Karl Held Movies
- 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
- 1972
In this spy thriller, Gorenko (Max Von Sydow) is on the run from his Russian spymasters, and wants to defect. The Americans hide him in their Beirut embassy until they can sneak him into the States. Colonel Kesten (Chuck Connors) appears to be an American, but is actually a Russian double agent with orders to kill Gorenko. Their dangerous cat-and-mouse game continues until Kesten is revealed for what he is and is finally subdued. Chuck Connors' performance is one of the highlights of this film. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Inspector Erskine puts out an A.P.B. on a gang of art thieves led by Ken Meade (Joseph Campanella). The brazen criminals have managed to steal a valuable statue right in the middle of an art auction. Though Meade does a nice job of eluding the Feds, he'd be better off allowing himself to be captured: an unknown assassin has targeted the clever thieves for elimination, one by one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
After George Lazenby portrayed James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Sean Connery returned to the tux, gimmicks, and catchphrases of Secret Agent 007 in his penultimate Bond outing, Diamonds Are Forever. Fragments of Ian Fleming's original 1954 novel remain, including the characters of the alluring Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) and fey hitmen Wint (Bruce Glover) and Mr. Kidd (Putter Smith). The remainder of Richard Maibaum and Tom Mankiewicz's script diverges dramatically from the novel, involving Bond in a scheme by the insidious Ernst Blofeld (Charles Gray) to force the world powers to disarm so that he can take over the globe. Folksinger Jimmy Dean shows up briefly as a Howard Hughes-like reclusive billionaire, while Lana Wood (Natalie's sister) participates in one of the film's edgiest cliffhangers. Agreeing to make Diamonds Are Forever only because of the money offered him, Sean Connery parted company with the role for 12 years after this film; he returned to the role once more in 1983, for Irvin Kershner's underrated Thunderball remake Never Say Never Again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Connery, Jill St. John, (more)
The Gnome-Mobile was Walt Disney's first all-out fantasy since Mary Poppins. Walter Brennan stars in a dual role, as kindly lumber tycoon D. J. Mulrooney and the irascible (and much tinier) 943-year-old gnome Knobby. Mulrooney likes Knobby and his fellow gnomes, but the feeling isn't reciprocal, since Knobby considers Mulrooney a threat to his beloved forest. Meanwhile, the tycoon's vice-president Ralph Yarby (Richard Deacon), hearing his boss' claims that he's been consorting with gnomes, decides that the old guy is insane and has him committed. Rescued by his grandchildren Rodney (Matthew Garber) and Elizabeth (Karen Dotrice), D.J. seeks out Knobby and Knobby's own grandson Jasper (Tom Lowell), who are hiding somewhere in the woods with gnome-king Rufus (Ed Wynn, in his final film role). There follows an amusing rite of passage wherein Jasper becomes engaged to gnomette Shy Violet (Cami Sebring), leading to a happy ending for all concerned. The film's title refers to D. J. Mulroney's precious 1930 Rolls Royce, which is "adopted" by the gnome population. Gnome-Mobile is a virtual inventory of Disney's most beloved trademarks, ranging from excellent miniature and special-effects work (including the producer's newest innovation, audio-animatronics) to a zany slapstick car chase. Walt Disney did receive a producer credit on this film, which was actually made in 1966 - the year of his death - and released nationally in 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Brennan, Tom Lowell, (more)
- 1966
As "Jack Fickett", Kimble (David Janssen) lands a general-purpose job at a motel called "The Chinese Sunset." Unfortunately, the motel is currently under police surveillance, due to the presence of big-time bookie Eddie Slade (Paul Richards) and his slovenly girl friend Penelope (Laura Devon). Touched by Penelope's pathetic lack of social skills, Kimble generously offers to teach her how to be a "proper lady"--little realizing the danger in which he is placing himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
In the first episode of a two-part story, Dr. Gregory Holman (George Voskovec), a cryptographer from an Iron Curtain country, has come to the US as part of a touring chess tournament. Just after the FBI receives word that Holman is planning to defect, the man is reported killed in a nightclub fire. By the time that Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) determines that Holman is still alive and in hiding, the situation has been complicated by a cagey double agent (John Van Dreelen) and a treacherous diplomat (Paul Lukas) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Though overlong even for a Hayley Mills vehicle, That Darn Cat is an expert blend of laughs and suspense. The eponymous feline is D.C., a Siamese belonging to sisters Hayley Mills and Dorothy Provine. One evening, D.C. comes flouncing home with a lady's wristwatch attached to her neck. The watch contains an unfinished plea for help scribbled on its back, written by Grayson Hall, a bank teller held captive in a neighboring house by robbers Neville Brand and Frank Gorshin. Mills and Provine contact the FBI, who send agent Dean Jones (who's allergic to cats) to investigate. In their efforts to locate and rescue Hall and capture the crooks, Jones and the two sisters embark upon a series of slapstick misadventures involving an unending stream of top character actors. The highlight is a lengthy sequence at the drive-in movie theatre managed by ulcerated Richard Deacon. That Darn Cat is based on Undercover Cat, a somewhat more serious suspense novel by The Gordons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hayley Mills, Dean Jones, (more)
- 1965
Though he would frequently be cast in later FBI episodes as a crime victim, David Macklinis here seen as a the heavy of the piece, a deranged teenager named Howard "Howdy" Collier. After blowing up a freight train with a homemade time bomb, Howdy threatens to destroy a passenger train if he isn't paid a ransom of $100,000. To locate the seriously disturbed Collier, Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr. puts the boy's mother (Louise Latham) under surveillance--while a new and unanticipated danger looms over the horizon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In 1950, Maj. Jefferson Pike (James Garner), an Army intelligence agent who served with distinction in World War II, awakens in a hospital with severe amnesia. He isn't sure where he is, how he got there, or even who the woman at his side is, even though the doctor tells him that her name is Anna (Eva Marie Saint) and that she is his wife. The doctor instructs Pike to recall, in as much detail as possible, what he was doing before the accident that caused his traumatic memory loss. But the doctor isn't a doctor, Anna isn't Pike's wife, it isn't 1950, and he isn't in an American hospital. World War II is still very much in progress, and Pike is being duped in an elaborate scheme prepared by Maj. Walter Gerber (Rod Taylor), a German intelligence agent. Gerber is trying to trick a drugged and suggestible Pike into telling him everything he knows, as the injured soldier lies in a Bavarian military hospital after being taken prisoner. Will Pike be able to see through the cracks in Gerber's facade before he spills the beans that could mean death and defeat for American soldiers? 36 Hours was later remade for TV under the title Breaking Point. TV fans will want to keep an eye peeled for bit parts by James Doohan from Star Trek and John Banner from Hogan's Heroes. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, (more)
- 1964
The sixth volume in a collection culled from the 1963-1965 science fiction anthology television series chronicles the time travels of a mutant from the future who goes back to prevent the birth of the mad scientist who is responsible for creating a horrifying virus. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Murray Brock (Simon Oakland) is a crusading New York district attorney out to prove that young Eddie Dickenson (Richard Jordan) is innocent of murder in this uneven crime drama. With the help of legal assistant Dave Ryan (Karl Held), he tries to keep Eddie from being convicted and sentenced to death. The routine feature was a television pilot that did not sell and was later given to theaters for commercial release. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simon Oakland, Everett Sloane, (more)
- 1962
Prior to carrying out the orders of her boss Morley Thielman (George Neise) by placing a briefcase containing $100,000 in a train station locker, Janice Wainwright (Elaine Devry) stops at the office of Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), informing the lawyer that she thinks Thielman is being blackmailed. Janice's last stop is in Las Vega to meet Thielman's ex-wife--but instead, she is arrested and charged with her boss' murder. In his efforts to defend Janice, Perry must discredit the testimony of witness Fred Carlyle (James Callahan), who insists that he saw Janice's distinctively shapely silhouette through the shades of Thielman's window just before the murder. This episode is based on a 1960 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Eve Nesbitt (Gloria Talbott) contacts Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) to determine the progress of the insurance settlement related to the drowning death of her husband Willard (Les Tremayne). As it happens, however, Willard is only pretending to be dead so that Eve can collect on the policy's "double-indemnity" clause. But when his business partner Lloyd Castle (Edward Binns) cheats Eve out of her share of a gold mine, Willard emerges from hiding--only to be bumped off for real. Accused of murdering her husband, Eve once again puts her fate in Perry's hands. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Wealthy J.J. Gideon (Otto Kruger) disapproves of the romance between his grandson David (Karl Held) and David's secretary Dorine (Patricia Barry). As it happens, Gideon has good reason to be upset: Dorine is a duplicitous golddigger who swindles David out of $10,000, claiming that she needs it to get her husband Tony out of her life. Pretty soon, Tony is out of his own life as well--and David, who was seen fighting with Tony just before the man's death, is charged with murder. Evidently Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) takes quite a shine to David while preparing his defense; during the series' fifth season, David Gideon would return on a semi-regular basis as Perry's new legal assistant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
When a storm at sea threatens to sink the freighter "Janeel Trader", first officer Jerry Griffin orders a million dollars' worth of cargo to be dumped overboard, taking full responsibility for what he regards as a life-saving act. But when returns to shore, Jerry must face charges brought by a maritime court. The only man who can clear Griffin is Captain Bancroft (Robert Armstrong); unfortunately, Bancroft is murdered and Griffin is accused of the crime. This turns out to be a real "out-of-town" assignment for Griffin's civilian attorney Perry Mason (Raymond Burr). Wesley Lau makes his first series appearance as Lt. Anderson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Determined to make contact with her late son, wealthy Sylvia Walker (Virginia Field) contacts spiritualist Philip Paisley (James Forrest), never suspecting that the man is a crook who intends to leech off of Sylvia's fortune. But Bonnie Craig (Sonya Wilde) knows that Paisley is a phony--and when Paisley is murdered in a particularly gruesome fashion, Bonnie is charged with the crime. To clear his client, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) relies upon the powers of ESP. . .not to mention a powerful electric device called the Faraday Cage. Dr. Andrija Puharich, the real-life physical researcher who brought such famous psychics as Peter Hurkos and Uri Geller to the public's attention, appears as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
The plot gets under way when artist Jack Culross (Britt Lomond) fakes his own suicide so that his paintings will increase in value. Upon discovering that her husband is still alive, Culross' wife Edna (Lori March) tracks him down and angrily confronts him. Not long afterward, Culross is found dead for real, and Edna is charged with the crime. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) must find out who else knew of Culross' phony suicide--and who else hated him enough to kill him. With this episode, Wesley Lau becomes a regular as Lt. Anderson, though in many episodes he is still billed among the supporting players. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Now working as a health club instructor, former college athletic star Ward Nichols (Ed Nelson) hopes to marry Casey Daniels (Maggie Pierce), the niece of his boss Bernard Daniels (Les Tremayne). Unfortunately, Nichols' estranged wife Veronica (Leslie Parrish) refuses to let him go, and claims to be pregnant so she can shake him down for "hush money." Making matters worse, Mr. Daniels accuses Nichols of forging his name on the checks sent to Veronica. When Daniels is crushed to death by a barbell, the police think they've got Nichols dead to rights--but they haven't reckoned with the poor fellow's attorney Perry Mason (Raymond Burr). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Journalist Lawrence Vander (Paul Lambert) is murdered during a weekend retreat for the employees of Space Associates Ltd, a major defense contractor. It turns out that Vander was trying to track down ex-Nazi Max Keinermann, who may be working for Space Associates under an alias.. Accused of the murder is Harlan Merill (Dick Foran), who has a rather unsavory past of his own. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) dedicates himself to clearing Merrill's name--actually two names, since he is also using an alias--and solving the murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
On the verge of marrying jazz musician Eddy King (James Drury), Polly Courtland (Jo Morrows) lets out a shriek and runs out of the church. It turns out that Polly had seen George Sherwin (Grant Richards]), who was waving an envelope containing compromising photos of Polly's sister Midge (Lorrie Richards). Later confronting Polly, Sherwin promises to destroy the photos if she will give up Eddy and marry him. Inevitably, Sherwin is murdered and Eddy is charged with the crime--obliging Perry Mason (Perry Mason), who'd been a guest at the interrupted wedding, to handle his defense. Cast as nightclub singer Jonny Baker, future daytime-drama diva Constance Towers) sings "The Man I Love" and "The Thrill is Gone"; also, Barney Kessel, who composed the episode's jazzy musical score, appears as Spec Hollister. Finally, Karl Held joins the cast in the semi-regular role of Mason's legal assistant David Gideon, a character introduced (as a defendant!) in the previous episode "The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather". (Trivia note: though originally listed in TV Guide as Perry Mason's fifth-season opener, this episode was actually that season's third entry, preceded by two "leftover" episodes from Season Four). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
