Robert E. Thompson Movies
- 1980
Clearly inspired by the theatrical feature Norma Rae, The $5.20 an Hour Dream stars Linda Lavin as a recently divorced woman supporting herself and her 12-year-old daughter. The highest-paying job at the Oregon engine factory where she works is on the assembly line--which has traditionally been an all-male operation. Bucking the system (and several stereotyped "chauvinist pigs"), Lavin eventually wins a place on the line, as do several of her female friends. As always, Linda Lavin (for whom this film was a pet project) looks far too self-reliant to ever be considered a "victim," so the climax of $5.20 an Hour Dream is a foregone conclusion. This made for TV movie received an award from the National Commission of Working Women. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
This 3-hour TV adaptation of the 1932 Aldous Huxley novel is set 600 years in the future. In this "well- ordered" society, the citizens are required to take mind-controlling drugs, sex without love is compulsory, and test-tube babies are commonplace because of a ban on pregnancy. Keir Dullea heads the cast as Thomas Grahmbell, "director of hatcheries". Not everybody is satisfied with society's lack of humanity and feeling; the loudest dissidents are free-thinking poet Heimholtz Watson (Dick Anthony Williams) and brilliant oddball Bernard Marx (Bud Cort). An injection of new "old" ideas are brought in by "primitive" John Savage (Kristoffer Tabori), who lives on an Indian reservation which still honors 20th century values. Meanwhile, Linda Lysenko (Julie Cobb) becomes a natural mother--and in so doing becomes a criminal. In keeping with the style of the original book, the script's newly-minted characters are given names of pop-culture icons (Disney, Maoina, Stalina, and so on). Brave New World was first telecast March 7, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In a spin off from the actual event of U.S. President Kennedy's assassination, this drama examines what the trial of Lee Harvey Oswald may have been like had he not been shot by Jack Ruby. This made-for-television movie was aired in two parts. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
Originally titled D.A.'s Investigator, Kiss Me Kill Me stars Stella Stevens as Stella Stafford, "leg woman" for the LA district attorney's office. The case at hand is the murder of a young, highly respected schoolteacher. Stella is certain that she has the killer dead to rights--but this is before she learns the down-and-dirty about the murder victim's secret life. Supporting Ms. Stevens is an impressive guest cast, including Dabney Coleman, Pat O'Brien, Bruce Boxleitner and Robert Vaughn. First telecast May 8, 1976, Kiss Me Kill Me was the pilot for an intended TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy is a TV dramatization of the notorious Cold War incident of 1960. The story is told from the point of view of Powers (Lee Majors), an American pilot who was shot down over Russia while taking photographs on behalf of the CIA. The event occurs just before a crucial summit meeting between American President Dwight D. Eisenhower (James Flavin) and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev (Thayer David). Eisenhower tries to cover up the incident, allowing Khrushchev to make propagandistic hay of the whole affair. Robert E. Thompson's teleplay tends to depict the Americans as jerks, and the Russians as essentially good guys; even Powers' Soviet interrogator, portrayed by Nehemiah Persoff, comes off comparatively sympathetic. Also in the cast are Noah Beery as Powers' father and Lew Ayres as Allen Dulles. Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy was originally telecast September 29, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
"Stubborn old patriarch" TV movies can rise or fall depending on the leading man. Richard Boone is the star who makes Great Niagara tolerable, even in its most irritatingly macho passages. Boone plays an ill-tempered old codger who has been crippled by attempting to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Despite his own lack of success, Boone demands that his sons maintain family tradition by challenging the Falls themselves. Produced by Playboy Films, The Great Niagara is a satisfactorily exciting effort, given texture by being set during the Depression. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Of the two rape-oriented TV movies of the 1973-74 season, A Case of Rape, first telecast February 20, 1974, is far and away the finer film (the other was the compelling but contrived Cry Rape). Elizabeth Montgomery stars as a housewife who is sexually assaulted not once but twice by a so-called family friend (Cliff Potts). The rape is only the beginning of a long cycle of humiliation and self-doubt: the investigating police are dismissive of Montgomery's charges, the female defense attorney (Rosemary Murphy) tries to put the victim on trial, and Montgomery's reputation and marriage (to Ronny Cox) are irrevocably damaged. Though things don't go well for her in the courtroom, Montgomery emerges from the experience a stronger and more self-reliant person, unwilling to allow herself to be destroyed by outside influences. Don't miss the final confrontation between raper and rapist after the trial--an underplayed but bone-chilling vignette. Had not Cicely Tyson sewn up the Emmy with The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Elizabeth Montgomery would certainly have copped the prize with A Case of Rape. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
This oft-filmed Conan Doyle story is given the TV-quickie treatment, with Stewart Granger as master sleuth Sherlock Holmes. The Great Detective is engaged to protect the life of Henry Baskerville, a young man whose life has been put in jeopardy, ostensibly by an ancient family curse. Holmes sends his assistant Dr. Watson (Bernard Fox) to investigate at Baskerville Hall, a desolate estate surrounded by the forbidding Grimpen Mire. Though Watson doesn't know it, Holmes has come to the Mire in disguise, to burrow through the case undetected. Working together, Holmes and Watson discover that a distant Baskerville relative plans to use a giant hound to kill young Henry and claim the estate for himself. If not the weakest film version of this classic suspense tale, Hound of the Baskervilles is certainly the shoddiest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
- PG
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A total of nine Academy Award nominations went to this wildly acclaimed, allegorical drama set amongst the contestants in a marathon dance contest during the Great Depression. Gig Young stars as Rocky, the obnoxious emcee for a dance marathon that offers prize money of $1,500, a small fortune during hard economic times that brings out the worst in several participants. Among them are Gloria Beatty (Jane Fonda), a malcontent who's partnered with a drifter, Robert Syverton (Michael Sarrazin); a pregnant farm girl (Bonnie Bedelia) and her husband (Bruce Dern); a sailor (Red Buttons); and an aspiring actress (Susannah York). As the marathon winds into a staggering second month, suspicion, doubt and insecurity rages among the competitors and even the decaying and increasingly manipulative Rocky, leading to a shocking crime. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, (more)
- 1969
The made-for-TV Deadlock stars Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Sam Danforth (since this is long before the Police Squad era, Nielsen plays it straight). The white Danforth finds himself at ideological loggerheads with black district attorney Leslie Washburn (Hari Rhodes). Racial tensions are escalated when a black ghetto kid is killed by a cop, and a white reporter covering the case also turns up dead. Future stars Fred Williamson and James McEachin show up in supporting roles. First telecast February 22, 1969, Deadlock served as the pilot episode for The Professionals, a single-season component of NBC's rotating series The Bold Ones. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Miami-based gambling kingpin Frank Layton (Warren Stevens) has agreed to finance the return of a deposed Latin American dictator General Neyron (Albert Paulsen). In exchange, Layton will receive all gambling rights in Neyron's home country. The IMF agents hope to derail this bargain, and destroy Layton and Neyron, by preying upon the paranoia of both men. First aired on December 15, 1968, "The Bargain" was written by Robert E. Thompson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1967
Darren McGavin is cast as Viktor Karmak, an old enemy of U.N.C.L.E. agents Solo and Illya. Kidnapping Illya, Karmak lures Solo into a condemned and heavily boobytrapped 12-block section of Manhattan. Enlisting the aid of avant-garde artist Sheila Van Tillson (Marlyn Mason) in rescuing Illya, Solo, and the girl find themselves being hunted by Karmak and his ferocious pet cheetah. Filmed almost exclusively on MGM's fabled "New York Street," "The Deadly Quest Affair" was written by Robert E. Thompson, and originally broadcast on October 30, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
The fourth and final season of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. commenced on September 11, 1967, with the episode titled "The Summit Five Affair." At the Berlin headquarters of U.N.C.L.E., where a top-level summit conference is about to begin, head man Harry Beldon (Albert Dekker) accuses Napoleon Solo of being a double agent and a murderer. Other suspects include Beldon's secretary, Helga Deniken (Susanne Cramer), and delegate Gerald Struthers (Lloyd Bochner). In an effort to clear himself, Solo uncovers an even more startling development. "The Summit Five Affair" was written by Robert E. Thompson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Wandering cowpoke Kiowa Jones (Robert Horton) is deputized by a mortally wounded marshal (Gary Merrill) for a deadly mission. Jones is to transport two killers (Sal Mineo, Nehemiah Persoff) to a faraway fort. One of the criminals has offered a $2000 reward to anyone who will help him escape. Since Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones was the pilot for a TV series, we can say with some confidence that Mr. Jones completes his mission. This made-for-TV movie--the first such for MGM--was first networkcast on Christmas day, 1966; later on, MGM released the film theatrically in Europe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Future All in the Family star Carroll O'Connor is cast as this week's super-villain, wheelchair-bound millionaire Walter Brach. Headquartered in Yucatan, Brach works hand and glove with THRUSH in a scheme to brainwash the world's top military, political, and financial leaders. Perils this week include a paralysis-inducing drug and a hungry pack of alligators. Also in the cast are Joan O'Brien as kidnapped housewife Chris Brinel, Milton Selzer as goggle-eyed scientist Dr. Shtallmacher, Dovima as numerologist Mrs. Karda, and "Oddjob" lookalike Shuji J. Nozawa as Brach's hulking henchman Chuke. Written by Robert E. Thompson, "The Green Opal Affair" first aired on October 27, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Astrologer Samuel H. Keel (Richard Boone) has predicted that someone named Seth Carter is destined to win a $500,000 lottery. In hopes of locating the elusive Carter, Keel hires Paladin (Richard Boone) to help in his search. Unfortunately, the first three people presumed to be linked to Carter are brutally murdered--and if the pattern continues, Paladin may be unable to prevent further bloodshed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Once again, Paladin (Richard Boone) has a brush with history when he makes the acquaintance of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel (played by Milton Selzer). It seems that Nobel has brought several cases of his new invention, nitroglycerin, to the Carleton Hotel, and the management is understandably nervous over the likely consequences. At the same time, a mercenary chap named Sam Thurber (Parley Baer) has vowed to gain possession of one of those explosive cases. This episode is capped by a morbidly cynical climax, with Paladin taking center stage in a burst of flamboyant fatalism. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Paladin (Richard Boone) is hired as escort for Edna Harden (Jeanne Cooper), who is bound for a reunion with her husband, a bank robber recently released from prison. Arriving in a ghost town with Paladin, Edna doesn't find her husband right away, but this doesn't seem to matter in light of the fact that the man has hidden $80,000 in gold somewhere on the premises. Now Paladin must defend Edna and himself against the predatory fortune-hunters who have also descended upon the deserted town. The menace in this episode is in the formidable hands of spaghetti-western icon Lee Van Cleef)and future Star Trek stalwart DeForest Kelley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Popular African American folksinger Odetta guest stars as Sarah Gibbs, the wife of a man condemned to be executed. Hoping to bid one last goodbye to her husband Aaron (Rupert Crosse), and to claim the body after the hanging, Sarah hires Paladin (Richard Boone) to help her carry out her wishes. Unfortunately, the town marshal (Roy Barcroft) adamantly refuses to allow Aaron any visitors--and the hostile townsfolk already have plans for the poor man's corpse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Ubiquitous 1960s TV actress Arlene Martel (herein billed as Arline Sax) guest stars as Serafina, the princess of a tiny European kingdom. While on a tour of the United States, Serafina disappears, and her aides suspect she has been kidnapped. Hired to locate the Princess, Paladin finds--as he often does--that there is no simple solution to the situation. Featured in the cast is British actor Ben Wright, who was heard as Paladin's general factotum Hey Boy on the radio version of Have Gun, Will Travel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
The town of Bad Dog, Oregon is populated by wealthy ranchers who refuse to pay their cattle taxes. Actually, it goes beyond a mere refusal: Three tax collectors have already been killed in their efforts to get the cattlemen to pay up. You guessed it: Paladin (Richard Boone) is hired as Collector Number Four--and he is not about to end up as just another statistic. The strong supporting cast includes such western-movie perennials as Roy Barcroft, Harry Carey Jr. and Raymond Hatton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Three army deserters -- Sutton (Joe Maross, Tyler (Grant Williams), and Mertz (James Parnell) -- take refuge on the Ponderosa, beating Little Joe senseless. Outraged, the Cartwrights join a military posse under the command of relentless Captain Bolton (Chris Alcaide). The supporting cast includes Gloria Talbott as Nedda, Dayton Lummis as Colonel Metcalfe, and Sherwood Price as the Corporal. "Escape to the Ponderosa" was written by Robert E. Thompson and Bill Barrett and was first telecast on March 5, 1960. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1960
Justin Groton (Buzz Martin), sole surviving member of a vicious outlaw family, has been in jail on a murder charge since the age of 13. Now Justin is approaching his 21st birthday--and as such, he will be legally eligible to hang for his crime. It is up to Paladin to convince a flint-hearted judge (Liam Sullivan), and an angry mob, that Justin has already suffered enough for his transgressions and should be spared the hangman's rope. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Crooked sheepherder Jeb Drummond (Everett Sloane) is caught trying to graze his flock on the Ponderosa without permission. Ben Cartwright orders Jeb and his sons Billy (Ray Daley) and Burton (Tom Reese) to get out and stay out. But Jeb has other plans -- and he kidnaps Ben's son Adam to make sure those plans are carried out. First telecast on February 13, 1960, "Blood on the Land" was written by Robert E. Thompson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1960
Feeling responsible for the massacre of a troop of soldiers, former Army scout Charlie Trent (Henry Hull) has become the town drunk. But when Cavalry Captain Pender (John Dehner) sends word to Virginia City that he is in need of a reliable scout for a dangerous misison, Hoss Cartwright recommends Charlie, determined to rehabilitate the pathetic derelict. The strong supporting cast includeds Peter Whitney as Lewt Custer and Harry Carey Jr. as Corporal Burton. Written by Robert E. Thompson, "The Mission" first aired September 17, 1960. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
