Lili Valenty Movies
Versatile actress Lili Valenty appeared in a wide variety of films. A native of Poland, she got her start on the German stage where she was a major star. In the early '30s, she emigrated to New York and launched a successful career on radio and the Broadway stage. She later made guest appearances on numerous television shows. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1978
Charles (Michael Landon) and Caroline (Karen Grassle) are thrilled to learn that she is expecting another child. But will Charles be disappointed if the baby turns out to be another girl? To find out what is in store, Caroline goes against her better judgment and consults a gypsy fortune teller, Mme. Maria (Lily Valenty). Things take a somber turn when Caroline goes into early labor, forcing Charles to handle the birth without the aid of a doctor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1976
Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy is a TV dramatization of the notorious Cold War incident of 1960. The story is told from the point of view of Powers (Lee Majors), an American pilot who was shot down over Russia while taking photographs on behalf of the CIA. The event occurs just before a crucial summit meeting between American President Dwight D. Eisenhower (James Flavin) and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev (Thayer David). Eisenhower tries to cover up the incident, allowing Khrushchev to make propagandistic hay of the whole affair. Robert E. Thompson's teleplay tends to depict the Americans as jerks, and the Russians as essentially good guys; even Powers' Soviet interrogator, portrayed by Nehemiah Persoff, comes off comparatively sympathetic. Also in the cast are Noah Beery as Powers' father and Lew Ayres as Allen Dulles. Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy was originally telecast September 29, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
As is customary, Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) are faced with a baffling mystery which they must unravel in the episode's alotted sixty minutes. The game is afoot the moment that the skeleton of a former convict is found during an excavation on Alcatraz Island. There's only one problem: this particular convict was supposed to have escaped from "The Rock" in the 1950s--and in fact, is still purportedly sending letters to his family! Featured in the cast are two seasoned veterans of radio's Golden Age: Paul Stewart and Virginia Gregg. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Barbara Hershey stars as the "baby maker" of the title. Tish Gray (Hershey) hires herself out to married couple Jay and Suzanne Wilcox (Sam Groom and Collin Wilcox-Horne), who've been unable to conceive a child of their own. Tish agrees to bear the child for them, assuming that her hippie boyfriend, Ted Jacks (Scott Glenn), will go along with the plan. The problem is that Tish must allow Jay to impregnate her, causing severe strains on both couple's relationships. In 1970, the notion of surrogate motherhood was radical in the extreme, so The Baby Maker seemed quite progressive and daring. This served as the theatrical-feature directorial debut for screenwriter James Bridges. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Hershey, Collin Wilcox-Horne, (more)
- 1968
Breaking from tradition, Bonanza offered two first-run episodes amidst the usual sea of reruns in the summer of 1968. The first of these, "A Severe Case of Matrimony", aired on July 7, 1968. Susan Strasberg plays Rosalita, a fiery gypsy girl who aspires to a career in opera-and never mind that she can't carry a tune in a washbucket. Willing to marry one of the Cartwrights to finance her singing career, Rosalita fabricates a story of relentless abuse at the hands of her father Anselmo (J. Carroll Naish). Also in the cast are Andre Philippe as Paco and Lili Valenty as Dolores. Written by Michael Fessnier, this episode went into production under the title "A Slight Case of Matrimony." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1967
Buffy (Anissa Jones) is chosen over her classmate Melissa (Cindy Eilbacher) as the lead dancer in a ballet version of "Little Red Riding Hood". Miffed over this casting coup, Melissa's mom Clara (Ann McCrea) insists that Buffy got the starring part only because dance teacher Margot Dunbar is a former girlfriend of Buffy's uncle Bill (Brian Keith). Though this is not the case, Buffy apparently "proves" her lack of qualification by botching her performance--but for reasons that no one would ever have anticipated. Cast as Margot is Judith Landon, the wife of series star Brian Keith. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
A group of flamboyant Italian acrobats pay a visit to the Ponderosa. Despite his long friendship with Guido Borelli (Cesar Romero), leader of the acrobats, Ben Cartwright is disturbed over Borelli's exhibitions of jealousy whenever his sweetheart Pitina (Ilze Taurins) shows interest in another man-such as Ben's son Joe. When Borelli's younger rival Carlo (Fabrizio Mioni) is stabbed, Guido tries to frame Joe for the act. Lily Valenty rounds out the guest cast as Donna Luisa. Written by Jo Pagano, "The Deadliest Game" was originally shown on February 21, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1964
Saunders (Vic Morrow) is ordered to deliver some new radios behind enemy lines to a group of French partisans. Going along for the ride is Sgt. Calvin Perkins (Richard Anderson), a communications expert whose makes up for his lack of combat experience with his enormous ego. Understandably, there is no love lost between the matter-of-fact Saunders and the arrogant Perkins, but eventually each man learns to respect the other...sort of. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
This drama, based on a true story, chronicles the exploits of a gorgeous Greek actress who decrees that she will marry the winner of the 26-mile marathon at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens. It will be the first time the race has been run in 2,672 years. The actress does this because she is sure that her true-love will win. The real winner is a poor shepherd. Fortunately, the shepherd would rather marry another. The film contains actual Olympic Games footage. Much of the story was shot on location. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jayne Mansfield, Trax Colton, (more)
One of Elvis Presley's biggest moneymakers, Girls Girls Girls casts ol' swivel-hips as a tuna-boat fisherman working out of Hawaii. Elvis chases after all the wrong girls, while ignoring the girls who genuinely care for him. Here, as Ross Carpenter, Presley has two main love interests: sexy vocalist Robin (Stella Stevens and heiress Laurel (Laurel Goodwin), who pretends to be poor so as not to wound Ross's pride. When rude 'n' crude Wesley Johnson (Jeremy Slate), who owns Ross's boat, makes a play for Laurel, Ross punches him out. He loses his boat, but it hardly matters since he and Laurel have found true love. Songs crucial to the action are the title tune, "Return to Sender," and "Song of the Shrimp." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Stella Stevens, (more)
- 1962
Delmer Daves directs this cross between a travelog and a routine romantic drama set in Italy. The story begins when beautiful librarian Prudence (a misnomer, played by Suzanne Pleshette) decides to take off for Italy. She works in a women's college and was brought up short for recommending a racy book to one of the students. In a huff, she opts to go to the land of opera and find out if Italian men are as romantic as legend maintains. Once there, she runs into Roberto (Rossano Brazzi), who is likely to prove the legend true, and meets Don (Troy Donahue), an American running away from the love of his life, Lyda (Angie Dickinson). Between the glamour and the setting, Daves has geared this fluffy tale for the more innocent-minded teen set. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Troy Donahue, Angie Dickinson, (more)
- 1960
Considered to be a witch, gypsy girl Tirza (Susan Harrison) has been condemned to death by her own tribe. Taking refuge on the Ponderosa, Tirza falls in love with Joe Cartwright, who is determined to prove to one and all that the girl is not the sorceress she appears to be. Cult film director Hugo Haas appears as tribal leader Zirka, with Arthur Batanides as Spiro and Lily Valenty as Bruja. Originally broadcast on April 23, 1960, "Dark Star" was written by Anthony Lawrence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
Cole Porter's Gay Paree musical about the introduction in Montmartre in 1896 of the notorious Can-Can dance, is brought to the screen, filtered through a Rat Pack sensibility. Shirley MacLaine stars as Simone Pistache, the perky and vivacious owner of a Parisian cafe, who, aided by her swingin' boyfriend Francois Dumais (Frank Sinatra), is trying to keep her establishment from being closed down by the Paris authorities because of Simone's insistence on treating her patrons to the Can-Can, the salacious dance outlawed by French law. Maurice Chevalier is a kindly French judge who graciously looked the other way, but another hard-nosed judge, Philippe Forrestier (Louis Jordan), turns up the heat on Simone to close her cafe. That is, until Simone turns up the heat on him, and Phillippe falls hard for Simone. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, (more)
- 1960
In this lighthearted episode, timid Viennese postman Josef (Rudolph Anders) is pining over pretty coffee house waitress Elsa (Vanessa Brown), who in turns feels much the same affection towards Josef. Alas, the lovers are repeatedly kept apart, no matter how much they yearn to be together. Is it a disapproving relative or a jilted suitor who wants to sabotage this romance. No, the "villain" is a curmudgeonly poltergeist--a restless ghost who is particularly troublesome because he's unaware that he is a ghost. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This Biblical epic stars Elana Eden as Ruth, who serves in the temple where the High Priestess (Viveca Lindfors) leads the worship of the Pagan idols of the people of Moab. When Ruth falls in love with Mahlon (Tom Tryon), a Hebrew, she must come to terms with his spiritual beliefs, but in time she embraces his faith and converts to Judaism when they marry. Ruth travels with Mahlon and his mother Naomi (Peggy Wood) to their homeland of Bethlehem. Ruth suffers hardship and religious persecution, and when Mahlon dies, Ruth's faith is severely tested. But her belief in God survives this trial by fire, and in time Ruth finds a new love with Boaz (Stuart Whitman). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stuart Whitman, Tom Tryon, (more)
Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) is a rebellious slave purchased by Lentulus Batiatus (Peter Ustinov), owner of a school for gladiators. For the entertainment of corrupt Roman senator Marcus Licinius Crassus (Laurence Olivier), Batiatus' gladiators are to stage a fight to the death. On the night before the event, the enslaved trainees are "rewarded" with female companionship. Spartacus' companion for the evening is Varinia (Jean Simmons), a slave from Brittania. When Spartacus later learns that Varinia has been sold to Crassus, he leads 78 fellow gladiators in revolt. Word of the rebellion spreads like wildfire, and soon Spartacus' army numbers in the hundreds. Escaping to join his cause is Varinia, who has fallen in love with Spartacus, and another of Crassus' house slaves, the sensitive Antoninus (Tony Curtis). The revolt becomes the principal cog in the wheel of a political struggle between Crassus and a more temperate senator named Gracchus (Charles Laughton). Anthony Mann was the original director of Spartacus, eventually replaced by Stanley Kubrick, who'd previously guided Douglas through Paths of Glory. The film received 4 Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Ustinov. A crucial scene between Olivier and Curtis, removed from the 1967 reissue because of its subtle homosexual implications, was restored in 1991, with a newly recorded soundtrack featuring Curtis as his younger self and Anthony Hopkins standing in for the deceased Olivier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, (more)
- 1958
Based on the Anton Myrer novel The Big War, In Love and War is an entertaining showcase for several of 20th Century-Fox's younger contract players. Robert Wagner, Jeffrey Hunter and Bradford Dillman plays three young San Francisco residents who sign up for the Marines at the outbreak of WW2. The film traces the progress of all three in the Pacific "theater of operations", emphasizing the characters' individual strengths and shortcomings. One of the men is a gung-ho patriot, the second is a perennial goof-off, and the third hopes to prove his worth to his wealthy father. The women in the three protagonists' lives are played by Sheree North, Hope Lange, France Nuyen, and Dana Wynter, the latter delivering a powerhouse performance in an extremely difficult role. Providing comic counterpart to the more serious goings-on is nightclub comedian Mort Sahl, making his screen debut in a tailor-made role as an eternal griper. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Wagner, Dana Wynter, (more)
- 1958
In San Francisco, Bart (Jack Kelly) suspects that one of the town's leading citizens, Van Buren Kingsley, is a swindler. Before long, Kingsley shows his hand by arranging for Bart to get beaten up and shanghaied. In typical Maverick fashion, Bart tries to turn the tables on the duplicitous Kingsley by setting up a sting operation involving a cache of valuable diamonds. Watch for veteran character actor Sig Ruman, aka "Concentration Camp Ehrhardt" in the Jack Benny film To Be or Not to Be, in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Wild Is the Wind represents a (perhaps deliberate) reversal of the situation in The Rose Tattoo (1955). Whereas in Tattoo, Anna Magnani played a widow who could never find a man to measure up to her late husband, in Wind her character, Giola, marries widowed rancher Gino (Anthony Quinn), who is haunted by the memory of his first spouse. The situation is dicier in Wind, since Italian immigrant Gino's deceased wife was Giola's sister. Eventually tiring of her husband's mood swings, Giola turns to his son, Bene (Anthony Franciosa), for emotional and sexual gratification. A Hollywood approximation of the Italian neorealist school of filmmaking, Wild Is the Wind was based on Furia, a story by Vittorio Nino Novarese. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Magnani, Anthony Quinn, (more)
- 1974
- R
The sequel to The Harrad Experiment focuses on the students of a sexually-progressive college who spend the summer finding a practical application for what they've learned. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
Featuring Lila Kedrova and Melvyn Douglas as elderly couple Eva and David who, after forty years of a less-than-satisfying marriage, find the lost love they once had for each other as they travel to San Francisco to visit their grandchildren. Actress Lee Grant's first directorial feature, this drama is based on a novella by Tillie Olsen. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Melvyn Douglas, Lila Kedrova, (more)
