Barbara Dodd Movies
- 1974
Long before Sally Struthers began promoting mail-order college degrees, she starred in this made-for-TV melodrama. Struthers plays Sara Moore, a young woman suffering from a rare blood disease. There's a slim possibility of her survival, but anxious surgeon Dr. Lawrence Maddox (James Franciscus) can't wait; he needs Sara as an organ donor for a crucial heart transplant, and he needs her now. Sara escapes to Hawaii, enjoying the sights and rebuilding her health -- with unkindly Doctor Maddox just one step behind her. Aloha Means Goodbye was the sort of ridiculous film fare that convinced Sally Struthers to keep her day job on All in the Family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Escaping from federal prison, David Starret makes a beeline to Albany, New York, where he kidnaps his son Cliff (Michael Kearney) from the boy's foster parents. Upon discovering that Cliff is suffering from leukemia, Starret dedicates himself to acquiring the necessary medical attention for his son--even if he has to commit murder to do it. Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) tracks Starret all the way to Texas for a tension-packed showdown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Most of this episode was filmed on location at California's Riverside Raceway. Having financed his racing activities by selling his garage business to the Mob, John Stanton (Tom Bosley is now under pressure to do the Mob's bidding--or else. FBI agent Colby (Stephen Elliott) goes undercover as a racer (and puts his life on the line in the bargain) to find out what the villains are up to. Featured as a minor hoodlum is Stanley Clements, the former "Duke" of the 1950s Bowery Boys comedies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Using the alias "Gene Tyler", Richard Kimble takes a brief respite from his search for the One-Armed Man by attending a baseball game--where, unfortunately, he witnesses the kidnapping of Nadine Newmark (Lynda Day), daughter of publishing mogul Andrew Newmark (Martin Balsam) (No, this 1967 episode isn't based on the Patty Hearst abduction, which was still seven years in the future). The kidnappers demand that Newmark pony up a $2 million ransom, and that Kimble deliver the money. Thus, Kimble is once again trapped between a rock and a hard place: If he refuses to make the drop, Newmark will have him arrested--and if agrees, he'll be killed on the spot. Featured as one of the villains is former "Bowery Boy" Gabe Dell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Billy De Wolfe guest-stars as a zany pet beautician (yes, pet beautician) in this canine spin on "Pygmalion." When a sketch on "The Alan Brady Show" involving a huge, ugly dog is cut just before air time, the staff is stuck with the aforementioned dog -- and of course no one wants to take care of the mutt. No one, that is, except Rob (Dick Van Dyke), who in moment of reckless abandon is convinced that the dog would make a wonderful pet for Laura (Mary Tyler Moore). When this turns out not to be the case, it's time for an "extreme makeover," doggie-style. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy De Wolfe, Richard Deacon, (more)
- 1965
Once again, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) flashes back to his Army days, specifically to that brief period in which he was known "Pitter-Patter" Petrie, middleweight boxing champion of Special Services. Thanks to the manipulations of his pal Sol Pomerantz (Allan Melvin), a reluctant Rob is scheduled for a bout with the motor pool's best pugilist, Boom Boom Bailey (Paul Stader) -- and since everyone, including his commanding officer, has wagered on the match's outcome, there's no way Rob can weasel out. And as for Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) -- well, to quote Rob, she's "no Lilli Palmer." Future sitcom producer Garry Marshall appears as the referee. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Allan Melvin, Ed Peck, (more)
- 1965
The FBI swoops down when saboteur Maury Maddock (Mark Richman) attempts to blow up a Government warehouse full of supplies headed for Vietnam. Complicating the Feds' efforts is the curious behavior of Maury's fiercely loyal Japanese-born wife Akiko (Miiko Taka), who is totally unaware of her husband's criminal activities. Jason Evers appears as Special Agent Allen Bennett, a role later played on a recurring basis by Lew Brown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) is delighted when his old friend Cam Durbin (a pre-MaverickJack Kelly) arrives in Dodge City accompanied by his pretty young wife Tilda (Joan Tetzel). Having been hired to run the faro table at a local saloon, Cam hires Lonnie Pyke (Thann Wyenn) as his dealer--not realizing that Lonnie has a long-standing grudge against Matt. Before long, Lonnie has managed to turn Cam against Matt by claiming that the Marshal is having an affair with Tilda--and it looks like a bloody showdown is inevitable. Based upon a radio broadcast first heard on June 4, 1955, this is the final episode of Gunsmoke's second season on TV. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Beaver (Jerry Mathers) thinks it's real "creepy" that his brother Wally (Tony Dow) is spending less time with him and more time with his girlfriend Penny Jamison. But this state of affairs ends abruptly when Wally and Penny quarrel and break up. Now concerned only with his brother's best interests, Beav tries to patch the romance back together -- with the unexpected assistance of his pet toad, Herbie. Penny Jamison is played by Carol Sydes, who later changed her name to Cindy Carol and essayed the leading role in the 1963 theatrical feature Gidget Goes to Rome. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carol Sydes, Barbara Dodd, (more)
- 1955
Irregularly scheduled on NBC from 1954 through 1957, Producers' Showcase was a series of lavish, full-color 90 minute specials, bringing the best of Broadway to the 21 inch screen. The series' July 25, 1955 presentation was The Fourposter, adapted from the stage hit by Jan de Hartog. Covering 35 years, from 1890 to 1925, this is the story of a typical marriage, from honeymoon, to children, to breakup and renunciation, to triumph and tragedy, and ultimately closing with the death of one of the couple and the bittersweet recollections of the surviving spouse. Recreating their Broadway roles, real-life husband and wife Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy star in the play's only two roles, with Cronyn pulling extra duty as producer and stager of the original stage version. Previously filmed in 1952 with Rex Harrison and Lili Palmer (likewise Mr. and Mrs. at the time), The Fourposter later served as the basis for the 1966 Broadway musical I Do! I Do!. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, (more)
