Robert Ito Movies
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1931, Robert Ito has spent his film career as a character actor, often in the science fiction genre. He enjoyed success on the long-running television series Quincy, and his voice has been used in many animated films, such as Batman and Superman.Robert Ito's first performances were on the stage as a dancer in the National Ballet of Canada. After a decade with the company, Ito moved to New York in the 1960s, to dance on Broadway in The Flower Drum Song.
Ito moved to Hollywood and began his film career in 1966 with some forgettable science fiction vehicles, such as Women of the Prehistoric Planet and Dimension 5. The B-movie genre often turned to Ito when it wanted an actor to portray someone of his Japanese heritage. Over the years, he played many such roles, the most outstanding of which was his performance as Professor Hikita, the kidnapped scientist in the 1984 cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.
Ito fared well in television, in which he was given roles that showcased his talents in made-for-television movies and series. He appeared in some memorable dramas, such as Helter Skelter (1976), American Geisha (1986), and The War Between Us (1996). The latter film starred Ito as a Canadian World War I veteran and patriarch of a family of Japanese descent, forced to leave his home in Vancouver during the dark days of Japanese resettlement following Pearl Harbor.
Ito also gained distinction for his role as Fong in the Kung Fu series, as well as on popular show Quincy. He made cameo appearances in many other television shows including Magnum, P.I. and Star Trek, which featured him in a 2001 production. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 1988
Aloha Summer is set in 1959 Hawaii. The six teenaged protagonists are drawn from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, resulting in the expected prejudices, hostilities and misunderstandings. The story's focus is on Chris Makepeace, an Italian-American lad who learns by means both soft and hard how to get along with, and understand, those different from himself. A few Kung-Fu scenes are thrown in whenever the action threatens to flag. While bereft of surprises, Aloha Summer is a magnificently photographed delight for surf-movie aficionados. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Chris Makepeace, Yuji Okumoto, (more)
- 1986
The made-for-television American Geisha was based on the published reminiscences of real-life anthropologist Liza Dalby. Pam Dawber stars as the Dalby counterpart, here renamed Gillian Burke. As part of the research for her Stanford University grad-school thesis, Gillian heads to the Japanese town of Kyoto, there to work as an authentic geisha girl. Richard Narita costars as the Japanese gentleman with whom Gillian falls in love. Less than a year before American Geisha's September 11, 1986 premiere, Narita essayed a similar role in the white-slavery melodrama Girls of the White Orchid. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Dudley Moore stars as Emory Lesson, an advertising genius whose finds himself committed to an insane asylum in Tony Bill's Crazy People. Emory becomes tired with creating phony ad campaigns and decides to create his own campaigns that tell the brutal truth. Since sex sells, Emory designs an explicit ad campaign consisting of unadorned sexuality. The campaign is so offensive that his colleagues have Emory put in a mental institution. At first Emory resists, but under the tutelage of a concerned psychiatrist, Dr. Liz Baylor (Mercedes Ruehl) and the tender love of Kathy (Daryl Hannah) a beautiful patient, Emory begins to like it in the mental home. Befriending the cute and lovable patients in the mental ward, Emory discovers that the crazy people are natural-born advertising geniuses and Emory utilizes their genius for a new ad campaign. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dudley Moore, Daryl Hannah, (more)
- 1991
In this drama, also titled "Great Pretender," an award-winning reporter, who has been demoted to nowhere position at his paper, reveals a government backed and highly corrupt land deal. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
The 1975 TV movie Death Scream is based on the shameful Kitty Genovese affair of 1964, in which a N.Y.C. woman was stabbed to death while 38 witnesses locked their windows and doors and pretended not to hear. Raul Julia stars as the detective who investigates the murder and stirs up the guilt feelings of those who refused to help. The film casts celebrity actors in the roles of the witnesses (Diahann Carroll, Cloris Leachman, Lucie Arnaz, Nancy Walker, Art Carney, et al.). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1966
In this sci-fi spy thriller, a secret agent for Espionage, Inc., is assigned to stop the Dragon, a Chinese communist organization, from detonating a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1974
In this s-s-suspenseful drama, a submarine carrying a load of poisonous snakes accidentally wedges itself amidst the rocks near the bottom of the sea. Now the crew must somehow avoid the unwanted slitherers and manage to extricate themselves. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Based on the best-selling Vincent Bugliosi book of the same name, Helter Skelter is a made-for-TV account of the investigation and prosecution of Charles Manson (Steve Railsback), who was convicted of leading a group of followers (known as "The Family") to murder seven people in California, including actress Sharon Tate. The film takes a Law & Order-like approach, starting with the discovery of the murders, which leads to the police gathering snippets of evidence that they eventually connect to the bigger picture. The second half of the movie concentrates on how District Attorney Bugliosi (George DiCenzo) attains a conviction despite the enormous amount of press coverage the case received. Nancy Wolfe, Christina Hart, and Cathey Paine portray the three loyal Manson Family members who were the co-defendants at his trial. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- George DiCenzo, Steve Railsback, (more)
- 1993
One of Charlie's (Philip Akin) former students is Jimmy Sang (Dustin Nguyen), a rising martial-arts movie star. While shooting a film based on his earlier life as a street gang member, Jimmy is apparently targeted for murder. But though at least one other person has been killed on the set, Jimmy refuses to cower in the corner, daring his attackers to come out into the open. As usual, Duncan (Adrian Paul) gets involved in the proceedings with startling results. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
- 1971
The killer of police officer Randy Keating (Roger Perry) is himself killed by Keating's partner Frank Carlson (David Carradine)--whereupon Carlson finds himself facing a murder charge. Inasmuch as he attended police academy with both Keating and Carlson, Sgt. Ed Brown (Don Galloway) takes a personal interest in the case. With the help of his boss Ironside (Raymond Burr), Ed slowly but surely figures out that Carlson has been framed--but by whom? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1971
William Shatner guest stars as Don Brand, a hard-nosed parole officer with an obsessive hatred of drug pushers. When Brand's life is threatened, he insists that a paroled dope dealer is responsible--even though he has many, many other enemies. Ironside (Raymond Burr), however, suspects that Brand is his own worst enemy, and that he may be using phony death threats to railroad an ex-con back into prison. This final episode of Ironside's fourth season also marks the last appearance of series regular Barbara Anderson (Eve Whitfield). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
Kojak opens its second season with a powerful two-part episode (originally telecast in a single 120-minute timeslot). Several murders have occurred in New York's Chinatown district, and police detective Theo Kojak (Telly Savalas) is concerned that an all-out war between rival crime families is about to erupt. What no one knows--at least at this point in the story--is that the kilings have been perpetrated by three "neutral" Chinese-American criminals, determined to play both sides against the middle. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
In the conclusion of Kojak's two part second-season opener (originally telecast as a single 120-minute episode), Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) races against time to solve a series of murders in New York's Chinatown--and, hopefully, prevent a bloody full-scale war between two rival crime clans. Meanwhile, the murderers persist in their plans to play both sides down the middle, kidnapping a powerful mob boss and holding him for ransom. Most of this episode was filmed on location--a rarity during Season Two of Kojak, when much of the series was being shot in the studio. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1972
David Carradine first stepped into the sandals of taciturn martial-arts expert Caine in the made-for-TV pilot film Kung Fu. A Chinese/American priest, Caine must flee to the United States after he is forced to kill a royal nephew. He wanders the American West of the 1860s, keeping his cool until it is necessary to display his kung-fu skills full force. Most often, he must meditate and conjure up a flashback dominated by Master Po (Keye Luke) before he is galvanized into action. In the pilot, Caine comes to the rescue of a group of Chinese coolies who are working on the railroad. First telecast February 22, 1972, Kung Fu spawned a long-running series of the 1970s--not to mentioned the "updated" syndicated weekly of the 1990s, which also starred the inscrutable Mr. Carradine. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Carradine, Barry Sullivan, (more)
- 1976
Soon-Teck Oh guest stars as Dr. Syn Paik, a captured North Korean surgeon. As weary of war as his American counterparts Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell), Dr. Paik begs for a chance to tend to his wounded countrymen. Hawk and Beej oblige by trying to pass Paik off as a South Korean--but xenophobic Frank Burns (Larry Linville) smells a rat. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1972
When the 4077th's precious supply of hydrocortisone is stolen, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Trapper John (Wayne Rogers) set about to get a new supply by hook or crook. The "crook" turns out to be Charlie Lee (played by future Barney Miller regular Jack Soo), one of South Korea's busiest black marketers. Charlie agrees to trade with the M*A*S*H doctors, but on one condition: that he receive in return the antique oak desk that happens to be the pride and joy of Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson). "To Market, To Market" first aired on September 24, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
In this sequel to the second-season episode "Jororo Kill", Danny Lin (Wesley Ogata), the young crown prince of the Jororo Island, has come to Hawaii to play in the Little League International Goodwill Tournament. Going undercover to protect Danny from an assassination plot, Magnum (Tom Selleck) finds his efforts thwarted by the youngster's fondness for sneaking away from his bodyguards to have a little fun on his own. John Saxon is seen as security chief Ed Russler, a role played in "Jororo Kill" by Burr DeBenning. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
Filmed in Hong Kong, Men of the Dragon was the pilot film for a modern-day Kung Fu derivation. The leading characters are three crimefighting karate experts. American Jared Martin, his sister Kati Saylor and his "oriental blood brother" Robert Ito operate a self-defense school in downtown Hong Kong. Their mission at present is to root out and chop up a white slavery ring. Men of the Dragon costars Jared Martin and Kati Saylor would later be reteamed for the brief 1976 TV series Fantastic Journey. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
An expensive war epic, Midway emulates The Longest Day and Tora! Tora! Tora! in attempting to re-create a famous World War II battle from both the American and Japanese viewpoints. The 1942 battle of Midway was the turning point of the War in the Pacific; the Japanese invasion fleet was destroyed, and America's string of humiliating defeats was finally broken. Though the battle itself was sufficiently dramatic to fill two films, Midway also has plotline involving the mixed-race relationship between Ensign Garth (Edward Albert), son of Navy Captain Matt Garth (Charlton Heston), and Haruko Sakura (Christina Kokubo), a Hawaiian girl of Japanese descent. The real-life personages depicted herein include American Admirals Nimitz (Henry Fonda), Halsey (Robert Mitchum) and Spruance (Glenn Ford), and Japanese Admiral Yamamoto (Toshiro Mifune, his voice once again dubbed by Paul Frees, whom Mifune personally selected for the job). For its original road show release, Midway was offered in the "Sensurround" process, which electronically shook and vibrated the audience's chairs during the battle sequences. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, (more)
This two-hour pilot for the Canadian TV series is inspired by John Woo's 1991 Hong Kong film of the same title, but the story has been altered extensively. Mac (Ivan Sergei) and Li Ann (Sandrine Holt) are the foster children of a powerful crime boss. With their foster father's biological son Michael (Michael Wong), the three make up a trio of high-tech burglars. When Li Ann is forced to become engaged to Michael, she tries to escape with Mac, whom she really loves. On their way, they pull a failed heist on one of their adoptive father's warehouses. Mac goes to prison believing Li Ann is dead. Years later, he is released from prison by a covert law enforcement agency based in Vancouver and is pressed into using his skills for good. He discovers that Li Ann is a part of this agency, but so is her new fiancé Victor (Nicholas Lea). When they're assigned to stop a Hong Kong crime family that's taking over Vancouver, they realize they're going to meet with Michael once again. The fact that this thriller is actually a television program and not a feature is evident in its slightly lower production values; however, Woo proved with the original Once a Thief that he could make a thriller without much violence, and the 1996 edition still has the ability to entertain. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sandrine Holt, Ivan Sergei, (more)
- 1987
- R
When newspaper editor Charles Bradley (Anthony Zerbe) makes a call uncovering corrupt Los Angeles cops selling drugs, his phone is tapped and his architect son Joey (Clayton Rohner) is endangered. A detective is killed in Joey's apartment and detective Ryan (Ray Sharkey) is assigned to protect him. Ryan is in league with the crooked cops and tries to kill Joey. Joey escapes but is hit by a car driven by Jenny Fox (Talia Balsam). She takes him back to her place where Joey is nursed back to heath and the seeds of love are planted. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
In this comedy drama that spoofs detective pictures from the 1940s, Tucker (Michael Caine) is a private eye hired by Anglich (Michael Constantine), a wealthy man who is trying to find the whereabouts of his long lost daughter. Tucker's sleuthing leads him to Ellen (Natalie Wood) and Mianne (Kitty Winn), two members of the decidedly unusual Prendergast Family. So far as Tucker can tell, either Ellen or Mianne is Anglich's missing child, but he's not quite sure which. The supporting cast includes Timothy Carey, Thayer David, Liam Dunn, and Liz Renay; Humphrey Bogart impersonator Jerry Lacy appears in the opening credits. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Caine, Natalie Wood, (more)
- 1985
- R
In this martial-arts actioner, a gentle Japanese immigrant endeavors to quietly run a business in America. Unfortunately, gangsters refuse to leave them alone. Finally the quiet storekeeper has enough and reveals that he is in reality, a highly skilled Ninja master. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sho Kosugi, Donna Kei Benz, (more)
- 1973
Pueblo is a 2-hour videotaped special, originally telecast March 29, 1973 on ABC Theatre. Hal Holbrook stars as commander Lloyd M. Bucher, who in January of 1968 was forced to surrender the USS Pueblo to North Korea. The drama is staged in an impressionistic manner, with dramatized transcripts from Bucher's subsequent Naval Review Board testimony flashing back to isolated moments of terror and torment during the Pueblo crew's 11-month sojourn in a North Korean prison camp. Despite network restrictions of the era, Pueblo is refreshingly frank, right down to the first-ever TV display of a familiar obscene gesture (which the American prisoners explain away to their captors as a "salute"!) Written by Stanley R. Greenberg, Pueblo was later adapted to a stage play, starring Shepperd Strudwick as Bucher. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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