Michael Keep Movies
- 1990
Produced for cable TV, this pedestrian thriller (also known as Till Death Do Us Part) purports to be a riff on Edgar Allen Poe's "The Premature Burial" but actually bears more of a resemblance to Diabolique. It stars Tim Matheson as a cheated-upon husband who can't stay down after his wife's (Jennifer Jason Leigh) unsuccessful attempt to poison him results in his being buried alive. The film's one real moment of horror comes in a claustrophobic sequence where Matheson desperately claws his way out of his coffin. The story then settles into a standard revenge motif, capped with an admittedly potent payoff that, though intriguing, is probably not as shocking as the filmmakers had intended. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tim Matheson
- 1973
While investigating "dirty work" at an urban redevelopment project, an undercover cop is murdered. Kojak (Telly Savalas) wants to put the project on hold until his investigation of the killing is completed. Unfortunately, he meets with stiff resistance from several high-profile personalities--at least one of whom is covertly involved in a large-scale graft operation. Heading the guest cast is Broadway star Larry Kert, best known for his portrayal of Tony in the original 1956 stage production of "West Side Story." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
- R
This convoluted mystery centers upon a seductive private investigator who must look into the background of the potential recipient of an enormous inheritance. Unfortunately, she finds herself more deeply involved in the situation than she wanted to be and trouble soon follows. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1969
Mary Fickett is cast as Erin O'Donnell, an Irish girl raised by the Sioux in Paiutes. Falling in love with Erin, Hoss Cartwright does his best to shield her from the bigotry of the townspeople. But Erin regards Hoss' efforts as futile, citing the tribal prophecy that she is "the wolf child, born to fight and die for the Indian.". Given the mortality rate of the Cartwright boys' sweethearts, it isn't hard to predict the outcome of this melancholy tale. Written by Sandy Summerhays, "Erin" was originally telecast on January 26, 1969, then rebroadcast by NBC on June 4, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1969
The mellifluous Richard Haydn is cast as Malcolm the Magificent, a seedy travelling magician. To fool the yokels, Malcolm uses his twin daughters in his act: Jan (Alyce Andrece) is sweet and demure, while Janice (Rhae Andrece) is a pool-playing hellion. A comedy of errors ensues when Joe and Hoss Cartwright fall in love with the twins, but are convinced that they're rivals for the same girl. Originally aired on February 23, 1969, "The Lady and the Mountain Lion" was written by Larry Markes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
Senator William J. Tadlock (Kirk Douglas) enlists the help of veteran scout Dick Summers (Robert Mitchum) to lead a wagon train of settlers from Missouri to Oregon in this plodding, routine western. A scared settler accidently shoots an Indian boy who is mistaken for a wolf, prompting Summers to order newlywed triggerman Johnny Mack (Michael Witney) to be hanged to avoid an Indian attack. Sally Field appears in her first big-screen role as the slatternly Mercy McBee. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, (more)
- 1967
The directorial reins of 40 Guns to Apache Pass are in the expert hands of actionmeister William Witney, who helmed many of Audie Murphy's latter-day vehicles. Here Murphy plays a Cavalry captain who takes on the entire Apache nation virtually single-handedly. He is undermined by villainous Corporal Bodine (Kenneth Tobey), who runs a thriving business selling guns to the Indians. Michael Keep plays Apache leader Cochise, bringing a touch of humanity and dignity to his two-dimensional role. After wrapping up 40 Guns to Apache Pass, William Witney went into retirement, emerging every so often for "guest of honor" chores at the various western-movie conventions of the 1970s and 1980s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jason (Chuck Connors) continues flashing back to an incident involving himself and a black Cavalry officer named Johnny Macon (played by future Mission: Impossible regular Greg Morris). Having escaped capture by fierce Apache chieftan Wateekah (Michael Keep), Macon finds himself imprisoned by the Army on a charge of possible cowardice. He manages to break out of jail, only to be lured into another trap by Wateekah--who intends to stand and watch as he forces Macon and Jason to fight to the death! Excerpts from "Fill No Glass for Me" were later spliced together with scenes from two other Branded episodes, "Now Join the Human Race" and "Call to Glory", to form the direct-to-video "feature film" Blade Rider: Revenge of the Indian Nations. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
In the first episode of a two-part story, Jason (Chuck Connors) recalls an incident in his past, involving a young and inexperienced African American Cavalry officer named Johnny Macon (played by future Mission: Impossible regular Greg Morris). While leading a small patrol into hostile Indian territory, Macon is captured by Apache chief Wateekah (Michael Keep), who has a sinister plan in mind for both Macon and his fellow captive Jason. Excerpts from "Fill No Glass for Me" were later spliced together with scenes from two other Branded episodes, "Now Join the Human Race" and "Call to Glory", to form the direct-to-video "feature film" Blade Rider: Revenge of the Indian Nations. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
Michael Rennie guest stars as Charles Briswell, an accused murderer whom Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) rescues from a miner's kangaroo court. Jason's motives aren't entirely humanitarian: Briswell claims to have been a witness at the battle of Bitter Creek, and thus is in a position to clear McCord of cowardice charges. But as Jason escorts Briswell to the nearest army post, he begins to suspect that the man isn't being entirely open and above-board with his "eyewitness" testimony. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
Caught up in a confrontation with four drunken Comanches, Jason (Chuck Connors) kills three of his attackers, and cannot understand why the stranger whose life he has saved refused to fight. Then he discovers that the man is a Catholic priest named Father Durant (Jason Evers), and as such is foresworn never to take a human life. Both Jason and the Priest are subsequently captured by the dead Comanches' Chief (Joe DeSantis), who puts the men to a most unusual--and potentially fatal--test of courage. Featured in the cast as Wild Horse is Jay Silverheels, best known for his portrayal of Tonto on The Lone Ranger. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1963
Paladin (Richard Boone) finds himself in the middle of a long-standing feud between two Native American brothers. Jim Redrock (Charles Bronson) is the ineffectual sheriff of a small town, while brother Abe Redrock (Michael Keep) is a wild, untamed outlaw. When Jim offers a $200 reward for the capture of Abe, Abe counters with an offer of $500 for the capture of Jim. Forsaking any hopes of monetary gain, Paladin dedicates himself to reuniting the two warring siblings. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1962
Awakening with "the grandaddy of all hangovers," David Gurney (Richard Long) is not amused when his wife Wilma (Shirley Ballard) emits a scream and insists that she'd never set eyes on David before. As the day progresses, it turns out that no one recognizes David, nor is their any record of his ever having existed -- and as a result of his "ravings," he is placed in a mental institution. Is David really crazy, or is his loss of identity merely a bad dream? Well. . .best to stick around until the very, very last scene. Written by Charles Beaumont, "Person or Persons Unknown" made its Twilight Zone bow on March 23, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Long, Frank Silvera, (more)
- 1962
Frank Gorshin is at his "Richard Widmark" best as Herbie Ketcher--a busboy by trade, a pool hustler and stool pigeon by inclination. Working at a nightclub owned by mobster Max Zenno (Albert Paulsen), Herbie supplements his income by shaking Zenno and his fellow hoodlum Martin Rawlings (Gilbert Green) for big bucks. The two thugs can do nothing to stop Herbie, who claims to have in his possession a "little book" chock full of incriminating evidence agains the Syndicate. Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) would love to get his hands on that book so he can put Zenno and his cronies away for good; the trick is to keep Herbie from getting bumped off first. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.