Cameron Mitchell Movies
The son of a Pennsylvania minister, actor Cameron Mitchell first appeared on Broadway in 1934, in the Lunts' modern-dress version of Taming of the Shrew. He served as a bombardier during World War II, and for a brief period entertained thoughts of becoming a professional baseball player (he allegedly held an unsigned contract with the Detroit Tigers until the day he died). Mitchell was signed to an MGM contract in 1945, but stardom would elude him until he appeared as Happy in the original 1949 Broadway production of Death of the Salesman. He re-created this role for the 1951 film version, just before signing a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox. Throughout the 1950s, Mitchell alternated between likeable characters (the unpretentious business executive in How to Marry a Millionaire [1952]) and hissable ones (Jigger Craigin in Carousel [1956]); his best performance, in the opinion of fans and critics alike, was as drug-addicted boxer Barney Ross in the 1957 biopic Monkey on My Back. Beginning in the 1960s, Mitchell adroitly sidestepped the IRS by appearing in dozens of Spanish and Italian films, only a few of which were released in the U.S. He also starred in three TV series: The Beachcomber (1961), The High Chapparal (1969-1971), and Swiss Family Robinson (1976). Mitchell spent the better part of the 1970s and 1980s squandering his talents in such howlers as The Toolbox Murders, though there were occasional bright moments, notably his performance as a neurotic mob boss in 1982's My Favorite Year. A note for trivia buffs: Cameron Mitchell also appeared in the first CinemaScope film, The Robe (1953). Mitchell was the voice of Jesus in the Crucifixion scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This Florida-lensed slasher silliness (not surprisingly produced by exploitation overlord Fred Olen Ray) is enlivened only slightly by posthumous cameos from John Carradine and Cameron Mitchell, as well as appearances from B-movie "Scream Queens" Linnea Quigley and Brinke Stevens. The plot is basically a riff on the standard Freddy Krueger-esque supernatural-maniac formula, only here the unstoppable psycho is merely a lumbering ghoul with a big pumpkin for a head, awakened from a cursed sleep on Halloween night by the usual handful of obnoxious teenage morons. Amid confusing flashback sequences and some phony occult blathering (courtesy of the town witch), we're told that Jack-O is the incarnation of a murdered farmer who has returned to avenge himself by taking a scythe to his killers' ancestors, but this particular pumpkinhead's people-reaping spree seems to cover a much broader swath, including a crop of nubile young things -- preferably just out of the shower, or fresh from a randy romp in the local cemetery. Even allowing for a certain camp appeal, there's not an original concept to be found amid the abundant nudity and severed limbs. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linnea Quigley, Rebecca Wicks, (more)
- 1993
In this taut drama, a couple's road trip turns deadly when they are ambushed by three fugitive cons trying to stay away from a police roadblock. They take the car off the road and end up speeding right into a very deep abandoned mine. They must then somehow make it through many confusing tunnels. Unfortunately, it's not that simple because something evil is lurking in the darkness, and it doesn't like visitors. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1990
This performance video features LeVar Burton, Ruby Dee and Cameron Mitchell reading great poems by Tennesee Williams, James Dickey and others. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1990
A vengeful Arab terrorist abducts the daughter of the President during a Beverly Hills shopping spree, and now only Hack Stone, a former Green Beret and current martial arts instructor can save her. This campy low-budget actioner chronicles shows how he does it. Complicating matters is the fact that the lead terrorist wants revenge upon Stone, whom he blames for the death of his family. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Filmmaker David Leland handled the directing chores on this British drama that stars Liam Neeson as an unemployed Scotsman whose inability to find a job threatens his family's wellbeing. Against his better judgement, Neeson is coerced into a bare-knuckle boxing match. Crossing the Line's supporting cast includes Hugh Grant, Joanne Whaley-Kilmer, Cameron Mitchell, and Billy Connolly. Adapted from a novel by William McIvanney, the film has also been released under the title The Big Man. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liam Neeson, Joanne Whalley, (more)
Vigilantism proves to be the only form of justice left to a man when he must avenge a drug lord's terrible crime. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- R
A former CIA agent (Robert Ginty) is released from prison to track down his terrorist rival (James Ryan), who has kidnapped the family of a Middle Eastern monarch. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Ginty, Shannon Tweed, (more)
- 1989
Pretty young Barri Murphy witnesses a gangland rubout, compelling her to head for the hills. The killers want to silence Barri for keeps, not only because of what she's seen but because of possible retaliation. You see, the victim was Barri's boyfriend. The fox-and-hounds pursuit ends up in Texas, allowing for mucho car chases and smashups. No doubt about it: Action USA delivers what the title promises. PS: Are you surprised that Cameron Mitchell and William Smith are in the cast? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barri Murphy, William Hubbard Knight, (more)
- 1989
- R
In this suspense/action/thriller, the backwoods connivings of corrupt officials of a Tennessee town lead to rape and murder. What's worse, state officials refuse to look into the situation there until the inexplicably absent town sheriff returns with the feds. The trouble comes to a head when the town mayor appoints his sadistic but none-too-bright nephew to fill the (apparently) vacated sheriff's spot. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Orwig, Cameron Mitchell, (more)
- 1989
This documentary presents interviews and clips with some of cinema's best loved cult figures. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Cameron Mitchell seems to have spent the better part of the 1980s starring in films about African revolutions. The plot of Killers is set in motion by a military coup, toppling a decent regime and installing a vicious dictator. Most of the action takes place in the jungle, and much of it is filmed with a vertigo-inducing hand-held camera. As is often the case in films like these, the audience has trouble determining who the true heroes and villains are until about ten minutes before the end. Killers also stars Alicia Hammond and Robert Dix. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
This wartime action/adventure movie is unusual in having Reagan's invasion of the Caribbean country of Grenada as its focal point. South African action star James Ryan plays Blaine Striker, a resourceful race-car driver who has come to the island nation to visit his medical student brother Ryan (Liam Cundill). Meanwhile, the country is taken over by the nefarious Marxist General Turner (Oliver Reed), who takes Ryan and the other students (many of them very attractive women) hostage. With the help of CIA man Miller (Cameron Mitchell), a rescue is effected and an alliance is formed with local rebels, led by Wally Arn (Henry Cele). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ryan, Oliver Reed, (more)
- 1988
- R
A crazed hermit comes out of isolation to terrorize campers in the woods for a weekend getaway. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1988
In this actioner, a small town mayor kills a young girl, stashes her corpse in a junk yard and figures that no one will be the wiser. He then continues his reign of terror on his town until a vengeful mercenary shows up to stop him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- PG
In this sci-fi adventure a courageous crewman fights to stop a mutiny and save the ship from the deadly Kalgan space pirates. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reb Brown, John Phillip Law, (more)
- 1987
- R
Turkey (David Goss) is a Hollywood cop who goes undercover against the mob in this routine crime adventure. With his partner Jaguar (Lincoln Kilpatrick), Turkey helps Rebecca Fresno (Julie Schoenhofer) find her young son kidnapped when her husband Joe (Larry Lawrence) stiffs the mob to the tune of 6 million. Troy Donahue and Aldo Ray co-star with Jim Mitchum and Cameron Mitchell. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Mitchum, Cameron Mitchell, (more)
- 1987
- R
This violent actioner owes an enormous tip-o-the-hat to The Most Dangerous Game (1932) for its plotline about a secret mercenary training camp where recruits shoot real people instead of stationary targets. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cameron Mitchell, Troy Donahue, (more)
This horror anthology is hosted by Vincent Price and features a quartet of chilling stories, all of which took place in a single town that seems to inspire people to do horrendous things to each other. The stories contain scenes of graphic violence and considerable gore. The film is also known as From a Whisper to a Scream. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Price, Clu Gulager, (more)
- 1986
A sprawling adaptation of the same-named novel by David Nevin, the three-part CBS miniseries Dream West starred Richard Chamberlain as colorful, controversial American explorer John Charles Fremont (1813-1890). The story detailed the visionary (and occasionally mercenary) Fremont's lifelong war against shortsided authority figures, beginning with his early skirmishes with the "brass" as an Army officer. In 1842, Fremont embarked upon his greatest adventure, heading an expedition to map the Oregon Trail -- the first step towards opening the entire North American continent to free and unimpeded exploration. His mission pitted Fremont against hostile Indians, the Mexican army, and the U.S. government itself. Along the way, he crossed paths with scores of historical figures, including Kit Carson, Jim Bridge, John Sutter, and President Abraham Lincoln. Alice Krige, Richard Chamberlain's vis-à-vis in the earlier Wallenberg: A Heroes' Story, co-starred as Jessie Benton, the headstrong senator's daughter who became Fremont's wife. Running seven hours in all (plus commercials), Dream West was originally telecast from April 13 to 15, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
- R
This enjoyably sleazy action film stars Fred Williamson as Jake Turner, a burglar who also happens to be an ex-con and a former Green Beret. When Turner's drug-addicted wife dies, he begins murdering the dealers and mobsters whom he holds responsible, including genre favorite Joe Spinell (Maniac). Turner does a bit more traveling than the usual revenge-movie hero, spilling blood in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Italy as well as Los Angeles. Christopher Connelly co-stars with crime-movie veterans Val Avery and Cameron Mitchell. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred Williamson, Sandy Cummings, (more)
- 1986
This low-budget, supernatural, tongue-in-cheek story is about an ancient Egyptian princess out to maintain her immortality. Nefratis (Michelle Bauer) has two problems: her tomb has been desecrated, and she needs some special amulets (now in California) that are used in the rituals of human sacrifice to keep herself alive. After she kills the professor responsible for the sacrilege committed against her tomb, the professor's son David Manners (Richard Alan Hench) and his friend Helen (Susan Stokey) set out to solve the mystery behind the murder. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cameron Mitchell, John Carradine, (more)
- 1986
- R
Weapons expert Cooper (Robert Ginty) travels to Central America to help deliver arms to a rebel force, but his friend (Cameron Mitchell) is killed by a mercenary force. Cooper takes over command of the rebel army, determined to finish what his friend started. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1986
- R
This is a dull, by-the-book actioner whose only merit is a good performance by actress Akosua Busia, later nominated for an Academy Award for her work in The Color Purple. When Karen, the daughter of a well-heeled businessman (Troy Donahue) has been swallowed up by a religious cult, her father hires ex-cop Joe Wong (Leo Fong) to bring her back safe and sound. Before tackling this assignment, Wong spends a lot of time in a Darwinian process of natural selection, weeding out the tough guys who will go in with him to rescue Karen. Their chief nemesis is blind cult leader Yarakunda (Cameron Mitchell) and his sharp assistant Karma (Akosua Busia). ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leo T. Fong, Akosua Busia, (more)
- 1986
- R
In this actioner, young people become a crack team of elite commandos and head for Central America to save the life of a kidnapped American ambassador's daughter who happens to be a friend of theirs. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Blair, James Van Patten, (more)
