Robert Alda Movies

Embarking upon their honeymoon, Quincy (Jack Klugman) and Emily (Anita Gillette) accept the invitation of an old friend, Judge Blake, to spend a "private" weekend at a ski lodge. Alas, the weekend proves anything but private when several other guests, all of them in the law-enforcement business, start pouring into the lodge. Making matters worse, an unknown maniac is murdering the assembled guests one by one--and a raging blizzard has cut off all avenues of escape. Yes, it's "Ten Little Indians", Quincy-style, with a dash of the 1932 film classic The Old Dark House thrown in via guest star Henry Gibson's portrayal of an inscrutably mute caretaker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This is the obligatory "lone dissenting voice" episode, in which medical examiner Quincy finds himself serving on a jury in the murder trial of Frank Munson (Morgan Stevens). Although he has promised his superiors that he will not allow his professional expertise influence his decision, our hero can't help but notice that there are several serious flaws in the prosecution's evidence--and of course, he can't stop himself from loudly expressing his feelings in court, much to the dismay of everyone concerned (except the defendant). This episode was originally scheduled to air on January 28, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hawkeye (Alan Alda) again crosses the path of arrogant older doctor Anthony Borelli (played by Alda's father Robert Alda). With ample reason to dislike one another, Hawk and Borelli are none too happy when they are forced to collaborateon an operation in the field. Back in camp, B.J. (Mike Farrell) holds a curious "anniversary" party where everyone is invited. In addition to the guest appearance of Robert Alda, this episode also features Alan Alda's half-brother Antony Alda as an intern. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A nuclear-powered transcontinental train provides the setting for this television pilot from the mystery series Supertrain. The story concerns a shady agent who becomes the prime target for murder. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

We're not sure who the gentlemen are in this TV movie adaptation of Nora Ephron's Perfect Gentlemen, but there's no doubt as to the identity of the ladies. The plot revolves around three convict's wives. Sandy Dennis owns a bankrupt deli; Lisa Pelikan is pregnant and broke; and Lauren Bacall (in her TV movie debut) is the wealthy wife of an incarcerated labor leader, who has just learned that her husband was cheating on her. Teaming up, the three ladies plan to steal the million dollars that was supposed to secure the release of Bacall's errant hubby. Along for the ride is Lisa Pelikan's mother-in-law Ruth Gordon, a veteran safecracker. Perfect Gentlemen sags a bit a midpoint, but overall is good underhanded fun. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this drama, a Mexican American police officer finds himself entangled with illegal aliens from Mexico who are desperate to stay in the US. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

After being kidnapped and harrassed by the members of an Arab family, Jim (James Garner) tries to find out why his captors were so interested in his current client Sean Innes (Richard Romanus), who'd hired him to locate a woman named Khedra Azziz (Maria Grimm). It soon becomes clear that both Sean and Khedra are connected with crooked real-estate agent Cy Margulies (Robert Alda), who specializes in framing adulterous situations so that he can purchase the houses of wealthy divorced couples at rock-bottom prices. Jim must not only stop Margulies in his tracks, but also save Khedra from being murdered by her own family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The fourth of the feature-length Quincy, M.E. episodes produced for the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie anthology takes place on the Fourth of July, as medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman) is relaxing on the beach with the girlfriend Lee (Lynette Mettey). Quincy's idyll is cut short when a seriously injured swimmer washes onto the shore. During the subsequent lab examination, Quincy discovers that the swimmer had been poisoned by a fish--one that is usually found thousands of miles away, in warmer waters. Convinced that the swimmer was the victim of foul play, Quincy launches an investigation which leads him to a multimillion-dollar jewel robbery and a conspiracy spreading across two different countries. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this crime drama a safe cracker comes out of retirement to pull off one last caper. The Germans behind the theft are planning to steal $1 million; unbeknownst to the safe cracker, they are also planning to kill him afterward. As soon as he finds out, he begins plotting his revenge. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Ernest Borgnine and Robert Alda are the sole "name" actors in the Italian Love by Appointment. Ernie and Bob play a couple of oddball American businessmen who begin frequenting a busy suburban brothel. Spending more of their time enjoying the favors of the establishment's ladies and less on their jobs, the duo is riding for a fall. This "naughty" escapade ends on a predictably moralistic note. Love by Appointment was originally released as Natale in Casa di Appuntamento. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This Italian horror outing is made even more horrible by the fact that the first two thirds were originally a complete feature, Lisa and the Devil by Mario Bava and the last third was tacked on later to capitalize on the continued popularity of The Exorcist by producer Alfredo Leone thereby nearly obliterating the spooky tone created in Bava's original. Innocent, voluptuous Lisa's travails begin when she sees a wax mannequin in her own image. She then sees a sinister fellow, whom she knows is the devil, hanging around nearby and runs for her life. Unfortunately, she ends up hiding in the mansion of a typical creepshow psycho family who prefer spending their evenings making love to everything and every one that moves, or doesn't move in the case of one necrophiliac. If that weren't creepy enough, Lisa gets a luck at the butler and realizes that he is old Satan himself. Surprise! Soon she finds herself possessed and doing the things that post Exorcist demonized movie stars are expected to including the obligatory projectile vomiting (this time it's frogs rather than pea soup), lasciviousness and a few levitation exercises until the brave exorcist arrives to cure her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The body of a murdered bookkeeper is found in a cheap motel, and a prostitute and her procurer are accused of the crime. Kojak doesn't buy this, deducing that the killing was done by a professional. Trouble is, he can't prove his theory so long as the FBI is also on the case, impeding Kojak's investigation to serve the Bureau's own ends. The guest cast ranges from Broadway veteran Robert Alda (father of M*A*S*H star Alan Alda) to B-movie stalwart Gregory Walcott (Plan 9 From Outer Space). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this convoluted spy thriller, a Russian ambassador places his life on the line when he steals classified documents and defects to the U.S. The papers he carries could rock the free world. Unfortunately, the C.I.A. must first prove that they are real. The film is also known as The Serpent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide