Doris Packer Movies

A frankly adult comedy about the sex lives of the aimless and the rich, Shampoo is also a pointed commentary on the demise of 1960s idealism at the dawn of the Nixon era. It is Election Day, 1968, and randy Beverly Hills hairdresser George Roundy (Warren Beatty) is too worried about attending to all of his women's tonsorial and sexual needs, while trying to swing a bank loan to fund his own salon, to notice the fateful Presidential race. As George juggles the demands of girlfriend Jill (Goldie Hawn) and mistress Felicia (Lee Grant), not to mention Felicia's daughter (Carrie Fisher), he meets Felicia's husband Lester (Jack Warden) to get money for the salon and discovers that his beloved ex-girlfriend Jackie (Julie Christie) is now Lester's mistress. Lester asks George to escort Jackie to a banquet for Nixon supporters, leading to a series of climactic confrontations at the dinner and a Hollywood orgy that expose the conflicting demands of sex, love, and security among these terminally narcissistic L.A. denizens. As Nixon's victory speech drones in the background the following day and Paul Simon's mournful '60s music plays on the soundtrack, George's free-wheeling world collapses around him for reasons that he can barely begin to comprehend. Produced and co-written (with Chinatown scribe Robert Towne) by its star Warren Beatty, Shampoo became Beatty's second critical and popular success as a producer after Bonnie and Clyde, and it bolstered Hal Ashby's track record as director. Shampoo earned Grant an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, as well as a Supporting Actor nomination for Warden and Beatty's first nomination as writer. With Nixon's 1974 Watergate disgrace adding an extra edge to the humor for 1975 audiences, this tragic bedroom farce became one of the highest-grossing films in Columbia Pictures' history at the time. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

Rick Richards (Elvis Presley) is a helicopter pilot who is grounded when his chopper runs federal aviation official Donald Beldon (John Doucette) off the road in Paradise, Hawaiian Style. Already suspended as a airline pilot, he and partner Danny Kohana (James Shigeta) struggle to keep their business flying. Suzanna Leigh plays the pretty secretary, but Elvis does not limit his affections to just one girl. Technical credits and locations scenes of the beautiful islands are the highlight of the film. Presley warbles his usual slew of songs, but most are unremarkable. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Rock-throwing Ernest T. Bass returns to Mayberry, again bound and determined to find a sweetheart. To help Ernest T. along-and to prevent damage to the town's windows and storefronts-Andy and Barney take it upon themselves to transform the rambunctious hillbilly into a gentleman. The acid test comes when Andy passes Ernest T. off as his "cousin from Boston" at a fancy soiree held by local social arbiter Mrs. Wiley (Doris Packer). "How dew you dew, Mis-sus Wahh-lee?" First telecast on February 3, 1964, "My Fair Ernest T. Bass" was written by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Beaver (Jerry Mathers) is thrilled that he's been chosen to appear on "Teen-Age Forum," a local television discussion show. On the day Beaver is scheduled to make his TV debut, his parents tune in, his friends tune in, and his teacher and principal tune in. But where's Beaver? Well, it seems that no one told him (or anyone else) that the show is taped a week in advance.... ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Assigned to write a book report on The Three Musketeers, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) characteristically puts off starting to read the book until the last minute. In desperation, Beaver tries to take a shortcut by watching a movie version of the classic book, which is conveniently running on TV the night before the report is due. Unfortunately, Beaver has chosen to view the 1939 musical comedy adaptation of The Three Musketeers -- considerably revamped as a vehicle for the zany Ritz Brothers! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Beaver (Jerry Mathers) enthusiastically participates in a clothing drive, determined to win a Good Citizenship Award. So focused is Beaver on this goal that he isn't too particular where he finds the clothes to donate. Dad Ward (Hugh Beaumont), however, sees things differently -- especially when his three new suits end up being accidentally "appropriated" by eager Beaver. Watch for a young Tim Matheson (then billed as Matthieson) in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rob (Dick Van Dyke) feels like a fish out of water when he and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) are invited to a literary party honoring poet Henry Walden (Everett Sloane). For one thing, he's the only comedy writer in a room full of poets and novelists. For another, it appears that he has been invited by mistake, especially since the hostess (played by Doris Packer) constantly refers to him as "Mr. Petroff." This doesn't stop Rob from getting inveigled into making a huge contribution to a literary scholarship fund in Walden's name. As Rob broods over how he can possibly afford such a donation, Henry Walden himself shows up at the offices of "The Alan Brady Show," wryly explaining that it was he who invited Rob to the party -- and further explaining his rather surprising ulterior motive! Dick Van Dyke Show creator Carl Reiner makes a cameo appearance as bearded avant-garde poet Yale Sampson. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this sequel to "Elly Starts to School," wealthy Cynthia Fenwick (Joanna Barnes) and her mother (Doris Packer) have adopted the Clampett look, following the example of Cynthia's classmate, Elly May. Dressed in checkered shirts and old blue jeans, the Fenwicks are convinced that the Clampetts are the arbiter of a new avant-garde social movement. But when they meet Cynthia and her mother, the Clampetts believe that the ill-garbed ladies have fallen upon hard times. "The Clampett Look" first aired on October 23, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Screenwriter Nunnally Johnson adapted the novel by author Edward Streeter, whose work was also the basis of Father of the Bride (1950), into this domestic comedy. James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara star as Roger and Peggy Hobbs, a St. Louis couple with a large brood who desire a seaside vacation. Renting a cottage by the ocean is just the first step in a summer fraught with disasters, including a couch potato son, a shy daughter with newly installed braces, a pair of grown daughters who have married badly, and a local yachtsman with eyes for Peggy. Not to mention the ramshackle state of the shoreline abode, Roger and Peggy's new grandparent status, and incidents involving a sexy neighbor, a sailboat regatta and bird watching. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Though he'd originally intended to write several scripts for the original Twilight Zone, Ray Bradbury's sole contribution to the series was this sensitive adaptation of his own short story "I Sing the Body Electric!" Hoping to fill the void left by the death of his wife, a widower (David White) takes his children to Robots Unlimited to purchase an "electric grandmother" for the kids. The younger children (Charles Herbert) and Dana Dillaway) are delighted with their robot granny (Josephine Hutchinson), but older daughter Anna (Veronica Cartwright) is sullen and resentful -- until "Grandma" proves herself to be more human than most humans. Though the episode is generally successful, no one connected with it was satisfied, least of all director James Sheldon, who felt that star Josephine Hutchinson was not quite right in the leading role. In addition, an earlier scene with June Vincent as the kids' aunt Nedra didn't "play" on film, necessitating an expensive reshoot, directed by William F. Claxton, with Doris Packer replacing Vincent. All in all, however, "I Sing the Body Electric!" pleased the crowd when it first aired on May 18, 1962, though a much-later 60-minute TV version, "The Electric Grandmother" (1980), was closer to the spirit of the Bradbury original. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

An Indiana family embarks on their dream vacation to France. The Willard family, led by Harry (Fred MacMurray) and Katie (Jane Wyman), bring their three children along to experience a slice of continental culture abroad. Amy (Deborah Walley) is the lovestruck teenager whose brother Elliott (Tommy Kirk) is easily as eager for love. Younger brother Skipper (Kevin Corcoran) is the mischievous moppet who is always getting lost. Elliott is mesmerized by a pretty French maid, Amy is wooed by a wealthy teen, and Katie fends off the advances of an amorous playboy. From Paris to Monte Carlo, the Willard family experiences culture shock firsthand and realizes quickly they are not back home in Indiana. This Walt Disney production, while focusing on less childlike themes than in other films, still managed to take in five million dollars in its initial domestic release. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Beaver (Jerry Mathers) is "a-scared" about the I.Q. test that is soon to be taken in his school. It's bad enough that Wally (Tony Dow) has always seemed so much brighter than Beaver. But the worst may still come -- suppose Beav's friends are right? Suppose that, if he posts a low score, he will be shipped off to a "dumb" school? Well, without giving any more of the story away, it can be noted that the ending of this remarkably non-PC episode is a real eye-opener, not only for the Beav but for everyone in his orbit. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi