Allen Jaffe Movies
American character actor Allen Jaffe is best known for playing villains in television series of the '60s such as Mannix, Gunsmoke, Get Smart, and Batman, but he also occasionally appeared in films such as Al Capone (1959) and Papillon. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
The autobiography of Henri Charriere, one of the few people to successfully escape from the notorious French penal colony of Devil's Island, served as the basis for Papillon. Steve McQueen plays the pugnacious Charriere (known as "Papillon," or "butterfly," because of a prominent tatoo), incarcerated--wrongly, he claims--for murdering a pimp. He saves the life of fellow convict Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman), a counterfeiter who will later show his gratitude by helping Charriere in his many escape attempts, and by smuggling food to Charriere when the latter is put in solitary confinement. One breakout, which takes Charriere and Dega to a leper colony and then to a native encampment, is almost successful, but Charriere is betrayed (allegedly because he stopped for an act of kindness) and back the prisoners go to French Guiana. Years later, Dega is made a trustee and is content with his lot, but the ageing, white-haired Charriere cannot be held back. A tribute to the unquenchability of the human spirit, Papillon brought in an impressive $22 million at the box office. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, (more)
- 1971
The IMF must prevent a merger between Vic Hatcher (Victor French) and Johnny Thorne (Felice Orlandi), the leaders of two rival underworld factions. Should the merger go through, the economy of the United States will collapse. The two gangsters are holding their meeting at a ski resort, accessible only by cable car--one single, heavily guarded cable car. Filmed on location along the aerial tramway high above Palm Springs, California, "The Tram" was scripted by James L. Henderson and Sam Roeca, from a story by Paul Playdon. The episode first aired on October 2, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1970
San Francisco is rocked by a brace of explosions; one of these knocks out a major power station, while another plunges Police headquarters into total darkness. Despite the citywide electrical blackout and the utter lack of police backup, Ironside (Raymond Burr) must figure out who is responsible for the sabotage--and why. This episode marks the TV acting debut of former LA Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
After a bump on the head, Gilligan (Bob Denver) sees two of everything. The Professor (Russell Johnson) declares that the only cure for Gilligan's double vision is the rare captivora berry, sending the other Castaways on a wild berry hunt. Unfortunately, once he's consumed the "cure", Gilligan sees FOUR of everything--and worse, the Castaways have ventured into Headhunter territory! (Incidentally, one of the "ferocious" headhunters is played by LA Rams football star Roman Gabriel, one of several professional athletes making cameo appearances during Season Three). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Little Sky, Roman Gabriel, (more)
- 1965
This episode reunites Branded star Chuck Connors with Johnny Crawford, who from 1958 through 1963 had played Connors' son on the popular western series The Rifleman. With all of the menfolk out prospecting for silver, the town of Jefferson City has been left unguarded, save for callow young deputy sheriff Clay Holden (Crawford), a few old people and children, and a one-legged bartender (Richard Arlen). Enter a group of outlaws who kidnap Clay's young wife Karin (Charla Doherty) and order him to stay out of their way while they rob the town's bank. Riding into this tense situation, so-called coward Jason McCord (Connors) must teach young Holden the true meaning--and proper application--of courage under fire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
The painstakingly accurate historical drama The War Lord is predicated on the old practice of le droit du seigneur. Norman knight Charlton Heston, in charge of an 11th century Druid community, exercises his right to claim bride Rosemary Forsyth on the night of her wedding to James Farentino. Forsyth becomes enamored of her abductor, refusing to leave his side. Seeking vengeance, Farentino, the son of Druidic leader Niall McGinniss, foments an all-out war between Heston and Heston's covetous brother Guy Stockwell. Despite the impressive scope of the battle scenes, The War Lord, based on a stage play by Leslie Stevens, is essentially an intimate human drama (in contrast, look what "droit du seigneur" sparked in the 1995 epic Braveheart). The surehanded direction of Franklyn Schaffner and the credible performances of Heston et. al. are brilliantly complemented by Jerome Morross' Stravinsky-like musical score. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlton Heston, Richard Boone, (more)
- 1965
Gavin McLeod makes the first of two appearances as Mrs. Brown's younger brother Alvin, a lifelong moocher with a tendency to stretch the truth to the breaking point. Thanks to Alvin's loose lips, a high ranking general (Don Briggs) becomes convinced that Alvin and Martin (Ray Walston) are working on a top-secret government project (which doesn't exist). Unfortunately, this misinformation also arouses the curiosity of the sinister espionage agency CRUSH, who caused plenty of trouble for Martin and Tim (Bill Bixby) in the previous episode "006-3/4". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In Volume 33 of a collection culled from the 1963-1965 science fiction anthology television series, a soldier from Earth's future is sent back in time where he is captured by the government. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Set in the mid-19th century during the California Gold Rush when the long-time Spanish residents of the territory found themselves being pushed off their ancestral lands by the avaricious prospectors, this exciting historical adventure tells of the exploits of a daring Spanish outlaw who plays Robin Hood to help his people. When prospectors ambush some of his band, the Firebrand rides out for bloody revenge against the killers and the one who betrayed him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Nehemiah Persoff is back as Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik, hated rival of Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti (Bruce Gordon). As Nitti busies himself forcing other bootleggers out of business, Guzik moves in and orders Nitti to forget about booze and start trafficking in narcotics. The argument between the two mob chieftans forces the Syndicate to vote on Guzik's proposal--which in turn obliges Nitti and Guzik to smuggle a deported mobster back into the country to cast the deciding ballot. Needless to say, this is one election that Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) is determined to derail before it even gets on track. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Racketeer Larry Fay (Sam Levene) gains control of New York's dairy industry, forcing the price of milk to an astronomical (for 1933) price of 13 cents a quart. Hoping to put Fay out of business, Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) appeals to the better nature of singer Sally Kansas (Claire Trevor), star attraction of Fay's popular nightclub (Sally is a thinly disguised caricature of real-life entertainment Texas Guinan, of "Hello, suckers!" fame ). Though she has managed to steer clear of her boss' criminal activities, Sally isn't about to bite the hand that feeds her--until Larry goes one step too far and orders the murder of Sally's kid brother Tommy (Tommy Cook). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
