Ben Murphy Movies
Born in Arkansas and raised in Memphis and Chicago, American actor Ben Murphy worked his way through college by driving a pie truck. Eventually he'd attend eight colleges, from the University of Illinois to the University of the Americas in Mexico City, where by his own admission his sole interests were acting and womanizing. A stint at the Pasadena Playhouse led to Murphy's first film role, a one line bit in The Graduate (1967). He was signed to a Universal contract in 1967, appearing in several of the studios' series, including as a semiregular hitch on The Name of the Game. When a midseason cancellation on ABC in 1970 required Universal to come up with a quickie replacement, the studio slapped together a derivation of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid titled Alias Smith and Jones, with Ben Murphy and Pete Deuel in the leads. Much was made at the time of Murphy's resemblance to Paul Newman (one of the stars of Butch Cassidy), though everyone involved with Alias Smith and Jones pooh-poohed the idea that Murphy's looks alone won him the part. After Smith and Jones left the air, Murphy tried his luck with feature films, with results ranging from the tolerable to the tepid: Heat Wave (1974), Sidecar Racers (1975) and Time Walker (1982) were typical titles in the Murphy manifest. He periodically returned to television, where work was more satisfying if not more secure. Ben Murphy was a regular on a whole slew of short-lived TV weeklies, including Griff (1973), The Gemini Man (1976) (for which Murphy dropped several pounds and, it is said, his highly abrasive attitude), The Chisholms (1979), The Winds of War (1983), Lottery$ (1984), Berrenger's (1985), and Dirty Dozen: The Series (1988). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 2003
Drew (Drew Carey) falls for his minister's daughter, a bisexual named Elaine (Amy Pietz). When Elaine hits on another girl named Teri (Melanie Deanne Moore), Drew lecherously looks forward to a kinky "threesome"--but alas, he falls fast asleep just before the Big Moment. Elsewhere: Will Mimi (Kathy Kinney) take Steve (John Carroll Lynch) back once she sees how he's decorated their house in her absence? Originally scheduled to air on February 14, 2003, this episode was moved to March 7, then ultimately telecast in tandem with "What's Love Got to Do With It?" on July 2. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1993
Dr. Mike (Jane Seymour) faces the breakup of her adopted family when Ethan Cooper (Ben Murphy), father of Matthew (Chad Allen), Colleen (Erika Flores), and Brian (Shawn Toovey), shows up in Colorado Springs. Promising not to desert the kids again, Ethan fills their heads with fanciful stories of a wonderful future in San Francisco -- and the youngsters are inclined to believe him and bid Dr. Mike farewell. Elsewhere, Sully (Joe Lando) finally learns how to ride a horse...sort of. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joe Lando, Chad Allen, (more)
- 1991
- R
Patsy Kensit stars in Don Boyd's distaff version of Alfie, with Kensit playing 21-year-old Katie, an attractive and self-absorbed Londoner who has just reached this milestone of an age and is trying to make some sense out of it. Until now, Katie has enjoyed life and all its pleasures without thinking too much about it. But, as she speaks to the camera, she reflects upon the men in her life and wonders if she has made all the right romantic decisions. There is Bobby (Rufus Sewell), her charming Scottish boyfriend, who has a propensity for slipping off to the bathroom for a heroin fix. And then there is Jack (Patrick Ryecart), another lover, whose sad-eyed demeanor belies his lack of sexual excitement. So what should Katie do about her beaux, particularly when she is preparing to move to New York? ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Patsy Kensit, Jack Shepherd, (more)
- 1990
British playwright Willy Russell (Shirley Valentine, Educating Rita) adapts his play Stags and Hens for the screen and, with director Mike Ockrent, who also directed the stage production of Educating Rita, succeeds in conveying the cocky-eyed and aimless textures of working-class Liverpool ("It's like Beirut without the sun" one character points out) in Dancin' Thru the Dark. In this atmosphere-laden character piece, Linda (Claire Hackett) is out cavorting with her friends on the night before her wedding at a Liverpool nightery. But then her husband-to-be and his friends arrive to celebrate at the same joint. As if that weren't enough coincidence to go around, pop singer Peter (Con O'Neill), Linda's ex-boyfriend, and his rock band arrive in town to play a gig -- and it happens to be at the same club. Then Linda's past and future come together like two smashing beer mugs. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Con O'Neill, Angela Clarke, (more)
- 1988
This tape collection consists of selected episode from the Fox Network TV series The Dirty Dozen. Per the title, the series was inspired by the popular 1967 theatrical film of the same name. During World War II, a group of GI prisoners with nothing to lose are taken from their "home" in Marston Military Prison. Ordered to whip this wild bunch into a crack special-forces unit, Lt. Danko (Ben Murphy) must instill discipline without completely diluting the prisoners' killer instincts. Instead of the rapists and perverts of the original film, each of the twelve misfits is blessed with highly developed individual skills: one is a master of disguise, another a strategist, still another a demolition expert (What price Mission: Impossible?) Inexpensively filmed in Yugoslavia, TV's The Dirty Dozen was originally broadcast April 30 to July 30, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
In this sequel to the 1985 TV movie Stark, Nicholas Surovy once again assumes the role of no-nonsense Wichita cop Evan Stark. When his former partner Steve Graves (Ben Murphy) is murdered, Stark exceeds his authority by tracking the killer to Las Vegas. In addition to Surovy, Dennis Hopper, Pat Corley, and Barry Gordon repeat their Stark roles, respectively cast as Las Vegas Police Lieutenant Ron Bliss, Wichita Police Chief Waldron, and Lee Fogel. Also in the cast are two future stars: Kirstie Alley as sultry lounge singer Maggie Carter (performing "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good" and "Taking a Chance on Love") and Gina Gershon as Allison Cromwell. Like its predecessor, Stark: Mirror Image, which debuted May 14, 1986, on CBS, was intended as the pilot for a weekly series. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
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
- 1985
In this comedy, Gidget, the all-American surfer girl, has grown up, married Moondoggie, and become a travel agent. She and he, who have been married for seven years, are experiencing marital problems due to their careers and monetary pressure. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1984
The short-lived prime-time TV soap opera Berrenger's was introduced with this 90-minute opener. Berrenger's is a fancy New York department store, owned by family patriarch Simon Berrenger (Sam Wanamaker). Simon announces his plans to merge with another store, much to the dismay of his son Paul (Ben Murphy), the company president. Complications include the married Simon's clandestine romance with female exec Yvette Mimieux, a deep dark secret harbored by model Laura Ashton, and the trials and tribulations of starry-eyed new employee Leslie Hope. Berrenger's debuted January 5, 1985; by March 9, it was history. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
In the final episode of the seven-part, eighteen-hour miniseries The Winds of War, Ambassador-at-large "Pug" Henry (Robert Mitchum) represents the US in a series of conferences with the intansigent Russian premier Josef Stalin (Anatoly Chauginian). Dallying briefly with his erstwhile British sweetheart Pamela Tudsbury (Victoria Tennant), Pug stays in Moscow long enough to witness the attempted Nazi invasion. Meanwhile, Pug's daughter-in-law Natalie (Ali McGraw) and her Uncle Aaron (John Houseman) are among the Jewish refugees being smuggled into Palestine. And back in the Western Hemisphere, Pug's sons Byron (Jan-Michael Vincent) and Warren (David Dukes) are swept up in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Winds of War was adapted by Herman Wouk from his own novel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Mitchum, Ali MacGraw, (more)
This World War II epic drama, based on the book by Herman Wouk, follows the life and trials of a career naval officer (Robert Mitchum) sent to Germany during Hitler's rise to power, who witnesses the gradual escalation of the war. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- 1983
The pilot for an unsold weekly series, Uncommon Valor stresses the courage and resourceful of a team of firefighters in Salt Lake City, Utah. Headed by dauntless batallion chief Tom Riordan (Mitchell Ryam), the unit tries to drench a raging conflagration at County General Hospital (a disaster enhanced by some pretty good special effects). They also have to battle the villain of the piece, discreetly described in the original network press release as a "deranged arsonist." A production of Sunn Classic Pictures, the made-for-TV Uncommon Valor originally aired January 22, 1983, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
Originally made for television and adapted from a novel by Mary Higgins Clark, the story focuses on an attorney (Lauren Hutton) who has witnessed a murder. She is unable to convince anyone of the truth, though a young doctor (Ben Murphy) wants to believe her. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- 1982
- PG
In this horror outing, a California archaeologist has obtained the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamen and has taken it to his lab to be x-rayed. Unfortunately, the radiation levels he uses are too high and something begins to happen inside the coffin. Suddenly the mummy within storms out. Inside all the wrappings is an alien creature, the one who killed the king. He begins searching for the crystals he needs to return to his home planet. Frustrated, he begins a killing spree. Unlike movie mummies of old, this fellow is quite agile and can easily capture his human prey. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ben Murphy, Nina Axelrod, (more)
- 1980
In this WW II adventure, a team of female pilots perform dangerous missions on both sides of enemy lines. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1979
The Chisholms was a three-part miniseries adapted by Evan Hunter from his own novel. Covering the years 1842 through 1844, the dramatization follows the westward trek of the Chisholm family. Patriarch Robert Preston is driven from his midwestern homestead by a feud. Starting down the Ohio river, Preston and his family head for the greener pastures of Oregon. In Part Two, a romantic angle is introduced thanks to young lovers Stacey Nelkin and Charles Frank, while the Chisholms' safety is threatened by thieves and hostile lawmen. Several deaths impede the family's progress in Part Three, which brings the pilgrims to Wyoming. Spread out over four weeks (from March 29 through April 19, 1979), this miniseries version of The Chisholms served as the precursor to a weekly TV series, which did without the services of Robert Preston (who was unceremoniously knocked off in the first episode). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1976
The Gemini Man (Ben Murphy) is a guy who was exposed to a laboratory mix-up that gave him the power to become invisible at will. With such a skill he's appointed a dangerous task that brings him into contact with a crazed scientist who's involved in a deadly scheme. ~ Rovi
- 1976
Based on the exploits of real-life 1830s frontiersman James Bridger, this TV movie was supposed to have graduated to a weekly series, but the fates were against it. James Wainwright plays the title role with Gary Cooper-like stoicism. John Anderson guest stars as President Andrew Jackson, who orders Bridger to blaze a trail from Wyoming to California. The film is extremely disorganized, suggesting that it was cobbled together from several shorter Bridger episodes. Moreover, the film was rather choppily pared down from 100 minutes to 78. When Bridger rescues Sally Field from bandits, we don't even know who her character is or why the hero is so interested in her plight. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1976
Code Name: Minus One is the syndication title for the TV movie The Gemini Man. Ben Murphy stars as a secret agent for an organization called INTERSECT (International Security Technics). When saboteurs blow up an underwater testing lab, Murphy is exposed to radiation; as a result, he finds that he turns invisible every so often. Since the invisibility lasts for only 15 minutes at a time, Murphy must hustle if he hopes to capture the saboteurs. This pilot film was successful in selling the subsequent Gemini Man TV series, even though it drags badly at 100 minutes. When the film went out as Code Name: Minus One, 22 of the most boring minutes were snipped out. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1975
- PG
In this lively sports drama, Jeff Rayburn has no direction in his life since he competed in the Olympic games as a swimmer. The American had been simply bumming around Australia until he teamed up with biker Dave Ferguson and began sidecar racing. When not involved in racing, the two tussle for the love of the wealthy heiress Lynn Carson. While Ferguson is a nice fellow, he is notorious for taking risks that endanger the lives of his partners. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ben Murphy, Wendy Hughes, (more)
- 1974
The lighthearted title of this made-for-TV film deftly sets the mood for the 74 minutes to follow. Ben Murphy stars as a rogueish Wild Bill Hickok, carrying on with an incongruously glamorous Calamity Jane (Kim Darby). Amidst the gambling and lovemaking, Will Bill must fend off a gang of vengeful gunslingers. This being a Roy Huggins production, we shouldn't be amazed that Rockford Files regular Stuart Margolin shows up as "Blind Pete". Also starring Jane Alexander (who'd later play Calamity Jane herself) and Tony Franciosa, This is the West That Was premiered December 17, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
In this western, Wild Bill Hickock and his gal Calamity Jane have numerous adventures. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1974
Ben Murphy and Bonnie Bedelia star in the made-for-TV suspenser Heat Wave. Murphy plays a young clerk, and Bedelia portrays his young and pregnant wife. During a record-breaking hot spell, the power in their mountain community goes out, and the water supply is dirty and stagnant. The balance of the film concerns the couple's attempt to escape the heat by descending the surrounding hills. Heat Wave would probably have melted in the ratings had it been scheduled in the summer; thus, it was sagaciously slated for a mid-January debut in 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
The "feature film" Death Follows the Psycho is actually comprised of footage culled from the 1973-74 TV series Griff. Lorne Greene stars as Wayne "Griff" Griffin, a former police captain who becomes a private eye after the murder of his patrolman son. Ben Murphy costars as Griff's assistant Mike Murdoch. Most of Death Follows the Psycho consists of the 60-minute Griff episode "Countdown to Terror", which first aired November 17, 1973. Ricardo Montalban guests as a "human time bomb", who threatens to blow up four hostages unless Griff delivers the man Montalban really wants to kill. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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