Jacques Aubuchon Movies

In their latest earthly guises, angels Jonathan (Michael Landon) and Mark (Victor French) are employed as bellhops in a luxurious hotel. Their current "client" is Barry Rudd (Brian Kerwin), the listless, unmotivated son of millionaire Clinton Rudd (Jacques Aubuchon) . Employing methods both subtle and radical, Jonathan and Mark endeavor to arouse Barry out of his self-imposed torpor and to make decisions that will help him find true meaning in his life. And as a side benefit, a number of underserving characters get just what's coming to them! ~ All Movie Guide

Dick Van Dyke is the Drop-Out Father in this lighthearted TV movie. A successful but unsatisfied insurance executive, Van Dyke decides one day to kick over the traces. As his wife (Mariette Hartley) and family listen in fascinated horror, our hero announces his plans to move from the suburbs to a Manhattan loft, there to "find himself." With the exception of his loyal youngest daughter, Van Dyke's family elects to stay put, permitting him to carve out a new life on his own. Peter Matz won an Emmy nomination for his sprightly musical score. Originally telecast September 17, 1982, Drop-Out Father was followed in 1988 by a made-for-TV sequel, innovatively titled Drop-Out Mother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While tutoring fellow student Tom Povich (Richard Masur), who is attending Boatwright on a football scholarship, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) catches Tom cheating on a history exam. Though he'd sooner keep quiet, John-Boy is bound by the students' "honor code", which dictates that he himself will be given a failing grade unless he informs on Tom. This leads to an emotional denoument during a student council meeting, in which John-Boy tries to rationalize Tom's actions and prevent the boy from being expelled. And in a similar development, Jason (Jon Walmsley) wonders if he should "rat out" his brother Ben (Eric Scott), whom he has caught smoking a cigarette! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this uneven comedy, Abner (Don Knotts) is the editor of a bird-watching magazine who is the victim of a hostile corporate takeover by Osborn Tremaine (Edmond O'Brien). When Abner returns from a bird-watching excursion to Brazil, he finds his publication has been purchased for the fourth-class mailing permit. Osborn turns the publication into a girlie magazine and puts his wife Elanor (Maureen Arthur) on the front cover. Still listed as an editor, Abner becomes The Love God as the public perceives him as a Hugh Hefner-like character, epitomizing the life of a swinging bachelor playboy. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Thanks to another of Aunt Clara's misbegotten spells, the Stephenses and nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz are whisked back to 17th century Plymouth for the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving. Predictably, the founding fathers -- including John Alden (Richard Bull), Miles Standish (Peter Cannon), and a fictional character named Phineas (Jacques Aubuchon) -- suspect that there is sorcery afoot. Less predictably, it is hapless Darrin who is accused of being a witch. Written by Tom August and Helen August, "Samantha's Thanksgiving to Remember" first aired on November 23, 1967 (Thanksgiving Day, of course). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Julie Newmar guest stars as Yellow Bird, a white girl stolen by Apaches in infancy and raised as one of their own. Hoping to collect a huge reward, O'Rourke (Forrest Tucker) offers to rescue Yellow Bird on behalf of her father, millionaire mining tycoon Gideon D. Jeffries (Jacques Aubuchon). Unfortunately, the girl has no intention of being rescued--and to make matters worse, she has fallen in love with Captain Parmenter (Ken Berry) and refuses to leave his side. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In a variation of the "Colditz" legend, Hanley (Rick Jason) is among the Allied soldiers held captive in an ancient castle which has been converted into a German POW camp. Inevitably, the prisoners devise a plan to have one of their number escape and get word to their comrades. Chosen for the assignment is Hanley, who is given a phony Albanian uniform in order to pass through the German lines unnoticed--but will he be able to keep up the charade for the remainder of the episode? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this comedy, a Yankee musician is working in Paris when he encounters a movie star chasing after her naughty French poodle Monsieur Cognac. The name is most apropos for the little doggy is quite the lush when it comes to booze. This suits the hard-drinking musician just fine and the two go out on a bender. Later the star and her father find the toasted twosome. The star begins falling in love with the musician. Despite her father's objections, the two get married. Unfortunately, Mr. Cognac accompanies them on the honeymoon. He becomes quite jealous of the woman's new husband and ruins their wedding night. Because she refuses to relinquish the dog, their new marriage is nearly destroyed. They separate until the husband manages to bring home Pink Poupee, a charming female poodle. Suddenly Mr. C forgets all about his jealousy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A Middle Eastern country has acquired a mysterious ray weapon that successfully knocks down an American spy plane. Seaview is ordered to investigate, and Crane must make contact with the country's political underground. But the country's leader, General Gamal (Malachi Throne), is more devious and dangerous than his opponents guess -- Crane ends up being captured and used as bait for the Seaview, when the same weapon threatens to disable and crush the submarine. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

Philanthropist Carleton Gage (Everett Glass) hires Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) to alter his will so that the orphanage he supports will remain open. Unfortunately, Gage lapses into a coma just before the will can be finalized. As Gage's life ebbs away, two of his beneficiaries, his cousin George (Jacques Aubuchon) and his employee Ernest Demming (John Morley) demand that the orphanage be shut down--while Gage's sister-in-law Joane Proctor (Jan Shepard) just as insists that the place will stay in business. By and by, Demming is murdered, and Joane is charged with the crime--meaning that Perry will have to redirect his energies to save Joane from being convicted. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Entering into a poker game with a loudmouthed miner named Moriarity (Jacques Aubuchon), Paladin (Richard Boone) ends up winning a month's worth of Moriarity's "Silver Strike." But this is hardly a reason to celebrate: "Silver Strike" turns out to be Moriarity's young son (Flip Mark), as wild and unruly a creature as has ever walked the earth. In the month alotted him, Paladin endeavors to scrub, tame and educate the incorrigible youngster--a formidable task indeed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Billy Banjo (Jacques Aubuchon), an old friend of Paladin (Richard Boone), is currently running for the Wyoming State Senate. Billy's wife Elise (Rita Lynn) is so devoted to her husband that she is willing to do anything--anything!--to assure his victory. As a result, a nervous Billy hires Paladin (Richard Boone) to prevent Elise from arranging the murder of the opposing candidate! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

On probation for car theft, young Jimmy Morrow (Peter Miles) tries his best to "go straight", only to be accused of stealing a priceless Spanish cross. Worse still, Jimmy is charged with the murder of the relic's owner, Curtis Runyan (Donald Randolph). Out of sympathy for Jimmy's beleagured parents, Perry (Raymond Burr) agrees to handle the boy's defense. (Trivia note: Peter Miles is the brother of actress Gigi Perreau, who'd played Perry's client in the first-season episode "The Case of the Desperate Daughter".) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide