Gene Barry Movies
The son of a New York jeweler, American actor Gene Barry emerged from his pinchpenny Depression-era childhood with an instatiable desire for the finer things in life. The acting profession seemed to hold out promise for fame and (especially) fortune. Making the rounds of theatrical agents in the 1940s, Barry, no matter his true financial situation, showed up dressed to the nines; grim reality soon set in, however, and the actor found himself clearing little more than $2000 a year -- on good years. When stage work seemed to yield nothing but bits, Barry turned to early television, then signed a movie contract in 1951. The only truly worthwhile film to star Barry was 1953's War of the Worlds, but even with top billing he had to play second banana to George Pal's marvelous special effects. Finally in 1956, Herb Gordon of Ziv Productions asked Barry if he'd like to star in a western. The actor resisted -- after all, everyone was doing westerns -- until Gordon pointed out that role would include a derby hat, a cane, and an erudite Eastern personality. Barry was enchanted by this, and from 1957 through 1961 he starred on the popular series Bat Masterson. The strain of filming a weekly western compelled Barry to declare that he'd never star on a series again - until he was offered the plum role of millionaire police detective Amos Burke on Burke's Law. This series ran from 1963 through 1965, and might have gone on longer had the producers not tried and failed to turn it into a Man From UNCLE type spy show. Barry's next series, Name of the Game, was another success (it ran from 1969 through 1971), and wasn't quite as grueling in that the actor only had to appear in one out of every three episodes. Always the epitome of diamond-in-the-rough masculinity, Barry astounded his fans in the mid 1980s by accepting the role of an aging homosexual in the stage musical version of the French film comedy La Cage Aux Follies. Yet another successful run followed, after which Barry went into semi-retirement, working only when he felt like it. In 1993, Gene Barry was back for an unfortunately brief revival of Burke's Law, which was adjusted for the actor's age by having him avoid the action and concentrate on the detecting; even so, viewers had a great deal of difficulty believing that Burke (or Barry) was as old as he claimed to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1970
In this drama, the publisher of a magazine finds herself victimized by an a conniving industrialist. She also learns that one of her employees has a terrible crush upon her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
All the Old Familiar Faces premiered as an episode of the weekly, 90-minute adventure series Name of the Game. Gene Barry plays Glen Howard, owner and publisher of Crime magazine. Howard tries to find out who is behind a series of death threats levelled against him. He interviews several likely suspects who, in flashback, explain just what might have prompted them to kill. Burgess Meredith, Michael Constantine, Lois Nettelton, Anne Baxter and Stephen McNally guest star in this prismatic mystery yarn, which first aired on November 13, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Devious socialite Gene Barry stands to come into one million dollars. The catch is (and don't ask us why) that he must convince the authorities that he's dead. He arranges to switch identities with Lloyd Bridges, who is terminally ill. Diane Baker plays Barry's wife, who must needs be willing to "take this stranger" for the plan to succeed. Do You Take This Stranger? was a made-for-TV entry in NBC's Tuesday Night at the Movies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
The Broken Puzzle is a third-season installment of the weekly TV adventure series Name of the Game. Chuck Connors guest-stars as the governor of an unnamed state. Though popular with his constituents, Connors runs the state like a banana-republic dictatorship, complete with uniformed thugs. Magazine publisher Glenn Howard (Gene Barry) finds that the source of Connors' power may have bigger political stakes in mind. Patricia Crowley, Charles Aidman, Alex Dreier, and Mark Miller (father of 1990s leading lady Penelope Ann Miller) round out the guest cast of this March 12, 1971 Name of the Game episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Cynthia Is Alive and Living in Avalon is a rare comic episode from the usually dead-serious TV series Name of the Game. Cynthia (Barbara Feldon) is an elusive jet-setter who has of late become a political activist. She refuses all interviews and keeps hidden in a rambling house on the island of Avalon. At the urging of his pal Mickey Rooney, reporter Robert Culp decides to make a name for himself by getting the exclusive story on Cynthia. For some reason, this October 2, 1970 Name of the Game installment was given far more press and promotional coverage than was customary for the series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
A happy marriage might be a front for the wife's fear and guilt as her publisher friend suspects. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1970
Aquarius Descending is a 90-minute episode of the TV weekly Name of the Game. Gene Barry plays Crime magazine publisher Glenn Howard, who is instrumental in discrediting a corrupt politician (Arthur Hill). Seeking revenge, the politico orders a young hard-case (Michael Callan) to romance Howard's impressionable 17-year-old niece (Brenda Scott). The plan is to involve the girl in a scandal and ruin Howard and his magazine. Aquarius Descending was first telecast December 11, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
This 90-minute TV drama was lensed on location in Paris. Charles Boyer guest stars as an old-line French Marxist who happens to be an old friend of Crime magazine publisher Dan Howard (series regular Gene Barry). Howard would like Boyer to help him pull off a delicate diplomatic mission. The Red Chinese delegation has just stormed out of an international health conference, and Howard has been assigned to woo them back. Craig Stevens also guest-stars on this October 10, 1969 episode of the popular adventure series Name of the Game. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Radicals kidnap a publisher so that they have a witness to their protest suicide. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1969
The Incomparable Connie Walker was first broadcast as the January 24, 1969 episode of the TV series Name of the Game. Conway "Connie" Walker (Ivan Dixon) is the first black mayor of a large unnamed city. In addition to suffering the slings and arrows of racism, Walker is the target of accusations that he has been accepting kickbacks. Crime magazine reporter Jeff Dillon (Tony Franciosa) investigates when a city accountant is murdered. Since The Incomparable Connie Walker was designed as the pilot episode of a proposed Ivan Dixon series, we are confident that Mayor Walker was exonerated by final fadeout time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In this drama, publisher Glenn Howard heads to Africa to find one of his missing editors. The story is taken from the "Name of the Game" television series. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Actor Jon Voight and director Paul Williams, who'd previously collaborated on the campus-angst comedy Out of It (69), were reunited for The Revolutionary. Hans Konigsberger adapted his novel for this filmization of the life of a contemporary revolutionary (Jon Voight), known only as "A." He begins his activities on a small scale, handing out leaflets at his university, then becomes involved with a radical organization along with like-minded Robert Duvall, Seymour Cassel, Collin Wilcox-Horne and Jennifer Salt. Groomed as a political assassin, Voight permits himself to be drafted, then while still in uniform stalks his target, an anti-labor jurist. Surprisingly easygoing in its chronicle of an idealist turning killer, The Revolutionary was shot in London, but avoids identification with any specific city or country--and, refreshingly, refuses to take sides. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
This episode of the weekly TV series Name of the Game was first telecast December 20, 1968. As in every 90-minute episode of Game, the story concentrates on the exploits of an employee of Crime magazine. This time the focus is on researcher Peggy Maxwell (Susan St. James), who is kidnapped while digging up information on a famous rock star. The series' regular male stars (Gene Barry, James Farentino and Robert Stack) sit this one out, permitting correspondent Andy Hill (Cliff Potter) to investigate Peggy's disappearance. With the help of FBI agent Susan Strasberg, Hill unearths a hotbed of mob-motivated intrigue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Man of the People was first telecast as an episode of the weekly, 90-minute TV adventure series Name of the Game. Series regulars Gene Barry, Robert Stack and Tony Franciosa relinquish the spotlight to guest star Vera Miles, who plays journalist Hilary Vanderman. Jilted by "populist" tycoon Cesar Rodriguez (Fernando Lamas), Hilary thirsts for revenge. She plans to publish a series of articles exposing the popular Rodriguez as a fraud, using his Mexican heritage to hornswoggle his own people. Robert Alda, Jackie Coogan and James Gregory costar, while Gary "Radar" Burghoff pops up in a microscopic supporting role. Man of the People originally aired March 6, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
This 90-minute episode of TV's Name of the Game guest-stars Darren McGavin as roving reporter Sam Hardy. Sam's boss, Crime magazine publisher Glenn Howard (Gene Barry), sends Hardy and magazine researcher Peggy Maxwell (Susan St. James) on a dangerous fact-finding mission. Their quarry is American missile scientist Harry Roarke (James Whitmore). While it appears as though Harry has defected to Cuba, he may very well be hiding out in the States, in fear for his life. Goodbye Harry originally aired October 24, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In this mystery, a former episode from the Name of the Game television series, Glenn Howard, a magazine publisher heads for Asia to find the leader of a recently overthrown country who mysteriously vanished. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In this drama, redneck rich boy tries to solve the national problem with racism by raising up a righteous army of followers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1968
This suspenseful drama chronicles political upheaval in Czechoslovakia. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Spies are exchanged when a magazine editor is arrested in East Germany in this espionage drama. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1968
CIA agent Donovan (Gene Barry) travels to Britain to untangle a web of international spies. He falls for the estranged wife of local secret agent Langley (Tom Adams). Anne (Joan Collins) starts a romance with Donovan before her son is kidnapped by rival agents. While any other mom would worry herself sick, Anne spends her time getting her hair done and selecting a fabulous gown in which she appears in the following scenes. Donovan narrows the suspects down to a trio of agents, all who may have reason to turn double agent and place their country in political turmoil with counter espionage. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Barry, Joan Collins, (more)
- 1968
While in Rome, publisher Glenn Howard finds corruption, illicit romance and narcotics at every turn. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1968
Fear of High Places, first telecast September 20, 1968, was the opening episode of the weekly 90-minute TV adventure series Name of the Game. The series featured three stars: Gene Barry, Tony Franciosa and Robert Stack, each playing employees of Crime Magazine, and each appearing once every three weeks. This episode concentrates on Franciosa, as he investigates the death of a beautiful model. The murder is possibly tied in with industrialist Robert Webber, who is about to assume an important government post. Beyond the "official" cast list, Fear of High Places features cameo appearances by Zsa Zsa Gabor, Jeanne Crain, John Payne and Herb Jeffries. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
When drugs start appearing in the hands of school children, magazine reporters investigate the source of the drugs. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1968
A made for TV movie, we follow an art dealer on the Istanbul Express across Turkey. The dealer is really on a secret mission for the government to buy some valuable and sensitive papers at an auction. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
