Cliff Norton Movies
Cliff Norton was a former disc jockey from Chicago who segued into television during the peak era of the variety show. He found fame with his unique brand of sketch comedy before establishing himself in such classic television series as Studio One and Kraft TV Theater. Norton's early successes included radio's "Fibber McGee and Molly." He would subsequently serve as a World War II bombardier in the Army Air Corps before returning stateside to continue his career in radio. Despite his success in this medium, the talented funnyman's appearances on Garroway at Large lead Norton to New York and eventually a stage and screen career. Films Norton appeared in include It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963), The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), and Funny Lady (1975). In January of 2003, Cliff Norton died in Los Angeles, CA, following a brief illness. He was 84. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide- 1994
Jim (Charles Kimbrough) suggest that the members of the "FYI" staff serve on the judging board for this year's Humboldt Awards. Murphy (Candice Bergen) is assigned to a relatively easy category, finishes her job in record time, and heads off to a music festival with Peter (Scott Bakula)--only to be hauled back to Humboldt headquarters to sit through a stupefyingly boring series of TV documentaries. As Murphy drives her fellow judges crazy with her grousing, Frank (Joe Regalbuto) faces a separate crisis involving his qualification for a Humboldt...or lack of same. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
It's plate-carriers vs. plungers when Alice (Linda Lavin), Vera (Beth Howland) and Jolene (Celia Weston) participate in a TV quiz show. The category is "musical trivia", and the girls' competition consists of a trio of plumbers, led by peppery oldster Louie (Cliff Norton). For a while, it looks like the waitresses are going to win--but that's when the competition starts flushing up the dirty tricks. This episode was codirected by series regular Vic Tayback (Mel). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Filmed as the 72-minute pilot episode for the weekly ABC adventure series, The Feather and Father Gang, Never Con a Killer was held back from view until May 13, 1977, by which time the series proper had already been on for two months...and had already been canceled. Stefanie Powers and Harold Gould star as gorgeous attorney, Toni "Feather" Danton, and Toni's reformed con man father, Harry Danton. Figuring that the best way to catch a crook is to think like a crook, Toni and her dad concoct an elaborate sting operation to bring dishonest horseplayer E. J. Valerian (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) to justice. False identities, clever disguises and deft "switches" are the order of the day in this pleasant trifle, which when it was shown on ABC was not advertised as a movie, but instead as just another Feather and Father Gang episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
This rather complex animated adventure concerns the quest of a toy wind-up mouse and his son to become self-winding.The two accidentally fall off a shelf, and are thrown out with the garbage. Then, they must escape from an evil rat who imprisons them. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1976
- PG
- Add Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood to QueueAdd Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood to top of Queue
This spoof makes fun of a certain famous German shepherd movie star from the 1920s. The mayhem begins when the head honcho of a financially struggling studio turns a lost dog into a legend. The story features a number of old stars making cameo appearances. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Dern, Madeline Kahn, (more)
- 1976
Landing a singing gig in a somewhat shady nightclub, Alice (Linda Lavin) is unaware that most of the other ladies on the premises are engaged in another--er--profession. However, she soon learns what's what when she and two "working girls" (Liberty Williams, Caren Kaye) are hauled off to jail by the vice squad! Though she could be freed by simply paying her fine, Alice refuses to go anywhere until her name and reputation are cleared. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Bob agrees to give Emily a free hand when she redecorates the Hartley apartment. As a result, the place is festooned with ugly antiques and uncomfortable furniture -- and even worse, Bob takes his life in his hands every time he walks into the living room. How can he express his annoyance without hurting Emily's feelings? Also in the cast are Cliff Norton as Maury and Marcia Lewis as Dorothy. Written by Gordon and Lynne Farr, "The New Look" first aired on February 8, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
In Paul Mazursky's rueful character drama, 57-year-old Art Carney plays Harry, a 70-plus Manhattan widower who loses his tiny apartment to the wrecking ball. Accompanied by his pet, an aged cat named Tonto, Harry sets out on an odyssey to Los Angeles. During his journey, he finds a kindred spirit in a youthful hitchhiker (Melanie Mayron), who eventually finds happiness with Harry's grandson (Joshua Mostel). Harry makes stops at the homes of his grown children (Philip Bruns, Ellen Burstyn, and Larry Hagman), but each visit is more disappointing than the last; he also touches base with an old flame (Geraldine Fitzgerald), who has slipped into senility. By the time he arrives in L.A., Harry has become dispirited by his desultory visits with friends and family, but he eventually realizes that each new day can be a beginning rather than an end. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Art Carney, Ellen Burstyn, (more)
- 1971
Seeking the location of a New York repair shop for his broken antique watch, Oliver (Eddie Albert) gets in touch with his former secretary Carol Rush (Elaine Joyce), who is now working for a realtor. One thing leads to another, and by the end of the story Oliver and Carol have combined forces to save her boss from being bilked out of 10,000 dollars. This 170th and final episode of Green Acres was intended as the pilot for a spinoff series starring Elaine Joyce, Emmaline Henry, and Richard Deacon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elaine Joyce, Emmaline Henry, (more)
- 1970
In the conclusion of a three-part story arc, the Clampetts are still in Washington, DC, still determined to hand over their entire fortune to the president as a means of ending America's pollution crisis. Con man Shifty Shafer (Phil Silvers) hopes to get a piece of the Clampetts' financial pie by selling Jed a choice piece of D.C. real estate -- the Capitol building! Not content with the $2 million in his pocket, Shafer overplays his hand by "selling" Jed the rest of Washington's famous monuments. Kathleen Freeman is cast as Shifty's wife Flo. Filmed on location, "Jed Buys the Capitol" first aired on September 29, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Endora's latest spell causes Darrin to speak in nothing but clichés. Normally, Samantha would come to the rescue, but she is saddled with a problem of her own: Tabitha's new warlock tutor Professor Phipps (Jay Robinson) has a disturbing habit of bringing storybook characters to life. A hint of the fun to be had in this episode is the presence in the cast of Todd Barin as the Artful Dodger. First telecast on January 15, 1970, "The Phase Is Familiar" was written by Jerry Mayer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1970
Jilted again, Esmerelda turns to Dr. Bombay for assistance. The doctor creates a love potion designed to cause one Mr. Norton (Cliff Norton) to fall madly in love with Esmerelda. Instead, the potion is accidentally served as a snack at Samantha and Darrin's dinner party for Darrin's new client, Mr. Meiklejohn (Charles Lane) and his wife (Sara Seegar). Written by Richard Baer, "Make Love Not Hate" first aired on April 15, 1970, as the final episode of Bewitched's sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1970
- PG
- Add Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? to QueueAdd Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? to top of Queue
War Games is the streamlined reissue title for the satirical Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? The story is set in a sleepy Southern town, the site of a tranquil army base. Commanding officer Col. Flanders (Don Ameche), anxious to win the hearts and minds of the locals, invites the populace to an ice-breaking dance. When the festivities degenerate into a fistfight, right-wing militia leader Billy Joe Davis (Tom Ewell) declares war against the Army. The film's romantic subplot is carried by Tony Curtis as a love-'em-and-leave-'em sergeant and Suzanne Pleshette as a smarter-than-she-looks local gal. Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? was reworked as in 1984 as Tank. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Keith, Tony Curtis, (more)
- 1969
Master animator Chuck Jones has created this full length fantasy, his first since being name director of MGM's animation department. A young boy (Butch Patrick) is bored with his life in San Francisco and finds himself in a fantasy land where letters and numbers are at war with each other. He drives through the Phantom Tollbooth and into an animated fantasy land. The voices of Mel Blanc, June Foray and Daws Butler are featured in this story taken from the book by Norton Juster. The boy tries to rescue twin Princesses Rhyme and Reason, who have been banished to a castle suspended in mid air above the kingdom. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Butch Patrick, Daws Butler, (more)
- 1969
In the conclusion of a two-part story, a 500,000-dollar contract hangs in the balance as Samantha searches high and low for a runaway monkey -- actually Darrin's sexy Italian client Clio Vanita (Nancy Kovack), who has been "zapped" into simian form by Samantha's cousin, Serena. Along the way, Sam runs into several snags thanks to a flustered cop (Richard X. Slattery) and an Italian gentleman named Scibetta (played by frequent Bewitched supporting player Cliff Norton). Both parts one and two of "Cousin Serena Strikes Again" were written by Ed Jurist. The concluding chapter first aired on January 16, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, (more)
- 1969
Thanks to a spell cast by warlock Professor MacAllister, Darrin becomes the lucky marketer of "the Fuzz," a cute little doll which is literally irresistible. Anticipating a huge financial windfall, Darrin embarks upon a shopping spree, while Samantha and Tabitha, both immune to the Fuzz's charms, try to cure Darrin's enthusiasm before it's too late. Frequent Bewitched supporting actor Cliff Norton is seen as MacAllister. Written by Jerry Mayer and Paul L. Friedman, "One Touch of Midas" originally aired on January 23, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, (more)
- 1969
When Samantha takes up sculpting, Darrin insists that she avoid using witchcraft in her hobby. Reacting with her usual hostile impulsiveness, Endora causes Sam's impressionist statue of Darrin to come to life during a dinner party. The ubiquitous Cliff Norton appears as Darrin's latest client, Mr. Campbell, who thinks that the double Darrins are a result of delirium tremens. Written by Douglas Tibbles, "Samantha the Sculptress" first aired on February 6, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, (more)
- 1969
The Big Day has finally arrived, as Jeannie (Barbara Eden) and Tony (Larry Hagman) prepare to walk down the aisle and be united in matrimony. Naturally, the NASA brass wants to get as much publicity out of the event as possible, so several press photographers are summoned to the wedding. But there's one small hitch: Jeannie is a genie,and genies can't be photographed! This landmark episode affects different people different ways: Some fans regard it as I Dream of Jeannie's "Jump the Shark" moment, after which the series began to go downhill; conversely, star Barbara Eden has cited "The Wedding" as her favorite episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
There may be blood in the streets when the chief of staff of the "Second Force", a paramilitary vigilante group ostensibly set up to fight crime, is murdered. Despite his distaste for the group's racist rantings, Ironside dedicates himself to solving the man's murder before the vigilantes begin exacting vengeance against their supposed enemies. In the course of events, the Chief uncovers the group's true motives--and they are not pure in any way, shape or form. TV talk show host Les Crane appears as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
The Monkees are hired to appear in a Bonnie and Clyde-like crime movie by a shady character named J.L. (Cliff Norton), little-suspecting that the "phony" bank robbery in which they participate is all too real. Hauled into court, Micky, Mike, and Davy must rely upon the last-minute testimony of Peter to establish their innocence -- though they help their own case not at all with their usual monkeyshines. Elisabeth Fraser plays the Judge. Songs: "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Randy Scout Git". First telecast on September 18, 1967, "The Picture Frame" was written by Jack Winter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Comic actor Cliff Norton plays it straight as Captain Kurtz, Klink's new, no-nonsense adjutant. Kurtz' arrival complicates Hogan's efforts to destroy a German munitions train. Adding to the dilemma is the fact that Kurtz gets wind of Hogan's espionage operation and poses as a potential defector. "Everyone Has a Brother-in-Law" is one of several second-season episodes written by Laurence Marks; it was first broadcast on February 17, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1967
Don Rickles guests in this episode as Eddie Rickles (what a stretch!), a former boxer who wants to buy a flower shop. When Mooney (Gale Gordon) denies Eddie the necessary $3000 loan, Lucy (Lucille Ball) takes matters into her own hands by arranging a comeback for the punchy pugilist in a bout with the much-younger Sonny Shaw (Bruce Mars). Her efforts to bolster Eddie's confidence succeed all too well--especially when, after getting her hands on the three grand by other means, Lucy must convince Eddie that he's all washed up! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Rickles, Cliff Norton, (more)
- 1966
- Add The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming! to QueueAdd The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming! to top of Queue
Just because The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming was vastly overrated by contemporary critics does not make it any less amusing. The story gets under way when a Soviet submarine accidently gets lodged in a sandbar on the coast of a New England town. In his feature film debut, Alan Arkin plays the sub's second-in-command, who is ordered by commander Theodore Bikel to free up the sub and skeedaddle before an international incident erupts. Hoping to secure a power boat to tug the sub out to sea, Arkin and his men call upon vacationing TV writer Carl Reiner, passing themselves off as Norwegians. When this ruse fails, Arkin is reluctantly compelled to force Reiner at gunpoint to fetch his motorboat, while gentle-natured Russian sailor John Philip Law is left behind to guard Reiner's wife Eva Marie Saint and pretty neighbor girl Andrea Dromm (yes, love blooms). The plot thickens when the locals, notably bullnecked sheriff Brian Keith and superpatriot Paul Ford, spread the word that the Russians have "invaded" their little community. Several slapstick complications later, the Russians and the locals face each other down in the center of the village, weapons at the ready. Fortunately, World War 3 is averted when the Russians and the villagers band together to rescue young Johnny Whittaker from falling to his doom. Enormously popular upon its first release, The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming still works on a slick sitcom level. The film was based on a novel by Nathaniel Benchley, the son of humorist Robert Benchley and the father of Jaws author Peter Benchley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, (more)
Luther Heggs (Don Knotts) is a typesetter at a newspaper who longs for a chance to be a reporter. Editor Beckett (Dick Sargent) gives Luther his big break and assigns him to spend the night in a house generally considered to be haunted. The situation allows a broad canvas for Knotts to react to sight gags with the special brand of eye-popping nervousness that made him a star. Former Playboy Bunny Joan Staley plays the pretty girlfriend of star reporter Ollie Skip Homeier. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Knotts, Joan Staley, (more)
- 1966
Herman Munster and his ghoulish clan leave the confines of their 1960s television series The Munsters to try their luck on the big screen in this feature length comedy that chronicles their adventures in merry England where Herman has inherited a large estate. Unfortunately, the Munsters do not realize that their new home is already inhabited by a ring of counterfeiters determined to frighten the family back to the United States. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, (more)
