Dal McKennon Movies
Oliver Twist is an animated version of the Dickens classic. Josh Albee is heard as the voice of the orphaned Oliver, while radio veteran Les Tremayne invokes all the tricks of his trade to portray the underhanded Fagin. This adaptation was a rare theatrical release from the TV-cartoon factory of Filmation; it was picked up for distribution by Warner Bros., who virtually threw away the film when it performed poorly in previews. Oliver Twist gained its widest exposure when it was telecast as an NBC special in 1981. At that time, the film's already heavily telescoped continuity was whittled down to an adumbrated 47 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Josh Albee, Les Tremayne, (more)
In this animated follow-up to the classic fantasy The Wizard Of Oz, Dorothy (voiced by Liza Minnelli, whose mother Judy Garland played the same role in the 1939 film) decides to return to the land of Oz to pay a visit to her good friend The Scarecrow (voice of Mickey Rooney). However, shortly after her arrival Dorothy discovers all is not well in the land of magic; the evil witch Mombi (voice of Ethel Merman) has arrived to pick up where the Wicked Witch of the West left off, and is using her sinister powers to rob Scarecrow of her powers. Dorothy realizes it's up to her to save Oz from Mombi's machinations, and she teams up with Woodenhead (voice of Herschel Bernardi) and Pumpkinhead (voice of Paul Lynde) to see justice done. Produced in 1964 but not released until 1971, Journey Back To Oz also features the voice talents of Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, Paul Ford and Margaret Hamilton. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liza Minnelli, Mickey Rooney, (more)
- 1971
Approximately one year before the debut of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, comedian Bill Cosby, the CBS network and the Filmation cartoon firm collaborated on this 30-minute TV special. Cosby appears in the live-action wraparounds as Greek storyspinner Aesop, who talk-sings a brace of songs and narrates animated versions of two fables. In the "Tortoise and the Hare" segment, funnymen John Byner and Larry Storch provide the voices for the title characters, with Byner returning in "The Tortoise Who Wanted to Fly". And in an extended sequence combining live and cartoon action, two youngsters, Joey (Keith Hamilton) and Marta (Jerelyn Fields), lost in an enchanted forest, are guided to safety by the all-wise Aesop. The special was written by Earl Hamner Jr., of The Waltons fame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Cosby, Keith Hamilton, (more)
- 1970
This animated TV special was cobbled together with scenes from the Saturday-morning The Archie Show and the 1969 special Archie and His New Friends. Once again, those lovable comic-book teenagers Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and Reggie are in the middle of a highly competitive student election at Riverdale High School. Songs include the bubble-gum classic "Sugar, Sugar", as well as "You've Got to Have an Image", "Jingle Jangle", and "Who's My Baby?" The program originally aired March 22, 1970, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dal McKennon, Howard Morris, (more)
- 1969
Ostensibly a one-shot animated special, Archie and His New Friends was designed not only to promote the popular Saturday-morning The Archie Show, but also to introduce Prime Time viewers to the series' newest character (actually not new at all, since she'd been appearing in comic-book form since 1962), Sabrina the Teenage Witch. In her first major adventure with Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and the rest, newcomer Sabrina tries her best to "fit in" as a typical 15-year-old student at Riverdale High School, but her status as an apprentice witch all but requires her to use magic every once in while--especially during a hotly contested student election. As a balm to the kiddie fans, the special includes performances of several of The Archies' bubble-gum song hits, including "Get on the Line" and "You've Got to Have an Image." While Archie and His New Friends was first broadcast by CBS on September 14, 1969--the day after Sabrina made her initial appearance on The Archie Show--the weekly Sabrina the Teenage Witch series would not appear until September 1, 1971 (it was of course preceded by the hybrid series Sabrina and the Groovie Ghoulies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dal McKennon, Howard Morris, (more)
Locked in the vaults since 1970, the sixth and final season of the timeless, Emmy Award-nominated family classic Daniel Boone comes to DVD. The final season (1969-70) stars Fess Parker as Daniel Boone, Patricia Blair as his wife, Rebecca, and Darby Hinton as their son, Israel. Rounding out the Season 6 cast are Dal McKennon as Cincinnatus, the Boonesborough trading post and tavern owner, and future sausage king Jimmy Dean as Josh Clements. Former NFL fixture Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier makes occasional appearances this season as Gabe Cooper, who escaped from slavery to live with the Indians. Dropping in for guest turns during these 22 episodes are such luminaries as Jodie Foster (in one of her earliest TV appearances), Roger Miller, Kurt Russell, Will Geer, James Doohan, Alex Karras (another ex-footballer), Mariette Hartley, and Gloria Grahame. Special DVD features include a roundtable discussion with cast and fans and a photo gallery.
- Starring:
- Fess Parker, Dal McKennon, (more)
- 1968
After registering well in supporting roles in such Bob Hope farces as Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number and Eight on the Lam, raucous comedienne Phyllis Diller attempted to carry a picture all by herself. Alas, Did You Hear the One About the Travelling Saleslady? proved to be as bad as its title. Borrowing elements previously utilized in Joan Davis' Travelling Saleswoman (1950) and the Ginger Rogers-Carol Channing vehicle The First Travelling Saleslady (1956), the film casts Diller as a player-piano saleslady, dispatched to the Wild West. TV-sitcom perennials Bob Denver and Joe Flynn offer their usual overplayed support; at times they're funnier than Diller, though that's not saying much. The film's highlight is a cattle stampede, which should give you some idea. Did You Hear the One... was scripted by John Fenton Murray, soon to be a mainstay of such Sid & Marty Krofft kiddie fare as The Bugaloos and Lidsville; compared to the Diller film, the Krofft stuff was a step upward. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phyllis Diller, Joe Flynn, (more)
- 1967
The Mayberry Civic Improvement Society ponies up its entire budget--$1200-to build a statue to the town's most celebrated benefactor, Andy's great-grandfather Seth Taylor. Only after the statue is completed does a historian come forward to reveal that the "benevolent" Seth was actually the biggest swindler in the state! Leave it to the citizens of Mayberry to find the silver lining in this little raincloud. First broadcast on February 20, 1967, "The Statue" was written by Fred S. Fox. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Dodson
- 1966
Future movie-studio executive Tony Bill is cast as halfbreed Charlie Two, who has sworn to killi the Cartwrights to avenge the hanging of his father Charlie Monahan. Hoping to dissuade Charlie, Joe Cartwright adopts an alias and accompanies the boy on his journeys. In the course of events, the two men find that they have a lot more in common than meets the eye. First broadcast on November 20, 1966, "The Oath" was written by Sidney Ellis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1965
Though written by Sam Peckinpah (he adapted the film from a novel by Hoffman Birney), the direction of The Glory Guys was entrusted to the competent but perfunctory Arnold Laven. Cavalry captain Demas Harrod (Tom Tryon) and his faithful scout Sol Rogers (Harve Presnell) are placed under the command of xenophobic general Frederick McCabe (Andrew Duggan), who hates Indians almost as much as his own men hate him. When not preparing to decimate every Native American in their path, Harrod and Rogers carry on a rivalry over the hand of pretty Lou (Senta Berger; another authentic Wild West type). The novelty of the film is that the Indians, rather than the cavalry, win the final battle. Despite a few bursts of cinematic creativity from Laven in the climactic scenes, it still would have been more interesting to see how Sam Peckinpah would have handled The Glory Guys. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Tryon, Harve Presnell, (more)
Wholesome fun for the entire family! Fess Parker stars as Daniel Boone in this timeless classic series. Daniel Boone, America's classic frontier hero, begins his journey right here with this first Season box set on DVD. Digitially restored and re-mastered from it's original televison presentation in 1964 in classic black and white. Set in and around Kentucky and Virginia during the colonial period preceeding the American Revolution, Daniel Boone takes us on suspensful action adventures with his fellow frontiersman and women, Yadkin (played by Albert Salmi), Mingo (Ed Ames), Rebecca (Patricia Blair), Jemima (Veronica Cartwright), and Israel (Darby Hinton). Special Features Include: - Exclusive Interviews - Photo Gallery - Visitor's Guide to Fess Parker's Los Olivos Winery & Spa Resort
- Starring:
- Fess Parker
- 1964
The near-sighted cartoon character Magoo inhabits the role of Friar Tuck in this animated version of the Robin Hood legend. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1963
This comical farce is a lighthearted lampoon of Wall Street and the vibrant trading and selling on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Henry Tyroon (James Garner) is the chameleonic broker who changes his colors and ethical standards to fit every deal. Molly (Lee Remick) is the novice trader competing in a largely male profession who catches Henry's eye. Her boss is Bullard Bear (Jim Backus), the slick financial veteran Henry runs up against. Chill Wills, Phil Harris, and Charles Watts are the Texas triumvirate who play their parts of super rich good old boys to the pinnacle of stereotypical eccentricity. John Astin is the vigilant government agent just dying to uncover some dirt and blow the whistle at the slightest hint of impropriety. Louis Nye plays an abstract artist who wishes to expand his stock portfolio. Plenty of jabs are taken at Wall Street, Madison Avenue and idle rich blue bloods at the mercy of unscrupulous opportunists. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Garner, Lee Remick, (more)
- 1963
Tim (Bill Bixby) is anxious to learn what it would like to be a Martian, so Uncle Martin (Ray Walson) gives Tim the power to read minds for a 24-hour period. Naturally, this special gift quickly backfires when Tim interviews Councilman Jack Gramby, a man who seems incapable of making up his mind--or giving a straight answer! The Councilman is played by Alan Reed Sr., who at the time this episode was filmed was better known to TV fans as the voice of Fred Flintstone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Tony Randall has the showcase of a lifetime in the marvelous George Pal production The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao. We first see Randall as Dr. Lao, an enigmatic Chinese medicine-show impresario. The doctor brings his travelling show into the frontier town of Abalone, which is chafing under the oppression of land-hungry Clint Stark (Arthur O'Connell). Newspaper editor Ed Cunningham (John Ericson) is conducting a campaign of words against Stark, but he is no match for the land baron's money, power, and hulking henchmen. Nonetheless, Cunningham continues his crusade, all the while attempting to romance icy young widow Angela Benedict (Barbara Eden). All of this is observed with bemusement by Dr. Lao, who has already established himself as a man of many talents by alternating between pidgin-English and eloquent articulation, depending on the circumstances. Each of the townspeople--including the three already mentioned--learn a great many truths about themselves when they attend Dr. Lao's unusual circus. In the course of straightening out everyone's problems, Lao metamorphoses into (1) Merlin the Magician, (2) Pan, (3) Medusa, (4) The Abominable Snowman, (5) Apollonius of Tyana and (6) a Talking Serpent. The combined talents of Randall, puppeteer Pal and make-up wizard William J. Tuttle (who won two Special Oscars) resulted in this captivatingly unique entertainment experience. Curiously, Tony Randall is not fond of Seven Faces of Dr.Lao, and refuses to be interviewed on the subject. Perhaps he was unhappy that much of the philosophy dispensed in the original Charles G. Finney novel The Circus of Dr. Lao was weeded out of Charles Beaumont's script....or perhaps he just didn't like having his head shaved for the part. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Randall, Barbara Eden, (more)
This unappealing suspense film stars Ronald Foster and Erika Peters as a couple who arrive at a decrepit old mansion only to find that the previous occupants -- a group of circus freaks -- have yet to vacate the premises. Worse, it seems that the mischievous tenants are quite adamant about defending their territory against all outsiders while waiting for their keeper to return, and their methods of dissuading unwanted guests apparently include murder. This is a passable spook-house exercise, with lots of severed limbs flung at the hapless protagonists and and a silly cop-out ending, but the use of actual circus freaks as the villains (probably a cost-saving measure for the filmmakers) is more than a little disconcerting. The circus giant is played by a young Richard Kiel. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Victor Buono, who skyrocketed to stardom by virtue of his work in the title role of the earlier Untouchables episode "Mr. Moon", returns to the series in a different characterization. This time Buono is cast as Parnise Surigao, whose booming bootlegging operation is cutting into the profits of Frank Nitti's operation. To put it mildly, Nitti (Frank Nitti) is displeased, and orders an all-out war against Surigeo--who proves nearly impossible to bump off. After an innocent bystander is killed in the crossfire, Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) vows to end the war and put both sides out of business, using a "straw man" subterfuge to accomplish his goal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
In this mystery, a divorced man begins looking for his ex-wife who married his former business partner. Hal Weston's search leads him to LA where he enlists the aid of Li Sheng and the sneaky Osgood. He is told that his partner died. Investigating further, he discovers that he did not die. Actually he murdered the ex-wife and then had Li Sheng's father, a surgeon, fake his death certificate. He then buries the woman in his coffin and proceeds to use his mistress to collect on his life insurance policy by having her pose as the widow. Osgood then learns that the crook had the doctor change his appearance so he looked just like Osgood. He figures that he is next on the business partner's hit list and so kills him first. In the end, Weston kills Osgood. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Director John A. Bushelman makes a departure from his usual western and action films to guide this respectable, canine-centered, family film about a big dog by the name of Pete with definite separation anxiety. When the impoverished Brancato family takes off from their Nevada home to look for a better life in Los Angeles, they are forced to leave their dog in the care of a dubious-looking neighbor. Their son is heart-broken, and no one is particularly happy, especially Pete. Not willing to stand for this kind of treatment, Pete takes off to cover the hundreds of miles to L.A. and hunt down his family, meeting all kinds of hoboes, truckers, and other characters along the way. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roger Mobley, David McLean, (more)
- 1961
Unlike some of the "twist" movies that hit the theaters in the early '60s when the dance craze flourished, Twist around the Clock has something resembling a plot. Mitch Mason is an out-of-work promoter who sees people doing the "twist" in a regional backwater -- and immediately understands that the dance could be a real hit. His problem lies in getting anyone to believe him, and making money in the process. It turns out that the daughter of the head of a major agency could be his ticket to fame and fortune but he ignores her interest in him, at least for awhile. In the end, this teen-oriented tale is best remembered for two of Dion's hit songs, Runaround Sue and The Wanderer. Other vocals are supplied by Chubby Checker, The Marcels, and Vicki Spencer. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Disney produced this lavish animated fairy tale, the most expensive cartoon ever made up to its release with a budget of $6 million. When the young princess Aurora is cursed at birth by the evil fairy Maleficent, the baby is kidnapped by a trio of good fairies who raise the girl themselves, hoping to avoid the spell's fulfillment. Nevertheless, at the age of 16, the beautiful Aurora falls into a deep sleep that can only be awakened by a kiss from her betrothed, Prince Phillip. Knowing that Phillip intends to save Aurora, Maleficent takes him prisoner. When the good fairies launch a rescue attempt, Maleficent transforms herself into a spectacular fire-breathing dragon, forcing Phillip to defeat her in mortal combat. Sleeping Beauty (1959) was Oscar nominated for its musical score, which featured adaptations of Tchaikovsky compositions. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, (more)
