Richard Kiley Movies
Richard Kiley trained for a theatrical career at the Barnum Dramatic School. Just before his World War II service, Kiley played small roles in several Chicago-based radio programs. He relocated to New York in 1947, making his Broadway debut in a 1953 revival of Shaw's Misalliance (which earned him a Theatre World Award). He spent the next two decades alternating in "straight" plays and musicals: his credits in the latter category include Kismet, Redhead, No Strings and, of course, his Tony-winning dual performance as Cervantes and Quixote in Man of La Mancha. In films from 1950, Kiley was often cast as a menace, never more so than in 1953's Pickup on South Street, in which he commits the heinously antisocial act of murdering Thelma Ritter. He was more sympathetic as the alcoholic teacher in The Blackboard Jungle (1955), whose faith in his abilities is irreparably damaged when his juvenile delinquent students wantonly destroy his valuable record collection. On television, Kiley starred in the original 1956 staging of Rod Serlings Patterns and was Emmy-nominated for his work in The Thorn Birds (1983), Do You Remember Love? (1988), Separate But Equal (1990),and his own starring series A Year in the Life (1989). He finally won the Emmy for a 1994 guest appearance in Picket Fences. Ironically, the most successful film endeavor with which Richard Kiley was associated was one in which only his voice is heard; he's the fellow who explains the cloning process in the opening animated sequences of Jurassic Park (1993). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1989
- PG
The three-hour TV docudrama The Final Days was based on the Bob Woodward/Carl Bernstein chronicle of President Richard M. Nixon's last months in the White House. Given his behavior during the entire Watergate imbroglio, Nixon cannot help but come off as a paranoid power-abuser. As played by Lane Smith, however, Nixon also seems all too human--a confused, pathetic individual who cannot fully comprehend how, in less than one year, he can lose everything he has worked for in life. Theodore Bikel co-stars as Henry Kissinger, while other participants in the events of August 1973 through August 1974 are played by David Ogden Stiers (as Alexander Haig), Gregg Henry (John Dean), Susan Brown (Pat Nixon), Ann Hearn (Julie), Amanda Wyss (Tricia), Ramon Bieri (John Sirica), Diana Bellamy (Rose Mary Woods) and Alan Fudge (Gerald Ford). Adapted for television by Hugh Whitemore, The Final Days premiered on October 29, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
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Brought to video by National Geographic, this historic documentary details the final days of the German battleship and the reign of terror it launched on unsuspecting Allied ships during the second World War. Narrated by actor Richard Kiley, this is a high seas account of the June 1989 Bismarck discovery by Dr. Robert Ballard, whose famed discovery of the Titanic set the course of underwater exploration. The search for the Bismarck exposed the remains of the notorious warship, which lay at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in its watery grave, put there by two Dorsetshire torpedoes and a barrage of shells from three other ships seeking revenge for damage done. ~ C. Dwayne Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1989
This tribute to man's best friend presents dogs that herd sheep, pull wheelchairs, and perform duties on the battlefield. Once called "one of God's noblest beasts," this documentary portrays the human-canine connection that makes these animals so special. ~ Kathryn Tamms, All Movie Guide
An ageing widow's relationship with an ex-flame is re-ignited when she runs into her former boyfriend at a class reunion in this warmhearted tale of middle-aged romance starring Bea Arthur, Richard Kiley, and Joan Van Ark. Despite their rekindled feelings, the pair soon finds their powerful connection threatened when the woman discovers that her new beau is involved in a May-December romance with a much younger woman. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1988
National Geographic explores a spectacularly beautiful and remote corner of northern Australia, where the Gandiu Aborigines have lived for 40,000 years. This may be their last generation, however, as young members leave the tribe for the modern world. In this moving and memorable portrait, travel to this distant land to see the elders as they try to pass on their lore. Explore the tribe's ancient myths and see the extraordinary wildlife featured in their sacred rock paintings. There is considerable footage of the exotic animals in Kakadu National Park, home to the tribe; the vicious salt-water crocodile, birds, and lizards are captured by the camera against the stunning backdrop of the park. Join National Geographic in taking what may be a last look at a vanishing culture. ~ Gayla Mills, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Actor Richard Kiley narrates this investigation into both new and well-known clues to the origins of the human race. Razor -sharp tools of our ancestors are examined and discussed by historians and experts. A number of fossilized skeletons that are more than a million years old are examined by scientists. Ash-entombed footprints provide a trail into centuries that ended long ago. Viewers will see many artifacts that all relate to what is often referred to as one of the "greatest mysteries of all time." ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
The 28-volume Hollywood Collection offers a comprehensive library chronicling the lives of Tinsel Town's famed studio performers. This video chronicles the life of the debonair megastar whose sophisticated and suave style made him a favorite among female moviegoers. British-born Cary Grant overcame an impoverished and motherless childhood and made 70 motion pictures. Narrated by Richard Kiley, this intimate story of Grant's career is conveyed through interviews with colleagues Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Deborah Kerr, Leslie Caron, and Stanley Kramer. Video highlights present clips from Grant's most memorable films: An Affair to Remember, To Catch a Thief, North by Northwest, His Girl Friday, and more. Other tapes in the biography series include The Hollywood Collection: Anthony Quinn -- An Original, The Hollywood Collection: Gregory Peck -- His Own Man, and The Hollywood Collection: Audrey Hepburn Remembered. ~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Whoever said, "there is nothing to fear in the dark" has not seen this wildlife entry from National Geographic. With haunting after hour's cinematography, the documentary follows a pride of lions and the hard-working lioness as they hunt, sleep, eat, and fight under the disguise of a cool African night. Known as a symbol for beauty and power, this voracious cat can consume 75 pounds of meat in one carnivorous meal. The video is narrated by actor Richard Kiley and contains a substantial supporting jungle cast including the night prowling apes, crazed baboons, stampeding gnus, hard-charging warthogs, and the quintessential African animal, the zebra. ~ C. Dwayne Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Set in the picturesque landscape of Zimbabwe, Rhino War documents the attempts both to save and to capture the rare black rhino. In the often intense and violent video footage, poachers ruthlessly chase after black rhinos for their valuable horns, which can fetch upwards of $7,000. On the other end of the spectrum are rangers, who are portrayed as heroic and noble, striving to save the dying species with fenced sanctuaries. Ladysmith Black Mambazo provides the music for this gory and disturbing, yet ultimately hopeful examination of an animal struggling to survive. ~ John Schietinger, All Movie Guide
- 1987
From the 28-tape biography series The Hollywood Collection comes a comprehensive account of a real-life fairy tale, the story of Grace Kelly. Born to a wealthy Philadelphia family, Kelly was once one of the most sought-after movie stars in Hollywood. She gave up her glittering career to marry the Prince of Monaco and to become Her Serene Highness Princess Grace. This program provides an in-depth look at her rise to stardom, her reign as princess, and the tragic car crash which took her life. The glamorous tale unfolds with never-before-seen home movies, interviews with stars, friends, family members, and clips from Kelly's early television performances, as well as her finest films, including High Society, Rear Window, Dial M for Murder, and High Noon. It's a star-studded profile of a beloved American icon. ~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Beavers are nature's best-known engineers and architects, constructing impressive dams in their own habitat. National Geographic's Rocky Mountain Beaver Pond examines the lifestyle of a specific group of these beavers residing in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. This documentary provides lots of educational information regarding beavers' unique behaviors. For instance, dam-building is an instinctive reaction for beavers to the rushing water surrounding them. Using a representative family of beavers occupying a peaceful area of the Rockies, Rocky Mountain Beaver Pond seeks to make wider generalizations about the species and provides an in-depth discussion of one of nature's most curious creatures. ~ John Schietinger, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Within a technology-crazed world, not everything that is fast and sleek is better. For those who believe that a "blast from the past" is preferable to today's pre-fab world, then this video from National Geographic is the one to see. Watch as skilled hands restore priceless relics to their original splendor. Everything from a WWI bi-plane to a Colorado turn-of-the-century carousel made in 1905 return to their glorious beginnings. This educational tape also includes the reparation of a Scottish tall ship from 1877 and a 1920 Duesenberg automobile, but perhaps the highlight is the complete renovation of Catherine's Palace. Destroyed by Nazi Germany during the siege of Leningrad, watch as an army of volunteers reconstructs this wonder to its original beauty. ~ C. Dwayne Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1986
This National Geographic documentary explores one of the world's few remaining tidal mangrove forests, located on the small island Siarau off the coast of Borneo. This forest is flooded everyday with the incoming tide, which has caused both animals and plants to adapt in unusual ways. Particular oddities -- such as lung fish who can live out of the water and trees with root systems above ground -- are revealed and explained with high-quality photography and thorough scientific reasoning. ~ Ed Atkinson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
This documentary follows a mother leopard and her three young cubs on the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. As the mother struggles to feed and protect her children, viewers get a glimpse into the daily life of a leopard. For six months, this mother leopard and her cubs are followed through the Kenyan landscape as the mother fends off attackers and stalks for prey, with her cubs looking on and learning from their mother how to survive in the wild. Also learn about the physical makeup of the leopard and get an insider's look at other inhabitants of the game reserve, including lions, cheetahs, zebras, antelopes, and hyenas. ~ Cecilia Cygnar, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Not to be confused with the 1971 TV movie of the same name, the three-part CBS miniseries If Tomorrow Comes was based on the best-selling novel by Sidney Sheldon. At the center of all the intrigue is an attractive pair of jewel thieves, rank amateur Tracy Whitney (Madolyn Smith), and slick professional Jeff Stevens (Tom Berenger). Having failed on their own to secure wealthy marriages, Tracy and Jeff bury their rivalry and turn to each other for romance -- provided that they're given a few moments to themselves by their great nemesis, the dangerously single-minded insurance investigator Daniel Cooper (David Keith). Standing out in the huge cast is Richard Kiley as international con artist Gunther Hartog, who endeavors to teach Tracy all the tricks of big-time larceny while passing herself off as a variety of different women. Presented in three installments, If Tomorrow Comes was originally telecast on 1986 on March 16, 17, and 18. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this sci-fi comedy from executive producer George Lucas, Howard the Duck is an extra-terrestrial fowl who is accidentally beamed to earth by physicist Dr. Jenning (Jeffrey Jones) and his assistant Phil (Tim Robbins). The two go looking for Howard and find him in the home of Beverly Switzer (Lea Thompson), who was rescued by the interstellar duck from some mean-looking thugs. Beverly and Phil are friends, and when the government finds out about Howard, she helps Phil and Dr. Jenning hide him from the authorities until they can zap him back home. In the meantime, several wild chases and spectacular special effects keep the picture rolling along. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, (more)
- 1986
National Geographic's White Wolf follows photographer Jim Brandenburg and biologist David Mech as they spend the summer months on Canada's Ellesmore Island studying the behavior of Arctic wolves. This research by Brandenburg and Mech is humankind's first extensively documented interaction with the isolated white wolf, which is remarkably tolerant of humans, who do not typically hunt it. The documentary, directed by Andrew Birkin and narrated by actress Faye Dunaway, also discusses Brandenburg and Mech's multiple returns to the Ellesmore Island to observe changes in the social structure of the white wolves. They end up observing some very dramatic and intriguing changes in the group over the course of their study. ~ John Schietinger, All Movie Guide
- 1985
The Irish Horse has always been a rich part of Ireland's history, work, and play. This National Geographic program explores the ways in which this extraordinary animal has been romanticized and has captured the hearts and minds of generations of Irish people. ~ Laura Mahnken, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Narrated by actor Richard Kiley, this PBS production is an interesting look into the year of the tiger. With its black and orange striping, this ferocious beast is probably one of the most recognized creatures of the wild, yet there is still much too learn about this giant cat concerning habitat, development, and social behavior. Highlights include actual rare footage of a natural kill by a tiger in the wild, tiger cubs suckling their mother, and the tiger mating ritual. Also featured is a 12-month expose on two East Indian national parks that possess roaming tigers within their natural boundaries. ~ C. Dwayne Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Filmed in Tunisia on a budget of 30 million dollars, the five-part, 12-hour miniseries A.D. was the final installment in a historical trilogy which included Moses the Lawgiver and Jesus of Nazareth. Covering the years 30 to 69 A.D., the teleplay, co-written by Anthony Burgess, chronicled the political intrigue which plagued the Roman Empire, with such key players as the emperors Tiberius (James Mason in his final role), Caligula (John McEnery), Claudius (Richard Kiley), and Nero (Anthony Andrews) calling the shots. Meanwhile, the death of Jesus Christ (played by Michael Wilding, son of Elizabeth Taylor) not only sparked a widespread monotheistic religious movement, but also resulted in devastating factionalism amongst the various Jewish sects of the era. Offsetting the true events are a number of fictional subplots, among them the romance between Jewish slave girl Sarah (Amanda Pays) and Roman soldier Valerius (Neil Dickson), and the tempestuous relationship between male and female gladiators, Caleb (Cecil Humphreys) and Corinna (Diana Venora). The huge cast included Ava Gardner, making her TV-movie debut as the scheming Agrippina. The winner of an Emmy award for Best Film Editing, A.D. was broadcast by NBC from March 31 through April 4, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Andrews, Colleen Dewhurst, (more)
- 1985
The 1985 TV movie The Bad Seed is the second film version of Maxwell Anderson's 1956 Broadway play. Carrie Wells plays Rachel Penmark, a 9-year-old girl who is perfection itself--unless she's crossed or challenged. Several disturbing recent incidents have led Rachel's mother Christine (Blair Brown) to suspect that her child is a latent murderess. Upon discovering that she herself is the daughter of a convicted killer, Christine becomes convinced that sweet little Rhoda is a "bad seed"--an inherent killer who feels no remorse because she doesn't know any better. David Carradine co-stars as a moronic handyman who comes too close to Rhoda's secret to live, while Lynn Redgrave essays the Evelyn Varden role of Monica Breedlove, a garrulous landlady. Originally aired February 7, 1985, this version of The Bad Seed avoids the many cop-outs in the 1956 theatrical film version by retaining Maxwell Anderson's ironic final scene. Film historians will note that producers changed the title character's name from "Rhoda" to "Rachel" for this version, perhaps to lend the story a more contemporary feel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Throughout Earth's history, there have been radical shifts in climate that have directly affected the planet, and the organisms that inhabited its lands and waters. These changes have included ice ages and periods of massive flooding, conditions that influenced the survival or extinction of many life forms. In Planet Earth: The Climate Puzzle, viewers will learn what scientists look for as they research factors that might cause climate changes. Humans adapted to global climate shifts by moving from continent to continent in search of temperate zones. Included in the program is a discussion of future concerns regarding possible severe climate change. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Kiley
- 1985
The enormous, life-sustaining powers of the sun are explored in Planet Earth: The Solar Sea, as effects of solar winds, solar flares, and sunspots are discussed. Without the sun's rays, there would be no life on Earth, and this program presents an in-depth look at the elements that drive the sun's energy. Sunspot activity seems to affect the frequency of the aurora at Earth's poles, and images from other planets indicate auroral occurrences as well. Scientists talk about the possible influence of the solar wind on the survival of past cultures, and offer comments about the future of the star at the center of the solar system. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Water covers most of the Earth's surface, and the depths of the oceans have traditionally hampered efforts to learn more about their mysteries. In recent years, technological advances have enabled scientists to discover more about the powerful forces that occur underwater, including extensive volcanic activity. Many life forms have been found that can exist under conditions of no light, a toxic environment, and extreme temperatures. These findings have been surprising to researchers, who thought the conditions could not support life of any kind. Planet Earth: The Blue Planet also looks at the effects of El Niño, the Gulf stream, and ocean currents. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Kiley
