Dan Tobin Movies

Once again, the talented Martin Sheen puts in some "bad-guy" duty for F.B.I producer Quinn Martin. This time, Sheen is cast as Neil Harland, the embittered son of crippled, impoverished miner Jess Harland John McLiam). Seeking revenge against the mining executives whom he holds responsible for his father's plight, Neil embarks upon a campaign of terror, extortion, and ultimate destruction. As the FBI tries to locate Neil, the angry young man finds his plans threatened by innocent bystander Judy Thorpe (Heidi Vaughn)--who may die as a result. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Neville Brand guest-stars as Pepper Shannon, a stage robber whose career has been blown up to "heroic" proportions by the dime-novel brigade. Unfortunately, Ben Cartwright's adopted son Jamie idolizes Shannon, who has allowed Jamie to "capture" him to avoid being shot by his enemies. It is only after Shannon is framed for murder that the disillusioned Jamie realizes that his hero is a lily-livered coward. Also in the cast are Walter Brooke as Corey, Dan Tobin as Mills, and Arthur Peterson as Donovan. Written by John Hawkins, George Scheneck and William Marks, "The Luck of Pepper Shannon" originally aired on November 22, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hogan's latest mission is to destroy a German rocket fuel factory. Unfortunately, he receives word that the sabotage job is going to backfire disastrously. Even worse, Hogan is trapped in a card game with a German general and is unable to set things right. Dan Tobin appears as General Von Trager, while Arlene Martel, normally cast as underground operative Tiger, is here seen as Olga. Written by Laurence Marks, "Never Play Cards With Strangers" first aired on November 9, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When Samantha complains that Darrin has been forgetful of late, helpful Endora casts a spell on Darrin's wristwatch. So long as he wears that watch, Darrin will be possessed of a photographic memory. Unfortunately, Darrin's newfound facility at conjuring up facts, statistics, and trivia at a moment's notice does not rest well with his know-it-all client, Ed Pennybaker (Dan Tobin). Written by David V. Robison and John L. Greene, "I Remember You...Sometimes" was first telecast on February 16, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Perry Mason's one-and-only color episode is a loose adaptation of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. The "Fagin" character is slimy art collector Benjamin Huggins (Victor Buono), who with the assistance of henchman Bill Sikes (Scott Graham) masterminds a teenage car-stripping gang. Murder rears its ugly head when 18-year-old gang member Lennie Beale (Kevin O'Neal) is charged with killing Sikes, apparently as retaliation for Sikes' shooting of Lennie's girlfriend Robin Spring (Lisa Seagram). Even though he had previously been robbed by Lennie, Perry (Raymond Burr), in true "Mr. Brownlow" fashion, agrees to defend the boy in court. One of the seventy-six Perry Mason episodes removed from the series' original 1966 syndication package, "The Case of the Twice-Told Twist" was finally rebroadcast on cable TV in the early 1990s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dick Van Dyke plays a dual role as Rob Petrie and Rob's late Uncle Hezekiah, who appears in this episode via a filmed "living will." As one the main heirs to the curmudgeonly Hezekiah Petrie's vast fortune, Rob is a bit confused by the old man's capricious legacy -- which consists of an ancient roll-top desk, a cryptic poem, and a snatch of the old song "Me and My Shadow." Ultimately, Rob and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) plunder the contents of the desk, but find absolutely nothing of interest -- except for a yellowed old photograph.... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Herman (Fred Gwynne) wins a $5000 membership to the hoity-toity Mockingbird Heights Country Club. Naturally, the wealthy club members are appalled by the Munsters' presence--and for their part, the Munsters find the club a bit too snobbish for their tastes. Even so, Herman wants to retain his membership: He has always wanted to play golf on a lavish course, and never mind that his chip shots, birdies, and eagles are wreaking havoc upon the local homeowners! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lawyer Dean Martin's gambling habit is beginning to get on the nerves of his wife Lana Turner. To keep the money in the family, Lana talks Dino's law partner Eddie Albert into acting as Martin's bookie. Not only does this plan not work, but it also rouses the ire of Runyonesque gangster Walter Matthau. In the cutest of the film's cute twist, Lana saves herself and her husband by solving Matthau's financial and domestic problems. A minor but efficiently assembled star comedy, Who's Got the Action benefits from tasty production values and a knockout supporting cast, including Paul Ford, John McGiver, Nita Talbot, Ned Glass, and fabled pin-up girl June Wilkinson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Whenever the betwiching Roxane Berard guest-stars on Maverick, there's bound to be some elegant larceny, with at least one member of the Maverick clan ending up the victim. In this particular episode, Berard is cast as Danielle de Lisle, an apparent damsel in distress who asks Beau Maverick (Roger Moore) to safeguard a precious diamond. Sure enough, Beau is tricked into substituting a fake diamond for the genuine article--and ends up in jail for his troubles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

First broadcast January 28, 1961, "Bank Run" was one of several second-season Bonanza episodes directed by Robert Altman. Left in charge of the Ponderosa, Joe Cartwright receives word that town banker Harrison (Ian Wolfe) plans to create a phony bank panic so he can foreclose on a mining property for a quick financial turnover. To thwart Harrison's machinations, Joe decides to stage a bank robbery-and drags a reluctant Hoss into the scheme. Also appearing are Walter Burke as Tim O'Brien, Wynn Pearce as the Bank Teller, and Owen Bush as Huggins. This comic episode was written by N.B. Stone Jr.. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In danger of losing his job, TV-producer David Wayne hopes to cook up a real ratings winner by building a network special around the life and work of elderly doctor Paul Muni. For the past 45 years, the iconoclastic Muni has run a free clinic in the slums of Brooklyn. Muni has no time for television, however, so Wayne tries to get Muni's lifelong friend Luther Adler to talk the doctor into appearing before the cameras. Adler agrees, on the proviso that Wayne's network promises to build a nice home in the suburbs for the physician and his wife (Nancy R. Pollock). Going to work on Muni, Adler convinces the old man that a coast-to-coast special will permit him to vent his spleen on the subject of the mercenary medical profession. On the night of the broadcast, Muni discovers that one of his slum patients, Billy Dee Williams, has been arrested for car theft. Leaving Wayne high and dry, Muni rushes down to the police station, where he is pressed into service to save a life. While doing so, he suffers a fatal heart attack, with the weeping Adler at his side. Wayne finally realizes that Muni's selfless idealism was of greater value than any commercially-motivated television program, and says as much when he hands in his resignation. The Last Angry Man turned out to be the cinematic swan song for veteran-actor Paul Muni; he died eight years later. Based on a novel by Gerald Green, The Last Angry Man would be remade for television with Pat Hingle in the Muni role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bette Davis goes the "kitchen sink drama" route in The Catered Affair. As the frowsy wife of Bronx cabdriver Ernest Borgnine, Davis insists that her daughter Debbie Reynolds have a high-class wedding--caterers and all. Reynolds and future hubby Rod Taylor want a simple ceremony, but Davis' mind is made up. The wedding snowballs into an unwieldy affair as Davis and Borgnine find that they must invite everyone they know or risk incurring the wrath of their neighborhood. When the cost of the affair exceeds the family's bank account, Davis rails at Borgnine for failing to be a good provider. It takes her till the very end of the film to realize what a fool she's been. Gore Vidal, of all people, adapted The Catered Affair from a TV drama written by Paddy Chayefsky; the original telecast had starred Thelma Ritter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide