Agnes Moorehead Movies
At age three Agnes Moorehead first appeared onstage, and at 11 she made her professional debut in the ballet and chorus of the St. Louis Opera. As a teenager she regularly sang on local radio. She earned a Ph.D. in literature and studied theater at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She began playing small roles on Broadway in 1928; shortly thereafter she shifted her focus to radio acting, becoming a regular on the radio shows March of Time, Cavalcade of America, and a soap opera series. She toured in vaudeville from 1933-36 with Phil Baker. In 1940 she joined Orson Welles's Mercury Theater Company, giving a great boost to her career. Moorehead debuted onscreen as Kane's mother in Welles' film Citizen Kane (1941). Her second film was Welles' The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), for which she received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination; ultimately she was nominated for an Oscars five times, never winning. In films, she tended to play authoritarian, neurotic, puritanical, or soured women, but also played a wide range of other roles, and was last onscreen in 1972. In the '50s she toured the U.S. with a stellar cast giving dramatic readings of Shaw's Don Juan in Hell. In 1954 she began touring in The Fabulous Redhead, a one-woman show she eventually took to over 200 cities across the world. She was also active on TV; later audiences remember her best as the witch Endora, Elizabeth Montgomery's mother, in the '60s TV sitcom Bewitched. Moorehead's last professional engagement was in the Broadway musical Gigi. She died of lung cancer in 1974. She was married to actors John Griffith Lee (1930-52) and Robert Gist (1953-58). ~ All Movie Guide
Per its title, Jack Smight's Frankenstein: The True Story, strives for greater faithfulness to Mary Shelley's novel than prior versions. Thus, as in the book, Dr. Frankenstein's (Leonard Whiting) creation is no monster, but a handsome young man of high intelligence (Michael Sarrazin). In fact, the doctor and his creature are the best of friends until the latter's body begins to deteriorate. This sends the creature over the bend into insanity, prompting Frankenstein -- with the help of his evil mentor, Dr. Polidori (James Mason), a character not in the Shelley novel -- to try, try again to create a viable synthetic human. The film ends more or less as the novel does, with the outcast Frankenstein and his creature expiring in the frozen wastes of Antarctica. Adapted for television by Christopher Isherwood, Frankenstein: The True Story was originally telecast in two parts on November 30 and December 1, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Dennis Weaver plays a tow-truck driver sent to prison on a trumped-up charges of attempted murder. Out after serving four years, Weaver finds himself a reluctant loner. His wife has died, and his two sons have disappeared. In seeking out his boys, Weaver also keeps an eye out for the man responsible for railroading him into jail. Whenever the script or the character threaten to lapse into cliche, The Rolling Man compensates with attractive camerawork taking full advantage of the Southern California landscape. This TV movie had all the earmarks of a pilot for a series, but there's no evidence to back up this suspicion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
It took several years and several TV movies like Night of Terror for Donna Mills to outgrow her "woman in jeopardy" period. Here she is pursued by a syndicate hit man. Mills doesn't know why, but she does know that her stalker has already killed two people in order to get to her. The lynchpin of the mystery is a earlier traumatic experience which Mills has blocked from her memory. The hit man knows that Mills has witnessed a murder...and he wants to keep her memory clouded on a permanent basis. Former police detective Eddie Egan, the role model for The French Connection's Popeye Doyle, has a supporting role in Night of Terror. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Dining out at a Chinese restaurant, Samantha downs an exotic drink called "The Heavenly Himalayan," and as a result, her face breaks out in red stripes. Worse still, Sam loses all her powers, and the only antidote is the tail feather of the extinct dodo bird. The ensuing complications lead Sam and Darrin on a circuitous route, ending up in the same restaurant where it all began. Janos Prohaska, an "animal impersonator," whose repertoire included gorillas and bears, is here cast as an oversized and very surly dodo bird. Written by Leo Townsend, "Sam's Witchcraft Blows a Fuse" first aired on March 18, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1972
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
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1972
Endora casts a spell on a unicorn-shaped pin, causing all mortals who come within the pin's vicinity to speak nothing but the truth. Not unexpectedly, this hex wreaks havoc on Samantha and Darrin's dinner party for Darrin's new client, Ed Franklin (Parley Baer) and Ed's wife, Cora Mae (Sara Seegar). Written by Ed Jurist, "The Truth, Nothing but the Truth, So Help Me" was originally telecast on March 25, 1972, as the 252nd and final episode of Bewitched. Even if this once-popular series had not fallen victim to the usual attrition of eight seasons on the air, it would have been killed by ABC's boneheaded decision to reschedule Bewitched opposite CBS' Saturday-night blockbuster All in the Family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1972
Bumbling Esmerelda is pressed into service to babysit young Ralph (Ricky Powell), the son of Darrin's new client, Mr. Norton (Richard X. Slattery). In the course of the evening, Esmerelda takes it upon herself to tell Ralph that she's a witch, performing several disastrous acts of witchcraft to prove her point. It is up to Samantha to run damage control by claiming that Esmerelda is really a professional magician. Written by Philip Sharp and Henry Sharp, "Samantha's Magic Sitter" first aired on January 5, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1972
The board of education insists that Tabitha can no longer be home taught; thus, the girl is enrolled in Miss Vogel's second grade class. Annoyed by class bully Charlton Rollnick (Michael Hughes), Tabitha transforms the troublesome youngster into a frog, then "adopts" him as a pet. Maudie Prickett, who played Tabitha's harried nursery-school teacher in the fourth-season Bewitched episode "I Don't Want to Be a Toad," is here seen as Miss Vogel. Others in the cast are Nita Talbot as Charlton's mother and Allen Jenkins as the janitor. First telecast February 12, 1972, "Tabitha's First Day at School" was written by Ed Jurist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1972
Will Geer guest stars as George Washington, who has been accidentally zapped into the 20th century by bumbling Esmerelda. Impressed at the progress made by the country which he fathered, Washington decides to exercise his right of free speech in a local park. As a result, he is arrested for creating a public disturbance and threatening a policeman, forcing Samantha to do some quick witchery. Thad Geer, son of Will Geer, appears as a hippie. The first episode of a two-part story, "George Washington Zapped Here" was written by Michael Morris and originally aired on February 19, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1972
In the second episode of a two-part story, Esmerelda again accidentally causes George Washington (Will Geer) to materialize in the Stephens living room -- and this time George has brought along his wife, Martha (Jane Connell). As Mrs. Washington drinks in the wonders of Samantha's modern kitchen, George insists upon defending himself in court from the public disturbance and assault charges he'd accrued in the previous week's episode. To top it off, Larry and Darrin lose an account thanks to Washington's inability to tell a lie. Written by Michael Morris, "Father of Our Country" first aired on February 26, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1972
Doting grandmother Endora transforms little Tabitha into a seven-year-old genius. Long-suffering Samantha and Darrin convince Tabitha's teacher, Mrs. Peabody (Maudie Prickett), and principal, Mr. Roland (Charles Lane), not to give the girl preferential treatment, but how will Sam handle the fact that Mrs. Peabody has seen Tabitha perform witchcraft in front of the classroom? Apparently, there is only one solution: Tell the whole truth, and reveal to the world that Sam, Tabitha, and Endora are all genuine witches! Written by Michael Morris, "School Daze, School Daze" originally aired on March 4, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1972
Darrin is perplexed when Samantha suddenly gains weight -- several tons, in fact -- while outwardly remaining her usual thin self. Dr. Bombay diagnoses the ailment as "Gravititis Inflammitis," then helpfully prescribes an antidote. As usual, the cure is worse than the disease; now Sam is so light of weight that she literally floats away. And also as usual, the entire situation serves to benefit the ad firm of McMann and Tate. Written by Michael Morris, "Samantha Is Earthbound" originally aired on January 15, 1972, the same day that Bewitched moved from its Wednesday-night timeslot to a Saturday berth opposite CBS' All in the Family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1972
Worried that she's losing her powers, Samantha's lookalike cousin, Serena, decides to settle down to mortal-hood. So that she won't have to bother herself with such exigencies as finding honest work, Serena aims to wed Darrin's wealthiest client, Harrison Woolcott (Peter Lawford). Realizing that such a union would be disastrous, Sam tries to break up the romance, only to be beaten to the punch by one Contessa Piranha (Ellen Weston). Written by Michael Morris, "Serena's Richcraft" first aired on January 22, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1972
Impatient with the slowness of "mortal" skating lessons, Endora cuts to the chase by transforming her granddaughter into a world-class figure skater. Almost immediately, the legendary Billy "Blades" Bookoltzer wants to audition Tabitha for the Olympics, forcing Samantha to take drastic action. Real-life Olympic skating champ Bob Paul appears as Tabitha's nonplussed instructor. Written by Richard Baer, "Samantha on Thin Ice" originally aired on January 29, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1972
Smitten by Larry Tate, Samantha's lookalike cousin Serena slips Larry a pill which makes him progressively younger. Astonished at his rejuvenation, Larry tries to talk Darrin into marketing the pill, little realizing that the side effects would transform the nation's male population into children. Ted Foulkes and David Hayward play the younger versions of Larry Tate (David White). Written by Michael Morris, "Serena's Youth Pill" first aired on February 5, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1971
Suddenly Single is an assembly-line ABC Movie of the Week, given extra value by its attractive star lineup. The ball gets rolling when pharmacist Hal Holbrook is served divorce papers rather than dinner by his wife. Having been out of circulation since his marriage, the handsome but befuddled Holbrook plunges into the '70s singles scene. Comedy alternates with drama until the letdown finale, which may have been acceptable in October of 1971 but is most unsatisfying when seen today. The all-TV cast includes Harvey Korman and Cloris Leachman here seen at their least excessive in their pre-Mel Brooks days. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
In this children's adventure, three kids try to save the good name of a teacher who swears he saw a sea monster, and they end up stumbling across a smuggling operation. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Sally Field and Robert Pratt star as newlyweds Jane and L.T. in this feature-length pilot for an unsold weekly series. Born into wealth, Jane is quite unprepared for her life with farm-bred medical student L.T., especially when the couple move into what may be the tiniest apartment in the least attractive neighborhood of Chicago. Still, Love Finds a Way, even on L.T.'s penurious salary. Had this project gone to series, it would have either been a half-hour sitcom or an hour-long dramedy. This point proved moot when the first NBC telecast of Marriage: Year One on October 15, 1971, also turned out to be the last. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Endora's latest spell causes Darrin to crack bad jokes at the most inappropriate times. When he begins laughing hysterically at the misfortunes of his humorless client, Jameson (Charles Lane), and Jameson's equally taciturn wife (Ysabel MacCloskey), it looks as though Darrin is once more headed for the unemployment line. But with Samantha's help, Darrin has the last laugh on Endora. A pre-Bob Newhart Show Marcia Wallace appears as Betty. Written by Ed Jurist, "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" first aired on April 15, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1971
Samantha suffers guilt feelings when she uses witchcraft to do her housework, and her guilt is compounded when Darrin refuses to get mad. As a result, Sam comes down with a bad case of the hiccups, causing expensive gifts to magically appear in the Stephens household. A blessing in disguise? Not quite: All of the "gifts" have been zapped from a local department store, and before long, a team of detectives comes a-knocking at the Stephenses' door. Dr. Bombay finally reveals that Sam's current dilemma is merely a matter of semantics -- or more specifically, bad spelling. Written by John L. Greene, "Samantha's Psychic Pslip" first aired on April 1, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1971
Up to her usual mischief, Endora transforms Darrin into a ten-year-old boy (Gene Andrusco). So as to avoid embarrassing questions, Samantha passes off little Darrin as his own nephew Marvin. While in his "reduced" state, Darrin gets into a stew-literally-with his new client, food manufacturer "Mother" Flanagan (David Huddleston). Written by Michael Morris, "Out of the Mouths of Babes" originally aired on March 25, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1971
Darrin blows his stack at Endora for magically creating unaffordable luxuries for her grandchildren. Later on, Darrin finds an envelope full of money in a taxi. Assuming that the money was Endora's handiwork, Darrin launches into an argument with Samantha, which ends with Sam "zapping" the cash out of existence. Only one trouble: The money really belonged to a bookie named Rudolph Kosko (Arch Johnson), who has a habit of breaking the bones of those who renege on their debts. Allen Jenkins, who appeared in the previous week's episode as a crooked hunter, is here cast as the cab driver. Written by Milt Rosen, "Money Happy Returns" first aired on March 18, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1971
This time around, Endora has turned Darrin into a gorilla. As Samantha struggles to undo the spell, the now-hirsute Darrin is forced to evade a pair of crooked hunters named Alex (Allen Jenkins) and Pete (Milton Selzer), who are seeking a mate for their 400-pound female ape. Herb Vigran appears in his standard characterization as a flustered police sergeant. Written by Leo Townsend and Pauline Townsend, "Darrin Goes Ape" originally aired on March 11, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1971
Thanks to a molecular mix-up, Samantha and her friend, Louise Tate, exchange personalities. As Dr. Bombay seeks out a remedy (involving the marrow from a tiger's tooth), Sam endeavors to save Louise and Larry's marriage. The brief scene in which Elizabeth Montgomery (Sam) chastely shares a bed with David White (Larry) should amuse those viewers who can recall that 1960 episode of The Untouchables, wherein Montgomery played White's flashy mistress. First telecast on March 4, 1971, "Mixed Doubles" was written by Richard Baer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1971
Endora's latest spell transforms Darrin into an indecisive clod. Once this bit has been squeezed dry, Endora endeavors to prove that Darrin is quite literally pig-headed. The results: Neighbor Gladys Kravitz is all shook up and another ad campaign is placed in jeopardy until Samantha can bring the situation under control. Herbert Edelman guest stars as a Colonel Sanders-ish fast food tycoon. Written by Ed Jurist, "This Little Piggy" was originally slated to air on February 18, 1971, but was seen instead on February 25. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
