Peter Graves Movies
The younger brother of Gunsmoke star James Arness, American actor Peter Graves worked as a musician and radio actor before entering films with 1950's Rogue River. At first, it appeared that Graves would be the star of the family, since he was cast in leads while brother Jim languished in secondary roles. Then came Stalag 17 (1953), in which Graves was first-rate as a supposedly all-American POW who turned out to be a vicious Nazi spy. Trouble was, Graves played the part too well, and couldn't shake the Nazi stereotype in the eyes of most Hollywood producers. Suddenly the actor found himself in such secondary roles as Shelley Winters' doomed husband in Night of the Hunter (1955) (he was in and out of the picture after the first ten minutes), while sibling James Arness was riding high with Gunsmoke. Dissatisfied with his film career, Graves signed on in 1955 for a network kid's series about "a horse and the boy who loved him." Fury wasn't exactly Citizen Kane, but it ran five years and made Graves a wealthy man through rerun residuals--so much so that he claimed to be making more money from Fury than his brother did from Gunsmoke. In 1966, Peter Graves replaced Steven Hill as head honcho of the force on the weekly TV adventure series Mission: Impossible, a stint that lasted until 1973. Though a better than average actor, Graves gained something of a camp reputation for his stiff, straight-arrow film characters and was often cast in films that parodied his TV image. One of the best of these lampoonish appearances was in the Zucker-Abrahams comedy Airplane (1980), in which Graves played a deceptively macho-male airline pilot who leeringly asked an admiring young boy "Say...do you like gladiator movies?" This "out of closet" appearance apart, Peter Graves has effortlessly maintained his reliable, authoritative movie persona into the '90s, successfully replacing Edward Herrmann as the resident documentary host on cable's Arts and Entertainment Network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1972
Frequent Mission:Impossible villain John Vernon makes a return appearance in "Movie," this time as mob-connected Hollywood mogul Norman Shields. In order to wrest the Syndicate's financial records from Shields, Phelps poses as Theo Dane, the courier brother of mob financier Benjamin Dane (David Brian). But the more fascinating masquerade is pulled off by IMF agents Barney and Mimi Davis (Barbara Anderson), who respectively impersonate a director and an actress while purportedly filming a recreation of a murder committed by Shields (shades of "The Murder of Gonzago" in Shakespeare's Hamlet!) Scripted by Anthony Bowers, Arthur Weiss, and Stephen Kandel, from a story by Bowers, "Movie" first aired on November 4, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
Imprisoned mobster Gunther Schell (H.M. Wynant) is the only person who knows where a stolen cache of money is located. Before the IMF can reach Schell, he is sprung from jail by a mob-controlled "underground railroad", which specializes in robbing its clients before smuggling them out of the country. To put both Schell and the "underground" out of business --- and, incidentally, to recover the stolen millions --- Jim Phelps poses as a wanted murderer. Peter Mark Richman also appears in this episode as criminal mastermind Hargreaves. Originally aired on October 28, 1972, "Underground" was written by Leigh Vance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
The IMF has only 72 hours to intercept a huge shipment of cocaine, which is being delivered to supplier Carl Reid (Stephen McNally) by smuggler Fernando Lorca (Gregory Sierra). In order to undermine the main villains, agents Phelps and Willy prey upon the gullibility of Reid's second-in-command, Joe Conrad (William Shatner, in the second of his Mission: Impossible guest appearances). The gimmick: a "miraculous" new computerized machine which purportedly manufactures synthetic cocaine. Barbara Anderson again appears as IMF operative Mimi Davis, subbing for series regular Lynda Day George. Scripted by Harold Livingston from a story by Livingston and Norman Katkov, "Cocaine" was first broadcast on October 21, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
The title of this Mission:Impossible episode refers to a potentially devastating new biological weapon. Traitorous government scientist Paul Morse (Ross Elliot) intends to sell TOD-5 to Gordon Holt (Peter Haskell), special representative of a terrorist organization known as the Alpha Group. With time rapidly running out, the IMF must locate the Alpha's headquarters and neutralize the weapon. Ray Walston guest-stars as Dr. Flory, while Barbara Anderson makes her third series appearance as erstwhile IMF agent Mimi Davis. First telecast on October 14, 1972, "TOD-5" was written by James D. Buchanan and Ronald Austin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
"Leona" was the name of the late wife of Syndicate chieftan Joe Epic (Robert Goulet). In order to rescue a captured undercover agent, the IMF must force a schism in the new partnership between Epic and his former gangland rival Mike Apollo (Mike Apollo). The Mission: to convince Epic that Apollo was responsible for Leona's murder --- after having a torrid affair with the unfortunate woman. Written by Howard Brown, "Leona" made its network TV debut on October 7, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
In a reversal of the situation in the sixth-season episode "Encore," in which a gangster was persuaded that he had gone back in time from 1971 to 1937, the IMF must jump forward some 27 years in the seventh-season Mission:Impossible entry "Two Thousand." Vic Morrow guest-stars as master thief Joseph Collins, who has stolen 50 kg of plutonium. To find out where Collins has stashed the deadly material, the IMF contrives to convince Collins that he has been in hibernation until the year 2000 --- and that a nuclear holocaust has tranformed the US into a police state. Most of this episode was filmed on location in the ruins of a hospital leveled by the California earthquake of February 1971. Written by Harold Livingston, "Two Thousand" first aired on September 23, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
Syndicate boss Charles Rogan (Robert Webber) has salted away $5,000,000 in order to finance a mob-benefiting political coup in the Carribean nation of Camagua. Commandeering a Navy patrol boat, the IMF stages a characteristically elaborate scam (including the "murder" of agent Barney) in order to locate the key to Rogan's hidden millions. Barbara Anderson makes her second appearance as temporary IMF agent Mimi Davis. Originally telecast on September 30, 1972, "The Deal" was scripted by George F. Slavin and Stephen Kandel, from a story by Slavin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
Scripted by Rick Husky from a story by Sam Roeca, "Trapped" is a radical departure from the usual Mission:Impossible format. Things start traditionally enough, as the IMF sets about to recover an $8 million army payroll from a family of smugglers: Joe, Arthur and Doug Stafford (Tom Tully, Jon Cypher, and Bert Convy). But the odds change dramatically when Phelps is hit on the head and loses his memory--then wanders straight into a trap set by the crooks. "Trapped" first aired on February 26, 1972, as the final episode of Mission:Impossible's sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
The seventh and final season of Mission:Impossible commenced on September 16, 1972 with the episode titled "Break!" In his second series appearance, guest star Carl Betz is cast as Syndicate gambling boss Dutch Krebs, who has just finished murdering a federal undercover agent. The IMF must recover the wristwatch camera that the dead agent was carrying, and to do this Jim Phelps poses as a pool hustler, engaging Krebs in a high-stakes game which had been meticulously rigged by fellow IMF agent Barney. Though series regular Lynda Day George receives billing as agent Lisa Casey in this and subsequent episodes, she spent most of the 1972-73 season on maternity leave. Her IMF replacement in "Break!" and elsewhere is paroled convict Mimi Davis, played by former Ironside regular Barbara Anderson. Thus, in this episode the viewer is treated to the ritual of the Impossible Mission Force's recruiting process for the first and only time. "Break!" was written by Sam Roeca and James L. Henderson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
Syndicate loan sharks Ollie Shanks (Paul Koslo) and Rudy Blake (Lou Antonio) must be intercepted before they can transfer $10 million from Hawaii to California. Assigned to put Shanks and Blake out of business, IMF agent Willy ends up being captured himself. As the villains inject Willy with near-fatal doses of truth serum, his fellow agents race against time to complete his mission before their cover is blown. Scripted by Jackson Gillis and Laurence Heath from a story by Gillis, "Double Dead" originally aired on February 12, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
Once again, the IMF agents must break the bank of a popular casino to bring down a master criminal. In this case, the villain is Syndicate chieftan Orin Kerr (Orin Kerr), who controls not only the casino but the entire resort town where it is located. The IMF's mission is twofold: Hit both the casino's gaming tables and its vault simultaneously. Originally broadcast on February 19, 1972, "Casino" was written by Walter Brough and Howard Berk. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
"Committed" was first telecast on January 22, 1972, the same day that the latest cast of Mission:Impossible appeared on the cover of TV Guide. Bert Freed guest stars as Syndicate chieftan Leon Chandler, whose trial for murder may end in acquittal thanks to the actions of a corrupt lieutenant governor. The key witness against Chandler, Nora Dawson (Susan Howard), is slowly being driven insane in a mob-controlled mental hospital. The IMF's mission: To infiltrate the hospital, rescue Nora, and expose Chandler's political stooge. Series regular Lynda Day George steals the show with her impersonation of a deranged woman. "Committed" was scripted by Arthur Weiss, from a story by Laurence Heath. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
The IMF is assigned to learn the identity of a corrupt political higher-up, known only by his code name C6. To that end, Casey poses as a Syndicate delivery girl. The catch: The briefcase Casey is to deliver has been wired with a live bomb, set to explode the moment the briefcase is opened. A pre-Rookies Georg Stanford Brown heads the guest-star list as Luke Jenkins. First broadcast on January 29, 1972, "Bag Woman" was written by Ed Adamson and Norman Katkov. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
Although crooked private eye Larry Edison (Bradford Dillman) has been thrown into prison, he still wields a great deal of power over Syndicate boss Vincent Vochek (Robert Ellenstein). Edison has in his possession a roll of film proving Vochek's involvement in a recent murder. The IMF hopes to get its hands on the film and turn it over to the Feds, and this requires a massive--but phony--prison break. First broadcast on January 8, 1972, "Stone Pillow" was written by Howard Browne. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
The IMF's mission: To retrieve a list of crooked public officials from fleeing vice lord Emil Gadsen (George Voskovec), and to utterly destroy both Gadsen and his boss Thor Coffin (Warren Stevens). The strategy: To convince Gadsen that he has a long-lost twin brother named Bruno. Future Hill Street Blues star Daniel J. Travanti, here billed as "Dan Travanty", plays a minor hood named Tony. Written by Sam Roeca and James L. Henderson, "Image" was first networkcast on January 15, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
"The Bride" is none other than IMF agent Casey in this Mission: Impossible episode from January 1, 1972. This time, the IMF has targetted Syndicate hit man Joe Corvin (James Gregory), who has turned "money man" and is smuggling millions of underworld dollars out of the country. To get the goods on Corvin, Casey poses as his mail-order bride. Brad Dexter, one of the original "Magnificent Seven" in the 1960 film of the same name, costars as Frank Mellinger. "The Bride" was written by Jackson Gillis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
Still being seen on Saturday nights -- albeit in a later time slot -- Mission: Impossible entered its sixth season with hopes that its ever-diminishing ratings (brought about by the defection of its two most popular regulars, Martin Landau and Barbara Bain) would take an upward turn. In this spirit, the series offers some of its best-ever episodes during season six, notably "Encore," in which the IMF team literally recreates the year 1937 on a Hollywood backlot in order to convince an aging gangster (William Shatner) that he has gone back in time, thus coercing him to confess to a long-unsolved crime; "The Visitors," wherein the team stages a disturbingly realistic extraterrestrial invasion to expose the mob connections of a powerful media mogul (Steve Forrest); and "Invasion," with Kevin McCarthy as a traitor who is hoodwinked into believing that the United States has become a military dictatorship. Of the familiar series regulars, Peter Graves still heads the cast as IMF leader Jim Phelps, Greg Morris continues to essay the role of electronics whiz Barney Collier, and Peter Lupus remains on hand as muscle-man Willie Armitage. Missing this season are Lesley Ann Warren as the team's versatile female member Dana Lambert, replaced by Lynda Day George as Lisa Casey; and Leonard Nimoy as master of disguise Paris, replaced by nobody. Although the six-year-old Mission: Impossible easily out-rated its NBC and ABC competition -- Saturday Night at the Movies and The Persuaders, respectively -- the series was still a far cry from its 11th place ratings peak during the series' third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Lynda Day George, (more)
- 1971
To prevent himself from breaking under interrogation, captured enemy spy Colonel Vanin (Frank Marth) has hypnotized himself into forgetting the whereabouts of a top-secret spy roster. The IMF's only key to unlocking Vanin's memory is his wife Olga (Antoinette Bower), who may or may not know the verbal cue that will reveal what is on Vanin's mind. To coerce Olga into cooperating, the IMF agents stage a phony hidden-bomb crisis. Originally seen on March 6, 1971, "The Party" was written by Harold Livingston. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Leonard Nimoy, (more)
- 1971
Forming an unholy alliance, mobsters Frank Mason (Frank Mason) and Edward Trask (Richard Jaeckel) have been successfully modernizing, computerizing and (violently) streamlining the Syndicate's gambling activities. The IMF is assigned to break up the relationship between the two master criminals. The plan calls for Phelps to pose as the owner of a prize racehorse, and for Casey to impersonate a wealthy racetrack aficionado. Written by Edward J. Lasko, "Run for the Money" was originally broadcast on December 11, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1971
In still another virtuoso Mission:Impossible guest appearance, Anthony Zerbe is cast as heroin supplier Reese Dolan. It is up to the IMF to locate Dolan's source of raw opium, and to put him out of business permanently. Step Number One: The IMF agents must convert a tiny speck of land off the Georgia coastline into the African island where Dolan plans to set up shop. First broadcast on December 18, 1971, "The Connection" was scripted by Edward J. Lasko andKen Pettus, from a story by Lasko. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1971
This time, the IMF takes on the challenge of staging an invasion from outer space. It is all part of a plan to derail the political ambitions of mob-connected publishing tycoon Edward Granger (Steve Forrest). Highlights include Phelps and Casey's pose as a pair of futuristic physicians. Written by Harold Livingston, "The Visitors" was originally telecast November 27, 1971; ironically, the episode was rerun during the same April week in 1972 that the Apollo 16 lunar expedition was launched. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1971
$75 million in stolen diamonds is hidden somewhere on the ocean floor. Only Frederick Hoffman (Jeremy Slate) knows the actual whereabouts of the gems, and Hoffman is currently the prisoner of sadistic master criminal George Berlinger (Fritz Weaver). The IMF must recover the diamonds before Hoffman cracks under Berlinger's torture--and to accomplish this, Phelps and Casey must convince Berlinger that they know what he wants to know. The underwater scenes were filmed on location at Marineland of the Pacific. Wrtten by Arthur Weiss, "Underwater" was first telecast on November 6, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1971
Elizabeth Ashley shines in an extremely difficult guest-star turn in the Mission:Impossible episode "Encounter." The IMF is assigned to halt the extortionist activities of crooked business executives Frank Brady (Val Avery) and Martin Stoner (Lawrence Dane). The key to the mission's success is the mercurial -- but potentially beneficial -- behavior of Stoner's alcoholic wife Lois (Ashley). Originally seen on October 30, 1971, "Encounter" was written by Howard Beck. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1971
William Windom makes a return visit to Mission: Impossible, again in a villainous characterization. This time, Windom is cast as Stu Gorman, a music-industry executive fronting for the Syndicate. To get the goods on Gorman, IMF agents Barney and Casey pose as blues singers--with Casey taking her part of the charade to dangerous extremes. This episode is highlighted by Greg Morris' rendition of "Judy's Gone Now", a song specially written for the series by Morris and Benny Golson. Scripted by Howard Berk and Orville H. Hampton from a story by Berk, "Blues" first aired on November 20, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1971
The worst has happened: The United States has been invaded and occupied by an unfriendly foreign power. At least, that is what the IMF wants American turncoat Whitmore Channing (Kevin McCarthy) to believe. The purpose of this charade is to prevent Channing from handing over top secret information to the Enemy. The real fun in this episode lies in watching guest star Kevin McCarthy undergo the same paranoia he earlier exhibited in the classic sci-fi film Invasion of the Body Snatchers) (1971). First telecast on November 13, 1971, "Invasion" was written by James L. Henderson and Sam Roeca. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
