Julie Sommars Movies

In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason proves that a famous illusionist is innocent of deliberately killing his assistant during a spectacular stage stunt. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

An old flower child stands accused of murdering the mayor of Chicago. He says he is innocent, and attorney Ben Matlock believes him. During his investigation, the clever lawyer discovers several damning skeletons in the late leader's closet. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Based on Jane Adams' book of the same name, the made-for-TV Sex and the Single Parent stars Susan Saint James as Sally and Mike Farrell as George. Newly divorced from their respective spouses, both Sally and George intend to celebrate their independence by throwing sexual caution to the wind. But the couple's romance is complicated by their sense of obligation to their children. Accompanied by a raunchy ad campaign that promised much more than the film delivered, Sex and the Single Parent was first seen over CBS on September 19, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The longest (26-1/2 hours), most expensive ($25 million) and most complicated (four directors, five producers, five cinematographers, almost 100 speaking parts, several hundred extras) project made for television up to that time, Centennial was shown in two- and three-hour installments over a period of four months. An adaptation of James Michener's best-selling novel, it told the story of the settling of the American West by looking at the founding of the fictional town of Centennial, Colorado, from the settling of the area in the late 18th century to the present. Emmy-nominated for film editing and art direction, it boasts of sterling performances from Richard Chamberlain as frontiersman Alexander McKeag, Robert Conrad as the French-Canadian trapper Pasquinel, and a surprisingly powerful performance from former football star Alex Karras as compassionate but iron-willed immigrant farmer Hans Brumbaugh. ~ Brian Gusse, Rovi

42nd Street Cavalry originated as a two-hour episode of the popular TV series McCloud. Assigned to the NYPD's mounted police unit, detective McCloud (Dennis Weaver) takes chase when several armed robbers hold up a National Guard Armory and wound a cop. The trail leads McCloud to a looney paramilitary leader. Before all this happens, we are treated to a comic scene wherein McCloud leads his fellow mounted officers through the canyons of Manhattan. 42nd Street Cavalry was first broadcast on November 17, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Made for television, The Harness was "suggested" by a John Steinbeck short story. Lorne Greene stars as an aging California farmer, long under the thumb of his domineering wife. Much against his better judgment, Greene becomes fascinated with young Julie Sommars, a free-spirited unwed mother. When his wife dies, Greene begins to spend time with Sommars, causing an avalanche of malicious gossip. The Harness was filmed near Salinas, California, site of many a John Steinbeck tale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A young James Caan heads the guest cast in this episode, wherein the heir to a plastics fortune is kidnapped. Investigating, the FBI finds blood stains at the suspected abduction site, but their labs are unable to determine whose blood it is. In order to solve this mystery--and by extension, save the kidnap victim's life--Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) breaks from established FBI proctocol by attempting to capture the kidnappers before the ransom is paid. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this crime drama, Dan Farrel patiently prepares to exact his revenge upon the robbers that murdered his wife. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

A nebbish tries to become a ladies' man overnight, with disastrous results, in this comedy. Bob Handman (Brian Bedford) is a bright but painfully shy young man who is more than a bit nervous around the opposite sex. While attending a Mozart recital, he meets a beautiful woman named Doreen Marshall (Julie Sommars), and he displays his typical panache with the ladies by spilling his drink all over her. Bob somehow works up the courage to ask Doreen for a date, and she accepts; not sure what to do next, Bob calls on his buddy Ted (James Farentino), a self-assured playboy who tries to give Bob a crash course on how to handle women. However, the teacher outshines the student, and Doreen falls for Ted's easy charm while Bob gets drunk and bemoans the sad state of his love life. The Pad and How to Use It was based on a one-act play by Peter Shaffer, who later went on to greater success with Equus and Amadeus. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

William Shatner guest stars as Tony Burrell, a former policeman who runs a boy's athletic club. Posing as "John Evans", Kimble goes to work for Burrell just as the neighborhood is buzzing about the brutal murder of two cops. As the story progresses and another murder occurs, Kimble begins to wonder if the outwardly affable but inwardly troubled Burrell could possibly be a serial killer. The supporting cast includes future Matlock regular Julie Sommars) as Burrell's wife Carole, and Norman Fell, Three's Company's "Mr. Roper", as Lieutenant Green. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi