Charles Bateman Movies
- 1989
Hunter (Fred Dryer) and McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) take temporary leave of the streets of LA and head down to Malibu, there to investigate the death of a thoroughbred race horse and the murder of a groom. At first it appeared that the horse had gone berserk before he died, but it turns out that the animal had been slipped a deadly drug--the same drug that cost the groom his life. The two detectives have quite a time solving this one, with more suspects and motives than they can shake a stick at! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In this melodrama, a fourteen-year-old son tries to keep his father, who is suffering a mid-life crisis, just lost his job and his wife, from killing himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jim (James Garner) tries to protect Patsy Fossler (Leslie Charleson) from her mob-connected boyfriend Michael Kelly (Jon Cypher) by stashing the girl with his friend Wes (Lou Frizzell). Unfortunately, Patsy's hiding place is revealed by Lianne Sweeney (Joyce Van Patten), a "cop groupie" who has been pestering both Jim and his police-detective friend Dennis Becker (Joe Santos) throughout the story. Now Jim must somehow rescue Patsy and thwart both Kelly and the mobsters without tipping off the loose-tongued Lianne. Despite all indications to the contrary at the end of this episode, we haven't seen the last of the episode's primary villains Anthony Boy (George Loros) and Syl (Luke Andreas). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In the first half of a two-part story, police detective Dennis Becker (Joe Santos) is harrassed by Lianne Sweeney (Joyce Van Patten), a "police groupie" who monitors the Department's activities via her radio and dogs Dennis' trail during his investigation of a very difficult case. Lianne's interference may also mess up the efforts by Jim Rockford (James Garner) to locate Patsy Fossler (Leslie Charleson), the missing fiancee of lawyer Michael Kelly (Jon Cypher). The situation worsens when Kelly reveals himself as a mob functionary, determined to have Patsy killed lest she blow the whistle on his bosses. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
A mental hospital is the scene of several strange and unexplained deaths. Hoping to determine the reason for the carnage--and to flush out a possible murderer--Steve Keller (Mike Douglas) goes undercover as a mental patient, after police doctor Murchison (Fred Sadoff) administers a drug that will temporarily transform Keller into a raving lunatic! Once he's inside the asylum, the detective finds that it is next to impossible to get out...alive. Among the supporting players are two former TV-series regulars: December Bride's Frances Rafferty and Ben Casey's Bettye Ackerman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Three tons of narcotics are stolen by dealer Sam Hibbing (Claude Akins). To recover the drugs, and to ruin both Hibbing and his higher-ups, the IMF concoct an undermining scheme that once again requires agent Casey to pose as a criminal's daughter. Filmed on location in San Francisco, this episode was highlighted by a superbly photographed motorcycle chase, and also by the first appearance of series regular Greg Morris' mustache. Jenny Sullivan, daughter of actor Barry Sullivan, appears as the "real" Margaret Hibbing. Written by Lou Shaw, "Speed" first aired on February 16, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
It looks like it's going to be a "Dark Christmas" for the family of Richard Ghormley (John Lupton), former employee of smuggler William Shrack (Eugene Peterson). Though innocent of any wrongdoing himself, Ghormley knows too much about Shrack's operation for his own good. Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) races against time to prevent Ghormley from being killed by professional hitman Stuart Tilden (Don Gordon)--who has already shot down several people who've have the misfortune to get in his way. Appearing as Tilden's erstwhile girlfriend is Sondra Locke, future leading lady (both onscreen and off) of Clint Eastwood. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Andrew Duggan guest stars as Frank Connor, a small-town crusading journalist determined to the topple the criminal empire of racketeer Duke Bergan (Scott Marlowe). After an attempt is made on Conner's life, the FBI offers protection to the man while Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) searches for the proof necessary to put the bad guys behind bars. It all boils down to a single solitary clue: A uniquely shaped contact lens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Noted character actor L.Q. Jones (who would later direct the cult classic A Boy and His Dog) produced this low-budget horror item about a small Southwestern town torn asunder by the mysterious disappearances of several of its children. Jones plays the town sheriff, who joins forces with some of the locals to find the perpetrators and uncovers a diabolical plot concocted by a coven of elderly devil-worshippers who plan to use the children's bodies as receptacles for their own souls, enabling them to live again in younger bodies. To this end, they use their supernatural abilities to slay any meddling adults by turning the kids' toys into deadly war machines. Creepy opening and closing sequences and a bravado performance from Strother Martin (as the king-daddy Warlock) are the film's strongest assets. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Strother Martin, L.Q. Jones, (more)
- 1971
After coming across a corpse stuffed in a sack and deposited in a park, Sgt. Ed Brown (Don Galloway) notifies the homicide division. When the cops arrive, the sack is still there--but the corpse is gone. Embarrassed by the taunts of rival cop Larry Muller (Warren Berlinger), Ed dedicates himself to proving that the body really existed, even though Ironside (Raymond Burr) demands that he devote his attention to a kidnapping case. Inevitably, it turns out that both cases share a common link. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Racketeer Rudy Walden (Peter Mark Richman) has managed to corrupt several members of a college basketball team, bribing them to shave points and "fix" certain games. By the time the FBI has gotten wind of Walden's activities, star player Billy Blaik (Anthony Costello) has been added to his list of potential accomplices. Before the story reaches its climax, the villains have resorted to kidnapping--with murder the next item on the menu. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
The fate of a Middle Eastern nation hangs in the balance as terrorist Ismet El Kabir (Michael Tolan) is scheduled to be pardoned from prison. The IMF must prevent Kabir's release, thereby forcing him into an escape attempt that will cost him his life. The plan involves the infiltration of Kabir's terrorist organization--and yet another of the IMF's patented "prison break-ins". Written by Laurence Heath, "Terror" made its network broadcast debut on February 15, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Leonard Nimoy, (more)
- 1968
Future film director Ron Howard is cast as 14-year-old Jess Orkin, who runs away from home after mistakenly believing that he has killed his uncle. During his flight, Jess linkes up with John Evans (J.D. Cannon, a genuine killer who is planning to rob and murder a wealthy Pennsylvania farm family headed by Dan Scott (Charles Bateman) Convincing the impressionable Jess that he is the "good guy" and Scott is the "villain", Evans sweet-talks the boy into becoming his accomplice...while Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) races against time to save several innocent lives. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) is on the hunt for Red spy major Jan Anka, who has assumed the identity of deceased American Albert Robinson. Having thus far successfully eluded the Feds, Anka is confronted with an unexpected threat to his safety with the arrival of a girl named Janet (Julie Sommars), who is convinced that "Robinson" is her long-lost father. With one murder charge already hanging over his head, Anka may be forced to kill again to rid himself of the "inconvenient" Janet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
George Axelrod's script for How to Murder Your Wife isn't politically correct in the least, but you're likely to get a charge out of it -- provided you are of the male persuasion, that is. Jack Lemmon stars as Stanley Ford, a successful cartoonist and a confirmed bachelor who shares a lavish apartment with his misogynistic manservant, Charles (Terry-Thomas). While attending a friend's bachelor party, Stanley falls head over heels in love with the gorgeous bikini-clad girl (Virna Lisi) who pops out of a cake. He impulsively marries her, but thinks better of it the next day. Alas, Stanleycan't get a divorce because his bride is an Italian Catholic (this is 1966). Dicier still, she is a "domestic goddess," lovingly plying her hubby with rich Italian food until Stanley's once-athletic physique is as bloated as the dirigible Hindenberg. Stanley's descent into husbandhood is reflected in his work: his popular adventure comic strip "Bash Brannigan" metamorphoses into a Blondie-like "idiot husband" daily. As a catharsis, Stanley vicariously "kills" his lovely wife by having Bash Brannigan murder his missus. Stanley's wife sees the finished strip on his desk and runs tearfully out of his life (at least temporarily). The publication of the strip, coupled with his wife's disappearance, results in Lemmon being put on trial for murder. We won't tell you how things turn out; suffice it to say that most feminists will be outraged, while most husbands will laugh immoderately. Eddie Mayehoff and Claire Trevor provide sparkling support as Lemmon's bombastic editor and his dragon-like wife. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Lemmon, Virna Lisi, (more)
- 1965
Ever in need of extra household money, Lily (Yvonne DeCarlo) decides to start taking in boarders. Her first customer is Chester Skinner (Charles Bateman), a pleasant but rather secretive young man. The audience quickly learns that Chester is a detective--but when Herman (Fred Gwynne) spots the man's gun and discovers that he works only at night, it's time for yet another quantum leap to yet another wrong conclusion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Hoss Cartwright rescues a little girl named Lisa (Eileen Baral), who is in a state of speechless shock after surviving a stagecoach holdup in which her parents were killed. In his efforts to snap Lisa out of her trauma, Hoss grows to love the child, and as such is devastated when her uncle, a man named Collins (Gerald Mohr), arrives to take Lisa away with him. As it turns out, Collins is not whom he appears to be, and Hoss is obliged to save Lisa all over again. Written by Frank Cleaver, "Found Child" first aired on October 24, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1964
Kathie Browne makes her third appearance as Adam Cartwright's erstwhile lady friend Laura Dayton. Encouraged by her Aunt Lil (Joan Blondell) to rush Adam into marriage, Laura decides to make her sweetheart jealous by playing up to Adam's cousin Will (Guy Williams). The scheme backfires when Laura and Will fall in love for real. First telecast on May 10, 1964, "The Pressure Game" was written by Don Tait. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1961
Accompanied by her tempestuous cousin Concepcion (Faith Domergue), Lola Bronson (Lisa Gaye) breezes into LA from Argentina to finalize her divorce from her husband, aircraft designer Jeff Bronson (Lisa Gaye). But when she suspects Bill Ryder (played by singer Guy Mitchell) of deliberately sabotaging Jeff's business, Lola rises to her ex-husband's defense and tries to extract a confession from Ryder--at gunpoint. Ultimately, Perry Mason must defend both of the battling Bronsons on a charge of murdering Ryder. This is the final episode of Perry Mason's fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
The "rodeo week" festivities in the town of Placer City apparently include a barroom brawl, which is broken up by none other than Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), in town to deliver a subpoena to elusive prospector Amos Catledge (George Mitchell). Perry becomes more deeply involved in the situation when one of the brawlers, Ken Bascombe (Hugh Sanders) is murdered, apparently by the other brawler, Gerald Norton (Ray Sticklyn). Per the episode's title, Perry hinges his defense of Norton on the "testimony" of a burro! This episode was hastily inserted into Perry Mason's third-season manifest as a replacement for "The Case of the Credulous Quarry", which remained on the shelf until Season Four. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Flamboyant character actor Hans Conried delivers a surprisingly low-key performance as Homer Eakins, the black sheep of a prominent family. Hoping to claim his share of his clan's estate, Homer asks Bret to impersonate him and pay a visit to wealthy General Eakins (Will Wright). Thoroughly convinced that Bret is Homer, the Colonel takes a liking to him, much to the dismay of Eakins' greedy relatives. Before long, the heirs to the Eakins fortune are being bumped off one by one, and Bret finds himself a murder suspect...and the most likely next victim. This episode is narrated by Bret's brother Bart (Jack Kelly), who otherwise does not appear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
