Jackson Gillis Movies

A pair of scientists must travel through the Time Tunnel to search for the cure for a deadly epidemic. They land in late 19th century Chicago the night before the big fire. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Syndicate loan sharks Ollie Shanks (Paul Koslo) and Rudy Blake (Lou Antonio) must be intercepted before they can transfer $10 million from Hawaii to California. Assigned to put Shanks and Blake out of business, IMF agent Willy ends up being captured himself. As the villains inject Willy with near-fatal doses of truth serum, his fellow agents race against time to complete his mission before their cover is blown. Scripted by Jackson Gillis and Laurence Heath from a story by Gillis, "Double Dead" originally aired on February 12, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This made-for-television feature (which premiered on the ABC Movie Of The Week) attracted slightly more interest than usual, due in part to the presence an unusually recognizable supporting cast (including several players, such as Joseph Cotten, Keenan Wynn and Dewey Martin, who'd had real film careers, going back to the 1940's), and Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy in the lead. Nimoy plays Commander Phil Kettenring, the captain of the nuclear submarine Wayne, which has been assigned a critical, top-secret mission involving a less than completely cooperative scientist (Malachi Throne). What Kettenring doesn't know is that the Eastern bloc enemy (this being the middle of the Cold War) is already on to the mission. They've not only got a fairly clever trap set for the sub in mid-ocean, but have also infiltrated the crew at key points. As the Wayne's and her commander's problems mount, the crew begins to lose confidence in Kettenring, threatening not only the mission, but the safety of the sub. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

Joan Van Ark made an early TV starring appearance in this January 5, 1969 episode of Bonanza. The actress is cast as Laurie Adams, who is desperate to break off her relationship with her fugitive-outlaw husband Kelly Adams (James Olson). Hoss Cartwright tries to help Laurie, a task made difficult when her misguided pride prohibits her from revealing her husband's whereabouts. Written by John Hawkins, Kay Lenard, Jess Carneol and Jackson Gillis, "Sweet Annie Laurie" was one of several 1960s Bonanza installments chosen by NBC for "encore" presentations in the summer of 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Agents Kelly and Scott are sent to a picturesque mountain resort, there to search for an elusive spy known as Mr. Smith. At first, the assignment is a cushy one, as our heroes enjoy some rest and relaxation while going through the motions of their job. But things turn ugly when the local police officers accuse Kelly of murdering her lady friend Sally (Diana Muldaur). The supporting cast includes three TV-series stars of the 1950s: Richard Denning Mr. and Mrs. North as Delaney, John Lupton (Broken Arrow) as Shaw, and Ken Tobey (Whirlybirds) as Conway. First aired on February 5, 1968, "This Guy Smith" was written by Jackson Gillis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Captured by the mysterious Captain Kraspo (Robert Foulk), Penny (Angela Cartwright) is told that she is not a member of the Robinson family, but instead the long-lost Princess Alpha of the planet Beta. As the plot runs along its Anastasia-like course, Penny finds that the duties of royalty also include vanquishing a horde of hostile computers! The supporting cast includes a pre-Laugh In Arte Johnson and producer Irwin Allen's actress wife Sheila Matthews--and as a bonus, Angela Cartwright dons a blonde wig to portray the real Princess Alpha in the final scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Harold J. Stone makes his first appearance as intergalactic showman, Farnum B, who wastes no time capturing the Robinsons so he can exhibit them in his traveling zoo. Escaping from his cage, Will (Billy Mumy) passes through a time warp with the redoubtable Farnum B one step behind him. Meanwhile, back on the planet, Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) takes charge of the zoo, appointing as his second in command Farnum B's long-suffering caveboy assistant Oggo (Gary Tigerman) -- who has a crush on the imprisoned Penny (Angela Cartwright). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Accompanied by her pet "bloop" Debbie, Penny (Angela Cartwright) does some exploring of the planet, ultimately coming across a strange full-length mirror, which casts an even stranger reflection. Like Alice, she steps into the mirror and emerges in a different dimension, where she meets a lonely boy (a pre-Bonnie and Clyde Michael J. Pollard) who exists only in the mirror. . .if, indeed, he exists at all. This episode is capped by a moment of rare poignancy--not to mention series regular June Lockhart's sudden acquisition of an English accent when speaking the line "Penny, where have you been?" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As "Bob Stoddard", Kimble (David Janssen) works as a bartender at the same restaurant where Susan Cartwright (Lois Nettelton) is a waitress. Recognizing Kimble from a police description, Susan's nephew Gary (Pat Cardi) and his pals decide to capture the fugitive and claim the reward, using a mail-order rifle for this purpose. Things become even stickier when a social worker arrives to determine if Susan is a fit guardina for the orphaned Gary--and likewise recognizes Kimble for who he really is. Featured in the cast are 16-year-old Kurt Russell and his actor father Bing Russell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Malachi Throne, a very busy guest star on the TV sci-fi/fantasy circuit, is here cast as Sheik Afi Ben Bad, self-proclaimed Thief of Outer Space. Capturing Will (Billy Mumy), Penny (Angela Cartwright) and Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris), the Sheik forces them to assist him in his quest to locate the princess that was "stolen" from him 200 years before. In a twinkling,.Will is made an apprentice thief, Penny becomes a pampered harem girl, and Smith is subjected to the "pit and the pendulum" treatment. Fans of the Three Stooges will appreciate the presence of the hefty Maxine Gates as the damsel who isn't in too much distress. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is taken by surprise when a young woman (Mary Mitchell) sweeps into his office, begging him to "identify" her. Claiming to be Dorrie Ambler, the girl explains that she has been hired by private eye Joe Billings (Paul Lambert) to pose as her lookalike, heiress Minerva Minden, allegedly to verify if Minerva was involved in a hit-and-run accident. It turns out, however, that Dorrie really is Minerva, and that Billings is blackmailing her. Before long, Perry is not only defending Minerva on a charge of murdering Billings, but also of bumping off the "real" Dorrie Ambler, who may or may not have perished in the accident. Wesley Lau makes his farewell appearance as Lt. Anderson in this final episode of Perry Mason's eighth season, which is based on a novel by series creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After purchasing the diary of an alleged suicide victim at an auction, Della (Barbara Hale) is surprised when someone offers her $1000 for the book. Turning down the offer, the intrigued Della begins paging through the diary, ultimately arriving at the conclusion that its author did not kill herself, as originally reported. Della brings the diary to the attention of her boss Perry Mason (Raymond Burr)--thereby setting off a chain of strange and sordid events, culminating in Perry's defense of Josephine Kempton (Lurene Tuttle) on a murder charge. The "grinning gorilla" mentioned in the title is played by celebrated stunt man and simian impersonator Janos Prohaska. This episode is based on a 1952 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide