Arthur Hill Movies

Vanished earned a niche in video history as the first two-part TV movie. Based on Fletcher Knebel's novel, the story concerns the sudden disappearance of a top Presidential adviser. Grilled by the media, the President's press secretary (James Farentino) reveals very little, simply because he knows very little. But the chief executive himself (Richard Widmark) has more information than he's willing to make public; the FBI has proof that the vanished adviser was homosexual, and subject to blackmail. Based in part on the Lyndon Johnson/Walter Jenkins imbroglio of 1964, Vanished is given an aura of credibility via cameo appearances by Washington newscaster/journalists Chet Huntley, Herbert Kaplow and Martin Agronsky. The film was first telecast on two consecutive evenings: March 8 and 9 of 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A young married couple struggle with their personal problems and their union and the forthcoming birth oftheir unwanted child in this grim domestic drama. Much of the story centers on the husband, a former high school basketball star who is unable to leave the glory days behind and fashion a future for himself and his wife. Though pregnant, the wife is constantly drunk and the two constantly bicker. One night, they have row and the husband takes off to stay with his now-impoverished former coach thereby setting the stage for further turmoil and tragedy. The plot for Rabbit, Run is based on a John Updike novel. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Robert (Arthur Hill) is a successful family man who attends an insurance convention in the U.S. Leaving behind his wife Barbara (Sharon Acker) and two sons ages 19 and 13, he has an affair with an American girl. His wife suspects something is wrong when he returns. The youngest son skips school and the oldest son gets involved with a female rock singer and participates in campus demonstrations. Robert slowly grows more distant from his family and is plagued by having never taken a stand on anything political or controversial. After seeing some disturbing pictures of Vietnam, student riots, and the Warsaw Ghetto, Robert begins to lose his mind in this drama of the good life that goes from bad to worse to insanity. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

J. Lee Thompson (The Guns of Navarone) directed this Cold War action thriller. Gregory Peck is the American Dr. John Hathaway, a Noble Prize-winning scientist, teaching at a university in London. Lieutenant General Shelby (Arthur Hill), from the American Embassy, asks Hathaway to go on a mission to Communist China to obtain an enzyme, being developed by his old teacher Soong Li (Keye Luke), that permits crops to grow in any climate. Since the country holding the formula to this growth enzyme would be able to control the world, Shelby tells Hathaway that both the United States and the Soviet Union are anxious that the enzyme not stay in China. Hathaway doesn't want to go because of a burgeoning love affair with attractive professor Kay Hanna (Anne Heywood) and an opposition he holds to American foreign policy. But a call from the President changes his mind, and he is off to China. A transmitter is placed in his skull so that he can communicate with London. But Hathaway doesn't realize that the head implant can also be detonated from London, if necessary, and blow Hathaway's brains out. In China, Hathaway works with his old mentor Soong Li to perfect the enzyme. As they are near completion, the Red Guard storms the laboratory and attack Soong Li because of his opposition to the new movement in China, and Hathaway has to flee the country. Detecting the transmitter in Hathaway's head, the Chinese are in full pursuit. Hathaway makes it to the Sino-Soviet border, but then Shelby decides to activate the explosive device in Hathaway's head once he crosses over into Russia. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) investigates the kidnapping of Bob Griswold (Dave Macklin), the long-estranged son of ex-convict Max Griswold (Arthur Hill). What Erskine doesn't know is that the boy has been abducted by one of Max's former prison buddies. The motivation: A three-million dollar robbery which the kidnapper wants Griswold to help mastermind. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) steps up his search for kidnap victim Bob Griswold (Dave Macklin). Meanwhile, Bob's ex-convict father Max (Arthur Hill) reluctantly launches the final stage of an elaborate robbery that will net the kidnapper a cool three million dollars. A wild seagoing chase caps this nail-biting suspenser. ~ 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

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

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

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

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

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

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