J. Edward McKinley Movies

"Lizzie Borden took an axe/And gave her mother forty whacks/When she saw what she had done/She gave her father forty-one". New England spinster Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the charge of murdering her father and stepmother in 1892, but this made-for-TV movie, like most recreations of the murders and subsequent trial, adheres to the popular consensus that Borden was guilty. Elizabeth Montgomery takes a break from playing victims to portray the enigmatic Borden. The trial scenes are lifted directly from the original court records; scripter William Bast's speculation as to what really happened the night the elder Bordens were hacked to death is pure (but credible) conjecture. Accompanied by a "parental guidance suggested" tag, The Legend of Lizzie Borden was first broadcast February 10, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Darrin blows his top again, when he thinks that Samantha has used witchcraft to create a winning ad slogan. As it turns out, Sam does help Darrin, albeit in the time-honored "trial and error" fashion preferred by those irksome mortals. J. Edward McKinley, one of the series' stable of recurring character actors, is once more cast as Darrin's client, this time a man named Benson. First broadcast on March 11, 1972, "A Good Turn Never Goes Unpunished" was written by Bernie Kahn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Uncle Arthur has fallen in love with Aretha (Barbara Rhoades), a snobbish witch with no sense of humor whatsoever. So as not to scare off Artetha, Arthur "deposits" all of his practical jokes with Darrin and Samantha. Unfortunately, this overabundance of gags is visited upon Darrin's new client, Mr. Rockfield (J. Edward McKinley), who, like Aretha, is in no mood for laughs. First shown on February 11, 1971, "The House That Uncle Arthur Built" was written by Bernie Kahn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Flap is marginally significant as the only western ever directed by Britain's Sir Carol Reed. Anthony Quinn is top-billed as Flapping Eagle, a modern-day Native American stuck on a squalid reservation. Though liquored up most of the time, Flapping Eagle undergoes an eleventh-hour social awakening. Making certain that the media is notified, he hijacks a train and heads for Phoenix, demanding full restoration of rights for his people. Played uneasily for laughs, Flap tries to make up for its shortcomings with a 1970s-style tragic ending, but by that time most of the audience has given up. The working title for Flap was Nobody Loves Flapping Eagle, which was closer to the name of source material, Clair Huffaker's novel Nobody Loves a Drunken Indian. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this syrupy comedy, a father attempts to reconnect with his troubled, estranged son, a philosophy professor. The chance at reconciliation comes when the son learns that his father, whom he hasn't seen in years is fighting a strange nameless movie disease in a French hospital. The young man's wife is not pleased. While aboard the jet, the son reflects upon his upbringing and the fights that would erupt between his mother, a fundamentalist Christian, and his father, an atheist. He remembers how his father turned to a free-spirited artist for comfort. Just before she left him, the artist gave the father a lovely poem. Later after his son became a teacher, the father decides to enter to piece in a poetry contest and wins $10,0000, which he plans to donate to his son's department. Unfortunately someone discovers that the artist's "original" poem is anything but and the father is publicly humiliated while his son is passed for promotion. Seeing how unhappy his son has become, the father decides to go to a church and pray for his son to get promoted. It works, but unfortunately a man had to die for the son to get it leaving the father to be wracked with guilt. Fortunately with the son's arrival comes the father's salvation. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

While investigating a series of burglaries amongst San Francisco's wealthiest residents, Eve (Barbara Anderson) falls in love with one of the victims, suave society columnist Larry Van Druten (Chad Everett). Things become so serious that Eve considers quitting the force to become Larry's wife. There's only one problem: Ironside (Raymond Burr) suspects that Van Druten is the mastermind behind the robbery spree. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, an enchanted pocket watch has endowed Darrin with the powers of a warlock. Alas, Darrin's newfound magical skills have gone to his head, delighting Endora and Maurice, while devastating Samantha. Clearly, Sam's parents will have to be convinced that Darrin would be better off as a mortal. As it turns out, however, Darrin is not quite as intoxicated by his powers as it seems. Written by Rick Mittleman and Ed Jurist, "Darrin the Warlock" was originally telecast on November 27, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having previously appeared on Bewitched as an incompetent "mortal" maid, Alice Ghostley returns to the series in the semi-regular role of Esmerelda, a timid witch hired as the Stephenses' housekeeper by Samantha's mother, Endora. Though Esmerelda is likable enough, she has two curious and troublesome habits: She fades from view whenever she's nervous, and she causes misfire magic to happen whenever she sneezes. Inevitably, Sam and Darrin are forced to cover Esmerelda's tracks when she accidentally conjures up a unicorn. Written by Ed Jurist, "Samantha's Yoo Hoo Maid" first aired on September 25, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Henry Gibson takes time off from his Laugh-In duties to appear in this episode of Bewitched. While trying to magically create a French dessert, Uncle Arthur accidentally conjures up the spirit of Napoleon Bonaparte (Gibson). Though Samantha offers to zap "Nappy" back to his own time, the Little Corporal decides to stick around, especially after he becomes a popular TV commercial star. Written by Richard Baer, "Samantha's French Pastry" originally aired on November 14, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This situation comedy comes from a Bob Fisher and Arthur Marx play. Jonathan Kingsley (David Niven) is the teaching psychiatrist at the local university and is happily married to his wife Alice (Lola Albright). The couple has two teenage daughters, and the trouble begins when the oldest daughter Linda (Christina Ferrare) begins to take an adult interest in boys. Her misadventures corrupt her impressionable sister Abbey (Darlene Carr) and is driving the head of the university, Dean Rockwell (John Harding), absolutely crazy as he fears a scandal that could blight the school. Jonathan is put under review by the board of directors. Linda falls for Jonathan's teaching assistant Richard (Chad Everett) as her father receives neighborly advise from Dr. Fleischer (Ozzie Nelson), a hopeless hypochondriac. Linda is also pursued by a spaced-out hippie (Jeff Cooper) and another admirer (Michael McGreevey). Jonathan tries to stop his daughter's lustful yearnings before the reputation of the university and his family become fodder for the local gossip mongers. The title track is sung by The Cowsills. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

On September 7, 1967, Bewitched launched its fourth season with the episode titled "Long Live the Queen." Ruth McDevitt guest stars as Ticheba, Queen of Witches, who, upon abdicating her throne, demands that Samantha take her place. Reluctantly, Darrin agrees to allow Sam to embark upon the traditional year-long reign, only to have the Stephens household besieged by the "transformed" recipients of Ticheba's previous spells. "Long Live the Queen" was written by Ed Jurist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this melodrama, a teenage girl is desperate to escape her domineering mother and unhappy home life so when an older man proposes, she readily accepts. To sway her parents, the man offers a $200 dowry, It works and they marry. Unfortunately, soon after, the young bride learns that her husband is a pimp; he convinces her to help him, and she ends up arrested and imprisoned. Upon her release the poor girl cannot find a job and so returns to her husband and becomes a hooker. She leaves when she discovers him sleeping with another woman. She then begins drinking heavily and becomes the lowest sort of streetwalker until she has a terrible fight with a drunken john, tumbles into a street and is run down by a car. She does not die, and later during her recovery in a hospital, her parents appear and offer to help her make a new start. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide