Marlyn Mason Movies
Only in the earliest stages of her career was actress Marilyn Mason billed as Marilyn. A professional from age 13, when she signed on with Los Angeles' Players Ring troupe, Mason made her first TV appearance on a 1955 Matinee Theater installment. She was particularly busy in the mid-to-late 1960s, playing the recurring role of Sally Welden on TV's Ben Casey and guesting on a variety of programs. In 1967, she was co-starred as Carrie Pipperidge in a televersion of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel; and in 1969, she made her big-screen debut opposite Elvis Presley in The Trouble With Girls. Her last regular-series stint was as Nikki Bell in the 1971 James Franciscus starrer Longstreet. After a long absence, Marilyn Mason returned to television in the early 1990s in a brace of made-for-TV movies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1992
When his brother is left in a coma after a near-fatal car accident, a young man decides it's time to do something on his own. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rick Schroder, James Farentino, (more)
- 1991
Lonely Hearts is a modern film noir in which a lonely woman meets and falls for a man whom she refuses to let go. Alma (Beverly D'Angelo) is a wallflower who lives with her mother and works at a Social Security office. In her desperation to make some sort of social life for herself, she answers a personal ad and meets Frank (Eric Roberts) with whom she falls in love. Frank turns out to be a con man and a swindler, but Alma is obsessed with him. She begins to help him by posing as his sister while he cons other women, until she and Frank are forced to flee when one of the victims hires a private detective. Beverly D'Angelo plays Alma with the perfect mixture of both predator and victim and director Andrew Lane understands and directs his actors well, making Lonely Hearts a very well-thought-out and executed thriller despite a somewhat languid pacing. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Beverly D'Angelo, Eric Roberts, (more)
- 1978
The New Adventures of Heidi may be set in contemporary times, but it's still the same old yodel-ay-ee-hoo. Johann Spyri's disgustingly spunky moppet Heidi (Katy Kurtzman) is separated from her beloved grandfather (Burl Ives). She is sent to live with hateful relatives in New York City. Before winning over everyone except the audience, Heidi and her cohorts get to warble 10 original songs by Buz Kohan. Made for TV, The New Adventures of Heidi might have been more tolerable had it been interrupted by a pro football game. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
After being briefly pre-empted by the debut telecast of Roots, Streets of San Francisco returned to the ABC prime time fold with this tense psychological drama focusing on Douglas French (Alan Fudge), a chronic alcoholic and wife-beater. Awakening from a hangover, French discovers that his wife Helen (Marlyn Mason) has disappeared. Unable to remember what happened, French is convinced along with the authorities that he has killed his wife--but the plot thickens when Stone and Robbins discover that the still-missing Helen has been carrying on a double life! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Attack on Terror: The FBI Versus the Ku Klux Klan is a fact-based, two-part TV movie. The film is a dramatization of the murders of three civil rights workers in Mississippi in 1964. The FBI, personified herein by southern operative Wayne Rogers, is brought in to investigate the trio's disappearance. Upon the discovery of the bodies on August 2, 1964, the feds follow a trail of (admittedly skimpy) evidence which leads to the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, headed by the virulent Glen Tuttle (Rip Torn). The first part of Attack on Terror was originally telecast February 20, 1975. The film was based on the book by Don Whitehead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ned Beatty, John Beck, (more)
- 1972
The Emmy-winning writing team of Richard Levinson and William Link was the creative forced behind the landmark TV movie That Certain Summer. Hal Holbrook stars as a middle-aged divorced man, whose son Scott Jacoby cannot fathom the reason for his parents' split. During a summer visit, Jacoby meets his father's much-younger "best friend," Martin Sheen. Holbrook hedges, but finds he can no longer hold back the truth from his son: Sheen is Holbrook's male lover. Hope Lange costars as Holbrook's ex-wife, who struggles to come to grips with her former husband's sexual preferences, and who encourages him to reveal all to his son. Originally telecast on November 1, 1972, That Certain Summer was the first TV film to take a mature and non-remonstrative approach to the subject of homosexuality--and like many "firsts," the film seems a bit timid when seen today. Levinson and Link were compelled by the network to include short self-deprecating speeches describing the gay life as something of a sickness, one that Holbrook would in his heart of hearts prefer not to pursue. Still, it was as adult as a TV movie could get in those more restrictive times, and doesn't date as badly as it might. In fact, the only truly dated element of That Certain Summer is the self-consciously arty direction of Lamont Johnson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
With Mission:Impossible regular Lynda Day George still on maternity leave, Marlyn Mason makes a guest appearance as IMF agent Sandy in "Crack-Up." For her first assignment with the team, Sandy plays a major role in a scheme to determine the identity of the Syndicate higher-up who hired professional hit man Peter Cordel (Alex Cord). Vital ingredients for the success of this mission include a rigged chess game and a special "black-out" drug. "Crack-Up" was scripted by Arthur Weiss from a story by Weiss, Robert Weiss and Phyllis White. The episode originally aired December 9, 1972, as the last Saturday-night Mission:Impossible offering before the series' move to CBS' Friday-evening lineup. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
Inspector Erskine puts out an A.P.B. on a gang of art thieves led by Ken Meade (Joseph Campanella). The brazen criminals have managed to steal a valuable statue right in the middle of an art auction. Though Meade does a nice job of eluding the Feds, he'd be better off allowing himself to be captured: an unknown assassin has targeted the clever thieves for elimination, one by one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Bernie Simmons (Charles Robbinson), onetime high school classmate of Sgt. Ed Brown (Don Galloway) has gone on the run after being accused of assault. While investigating the case, Ed is reunited with his former sweetheart Ann Garfield (Ann Garfield), now a lonely widow. Inevitably, the couple's romance is rekindled, putting Ed on the spot when it turns out that Ann knows more about Bernie than she's willing to admit. This episode was originally scheduled to air on November 16, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
The harpy of the title is Elizabeth Ashley, the greedy, demanding ex-wife of architect Hugh O'Brian. As a means of escaping his former spouse's tirades, O'Brian quietly trains his pet eagle to be a hunter. A confrontation between eagle and "ex" is inevitable, but masterfully handled. Tom Nardini, playing a loyal Native-American friend of O'Brian's, is the principal instigator of the film's screeching denouement. Made for television, Harpy was first shown March 12, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Marlyn Mason returns as leggy German chanteuse Lily Frankel, who moonlights as an Allied agent. With Lily's assistance, Hogan hopes to destroy a trio of mobile guided-missile launchers. The problem: How to evade a veritable minefield of German radio detectors. Written by Arthur Julian, "Rockets or Romance" originally aired April 4, 1971, as the 168th and final episode of Hogan's Heroes (though it was actually the 156th episode to be filmed). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
The first of two TV movies bearing the title Escape, this 1971 film was the pilot for a potential series. Christopher George stars as Cameron Steele, a famous escape artist who solves crimes on the side. Steele and his faithful assistant Nicholas Slye (Avery Schreiber) tackle the case of a kidnapped scientist (William Windom). The scientist's daughter (Marilyn Mason) is likewise in jeopardy, but leaves it to Steele to out-Houdini Houdini in rescuing both father and daughter from the clutches of Numero Uno villain John Vernon. Escape was originally offered as an ABC Movie of the Week on April 6, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
In the life of sexually successful young high-school student Phil Fuller (Kristoffer Tabori) the episodes in this story enable him to gain increased maturity and understanding. Phil is attracted to his gym teacher's beautiful wife who has a phobia about growing old and who eventually takes him to her bed. The boy also has a girlfriend with a late period, so he gallantly arranges for an abortion for her. When they discover she is not actually pregnant, he finds out that his mother (Joyce Van Patten) is seeking an abortion. Though he and she were not on very good terms, he stands by her throughout the whole ordeal (not entirely by choice) and wins her friendship. The story is broadly based on a novel by James Leigh. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Marlyn Mason guest stars as Lily Frankel, a sexy German nightclub chanteuse who doubles as an Allied agent. Lily informs Hogan that one of the Underground members is actually a double agent who intends to turn over a list of Allied operatives to the Germans. To prevent this, Hogan cooks up a scheme that requires Col. Klink and Gestapo officer Hochstetter to take dancing lessons from LeBeau (it makes sense in context!). Written by Arthur Julian, "Six Lessons From Madame LaGrange" first aired on February 27, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1969
War hero Wally Shanks (Michael Witney) is the unwitting pawn in an extortion racket masterminded by his father-in-law, "respectable" banker Hal DeWitt (Richard Carlson). The crooks rely upon Wally to attract his fellow servicemen to DeWitt's finance company for loans, at which point they are all rejected and turned over to a bloodsucking loan-shark operation. Hoping to throw a monkey wrench in this scheme, FBI agent Colby (William Reynolds) poses as an ex-GI named Ed Loomis. This is the final episode of The F.B.I.'s fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Walter Hale (Elvis Presley) is the manager of a chautauqua, a traveling show consisting of performances, lectures and entertainment. Along with manager Johnny (Edward Andrews), he helps some young kids break into show business and contends with the union-organizing Charlene (Marilyn Mason). Vincent Price appears as Mr. Morality. John Carradine, Sheree North and Dabney Coleman also appear in this forgettable film which makes Clambake and Girl Happy classics by comparison. Elvis is limited to three tunes as he plays out the string of poorly scripted vehicles that ended with his next feature, the equally awful Change of Habit. By now, the inane screenplays had done permanent damage to a once-promising film career, souring the King of Rock & Roll on everything in movies except live concert performances. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Marlyn Mason, (more)
- 1966
Appropriately enough, the 271st and final episode of Perry Mason concerns a murder which takes place during the filming of a TV show. No sooner has Perry (Raymond Burr) been able to establish the innocence of chief suspect Jackson Sidemark (Denver Pyle) than Sidemark himself is knocked off by the real killer (and wait until you see who THAT is!) Several members of the Perry Mason production staff, including executive producer Gail Patrick Jackson, appear in cameo roles, while series creator Erle Stanley Gardner shows up unbilled as a judge. Longtime fans of the series will enjoy the multitude of "inside" jokes in the script (including a barbed reference to the show's NBC competition Bonanza), but the best is reserved for last when Perry and his longtime courtroom adversary Hamilton Burger (William Talman) exchange words for the final time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
With the help of his brother Steve (William Bramley), convicted murderer Larry Drake (Roy Thinnes) manages to escape police custody. The task of tracking down Drake becomes personal for Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.): one of the three law officers brutally killed during the escape was one of Erskine's oldest friends. Meanwhile, the sociopathic Drake shows his "gratitude" for what his brother has done for him by making a play for Steve's wife Patricia (Marlyn Mason). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Under the alias "Bill Garrison", fugitive Richard Kimble (David Janssen) falls in love with sexy nightclub chanteuse Gail Martin (Marlyn Mason). Though she quickly ascertains Kimble's true identity, Gail nonetheless arranges for him to be hired as a chauffeur by Alan Bartlett (a pre-Hawaii 5-0) Jack Lord), the husband of wealthy invalid Norma Bartlett (Patricia Smith). What Kimble doesn't know is that Gail and Alan are planning to murder Norma and pin the blame on...guess who. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
The great Ed Wynn appears on this Bonanza episodes a Phineas T. Klump, a lovable old eccentric who is determined to be the first man to fly. Klump hopes to achieve this goal with a bulky set of artificial feathered wings, with "true believer" Hoss Cartwright as his ground crew. But when Klump is injured in a fall, it is Hoss who dons the wings for an experimental ascent (or descent!) from a high cliff. Marlyn Mason costars as Klump's granddaughter Amanda. Written by Blair Robertson and Hazel Swanson, "Ponderosa Birdman" first aired on February 7 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1964
Marlyn Mason guest-stars as Tessa Caldwell, who is accidentally blinded in a hunting accident caused by Joe Cartwright. More out of pity and guilt than love, Joe offers to marry the girl. Eventually, she regains her sight-but her covetous father (Denver Pyle), anxious to see his daughter wed to a wealthy Cartwright, decides to keep Tessa's recovery a secret. Written by Tom Seller, "Bullet for a Bride" was first shown on February 16, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
