborated with guest star Jay Robinson on the Krofft-produced children's series Dr. Shrinker. The episode originally aired on October 2, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hogan is assigned to blow up a German train, but can't get past Stalag 13's beefed-up security. Hoping to keep Klink occupied while he attempts to slip away, Hogan arranges a cozy tête-à-tête between Klink and General Burkhalter's matrimony-minded sister -- but Klink, unwilling to be railroaded into marriage, becomes more vigilant than ever in guarding the camp. Alice Ghostley substitutes for Kathleen Freeman in the role of Gertrude Burkhalter. Written by Laurence Marks, "Watch the Trains Go By" first aired on February 1, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When Tabitha won't eat, Esmerelda conjures up a glass of magic milk to improve her appetite. Unfortunately, the milk is downed by Samantha, who promptly goes upon an uncontrollable eating binge at a local supermarket. Can Dr. Bombay curb Sam's sudden insatiability? Bernie Kopell returns in the role of warlock Apothecary. Written by Richard Baer, "Samantha's Lost Weekend" originally aired on January 8, 1970. ~ 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

Filmed largely on-location in Salem, MA this lively episode of Bewitched was written by Richard Michaels. Misinterpreting her orders from the Witches Council, Esmerelda zaps Samantha back to 17th century Salem -- where she is promptly put on trial for witchcraft. Likewise hurtled back to the past, Darrin tries to save Sam from the stake, even though she has no idea who he is (nor, for that matter, whom she is). Frequent series supporting players Ronald Long, James Westerfield, and Maudie Prickett are cast respectively as the Magistrate, innkeeper Mr. Farley, and Mrs. Farley. The final episode of an eight-part story arc, "Samantha's Old Salem Trip" originally aired on November 12, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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