Pernell Roberts Movies
Pernell Roberts worked such odd jobs as butcher, forest ranger and tombstone-maker while studying acting and singing and scouting around for off-Broadway jobs. Roberts' film debut, in a characteristic Deep Brooder role, was in 1958's Desire Under the Elms. From 1959 through 1966, Roberts co-starred as black-clad, taciturn Adam Cartwright on Bonanza. "Aloof, rebellious and outspoken" was how Bonanza producer David Dotort summed up Roberts, who fought tooth and nail over every real or imagined challenge to his integrity (his biggest beef was that he had to call Lorne Greene "Pa" rather than "Father"). Fed up with what he perceived as the series' declining quality, Roberts left Bonanza in 1966; it was explained to fans that "Adam" had left to study at a European university. Free of his TV series commitment, Roberts returned to his first love, the stage--and also divested himself of the toupee he'd been forced to wear as Adam. The actor played the straw-hat circuit in such musicals as Camelot and The King and I, all the while accepting film and TV roles that came up to his standards. Unfortunately, his stubbornness and standoffishness left a sour taste with co-workers and fans alike, and Roberts was unable to soar to the artistic heights to which he aspired. After years of declaring that he'd never again return to the grind of weekly television, Roberts accepted the role of Dr. "Trapper" John McIntyre, chief of surgery at San Francisco memorial hospital, in the seven-season (1979-86) M*A*S*H spin-off Trapper John MD. In 1991 Pernell Roberts assumed the hosting duties of the TV anthology FBI: The Untold Stories. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1958
The second edition of the famous fairy tale anthology Shirley Temple's Storybook (and the second to be telecast live), was this semi-musical version of the Grimm brothers' "Rumpelstiltskin." Because miller Hanz Franz (Kurt Kasznar) has bragged to one and all that his daughter, Elsa (Phyllis Love), can spin straw into gold, the poor girl is spirited away by royal tax collector Lord Karsch (a decidedly pre-Lost in Space Jonathan Harris) and locked in a room in the palace of the king (John Raitt). Here, Elsa is given an ultimatum: spin gold and win the king's hand in marriage, or suffer a terrible fate. Coming to the girl's rescue is an odd little man from the Black Forest named Rumpelstiltskin, who offers his magical assistance -- but his price is Elsa's first-born child. The title character is played by celebrated Israeli pantomimist Shai K. Ophir, an ironic bit of casting in that the Grimms' original Rumpelstiltskin was obviously intended as an anti-Semitic stereotype (though not, of course, in this production). John Raitt sings "A Lonely Heart and a Friendly Face"," specially written for this program by veteran Hollywood tunesmiths Mack David and Jerry Livingston. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Raitt, Phyllis Love, (more)
- 1958
The Sheepman was touted as a comedy by some of MGM's publicity people. It really isn't, but this western does have its lighthearted moments. Glenn Ford stars as a hard-bitten sheep farmer, running up against the opposition of cattle ranchers. Shirley MacLaine is a no-nonsense frontier girl who becomes the bone of contention between Ford and cattle baron Leslie Nielsen. Ford is able to get a leg-up in the community by humiliating Nielsen's top gun (Mickey Shaughnessy) in public. The range war comes to an end when Ford and Nielsen go one-to-one. Because The Sheepman didn't do well in its initial engagements, MGM reissued the picture under the more aggressive title The Stranger With a Gun. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Ford, Shirley MacLaine, (more)
