Parker Stevenson Movies

Seven teenage prep-school students become young men as they face the realities of WW II in this drama set in 1942. Much of the tale centers on two roommates who seem exceptionally close, but whether or not they are homosexually involved is never made clear. But when one feels betrayed by the other, he acts out of anger and ultimately causes the other to become a cripple. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Sam Elliot stars as Rick Carlson, a thirty year old lifeguard who thinks life is passing him by. Rick loves the beach life and his job, but after attending his fifteen-year high school reunion and receiving advice from his family and friends that he's wasting his life, Rick begins to question his livelihood and wonders whether he should quit and find a more normal line of work -- such as selling cars for the local Porsche dealership. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

The eighth volume of the Hardy Boys videocassette collection consists of a 48-minute adventure, originally telecast under the title "Acapulco Spies". A strange phone call from their investigator father Fenton Hardy (Edmund Gilbert) summons Joe and Frank Hardy (Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson) to Acapulco. Upon their arrival, the boys discover that Fenton has disappeared. It soon transpires that the elder Hardy was kidnapped by an American traitor (Craig Stevens), and that a mysterious spy ring is involved. "Acapulco Spies" first aired November 13, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Hardy Boys, Part 7 was first aired over the ABC TV network as "The Mystery of the African Safari." Joe and Frank Hardy (Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson), Franklin W. Dixon's famed teenaged sleuths, are dispatched to Africa by their investigator father Fenton Hardy (Edmund Gilbert). Things get ticklish when the Hardys both fall in love with professional hunter Trevor Masters' pretty daughter Sarah (Anne Lockhart). Originally telecast October 16, 1977, "The Mystery of the African Safari" also features Peter Bromilow and Harold Sylvester. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The fifth videocassette in the Hardy Boys collection was originally telecast under the title "Wipe Out." Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson star as Joe and Frank Hardy, the teen-aged detectives created back in the 1930s by Franklin W. Dixon. This time out, Joe and Frank come to Hawaii to participate in a surfing meet. Returning to their hotel room, the boys find out that they've been burglarized. It's obvious that the thieves knew exactly what they were looking for. But what was it? Shelly Novack, Titus Napoleon, James Shigeta and Bruce Gordon co-star in this 48-minute mystery, first shown as the April 24, 1977 installment of TV's weekly Hardy Boys series. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hardy Boys, Part 3 consists of "The Mystery of the Flying Coulier," a 48-minute episode of TV's Hardy Boys series. Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson head the cast as teenage detectives Joe and Frank Hardy. While searching for a UFO, the boys come across a bizarre mansion with disappearing floors and rooms that change size. We suspect that Professor Desmond (David Opatoshu) is behind it all. "Mystery of the Flying Coulier" first aired March 6, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Several major changes occur during the second season of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. Whereas in season one the series maintained a alternating-week format -- with teenaged detective Joe and Frank Hardy (Shaun Cassidy, Parker Stevenson) appearing in their own Hardy Boys Mysteries episode one week, followed the next week by 18-year-old sleuth Nancy Drew (Pamela Sue Martin) headlining her own Nancy Drew Mysteries installment -- beginning with the two-part season-two opener "The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula," all three leading characters would occasionally appear together, solving the same mystery. Thus, while Joe and Frank soloed in such efforts as "The Mystery of the African Safari" and "The Acapulco Story," and Nancy would go it alone in the likes of "Nancy Drew's Love Match" and "The Lady on Thursday at Ten," the Hardy Boys and Miss Drew would combine forces in such capers as the two-part "The Mystery of the Hollywood Phantom" -- which incidentally, featured cameo appearances by Robert Wagner, Jaclyn Smith, and Dennis Weaver. With the episode titled "Voodoo Doll," the two rotating series The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew officially merged into one, with the three major characters appearing together ever afterward. However, the series would do without the services of Pamela Sue Martin, who left the property in protest over having her separate series eliminated. Janet Louise Johnson takes over as Nancy in the aforementioned "Voodoo Doll," remaining with the series until Nancy Drew is completely written out at the end of season two. ~ Rovi

Although the Hardy Boys books are credited to Franklin W. Dixon and the Nancy Drew mysteries are signed by Carolyn Keene, both of these children's literature properties were created by one man -- Edward R. Stratemeyer -- who, using a wide variety of pen names and a huge staff of ghost writers, churned out hundreds of "Hardy," "Drew," and similar book series from the WWI years onward. Curiously, while both The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew had been adapted for films and television, the two properties never "merged" until ABC got the bright idea of creating the Sunday-evening TV series The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries in late 1976. In this incarnation, teen heartthrobs Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson were respectively cast as Joe and Frank Hardy, the amateur-sleuth sons of celebrated private investigator Fenton Hardy (Edmund Gilbert), while Pamela Sue Martin was seen as Nancy Drew, the bright, insatiably inquisitive daughter of criminal lawyer Carson Drew (William Schallert). In keeping with their common "parentage," The Hardy Boys Mysteries and The Nancy Drew Mysteries both found their young protagonists seeking out clues and risking their lives in order to solve baffling cases, much to the dismay and disapproval of their respective parents -- not to mention the Hardy kids' aunt Gertrude (Edith Atwater) and the Drew family's maid Bess (Ruth Cox). Joe and Frank Hardy were occasionally assisted by their school friend Callie Shaw (Lisa Eilbacher), while Nancy Drew's partners in deducing were her erstwhile beau Ned Nickerson (George O'Hanlon Jr.) and her tomboyish gal pal George Fayne (played first by Jean Rasey, then by Susan Buckner).

Debuting January 30, 1977, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries was during its first season a "rotating" series, with a Hardy Boys episode one week, followed by a Nancy Drew installment the next. Beginning with season two, the Hardys and Nancy would occasionally appear in the same episode; in February of 1978, the two shows became one (albeit under the same "blanket" title), with Joe, Frank, and Nancy appearing together in every episode. At that time, Pamela Sue Martin left the series, balking at the notion of her "separate" vehicle being eliminated. Janet Louise Johnson then stepped into the role of Nancy Drew, remaining with the property until it was decided to drop Nancy altogether. Thus, though The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries officially ended in the fall of 1978, the series hung on as simply The Hardy Boys until August 26, 1979. ~ Rovi

This made-for-TV Amityville Horror knock-off ranks among the more interesting titles from a spate of early-1980s haunted-house efforts. The title abode is the sumptuous new residence of recuperating neurotic rock star Gary Stralhorn (Parker Stevenson), who resides there with his young amnesiac nurse Sheila (Lisa Eilbacher). After a conversation with a mysterious woman (Joan Bennett), Sheila becomes increasingly convinced that she's lived in the house before. Soon, people around her begin falling victim to the malevolent spirit in the house, which seems to be protecting Sheila while guarding its own dark secret. The flamboyant death scenes -- quite graphic for television -- involve breathing mirrors that fire dagger-like shards, willful electrical cables, and a boiling hot swimming pool. Things are nicely wrapped up for the enthusiastically creepy climax, but fans of The Haunting won't be too surprised at the outcome. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

When Cabot Cove resident Beverly Garrett is electrocuted in her own bathtub in a locked bathroom, Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley) is willing to write the tragedy off as an accident; Tupper, you see, is thinking about retirement, and has already hand-picked his successor. But Jessica (Angela Lansbury) can't shake the belief that Beverly was murdered, prompting the long-suffering Tupper to dare Jessica to prove it! Adding to the intrigue is a controversial land sale, a vicious poison-pen campaign that has spread throughout town, and Jessica's mounting frustration over playing hostess to a visiting travel writer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The word for That Secret Sunday would seem to be "irresponsible." Two party girls are horribly murdered, and the police handle the investigation irresponsibly. The reason is that the four investigating cops are guilty of the murder, which stemmed from their own irresponsible behavior. Investigative reporter James Farentino might have been able to nail the cops, but his newspaper behaves with irresponsibility. Made for television, That Secret Sunday was responsible only in prompting viewers to change the channel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Based on the novel by Carol Ryrie Brink, this film is the story of a young tomboy growing up in Wisconsin in the late 19th century. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi

The "new" Misison:Impossible moved from Sunday to Saturday evenings with the January 28, 1989 episode "The Haunting." The IMF's target is an elusive serial killer whose latest murder may cancel a crucial oil-trade agreement. To stop the villain in his tracks, the IMF agents play a dangerous series of mind games, with Phelps posing as a mentalist and Max Hart impersonating a lunatic. Janis Paige and Parker Stevenson guest-star as Victoria and Champ Foster. "The Haunting" was written by Michael Fisher. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi