Harold J. Stone Movies
A third-generation actor, Harold J. Stone made his stage debut at age six with his father, Jacob Hochstein, in the Yiddish-language play White Slaves. Stone had one line--"Mama!"--which he managed to forget on opening night. He didn't act again until after his graduation from New York University. After gleaning valuable experience in radio, he returned to the stage in George Jessel's production of Little Old New York at the 1939 World's Fair. Stone made his Broadway bow shortly afterward in Sidney Kingsley's The World We Make, and thereafter was seldom unemployed. In 1952, he began the first of many TV-series gigs when he replaced Philip Loeb as Jake on The Goldbergs; within a decade, he was averaging 20 TV appearances per year. In films from 1956, the harsh-voiced, authoritative Stone was most often seen as big-city detective (as in Hitchcock's The Wrong Man), generals, and gangsters (he was Frank Nitti in 1967's St. Valentine's Day Massacre). Usually billed at the top of the supporting cast, Stone enjoyed a rare above-the-title starring assignment when he played investigator John Kennedy in the 1959 syndicated TV series Grand Jury. His other weekly-series roles included Hamilton Greeley (a character based on New Yorker maven Harold Ross) in My World and Welcome to It (1969) and Sam Steinberg in Bridget Loves Bernie (1972). In the latter stages of his career, Harold J. Stone unexpectedly found himself a favorite of Jerry Lewis, co-starring in Lewis' The Big Mouth (1967), Which Way to the Front? (1970) and Hardly Working (1980). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1967
Affair with a Killer stars Stephen Young as Nick King and Austin Willis as Admiral Fox. King is a security agent, assigned to patrol the St. Lawrence Seaway by Fox, the head of the Ship Owners Association. Right now they must contend with a ruthless US/Canadian dope ring. Affair with a Killer was culled from two episodes of the Canadian TV series Seaway, which ran in 1965 and was thereafter syndicated to the US. It is one of two ersatz Seaway feature films; the other was the less-lurid-than-its-title Don't Forget to Wipe the Blood Off. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
DA Rudolph Cox (Leslie Nielsen) hopes to use the testimony of stoolie Lou Heinz (Bernard Kates) to put mobster Mac Davis (Harold J. Stone) away for keeps. Unfortunately, Heinz's cover is blown and he is marked for death. Even more unfortunately, the most important official in town seems to be in Davis' pocket -- which means that Cox's dreams of becoming a major political figure are in just as much danger as the hapless Heinz. This is the final episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents' sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
This classic Emmy-nominated episode stars Barbara Bel Geddes as Mary Maloney, the wife of philandering police chief Patrick Maloney (played by former cowboy star Allan Lane, best known to TV fans as the voice of Mister Ed). When Patrick comes home to tell his wife that he is leaving her for another woman, the outraged Mary clubs her husband to death with a frozen leg of lamb. She then calls the police to announce that she has come home to find her husband dead, with no murder weapon in sight. Eventually the cops arrive to comb the Maloney apartment for evidence -- little realizing that the solution to the crime is literally under their noses. Arguably the most famous Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode of all, "Lamb to the Slaughter" is one of those rare murder yarns which can be enjoyed repeatedly even after the viewer knows the outcome. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Halloran (Harold Stone), an obnoxious newspaper reporter known for his elaborate practical jokes, chooses an old barfly named Johnny (Russell Collins) as his next victim. To this end, Halloran prints up a dummy newspaper bearing the headline "World to End Tonight at 11:45 p.m." Thoroughly convinced of his imminent doom, the pathetic Johnny decides to spend his last moments fulfilling several long-suppressed desires -- with disastrous and ultimately fatal consequences. One of the street urchins appearing in the climactic department-store sequence is a young Harry Shearer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
A gang of four criminals-three men, one women-kidnap Ben and hold him for a $100,000 ransom. Tension mounts as Ben tries to formulate an escape plan by turning the crooks against each other. The guest cast includes Harold J. Stone as Chad, Jacqueline Scott as Willa, and Conlan Carter as Tip. Written by Donn Mullally, "The Hostage" originally aired on September 27, 1964 without commercial interruption, as part of an agreement between the Bonanza producers and their longtime sponsor Chevrolet to air one episode per season sans interior ads. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1977
The Angels, assuming the usual false identities, embark upon a luxury cruise to Hawaii in hopes of proving that their ship isn't "jinxed." Unfortunately, the passengers and crew members continue to be plagued by mysterious accidents -- and more unfortunate still, the mystery villain is aware of the Angels' true identities, and he isn't above killing them off, one by one. If the shipboard sets in this episode seem familiar, it is because they are the same ones that were later utilized on another popular Aaron Spelling-produced series of the 1970s, The Love Boat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Kate Jackson, (more)
- 1959
In the sixth episode of Walt Disney's 17-part miniseries Tales of Texas John Slaughter, Slaughter (Tom Tryon) combines his cattle herd with that of fellow rancher Sam Underwood (Sidney Blackmer), intending to drive both herds to Arizona and sell them at the highest price possible. Unfortunately, the two men cannot use the Chisholm Trail because of a recent drought, so Slaughter blazes his own trail -- through Comanche territory. As if the Indians didn't pose enough of a threat, Slaughter must also contend with cattle baron John Chisholm (Harold J. Stone), who is convinced that Slaughter is trying to destroy his business. Originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology, "The Slaughter Trail" and the subsequent episode "The Man From Bitter Creek" were edited together in 1962 and released overseas as the "feature film" Texas John Slaughter: Stampede at Bitter Creek. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Harold J. Stone guest stars as Alexi Gregor Dubov, an eccentric painter who has arrived on the island to escape civilization. It turns out that Dubov has a short-wave radio transmitter--but he has no intention of using it to help the castaways get of the island. In an effort to force Dubov to contact the mainland, the castaways devise a devastating blow to the painter's ego by convincing him that goofy Gilligan (Bob Denver) is an artistic genius. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harold J. Stone
One of Elvis Presley's most popular vehicles, Girl Happy is also one of the most typical. Elvis plays Rusty Wells, the leader of a four-piece rock group, consisting of Gary Crosby, Joby Baker and Jimmy Hawkins. Hired by Chicago gangster boss Big Frank (Harold J. Stone) to protect the virtue of Frank's cute daughter Valerie (Shelley Fabares), Rusty and his buddies follow Valerie to Fort Lauderdale during Spring Break. The girl falls in love with Rusty, then falls out of love when she learns that he's in her dad's employ. Valerie then becomes involved with a slick Italian playboy (Fabrizio Mioni), forcing Rusty to break up the romance lest he end up in a cement overcoat. It all ends happily, of course: after all, Elvis hadn't died on screen since Flaming Star. A bikini-watcher's dream, Girl Happy is less successful as a musical; of the many songs, the title number is the only one with lasting value. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares, (more)
- 1967
Gunslinger Joe Delk (Harold J. Stone) has managed to avoid arrest by forcing his victims to draw first, then killing them in "self defense." When Delk shoots down the Baxter boys, who didn't have an enemy in the world, the people of Dodge City demand that Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) do something. Since he cannot legally arrest Delk, Matt figures out a way to expose the swaggering gunman as a coward--without even lifting his own six-shooter. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of February 26, 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
- PG
Jerry Lewis' first film in a decade stars the comedian as Bo Hooper, an unemployed circus clown who cannot hold down a job. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Lewis, Susan Oliver, (more)
- 1957
Riding into the Wyoming town of Bender, Paladin (Richard Boone) is hired by accused murderer Bart Holgate (Harold J. Stone). Though willing to answer for his crimes, Holgate is terrified that he will be lynched before he ever reaches the courtroom, thus he agrees to pay Paladin to keep him alive until his trial. But Amy Bender (a pre-Police Woman Angie Dickinson), the sister of Holgate's victim, is determined to mete out her own brand of justice, Paladin or no Paladin! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
In this Award-winning episode, Paladin (Richard Boone) is extended the hospitality of Samuel Abajinian (Harold J. Stone), a prosperous Armenian winemaker. But before Paladin can partake of any vintage wine, Abarjinian asks him to track down his "helpless" daughter Helen (Lisa Gaye), who has run off with a ranchhand whom the winemaker regards as weak and unworthy. As it turns out, Helen is fiercely self-reliant--and as usual, there is more to the story than it seems at first glance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Riding into a dusty Arkansas town, Paladin is greeted with the spectacle of a man chained in the street. The hapless prisoner turns out to be Dr. Simeon Loving (Donald Randolph), accused of murder by self-appointed "hanging judge" Elroy Greenleaf (Harold J. Stone). At the risk of his own neck, Paladin offers to act as Dr. Loving's defense counsel to save the man from the gallows--even though the wily Judge Greenleaf has pretty much stacked the deck against the prisoner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
An undercover U.S. intelligence agent arranges for Hogan and his crew to be smuggled into Berlin. Disguised as members of a hospital staff, the heroes are ordered to kidnap a British defector before he reveals top-secret information to the Nazis. The supporting cast includes such frequent Hogan's Heroes drop-ins as Harold J. Stone (as Major Teppel), John Stephenson (Decker), and Edward Knight (Gestapo Major Metzger). Written by Laurence Marks, "Bad Day in Berlin" first aired on December 7, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Written by Arthur Julian, this episode finds Hogan and his crew trying to harness the forces of nature in order to create an avalanche. It is all part of a scheme to redirect a full-scale Panzer assault, which has been routed through the slippery slopes of Mount Hoffenstein. Harold J. Stone heads the guest cast as General Stromberger. Originally telecast on March 21, 1971, "Look at the Pretty Snowflakes" was the last episode of Hogan's Heroes to be filmed, though not the last one to be shown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1969
Harold J. Stone guest stars as defecting German Field Marshal Rudolf Richter. Hogan hopes to help Richter escape to England, but this proves difficult with Gestapo officer Hochstetter breathing down everyone's neck. Arlene Martel, seen in earlier episodes as underground agent Tiger, portrays a character named Gretchen. First broadcast on November 28, 1969, "The Defector" was written by Laurence Marks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1957
House of Numbers might have worked better as a farce comedy than a deadly serious melodrama, but everyone involved tries hard not to raise a chuckle. Jack Palance plays a dual role, as an imprisoned gangster and the gangster's twin brother. During a visit to the gangster, the brother switches places, allowing himself to be incarcerated as the real criminal walks free. The scheme involves the complete cooperation of Barbara Lang, wife of one of the Palance boys, who expectedly wavers in her loyalties. Based on a novel by Jack Finney, House of Numbers strived for realism by staging several scenes on location at San Quentin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Palance, Barbara Lang, (more)
- 1968
There may be blood in the streets when the chief of staff of the "Second Force", a paramilitary vigilante group ostensibly set up to fight crime, is murdered. Despite his distaste for the group's racist rantings, Ironside dedicates himself to solving the man's murder before the vigilantes begin exacting vengeance against their supposed enemies. In the course of events, the Chief uncovers the group's true motives--and they are not pure in any way, shape or form. TV talk show host Les Crane appears as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Upon his return from Vietnam, ex-POW Mike Doyle (Cliff Potts) is certain that he sees his police-officer father (Warren Kemmerling) waiting for him at the airport--just before disappearing in the crowd. But the Commissioner (Gene Lyons), and everyone else who knows and cares about Mike, insists that the elder Doyle was killed in a car crash two years earlier. Worried that he is losing his mind, Mike conducts a frantic search for his father...while Ironside (Raymond Burr), who knows the whole truth about the father's reported "death" but is honor-bound to remain silent, tries to prevent the hapless veteran from going off the deep end. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Everett Ward (Andrew Duggan), longtime accountant for drug-dealing businessman Mike Martine (Harold J. Stone), decides to step forward and testify against his boss after witnessing a murder. Unfortunately, Ward's act of defiance proves to be his undoing when he becomes Martine's next victim. Now Ironside (Raymond Burr) must persuade Ward's terrified daughter Caroline (Joan Van Ark) to replace her late father on the witness stand. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Things get personal for Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) when an undercover cop is found murdered, gangland style. Figuratively tossing the rule book out the window, Kojak sets his sights on bringing elusive crime boss Franco "Six Bits" Donatello (Harold J. Stone) to justice. Actress Diana Hyland, whose stellar career was tragically cut short by cancer one year after "A Grave Too Soon" first aired on March 7, 1976, plays a key role in this final episode of Kojak's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Man Afraid stars George Nader as a clergyman serving a big-city slum district. He is forced to kill a young hoodlum in self-defense; the police are willing to forgive him of the killing, but the victim's psychotic father (Harold J. Stone) is not so pliable. The father threatens not only to wreak vengeance on Nader, but on Nader's family as well. The minister is torn apart by the practical necessity of protecting his family and the pacifistic edicts of his religious calling. Man Afraid is a tight, claustrophobic melodrama that was inappropriately filmed in CinemaScope; consequently, it tends to play better on TV than it did in theatres. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Nader, Phyllis Thaxter, (more)
- 1971
Lynda Day George joins the Mission:Impossible cast as agent Lisa Casey in the episode entitled "Blind." Guest star Tom Bosley is cast as government undercover operative Henry Matula, who has been infiltrated into the criminal empire of John Lawton (Harold J. Stone), and is in line for a Syndicate promotion. To protect Matula's cover, Phelps must take extreme measures to pose as a discredited, and blind, FBI agent. This episode was written by Arthur Weiss. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
