Dick Martin Movies

Herman Melville's short story Bartleby the Scrivener gets a slightly surreal update in this offbeat comedy drama. The manager (David Paymer) of the city records department in a mid-sized California community decides that his staff of three -- flirty chatterbox Vivian (Glenne Headly), sloppy Vietnam vet Ernie (Maury Chaykin), and slick-suited, Don Juan wannabe Rocky (Joe Piscopo) -- could use some help, so he places an ad looking for a new employee. The boss ends up hiring the one and only applicant who wants the position, a quiet, pale young man named Bartleby (Crispin Glover). At first, Bartleby is a model of efficiency, but before long he loses enthusiasm for his job, much to the annoyance of his co-workers, and soon he's spending his days staring at an air conditioning vent. The Boss asks Bartleby to get back to work, but Bartleby's repeated reply to such requests is, "I prefer not to," and the Boss sees little recourse but to fire him. However, Bartleby refuses to leave his desk, and it soon becomes obvious that Bartleby has not only stopped doing his work -- he's stopped going home and has moved into the office. Bartleby was the first feature film for producer/director Jonathan Parker; he also wrote the screenplay, in collaboration with Catherine Di Napoli. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Tony lives in Ontario, but he has relatives all over the eastern part of the U.S. and Canada. Since he has been earning money by running marijuana from Pittsburgh to Canada, he's been avoiding them, but when his beloved grandfather bids him from his deathbed to take care of his wife, Tony's grandmother, he reluctantly agrees to do so. By now, he has already messed up a delivery for a dealer who is now gunning for him, so when his feisty grandmother proposes suing the American mining company grandpa worked with for causing him to die of black lung disease, he readily agrees to take her to Pittsburgh to file her suit. As they travel, these two angry and distrustful relations bicker and quarrel a lot but also uncover their true value to one another. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

With Bob out of town on a lecture tour, Emily is terrified that she will succumb to the temptation of having an affair with her old flame, Steve Darnell (David Hedison). To prevent this, Emily turns to Jerry and Howard for help -- and how much help they are. Written by Laura Levine, this was one of several sixth-season episodes in which Bob Newhart did not appear. "It Didn't Happen One Night" first aired on February 18, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Mike Nolan (Darren McGavin) is a Beverly Hills resident whose divorce case -- blown by a hopelessly inept, possibly larcenous attorney (Dick Martin) -- has left him with no home, no job, and no assets, except for his car. And when the car is driven off by 16-year-old repo agent "Larry" (Denise Nickerson), Mike gives chase and finds himself hired by the brassy owner (Sylvia Miles) of the auto repossession company the girl works for. He and Larry are teamed together to go after a car being driven by luscious deadbeat Gloria Martine (Joan Collins), but before long Mike is up to his neck in trouble, not only fending off unwanted advances from Larry but trying for some extracurricular activity with Gloria. And that's not even taking into account the hoods, motorcyclists, and other irate citizens that he runs afoul of in his new "career". ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

While standing in the deposit line of his bank, Bob is taken hostage by a likable bank robber named Mel (Robert Pine). As the police, headed by Sgt. Webber (Walker Edmiston), negotiate Bob's release, the nonplussed psychologist tries to analyze his way out of the situation. Also appearaing are Ron Vernan as the police officer, Andrea Adler as the teller, and Richard Dioguardi as the bank guard. Written by Michael Zinberg and Martin Davidson, "Desperate Sessions" first aired on February 26, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Bob's prickly patient, Mr. Carlin, is given yet another reason to be neurotic; a woman from his past has slapped him with a paternity suit. But upon meeting his "son" for the first time, Carlin hasn't the heart to tell the boy that the suit is a phony. Meanwhile, Bob has troubles of his own with a recalcitrant telephone paging service. Future WKRP in Cincinnati co-star Loni Anderson appears as "wronged woman" Leslie Greeley, Sparky Marcus plays Billy, and occasional Star Trek supporting player Mark Lenard is seen as Earl S. Plummer. Written by Andrew Smith, "Carlin's New Suit" originally aired on October 22, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

With the help of Bob and a bottle, henpecked Mr. Petersen (John Fiedler) stands up to his wife. The consequences are enormous, not only for the Petersens, but also for Bob. Toni Lamond appears as the much-discussed but seldom-seen Doris Petersen, while Larry Goldman is cast as the cop. Scripted by Glen and Les Charles and directed by the series' comedy consultant, Dick Martin, "Who Was That Masked Man?" first aired on October 15, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Saddled with a close-mouthed patient named Twillmer (Richard Libertini), Bob encourages the man to open up and "let it all out." Unfortunately, Twillmer reveals that he has embezzled an enormous sum of money -- and Bob is bound by his doctor-patient confidentiality oath to keep mum about this little indiscretion. Others in the cast include Frank Maxwell as Sgt. O'Conner and J. Jay Saunders as Williams. Written by Earl Pomerantz, "Shallow Throat" first aired on November 26, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Watch the comedy unfold as Milton Berle trades wisecracks with his hilarious guests on this videotape. Some of the funniest people in show business are featured in this collection hosted by "Mr. Television" himself. Pat Buttran, Dick Martin, Mort Sahl, and Eddie Quillon are interviewed. Footage of Abbott and Costello, Lenny Bruce, Martin and Lewis, Jackie Gleason, and many others is included. ~ Karla Baker, Rovi

The Glass Bottom Boat is hardly a high point in the careers of star Doris Day and director Frank Tashlin, though it is a better-than-usual example of that pure-'60s genre, the "spy spoof." Day plays Jennifer Nelson, a PR worker at NASA in Florida. She also doubles as a "mermaid" for her father, Axel (Arthur Godfrey), the skipper of a glass-bottom tourist boat. While garbed in her skimpy mermaid costume, she has a run-in with handsome space technician Bruce Templeton (Rod Taylor). Through a series of misunderstandings, Bruce is led to believe that Jennifer is an enemy spy, determined to steal scientific secrets. Several other characters enter into the plot, including bumbling secret agent Julius Pritter (Dom DeLuise) and prissy security chief Homer Cripps (Paul Lynde). Also on hand are TV favorites Dick Martin as Jennifer's erstwhile beau and Eric Fleming as a man of mystery. A few cute celebrity cameos round out this ribtickler, while Doris Day, as always, gets a few opportunities to sing. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Janet Waldo, best known to TV fans as the voice of Judy Jetson, guests in this episode as Marge, the sister of Lucy Carmichael (Lucille Ball). Although she's only been married a few weeks, poor Marge is already having problems with her hubby Hughie (played by future game-show host Peter Marshall). Determining that Marge's marital troubles stem from the fact that the couple had impusively eloped, "Doctor" Lucy prescribes an elaborate second wedding--which she, of course, will arrange down to the smallest detail! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A prowler has been reported in the neighborhood, so Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Viv (Vivian Vance) decide to learn how to defend themselves. This decision leads to a memorable afternoon at a judo academy, presided over by real-life martial arts expert Louis Coppola. Despite the usual slapstickery, the girls become quite adept at judo--but their new-found athletic prowess inevitably backfires, and at the worst possible time to boot. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

With no one else available, Lucy (Lucille Ball) volunteers to referee a football game involving her son Jerry (Jimmy Garrett) and Viv's son Sherman (Ralph Hart). The game turns out to be anything but fair and balanced--not because Lucy doesn't understand the football signals, but because her maternal instincts have won out over common sense and she can't help but call the plays to her son's advantage. With both teams angry at her, Lucy tries to make amends with an act of uncommon generosity...but even this turns out disastrously. Watch for a very young Desi Arnaz Jr. as one of the kids. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi