Mariette Hartley Movies
Never the typical ingénue, American actress Mariette Hartley was distinguished by attractively offbeat facial features and a full, throaty voice -- acting tools that enabled her to play a wide spectrum of ages and personalities even when she was barely out of her teens. The granddaughter of behavioral psychologist John B. Watson, Hartley began her training at Carnegie Tech, then studied acting under Eva LeGalleine . Shakespeare was Hartley's forte in her salad days; thus, she was a full-blown professional before the age of 21. Hartley's first film, Ride the High Country (1961), may well have been her best; as the runaway bride of a mentally deficient mountain man, Hartley was permitted to forego cutesiness and glamour, spending most of the film in dusty male western garb. She was so good in this first appearance that MGM literally had no idea what to do with her; the solution was to cast her as a garden-variety damsel in distress in Drums of Africa (1963), which Hartley now regards as her worst film (and it is -- far worse than the more obvious candidate, 1971's The Return of Count Yorga). Then as now, Hartley was better served on TV than in films. Appearing with regularity on such programs as Twilight Zone and Bonanza, Hartley exuded an intelligence and versatility rare in so young an actress. She gained a following with her recurring role on the nighttime soapera Peyton Place (1965), then provided the only bright moments of the misfire satirical sitcom The Hero (1966), in which she played the wife of a bumbling TV cowboy (Richard Mulligan). Her TV work load increased in the '70s, during which time she appeared as futuristic heroine Lyra-a in Gene Roddenberry's TV pilot Genesis II, a role which gained a great deal of press attention due to Hartley's exotic midriff makeup (her character was endowed with two navels). She also won an Emmy for her appearance in a 1978 installment of The Incredible Hulk. A popular talk-show raconteur, Hartley was able to parlay her no-nonsense persona into a series of lucrative camera commercials, in which she co-starred with James Garner. Her easy rapport with Garner led many to believe that she was married to the Rockford Files star, compelling her to make public appearances wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the message "I am NOT Mrs. James Garner" (she was, in fact, married to producer/director Patrick Boyriven). Her high audience "Q" rating led certain TV producers to believe that Hartley would be ideally cast as a news reporter on the 1983 sitcom Goodnight, Beantown. The casting was good, the show wasn't. Nor were follow-ups in this vein, including a foredoomed hitch as co-host of the 1987 revamping of CBS Morning News titled The Morning Program and the very short-lived newsroom-oriented weekly drama WIOU (1990). That the actress took to kidding about her many TV failures only added to her upbeat public image -- an image which masked a surfeit of grief brought on by the alcoholism and suicide of Hartley's father, which formed the basis of her 1990 book Breaking the Silence. Audiences were able to see this serious side of Mariette Hartley in her frequent TV-movie appearances, notably her performance as grieving mother Candy Lightner in M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Mariette Hartley remained busy on films and in television into the '90s; once again, the TV work was more rewarding than the movie assignments, which included such negligible entertainments as Encino Man (1992). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The made-for-TV Murder C.O.D. has a plot almost as complex and clever as its psychotic "protagonist." William Devane plays an adroit hitman who selects his victims before he's been hired to kill them. His modus operandi is to approach the person or persons who'd most benefit from the murder, then charge a $100,000 fee to go through with the plan. Patrick Duffy is the cop on the case, who periodically runs out of breath trying to keep up with the slippery Devane. While Duffy loses the acting sweepstakes to Devane, the viewer can be assured that Duffy's character in Murder C.O.D. will emerge triumphant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The four-hour TV movie Passion and Paradise traces the rise and fall of real-life British playboy Alfred de Marigny (Armand Assante). Little better than a gigolo, de Marigny finds himself in the Bahamas during World War II, where he romances the daughter (Catherine Mary Stewart) of fabulously wealthy Sir Harry Oakes (Rod Steiger). None of the "right people" can stomach de Marigny, but they're stuck with him once he marries Oakes' daughter. During the next few years, de Marigny manages to antagonize the Duke of Windsor (Andrew Ray), who is governor of the Bahamas; he also alienates local businessmen and infuriates a group of mobsters who want to set up a gambling casino in Nassau. As Part One of Passion and Paradise draws to a close, Sir Harry Oakes is murdered--and Alfred de Marigny is the most convenient (though not most likely) suspect. Part Two opens with the murder of Oakes in 1943. The higher-ups of the Bahama Islands sincerely hope that de Marigny is the killer, if only to get rid of the dreadful man. So anxious are certain parties to hang de Marigny that an official conspiracy to cover up vital evidence takes shape. De Marigny's only hope for salvation is an American private eye (Wayne Rogers). Filmed in Jamaica, Passion and Paradise painted so damning a portrait of Bahaman high society that several scenes (including most of those featuring the Duke of Windsor) had to be rewritten and reshot before the film's British television release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Armand Assante, Catherine Stewart, (more)
- 1989
Inspired by Mary Ellen Pinkham's profound self-help book How to Stop the One You Love From Drinking, this insightful video uses dramatized situations and straightforward commentary to explain the process of intervention. Mariette Hartley takes viewers through the practical steps they can take to start the healing process. This enlightening program can benefit anyone who lives with the day-to-day pain of someone else's alcohol or drug abuse. ~ Scott Albright, All Movie Guide
Ernest Thompson, the playwright responsible for the Pulitzer Prize winning On Golden Pond, makes his directorial debut with 1969. Kiefer Sutherland plays a draft-age youth who undergoes an epiphany when one of his friends is killed in Vietnam. Sutherland's subsequent antiwar stance causes a great deal of tension within his own family, though his mother, Mariette Hartley, tries her best to understand. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Downey, Jr., Kiefer Sutherland, (more)
- 1986
In this teen drama, a courageous high school girl accuses her well-respected coach of improper conduct. Despite severe ostracism from her peers and the faculty, the brave girl refuses to back down until justice is done. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Mariette Hartley stars in this groundbreaking TV movie as Gail Springer, a widowed mother on the horns of an outwardly familiar romantic dilemma. Equally in love with two different people, Gail has the devil's own time choosing between them. What made this film unique (at least when it initially aired over the ABC network on April 7, 1986) is that one of Gail's amours is her late husband's business partner Ben Taylor (Barry Newman)--while the other is Gail's female best friend, Marjorie Lloyd (Lynn Redgrave). Impeccably tasteful in its treatment of a potential volatile subject, and refreshingly honest and uncompromising at its conclusion, My Two Loves was filmed on location in San Antonio, Texas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
From Hanna-Barbera's animated series depicting the tales of the bible, "Joshua and the Battle of Jericho" tells the tale of Joshua's leadership and determination to follow his God. The story demonstrates Joshua leading the Hebrews through a battle with the Canaanites, who built a wall to prevent them from passing through to the Promised Land. The video is recommended for older children, along with parental guidance. ~ Sarah Sloboda, All Movie Guide
- 1985
This chiller was made for younger viewers and chronicles Dracula's fight to keep Halloween alive. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1984
A 17-year-old boy (Chad Lowe) is killed in an automobile accident. As the facts begin to assert themselves, it appears that the boy actually took his own life. His mother (Mariette Hartley) and sister (Dana Hill) try to learn the truth, even as his father (Howard Hesseman) digs in his heels and refuses to face the possibility of a suicide. While this plot line is unravelling, the boy's best friend (Charlie Sheen) is tormented by the possibility that he could have prevented the tragedy. The emphasis in Silence of the Heart is the effect of suicide on the survivors rather than the victim, and the realization that one does not have to be "crazy" to end one's own existence. This made-for-TV movie was originally telecast October 30, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Strong Kids, Safe Kids is an educational general interest video that teaches children and their parents important safety skills. In an attempt to make serious subject matter accessible, the program uses a friendly, open voice, and takes a somewhat light approach. Viewers learn key steps to take to prevent a number of dangerous situations, including sexual assault. Several popular cartoon characters make cameo appearances and help convey the program's message. Happy Days' The Fonz also stops by to teach cool safety tips. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Mariette Hartley portrays Candy Lightner, the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, in this made-for-television movie produced and written by Michael Braverman. After her daughter is killed by a drunk driver in a hit-and-run accident, Lightner forms M.A.D.D. to enact legislation curbing the spread of alcohol-related driving. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mariette Hartley, Paula Prentiss, (more)
This ghostly made-for-television romance tells the story of a struggling widower who finds that life becomes easier once his beloved comes back from the grave to assist him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ed Asner, Mariette Hartley, (more)
- 1982
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
- 1981
This pilot film for an unsold TV series was originally titled They're Playing Our Tape. Michael Constantine stars as Frank Yost, the avuncular head of a videotape dating services called "Good Possibilities." Among Yost's clients is recently divorced executive David Franklin (Martin Balsam), single mom Samantha Young (Barbara Welles), athletic coach and "health nut" Peter Barnes (Larry Breeding), swinging single Carol Clark (Jan Smithers), traditionalist mechanic Richardson (Larry Wilcox), and workaholic businesswoman Barbara Welles (Mariette Hartley). The Love Tapes rolled into view courtesy of ABC on May 9, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
In this taut made-for-television psychological thriller, a young woman has never been able to overcome the guilt she feels about her father's accidental death. She nearly goes insane when a stalker begins watching her every move and she becomes convinced that it is the ghost of her late dad. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1981
- PG
Alan Arkin plays a hapless architect named Jeffrey Martley, separated from his sprightly writer wife Diana (Mariette Hartley) and his wise-beyond-her-years five-year-old daughter Nancy (Sarah Stevens). When Nancy is injured in Jeffrey's camper, she is taken to the hospital where a misunderstanding leads doctors to believe she is the victim of child abuse. An imperious social worker, Gloria Washburn (Monica Parker), compiles a computer dossier on Jeffrey, and Nancy is taken away from him and put in an orphanage. When Diana finds out the situation, she gets back together with Jeffrey in order to try to get their daughter out of the orphanage. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Arkin, Mariette Hartley, (more)
- 1980
In this WW II adventure, a team of female pilots perform dangerous missions on both sides of enemy lines. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Season Six of The Rockford Files begins as Jim Rockford (James Garner) faces permanent expulsion from the community of Paradise Cove as the result of a damage suit instigated by vindictive neighbor C.C. Calloway (Leif Erickson). Court-appointed receiver Althea Morgan (Mariette Hartley) shows up at Jim's doorstep to inventory his possessions, the better to find out if he should be forced to liquidate everything he owns to pay the $35,000 demanded in the lawsuit. As if Jim's life isn't in enough turmoil, he must also deal with a mystery involving a fortune in buried bullion, and the reopening of a scandal dating all the way back to 1929. Inevitably, all of Jim's problems turn out to be inextricably linked--and the result may prove fatal for himself and the hapless Althea. Though obviously conceived to capitalize on the popularity of the then-current camera commercials costarring James Garner and Mariette Hartley, this episode is strong enough to stand on its own merits--and Ms. Hartley earned an Emmy nomination in the bargain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In this drama, a well-known actress goes home to attend her father's funeral and finds herself haunted by unhappy childhood memories. It is these dark reminiscences that force her to take an honest look at herself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mariette Hartley, Collin Wilcox, (more)
- 1979
Dennis Weaver plays Daniel Stone, a Joe Wambaugh-style LA cop turned novelist. The pressures of his new career cause a rift between Stone and his superior officer Pat Hingle, and also puts additional barriers between Stone and his estranged wife Mariette Hartley. The fact that Stone's partner Roy Thinnes is sweet on Hartley only compounds the complications. The plot, involving the mysterious murders of several top crime bosses, somehow finds time to accommodate a guest appearance by Steve Allen (as "Himself"). When Stone became a TV series of three months' duration in 1980, only Dennis Weaver and Pat Hingle were retained from this pilot film; a new character, Stone's young partner, was added to the fold (the part was played by Dennis Weaver's son Bobby). Stone was the brainchild of Rockford Files mentor Stephen J. Cannell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Mariette Hartley guest stars as Dr. Inga Helversen, a gorgeous Swedish surgeon temporarily assigned to the 4077th. Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is smitten by Inga, but doubts that one so beautiful could be truly efficient in the O.R. Our hero's preconceived notions--and his ego--take quite a beating when Inga proves to be not only Hawkeye's equal, but in many ways his superior. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Mystery in Dracula's Castle features Johnny Whitaker as an erstwhile adolescent filmmaker. Whitaker wanders around a foreboding mansion, making a vampire picture with his 8-millimeter equipment. Also tooling about the mansion is Whitaker's brother, a junior-league aspiring detective (Scott Kolden). Rounding out the star trio is a kleptomaniac dog, which makes off with a cache of stolen jewels. Clu Gulager costars as the head of the jewel thieves, while Mariette Hartley appears as the boys' mother. Mystery in Dracula's Castle was first seen January 7 and 14, 1973, as a two-part Wonderful World of Disney installment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clu Gulager, Mariette Hartley, (more)
- 1977
1977's Last Hurrah is a TV-movie remake of the 1958 John Ford film of the same name. Both versions are based on the Edwin O'Connor novel about the last days of flamboyant, larcenous Mayor Frank Skeffington--based upon the equally colorful, equally underhanded Boston mayor James Curley. Carroll O'Connor plays Skeffington in the 1977 version (it was Spencer Tracy back in 1958). O'Connor spends the bulk of the film trying in manners both subtle and strongarm to win re-election--and to race the clock against his own failing health. While the 1958 Last Hurrah is superior, the 1977 Hurrah has the saving grace of Carroll O'Connor's exuberant performance; O'Connor also wrote the script for this remake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
