George Kennedy Movies
Born into a show business family, George Kennedy made his stage debut at the age of two in a touring company of Bringing up Father. By the time he was seven, he was spinning records on a New York radio station. Kennedy' showbusiness inclinations were put aside when he developed a taste for the rigors of military life during World War II, and he wound up spending 16 years in the army. His military career ended and his acting career began when a back injury in the late 1950s inspired him to seek out another line of work.Appropriately enough, given his background, Kennedy first made his name with a role as a military advisor on the Sergeant Bilko TV series. In films from 1961, the burly, 6'4" actor usually played heavies, both figuratively and literally; quite often, as in Charade (1963) and Straitjacket (1964), his unsavory screen characters were bumped off sometime during the fourth reel. One of his friendlier roles was as a compassionate Union officer in Shenandoah (1965), an assignment he was to treasure because it gave him a chance to work with the one of his idols, Jimmy Stewart.
Kennedy moved up to the big leagues with his Academy Award win for his portrayal of Dragline in Cool Hand Luke (1967). An above-the-title star from then on, Kennedy has been associated with many a box-office hit, notably all four Airport films. Unlike many major actors, he has displayed a willingness to spoof his established screen image, as demonstrated by his portrayal of Ed Hocken in the popular Naked Gun series. On TV, Kennedy has starred in the weekly series Sarge (1971) and The Blue Knight (1978), and was seen as President Warren G. Harding in the 1979 miniseries Backstairs at the White House. During the mid '90s, he became known as a persuasive commercial spokesman in a series of breath-freshener advertisements. In 1997, he provided the voice for L.B. Mammoth in the animated musical Cats Don't Dance, and the following year again displayed his vocal talents as one of the titular toys-gone-bad in Small Soldiers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
A young white woman has been abducted by the Sioux, and her father has come to Paladin to help effect her rescue. In this pursuit, Paladin is teamed with Lt. Bryson (George Kennedy), a taciturn Army scout who once lived among the Sioux--and has a lot of trouble shaking less-than-fond memories of the experience. With this episode, Lisa Lu joins the cast as perky Hotel Carleton bellhop Hey Girl, replacing Kam Tong (who had defected for a costarring stint on the short-lived adventure series The Garlund Touch) as Hey Boy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
This episode draws upon the considerable talents of several TV-western stalwarts, including George Kennedy, Harry Carey Jr., Roy Barcroft and Harry Lauter. It all begins when Paladin (Richard Boone), on assignment, captures a fugitive outlaw with the help of a posse. But the case is hardly closed: with his dying breath, the fugitive bequeaths his fortune to any member of the posse who is willing to kill Paladin! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Bart (Jack Kelly) is framed for crimes he didn't commit by sadistic sheriff Horace Hadley (Edgar Buchanan) and his equally odious deputy Jones (played by future Oscar winner George Kennedy). The two crooked lawmen specialize in hunting down and murdering innocent men, then claiming that their victims are outlaws in order to collect the reward. In his efforts to expose Hadley and Jones' racket, Bart turns bounty hunter and solicits the aid of several familiar Warner Bros. TV-series stars--who prove to be no help whatsoever. Appearing in cameo roles are Clint Walker from Cheyenne, Will Hutchins from Sugarfoot, John Russell and Peter Brown from Lawman, and Edd "Kookie" Byrnes from 77 Sunset Strip (a title given a cute "westernization" in the context of the story). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
After a confrontation with a roughneck named Merton (Gene Lyons) in a seedy flophouse, Paladin (Richard Boone) rides off into the mountains--only to be waylaid and robbed by Merton's gang. Left without food, weaponry, a horse or a coat, Paladin must now make his way through a treacherous, snowswept mountain range. En route, he meets a pair of father-and-son prospectors who could offer him assistance...but strangely refuse to do so. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
The fifth season of Have Gun, Will Travel begins as soldier-of-fortune Paladin (Richard Boone) provides escort for Adella Forsyth (Mary Fickett), a prim, idealistic nurse who is determined to minister to a frontier town that would rather have a male doctor. While trekking through a wintry mountain pass, the two travellers meet a pair of scrungy prospectors (one of whom is played by future Oscar winner George Kennedy), who may have killed their partner. The experience proves to be a harrowing one for Adella--so much so that Paladin worries that she'll forget her dreams about being an "angel of mercy." With this episode, Kam Tong returns after a season's absence in the role of pixieish bellhop Hey Boy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Bounty hunters hired by an ex-con focus on the Wells Fargo agent who placed the ex-con in prison. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dale Robertson, Ellen Burstyn, (more)
- 1961
"The Infernal Machine" is a horseless carriage, invented by Hoss Cartwright's friend Daniel Pettibone (Eddie Ryder). Attempting to obtain financing for Dan's creation, Hoss is turned down by everyone except a city slicker named Throckmorton (Willard Waterman). Once this glib stranger agrees to invest money in the carriage, everyone else in town follows suit. Alas, Throckmorton skips town with the cash, leaving Dan and Hoss holding the bag. Also appearing are June Kenney as Robin and Nora Hayden as Big Red. Written by Ward Hawkins and directed by Republic Studios stalwart William Witney, "The Infernal Machine" first aired April 22, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1961
Charles Bronson guest stars as Henry Grey, a mother-dominated farmer who hopes to escape his miserable existence by wedding a Greek mail-order bride named Callie (Chana Eden). Unfortunately, Callie is claimed by another man, a tough customer named Rud Saxon (George Kennedy). It falls to Paladin (Richard Boone) to straighten out Henry's romantic travails--and, hopefully, to cut the man loose from his mother's apron strings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Someone is trying to corner the market in illegal champagne before New Year's Eve of 1932--a last-ditch effort to turn a huge profit before the repeal of Prohibition goes into effect. The ensuing intrigues involve French champagne manufacturer Michel Vitton (Barry Morse), mob-connected restauranteur Barney Loomis (Robert Middleton) and Barney's covetous nephew Ed Wald (Michael Constantine). Cast as a deaf-mute assassin named Birdie is future Oscar winner George Kennedy), who during a confrontation scene with series star Robert Stack Ness applies so much physical force that Stack actually passes out on camera--an incident over which the two actors (good friends in real life) would invariably share a laugh in the years to come. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
John Fox Jr.'s popular 1906 novel has been filmed several times, and converted into a number of theatrical presentations. The 1961 edition of Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come stars singer Jimmy F. Rodgers as a confused young man growing up in 1860s Kentucky. Sheltered from his brutal guardian by a friendly schoolmaster, Rodgers learns to love the tiny village of Kingdom Come and has no inclination of leaving. But when the Civil War breaks out, Rodgers finds himself at odds with most of his friends by joining the Union Army. His wartime experiences force Rodgers to grow up in a hurry, and he returns to Kingdom Come with a whole new outlook on his future existence. Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come was elaborately produced, but failed to establish Jimmy Rodgers as a movie star. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jimmie F. Rodgers, Chill Wills, (more)
- 1962
Advertised on the sleeve of its home-video release as a "Charles Bronson western", Bull of the West is actually comprised of two episodes from the American TV western series The Virginian, edited together for theatrical release overseas. The segment in which Bronson appears was originally telecast as "The Nobility of Kings" on November 10, 1965. Two recurring characters on The Virginian, Trampas (Doug McClure and Randy (Randy Boone), helpfully inform newly arrived rancher Ben Justin (Bronson) that he has inadvertently violated the rules of the Stockman's Association. Conditioned by life's hard knocks to neither trust or listen to anyone but himself, the hard-drinking Ben tells Trampas and Randy to mind their own business. Another rancher, Suchette (George Kennedy), is so incensed by this attitude that makes certain Ben's cattle will not be allowed access to the railroads. Caught in the middle of this range feud is Ben's tenderfoot son Will (Bob Random), who has been forbidden to help his dad around the ranch, and has not even been allowed to ride a horse. Working in secret with Trampas and Randy at the Shiloh Ranch, Ben's wife Mary (Lois Nettleton) sees to it that Will is given riding lessons--while Ben simmers and stews at home, convinced that Mary is having an affair with The Virginian (James Drury). "The Nobility of Kings" was spliced together with the Virginian episode of January 2, 1963, "Duel at Shiloh". While having nothing to do with the Bronson episode beyond the same setting and a few of the same characters, this episode is thematically similar in that it deals with a stubbornly rugged individualist--in this instance, a grizzled ranch hand named Johnny Wade (Brian Keith)--and a potentially deadly feud, unwittingly fomented by the men of the Shiloh ranch. Specifically, Johnny finds himself on opposite sides of the fence with his tenderfoot pal Steve Hill when the latter takes a job with the Shiloh's owner Judge Garth (Lee J. Cobb), while Johnny remains loyal to rival ranch owner Geraldine Brooks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Bronson, Lee J. Cobb, (more)
- 1962
Poetess Emily Eubanks (Fintan Meyler) hires Paladin (Richard Boone) to locate her missing fiance, a troubled musician named Albert (James Callahan). At last report, Albert was hiding somewhere in San Francisco's rough-and-tumble Barbary Coast saloon district. As Paladin grimly makes his way through a hotbed of debauchery, his trail is diligently dogged by sweet little Emily, who is determined to "rescue" her sweetheart whether he wants to be rescued or not. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Although it never quite escapes the pitfalls of pretension, this film was Kirk Douglas's bid for the affections of the art house crowd, and it remains one of his best efforts. The star plays unreconstructed "rugged individual" Jack Burns, who rides throughout the modern west knocking down man-made fences. Visiting his equally rebellious friend Paul Bondi (Michael Kane), Burns deliberately gets himself thrown in jail to be nearer his pal. Frustrated that Bondi doesn't want to join Burns on the road, Burns breaks out of jail, thereby becoming a fugitive. His trail is dogged by Sheriff Johnson (Walter Matthau), a frustrated frontiersman who secretly admires the freewheeling Burns. Meanwhile, a truck driver (Carroll O'Connor) is ominously driving down the highway with a truckload of toilets. If you think there's supposed to be some symbolism in this seemingly peripheral character, you're absolutely right. Bill Raisch, a genuine amputee who played the one-armed man on TV's The Fugitive, is Douglas' surly opponent in the café brawl sequence. Filmed on location in New Mexico, Lonely are the Brave was adapted by Dalton Trumbo from Edward Abbey's novel Brave Cowboy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Gena Rowlands, (more)
- 1962
A teenage boy, the son of a recently widowed policeman's wife, accidentally witnesses a wrestler killing his girl friend in a domestic dispute involving a robbery he just committed on her behalf. The boy had been delivering papers at the time and when the wrestler, who has a weak heart, finds out he begins searching for him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Locked up in the Mayberry jail, a pair of fugitive thieves warn Andy and Barney that their accomplices will soon show up to break them out. Thus it is that Barney arrests the first two strangers in town-who turn out to be police detectives from Raleigh. In the course of events, Barney and temporary deputy Gomer manage to allow the real crooks to escape no fewer than three times! Former "Dead End Kid" Billy Halop appears as Tiny. Written by Harvey Bullock, "The Big House" originally aired on May 6, 1963, as the final episode of The Andy Griffith Show's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
His gun hand crippled in a shootout with sodbuster Brock March (Chris Alcaide), ruthless land baron Colonel Draco (Warren Stevens) is determined to have his revenge. To this end, March hires Paladin (Richard Boone) to track down March and mete out "justice." Meanwhile, the nervous townspeople, led by kindly but two-fisted Brother Grace (George Kennedy), pray for a miracle of some sort to prevent any further violence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Heavy on slapstick and light on the more subtle forms of humor, this standard comedy by Frank Tashlin is still an amusing junket with Danny Kaye at the forefront as Ernie Klenk, a bumbling employee of the Diner's Club credit card company. Ernie has his hands full trying to manage the new computers (maybe they were all new at this point in time) and a bullying boss. His job is to okay the credit line of new customers and after he does just that with Foots Pulardos (Telly Savalas) he may have made his last serious mistake. Foots is facing trial for tax evasion and when he discovers that he and Ernie have an odd physical trait in common, he hits upon a scheme to fake his own death by immolating most of the hapless employees and then escaping the country disguised as Ernie. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Kaye, Cara Williams, (more)
- 1963
Middle-aged sculptor John Kenyon (John Larkin) falls hopelessly in love with his young model Theba (Marianna Hill), demonstrating his ardor by making a "goddess" statue of her. Unfortunately, Theba's Medusa-like mother Cleo (Faith Domergue) would rather than she marry someone her own age--and more specifically, someone with more money. Inevitably, Cleo is murdered, and Kenyon is spotted apparently disposing of the body. Among those scrutinized by Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) in his efforts to save Kenyon from the gas chamber is one George Spangler, played by future Oscar winner George Kennedy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn star in this stylish comedy-thriller directed by Stanley Donen, very much in a Hitchcock vein. Grant plays Peter Joshua, who meets Reggie Lampert (Hepburn) in Paris and later offers to help her when she discovers that her husband has been murdered. After the funeral, Reggie is summoned to the embassy and warned by agent/friend Bartholemew (Walter Matthau) that her late husband helped steal 250,000 dollars during the war and that the rest of the gang is after the money as well. When three of the men who attended her husband's funeral begin to harass her, Reggie goes to Joshua for help, at which time Joshua confesses that his name is actually Alexander Dyle, the brother of a fourth accomplice in the gold theft. The three men from the funeral are revealed to be the three other accomplices in the crime, and though she knows next to nothing of the heist, Reggie is caught in a ring of suspense as she is followed by the shadowy trio, all after the money. Apparently, the only person she can trust is Joshua/Dyle -- until Bartholomew tells Reggie that the fourth accomplice had no brother, and Joshua/Dyle reveals that he is, in fact, a crook named Adam Canfield. Now Reggie doesn't know where to turn. The musical score by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini was nominated for an Academy Award. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, (more)
In this chilling blood-tale in "Psycho" style, Robert Bloch modernizes the Lizzy Borden story. A wife (Joan Crawford) literally axes her cheating husband and his lover, witnessed by her three-year-old daughter. Mom is packed off to the insane asylum for 20 years before reuniting with the daughter (Diane Baker). From this point, the axe murders continue along a contrived plot intended to lead the audience astray until the mystery is solved. Crawford's strong performance and the excellently constructed suspense are the best elements of the film -- and the chopping saves the show when the plot tends to slow. ~ Lucinda Ramsey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Crawford, Diane Baker, (more)
- 1964
Based on the popular children's story by Scott O'Dell, this family movie tells of the true adventures of a young Native American girl. After her father is killed by a malevolent white trapper, Karana (Celia Kaye) joins her community as they leave their island home in the Pacific to live on the mainland. Upon her departure, Karana realizes that her brother has been left behind. She immediately swims back to be with him and the two remain on the abandoned island. Though Karana is able to domesticate a wolf, her brother is not so fortunate with the animals and is killed by a pack of wild dogs. She is left to survive against the odds for several years before she has a chance to journey to the mainland herslelf. The adept cinematography of Leo Tover (Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Day the Earth Stood Still) greatly contributed to this outdoor adventure film as did appropriate music from prolific film composer Paul Sawtell. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Celia Kaye, Larry Domasin, (more)
- 1964
George Kennedy guest-stars as Waldo Watson, a born loser who has decided to end it all. Feeling pity for Waldo, Hoss Cartwright hires him as a Ponderosa ranch hand. Alas, not only is Waldo a clumsy and inept worker, but he also puts the Cartwrights' lives in danger, courtesy of a gang of trigger-happy Eastern gamblers who want to collect a long-standing debt from the hapless Waldo. Others in the cast include Sandra Warner as Nancy Collings and Richard Devon as Weaver. Written by Rod Peterson, "The Scapegoat" originally aired October 25, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1964
Married to a middle-aged tightwad named Henry (George Kennedy), the promiscuous Eva (Lola Albright) yearns for the day that she can separate her husband from his money so that she can run off with her latest boyfriend. Enter George (Barry Nelson), who claims to be the gas man in order to gain access to the Martin home. Eva figures out that George isn't what he pretends to be, but that hardly matters: the handsome stranger has come up with a perfect plan to get ride of Henry. Only at the last minute does George reveal his true identity -- and by this time it is too late for both Henry and Eva. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lola Albright, Barry Nelson, (more)
- 1964
Captain Wallace Binghamton (Joe FLynn), St. Comdr. Quinton McHale (Ernest Borgnine) and Ensign Charles Parker (Tim Conway) brought their wacky antics to the big screen for this feature, spawned from the popular '60 television program of the same name. McHale and his crew get involved in a betting scam aboard their PT boat. Soon, they find themselves owning money to a group of Marines. In order to pay off their debts, they plan a sure-fire way of making money--involving the transportation of a disguised racehorse on board their boat. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernest Borgnine, Joe Flynn, (more)
