Darlene Tompkins Movies
- 1963
This was the first film directed by dancer and choreographer Gower Champion, already experienced at directing television and theatrical productions by the early '60s. The routine romantic comedy, somewhat bogged down by the children it features, is centered on overwrought actress Janice Courtney (Debbie Reynolds). She has had it with paparazzi and publicity campaigns and escapes to the Connecticut countryside for a little R & R. At that point, a half-dozen youngsters intrude into her life after they are abandoned by their ne'er-do-well guardians, and though she is anything but enthusiastic, Janice takes them under her frayed wings. The local pastor, Rev. Jim Larkin (Cliff Robertson) has something to do with that, and ultimately, more than a little something to do with Janice's personal life. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Debbie Reynolds, Cliff Robertson, (more)
Elvis Presley stars as Mike Windgren, a former trapeze artist who's suffered from vertigo ever since accidentally dropping his partner during a performance. Working as a lifeguard/entertainer at an Acapulco resort, Mike falls in love with social director Margarita Dauphine (Ursula Andress). With her help, he overcomes his fear of heights in a spectacular high-dive finale. Presley songs featured include "Vino, Dinero y Amor," "Marguerita," "Bossa Nova Baby" and the title tune. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Ursula Andress, (more)
One of Elvis Presley's most successful post-Army vehicles, Blue Hawaii casts Elvis as scion to a Hawaiian pineapple fortune. His snooty mother Angela Lansbury wants Presley to take over the management of the family business, but he'd rather make his own way in the world. He lands a job at a tourist agency, and incidentally finds time to dally with such lovelies as Joan Blackman and Nancy Walters. Steve Brodie, as ever, is on hand to inveigle Elvis into an outsized brawl. Among the songs featured in the film are the title number (originally written in 1937 for Bing Crosby) and "Can't Help Falling in Love." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman, (more)
- 1961
A skeleton in a museum collection of Native American artifacts catches the eye of a man named Newton Clovis (Myron McCormick). Curator Clay Hollister (Larry Gates) insists that the skeleton is that of an Indian, but Newton suspects otherwise. In flashback, we learn that Newton is absolutely right, and that Hollister had once been on somewhat intimate terms with the skeleton's owner, thanks to a sensational murder case involving Hollister's late son, Ben (Bert Convy). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Edgar G. Ulmer, the phenomenally fast director of many a quickie horror effort, lensed Beyond the Time Barrier in Texas. Test pilot Maj. William Allison (Robert Clarke) is hideously disfigured by a mishap in space. In flashback, we learn that Clarke had earlier returned to his base, only to discover that he'd passed through a time warp and that the Earth has been decimated by some disaster or other. He crosses the path of the ruling class, led by the Supreme, and a tribe of mutants, left over from a plague caused by extraterrestrial radiation. Only by returning to his own time can Clarke save the world from this fate (sound familiar?). Augmented with footage from Fritz Lang's 1959 Journey to the Lost City (aka The Indian Tomb), Beyond the Time Barrier tries hard, but is ultimately defeated by its almost-nonexistent budget. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Darlene Tompkins, Arianne Arden, (more)
