Arthur Hill Movies
He first acted in college productions and in Seattle, then moved to England, where he became well-respected as a fine stage actor; he also appeared in two or three films in the '50s. In the late '50s he gave several impressive performances on Broadway; for his work in Broadway's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? he won a Tony Award in 1962. His film work has been sporadic, with occasional bursts of activity; he has often played intelligent, introspective leads and key supporting roles. He has done similar work in many TV productions. He starred in the TV series Owen Marshall: Counsellor at Law. ~ All Movie Guide
Howard Hawks directed this classic farce about how love attempts to triumph over military red tape after the close of World War II. Capt. Henri Rochard (Cary Grant) is a French officer who is assigned to put a stop to a black market operation in occupied Germany with the help of Lt. Catherine Gates (Ann Sheridan), an American WAC. While their initial meetings are hardly harmonious, in time Rochard and Gates find that opposites really do attract, and they fall in love. The two decide to get married, which seems simple enough, but the moment Gates receives orders to return to the United States and Rochard wants to join her, they soon discover just how complicated the U.S. Army can make things. While the Army has a strict protocol for dealing with "war brides," there is no similar routine for men who marry female Army personnel, so in order to follow his new wife into the States, Rochard has to disguise himself as a WAC. From this moment on, nearly everything that happens to Rochard is an affront to his dignity and/or his patience, from his inability to share a bunk with his new bride to his discovery that Army regulations prevent him from driving a motorcycle (Gates has to take the handlebars, while her husband is forced to ride in a sidecar). As more than one writer has pointed out, while Grant gives a deft comic performance, it's a bit of a stretch to imagine that he's French (but probably no more than to imagine that anyone would really believe that he's a woman). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cary Grant, Ann Sheridan, (more)
- 1950
In the Anglo-American The Body Said No!, actor Michael Rennie plays his most challenging role: "himself." The scene is a British TV studio, where Rennie is performing in a live dramatic broadcast. On another set, singer Yolande Donlan mistakes a director's hand signals as "secret code" in a murder plot. Future Dr. Who star Jon Pertwee pops up as a studio watchman. Believe it or not, commercial television had been a reality in Great Britain for 14 years at the time of The Body Said No!'s 1950 release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1950
Miss Laramie Pilgrim (Yolande Donlan) is an American factory girl. Anxious to see what life is like outside her own backyard, Miss Pilgrim trades places with a British lass. After reels and reels of culture-clash comedy, the heroine comes to the rescue of her new friends and neighbors, who are being exploited by a local land developer. On the verge of his American stardom, Michael Rennie plays Miss Pilgrim's English love interest. Miss Pilgrim's Progress was another of those minor British films that were played to death on American TV in the 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yolande Donlan, Michael Rennie, (more)
- 1951
In this British crime drama, a petty crook teams up with a gangster to steal some jewels, but somehow the robbery goes awry and an innocent man is fatally shot. The man later turns out to be the father of the crook's newest girl friend. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1952
In this mystery, a woman desiring to locate her missing employer engages the services of "The Toff," a suave amateur detective. Mayhem ensues until the detective reveals that the boss wanted to disappear so he could hide from the man behind an insurance fraud who wants to kill him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1952
In this murder mystery, an aspiring novelist and amateur detective begins looking into the case of a famous unsolved murder and eventually ends up in a mansion filled with serpents. He then enlists the aid of his wife, solves the murder, and gets kudos for his newest book. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1953
Based on The Hand and the Flower, a novel by Jerrard Tickell, A Day to Remember stars Stanley Holloway as Charley Porter, captain of London darts team. When the team travels to the French town of Boulogne for the annual darts tournament, a good time is had by all--and more besides. Jim Carver (Donald Sinden), one of the team's members, is reunited with a little French girl he'd befriended during the war, who has now developed into a beautiful young woman (Odelle Versois). And Fred Collins (James Hayter) makes a poignant journey to the hotel where he'd honeymooned with his late wife (Brenda DeBanzie). The film works best as a low-key comedy-drama; it is least successful when it ventures into O. Henry territory and strains for "surprise" story twists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stanley Holloway, Donald Sinden, (more)
- 1954
In the tradition of Derby Day and The Extra Day came another multiplotted British comedy/drama, The Crowded Day. A huge and mobile cast play the various persons connected with a department store sale during the Christmas season. Special attention is given five members of the store's sales staff, each of whose private lives comprises a story wavering twixt laughter and tears. Joan Rice, John Gregson, Freda Jackson, Rachel Roberts, Thora Hird and Edward Chapman are among the familiar British faces commiserating at the bargain counter. The fragmentary nature of Crowded Day came in handy when the film was trimmed to accommodate commercials on American television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Adapted from the play by Terence Rattigan, The Deep Blue Sea stars Vivien Leigh as the troubled wife of a London attorney (Emlyn Williams). Racked with emotional problems, Leigh turns her back on her loveless marriage and sets up house with a handsome RAF officer (Kenneth More). When her lover proves to be shallow and unreliable, Leigh attempts to kill herself. She is rescued by a gambler (Eric Portman), who'd once been a doctor before being drummed out of his profession in disgrace. The kindly ex-doctor builds up Leigh's confidence in herself, allowing her to go on with her life without relying upon men to define her self-image. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vivien Leigh, Kenneth More, (more)
- 1955
British actor Kenneth More's screen charisma helps smooth over the rough spots of Raising a Riot. More plays Tony, a young husband and father. When Tony's wife Mary (Shelagh Fraser) takes a trip to Canada, the hapless hubby is left in charge of their three precocious (to put it mildly) children. The film then goes off on several directions, many of them hilarious: some of the best scenes involve the kids' ongoing feud with a bunch of American children. One of the three youngsters is played by Mandy Miller, who'd previously burst onto the movie scene with her brilliant portrayal of a deaf child in Crash of Silence. Ronald Squire indulges in his usual scene-stealing as the kid's rogueish grandpa. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenneth More, Shelagh Fraser, (more)
- 1956
Paul Douglas repeats his Broadway stage role as corrupt, bombastic scrap-metal tycoon Harry Brock in this Hallmark Hall of Fame production of Garson Kanin's Born Yesterday. Taking over from Judy Holliday in the role of Harry's dimwitted mistress Billie Dawn is Mary Martin, while Arthur Hill is seen as Paul Verrall, the bespectacled Washington DC reporter whom Harry hires to instill "refinement" in the brash and unschooled ex-chorine Billie. Anxious to organize a covert business cartel with the help of a few bought-off politicians, Harry realizes that Billie's stupidity and tendency to say whatever pops into her head might queer the deal--thus, he engages the services of Verrall. What Harry doesn't count on is that Paul will "educate" Billie to the point that she develops a conscience, and a sense of patriotism that causes her to rebel against Brock's disreputable tactics. As in the original play and the 1950 film version, the highlight of the proceedings is the classic gin-rummy game between Harry and Billie, though running a close second is Billie's blockbuster response to Brock's brutishness: "Do me a favor, will ya Harry? Drop dead." Garson Kanin himself directed this production, which originally aired live and in color. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Steve McQueen was already well into the first season of his own TV Western, Wanted: Dead or Alive, when he appeared in this memorable episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. McQueen is cast as newspaper reporter Bill Everett, who at the behest of his editor (Tyler McVey) heads to a corner bar to interview a curious fellow named Howard Wilcox (Arthur Hill). It seems that Wilcox has been telling anyone who will listen that he is actually a Martian, and that the planet Mars is planning a full-scale invasion of Earth. Alas, Wilcox's wild story proves to be his undoing, thanks to some "inside-the-beltway" information already in Bill Everett's possession. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
The scene is Las Vegas, where William Benson (Arthur Hill) has dropped a bundle at the gaming tables. But Benson's luck seems to change when he finds a fancy money clip containing 92,000 dollars. Ultimately determining that honesty is the best policy, Benson turns the clip over to the authorities -- only to find that it originally contained 102,000 dollars, and thus he is now suspected of stealing the missing ten grand. Surprisingly, the clip's owner, Curtis Newsome (Rod Cameron), gets Benson off the hook by telling the cops that he'd only lost the original 92,000...but as it happens, Newsome is not quite the generous glad-hander he appears to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
- NR
This slick hospital soap opera features Ben Gazzara as Dr. David Coleman, a young physician hired into the pathology department at a big hospital. The aging head of the department, Dr. Joseph Pearson (Fredric March), is insulted and treats the new hire as a rival. They battle over many medical issues. Coleman falls in love with a nurse, Cathy Hunt (Ina Balin), but she develops a tumor on her knee. Pearson says that it is malignant and orders her leg amputated. Coleman disagrees but must go along with the decision. Coleman then orders three blood tests on an expectant mother, Mrs. Alexander (Phyllis Love), because she has a rare blood condition. Pearson thinks that the tests are excessive and cancels the third test. When the baby is born seriously ill, Pearson is berated by Dr. Charles Dornberger (Eddie Albert), Alexander's personal physician, who then conducts a blood transfusion to save the baby's life. Pearson's future at the hospital becomes uncertain, at best. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fredric March, Ben Gazzara, (more)
- 1962
Frank Nitti (Bruce Gordon) hopes to expand his bootlegging empire across the US-Canadian border, setting up headquarters in the small Canadian fishing town of St. Brenden's. Meanwhile, Nitti's rival Joe Palakopoulos (Simon Oakland) has already gained a foothold in St. Brenden's, setting himself up as the town's "benefactor", not only pouring money into the impoverished community and even purchasing an organ for the local church. It is up to Elliot Ness (Robert Stack), with some preliminary assistance by an undercover agent, to persuade the town's spiritual leader Father Francis Gregory (played by Canadian actor Arthur Hill) that Palakopoulos is up to no good. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Taken from a best-selling book, this is an uneven, politically tinged drama by George Englund that does not really follow the book that closely. Marlon Brando is Harrison Carter MacWhite, an ambassador to a Southeast Asian country that goes unnamed but stands in well for Vietnam. There is a growing movement against Yankee imperialism and the current government, increasing unrest, and other signs of a complex situation getting worse. At first the ambassador relies on past training and has his own facile explanations for the unfolding events. But as time goes by, he comes to learn that a revolutionary movement is not one-dimensional. Unfortunately, the film itself never adequately clarifies the events it depicts. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marlon Brando, Eiji Okada, (more)
- 1963
In this drama of romantic intrigue and infidelity, Sam and Christine Bonner (Arthur Hill and Jane Fonda) are a married couple whose relationship has hit a rough spot. While Sam loves Christina very much and would do anything for her, she feels unsatisfied and suffocated by him; she wants more space for herself and would like to have a baby. Sam is more than willing to help, but matters become more complicated when he introduces Christine to Murray Logan (Peter Finch), a friend from work, and his wife Sybil (Angela Lansbury). Murray and Sybil are not at all happy together; ever since an auto wreck claimed the life of their son, Sybil has been emotionally on edge and blames her husband for the death of her child. When Murray meets Christine, he finds himself attracted to her; she is also interested in him, but neither are in a position to do anything about it. Sam arranges for the two couples to take a vacation to Greece together, hoping a change of scenery will bring a spark back into their lives. However, Sam's father Frederick (Alexander Knox) falls ill just as the couples are about to leave, and he's forced to stay behind. While in Greece, Murray and Christine finally succumb to their desires and begin an affair; an angry Sybil retaliates by both having a fling with a local man and spilling the beans to Sam about Murray and his wife. John Houseman, later to become famous as an actor, served as a producer on this film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Finch, Jane Fonda, (more)
- 1964
Set in England, The Fatal Mistake stars Arthur Hill as a respectable accountant and family man. Every month on the dot, Hill is visited by his "friend" Roddy McDowell, who graciously bestows gifts upon Hill's wife and children, then retires with his host into the den. Here McDowell collects his monthly blackmail check--just as he does with all his other "clients". Tired of paying out extortion, Hill plans a neat little mishap for McDowell. Fatal Mistake was a 60-minute offering of Bob Hope Chrysler Theatre's 1966-67 season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
During a flight from New York to Seattle, a passenger identifying himself as Ernest Putnam (Arthur Hill) hijacks the plane and demands to be flown to Manchuria. Inspector Erskine learns that "Putnam" is actually a scientist named Charles King, and that he is in possession of vital government information that must not fall into the hands of the Red Chinese. In a desperate effort to stop King and rescue the passengers, Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) tries to intercept the plane during a refueling stopover in Alaska--but the situation is far from resolved! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Screenwriter William Goldman has claimed that Paul Newman agreed to do Harper, the film that established the grateful writer's career, only because he was working unhappily on Lady L. (1965) in Europe, and was looking for something as unlike that film as possible. He stars as Lew Harper, a hip L.A. private dick whose business has gotten so bad that he's re-using his coffee grounds. At the suggestion of his friend, attorney Albert Graves (Arthur Hill), the detective takes on the investigation of the disappearance of the wealthy husband of waspish cripple Elaine Sampson (Lauren Bacall). After finding a photograph of former actress Fay Estabrook (Shelley Winters), Harper locates the alcoholic actress in a bar, plies her with booze, and takes her home to search her apartment while she's unconscious. There he takes a call which leads him to another bar to meet Betty Fraley (Julie Harris), a singer with a heroin problem. To curtail his inquisitive behavior, some large and unpleasant gentleman beat him up outside the saloon. Hoping for sympathy from his soon to be ex-wife (Janet Leigh), who has just filed divorce papers, the weary detective is much more successful than he has any right to expect. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Lauren Bacall, (more)
- 1966
In desperate need of money for his daughter's operation, research chemist Edward Lennan (Arthur Hill) agrees to sell some stolen vials to foreign spy Jago (Michael Strong). Lennan is convinced that the vials contain only a newly developed cosmetic base. In truth, they are contaminated with a deadly bacteria--and unless FBI Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) acts quickly, millions of lives will be lost on both sides of the Iron Curtain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, "The Carriers" features George Takei as IMF agent Roger Lee and Arthur Hill as enemy agent Janos Passik. An expert on infiltration, Passik has set up a training school for spies in an Iron Curtain replica of a "typical" American town. It is all part of a master scheme to spread a deadly plague virus in the United States. Briggs must rely upon Lee's knowledge of chemicals, and the usual special talents of the IMF "regulars", to nip Passik's plan in the bud. "The Carriers" was first broadcast on November 19, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Hill, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1966
Mervyn LeRoy, one of the best-known directors of Hollywood's Golden Age, wrapped up his career behind the camera with this suspense drama. Kay Stanton (Jean Seberg) is the wife of well-known psychiatrist Neil Stanton (Arthur Hill). Neil's international reputation often keeps him on the road lecturing at medical conferences, leaving Kay alone at home. Bored and craving attention, Kay becomes involved with a handsome Naval officer named Mark Dominic (Sean Garrison), but the affair is often rocky, and one day, in the midst of an argument, Kay accidentally shoots Mark. Convinced that Mark is dead, Kay panics and calls her friend Daphne (Honor Blackman). With Daphne's help, Kay drags Mark's body to a car, and they drive to a deep ravine, where they toss the body in. Shortly afterward, Kay calls the police to report that a dead body is in the ravine, without giving her name. But they learn that the body was not found; as it turns out, Mark was only wounded in the shooting, and he now waits in a hospital ward, recovering from his wounds and suffering from amnesia. Moment to Moment was made at a time when leading lady Jean Seberg was getting most of her work in European films; she wasn't to make a picture for a U.S. studio for another three years. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Seberg, Honor Blackman, (more)
