Barnard Hughes Movies

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

Someone has stolen the bleeder valve which was used to cause Roger's "accident," which Victoria thought she had hidden in her room. Burke has an important conference with private detective Stuart Bronson regarding the financial status of the Collins family. And David's reading habits may prove to be his downfall. This episode first aired on August 2, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on a James Leo Herlihy novel, British director John Schlesinger's first American film dramatized the small hopes, dashed dreams, and unlikely friendship of two late '60s lost souls. Dreaming of an easy life as a fantasy cowboy stud, cheerful Texas rube Joe Buck (Jon Voight) heads to New York City to be a gigolo, but he quickly discovers that hustling isn't what he thought it would be after he winds up paying his first trick (Sylvia Miles). He gets swindled by gimpy tubercular grifter Rico "Ratso" Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) but, when Joe falls in the direst of straits, Ratso takes Joe into his condemned apartment so that they can help each other survive. Things start to look up when Joe finally lands his first legit female customer (Brenda Vaccaro) at a Warhol-esque party; Ratso's health, however, fails. Joe turns a final trick to get the money for one selfless goal: taking Ratso out of New York to his dream life in Miami. One of the first major studio films given the newly minted X rating for its then-frank portrayal of New York decadence, Midnight Cowboy was critically praised for Schlesinger's insight into American lives, with the intercut mosaic of Joe's memories and Ratso's dreams lending their characters and actions greater psychological complexity. While they may have been drawn by the seamy content (tame by current standards), the young late '60s audience responded to Joe's and Ratso's confusion amidst turbulent times and to the connection they make with each other despite their alienation from the surrounding culture. Midnight Cowboy became one of the major financial and artistic hits of 1969, winning Oscars for Best Picture (the first for an X-rated film), Best Director, and former blacklistee Waldo Salt's screenplay. Though the one-two punch of Midnight Cowboy and The Graduate (1967) proved Hoffman's range and Voight's Joe Buck made him a star, both lost Best Actor to classical cowboy John Wayne for True Grit. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide

An uncharacteristic Bing Crosby plays Dr. Cook, a small town physician with a little something to hide. Outwardly gentle and compassionate, Cook is less politely inclined to those in his Vermont community whom he regards as disposable. When a young man (Frank Converse) whom Cook has raised as a son returns to the community, he begins to suspect that his father-figure is keeping secrets. The young man learns that the good Doctor has been murdering those patients whom he regards as useless, and then burying the victims in his meticulously kept garden. Made for TV, Dr. Cook's Garden was adapted from a Broadway play by Ira Levin, in which Burl Ives starred in the title role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Paul Bogart directed this 1974 televised production of Arthur Miller's classic play, A Memory of Two Mondays. An dramatic and comedic ensemble piece, the one-act traces several years in the lives of a group of characters working in an auto parts warehouse during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Featuring Harvey Keitel as Jerry, the play also stars George Grizzard, Barnard Hughes, Estelle Parsons, Jerry Stiller, Dick Van Patten, and Jack Warden. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Accidentally denting the fender of a parked car with a can of peaches, Edith leaves a note on the car's windshield. A furious Archie reprimands Edith for her unrepentant act of honesty, but that's hardly the end of the story, which includes such elements as insurance fraud and an "unfrocked" priest. Guest star Barnard Hughes is cast as Father Majeski. Written by Michael Ross and Bernie West, "Edith's Accident" first aired on November 6, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Could Edith Bunker be a kleptomaniac? That's what Edith thinks when she is arrested for shoplifting after accidentally leaving a store with an unpaid-for item. Mike and Gloria advise that Edith visit a psychiatrist, but Archie insist that he handle the matter himself -- and guess what happens next! The supporting cast includes James Gregory as Kirkwood and Barnard Hughes in the recurring role of Father Majeski. Written by Sam Locke, Olga Vallance, and Don Nicholl, "Edith Flips Her Wig" first aired on October 21, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The second of actor George C. Scott's rare directorial efforts (his first being the 1970 television film The Andersonville Trial), this drama, produced at the height of the Vietnam War, was critical of the military's weapons testing. Scott stars as Dan Logan, a single father living with his teenage son Chris (Nicolas Beauvy) in Wyoming. On a camping trip, the Logans are sprayed with an experimental chemical by an Army helicopter. The biological weapon kills every animal in sight and puts Chris into a coma. Seeking medical attention, Dan is instead used as a guinea pig by an Army doctor, Major Holliford (Martin Sheen), who wants to observe the effects of the chemical agent on him. Separated from Chris, Dan realizes that his son has died and escapes from the facility where he's been held. Purchasing some dynamite, the dying father goes on a campaign of bitter, bloody revenge against the Army and lab that made the dangerous substance. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Fans of the 1970s cartoon series The Littles may enjoy its live-action spiritual ancestor The Borrowers. Dennis Larson plays an eight-year-old boy living in Victorian England. While exploring his aunt's (Dame Judith Anderson) mansion, Larson peeks under the floorboards...and what should he see but a family of inches-high humans (Eddie Albert, Tammy Grimes, Karen Pearson), who survive by "borrowing" bits and pieces from the Big People. Discovered, the Borrowers scramble to avoid being captured and displayed as curiosities. First telecast December 14, 1973, The Borrowers was based on the novel by Mary Norton (of Bedknobs and Broomsticks fame). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Set during Thanksgiving, this feature stars veteran performers Jason Robards, Sr. and Melvyn Douglas in a touching story of warmth, compassion, and reaching out during the feast of the year. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Archie is uncomfortable with Edith's new friend, a peppery Catholic nun named Theresa (Phyllis Avery). When Edith begins attending mass -- mainly to hear the music -- Archie worries that his wife is planning to convert to Catholicism. In his usual roundabout manner, Arch holds next-door neighbor Irene Lorenzo for leading Edith "astray." Written by Ray Taylor and Don Nicholl, "Edith's Conversion" originally aired on November 10, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Set in early 20th century America, this production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing was originally performed at the New York Shakespeare Festival. It was also broadcast on CBS during the '70s. Television actress Kathleen Widdoes plays proto-feminist Beatrice and Sam Waterston plays her wealthy verbal opponent Benedick. Don Pedro (Douglas Watson) and his men are reinvented as Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, while Dogberry (Barnard Hughes) and his Watchmen are portrayed like the Keystone Kops. This film was released on DVD by the Broadway Theatre Archive. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

The UFO Incident is a TV movie based on the true-life story of Betty and Barney Hill, the biracial married couple whose alleged abduction by extraterrestrials made headlines. The film is careful not to present the Hills' reminiscences as cold facts; both "remember" the ordeal only when probed under hypnosis by doctor Barnard Hughes. The alien abduction is presented in flashback form, adhering strictly to the Hills' description of the space vessel and crew. Essentially a dual monologue, The UFO Incident is kept alive by the virtuoso performances of stars James Earl Jones and Estelle Parsons. Particularly compelling is the fact that Jones' character resists the memory of his experience because he is afraid of suffering a fatal heart attack--which, we are informed in the epilogue, was indeed the ultimate fate of Barney Hill. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide