Robert Stack Movies
The son of a wealthy California businessman, Robert Stack spent his teen years giving skeet shooting lessons to such Hollywood celebrities as Carole Lombard and Clark Gable; it was only natural, then, that he should gravitate to films himself after attending the University of Southern California. At age 20, he made his screen debut in Deanna Durbin's First Love (1939) in which he gave his teenaged co-star her very first screen kiss. Two years later he appeared opposite his former "pupil" Carole Lombard in the Ernst Lubitsch classic To Be or Not to Be (1942). After serving with the navy in WWII he resumed his film career, avoiding typecasting with such dramatically demanding film assignments as The Bullfighter and the Lady (1951), The Tarnished Angels (1957), and John Paul Jones (1959). He earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance as a self-destructive alcoholic in Written on the Wind (1956). In 1959 he gained a whole new flock of fans when he was cast as humorless federal agent Elliot Ness in TV's The Untouchables, which ran for four seasons and won him an Emmy award. He continued playing taciturn leading roles in such TV series as Name of the Game (1969-1971), Most Wanted (1976-1977), and Strike Force (1981), and from 1987 to 2002 was the no-nonsense host of the TV anthology Unsolved Mysteries. Not nearly as stoic and serious in real life, Stack was willing to spoof his established screen image in Steven Spielberg's 1941 (1979) and Zucker-Abraham-Zucker's Airplane! (1980). The warmer side of Robert Stack could be glimpsed in the TV informational series It's a Great Life (1985), which he hosted with his wife Rosemarie, and in his 1980 autobiography, Straight Shooting. Though film appearances grew increasingly sporatic through the 1990s, Stack remained a familiar figure to television viewers thanks to syndicated reruns of Unsolved Mysteries well into the new millennium. Memorable film roles in 1990s included lending his voice to Beavis and Butthead Do America (1996) and appearing as himself in the 1999 comedy drama Mumford. In October of 2002 Stack underwent successful radiation treatment for prostate cancer. On May 14, 2003, Robert Stack's wife Rosemarie found the actor dead in their Los Angeles home. He was 84. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Skin Game was historically significant as the 2000th film produced by Warner Bros. studios. The film is a comedy western starring James Garner and Louis Gossett Jr. as a pair of clever Antebellum con men. Garner regularly "sells" the black Gossett into slavery for an exalted price, then "liberates" Gossett so that they can move on to the next sucker. Unfortunately, they outsmart themselves, and before long Gossett seems doomed to a lifetime of forced servitude. They are rescued by pretty pickpocket Susan Clark, who has a few surprises in store for them. Skin Game was supposed to be spun off into a TV series, but the project never got any farther than the 1974 pilot film Sidekicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
In this mystery, detective Dan Farrell runs into many dead ends as he doggedly endeavors to discover why an important scientist suddenly died. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Echo of a Nightmare is a 90-minute TV thriller involving a kidnapping. The crime in question occurred some 25 years ago. Now the kidnapper has been mysteriously murdered, compelling Crime magazine editor Dan Farrell (Robert Stack) to investigate. Curiously, the partner of the abduction victim's millionaire father tries to bribe Farrell to drop the case. This episode of the TV series Name of the Game first aired March 20, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
The Glory Shouter is played by William Shatner. A fire-and-brimstone televangelist, Shatner is plagued by gremlins from within his organization who are tapping his till. Dan Farrell (Robert Stack), editor of Crime magazine, investigates, only to deduce that Shatner himself may be siphoning from his flock's donations. Dina Merrill and Don Scardino, respectively, play Shatner's wife and son, while Howard Duff and Jackie Coogan appear in supporting roles. The Glory Shouter was the December 18, 1970 episode of the TV weekly Name of the Game. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
- R
This routine melodrama finds an Italian woman torn between her old lover and her husband. Karin (Bibi Andersson) is the resident of Rome who literally bumps into Bruno (James Farentino) after her piano lesson. The married man is immediately taken by her beauty and the two begin a passionate love affair. After a confrontation with Bruno's wife (Annie Girardot), Karin returns to Sweden and falls for the American diplomat David (Robert Stack). The two are married and return to the United States before David is assigned to Rome. Karin and Bruno meet again and resume their tawdry affair. When Karin tells Bruno she is going back to her husband, Bruno dies in an auto accident. Karin returns to her husband and young child with vivid and long-lasting memories of her adulterous affairs. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bibi Andersson, Robert Stack, (more)
- 1970
Battle at Gannon's Bridge originated as an episode of the weekly TV series Name of the Game. Darren McGavin appears as ex-convict Eddie Gannon, who holds the lease on a converted church used as a halfway house for recently released prisoners. Renewal of the lease is endangered by a rash of unsolved crimes in the neighborhood. Gannon asks Crime magazine editor Dan Farrell (Robert Stack) to prove that none of his fellow ex-cons are responsible for the thefts. Battle at Gannon's Bridge was initially telecast October 9, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
In this detective drama, ace-investigator Dan Farrell looks into the strange bombing of an odd-ball artist. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
In this drama, a crime correspondent reports his findings at a Congressional committee hearing on addictive drugs. Later he finds himself entangled with a self-destructive, drug-addicted young girl. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
In this drama, an investigator looks into a conflict involving loggers and the filming of a documentary. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1969
The Garden was the January 30, 1970 episode of the TV series Name of the Game. Series regular Dan Farrell (Robert Stack), editor of Crime magazine, is on the trail of a possible scam. Richard Kiley guest stars as a "pop" psychiatrist, strong on placebos but short on ethics. Kiley treats his wealthy patients at a lavish remote retreat called The Garden. Farrell is convinced that Kiley is a phony, and spends 90 minutes trying to prove it. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In this drama, a publisher convinces a moll to help him prove that the mafia is controlling a tiny island. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Robert Stack stars as Crime magazine editor Dan Farrell in this episode of the TV series Name of the Game. The object of Farrell's latest investigation is professional fundraiser Dennis Weaver. The editor recognizes Weaver as a notorious con man, so it should be no problem to expose his racket. But problems there are--especially when an unknown gangster type pressures Farrell to lay off Weaver, or else. Diane Baker, Mark Miller, Phyllis Kirk, Larry Storch and Sue Ann Langdon also appear in Give Till It Hurts, which premiered on October 31, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Breakout to a Fast Buck is an episode of the 90-minute TV series Name of the Game. Dan Farrell (Robert Stack), senior editor of Crime magazine, is called in to investigate a prison break. One of the escapees is an elderly former building contractor (Arthur O'Connell), who didn't want to join his fellow cons in their breakout. Farrell suspects that the contract is being sprung in order to help break into one of the buildings that he designed. This Name of the Game installment originally aired on March 14, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Power originated as an episode of the weekly, 90-minute TV adventure series Name of the Game. Robert Stack, in his usual role of Crime magazine senior editor Dan Farrell, sets about to investigate corruption on the waterfront. Farrell finds himself in the middle of a power struggle between two brothers battling for control of the longshoreman's union. William Conrad and John Ireland costar as the feuding siblings, while Broderick Crawford makes his second Name of the Game appearance in the role of Bianchi. Power was first telecast December 12, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Boxer Lazaro Perez is suspended when he punches out an obstreperous reporter. Feeling partly responsible, Crime magazine editor Dan Farrell (Robert Stack) tries to help the young fighter. Farrell soon learns that the boy's manager (Van Johnson) may be arranging a fixed bout. Brass Ring served as the TV debut for actor Lazaro Perez, who'd received critical adulation for his performance in the 1969 off-Broadway play Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? This drama originated as the January 9, 1970 episode of the TV series Name of the Game. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Civilized Men first saw the light of day as an episode of the TV series Name of the Game. Dan Farrell (Robert Stack), two-fisted editor of Crime magazine, heads to Florida to probe into a cattle scam. Someone has been selling tainted meat, the end product of a rustled shipment of government livestock. Could the Mob be involved? Jill St. John, Jack Kelly and Rod Cameron guest star in this 90-minute mystery, originally broadcast November 28, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Sharon Farrell stars as blues singer Jesse Boone in the 90-minute, made-for-TV Hard Case of the Blues. Jesse's business manager has just died under mysterious circumstances. He has also swindled Jesse out of $200,000. Thing of it is, Jesse couldn't care less--and Crime magazine editor Dan Farrell (Robert Stack) wants to know the reasons for her apathy. Originally telecast September 26, 1969 as an episode of the TV series Name of the Game, Hard Case of the Blues was one of the series' most highly acclaimed installments. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
This 90-minute episode of the TV series Name of the Game features Robert Stack as Crime magazine senior editor Dan Farrell. This time, Farrell is investigating charges that the officials of a prison on the Mexican border are shipping out forced labor to local farms. It has been further charged that the officials are getting rich on kickbacks. Assuming a false identity and taking a job in the border town, Farrell runs afoul of hard-case Pernell Roberts and corrupt superintendent Sidney Blackmer. Dorothy Lamour rounds out the guest-star list in Chains of Command, which originally aired October 17, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
This 90-minute episode from the TV series Name of the Game stars Robert Stack as Dan Farrell, senior editor of Crime magazine. Farrell takes a hand in the investigation of a murder at a "swinging singles" apartment. The victim is the mistress of Robert Lansing, one of Farrell's editors. Ann Blyth plays Lansing's wife, who despite her despair over her husband's pecadilloes urges Farrell to find the guilty party. Swingers Only was originally telecast January 10, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In this drama, a man and a priest try to clean up the slums and end up having a showdown with a powerful Mafioso. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1968
In this fantasy a gas station attendant is endowed with superhuman abilities after he takes a potent pill proffered by a government agent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1968
When drugs start appearing in the hands of school children, magazine reporters investigate the source of the drugs. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1968
A U.S. senator points a finger at a magazine publisher accused of stealing government money to fashion his publishing empire. ~ All Movie Guide
