Marion Lorne Movies

In a bit of casting that would probably not pass muster anymore, British character actor Richard Haydn appears as Darrin's Japanese client, Kensu Mishimoto. Thanks to a misfire magic spell, Mishimoto falls madly in love with dotty old Aunt Clara. In the course of events, Sam tries vainly to conjure up Clara's former beau, Ocky; a beautiful Japanese stewardess makes a coincidental appearance; and much fun is had with the Oriental tendency to mispronounce "L"s and "R"s (again, a bit of comic business that would be rejected out of hand nowadays!) Written by Ed Jurist, "A Majority of Two" was originally telecast on April 11, 1968 (though existing evidence indicates it was meant to be broadcast at a much earlier date). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Aunt Clara's warlock boyfriend, Ocky (Reginald Owen), is tired of having his British castle-hotel haunted by a pesky ghost named McTavish (Ronald Long). Troubleshooting Samantha manages to exorcise Ocky's establishment, only to have McTavish move in with the Stephens family, wails, rattling chains, and all. Meanwhile, Ocky suffers a drop-off in business when the customers -- including Darrin's parents -- complain that they miss old McTavish! Written by James Henerson, "McTavish" originally aired on February 15, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

"Just one word: plastic." "Are you here for an affair?" These lines and others became cultural touchstones, as 1960s youth rebellion seeped into the California upper middle-class in Mike Nichols' landmark hit. Mentally adrift the summer after graduating from college, suburbanite Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) would rather float in his parents' pool than follow adult advice about his future. But the exhortation of family friend Mr. Robinson (Murray Hamilton) to seize every possible opportunity inspires Ben to accept an offer of sex from icily feline Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft). The affair and the pool are all well and good until Ben is pushed to go out with the Robinsons' daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross) and he falls in love with her. Mrs. Robinson sabotages the relationship and an understandably disgusted Elaine runs back to college. Determined not to let Elaine get away, Ben follows her to school and then disrupts her family-sanctioned wedding. None too happy about her pre-determined destiny, Elaine flees with Ben -- but to what? Directing his second feature film after Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Nichols matched the story's satire of suffocating middle-class shallowness with an anti-Hollywood style influenced by the then-voguish French New Wave. Using odd angles, jittery editing, and evocative widescreen photography, Nichols welded a hip New Wave style and a generation-gap theme to a fairly traditional screwball comedy script by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham from Charles Webb's novel. Adding to the European art film sensibility, the movie offers an unsettling and ambiguous ending with no firm closure. And rather than Robert Redford, Nichols opted for a less glamorous unknown for the pivotal role of Ben, turning Hoffman into a star and opening the door for unconventional leading men throughout the 1970s. With a pop-song score written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon & Garfunkel bolstering its contemporary appeal, The Graduate opened to rave reviews in December 1967 and surpassed all commercial expectations. It became the top-grossing film of 1968 and was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Actor, and Actress, with Nichols winning Best Director. Together with Bonnie and Clyde, it stands as one of the most influential films of the late '60s, as its mordant dissection of the generation gap helped lead the way to the youth-oriented Hollywood artistic "renaissance" of the early '70s. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

Samantha goes into a tizzy when she thinks that Aunt Clara has turned herself into a cow. Actually, the "bossy" in question is Ginger, the mascot for Darrin's potential client, Morton Milk. The complications really begin piling up when Sam brings Ginger into the Stephens' living room. Howard Smith guest stars as the confused Mr. Morton, while Joseph Perry plays Mr. Henerson (an inside joke: one of the series' most frequent scripters was James Henerson). Written by Ruth Brooks Flippen, "The Corn Is as High as a Guernsey's Eye" originally aired on January 26, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Thanks to another of Aunt Clara's misbegotten spells, the Stephenses and nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz are whisked back to 17th century Plymouth for the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving. Predictably, the founding fathers -- including John Alden (Richard Bull), Miles Standish (Peter Cannon), and a fictional character named Phineas (Jacques Aubuchon) -- suspect that there is sorcery afoot. Less predictably, it is hapless Darrin who is accused of being a witch. Written by Tom August and Helen August, "Samantha's Thanksgiving to Remember" first aired on November 23, 1967 (Thanksgiving Day, of course). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Out of necessity, Samantha shows up in New York and Chicago simultaneously. Her gift for instant duplication ends up jeopardizing her husband Darrin's job when his new client, Springer (Herb Voland), accuses Darrin of "stepping out" with a strange blonde. In the course of events, Larry Tate's wife, Louise, becomes convinced that she is seeing double and is in dire need of psychiatric help. Written by Rick Mittleman, "That Was No Chick, That Was My Wife" first aired on November 9, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Sexy witch Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery) continues to be compelled to cast various and sundry magical spells despite the objections of her mortal ad executive husband, Darrin Stephens (Dick York), as the fantasy sitcom Bewitched enters its fourth season. Also returning for more fun, frivolity, and wacky witchcraft are Agnes Moorehead as Samantha's imperious witch mother, Endora; Erin Murphy as Darrin and Samantha's daughter, Tabitha (who is beginning to exhibit certain "special powers" herself); David White as Darrin's overzealous boss, Larry Tate; Sandra Gould and George Tobias as the Stephens' neighbors Gladys and Abner Kravitz; and, on occasion, Paul Lynde as Samantha's prankish warlock Uncle Arthur. Conspicuous by her absence throughout most of season four is Marion Lorne as "Sam's" befuddled Aunt Clara, whose magical spells somehow always go awry. Seriously ill and suffering from a rapidly failing memory, the 84-year-old Marion Lorne was forced to severely cut back her work load; the actress died just after filming wrapped for the season, on May 9, 1968. Season four's best episodes include "Long Live the Queen," in which "Sam" must assume the position of Queen of the Witches, with Darrin as her reluctant consort; "A Safe Sane Halloween," wherein little Tabitha exercises her newfound powers to brings a few storybook goblins to life; "Samantha's Thanksgiving to Remember," which finds the Stephens family accidentally zapped back to the 17th century, whereupon Darrin and not Sam is accused of witchcraft; and "A Majority of Two," featuring the delightful character comedian Richard Haydn (Uncle Max in The Sound of Music) as a Japanese businessman who falls in love with Aunt Clara. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In her neverending efforts to entertain baby Tabitha, Aunt Clara conjures up a polka-dotted baby elephant in the Stephens living room. Samantha demands that the elephant be removed, but, of course, Clara doesn't remember how. Meanwhile, bank appraiser Hawkins (Steve Franken) shows up to make certain that Sam qualifies for a loan -- and does he get a surprise. Written by Jerry Devine and Izzy Elinson, "Gazebo Never Forgets" first aired on December 22, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the first episode of a two-part story arc, Aunt Clara tries to magically summon an electrician to fix Samantha's lamp. As usual, however, Clara gets her wires crossed, and as a result the Stephenses play host to the spirit of Benjamin Franklin. Actor Fredd Wayne, then touring the country in his one-man show Benjamin Franklin, Citizen, is cast as old Ben. Written by James Henerson, "My Friend Ben" first aired on December 8, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Samantha's mother, Endora, and aunts, Enchantra (Estelle Winwood) and Hagatha (Reta Shaw), want to take baby Tabitha away to a school for witches. With nowhere else to turn, Sam begs her warlock father, Maurice, to prevent the ladies from carrying out their plans. They receive unexpected and utterly useless assistance from Darrin and Aunt Clara. Written by David V. Robison and John L. Greene, "Witches and Warlocks are My Favorite Things" first aired on September 29, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Bewitched rule number one: Never let dotty old Aunt Clara babysit your child. Unfortunately, Larry and Louise Tate leave their bouncing baby boy, Timothy, in Clara's care. While simultaneously watched both Timothy and Tabitha, fumbling Clara decides to entertain the babies with some magic -- and ends up transforming Tabitha into Timothy's identical twin. Sandra Gould makes her first appearance as busybody Gladys Kravitz, replacing the late Alice Pearce. Written by Howard Leeds, "Accidental Twins" first aired on October 6, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Bumbling Aunt Clara pays another visit to the Stephens family. Taking Clara at her word that she doesn't want to be pampered, Samantha and Darrin assign the old dear to babysit a pair of precocious children. This turns out to be a big mistake when Clara casually informs the kiddies that she is a witch -- then sets about to prove it. First shown on April 1, 1965, "There's No Witch Like an Old Witch" was written by Ted Sherdeman and Jane Klove. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Darrin cannot understand why so much bad luck has befallen his friend Adam Newlarkin (William Redfield). Doing a bit of research on her own, Samantha discovers that the accident-prone Adam is plagued by an ancient curse. With the "help" of dotty old Aunt Clara, Sam tries to lift the curse by following a strict -- and very odd -- antidotal procedure. Written by Bernard Slade, "We're in for a Bad Spell" originally aired on September 30, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi