Kim Hamilton Movies
- 1957
The literalism of writer-director Richard Brooks serves him well in this meticulously faithful adaptation of the Robert Ruark novel Something of Value. Filmed on location in Africa, this is the story of the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, as seen through the eyes of a handful of protagonists. Virtually alone in a sea of racist British colonialism, gentleman farmer Peter McKenzie (Rock Hudson) strives to understand the demands of freedom and equality made by Kenya's black population in particular and his childhood friend Kimani (Sidney Poitier) in particular. Ultimately, however, McKenzie and Kimani find themselves on opposite sides of the fence when the latter aligns himself with the Mau Mau. Without advocating the terrorism of this controversial movement, the screenplay is careful to deal the ongoing iniquities and frustrations that forced men like Kimani to take arms against their white brethren. There were a few theatres in the American south who, feeling that the racial tensions inherent in Something of Value hit too close to home, refused to book this fascinating, thought-provoking, often startlingly brutal film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rock Hudson, Dana Wynter, (more)
Harry Belafonte was both producer and star of this hard-edged film noir crime drama. Dave Burke (Ed Begley, Sr.) is an ex-cop who has been kicked off the force for refusing to inform on his colleagues to the State Crime Committee. Short on money, the former policeman jumps to the other side of the law and plans to knock over a bank in upstate New York. He'll need help, so Burke brings in two other men to assist him -- Johnny Ingram (Belafonte), a jazz musician with an addiction to gambling that's put him deep in debt to gangster Bacco (Will Kuluva), and Earl Slater (Robert Ryan), a disturbed war veteran who hasn't been able to find work after serving time for manslaughter. While their common greed and desperation has brought these men together, their differences threaten to tear them apart, especially when Slater's fear and hatred of black men rises to the surface. Blacklisted screenwriter Abraham Polonsky co-wrote the screenplay for Odds Against Tomorrow, using his friend John O. Killens as a "front." John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet contributed a memorable musical score. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harry Belafonte, Robert Ryan, (more)
- 1960
A predominantly black cast appears in this episode of Twilight Zone, which was originally broadcast on April 8, 1960. Ivan Dixon stars as Bolie Jackson, an aging prizefighter. Hoping for a comeback. Bolie manages to win an important bout, only to discover that he scored his K.O. thanks to a "big tall wish" made by neighborhood kid Henry (Kim Hamilton). Unfortunately, Bolie does not believe in wishes -- and he suffers mightily because of his lack of faith. Also starring Kim Hamilton and Walter Burke, "The Big Tall Wish" was written by series creator Rod Serling. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ivan Dixon, Steven Perry, (more)
- 1960
In this satirical costume fantasy, a clumsy no-talent genie ends up chastised by the genie king and given one last chance to prove himself. If he fails, he will end up a mere mortal. The hapless genie then heads for Baghdad astride a talking horse to try to become the Wizard of Baghdad. In that capacity, he must ensure that a princess and prince get married so they can rule the great city together. Their union has been prophesied. Unfortunately, an elderly sultan, who will inherit the city should they fail, tries to keep the prophecy from coming true. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Shawn, Diane Baker, (more)
- 1960
An uninspired horror film by Edward Dein, this ragged story begins in darkest Africa and in the even darker psyche of a mentally deteriorating woman. June Talbot (Colleen Gray) goes on a trip to Africa with her husband Dr. Paul Talbot (Phillip Terry), only to discover that she is to be the trial balloon in one of his experiments on an anti-aging compound. Not willing to jump off into the unknown, the already unbalanced June kills her husband after she learns of a tribal ritual that will keep her youthful if she can obtain a hormone from the pineal gland of a human male. The problem is that she will revert back to a wrinkled woman unless she keeps replenishing her stock of the hormone. That, of course, leads to gruesome killings and ultimately, one disastrous mistake. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Coleen Gray, Grant Williams, (more)
Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiographical novel was translated to film in 1962 by Horton Foote and the producer/director team of Robert Mulligan and Alan J. Pakula. Set a small Alabama town in the 1930s, the story focuses on scrupulously honest, highly respected lawyer Atticus Finch, magnificently embodied by Gregory Peck. Finch puts his career on the line when he agrees to represent Tom Robinson (Brock Peters), a black man accused of rape. The trial and the events surrounding it are seen through the eyes of Finch's six-year-old daughter Scout (Mary Badham). While Robinson's trial gives the film its momentum, there are plenty of anecdotal occurrences before and after the court date: Scout's ever-strengthening bond with older brother Jem (Philip Alford), her friendship with precocious young Dill Harris (a character based on Lee's childhood chum Truman Capote and played by John Megna), her father's no-nonsense reactions to such life-and-death crises as a rampaging mad dog, and especially Scout's reactions to, and relationship with, Boo Radley (Robert Duvall in his movie debut), the reclusive "village idiot" who turns out to be her salvation when she is attacked by a venomous bigot. To Kill a Mockingbird won Academy Awards for Best Actor (Peck), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Art Direction. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, (more)
- 1962
Saddled with paying huge alimony checks to his high-maintenance former wife, Edward Gibson (Robert Webber) seeks a legal method to rid himself of this burden. Enter Edward's pal Carl Seabrook (Jeremy Slate), who magnanimously offers to marry the ex-Mrs. Gibson himself -- for a 5,000-dollar fee. Little does Edward realize that he has been a "free man" for several hours...but, of course, Carl has known all along. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Wally (Tony Dow) and Eddie (Ken Osmond) get jobs parking cars at what Fred Rutherford (Richard Deacon) describes as the biggest social event of the season. Wally, of course, is up to the job, and has no trouble dealing with his wealthy clientele and their expensive vehicles. Alas, Eddie parks Mr. Rutherford's car in a restricted zone -- and when the owner returns, the car has been towed away. Nor is Eddie the only one in trouble: it seems that Wally got him the job! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Osmond, Frank Bank, (more)
- 1966
- R
This biker gang exploitation picture from director Roger Corman and co-writer and editor Peter Bogdanovich earned critical respect in Europe for its gritty documentary style. Peter Fonda stars as Heavenly Blues, the leader of a wild, roving band of leather-clad bikers. When his best friend Loser (Bruce Dern) is injured in the midst of an attempt to steal a police motorcycle, the boys kidnap their debilitated buddy from the hospital, raping a black nurse and trashing the place in the process. Blues and his friends believe they've set Loser free, but he dies not long after the escape. Staging a funeral and drunken orgy in a small town church, the gang flees is set upon by the enraged locals, leaving Blues alone to face the law. Nancy Sinatra and a then-pregnant Diane Ladd co-star; a number of real-life Hell's Angels were hired to appear in scenes, adding authenticity to the picture. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, (more)
For his only directorial effort, Jack Lemmon selected his old friend and habitual co-star Walter Matthau to play the central character. Joseph P. "Kotch" Kotcher (Walter Matthau) is an irksome 72-year-old who lives with his son (Charles Aidman) and daughter-in-law (played by Lemmon's wife Felicia Farr). Kotch is far from senile, but there are times that his family wishes he was a little more docile and doddering; he insists upon expressing his unwarranted opinions on all matters, both large and small, forever challenging his daughter-in-law's authority. When it is suggested that Kotch find himself a nice retirement home, the rebellious old man decides instead to take a long bus ride, hoping that his family will have cooled off by the time he returns. Before leaving, he tries to make amends with the family's former baby-sitter Erica (Deborah Winters), whose dismissal he has brought about. Upon learning that Erica is pregnant, Kotch loans her some money; and when she moves away to Palm Springs, he moves in with her, hoping to be of some help. As they get to know one another, Kotch and Erica discover that they're very much alike: both have been cast aside by their relatives due to their independent airs. Kotch was adapted by John Paxton from a novel by Katharine Topkins. Watch for director Jack Lemmon in a bit as a bus passenger. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Deborah Winters, (more)
- 1972
Once again, would-be Romeo Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) loves neither wisely nor well, but too often. Inadvertently inviting both his fiancée Donna (Lynn Hamilton) and his new girlfriend Carol (Kim Hamilton) to dinner on the same evening, Fred must do some fancy "juggling" to avoid catastrophe. Loosely based on "Steptoe a la Carte," a 1964 episode of the British Sanford and Son forerunner Steptoe and Son, this installment was originally scheduled to air on November 24, 1972, but was bumped forward to December 15. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, (more)
Heavy Traffic represents a follow-up to animator Ralph Bakshi's first feature film, Fritz the Cat (1972). The central character is Michael, the ingenuous son of an Italian father and Jewish mother. An aspiring cartoonist, Michael leaves home in a huff and outrages his family by conducting an affair with an African-American woman. Heavy Traffic was originally intended to be a cartoon adaptation of Hubert Selby's notorious novel Last Exit to Brooklyn, but negotiations fell through, and Bakshi was obliged to cook up a similar but not identical "mean streets" plotline. (Last Exit to Brooklyn was made as a live-action film in 1989.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) are intrigued when an off-duty officer makes a citizen's arrest of a female shoplifter (Pamela Jones). The woman insists that she has resorted to stealing in order to feed her starving baby. As it turns out, the woman is indeed caring for an infant--but it isn't hers. When all the facts come to light, Jim and Pete race against time to avert a tragedy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Officer Jim Reed (Kent McCord) is intrigued and Officer Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) is irritated by the voice of the new police dispatcher. Though she comes across as sexy and alluring, the newcomer is also rather confusing: it seems that no one can understand what she's saying or where she's sending them. Tonight's case log marks the return of police informer TeeJay (Robert Donner), who leads the cops to arrest a gunman at a movie studio; and a radical terrorist seems to be building up quite an illegal arsenal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Lionel Jefferson's engagement party promises to be a fun occasion for everyone but Archie, who discovers that Lionel's dad, George Jefferson, does not want to invite him. Even so, Archie attends, only to get into an argument with George's indomitable mother. The episode ends with Archie and George once more finding out they have more in common than either man would wish. Zara Cully makes her first appearance as Mother Jefferson, a role she would carry over into the All in the Family spin-off The Jeffersons. Written by Michael Ross and Bernie West, "Lionel's Engagement" originally aired on February 9, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 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
- 1975
Once again, the unemployed James (John Amos) is strapped for cash. Though he needs money in a hurry, the headstrong James is outraged at the prospect of borrowing it from Florida's wealthy cousin Edgar (Percy Rodriguez). As James nurses his ego at the corner bar, Florida (Esther Rolle) learns a few unpleasant truths about her cousin -- mainly, that Edgar is himself broke and out of work. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Surprised that he and his son Lamont (Demond Wilson) have not had an argument for days, Fred (Redd Foxx) concludes that Lamont must be in love -- again. Sure enough, Lamont is head over heels over a woman named Grace (Kim Hamilton), who happens to be several years older than he. To teach Lamont a lesson about dating older women, Fred starts squiring Grady's cousin's grandmother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, (more)
- 1978
Doctors' Private Lives was the 2-hour pilot film for the shortlived TV series of the same name. Ed Nelson and John Gavin star as, respectively, chief surgeon Dr. Michael Wise and cardiovascular unit chief Dr. Jeffrey Latimer. The drama arises from the ongoing clash of egos between these two medical giants. Nelson and Gavin were carried over to the series, as was Randolph Powell as Dr. Rick Calder. The guest cast includes Bettye Ackerman, who had ironically costarred in an earlier hospital series, Ben Casey (Ackerman was the wife of Sam "Dr. Zorba" Jaffee). Doctors' Private Lives premiered March 20, 1978; the series itself ran from April 5 to 28, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
A Family Upside Down stars Fred Astaire and Helen Hayes as a retired married couple. Always proud of his independence and resilience, Astaire suffers a sudden heart attack. Though he recovers, Hayes is unable to care for Astaire herself, so she and her husband are compelled to move in with son Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and daughter-in-law Pat Crowley. Astaire's heart problems persist, and the family must face the unpleasant alternative of placing him in a nursing home. Though A Family Upside Down threatens to become an uninterrupted wallow in misery, the film takes several unexpected twists and arrives at a reasonably upbeat conclusion. Coproduced by Ross Hunter, A Family Upside Down co-stars Patty Duke Astin as Astaire and Hayes' emotionally overwrought daughter. The made-for-TV film, which won Fred Astaire the last of his many Emmy awards, originally aired April 9, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
A professional boxer (Herb Jefferson Jr.) refuses to accept the official verdict that he delivered a fatal blow to his opponent, who collapses and dies several days after the fight.. At the same time, a chef (Pete Schrum) who works for Quincy's friend Danny (Val Bisoglio) unexpectedly dies after undergoing routine surgery in an doctor's office. Investigating, Quincy (Jack Klugman) determines that the two deaths were connected--and the culprit may be a cut-rate physician whose "skills" are as inadequate as his cheap surgical equipment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A medical student decides to enter the world of boxing and dives into a life of superficial values and corruption in this remake of the 1947 classic. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon Isaac Kennedy, Jayne Kennedy, (more)
- 1983
Kim Hamilton, who'd once played the role of Helen Willis on All in the Family, guest stars on The Jeffersons as Pauline, an old friend of the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence (Marla Gibbs). Having married into money, Pauline is now a much higher social plane than Florence. Hoping to impress her friend and not reveal her present financial state, Florence prevails upon George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) to pose as her husband -- and upon Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) to pose as her maid. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1985
Vera's police officer husband Elliot (Charles Levin) has not exactly been a credit to the force, but thus far he hasn't screwed up so much as to lose his job. But when Elliot manages to shoot himself with his own gun, he decides on his own that he's not cut out for a life in law enforcement. Trouble is, he's not really cut out for a life in any other profession! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Having at last been accepted into the Starfleet Academy, Wesley Crusher is invited on the eve of his departure to accompany Captain Picard on an important mission to Pentaurus Five. Alas, they are forced to make an emergency landing, in the course of which Picard is seriously injured. It is up to Wesley -- no longer a boy, not yet a man -- to save Picard's life and extricate himself and the Captain from their deadly dilemma. Co-scripted by Kasey Arnold-Ince and Jeri Taylor, "Final Mission" premiered November 24, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
