Jean Stapleton Movies
Each and every week from 1971 to 1980, the popular TV sitcom All in the Family was heralded by the glass-shattering offkey singing of Edith Bunker, aka "Dingbat." This tended to obscure the fact that Jean Stapleton, the woman who so brilliantly portrayed Edith not only possessed a lilting, well-modulated singing voice, but also was as far removed as possible from a "dingbat" in real life. While attending Hunter College, Stapleton began her performing career as a member of the Robert Shaw Chorale. She made her professional stage debut in 1941, then went on to fruitful work-study associations with the American Apprentice Theater, the American Actors Company, the American Theater Wing, and director-acting coach Harold Clurman. Her first Broadway appearance was in the 1953 production In the Summer House; the following year, she made her TV bow as a semi-regular on the daytime drama Woman With a Past. She endeared herself to Broadwayites with her wistfully funny characterizations in the SRO musicals Damn Yankees, Bells Are Ringing, and Funny Girl, roles that she would carry over into the film versions of these hits. In 1958, she made her first appearance at the Totem Pole Playhouse in Fayetteville, PA, a summer-stock operation managed by her husband, Bill Putch.Most of Stapleton's onscreen work in the 1960s and 1970s could be found in New York-based movies (Something Wild, Up the Down Staircase, Klute) and TV series (Car 54, Where Are You, The Defenders, The Patty Duke Show). Her earliest association with producer-director Norman Lear occurred in the 1969 theatrical feature Cold Turkey, in which she played a neurotic housewife named Edith. When Lear began assembling the cast for his upcoming TV sitcom All in the Family, he immediately thought of Stapleton for the role of slow-witted, strident, essentially kindhearted Bronx housewife Edith Bunker. Before leaving the series in 1980, Stapleton earned three Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Edith -- not to mention the undying affection of millions.
Once free of All in the Family, she sought out roles that she hoped would demonstrate her versatility: She played the distraught mother of a drug-addicted teenager (enacted by her real-life son, John Putch) in the made-for-TV Angel Dusted (1981), and effectively portrayed Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1982 TV biopic Eleanor: First Lady of the World. Stapleton kept her comic skills sharpened by appearing in the made-for-cable productions of Shelley Duvall: She was terrific as a no-nonsense Fairy Godmother ("Trust me. This is important.") in Duvall's Faerie Tale Theater adaptation of Cinderella, and even better as the title characters in Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. In 1990, she briefly returned to weekly television as co-star (with Whoopi Goldberg) of the offbeat sitcom Bagdad Café. Jean Stapleton was then an infrequent but always welcome TV guest-star presence; in 1995, she startled (and delighted) her Edith Bunker fans with her con brio portrayal of Lea Thompson's sex-starved aunt in an episode of Caroline in the City. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
The sitcom that changed the face of American television premiered on January 12, 1971, with the last of three pilot episodes filmed between 1968 and 1970 (during which time the property underwent two near-complete cast overhauls and three title changes). Written by series co-producer Norman Lear, "Meet the Bunkers" used the occasion of Archie and Edith Bunker's wedding anniversary to introduce the main characters and rapidly establish both the mood and tenor of all the episodes to come. Though virtually plotless, the episode is jam-packed with incident: Archie and Mike have a heated argument over "racial profiling," Edith tries to drag a recalcitrant Archie to church, Gloria and Mike are so hot for one another that they can barely wait until they get to the bedroom, and Lionel Jefferson (Mike Evans) uses broad African-American stereotypes to subtly needle the reactionary Archie. Especially worth noting in this inaugural episode is Jean Stapleton's portrayal of Edith, who comes off as a lot less stupid and a lot more sarcastic than she would in future episodes. While "Meet the Bunkers" seems somewhat tame when seen today, it packed enough of a wallop back in 1971 for CBS to issue a disclaimer at the beginning of the program, in which the network lauded All in the Family for its courage and daring and simultaneously begged the viewers' pardon for those qualities. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Incensed that Mike has written a stern and critical letter to President Nixon, super-patriotic Archie tries to set things right by penning his own missive to the Chief Executive. "Dear Mr. President...Your Honor...Sir..." -- and Archie even dons a clean shirt and tie for the occasion. Scripted by Paul Harrison, Lennie Weinrib, and Norman Lear from a story by Les Erwin and Fred Freiberger, "Writing the President" originally aired on January 19, 1971. Though withdrawn from CBS' daytime rerun package of All in the Family at the request of producer Lear (who felt that Archie's behavior was ridiculous even for him), the episode has since been restored to the series' syndicated package. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Mike's nervousness over his upcoming final exams have rendered him temporarily impotent. Not only does this put the damper on his sex life with Gloria, but it adversely -- and hilariously -- affects the rest of the Bunker family as well. The script for this taboo-shattering All in the Family installment (which, according to the producers, generated more network resistance than any other episode during the 1972-1973 season) was written by Alan J. Levitt and Philip Mishkin, from a story by Levitt. "Mike's Problem" first aired on November 20, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Jack Crowder (later billed as Thalmus Rasulala) guest stars as Chester Byrd, a high-pressure black real estate agent. Offering to give Archie twice what he paid for his house, Byrd adroitly and insidiously utilizes scare tactics, warning the Bunkers that their neighborhood is about to be infested by low-income African-Americans. Though Archie takes Byrd at face value, Lionel recognizes the "blockbuster" for what he is. Scripted by Austin and Irma Kalish, Michael Ross, and Bernie West from a story by the Kalishes, "The Blockbuster" originally aired on November 13, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Interviewed by a WCBS-TV reporter about Nixon's economic plan, Archie is thrilled to learn that his interview will appear on the evening news. Alas, the Bunkers' TV set is broken and practically every other set in the neighborhood is likewise incapacitated. After numerous frustrations, Archie finally gets to see himself on the boob tube -- or does he? Neil J. Schwartz appears as Levy the repairman, who delivers the episode's funniest line. Written by Lennie Weinrib, Paul Harrison, and Don Nicholl from a story by Weinrib and Harrison (incidentally the same team responsible for the classic Saturday-morning series H.R. Pufnstuff), "The Man in the Streeet" first aired on December 4, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
So often the dispenser of thoughtless discrimination, Archie finds himself forced to take his own medicine. This occurs when the Bunkers' home insurance is canceled thanks to the company's new racial red-lining procedures. Archie's plight at home is contrasted with his on-the-job decision to lay off a Puerto Rican employee. Philip Proctor of Firesign Theater fame appears as Wendell. Written by Lee Kalcheim, Michael Ross, and Bernie West, "The Insurance is Canceled" originally aired on November 27, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
As indicated by the title of this episode (which is "bookended" by the celebration of Mike and Gloria's first anniversary), the viewer is taken back in time to the momentous first meeting between Archie Bunker and Mike Stivic. The fun is generated not only by Archie's outraged reaction at Gloria's hirsute hippie boyfriend (never before or since did Rob Reiner have so much hair), but also by the depiction of the pre-marriage Gloria as a curly headed, squeaky-voiced Junior Dingbat. The script was co-written by series star Rob Reiner and Philip Mishkin. "Flashback: Mike Meets Archie" first aired on October 16, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Archie's insistence upon purchasing a gun to protect his household backfires when a couple of burglars named Coke and Horace break into the Bunker household. Keeping Archie at bay with his own gun, the two thieves reveal a lot about themselves -- and, in the course of the evening, genially encourage the disingenuous Edith to compose an impromptu ditty about her life. The burglars are played by Tony award-winning actor Cleavon Little and relative newcomer Demond Wilson, who on the strength of this performance was cast as Lamont in the Norman Lear-produced sitcom Sanford and Son. Written by Lee Kalcheim, "Edith Writes a Song" was first telecast on October 9, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Accidentally denting the fender of a parked car with a can of peaches, Edith leaves a note on the car's windshield. A furious Archie reprimands Edith for her unrepentant act of honesty, but that's hardly the end of the story, which includes such elements as insurance fraud and an "unfrocked" priest. Guest star Barnard Hughes is cast as Father Majeski. Written by Michael Ross and Bernie West, "Edith's Accident" first aired on November 6, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Though "The Election Story" originally aired on October 30, 1971, for plot purposes the action takes place during an election year. Predictably, Mike and Gloria throw their support behind a liberal candidate, while Archie takes the side of the conservative opponent. And that's about all that's predictable about this All in the Family-style civics lesson. "The Election Story" was scripted by Michael Ross and Bernie West. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Season two of All in the Family commenced on September 18, 1971 with yet another taboo-banning episode. Scripted by Burt Styler and Norman Lear from a story by Styler, "The Saga of Cousin Oscar" dared to turn a subject as serious as death into a joke. No one in the Bunker family can abide freeloading cousin Oscar, least of all Archie. Thus, when Oscar has the audacity to drop dead in Archie and Edith's upstairs bedroom, poor Arch is stuck with the funeral expenses -- and the eulogy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Archie predicts disaster when Mike and Lionel participate in an anti-Pentagon demonstration at the U.N. building. It turns out that Archie is right -- but disaster befalls him, when, showing up at the demonstration to take Mike and Lionel home, he ends up in the slammer himself. Allan Melvin appears as Desk Sergeant Pulaski, and it's too bad that Archie doesn't know the good sergeant's last name before he shoots off his mouth in the final scene. Scripted by Paul Wayne, Michael Ross, and Bernie West from a story by Wayne, "Archie In the Lock-Up" originally aired on October 2, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Mike's let-it-all-hang-out liberalism is again put to the test when Gloria agrees to pose in the nude for the Stivics' artist friend Szabo Daborba (a pre-Starsky and Hutch David Soul). Naturally, Archie is outraged that Gloria would be willing to appear in the altogether in front of a stranger, but Mike appears to be taking his wife's artistic expression in stride. Before long, however, those all-important "second thoughts" begin gnawing away at Mike's psyche. Written by Michael Ross, Bernie West, and Norman Lear, "Gloria Poses in the Nude" first aired on September 25, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Christmas is anything but merry in the Bunker household this year. Anticipating his usual Christmas bonus, Archie makes like a modern-day Scrooge when the bonus doesn't come through. Meanwhile, Edith, Gloria, and Mike try to make the best of things for themselves and their erstwhile dinner guests, the Jeffersons. Written by Don Nicholl, "Christmas Day at the Bunkers" was appropriately telecast on December 18, 1971 -- then inappropriately rerun in July 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1971
Bea Arthur makes her first-ever appearance as Maude Findlay, ultra-conservative Archie's ultra-liberal cousin. Described by Archie as "the original creeping socialist," Maude has steered clear of the Bunker household for years. But when the entire family comes down with the flu, "Maudie" arrives to take care of the household -- and, of course, to cross ideological swords with Archie. Written by Philip Mishkin, Michael Ross, and Bernie West, "Cousin Maude's Visit" was originally network-cast on December 11, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
From the vantage point of the early 21st century, it is hard to imagine the shocking impact of All in the Family's premiere episode, "Meet the Bunkers," in which the world was introduced to Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor), who apparently never met a minority group he liked and whose vocabulary was sprinkled with outrageous racial epithets. Also introduced in this landmark episode are Archie's slow-witted but good-hearted wife, Edith (Jean Stapleton), aka "Dingbat"; Archie's airheaded daughter, Gloria (Sally Struthers); and Gloria's grad-student husband, Mike (Rob Reiner), a flaming liberal and the bane of Archie's existence. Additionally, this opening episode features the first appearance of Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson, a black youth who delights in needling Archie without his knowing it. Several of the series' earliest episodes have become classics of their kind. Among the highlights: Archie writes a fan letter to President Nixon, fakes a back injury after a minor traffic accident, worries that some "colored" will be the recipient when he donates a pint of blood, wrongfully assumes that he knows a homosexual when he sees one, and is in for a major shock when he is reunited with an old army buddy. In other stories, the black Jefferson family moves into Archie's lily-white neighborhood (and in the process, Isabel Sanford makes her first appearance as Louise Jefferson); Gloria "discovers" women's lib after a few chauvinistic comments from husband Mike, and in another episode learns that she is pregnant (but not, alas for long); and Edith serves on a jury, inevitably emerging as the sole holdout in an otherwise unanimous "guilty" verdict. Ratings for All in the Family's first season were shaky, but that wasn't the series' fault. Several CBS affiliates, nervous about the series' controversial content, delayed the program's telecast to the low-rated late evening hours, while other affiliates refused to run the show at all. But, thanks to word-of-mouth and a torrent of positive criticism in the mainstream press, All in the Family survived its freshman year, and by the end of season two, the series was America's top-rated program. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
Season two of All in the Family was also the series' first "full" season, offering 24 episodes in contrast with season one's meager manifest of 13. The opener, "The Saga of Cousin Oscar," is the first of the series' episodes to deal with the previously taboo topic of death (but hardly the last!). In the subsequent "Archie and the Lock-Up," Allan Melvin who would later become a semi-regular as Archie's (Carroll O'Connor) pal Barney, is cast as a grumpy Polish-American desk sergeant. "Edith Writes a Song" affords a major opportunity for a hitherto unknown young actor named Demond Wilson, who within the year would be co-starring with Redd Foxx in another Norman Lear sitcom, Sanford and Son. And "Cousin Maude's Visit" introduces Beatrice Arthur in the role that would catapult her to sitcom stardom the following year. The season's most memorable episodes include the Emmy-winning "Edith's Problem," in which Edith (Jean Stapleton) exhibits some very peculiar behavior while undergoing menopause; the self-explanatory "Flashback: Mike Meets Archie"; "Mike's Mysterious Son," wherein Mike (Rob Reiner) is accused of fathering a child out of wedlock; "The Man in the Street," a comedy of errors revolving around Archie's appearance on a TV interview show; and arguably the series' best-known episode, "Sammy's Visit," in which Sammy Davis Jr. bestows a very surprising "gift" upon the wide-eyed Archie Bunker. After a shaky start during its first season, All in the Family closed out season two as the top-rated program on American television -- a status it would maintain for the next four years! ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
A serious social drama film of the type that flourished in the 1960's, Up the Down Staircase seems somewhat dated and preachy when viewed by modern audiences. The subject matter is laudable, of course: an ambitious, spirited and concerned young teacher determined to make a difference in a troubled inner city school. And there are quite a few memorable moments, including a very well-directed juxtaposition of Sylvia Barrett triumphing by getting her class excited about A Tale of Two Cities as the lovelorn and dejected Alice Blake quietly and calmly examines the classroom of the teacher she loves before jumping from a window. Director Robert Mulligan also provides appropriate tension to a scene in which another troubled student forcefully comes on to the young teacher, and throughout he does a commendable job of using a hand held camera and a very busy, overlapping soundtrack to convey the tumult, confusion and chaos of the high school. He is less successful in overcoming the script's tendency to excessive earnestness and dialogue that often sacrifices subtlety and nuance to make its points. The film also suffers from a bit of hollowness at its core. Some of this is due to Sandy Dennis's performance - her peculiar brand of acting, while effective in conveying much about the character, also tends to isolate her from the other cast members. However, the decision to present the character solely in terms of the school and its immediate environs and never in her home life also contributes to the hollowness. The supporting cast is marvelous, with a mixture of seasoned pros and novices, although one wishes Eileen Heckart had been given more to do. Despite its flaws, Staircase remains involving. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sandy Dennis, Patrick Bedford, (more)
- 1961
A rape victim goes through inner turmoil in the days following her suffering the brutal assault. Mary Ann (Carroll Baker) leaves her middle class New York home to wander the mean streets of Manhattan. She is isolated and lonely in spite of being surrounded by people. A kindly garage mechanic befriends the troubled woman on the brink of self destruction - but soon
Mary Ann must ask herself if she can really trust him. Musical score provided by American legend Aaron Copeland. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Mary Ann must ask herself if she can really trust him. Musical score provided by American legend Aaron Copeland. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll Baker, Ralph Meeker, (more)
Judy Holliday re-creates her Broadway role of flibbertigibbet telephone operator Ella Peterson in Bells are Ringing. Ella works for Susanswerphone, a hole-in-the-wall answering service run by her cousin Sue (Jean Stapleton). Our girl Ella can't help but become involved in the lives of her customers, which brings her to the attention of a dimwitted police detective, Barnes (Dort Clark), who suspects that Susanswerphone is a front for a house of ill repute. The cop is so obtuse that he never notices the story's genuine criminal, a flamboyant German bookie (Eddie Foy Jr.) who poses as a record executive and uses the names of composers as code for the various racetracks around the country. To avoid Barnes' wiretapping, Ella goes around New York in person to minister to the needs of her clients--most notably playwright Jeffrey Moss (Dean Martin), who is in danger of becoming an alcoholic if he can't come up with a good idea for a play. Assuming a false identity, Ella prattles on about some of her other clients, notably a dentist (Bernie West) who composes pop songs on his air hose. Moss is inspired by Ella, and eventually falls in love with her. Because she will not reveal who she really is to Jeffrey, Ella decides that her relationship is founded on lies, and walks out of his life. But Moss, together with the other Susanswerphone customers who have been "rescued" by Ella, show up at Ella's doorstep for a happy ending. Bells are Ringing is not an example of MGM's Arthur Freed unit at its best, but Judy Holliday is luminescent in this, her last screen role (incidentally, Holliday's "blind date" in one scene is played by her then boyfriend, jazz musician Gerry Mulligan). The film's songs, by Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Jule Styne, include the hit numbers "Just in Time" and "The Party's Over". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judy Holliday, Dean Martin, (more)
- 1958
Damn Yankees is a frothy, faithful adaptation of the 1956 Broadway hit. In an amusing slant on the "Faust" legend, aging baseball fan Joe Boyd (Robert Schafer) is given an opportunity to lead his beloved Washington Senators to victory by a devilish gent named Applegate (Ray Walston). Boyd is transformed into handsome young "Shoeless" Joe Hardy from Hannibal, Mo. (and in the process, the part is taken over by Tab Hunter, who's better than everyone said he was back in 1958). Joe becomes the Senators' star player, but at the price of his immortal soul; he isn't terribly worried, however, since he's built an escape clause into his contract with Applegate. To see that Joe doesn't get a chance to exercise that clause, Applegate sends his luscious assistant Lola (Gwen Verdon) to seduce the ballplayer. This effort doesn't work, but Applegate still manages to cause Joe to lose his chance at salvation. But there is still a ray of hope--if Hardy can win the deciding pennant game, he'll be able to foil Applegate's master plan of causing the Senators to lose. With Lola's aid, Joe gives the devil more than his due. The principal selling angle of Damn Yankees, beyond the presence of Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston delightfully recreating their stage roles, are the wonderful Richard Adler/Jerry Ross songs, including "You've Gotta Have Heart" and "What Lola Wants, Lola Gets." Based on the novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, the film (like the play before it) unfortunately throws away Wallop's wryly ironic climax; as a result, the last scenes appear rushed and haphazard. But why quibble? Damn Yankees is and always was a rock-solid piece of entertainment, as proven by its recent S.R.O. Broadway revival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tab Hunter, Gwen Verdon, (more)
