Peter Hobbs Movies

Michael Callan guest stars as Harry Springer, an otherwise honest salesman who becomes an amateur extortionist. Actually, Springer's intentions are honorable: He intends to save his brother from a trumped-up murder charge by putting the heat on Alexander York (Simon Scott), prosecution witness whom Harry suspects of being the real killer. Unfortunately, Springer gets in way over his head--and as a result, it's likely that not even Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) can save the salesman from a Mob rub-out. In a rare TV appearance, film favorite Laraine Day is cast as the murder suspect's wife. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rebelling against his old-world father Stefan (Will Kuluva), young Gus Kolner (played by future teen idol Bobby Sherman) runs away from home in the company of his "cool" new friend Spencer Lang (Andrew Prine). What Gus doesn't know is that Lang is a hardened criminal, who plans to kidnap the boy and hold him for ransom. As Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr. conducts a frantic search for the missing Gus, the boy lies helplessly bound and gagged--just inches away from a ticking time bomb! Veteran character actress Lynn Bari contributes an amusing cameo as the overaged-hippie owner of a "Mod" boutique. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The FBI's search for escaped confict Charles Nyack (Scott Marlowe) is stymied by a massive power blackout. Meanwhile, Nyack commits murder in his efforts to cover his tracks. Unless Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) can (literally!) shed light on the case, Nyack's next victim will be Virginia Lambeth (Diana Hyland), the woman who had originally turned him over to the authorities. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Howard Sprague becomes a Big Brother for problem teen Tommy Parker (Scott Lane). Balking at Howard's insistence that he concentrate on his schoolwork, the crafty Tommy arranges a few dates between Howard and his big sister Betty Parker (Elizabeth MacRae). Succumbing to Betty's charms, Howard is on Cloud Nine until the awful truth brings him crashing back to earth. First shown on March 27, 1967, "Big Brother" was written by Fred S. Fox. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Coleen Dewhurst guest stars as Amy Doucette, a deranged woman who is hired sight unseen as a babysitter by a young couple (Davey Davison, Geoffrey Horne). Kidnapping the baby, Amy enlists the aid of her neurotic sister Stella (Collin Wilcox) in her efforts to elude the authorities. Armed with the knowledge that Amy is morbidly obsessed with the date "April 2", Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) literally races against time to save the life of the abducted child. (Trivia note: costars Collin Wilcox and Geoffrey Horne were husband and wife at the time). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Like most progressive suburban parents, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) have already filled in their son Ritchie (Larry Mathews) on the facts of life. Thus it comes as quite a surprise to the couple when they're summoned to Ritchie's school by his teacher Miss Reshovsky (Alberta Nelson), who informs Rob and Laura that Ritchie has been going around telling his classmates some very bizarre, improbable, and downright ridiculous "facts" about the reproductive process. The situation leads to a session with school psychologist Dr. Gormsley (Peter Hobbs) -- and the ultimate revelation that Ritchie is not as ill-informed as he seems to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In a flashback to his Army days, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) recalls the problems encountered by Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) and himself when they attempted to go on their honeymoon. No sooner has the couple rented a "cozy" hideaway than the commanding officer of Camp Crowder, anxious to locate a possible thief, cancels all leaves! Will Rob be forced to go A.W.O.L. to spend time with Laura -- and will snoopy landlady Mrs. Campbell (the great Kathleen Freeman) end up tossing both Mr. and Mrs. Petrie out of her seedy motel? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Disgusted by the smarminess of his 1963 vehicle Under the Yum Yum Tree, Jack Lemmon vowed that his next effort would be a wholesome family picture. Good Neighbor Sam is suitable for all ages, to be sure, but that doesn't stop producer-writer-director David Swift from injecting plenty of double-entendre dialogue and harmlessly risque situations. Lemmon plays ad executive Sam Bissell, happily married to all-American blonde Minerva (Dorothy Provine). Anxious to land the Nurdlinger's milk account, Sam is carefully scrutinized by the prudish Simon Nurdlinger (Edward G. Robinson), a staunch advocate of old-fashioned family values.

Meanwhile, Minerva welcomes her old school friend, sexy Janet Langerlof (Romy Schneider) into her home. Janet is in line to inherit a fortune, but only if she's married. Unfortunately, Janet is currently separated from her insanely jealous spouse Howard Ebbets (Michael Connors), so big-hearted Minerva volunteers Sam to pose as Janet's husband. The ensuing comic complications come to a head when Nurdlinger elects Sam and Janet as the nation's ideal "married" couple, and posts their pictures on billboards all over town! Some of the smaller pleasures in this film are provided by Louis Nye as a high-tech private eye, Barbara Nichols as a squeaky-voiced call girl, Robert Q. Lewis as Sam's lascivious neighbor, and an uncredited Gil Lamb as a genial wino. An amusing running gag involved the Hertz "man in the driver's seat" commercials of the 1960s has sometimes been cut from TV prints of Good Neighbor Sam. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Two years after the success of The Interns (1962) came this follow-up tale of medical interns during their first year working in a hospital. Ranging from comedy to melodrama, three main stories are woven around the principal characters. Functioning as the group's advisor, Dr. Alec Considine spends much of his time chasing women--one of which (an early role from Barbara Eden) may or may not wrangle a ring from him. Then there is a struggling married couple (played by Stefanie Powers and Dean Jones) who must face the possibility of never having children. Thirdly, Dr. Tony Parelli (George Segal in his film debut), coming from a gritty past, falls in love with social worker Nancy (Inger Stevens). Unfortunately Nancy has recently been sexually brutallized by three violent men and does not respond favorably to Dr. Parelli's attentions. Also starring are Telly Savalas and Kay Stevens, who, with Powers and Callan, appeared in the original and more successful Interns. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

Until the House Un-American Activities Committee horned in, several postwar Hollywood films dealt with touchy "liberal" subject matter. Lost Boundaries stars Mel Ferrer as a light-skinned African-American, whose family is "passing" in an all-white New England community. When the truth comes out, the more bigoted neighbors demand the expulsion of Ferrer and his family. Considered pretty potent stuff in 1949, Lost Boundaries appears fairly conventional today, especially in its reluctance to cast a genuine black actor in the lead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide