John Ward Movies

The "heavy" in this episode is a crooked federal narcotics agent. Enjoying a brisk sideline of peddling dope during his off-hours, the agent commits murder when one of his customers discovers his true identity. Meanwhile, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) tries to root out the rotten apple in the law-enforcement barrel. Originally slated to air on January 5, 1977, "Don't Kill the Sparrow" was bumped forward to January 12. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Oscar-winning character actor Strother Martin makes a return visit to Baretta, this time in the role of an embittered doctor named Shaner. Having given up on humanity, Shaner has become a professional bounty hunter. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) finds himself in the uncomfortable position of preventing Doc Shaner from killing a scuzzy drug pusher who caused the death of a wealthy banker's daughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) goes undercover to locate a vicious rapist-murderer. What he doesn't know is that the perpetrator is posing as a cop. The outcome of the investigation may well rest in the hands of a deaf-mute shoeshine boy (Charlie Martin Smith). Featured in the cast is Spencer J. Milligan, definitely cast against type for those who remember him as the kindly family man in the Saturday-morning fantasy series Land of the Lost. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this first episode of Baretta's second season, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) goes after heroin dealers who are trafficking in a very pure, and very lethal, grade of the addictive drug. Singer-composer Paul Williams, who co-wrote the script, guest stars as a music emporium owner who sidelines as a dope pusher -- and who is unwittingly doling out the deadly "horse." Edward Grover joins the cast as Lt. Hal Brubaker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Karen Valentine guest stars as Holly Dean, the fiancée of a former mobster. When her boyfriend dies, he entrusts his "little black book" to Holly's care. Since the book contains the itemized accounts of several local mobsters, both the good guys and the bad guys would like to get their hands on the valuable legacy. But when Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) approaches Holly and asks for the book, she lies about having it -- a misguided act of loyalty to her late sweetheart that may cost the lives of both herself and Baretta. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on his award-winning student short, George Lucas's debut feature cerebrally celebrates the possibility for individual freedom against all odds. In a 1984-esque white-washed future underground dystopia where sexuality is banned, all humans sport shaved heads and the same shapeless outfits as they go about their work in a mandated state of sedation, listening to exhortations to "Buy and Be Happy." Black-clad robot cops chant a mantra to their victims that "everything will be all right" and automated confessional booths emit soothing therapeutic bromides. But unbeknownst to THX 1138 (Robert Duvall), his roommate LUH 3417 (Maggie McOmie) has been reducing their meds, resulting in their mutual discovery of love and THX's subsequent imprisonment for drug evasion and sexual misconduct. Determined to find the pregnant LUH, THX breaks out of prison with the help of his cellmate SEN 5241 (Donald Pleasence) and an escaped TV hologram (Don Pedro Colley). With fugitive pursuits strictly budgeted, THX only has to evade the robocops until the funds run out, but surveillance is omnipresent and THX's vehicle keeps overheating. Making the only film produced through the first incarnation of Francis Ford Coppola's independent studio American Zoetrope, Lucas and his small crew, including co-writer and sound editor Walter Murch, shot THX 1138 in northern California with no interference from distributor Warner Bros. When Warners saw the austere result, however, they recut the film before its release. Neither the studio's nor Lucas's cut was a popular success, but THX 1138's coolly minimalist style and story-telling gained fans on the college screening circuit, just as Stanley Kubrick's poetic 2001: A Space Odyssey had attracted a large youth audience in 1968. When Lucas returned to sci-fi after American Graffiti, he traded restraint for nostalgic fun in the film that guaranteed his creative freedom in Hollywood: Star Wars. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide

The murder of a stockbroker tips Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) to Organized Crime's latest racket: obtaining valuable stock certificates which are then used as collateral for large Mob loans. At the center of this scheme is the beautiful but treacherous Meredith Schader (Michele Carey), who targets vulnerable male stockbrokers, pretends to fall in love with them, then blackmails them into doing the Mob's bidding. Meredith's latest victim is wealthy but lonely Val Palmer (Barry Nelson), who is blissfully unaware that he is being set up for the worst fall of his life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having captured seven of the nine men responsible for a two-million-dollar armored car robbery, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) is anxious to locate the other two men--and of course, the money. Meanwhile, Anita Hale (Anne Helm), the wife of "robber number eight" Emory Hale (Murray Hamilton), becomes convinced that she is dying, and thus wants to join her fugitive husband for a final reunion. This proves to a break for Erskine, who follows the unwitting Anita to Mexico--but what has happened to the "ninth man" who masterminded the robbery? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Using the alias "Gene Tyler", Richard Kimble takes a brief respite from his search for the One-Armed Man by attending a baseball game--where, unfortunately, he witnesses the kidnapping of Nadine Newmark (Lynda Day), daughter of publishing mogul Andrew Newmark (Martin Balsam) (No, this 1967 episode isn't based on the Patty Hearst abduction, which was still seven years in the future). The kidnappers demand that Newmark pony up a $2 million ransom, and that Kimble deliver the money. Thus, Kimble is once again trapped between a rock and a hard place: If he refuses to make the drop, Newmark will have him arrested--and if agrees, he'll be killed on the spot. Featured as one of the villains is former "Bowery Boy" Gabe Dell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With the help of his brother Steve (William Bramley), convicted murderer Larry Drake (Roy Thinnes) manages to escape police custody. The task of tracking down Drake becomes personal for Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.): one of the three law officers brutally killed during the escape was one of Erskine's oldest friends. Meanwhile, the sociopathic Drake shows his "gratitude" for what his brother has done for him by making a play for Steve's wife Patricia (Marlyn Mason). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season Three of The Fugitive finds Richard Kimble (David Janssen), wrongly accused of his wife's murder, still on the lam from the relentless Lt. Gerard (Barry Morse), still desperately searching for the One-Armed Man who committed the murder for which Kimble was condemned to death. Now using the alias "George Egan", Kimble becomes a local hero when he rescues Janet Kegler (Lane Bradbury), who had been taken hostage by a convict. Wounded in the melee, Kimble is taken to a prison hospital for treatment, where Janet begs Warden Malone (Lin McCarthy) to set the fugitive free before Gerard arrives. But both Kimble and prison trustee Mickey Deming (a pre-Mission: Impossible Greg Morris) are placed in harm's way by a blackmailing convict who is intent on stealing the hospital's supply of morphine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This WW II adventure chronicles the real-life courage of President John F. Kennedy when he was a Navy lieutenant in charge of the illustrious PT 109. Among the adventures they had was the courageous rescue of Marines stranded upon the isle of Choiseul. As they flee, their little boat is split in half by a Japanese destroyer. The survivors then make a long, dangerous swim to an island. One of them is too badly injured to do it, so Kennedy helps him. Later, the future leader braves many dangers to get to another island to radio for help. This video also contains a newsreel chronicling the President's assassination and a cartoon short featuring Foghorn Leghorn. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide