Larry Linville Movies
Larry Linville is best known for playing weasel-like Major Frank Burns on the esteemed, long-running series M*A*S*H*. He began his career as a supporting actor in the pilot for the television series Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969) and made his feature-film debut in Jack Lemmon's Kotch (1971). Linville left M*A*S*H in 1977 after appearing on it for five years. Since then he appeared in low-budget films such as Rock and Roll High School Forever (1990) and Body Waves (1991). Linville also continued working on television in series such as Grandpa Goes to Washington (1978-1979) and Herbie the Love Bug (1982) and as a guest star in other series. Linville's stage appearances included a Broadway stint in Travels With My Aunt, though in the '90s, he was more likely to appear in dinner theater. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Seedy newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) is assigned the Las Vegas police beat by his boss Tony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland). A series of murders has been plaguing the Glitter Capital; the victims, all beautiful showgirls, have had the blood drained from their bodies. Kolchak can't understand why the authorities are so uncooperative as he probes the case. Nor can he believe the evidence he's gleaned on his own: There can't possibly be a Dracula-like vampire stalking Las Vegas, or can there? Adapted by Richard Matheson from a novel by Jeff Rice, The Night Stalker debuted January 11, 1972 - -and on that fateful evening, this thriller became the highest-rated TV movie up to its time, as well as an instant cult classic. The film spawned a popular sequel, The Night Strangler (1972), and a 1974 TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Darren McGavin, Carol Lynley, (more)
- 1972
Much to the embarrassment of Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner), their stakeout of a savings and loan comes a-cropper when the place is robbed right under their noses. Worse still, the thieves manage to smuggle in tear gas and make their escape without interference. Eddie Quillan appears in this episode as the ubiquitous snitch TeeJay, a role previously essayed by Robert Donner, while future M*A*S*H costar Larry Linville plays Reed and Malloy's exasperated superior officer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
For his only directorial effort, Jack Lemmon selected his old friend and habitual co-star Walter Matthau to play the central character. Joseph P. "Kotch" Kotcher (Walter Matthau) is an irksome 72-year-old who lives with his son (Charles Aidman) and daughter-in-law (played by Lemmon's wife Felicia Farr). Kotch is far from senile, but there are times that his family wishes he was a little more docile and doddering; he insists upon expressing his unwarranted opinions on all matters, both large and small, forever challenging his daughter-in-law's authority. When it is suggested that Kotch find himself a nice retirement home, the rebellious old man decides instead to take a long bus ride, hoping that his family will have cooled off by the time he returns. Before leaving, he tries to make amends with the family's former baby-sitter Erica (Deborah Winters), whose dismissal he has brought about. Upon learning that Erica is pregnant, Kotch loans her some money; and when she moves away to Palm Springs, he moves in with her, hoping to be of some help. As they get to know one another, Kotch and Erica discover that they're very much alike: both have been cast aside by their relatives due to their independent airs. Kotch was adapted by John Paxton from a novel by Katharine Topkins. Watch for director Jack Lemmon in a bit as a bus passenger. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Deborah Winters, (more)
- 1971
- R
In this drama, an architect drives himself mad thinking that his wife is cheating on him and ends up killing two of his colleagues and framing another man for the crime. His honest, faithful wife cannot deal with the stress and ends up drinking heavily and seducing her stepson. More trouble ensues when the husband finds out about the affair and follows the lovers up to their remote trysting place. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Suzanne Pleshette guest stars as Temple Alexander, a beautiful con artist who has targetted wealthy winery owner Harlan Franciscus (Gene Raymond) as her latest patsy. While romancing Harlan in preparation of fleecing him, Temple ends up genuinely falling in love with the man. This proves problematic when two of Temple's former accomplices catch up with her--and one of them plans to get even for an earlier double-cross. Cast as Franciscus' ill-mannered son is Larry Linville of M*A*S*H fame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Vanished earned a niche in video history as the first two-part TV movie. Based on Fletcher Knebel's novel, the story concerns the sudden disappearance of a top Presidential adviser. Grilled by the media, the President's press secretary (James Farentino) reveals very little, simply because he knows very little. But the chief executive himself (Richard Widmark) has more information than he's willing to make public; the FBI has proof that the vanished adviser was homosexual, and subject to blackmail. Based in part on the Lyndon Johnson/Walter Jenkins imbroglio of 1964, Vanished is given an aura of credibility via cameo appearances by Washington newscaster/journalists Chet Huntley, Herbert Kaplow and Martin Agronsky. The film was first telecast on two consecutive evenings: March 8 and 9 of 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
While attempting to break into a Middle Eastern chemical plant, the better to destory a computer which is manufacturing poison gas, Barney is captured and put out of commission. The successful completion of Barney's mission now rests in the hands of computer expert Dr. Jerry Carlin (Christopher Connelly). Unfortunately, Carlin has become disillusioned with the United States and wants no part of the IMF. Future MASH costar Larry Linville makes his third Mission:Impossible guest appearance, again playing a villain. First aired on October 3, 1970, "The Innocent" was scripted by Marc Norman and Laurence Heath, from a story by Norman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Leonard Nimoy, (more)
- 1969
Gregor Kamirov (Malachi Throne) has hired a double to pose as deceased East European premier Pavel Zagov. Having concealed Zagov's death from the public, Kamirov hopes to use the phony premier to install himself as dictator. In order to foil Kamirov's plans, Phelps must substitute a robot for the fraudulent Zagov. In the course of the action, Phelps impersonates a nightclub entertainer, while Paris adopts a dizzying array of master disguises. The supporting cast includes Lee Meriwether in her third appearance as IMF agent Tracey, and future MASH costar Larry Linville as Alexi Silensky. First telecast on November 23, 1969, "The Robot" was written by Howard Berk. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Leonard Nimoy, (more)
- 1969
The Civil War is over, but mine owner Sam Masters (John Anderson) will never be able to forget his tenure as commander of a brutal Confederate prison where 500 POW's died. Now, ex-union officer Colonel Hudson, backed up by a small but vicious group of followers, has arrived to wreak vengeance against Masters. Swept up in the crisis are Sam's daughter Ellen (Verna Bloom, his friend Ben Cartwright (who has doubts concerning Sam's guilt), and Ben's son Hoss, who is being held prisoner by Hudson. MASH fans will appreciate the performance of Larry Linville as Will Tyler, Hudson's most fervent-and prejudiced-follower. Also on hand is flat-nosed crime-film "regular" Charles Dierkop as Sawyer, who may not be as psychotic as he seems. Written by Ward Hawkins, Milton S. Gelman and Alf Harris, "The Fence" first aired on April 27, 1969, then was rebroadcast during the series' eleventh season on December 28, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1969
In a desperate effort to escape from his Mafia bosses, Walter Hazlett (Tim O'Connor) hijacks a plane and demands to be flown to Cuba. Hoping to save the life of a wounded man on board the plane, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) tries to persuade Hazlett to give himself up. Meanwhile, Hazlett's daughter Ginny (Charlotte Stewart), who can't bring herself to believe that her father is a criminal, is targetted by Mob kidnappers who plan to use her to bring her father out in the open. Dabney Coleman is seen as the plane's beleagured pilot, while future M*A*S*H regular Larry Linville also plays a key role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
East European resistance leader Anton Reisner (Richard Garland) is being held in a prison cage surrounded by escape-proof glass. The cage can only be opened automatically via a newly created security device. The IMF agents hope to trick Reisner's captor Major Zelinko (Lloyd Bochner) into activating the release mechanism before the prisoner can be broken by torture. Watch for future MASH star Larry Linville as Captain Gulka. Scripted by Paul Playdon from a story by Alf Harris, "The Cage" was first telecast on February 2, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1968
The launching pad for the long-running ABC medical series Marcus Welby, M.D. was this feature-length pilot film, first aired March 26, 1969. Robert Young of course stars as Dr. Welby, a crusty but golden-hearted general practitioner forced by a mild coronary to take on a partner. At first, Welby and his new assistant, long-haired, doggedly independent motorcycle fancier Dr. Steven Kiley (James Brolin), are about as compatible as oil and water, but the two quickly become friends and confidants during an unexpected medical crisis. Originally, Anne Baxter as Welby's erstwhile lady friend, Myra Sherwood, and Sheila Larkin as the doctor's daughter, Sandy, were supposed to have been regulars, along with Penny Santon as Welby and Kiley's no-nonsense nurse/secretary Consuelo. But by the time the project graduated to series status, only Consuelo remained, played by Elena Verdugo. In syndication, Marcus Welby, M.D. was retitled A Matter of Humanities. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
