Rick Jason Movies
Scion of a wealthy New York City family, Rick Jason managed to get himself expelled from eight different prep schools before finally graduating with acceptable grades from the Rhodes School. Following World War II service, Jason attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts on the GI Bill. He was discovered for the theatre by actor/director Hume Cronyn, who cast Jason as an Ecuadorian Indian in the brief Broadway production Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. After making his movie bow in 1952's Sombrero, Jason could be seen in lightweight second-lead roles in such films as The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (1955) and The Wayward Bus (1957). In 1960, he was cast as a tuxedoed secret agent on the syndicated TV series The Case of the Dangerous Robin. Two years later, he signed up for a five-season hitch as Lt. Gil Hanley on the popular TV war drama Combat. For the first time in his life, Jason found himself subjected to the fan-magazine publicity glare, raising eyebrows by marrying three women during a period of 19 months! Rick Jason's post-Combat career hasn't been quite so remarkable, with appearances in such second-echelon features as Color Me Dead (1969) and The Witch Who Came From the Sea (1976). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1953
This tuneful romantic melodrama is set in a tiny Mexican village and is comprised of three storylines. One tale concerns a pair of young lovers from rival villages who will not be able to marry until a long time feud is ended. In another tale, an heir to a large fortune falls in love with an impoverished girl. His family is dead set against the match. When he is diagnosed with a fatal tumor, the man begs the girl to marry him, but she refuses and instead arranges for him to marry another. In the third story, a matador's comely sister falls in love with a street vendor. Unfortunately, the matador hates her beloved and to break them up permanently, slyly convinces the peddler to enter the dangerous bullring. Fortunately for the sister, her brother's scheme fails spectacularly. She then marries the peddler and makes an ironic discovery. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Maria Pier Angeli, Ricardo Montalban, (more)
- 1954
Independently produced by Allan Dowling Pictures, This is My Love was distributed in the U.S. by RKO Radio. The film stars Linda Darnell as Vida, a would-be writer, whose vivid imagination contrasts with the harsh realities of her middle-class household. Her sister Evelyn (Faith Domergue), married to the crippled and embittered Murray (Dan Duryea), is unable to escape into Vida's dream world, though she'd certainly like to do so. When Vida introduces her sweetheart Glenn (Rick Jason) to Evelyn, the latter immediate begins drawing up plans to steal the handsome hunk away from her sister. Not unexpectedly, things degenerate into deception, heartbreak and murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Darnell, Rick Jason, (more)
- 1954
Ricardo Montalban takes time out from mighty Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to star in the Sam Katzman quickie Saracen Blade. Montalban plays Pietro, a 13th-century intellectual who spends his evenings as a masked avenger. Pietro hopes to avenge the death of his father, and to this end will not rest until he has skewered the evil Count Siniscola (Michael Ansara) and the Count's son Enzio (Rick Jason). Somewhere in the middle of the film, Pietro finds himself in the Holy Land with the Crusades, as good an excuse as any to show off the physical charms of several Columbia starlets. Betta St. John co-stars as Pietro's beloved Iolanthe, while a blonde Carolyn Jones essays a rare unsympathetic role as Pietro's "wife-for-convenience" Elaine. The Saracen Blade was based on a novel by Frank Yerby. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ricardo Montalban, Rick Jason, (more)
- 1956
Men Against Speed is a 60-minute adaptation of the 1955 feature film The Racers. Regis Toomey, Farley Granger and Rick Jason play a family auto-racing team, a father and two sons. Intent upon proving that their American vehicle is the superior to any foreign job, Toomey and his sons enter an important Italian road competition. Press agent Mona Freeman nearly upsets the apple cart by fomenting dissension between brothers Granger and Jason. Relying extensively on stock footage, Men Against Speed debuted December 12, 1956, as an episode of the biweekly anthology The Twentieth Century-Fox Hour. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1956
Frank Tashlin directed this comedy about a man whose marriage hits the skids when his wife gets caught in the draft. Gregory Whitcomb (Tom Ewell) served with distinction in the Army during WWII, but he now makes his living as a television writer. Gregory's wife Katy (Sheree North), several years his junior, was also a member of the military as a WAC. When the armed forces find themselves strapped for qualified personnel, Gregory and Katy are ordered to return to active duty; after his physical, Gregory is reclassified 4-F for health reasons, but Katy is judged 1-A and put back in camouflage. Now poor Gregory finds himself having to look after the home by himself and waiting for his spouse at the base, while both Katy and Gregory try to figure out how to free her from her military obligations. The Lieutenant Wore Skirts also features Rita Moreno and Rick Jason. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Ewell, Sheree North, (more)
- 1957
John Steineck's novel The Wayward Bus was retranslated into pop-entertainment terms for the screen. Most of the story takes place on the charter bus owned by driver Rick Jason. Travelling slowly through a treacherous California mountain region, the passengers -- including Jason's spiteful, alcoholic wife Joan Collins-- undergo a variety of life-altering experiences. The journey has its most profound effects upon an iconoclastic travelling salesman (Dan Dailey) and lonely stripper (Jayne Mansfield). This is one instance in which the oblong CinemaScope lens is inappropriate to the intimacy of the story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Collins, Jayne Mansfield, (more)
- 1957
The British Family Doctor was based on The Deeds of Dr. Deadcert, a novel by Joan Fleming. Young American medico Jethro (Rick Jason) pays a visit to a seaside resort in Devonshire. Ostensibly on vacation, Jethro is actually investigating the mysterious death of his ex-wife. He suspects that his wife's second husband, highly respected Doctor Dysert (Marius Goring), was responsible, but he can't prove it. Despite opposition from the local authorities, Jethro continues his probing, and before long he discovers that the saintly Dysert had been married to two other women, both of whom also met with an untimely demise--leaving Dysert with a tidy sum in the bank. Thus, Family Doctor isn't so much a Whodunit as a "When-Will-He-Get-His?" The film was released in the US by 20th Century-Fox as Rx Murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rick Jason, Lisa Gastoni, (more)
- 1958
In this western set in the California territory in the mid-19th century, a rancher tries to protect his Spanish land grant from greedy American landgrabbers. Unfortunately the eastern interlopers bring in a Texas gunfighter to frighten the man. The gunfighter ends up falling in love with the rancher's sister, and decides to spare them. In the end, the gunman is killed during the climactic shoot out. The girl who loved him is devastated. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Keith, Rick Jason, (more)
- 1959
Hotel waitress Thelma Tompkins (Olive Deering) is surprised to learn that wealthy Mrs. Mannerheim (Celia Lovsky) has named Thelma in her will. Relating this news to her lazy musician boyfriend, Arthur (Rick Jason), in hopes that he will propose to her, Thelma is disappointed when Arthur replies that marriage is out of the question until Mrs. Mannerheim dies. Giving this set of circumstances, Thelma and Arthur have no alternative than to "help" Mrs. Mannerheim shuffle off her mortal coil -- a scheme ultimately foiled by the usual ironic twist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
In flashback, Sgt. Saunders (Vic Morrow), Lt. Hanley (Rick Jason) and the men of King Company recall the events surrounding their landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Pre-invasion highlights include a battle between Saunders and Hanley over the affections of a pert English lass (Pat Dahl), and the efforts by wheeler-dealer Braddock (Shecky Greene) to win a cash pool by picking the correct date for the landing (he wins, but doesn't feel so lucky after all--and for good reason!) Once the men have established a beachhead, they are ordered to capture a farmhouse where several American paratroopers are being held prisoner. Most of this program is comprised of re-edited footage from Combat's hitherto unseen pilot episode, which explains the occasional discrepancies (for example, Hanley is still a sergeant, and supporting character Caje [Pierre Jalbert] is referred to as "Caddy"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
The first season of Combat! follows the exploits of King Company, a platoon of American GI's making their way through occupied Europe in the months just following D-day. In addition to series stars Vic Morrow (as Sgt. Chip Saunders) and Rick Jason (as Lt. Gil Hanley), the 32 hour-long episodes feature a pair of regulars unique to season one: Steven Rogers as medical aidman Doc Walton, and legendary nightclub comic Shecky Greene as wisecracking wheeler-dealer Pvt. Braddock. Highlights include the debut episode, written by prolific science-fiction specialist Richard Matheson under the pseudonym "Logan Swanson"; and the later episode "Hill 256", in which King Company's most reckless GI, Private Kirby (Jack Hogan) is brought up on charges of cowardice under fire. And of course the season yields an impressive crop of guest stars, including Jeffrey Hunter, Howard Duff, Keenan Wynn, Frank Gorshin, Robert Culp, and future Mary Tyler Moore regular Ted Knight. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1962
The most successful of network television's many WWII dramatic series of the '60s, Combat!, ran for five seasons on ABC -- or roughly one year longer than the war lasted! Set in the months following D-Day, the weekly, hour-long series focused on King Company, a platoon of American GIs battling their way through Southern Europe, encountering action, adventure, humor, heartbreak and dozens of guest stars along the way. Throughout the series' run, King Company was headed by gritty, taciturn Sgt. Chip Saunders (Vic Morrow) and his superior officer, cool and courageous Lt. Gil Hanley (Rick Jason). Though several soldiers were attached to the platoon from one season to the next, the most enduring of the supporting players were Pierre Jalbert as Paul "Caje" Lemay, Jack Hogan as "Wild Man" Kirby, and Dick Peabody as PFC Littlejohn. Some of the better episodes were directed by such Hollywood heavyweights as Robert Altman and Burt Kennedy. Filmed in glorious black-and-white during its first four seasons -- the better to accommodate newsreel footage of actual wartime battles -- Combat! switched to color for its fifth and final season on the air. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1963
The opening episode of Combat's second season finds Sgt. Saunders (Vic Morrow) of King Company going head-to-head with Sgt. Marvin Turk (Lee Marvin), a sarcastic, hardbitten demolition expert with an intense hatred for Infantrymen. No sooner has Turk thoroughly alienated Saudners' platoon with his by-the-book autocracy than both sergeants are sent on a dangerous mission to destroy an enemy bridge. Throughout the assignment, the embittered Turk continues to rag Saunders, whom he holds responsible for the death of his previous partner. But though nasty and unrepetentant from start to finish, Turk knows his business--and by episode's end he has more than earned the respect of both Saunders and the audience. Conlan Carter makes his first regular appearance as "Doc". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Sgt. Saunders (Vic Morrow) is obliged to help two fellow Americans, Cpl. Kanger (James Coburn) and Lt. Comstock (Dan Stafford), as they deliver a captured German officer to the authorities for questioning. What Saunders doesn't know (but the audience does!) is that both Kanger and Comstock are German spies posing as Americans, determined to halt the Allied advance or die trying. This episode marks the TV dramatic debut of boxing champ Rocky Marciano, in the small role of a friendly GI. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Eddie Albert guest stars in this episode, playing--of all things--a middle-aged American farmer with a foreign-accented wife. But this is Combat, not Green Acres: Albert's character, a WW1 veteran named Phil, has been living in France with his French-born wife Marie (played by Alida Valli of The Third Man fame) ever since the Armistice. Unhinged by the ceaseless gunfire of WW2, Phil begins to imagine that he is still fighting The Great War--and so he dons his old uniform, marches into the countryside, and captures Sgt. Saunders (Vince Morrow), whom he believes to be a "Heinie" spy! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
As Combat! moves into its second season, the men of King Company welcome several new "regular" platoon members, notably Private Billy Nelson (Tom Lowell) and PFC Littlejohn (Dick Peabody). Also, the platoon's resident medical aidman Walton has been replaced by a man who prefers to be known only as "Doc" (Conlan Carter). Even so, Sgt. Chip Saunders (Vic Morrow) and Lt. Gil Hanley (Rick Jason) remain firmly in charge as the men make their way through occupied France in the wake of D-Day. Among the season's 32 episodes are the series' first two-part adventures, "The Long Way Home" and "What are the Bugles Blowin'. As for guest stars, this season offers such notables as Lee Marvin, James Caan, James Coburn, Leonard Nimoy -- and on distinctly opposite sides of the age spectrum, Eddie Albert as a fiftyish WWI doughboy who is unaware that a whole new war is raging about him, and Beau Bridges as a green private who tries to hide the fact that he is merely 15 years old. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1964
Most of the men of King Company who were trudging through post D-day France during season two of Combat! are still in attendance for season three, except for Tom Lowell as Private Billy Nelson. Remaining firmly in charge of the platoon throughout all 32 episodes are Sgt. Chip Saunders (Vic Morrow) and Lt. Gil Hanley (Rick Jason). This years' quota of guest stars include Theodore Bikel, Mickey Rooney, Dan Duryea, Telly Savalas (as -- what else? -- a Greek colonel) and a young Robert Duvall (as a German lieutenant). Of special interest is the performance of Charles Bronson as a sensitive explosives expert who faces a crisis of conscience when assigned to blow up an enemy stronghold containing several priceless and irreplaceable works of art. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1964
Trapped in a stable by heavy enemy gunfire, Hanley (Rick Jason) and his men are rescued by a rowdy band of Greek partisans dressed in British uniforms. At first glance, the Greeks seem to be a warm, fun-loving bunch who'd rather sing, dance and drink wine than fight. But Hanley senses that the group's leader, Colonel Aristotle Kapsalis (Telly Savalas), is pursuing a hidden agenda that may result in the deaths of all concerned. Featured in the supporting cast is soap-opera veteran John Aniston, the father of future superstar Jennifer Aniston. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
John Cassavetes guest stars as Pvt. Kalb, newest member of King Company. Saunders (Vic Morrow) is none too happy with the arrival of Kalb, who has a reputation for goldbricking and cowardice--and who may or may not have been responsible for the decimation of the two previous squads to which he'd been assigned. Nor do things bode well for Saunders and his men when, on the eve of a dangerous mission, Kalb sustains a convenient leg wound. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Charles Bronson delivers an impressively sensitive performance as Corporal Velasquez, a demolitions expert with a genius-level understanding of geology. While accompanying Velasquez on a mission to blow up a German observation post surrounded by rock, Saunders (Vic Morrow) can't help but notice that the Corporal is showing signs of hesitance and uncertainty. It seems that in addition to his other talents, Velasquez is a lover of fine art--and he is extremely reluctant to destroy the priceless paintings, statues and religious artifacts stashed within the targeted building. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Though only 31 episodes were produced for Combat!'s fourth season (down from the usual quota of 32), there is still action aplenty as the men of King Company, led by stalwart Sgt. Chip Saunders (Vic Morrow) and Lt. Gil Hanley (Rick Jason), fight their way through Southern France in the months following D-day. Among the guest stars appearing during season four are John Cassavetes, Jack Lord, Sal Mineo, Dwayne Hickman, and Fernando Lamas (as a Frenchman!) Arguably the highlight of the season is the two-part episode "Hills are for Heroes," directed by Combat! star Vic Morrow. ~ All Movie Guide
