Grayson Hall Movies
Educated at Cornell University, American actress Grayson Hall established her reputation on stage. Among her many theatrical achievements were Six Characters in Search of an Author, under the direction of Tyrone Guthrie, and The Balcony, supervised by Jose Quintero. Hall's first film was Night of the Iguana (1964), for which she received an Oscar nomination. The actress then played the kidnapped bank teller in Disney's That Darn Cat (1965), probably the biggest moneymaker with which she was associated. In 1966, Grayson signed on for ABC's supernatural soap opera Dark Shadows, playing a doctor who tried to cure Barnabas Collins of his vampirism but who wound up falling in love with him instead. Grayson Hall left Dark Shadows in 1971 for a long stint on another, more sedate daytime drama, One Life to Live. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1974
No, nobody steals a skating rink in The Great Ice Rip-Off. The "ice" referred to in the title of this TV movie is a cache of diamonds, stolen by aging thief Gig Young and his entourage. Most of the story transpires during a bus ride from Seattle to San Diego, during which Young's various gang members come aboard with their share of the stolen booty. Lee J. Cobb plays one of the bus passengers, who happens to be an ex-cop with a suspicious nature. The climactic chase sequence in The Great Ice Rip-Off is handled con brio by director Dan Curtis--far removed from his earlier work on Dark Shadows. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Kathleen Quinlan guest stars as Jan Conforti, a college coed who is brutally raped by two men. Adding to the horror, Jan witnesses the murder of one of her two assaulters--and now there's a third person stalking her to keep her from talking. Kojak (Telly Savalas) tries to persuade the traumatized girl to tell him what she's seen, but she can't even bring herself to admit that the rape ever took place. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Incorporating themes from horror films of both the '50s and the '70s, this suspenseful TV movie stars Cornel Wilde and Jennifer Salt as an archaeologist and his daughter, who discover a strange skull on display at a roadside tourist trap. After the museum owner is killed during an attack from an unseen foe, the pair are subsequently pursued across the American Southwest by a tribe of humanoid creatures that bear a striking resemblance to the gargoyles of myth, leading to a manic game of cat-and-mouse across the desert. This enjoyably spooky film essentially riffs on this one-note premise for over 70 minutes -- sort of an inversion of Night of the Living Dead's claustrophobic scenario -- and fortunately comes off quite well thanks to superb use of the desert locations, an eerie score, uniformly good performances, and Emmy award-winning monster costumes from Stan Winston. A young Scott Glenn appears as a roguish biker who throws in with the good guys after taking a shine to the professor's daughter. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Kendrick (John Karlen) grimly prepares for his nocturnal ordeal in the cursed room. Eavesdropping on Catherine (Lara Parker), Morgan (Keith Prentice) learns that she is pregnant with Bramwell's (Jonathan Frid) child. Episode 1,241 of Dark Shadows made its first network daytime appearance on March 29, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Daphne is finally laid to rest. Luring Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) into the cursed room, Morgan (Keith Prentice) locks him in, hoping that Bramwell will die for his "betrayal" of Catherine (Lara Parker). Upon learning this, Catherine rushes to the room -- and her own rendezvous with destiny. This episode originally aired on March 30, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
The rest of the household learns that Catherine (Lara Parker) is pregnant with Bramwell's child. Hoping to save Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) from meeting his doom in the locked room, Catherine is trapped in the same room by the vengeful Morgan (Keith Prentice). Episode 1,243 of Dark Shadows first aired on March 31, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Locked in the cursed room with Barnabas (Jonathan Frid), Catherine (Lara Parker) is possessed by the spirit of Amanda Collins. In this state, she tries to kill herself, but Barnabas intervenes -- only to be nearly killed himself by a mysterious force. Meanwhile, Morgan (Keith Prentice) awaits outside the room, prepared to shoot both Bramwell and Catherine should they survive the night. This penultimate episode of Dark Shadows originally aired on April 1, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) and Catherine (Lara Parker) survive their night in the dreaded room, and in the process defeat the ghost of Brutus Collins (Louis Edmonds) and break the family curse. But upon emerging from the room, the couple faces death at the hands of Morgan (Keith Prentice), whose hands are stayed by Kendrick (John Karlen). Recovering from her madness, Melanie (Nancy Barrett) leaves Collinwood with Kendrick, and Bramwell and Catherine likewise go off together. A satisfying denouement for all, except Morgan, who dies, and possibly Melanie, whose neck bears a set of all-too-familiar red marks. And thus, with several plot strands left dangling and with the cast still locked into the "Parallel Time" version of 1841, did the five-year saga of Dark Shadows come to an abrupt end on April 2, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
As he prepares to kill Daphne (Kate Jackson), Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) is stopped by the ghost of his father, Daniel (Louis Edmonds). So unnerved is Gabriel that he plummets off the roof of Collinwood to his death. Joanna (Lee Beery) sends the escaping Daphne and Quentin (David Selby) on their way, blessing their love for one another. In Parallel Time, Julia Collins (Grayson Hall) lies to Kendrick Young (John Karlen) -- who closely resembles the "real time" Desmond Collins -- concerning the whereabouts of Kendrick's sister, Stella. This episode first aired on January 18, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Having briefly glimpsed into Parallel Time, Daphne (Kate Jackson) relates this experience to Julia (Grayson Hall) and Prof. Stokes (Thayer David). In the "other" world itself, the Parallel-Time version of Julia tries to warn Morgan Collins (Keith Prentice) to get out of Collinwood. Back in "real" time -- 1841, that is -- Daphne concludes that Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) was responsible for the death of Edith, and in so doing puts her own life in jeopardy. This episode first aired on January 12, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Suffering from amnesia, Melanie (Nancy Barrett) thinks that she might have stabbed Stella -- and fearing the worst, Morgan (Keith Prentice) disposes of Stella's body. As yet unaware of the murder, Stella's brother, Kendrick (John Karlen), falls in love with Melanie, but she mournfully informs him to leave without her. Though Catherine (Lara Parker) still intends to marry Morgan, she finds herself attracted to her former suitor Bramwell (Jonathan Frid). This episode first aired on February 5, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Following Julia (Grayson Hall) to the tower room, Melanie (Nancy Barrett) finds the missing Stella Young (Gaye Edmond), bound hand and foot. Flora (Joan Bennett) explains that the family was forced to imprison Stella because she threatened to call the authorities after the late Justin Collins tried to kill her. Melanie promises to release Stella if she stays mum -- but a few hours after Justin's funeral, Stella is found stabbed to death. This episode originally aired on February 4, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) interrupts the wedding ceremony between Catherine (Lara Parker) and Morgan (Keith Prentice). Outraged, Morgan challenges Barnabas to a duel. Very much caught in the middle, Catherine vows to kill herself if Bramwell kills Morgan. Upon discovering that she was adopted into the Collins family, Melanie (Nancy Barrett) decides to look for her real parents. This episode initially aired on February 8, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
In attempting to stab Catherine (Lara Parker), Melanie (Nancy Barrett) reveals that she is schizophrenic. According to Catherine's fiancé, Morgan (Keith Prentice), Melanie's affliction began the day she wandered into the "cursed" room. Later, Melanie sees Julia (Grayson Hall) trying to sneak food to someone hidden in the house. This episode initially aired on February 3, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
In the parallel time version of 1841, Catherine (Lara Parker) blissfully prepares to wed Morgan (Keith Prentice), but Julia (Grayson Hall) warns her not to do so until Justin dies and the mysterious lottery can be held. It is explained that every 100 years, a selected member of the Collins family must spend the night in a locked room, as a means of breaking the curse that has plagued the family for centuries. Meanwhile, Catherine's ex-sweetheart, Bramwell (Jonathan Frid), is more determined than ever to win back her love whether she likes it or not. This episode originally aired on January 28, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
At last realizing he is truly in love with Angelique (Lara Parker) , Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) must stand by in heartbroken helplessness as she dies of gunshot wounds administered by the vengeful Lamar Trask (Jerry Lacy). Stabbed by Barnabas, Lamar survives just long enough to escape into parallel time, where his body is disposed of by the "other" Julia (Grayson Hall) and Flora (Joan Bennett). On a happier note, Desmond (John Karlen) and Leticia (Nancy Barrett) announce their engagement, while the real-time Julia (also Grayson Hall) and Prof. Stokes (Thayer David) escort Barnabas up the Time Staircase and back to the Collinwood of 1971 -- where, thanks to the revised events of 1841, everything has returned to normal. Originally telecast on January 27, 1971, this episode marked the end of the "modern" continuity of Dark Shadows -- though there was still plenty of intrigue awaiting viewers in the parallel time version of 1841. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Having previously been "killed" by Samantha (Virginia Vestoff), Joanna (Lee Beery) metes out justice by causing Samantha to plummet to her death from Widow's Hill. Quentin (David Selby) and Daphne (Kate Jackson) prepare their final escape from Collinsport, but Gerard (James Storm) is still hot on their heels. In Parallel Time, Kendrick (John Karlen) continues to investigate the disappearance of his sister, Stella. This episode originally aired on January 20, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Released from the cursed room, the dazed Morgan (Keith Prentice) insists that he is not Morgan. Julia (Grayson Hall) hides the truth when Melanie (Nancy Barrett) begins inquiring after the fate of her birth parents. And Carrie (Kathleen Cody) has another horrible vision of the ghostly James Forsythe. This episode originally aired on March 3, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Contrary to all appearances, Morgan (Keith Prentice) has not gone insane; rather, he has been possessed by the restless sprit of James Forsythe. Confronted by Julia (Grayson Hall), Forsythe's ghost insists that he was not responsible for the curse on the Collins family. And Daphne (Kate Jackson) becomes enraged when Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) intends to visit the impregnated Catherine (Lara Parker). This episode first aired on March 4, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Catherine (Lara Parker) is chosen in the lottery to spend a night in the cursed room. Rather than expose Catherine to danger, Morgan (Keith Prentice) gallantly takes her place -- locking himself in so that none of the other family members can interfere with his daring decision. This episode initially aired on March 1, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
While taking Catherine's (Lara Parker) place in the cursed room, Morgan (Keith Prentice) stumbles upon another room -- and a whole new set of perils. Meanwhile on the "outside," Melanie (Nancy Barrett) pours out the story of her miserable life to a sympathetic Kendrick (John Karlen). This episode was initially telecast on March 2, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Catherine (Lara Parker) tells Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) that she is pregnant with his child. Rather than destroy the happiness of Bramwell's young bride, Daphne, Catherine swears him to secrecy, then prepares to announce that Morgan (Keith Prentice) is the father. And as the second lottery approaches, Quentin (David Selby) and Morgan unearth more information on the curse-imposing James Forsythe. This episode first aired on February 26, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Having been visited by the ghost of Justin Collins, Melanie (Nancy Barrett) tells Quentin (David Selby) and Julia (Grayson Hall) that the lottery must be held again. Later, Julia tries to bribe Kendrick (John Karlen) to leave Collinsport, lest he become too emotionally involved with Melanie. And Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) returns -- stark raving mad. This episode first aired on February 22, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Catching up with the cowardly Gabriel (Christopher Pennock), Morgan (Keith Prentice) orders him to return to Collinwood and fulfill his family obligation by spending the night in the cursed room. His "courage" fortified by liquor, Gabriel allows Morgan and Julia to lock himself in the room -- but will he beat the odds and survive the night? This episode initially aired on February 17, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Gabriel begins a long and terrifying night locked in the "cursed" room -- and there is a strong possibility that he will not emerge alive. Comes the dawn, and Melanie (Nancy Barrett) and Quentin have recovered from the plague, indicating that the family cure may have been lifted -- but what of Gabriel? Meanwhile, Catherine (Lara Parker) expresses anger over the fact that the recuperating Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) is spending too much time with Daphne (Kate Jackson). This episode was first broadcast on February 18, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
