Helen Kleeb Movies
- 1978
While cramming for her nursing-license exams, Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) stays alert by popping "wake-up" pills. Before long, she's hooked on the stimulants, and a near-fatal accident results. Now she must turn to her former beau Dr. Spencer (Robert Christopher Woods) to help her shake her addiction. Meanwhile, a reluctant Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) is pressed into service as a "divorce counselor" when Sissy Tucker (Cissy Wellman) walks out on her husband Yancy (Robert Donner). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Frustrated by her humdrum existence on Walton's Mountain, socialite-turned-storekeeper Corabeth Godsey (Ronnie Claire Edwards) secretly begins drinking. Before long, she is on the verge of becoming a full-fledged alcoholic, and despite the concerted efforts of John (Ralph Waite) and Olivia (Michael Learned) she may already be beyond help. Meanwhile, the Walton boys struggle manfully--and fail spectacularly--to teach sister Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) how to drive. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
When Ben (Eric Scott) announces plans to start up a fancy motel, Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) offers him financial assistance -- with the understanding, of course, that she'll be given a generous share of the profits. Conversely, John (Ralph Waite) opposes Ben's plans, causing a serious rift between father and son. Meanwhile, Yancy Tucker (Robert Donner) "graduates" from a correspondence-school barber college; unfortunately, there aren't too many people around who are willing to have their hair trimmed by a musclebound moonshiner! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Ben (Eric Scott) and Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) are dating local girls Ruby (Heather Totten) and Patsy (Debbie Gunn), respectively, when the brothers hit upon the idea of "trading" dates for one evening. The disastrous result of this impulsive decision causes a major row between the two Walton boys--and before long they're no longer trading words, but punches! Elsewhere, Miss Mamie (Helen Kleeb) has convinced herself that if her favorite rosebush dies, so will she. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Just as he is about to accept a writing assignment in war-torn London, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) proposes to his erstwhile girlfriend Daisy (Deirdre Lenihan). It turns out, however, that Daisy has neglected to tell John-Boy a few things about herself--specifically, that she is the mother of a three-year-old girl. Elsewhere, Grandpa (Will Geer) tries to improve sales of Elizabeth's lemonade by adding a few drops of a special--er--recipe. This episode marks the final appearance of Richard Thomas on The Waltons, though he would later return as John-Boy in a "reunion" special. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), John (Ralph Waite) reacts with anger when he discovers that Erin has taken a second job, caring for the children of a single man. Meanwhile, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) has returned home in hopes of reopening the Guthrie mine and revitalizing the local economy. But fate takes a hand in matters when John-Boy is trapped in a cave-in along with Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) and Ben (Eric Scott). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Richard Thomas briefly returns to the role of John-Boy Walton in this first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour installment). Upon hearing of the dire financial conditions in Jefferson County, John-Boy comes home with plans of reopening the old Guthrie coal mine. Elsewhere, John Walton (Ralph Waite) weighs the possibility of giving up the family business and going to work at a defense plant; and Erin ($Mary Elizabeth McDonough) hesitates to inform her family that she has taken a second job under "questionable" circumstances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), every member of the Walton family pitches in to help Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) recuperate from her crippling accident--especially Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) and Ben (Eric Scott), who feel responsible for her plight. Though the fractures have healed, Elizabeth has sustained nerve damage that may prevent her from ever again walking properly. The crisis becomes all the more pronounced when the Baldwin sisters, hoping to cheer the girl up, give her a pony. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
A carnival pitches its tents on Walton's Mountain, and everybody is delighted--everyone except Elizabeth (Kami Cotler), who is tormented by nightmares of being trapped on a runaway Ferris wheel. Apparently, Elizabeth's phobia can be traced back to something that happened when she got lost on the Mountain during the carnival's previous visit. . .and John-Boy (Richard Thomas) is determined to unlock his sister's memory of that mysterious occurrence. Meanwhile, the height-challenged Ben (Eric Scott) goes to great (and amusing) lengths to be just as tall as his brothers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Jean Marsh of Upstairs, Downstairs fame guest stars as Hilary Von Kleist, a cousin of the Baldwin sisters. The wife of a German national, Hilary it reluctant to discuss the Nazi domination of her new homeland. Despite this, John-Boy is determined to get the woman's "inside story" for his newspaper. When Hilary sees Jason (Jon Walmsley) in his National Guard uniform, she nearly goes into shock. Now John-Boy's curiosity is truly aroused: What exactly is Hilary's story...and what can she be hiding? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
After winning a national writing contest, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) is sent to cover the arrival of the dirigible Hindenburg in Lakehurst, New Jersey. But after the giant airship bursts into flames ("Oh, the humanity!"), John-Boy cannot summon up the words to describe the horrendous tragedy. Meanwhile, Mary Ellen's husband Curt (Tom Bowers) begins to worry that the family will never allow him to spend a few moments alone with his new wife. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In the first half of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), the Baldwin sisters are visited by two English youngsters, Tess and Pip Wrayburn (Sally Boyden, Jeff Cotler), who have been evacuated to the States in the wake of the London blitz. While spending Christmas with the Walton family, the Wrayburn kids prove to be standoffish and impossible to get along with, due to the likelihood that both of their parents have been killed in the bombing--a tragedy that has a devastating effect on Olivia (Michael Learned) as well. At the same time, Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough) has difficulty adjusting to the death of her friend G.W. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), Olivia (Michael Learned) has a crisis of faith during a Christmas visit from two British children (Sally Boyden, Jeff Cotler) who may have been orphaned in the London blitz. But the situation takes a positive turn thanks to Jim-Bob's expertise with shortwave radio. Elsewhere, Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) tries to arrange a Yuletide visit with her husband, who is serving with the US Medical Corps; and Ben (Eric Scott) comes to the rescue when a neighbor is robbed of all the money she has collected for the war effort. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Checking out a seaside house that the Baldwin sisters have donated to the War effort, the Waltons find a strange young English girl named Lisa (Vickery Turner) living inside the deserted building. It soon becomes obvious that Lisa is hiding a terrible secret that she refuses to share with anyone--not even Jason (Jon Walmsley), with whom she has bonded after learning that they have a mutual love of music. Meanwhile, in his family's absence, Ben (Eric Scott) hopes to spend some "quality time" with his current girlfriend Darlene (Melody Thomas). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Disaster strikes the Walton family when their house is gutted by a raging fire. While the neighbors help John (Ralph Waite) rebuild, Olivia (Michael Learned) arranges for several neighbors to shelter her children in the interim, causing a great deal of friction between the younger Waltons and their temporary "families." Meanwhile, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) despairs over the possibility that his nearly-completed novel has gone up in smoke--and is wracked with guilt over the likelihood that he himself caused the fire. This is the first half of a two-part story, originally telecast as a single two-hour episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
John-Boy (Richard Thomas) takes pity on Muffin Maloney (Vicky Schreck), a 12-year-old runaway who claims that her stepfather beats her night and day. When John-Boy allows Muffin to stay with the Waltons for a while, Grandpa (Will Geer) takes an immediate dislike to the girl, convinced that she is a compulsive liar. Actually Muffin is not so much a liar as a con artist--just like her grandfather Nifty Mulligan (Bert Conway), whom she hopes to spring from jail by playing on John-Boy's eagerness to act as her surrogate "big brother." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Partly to help out with the family's finances, and partly because she feels lonely and isolated, Olivia (Michael Learned) takes a job as a streamstress. In this capacity, she forms a strong friendship with Stella Lewis (Abby Dalton), who suggests that Olivia go into business for herself. Will she follow up on Stella's advice, or will she return to her "dull" home life? Meanwhile, elderly Maudie Gormley (Merie Earle) accedes to her family's wishes and enters a nursing home--which she hates on sight! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
It is a tradition on Walton's Mountain for a young girl to declare herself eligible for marriage by participating in a quilting bee with the older ladies of the community. Feeling that this is demeaning and insulting, Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) refuses to have anything to do with the quilting ritual--and thus begins a rancorous battle of wills between Mary Ellen and Grandma Walton (Ellen Corby). Inasmuch as this would seem to be a "Ladies Only" crisis, it is somewhat surprising that Mary Ellen's brother John-Boy (Richard Thomas) comes up with a satisfying resolution. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Grandpa (Will Geer) and Grandma (Ellen Corby) find themselves on opposite sides of a civic battle when the historic Whitley House is slated for demolition. Believing that the old house can be renovated, Grandma starts up a petition to that effect. Trouble is, Grandpa has already signed a contract to destroy the house in order to bring extra money to the family business. Caught in the middle of this brouhaha is John-Boy (Richard Thomas), who must write a newspaper editorial on the crisis--stating his own opinion! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
When the editor shuts down the newspaper where he works, John-Boy is given the opportunity to start up a periodical of his own. But before he can issue the first edition of the "Blue Ridge Chronicle", he must purchase the old paper's printing press--and thus he takes a full-time job to raise the money. His new responsibility cut into his study time at college, and it seems as though John-Boy's journalism teacher Professor Parks (Paul Jenkins) has no intention of cutting the boy any slack. . .but Parks may not be quite as cold-hearted as he seems. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
The Walton family is startled (to say the least!) when Mary Ellen (Judy-Norton) announces her engagement to wealthy medical intern David Spencer (Robert Merritt Woods). Even more startling is Mary Ellen's insistence that the wedding take place immediately so that David can join his father's practice in Richmond. But something very strange happens betwixt and between the announcement and the wedding ceremony. This is the first half of a two-part story (orginally telecast as a single two-hour episode). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Sheriff Ep Bridges (John Crawford) is challenged in the upcoming election by Glen Oldfield (John Fink), a flashy, flamboyant candidate who has a way with the ladies. Oldfield also knows how to manipulate the media, and pretty soon he is granting "special favors" to the Waltons in hopes of getting an endorsement from John-Boy's newspaper. And in a separate (but ultimately related) development, Grandpa Walton (Will Geer) protests the capture of a wild mustang for advertising purposes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
With the help of storekeeper Ike Godsey (Joe Conley), Jason (Jon Walmsley) organizes a big dance for the people of Walton's Mountain. Unfortunately, the festivities coincide with the appearance of a mysterious nocturnal prowler, who holds the populace in a grip of terror. Clearly, the prowler is someone whom everyone knows--but who is he, and what does he want? Fear not, ladies and gentlemen: what begins as a "scare" piece ends with another lesson in tolerance and understanding. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
When celebrated evangelist Ezekial Henshaw (John Karlen) comes to the Mountain, Olivia (Michael Learned) insists that every member of the Walton family be baptized--including those notorious "hold-outs", John (Ralph Waite) and Ben (Eric Scott). Turned off by Rev. Henshaw's hellfire-and-brimstone rantings, John staunchly refuses. But it looks like he'll have a change of heart when he is felled by a bolt of lightning! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
- Add Eleanor and Franklin: The Early Years to QueueAdd Eleanor and Franklin: The Early Years to top of Queue
The winner of 11 Emmy awards, the made-for-TV Eleanor and Franklin stars Edward Herrmann as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Jane Alexander as Eleanor Roosevelt. The film traces the first four decades of the lives of cousins Franklin and Eleanor, beginning with their marriage in 1905. Conflicts loom in the form of FDR's domineering mother (Rosemary Murphy) and Eleanor's discovery of an affair between her husband and artist Lucy Mercer (Linda Kelsey). After Franklin is stricken by polio in 1921, Eleanor emerges as a formidable and influential public figure. James Costigan wrote the teleplay for Eleanor and Franklin, which first aired as a two-parter on January 11 and 12, 1976. The film was followed several months later by a multipart sequel, Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Herrmann, Jane Alexander, (more)
