Willard Sage Movies
Canadian supporting actor, onscreen from the '50s. ~ All Movie Guide- 1973
Ponderosa ranchhaned Griff King agrees to pose as the husband of one Theodora Duffy (Karen Carlson). There is nothing personal in this arrangement: Theodora wants to solve a crime, and pretending to be Mrs. King is merely a means to an end. Also in the cast are Ramon Bieri as Jonas Holt, Robert Yuro as Dody Henderickson, Richard Eastham as Stanton and Rayford Barnes as Shaw. Written by Ward Hawkins, "The Marriage of Theodora Duffy" was the last-ever Bonanza episode to be filmed-but was shown next to last, on January 9, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1973
Two TV films were shown during the 1973-1974 season dealing with the emotional and legal ramifications of rape. While the Elizabeth Montgomery vehicle A Case of Rape was closer to Real Life, Cry Rape! also had a lot going for it. Andrea Marcovicci stars as Betty Jenner, whose world is rent asunder when she falls victim to a rapist. Equally as humiliating as the violation itself is the aftermath; Betty must withstand the adversarial questions of the police on the case, and then must relive her nightmare in court. Filmed in a semidocumentary fashion, Cry Rape! veers dangerously close to discouraging any woman from reporting sexual assault, inasmuch as it demonstrates the step-by-step process by which the accuser often ends up the accused. Only its contrived melodramatic conclusion robs the film of its verisimilitude. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
The emegency staff of Rampart Hospital swings into the second season of Emergency! as a radio malfunction forces paramedic Roy DeSoto (Kevin Tighe) to perform emergency surgery without medical supervision on a man trapped under his car. When the patient subsequently dies, DeSoto is mercilessly reprimanded by the victim's personal doctor (Lloyd Bochner)--and for a while, it looks as if Roy will drop out of the paramedic program entirely. Elsewhere, a bull gores a cyclist, a child is trapped I a fire, and a visiting surgeon suffers a heart attack. Michael Norell makes his first series appearance as Captain Hank Stanley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
- R
Dirty Little Billy thankfully does not try to glorify its subject. Instead, Billy the Kid (Michael J. Pollard) is depicted as the homicidal mental defective that history has proven him to be. The film recounts Billy's formative years, exploding legends and myths all along the way. The Old West is not prettied up in the least; there seems to be mud everywhere, even in the houses. Dirty Little Billy was the last production to be supervised by legendary mogul Jack L. Warner, who had severed his ties with Warner Bros. in 1972 and was releasing through onetime arch rival Columbia Pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The granddaddy of all "computer run amok" films, Colossus: The Forbin Project concerns a huge electronic brain designed to control the American missile defense system. Colossus' technicians do not count on the computer developing an intelligence of its own. Communicating with its Russian counterpart, Colossus decides to take over the earth, threatening global destruction should anyone try to pull its plug. The film's climax is unsettling, but no more so than the actual state of world affairs in 1970. Colossus: The Forbin Project was filmed in Canada. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Braeden, Susan Clark, (more)
- 1970
In order to evade German radio-detection units, Hogan plants a transmitter in Klink's car. Hoping to relay information about a Nazi rocket factory to the Underground, Hogan is unexpectedly stymied by Sgt. Schultz, who "borrows" the car to do a bit of black-market swapping. This episode was written by future All in the Family fixture Bill Davenport. "The Big Broadcast" was originally shown on December 6, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1968
The Enterprise arrives in orbit around planet Minara 2, whose sun is about to go nova, to pick up a research team (Jason Wingreen, Davis Roberts), but they find the station deserted. A record tape shows that the crew was abducted by some unseen force, which does the same thing to Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and McCoy (DeForest Kelley). They find themselves trapped below the planet's surface -- with the Enterprise out of range because of a solar storm -- and encounter a mute humanoid woman (Kathryn Hays) and a pair of alien captors, Lal (Alan Bergmann) and Thann (Willard Sage). The two identify themselves as Vayans, and are performing an strange experiment which has already killed the two scientists and threatens to do the same to the three Enterprise officers. The woman, christened Gem by McCoy, proves to be an empath, capable of linking emotionally and neurologically to those around her and healing physical injuries -- sometimes at great physical cost to herself. In some way that the officers can't comprehend, the Vayans' experiments have a logical basis, all surrounding Gem, the solar system that is about to be destroyed, and the relationship between the three of them -- but it may cost the lives of one or all of them, as well as that of Gem, to find out what that purpose is. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Hogan must create a diversionary tactic to allow the Allies to replenish their troops. He must also prevent the 6th S.S. division from taking over Stalag 13. As a means of accomplishing both tasks, Hogan arranges the mass escape of 30 Allied prisoners -- and deliberately tips off both the S.S. and Colonel Klink. Written by Bill Davenport, "How to Escape From Prison Camp Without Really Trying" originally aired on March 2, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1967
Rescued from the desert by Ben Cartwright, young Billy Wilcox (Richard Evans) is hired as a ranch hand at the Ponderosa. Falling in love with Jennifer Yardley (Linda Foster), Billy suddenly breaks off the relationship, displaying inexplicable terror at the sight of Jennifer's lawman father Tom (Richard Eastham. Also in the cast are Willard Sage as Sam Denton. Originally aired on March 12, 1967, "Dark Enough to See the Stars" was written by Kelly Covin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1967
With the aid of German underground agent Lili (Elisa Ingram), Hogan blows up a German radio tower. Though he has no proof, General Burkhalter suspects that Hogan was responsible for the sabotage and holds Klink responsible. To prevent Klink from being transferred, Hogan must arrange to trap Burkhalter in a compromising situation. Written by Laurence Marks, "The Tower" made its first network appearance on March 17, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1967
Roy Thinnes was the star of this 1967-1968 science fiction series, about an Earth poised on the brink of alien takeover. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1967
John Saxon makes the first of three Bonanza appearances as Steve Friday, a former Ponderosa ranchhand turned gunfighter. Putting his own life on the line, Joe Cartwright tries to save an ailing Friday from a paid assassin, hired by the powerful and revenge-driven Judge Wyllit (Ford Rainey). Featured in the cast are Robert Phillips as Jakes, James Davidson as Cole Berry, and Robert McQueeney as Enos Low. Written by Herbert Kastle and John Hawkins, "Black Friday" was originally seen on Sunday, January 22, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1967
Diane Brewster, best remembered as schoolteacher "Miss Canfield" on Leave It to Beaver, makes her final acting appearance in this episode as Bill's former hometown sweetheart Freddie. Arriving from Terre Haute to pay Bill (Brian Keith) a visit, Freddie becomes enchanted by youngsters Buffy (Anissa Jones), Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) and Cissy (Kathy Garver)--which unfortunately serves only to remind her that she and her husband have never had any children of their own. The subsequent crisis arising from this situaiton is solved in a manner that is both touching and credible (qualities often missing from TV sitcoms of the mid-1960s). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Hogan agrees to aid German General Stauffen (Oscar Beregi) in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Crucial to the scheme is a briefcase containing a tiny but deadly time bomb. Unfortunately, stupid Sgt. Schultz accidentally activates the bomb's timing device ahead of schedule. Though the audience is aware that Der Fuhrer wouldn't bite the big one until 1945, Laurence Marks' teleplay manages to deliver a sufficient amount of suspense, along with the usual quota of laughs. "Operation Briefcase" first aired on October 7, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1966
Awakened at 3 AM and summoned to a secret meeting with President Grant (William Bryant), Jason (Chuck Connors) recalls a similar meeting between himself and Grant during the Civil War. Captured by Confederate soldiers, Jason soon discovers that his fellow POW is none other than General Grant--whose incarceration may well turn the tide of the war in favor of the South. Andrew J. Fenady, who wrote this episode, makes a cameo appearance as General Phil Sheridan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Despite his dishonorable discharge from the Army, Jason (Chuck Connors) is asked to be sheriff in the small town where he has recently killed a gunslinger. It soon develops that Jason doesn't have much in the way of job security. In the past year alone, the town has had three other sheriffs--all of whom have been shot to death. Veteran western player Ben Johnson, some six years away from his Oscar-winning performance in The Last Picture Show, appears as Bill Latigo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Hogan's plans to get information on the plans of a nearby Panzer division require him to "visit" a local hofbrau. His mission coincides with a scheme concocted by two crooked Panzer officers to extort a large sum of money from the tremulous Colonel Klink. Thanks to the machinations of scriptwriter Laurence Marks, Hogan is able to use the officers' greed to his own advantage. Frank Marth and Willard Sage are respectively cast as Captain Milheiser and Lt. Schmidt. "Hogan's Hofbrau" first aired on December 10, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Werner Klemperer, John Banner, (more)
- 1965
"The Strange One" is Marie (Louise Sorel), who is expelled from a wagon train when she is accused of being a witch. Marie is rescued from her tormentors by Hoss and Joe Cartwright, who offer her shelter at the Ponderosa. Before long, it becomes obvious that Marie is gifted with "second sight"-but does that make her a witch after all? Another well-written (by Jo Pagano and Stephen Lord) lesson in tolerance and understanding, "The Strange One" has not been seen much since its original network presentation on November 14, 1965; more recently, it was removed from the Bonanza package shown on cable's Family Channel because its "controversial" religious undertones did not rest well with that network's chairman Pat Robertson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1965
Pop singer Tommy Sands guest stars as Richard Bain, a young West Point cadet. Facing expulsion for defending Jason McCord's behavior at the Battle of Bitter Creek, Bain is given 30 days to recant his words--or face a dishonor and disgrace comparable to that suffered by McCord (Chuck Connors). As the story progresses, McCord must weigh the option of salvaging his own reputation by ruining Bain's. Prominent in the supporting cast is celebrated "film noir" veteran Marie Windsor ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Branded switches from black-and-white to color for its second season, which begins with this taut, tense "Mexican Standoff" yarn. Still roaming the west in hopes of proving that he was not a coward at the battle of Bitter Creek, Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) finds himself sharing a stagecoach ride with Major Tom Rock (Tom Drake), one of the officers who presided over his court-martial. Also on board is a condemned prisoner (Warren Oates) on his way to the gallows. Inevitably, McCord and his two fellow passengers must depend upon one another for their very survival--and making the situation even more complex, the life of Maj. Rock's daughter Laura (Kathleen Crowley) also hangs in the balance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
The reactor at the Broadridge experimental nuclear station runs out of control when two unstable elements accidentally come into contact. As Dr. Marshall (George Macready), the station director, struggles to understand what is happening, deadly radiation pours out of the reactor furnace, killing the men trying to control it and replacing them inside their anti-radiation suits with creatures made of pure electromagnetic energy. Marshall is the sole survivor among the scientists and seems incapable of coping with the danger, overwhelmed by his fear of radiation and the seemingly inevitable chain reaction boiling up in the furnace. With help from his wife, Laurel (Signe Hasso), he finds the courage that he needs and deduces what is happening -- the combination of heavy elements bombarded with cosmic radiation has ripped open an inter-dimensional hole, through which these "particle creatures" are entering, and they are trying to widen the opening. The only chance to stop them is to initiate a fusion reaction that could seal the inter-dimensional hole and cut the creatures off from their energy source, destroying them. But does Marshall have the time or strength, in the minutes left to them, to prepare a jury-rigged hydrogen bomb? ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Macready, Signe Hasso, (more)
- 1963
In this romantic comedy, Deke Gentry (Kirk Douglas) is a lawyer who gets an unusual assignment from Chloe Brasher (Thelma Ritter), a wealthy widow, owner of a successful hotel chain, and one of his most prominent clients. Chloe has three daughters, sensible Kate (Mitzi Gaynor), bohemian Jan (Leslie Parrish), and heath food fanatic Bonnie (Julie Newmar), and she wants Deke to find them husbands. Though Deke protests that matchmaking is outside his traditional area of expertise, Chloe is insistent, and he ends up taking the job. To be sure that he's going through with it, Chloe assigns her security chief Joe (William Bendix) to keep his eye on Deke. Eventually, Deke fixes up Bonnie with Harvey Wofford (Richard Sargent), a meek IRS agent, and pairs Jan with artist Sam Travis (William Windom), but Kate turns out to be the hardest Brasher sister to marry off, until he throws his own hat into the ring. Richard Sargent would later shorten his first name to Dick and find success on the popular television comedy Bewitched. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Mitzi Gaynor, (more)
- 1963
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Kimble (David Janssen) continues his westward journey to California in the company of the redoubtable Sister Veronica (Eileen Heckart). Along the way, the mismatched pair runs afoul of some motorcycle punks, and have another run-in with crooked Chuck Mathis (Albert Salmi), during which they find a new ally in the form of Chuck's sister-in-law Janet (Ruta Lee). Throughout this picaresque adventure, Kimble tries to figure out a way to persuade Sister Veronica from renouncing her vows and turning her back on the Church--while simulatenously avoiding arrest at every turn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When people refer to Doris Day as "the world's oldest professional virgin," they generally have the 1962 comedy That Touch of Mink in mind. It isn't that Cathy Timberlake (Day) is above a bit of hanky-panky; it's just that she wants such tangibles as a marriage license and wedding ring first. Thus, when playboy businessman Philip Shayne (Cary Grant) begins actively pursuing Cathy (they "met cute" when Philip's limo splashed mud on the hapless Cathy), she won't say "I will" until he says "I do." She is of the idealistic opinion that she can bring out the best intentions in him, even when he repeatedly tips off his worst intentions by inviting her to accompany him to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Bermuda. After not a few complications and misunderstands, Cathy finally finagles a proposal out of Philip. The film is essentially much ado about nothing, but it is so well-acted and attractively photographed that the audiences are willing to go along for the ride. The high-powered supporting cast includes Gig Young as Roger, Philip's moralistic financial advisor; Audrey Meadows as Connie, Cathy's wise-cracking roommate; Alan Hewitt as Dr. Gruber, a confused psychiatrist; John Astin as Beasley, Cathy's slimy would-be beau; Dick Sargent as a neurotic honeymooner; and an unbilled Richard Deacon as an all-around letch. Best scene: the baseball-dugout rhubarb involving New York Yankees Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Yogi Berra. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cary Grant, Doris Day, (more)
- 1961
The Great Impostor is the true story of chameleonlike Canadian Ferdinand Waldo DeMara Jr., well-played by Tony Curtis. Unable to decide what he wants to do with his life, DeMara goes about pretending to be other people, hoping to eventually "find himself." He poses as a Harvard professor, a Trappist monk, a prison warden, and a navy physician, and manages each time to get away with the artifice. The film wavers uncertainly between tense drama and frothy comedy, with comedy finally winning out. Karl Malden co-stars as Father Devlin, the young DeMara's spiritual advisor, while Joan Blackman is the nominal (and hardly visible) heroine. The real Ferdinand DeMara (if indeed there was a real Ferdinand DeMara) can be seen in a supporting role in the 1960 melodrama The Hypnotic Eye. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Curtis, Edmond O'Brien, (more)
