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

Will Geer guest stars as George Washington, who has been accidentally zapped into the 20th century by bumbling Esmerelda. Impressed at the progress made by the country which he fathered, Washington decides to exercise his right of free speech in a local park. As a result, he is arrested for creating a public disturbance and threatening a policeman, forcing Samantha to do some quick witchery. Thad Geer, son of Will Geer, appears as a hippie. The first episode of a two-part story, "George Washington Zapped Here" was written by Michael Morris and originally aired on February 19, 1972. ~ 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

In the sixth episode of an eight-part story arc, the Stephenses and the Tates continue their sightseeing tour of Salem, MA, where most of the episode was filmed. When she accidentally causes Larry's expensive Paul Revere teapot to vanish, she tries to make amends, only to conjure up the spirit of Paul Revere (Bert Convy) himself. Still thinking that he is in colonial times, Revere vows to prevent British businessman Sir Leslie (Jonathan Harris) from "invading the American market." Written by Philip Sharp and Henry Sharp, "Paul Revere Rides Again" was originally telecast on October 29, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, 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

Esmerelda is in another funk and Samantha takes it upon herself to restore the maid/witch's confidence. To this end, Sam creates a magic mirror that makes Esmerelda seem younger and more attractive -- but only to herself. Even so, the results are quite surprising when Esmerelda is reunited with her 400-year-old warlock boyfriend, Ferdy (Tom Bosley). Originally telecast on April 8, 1971, "Samantha's Magic Mirror" was written by Ed Jurist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of a seven-part story arc, Samantha and Darrin are vacationing in Italy when Sam discovers that Esmerelda was the one who caused the tower of Pisa to lean way back in the 15th century. In endeavoring to make up for her past blunders, Esmerelda succeeds only in ruining the Pisa tourist trade. Everything is resolved by yet another "blast into the past," courtesy of Sam. Originally seen on October 6, 1971, "Samantha's Not So Leaning Tower of Pisa" was written by Ed Jurist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having previously appeared on Bewitched as an incompetent "mortal" maid, Alice Ghostley returns to the series in the semi-regular role of Esmerelda, a timid witch hired as the Stephenses' housekeeper by Samantha's mother, Endora. Though Esmerelda is likable enough, she has two curious and troublesome habits: She fades from view whenever she's nervous, and she causes misfire magic to happen whenever she sneezes. Inevitably, Sam and Darrin are forced to cover Esmerelda's tracks when she accidentally conjures up a unicorn. Written by Ed Jurist, "Samantha's Yoo Hoo Maid" first aired on September 25, 1969. ~ 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

Several former college students find their former drug experiences catching up with them in an unexpected and terrifying manner in this clever horror outing. Jerry Zipkin (Zalman King) is a bright but troubled man in his late twenties who graduated from Stanford University in 1968 but hasn't had much luck getting his life in order since then. One night Jerry attends a party with a few old college buddies, and is shocked when one of them, Frannie (Richard Crystal), suddenly loses all his hair in a single lump and goes on a bloody rampage. When circumstantial evidence makes Jerry a key suspect in the murders of three women at the party, he sets out to find out what happened, and with the help of another school friend, surgeon David Blume (Robert Walden), he discovers a link between Frannie's bizarre behavior and several similar incidents which recently occurred. In each case, the killers attended Stanford in the late '60s, and all had used Blue Sunshine, a potent but tainted variety of LSD sold by Ed Flemming (Mark Goddard), a bootleg acid chemist who is now a respected mainstream political candidate. Jerry struggles to stay one step ahead of the law as he tries to piece the story together, knowing that another victim of the drug could go insane at any moment. Blue Sunshine was directed by Jeff Lieberman, who has two other cult favorites to his credit, Squirm and Just Before Dawn. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide