Martin Milner Movies

Appointed honorary commodore of the World's Cup Regatta, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) bears witness to the intense rivalry between yachtsmen Kyle Kimball (John Getz) and Ned Larkin (Steve Forrest). Sustaining a pre-race injury, Larkin turns the command of his vessel "Free Spirit" over to his daughter Anne (Andrea Parker). Then, two days before the race, Kyle is murdered--and Anne finds herself the number one suspect. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Nancy Landon (Vera Miles) swoops down on Cabot Cove with the announcement that her son Steve (Richard Gilliland) had been fathered by the late husband of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). With this in mind, Nancy insists that Jessica is obligated to help clear Steve fraud and murder charges related to the Landons' construction business. Though it pains her to do so, Jessica does what she can to prove Steve's innocence. Also in the cast is Martin Milner as Jessica's friend Clint Phelps, who may know more about the case than he's letting on. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Learn to prevent shoplifting in your store. ~ Rovi

Ann Blyth guest stars as Franchesca Lodge, an old friend of mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). Recently married to a much-younger man named Scott (Stacey Nelkin), Franchesca has been terrorized of late by what seems to be the ghost of her first husband. Since Franchesca has had a history of mental problems and profound lapses of memory, the authorities doubt her "haunting" story--and when her second husband is murdered, those same authorities jump to the conclusion that Franchesca has gone completely insane and committed murder. Jessica of course refuses to believe this, and thus does the sleuthing commence! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Seekers was the third and last TV movie based on John Jakes' Kent Family Chronicles (the others were The Bastard and The Rebels). Heading the huge all-star cast is Randolph Mantooth as Abraham Kent, son of elderly Revolutionary War vet Andrew Kent (played by Martin Milner, replacing the first two films' Andrew Stevens), who has resettled in the treacherous Northwest Territory. Part One of this two-part, four-hour production finds young Abraham trying out a series of occupations, while his brother Gilbert (George Deloy) goes into his father's publishing business. Part Two takes us up to the War of 1812, as seen through the eyes of Jarod and Amanda Kent (Timothy P. Murphy and Sarah Rush), who shortly thereafter head westward. Originally syndicated as part of the Operation Prime Time package, The Seekers made its debut during the week of December 2, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Anna Sewell's 1906 novel Black Beauty was given its most elaborate and thorough filmization to date in this five-part TV presentation. The scene has been shifted from England to Maryland, but otherwise Sewell's story about 13 years in the life of the beautiful and headstrong colt Black Beauty remains intact. In part one, telecast January 31, 1978, we see how Black Beauty is raised from a foal by the family of farmer Tom Gray (Martin Milner). When Tom suffers a stroke, his wife (Eilleen Brennan) sells both farm and colt. Filmed in Kentucky, Black Beauty was narrated throughout its run by David Wayne. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Death Flight was originally known as SST: Death Flight when it was first telecast February 25, 1977. Though fairly expensive so far as TV movies go, the film is brought down to earth by its standard B-flick plot. On its maiden flight, America's first supersonic transport runs into deadly danger high in the sky-and may never get to land. In true Airport fashion, the plane is populated with celebrities (at least by TV standards): Barbara Anderson, Bert Convy, Peter Graves, Lorne Greene, Tina Louise, George Maharis, Burgess Meredith, Doug McClure, Martin Milner, Robert Reed, Susan Strasberg, Billy Crystal, and even Regis Philbin. The film's working title was Death of the Maiden, but this was too close to Death and the Maiden, the 90-minute pilot episode of the 1973 Jimmy Stewart TV series Hawkins. Death Flight was later syndicated as SST: Disaster in the Sky. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This was the pilot for the 1975 TV series based on the novel by Johann Wyss. Martin Milner is the paterfamilias of the Robinsons, cast adrift on a tropical island and forced to forge their own society. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The seventh and final season of Adam-12 spends a bit more time on the private lives of LAPD officers Malloy (Martin Milner) and Reed (Kent McCord) than in previous years. Reed was seen commiserating with his wife Jean, played by Kristin Harmon (replacing season two's Mikki Jamison). As for the unmarried Malloy, he devoted much of his down time to talking about his new girlfriend Judy, who was seen from time to time in the person of actress Aneta Corsaut, better known as Helen Crump on The Andy Griffith Show. The season opens with one of the series' rare two-part episodes, "Camp," and closes with another two-parter, "Something Worth Dying For." In between, the viewer is treated to one of Adam-12's best-ever episodes, "X-Force," in which Malloy loses his cool with a child abuser and smacks his handcuffed prisoner against a wall -- leading to an excessive-force charge, with Reed reluctantly corroborating the evidence. Although Adam-12's ratings suffered mightily as a result of being scheduled opposite Happy Days and Good Times, the series still enjoyed a loyal following during its final season -- and, as a bonus, it had entered the Valhalla of media history as prime time's last-ever half-hour dramatic network series. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Although Adam-12 slipped a bit in the ratings during its sixth season, ranking 23rd as opposed to the previous season's Number 11 slot, the series remained America's most popular half-hour dramatic series. In fact, by 1973 it was America's only half-hour dramatic series. In hopes of enlivening the series' format, the producers took LAPD officers Malloy (Martin Milner) and Reed (Kent McCord) away from their usual beat, and allowed them to tool their familiar squad car to a variety of different districts and divisions. This season, the partners did duty at LAX, the Los Angeles Harbor, the Foothill District, the West Valley area, Venice, Van Nuys, and both Hollywood and North Hollywood. The best of these location jaunts occurred in the two-parter "Skywatch," in which Malloy and Reed worked with the department's helicopter division, an assignment distinguished by some truly breathtaking aerial footage. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

First telecast January 15, 1972, Emergency is of course the 2-hour pilot episode for the weekly series of the same name. Robert Fuller heads the cast as Dr. Kelly Brackett, head of the staff of LA's Ramparts General Hospital. Brackett oversees the activities of Paramedics Squad 51 of the Los Angeles Fire Department, peopled by such experts in their field as John Gage (Randolph Mantooth) and Roy DeSoto (Kevin Tighe). Also on hand are Dr. Joe Early and nurse Dixie McCall, played by real-life husband and wife Bobby Troup and Julie London (London was previously married to Emergency executive producer Jack Webb). The series proper debuted January 22, 1972, as a mid-season replacement for two failed NBC sitcoms; it survived several cancellation attempts, running until September 3, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Looking more like a unmade bed than one of the world's greatest homicide detectives, Lt. Columbo is still the best man to solve the mysterious death of a popular mystery writer. Though he quickly finds the culprit, the killer has devised airtight alibis and Columbo must use all of his considerable faculties to trick him into a confession. Steven Spielberg's direction coupled with Steven Bochco's deft writing and Peter Falk's flawless portrayal of the laid-back gumshoe, makes "Murder by the Book" one of the series' finest episodes. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

As Adam-12 begins its third season, former rookie cop Jim Reed (Kent McCord) is promoted to full officer. No one is happier about this promotion than Jim's crusty veteran partner Pete Malloy (Martin Milner), who has regarded Reed as an equal all along. The supporting cast this season includes such series stalwarts as William Boyett as Sgt. McDonald and Gary Crosby as Officer Ed Wells. The one "new" cast member, Claude Johnson as Officer Norm Green, isn't new at all: during the past season, actor Johnson was seen from time to time in a similar role, as Officer Brinkman. Also, there are a number of noteworthy guest stars, including film noir regular Marie Windsor, legendary comedian Morey Amsterdam, and former singing star Dorothy Shay (aka "The Park Avenue Hillbilly"). The season's best episode is "Log 105 - Elegy for a Pig." Narrated by Pete Malloy, the episode recounts the last hours in the life of Pete's former partner, who had been killed in the line of duty. In other episodes, the partners must deal with street gangs, arsonists, a car-theft ring using beautiful girls as come-ons, game poachers, a misguided band of militants, and at least one naked motorist! Although it was fashionable amongst certain "hip" circles to deride Adam-12 as corny and reactionary, the public at large certainly didn't feel that way: the series ended its third season as America's 12th highest-rated program. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi