Nancy Kovack Movies

In the conclusion of a two-part story, a 500,000-dollar contract hangs in the balance as Samantha searches high and low for a runaway monkey -- actually Darrin's sexy Italian client Clio Vanita (Nancy Kovack), who has been "zapped" into simian form by Samantha's cousin, Serena. Along the way, Sam runs into several snags thanks to a flustered cop (Richard X. Slattery) and an Italian gentleman named Scibetta (played by frequent Bewitched supporting player Cliff Norton). Both parts one and two of "Cousin Serena Strikes Again" were written by Ed Jurist. The concluding chapter first aired on January 16, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Thanks to a mishap on the ski slopes, Bill (Brian Keith) comes home with a broken leg. This galvanizes the children into doing everything they can to "help out" our convalescing hero. Unfortunately, Cissy (Kathy Garver) proves to be somewhat inept as a secretary, while Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) aren't much more successful in their attempts at helpfulness. And worse is still to come when Bill's girlfriend Michelle (Nancy Kovack) shows up to lend a hand--and demonstrates even more incompetence than the kids! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story arc, Nancy Kovack makes a return appearance as Darrin's former girlfriend, Sheila, the daughter of important client J.P. Sommers (Frank Wilcox). Aware that Samantha is still jealous of Sheila, and not wishing to lose Sommers' account, Darrin orders Sam not to use witchcraft against Sheila during a dinner party. But when even Darrin can no longer tolerate Sheila's snobbery, it's every woman for herself. Written by Ed Jurist, "Snob in the Grass" originally aired on January 11, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Carl Reiner's semi-autobiographical novel Enter Laughing makes a largely successful transition to the screen. Reni Santoni plays the Reiner character, here named David Kolowitz. A machinist's apprentice in Depression-era New York, David dreams of becoming the new Ronald Colman. Defying the wishes of his parents (Shelley Winters, David Opatoshu), David lands a nonpaying job in a seedy theatrical production directed by broken-down ham Marlowe (Jose Ferrer). That the young aspiring actor knows nothing about his "craft" is evident the moment he speaks his first stage direction--"Enter Laughing"--as if it were a line of dialogue. Helped along by Marlowe's sex-starved daughter Angela (Elaine May), David manages to survive the rehearsal period, but his first public performance threatens to become a disaster when he can't find the entrance to the set. Still and all, David makes it through the play, cheered along by his now-supportive parents. Blessed with a marvelous supporting cast--including Jack Gilford, Don Rickles, Janet Margolin and veteran black comedian Mantan Moreland--Enter Laughing is a riot, especially for those viewers who have ever participated in amateur theatricals themselves. Only Reni Santoni fails to ring true as David Kolowitz (a role played on stage by Alan Arkin), though he has a few choice scenes, especially his impromptu performance on a subway. Watch for Rob Reiner in his film debut as a clumsy, self-conscious actor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

During a flight from New York to Seattle, a passenger identifying himself as Ernest Putnam (Arthur Hill) hijacks the plane and demands to be flown to Manchuria. Inspector Erskine learns that "Putnam" is actually a scientist named Charles King, and that he is in possession of vital government information that must not fall into the hands of the Red Chinese. In a desperate effort to stop King and rescue the passengers, Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) tries to intercept the plane during a refueling stopover in Alaska--but the situation is far from resolved! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Carroll Baker, the Sharon Stone of the sixties, plays another classy-looking blonde with a sordid background in Sylvia. Millionaire Peter Lawford is about to marry the glamorous but secretive Sylvia (Baker). Before taking the plunge, he hires private eye George Maharis to do a background check on the girl. Whew, what he finds out! Apparently the only sin Sylvia doesn't commit is robbing parking meters, but we have no idea what might happen after the final fadeout. Shortly before it opened, Sylvia was the subject of several magazine articles, trumpeting the fact that Carroll Baker had conducted extensive interviews with real-life prostitutes in order to prepare herself for her role. This apparently left her no time to consult an acting coach. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While working as a technical consultant on a film about astronauts, Tony (Larry Hagman) begins going out with the star, gorgeous Rita Mitchell (Nancy Kovack). Seething with jealousy, Jeannie (Barbara Eden) decides to win Tony back by going into the movies herself. There's only one teeny-tiny problem: Genies can't be photographed! This is the first episode to open with the now-familiar animated "Dancing Genie" credit titles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Defense lawyer Ned Murray (Martin Landau) is certain that he has made a name for himself by getting his client Lew Rydell (Frank Gorshin) acquitted on a murder charge. Later on, however, Lew mockingly informs Ned that he was actually guilty of the crime -- and under the rule of double jeopardy, he cannot be prosecuted twice for the same crime. Motivated by both guilt and the fear that he will be ruined if the truth comes out, Ned tries to figure out a way to bring Rydell to justice. But, as things turn out, the lawyer is placed in the unenviable position of saving Lew's life all over again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The President of the United States requires an emergency operation, which must be conducted in secret, after he is injured in a fall. The Seaview is chosen as the safest place for the surgery, but an enemy power has gotten an assassin aboard, as part of the surgical team performing the operation. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

Based on the story "The Horla" by Guy de Maupassant, this grim low-budget potboiler stars Vincent Price as Simon Cordier, a ruthless magistrate in 19th-century Paris who becomes possessed by the malevolent spirit (or "horla") of a condemned murderer whom Cordier was forced to kill in self-defense. Driven by the madman's ghost to continue his pattern of brutal crimes, Cordier comes to the realization that the only way he can purge the violent demon from his soul is to immolate himself in a blazing pyre. Though the riveting Price (whose very presence can enliven even the most dismal of horror duds) does an admirable job as the tormented Cordier, he is unable to bear the ponderous weight of this tedious production. Although a parallel between the callousness of Cordier's office and the insensate evil of his crimes would have provided an interesting subtext, the script forfeits this potential, relying instead on a pat, self-righteous finale with religious overtones. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Predictable and demeaned by low-brow humor, this comedy-drama by George Marshall revolves around the amorous entanglements of four G.I. photographers on leave in Japan from their last mission in the Korean War. The men, headed by officer Andy Cyphers (Glenn Ford) check into a house with four resident geishas and immediately misunderstand what a geisha does for a living. Once they get straightened out about the musical, cultural, and educational background of geishas -- and after spending some time with the four women, the men begin to pair off. More misunderstandings are in store but it definitely looks like at least two of the men will not go back to the U.S. alone. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Columbia Pictures tried to create a tongue-in-cheek American James Bond with this, the first of five motion pictures based on the character of Matt Helm, a spy created in a series of novels by Donald Hamilton. Dean Martin stars as Helm, a boozing, womanizing cad of a spy coaxed out of retirement by ex-girlfriend Tina Batori (Daliah Lavi). His mission: stop the evil Big O organization, whose leader, Tung-Tze (Victor Buono), schemes to sabotage an atomic missile and thus spark World War III. Producer Irving Allen had once been partners with Albert R. Broccoli in the British film production company Warwick Films, their alliance ironically disintegrating over the merits of creating a Bond series. When Broccoli's instincts proved correct, Allen attempted to create his own spy franchise with the Helm character. The sequels to The Silencers (1966) were Murderers' Row (1966), The Ambushers (1967), and The Wrecking Crew (1968). Allen unsuccessfully tried to resurrect the character as a TV movie, Matt Helm (1975). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide