Diane Baker Movies
Actress Diane Baker's well-scrubbed, all-American beauty has frequently been employed as a cool veneer for film characters of smoldering passions. The daughter of actress Dorothy Harrington, Diane was studying at USC when she was tapped for her first film role as Millie Perkins' sister in 20th Century-Fox's The Diary of Anne Frank (1959); the studio then cast Diane as Pat Boone's "girl back home," who didn't get to go along on Boone's Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959). She remained at Fox until 1962, essaying the title role in the studio's re-remake of Tess of the Storm Country (1961). Her most famous screen assignment was at Columbia, where she portrayed axe murderess Joan Crawford's supposedly well-balanced daughter in Straitjacket (1963). Diane became a documentary director in the 1970s with Ashanya, and a producer with Never Never Land (1982). The best of Diane Baker's latter-day roles was the media-savvy politico mother of the kidnap victim in Silence of the Lambs (1991). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1977
In the first episode of a two-part story, Kojak recalls the events leading up to his shooting of a notorious serial murderer in 1969. Though convinced at the time that he had disposed of the "Clothesline Killer", Kojak has reason to wonder if he got the right man: someone is currently embarked upon a murder spree, using the Clothesline Killer's modus operandi. At the same time, the detective experiences poignant memories of a lost romance. This was the final Sunday-night Kojak episode; Part Two of "The Summer of '69" would be seen in the series' new Saturday-evening berth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Baker's Hawk is an old-style Western starring old-style Clint Walker. Burl Ives plays a recluse plagued by vigilantes. Ives is protected by Walker and his son, Lee H. Montgomery, on the basis of the lad's friendship with the old man. Baker's Hawk is based on a novel by Jack Bickham. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clint Walker, Burl Ives, (more)
- 1975
James Franciscus stars as a university professor with an eye on bigger things. Using his inherent promotional know-how, he launches a career in the record industry, eventually operating his own top-selling label. To insure that the local stations will run his artists' recordings, Franciscus crosses certain deejays' palms with silver. That's called payola, and that's against the law. His empire shattered, Franciscus is reduced to cabdriving to earn a living--and by the end of the film he's neither earning nor living. Singer Kenny Rogers makes his acting debut as one of Franciscus' clients; also featured is Rogers' former First Edition colleague Mickey Jones. Made for television, The Dream Makers has pretenses of profundity, but ultimately is as pointless as its abrupt climax. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
A young girl kills 2 people while attempting to obtain $1 million in negotiable bonds. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1975
Though not officially acknowleged at the time of its telecast, the made-for-TV movie The Last Survivors was a rehash of the 1957 theatrical feature Abandon Ship; both in fact were based on the same true story. A typhoon at sea has sunk a ship, leaving Alexander Holmes (Martin Sheen) as the highest ranking officer to survive. Commandeering a crowded lifeboat, Holmes must face the fact that the tiny vessel is in danger of floundering itself--and there's another typhoon on the way. Thus is Holmes forced to "play God", decided who among the passengers will allowed to remain in the lifeboat, and who will be cast overboard. Broadcast by NBC, The Last Survivors debuted on March 4, 1975. ~Saw Film/TV Guide/Marrill/Internet/Expert ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Sheen, Diane Baker, (more)
- 1975
Diane Baker guest stars as Irene Martin, an attractive--and unattached--homicide inspector. Irene makes quite an impression upon widowed detective Mike Stone (Karl Malden), who eventually falls in love with her. Unfortunately, the wedding plans drawn up by Mike and Irene are compromised when they argue bitterly over their differing perspectives of an ongong homicide case. Featured in the cast is Mark Miller, the father of film star Penelope Ann Miller. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Can I Save My Children? stars Diane Baker as the resourceful mother of two children. She has no idea how resourceful until she and her kids crash-land in the middle of the wilderness. The area is scheduled to be flooded the next morning, compelling Baker to hack her way through the underbrush to bring her injured children to safety. Can I Save My Children? also features Tammi Bula and Todd Gross as the kids, and David Hedison as a potential rescuer. This taped 90-minute drama was originally telecast as an ABC Afternoon Playbreak on October 17, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Betty Smith's best selling novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn inspired an Oscar-winning 1945 film, a play and a Broadway musical; this 1974 73-minute telefilm - a pilot for a weekly series drama -- represents the fourth incarnation. Cliff Robertson plays Johnny Nolan, a bibulous waiter living in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. When Nolan dies, it is up to his widow Katie (Diane Baker) to carve out an existence for herself and her children Francie (Pamelyn Ferdin) and Neely (Michael James Wixted). Ultimately, Katie marries kindly Brooklyn cop McShane (James Olson). Nancy Malone costars as Katie's promiscuous sister Sissy. First telecast March 27, 1974, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn failed to generate high enough ratings for a regular series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Originally networkcast on March 20, 1973, Police Story was the 2-hour pilot for the long running anthology weekly which officially debuted seven months later. Created by novelist (and ex-police officer) Joseph Wambaugh, Police Story was set in Los Angeles, and each week detailed a different aspect of law enforcement work. In the pilot, Vic Morrow stars as a hard-nosed cop assigned to a unit devoted to stopping felonies in progress. Morrow's principal reason for being is to bring to justice an elusive veteran criminal named "Slow Boy," portrayed by Chuck Connors. This initial Police Story entry was rerun September 26, 1973, one week before the premiere of the series proper. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Dr. Calvin Crosse (Philip M. Thomas) is a doctor just out of medical school, and he has moved to a small New England town to set up a medical practice. He's black, however, and the townspeople are pretty bigoted. Things don't look too good. The sheriff (Peter H. Clue) of the town started a whole wave of trouble when he infected his wife, long ago, with syphilis. The disease spread to their unborn daughter. Now grown, and very contagious, the daughter (Josie Johnson) has been having group sex with the town's young people in order to pay the old man back for his crimes. The doctor has to treat her victims and track down the disease's source. Vietnam Veteran Bill Waco (Harlan Cary Poe) assists him in this. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1972
In this detective drama, a mismatched pair of gumshoes get into hot water with the Syndicate. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1971
We know that Bill Bixby plays a swinging bachelor because he wears bell-bottoms. Opening the door of his bachelor pad one evening, Bixby is surprised to meet a personable young man claiming to be his son. He is further surprised that the young man is fully grown, the result of an indiscretion some twenty years earlier. Karen Jensen plays Bixby's girl friend, none too thrilled that she has a potential younger brother. Mixing in some reasonably touching moments with its standard comedy setpieces, Congratulations, It's a Boy is a satisfying effort from ABC's Movie of the Week series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Killer by Night is reminiscent of such early 1950s film noir exercises as The Killer That Stalked New York and Panic in the Streets. The police of a large city are plagued with two crises at once: A diphtheria epidemic and a triple murderer. With the help of health officials Robert Wagner and Diane Baker the authorities narrow down the source of both the disease and the murders as being the selfsame person. The problem: To track him down with only a skeleton police force at hand. Killer by Night manages to create a claustrophobic, paranoid atmosphere with only a minimum of 1970s-style camera trickery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
13-year-old Robert Mueller (Mark Gruner) is obsessed with guns and has a morbid fascination with death. He is also deeply resentful over the fact that his widowed mother Elaine (Diane Baker) has married Paul Hamilton (Ed Nelson). Despite all this, Elaine could never believe that her darling boy was in any way responsible for a recent campaign of terror waged against Paul, even when an unsolved homicide enters the picture. But Paul knows full well that he is next on little Robert's hit list--a fact that Robert does not even bother to keep a secret. Adapted from a novel by Fielden Farrington, the made-for-TV A Little Game made its ABC bow on October 30, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Jack Cassidy guest-stars as O'Casey, a shiftless dreamer whose get-rich-quick schemes have brought nothing but grief for his wife (Diane Baker) and daughter Cassie (Lisa Gerritsen). When O'Casey hatches a duplicitious scheme to sell and reclaim a race horse, Hoss Cartwright takes it upon himself to reform the ne'er-do-well, and to simulatenously restore Cassie's faith in her dad. Portions of David Rose's background music were later adapted for the series' classic 1972 episode "Forever." Written by old Hollywood and network-radio hand True Boardman, "Cassie" was originally shown on October 24, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1970
George Kennedy plays a tough San Diego police sergeant who quits the force when his wife is killed. He becomes a priest, and is assigned to a parish in his old precinct. Champing at the bit, "Sarge", as the priestly Kennedy is known to his friends, offers his investigative talents to the local constabulary. Sarge gets down to business immediately by solving a tricky homicide case. Badge or the Cross was the pilot film for George Kennedy's subsequent TV series Sarge, which ran for a single season in 1971-72. The film was originally titled Sarge: The Badge or the Cross, and has sometimes been telecast simply as Sarge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
The only three-part adventure in the history of Mission: Impossible, "The Falcon" was written by series stalwart Paul Playdon. The IMF's assignment is to restore the rightful heir to a European throne. The usurping General Ramon Sabattini (John Vernon) hopes to gain control of the monarchy by marrying his cousin Francesca (Diane Baker), and to that end has threatened to kill Francesca's imprisoned fiance Prince Stefan (Joseph Reale). With the help of a falcon, not to mention the magical skills of agent Paris, the IMF endeavors to rescue Stephen and return the crown to young King Nicolai (Noel Harrision). Lee Meriwether makes her fourth appearance as IMF agent Tracey. Part One of "The Falcon" first aired January 4, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Leonard Nimoy, (more)
- 1970
In the conclusion of the three-part Mission: Impossible adventure "The Falcon," Phelps manages to rescue Prince Stephan (Joseph Reale), who has been imprisoned to force a marriage between his fiancee Princess Francesca (Diane Baker) and royal usurper General Sabattini (John Vernon). Meanwhile, the IMF agents keep the rightful heir to the throne, King Nicolai (Noel Harrison), under wraps, while Paris poses as Nicolai in order to throw the King's potential assassins off the track. But will the agents, including the lovely Tracey (Lee Meriwether) be able to rescue themselves before Sabattini wises up? Written by Paul Playdon, Episode Three of "The Falcon" first aired on January 18, 1970, as the final chapter of the series' last multipart story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Leonard Nimoy, (more)
- 1970
In Part Two of the three-part Mission: Impossible adventure "The Falcon", Willy poses as the Bishop who is to perform the marriage ceremony between General Sabattini (John Vernon), the pretender to a European throne, and the General's reluctant fiancee Princess Francesca (Diane Baker). Meanwhile, Paris poses as a master illusionist and mind-reader in order to rescue King Nicolai (Noel Harrison), rightful heir to the throne. Lee Meriwether again appears as IMF agent Tracey, here pretending to be Paris' stage assistant Mme. Vinski. Written by Paul Playdon, Part Two of "The Falcon" was originally telecast on January 11, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Leonard Nimoy, (more)
- 1970
An unusually popular ABC Movie of the Week, The Old Man Who Cried Wolf stars Edward G. Robinson as an elderly shopkeeper who witnesses the killing of his oldest friend (Sam Jaffee). Unfortunately Robinson can convince no one--not the police, his own family nor even those closest to Jaffee--that his friend was murdered. Though enfeebled by age and illness, Robinson sets about to prove that he's telling the truth. He does so, but at the cost of his own life. Edward G. Robinson was proud of his performance, as were his many fans (judging by the onslaught of fan mail); it's a pity that the pedestrian Old Man Who Cried Wolf wasn't worthy of his talent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Devious socialite Gene Barry stands to come into one million dollars. The catch is (and don't ask us why) that he must convince the authorities that he's dead. He arranges to switch identities with Lloyd Bridges, who is terminally ill. Diane Baker plays Barry's wife, who must needs be willing to "take this stranger" for the plan to succeed. Do You Take This Stranger? was a made-for-TV entry in NBC's Tuesday Night at the Movies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Made for television, Trial Run is a slick, cynical tale of blind ambition. James Franciscus plays a young attorney who'll do anything to reach the top. To this end, Franciscus uses not only his employer Leslie Nielsen, but his faithful secretary Diane Baker, who has long sacrificed her own happiness for Franciscus advancement. Our "hero" finally comes acropper as a result of his torrid affair with Nielsen's wife Janice Rule. The ending of this one is a beaut, which is why we're not divulging any more details. Trial Run first aired January 18, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
The F.B.I. begins its fifth season as Federal Inspector Lew Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) persuades former counterespionage agent Anne Fraser (Diane Baker) to come out of retirement for one last assignment. Posing as lovers, Erkine and Anne hope to round up a spy ring specializing in blackmailing vulnerable diplomats--a task made difficult by the fact that the villains are protected by diplomatic immunity. In the original TV Guide ads for this episode, the producers shamelessly plugged their series' longtime sponsor by listing "The 1970 Fords" as "guest stars"! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Robert Stack stars as Crime magazine editor Dan Farrell in this episode of the TV series Name of the Game. The object of Farrell's latest investigation is professional fundraiser Dennis Weaver. The editor recognizes Weaver as a notorious con man, so it should be no problem to expose his racket. But problems there are--especially when an unknown gangster type pressures Farrell to lay off Weaver, or else. Diane Baker, Mark Miller, Phyllis Kirk, Larry Storch and Sue Ann Langdon also appear in Give Till It Hurts, which premiered on October 31, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
