Adam West Movies
Whitman College graduate Adam West began getting his first acting breaks in 1959. That was the year that West, newly signed to a Warner Bros. contract, was cast in the small but pivotal role of Diane Brewster's impotent husband in The Young Philadelphians. After two years' worth of guest-star assignments in Warners' TV product (he was hung by his heels and humiliated by James Garner in a memorable Maverick episode), West accepted the role of Sergeant Steve Nelson on the weekly TVer Robert Taylor's Detectives. In 1962, the series was cancelled, compelling West to free-lance in such films as Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964, as the astronaut who doesn't make it back) and Island of the Blue Dolphins (1964). In 1965, he landed his biggest and best role to date: Millionaire Bruce Wayne, aka the "Caped Crusader", on the smash TV series Batman. Approaching the role with the seriousness and sobriety usually afforded MacBeth or Hamlet, West struck the happy medium between "camp" and conviction. Though in recent years West has apparently basked in the adulation he has received for his two-year stint as Batman, at the time the series was cancelled in 1968, he vowed to distance himself as far from the character as possible, accepting villainous TV and film roles and even fitfully pursuing a singing career. His movie projects ranged from sublime (Marriage of a Young Stockbroker, Hooper) to ridiculous (The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington); no matter what the role, however, West's performance was invariably compared to his Batman work. Finally adopting an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" stance, West began making appearances at nostalgia conventions, supplied his vocal talents to the 1977 animated series The New Adventures of Batman, and publicly expressed disappointment that he was not offered a cameo role in the 1989 big-screen blockbuster Batman (he did however, provide a voice-over for the 1992 Fox TV series Batman: The New Adventures, not as Batman but as a washed-up superhero called the Gray Ghost). Adam West's most recent TV projects have included the weekly series The Last Precinct (1986) and Danger Theatre (1993); he also served as a spokesperson for the Nickelodeon cable network, a service specializing in nostalgia-inducing reruns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1959
Rather than pay a gambling debt owed to Bret Maverick (James Garner), notorious gunslinger Henry Arnett (a pre-Batman Adam West) skips town when Bret shows up. Impressionable Smoky Vaughn (Gary Vinson) incorrectly assumes that Arnett was afraid of Bret's gun, and spreads the word that there's a new "hero" in town. Unfortunately, while basking in undeserved glory, Bret ends up being framed for murder--in a scheme concocted to frame someone else for the same crime. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Maverick launches its third season with one of the series' best and most fondly remembered episodes, in which James Garner essays the dual role of frontier gambler Bret Maverick and his own, grey-haired "Pappy", Beau Maverick. Having long relied upon the sage advice of their beloved Pappy--which can be boiled down to "get rich quick, love 'em and leave 'em, and steer clear of trouble"--Bret and his brother Bart (Jack Kelly) are shocked to learn that the 60-something senior Maverick has ignored his own advice about women and gotten himself engaged to an 18-year-old New Orleans belle, Josephine St. Cloud (Kaye Elhardt). It turns out that Pappy is being forced into this union by Josephine's disreputable father Rene St. Cloud (Henry Daniell), who has arranged the marriage for purely financial reasons...and who intends to have Pappy bumped off in a duel just after the engagement is announced. To extricate his paternal unit from this dilemma, Bret cooks up a swindle requiring him to pose as a sharpster named Dandy Jim. A pre-stardom Troy Donahue is cast as Josephine's true love Dan Jamison, while "Batman" himself, Adam West, shows up in an unsympathetic role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
En route from Tucson to the town of Ten Strike, Bret (James Garner) makes the acquaintance of Frankie French (Connie Stevens), a former saloon dancer. Frankie has been summoned to Ten Strike by a mysterious benefactor whom she has never met. Upon her arrival in town, Frankie discovers that her benefactor has murdered and that she is the main suspect--and when Bret tries to help the girl out, he is told to get out of town pronto. . .or else! In addition to a pre-stardom Connie Stevens (who would soon rise to fame on another Warner Bros. series, Hawaiian Eye), this episode affords TV buffs a glimpse of a young, pre-Batman Adam West, here cast as a vicious gunslinger. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Something of an urbanized, upscale version of Peyton Place, Vincent Sherman's
The Young Philadelphians is a glossy adaptation of Richard Powell's bestselling novel
The Philadelphians that revels in melodrama. The film opens strongly, with a lengthy 1924 prologue. Socialite Kate Lawrence (Diane Brewster) jilts impoverished lover Mike Flannagan (Brian Keith) in favor of wealthy William Lawrence (Adam West). On their wedding night, William drunkenly announces that he's impotent and commits suicide (this scene should fascinate Batman fans). Returning to Mike, Kate has a child by him, Tony. The boy grows up amid an atmosphere of dire poverty, which imparts him with a relentless drive for success. Flash forward to 1952: the out-of-wedlock kid, Tony, has grown up (now played by Paul Newman) and still doesn't know that he was an illegitimate child. Tony attends Princeton Law School, and falls in love with rich girl Joan Dickinson (Barbara Rush). Via the doings of Joan's father, wealthy Gilbert Dickinson (John Williams), Tony ends up taking a cushy job in a law office, at the expense of the relationship. The heartbroken Joan marries Carter Henley (Fred Eisley) on the rebound, who is conveniently killed in Korea. Tony then begins spending a prodigious amount of time with Carol Wharton (Alexis Smith), wife of attorney John Wharton (Otto Kruger), so that she will persuade John to find Tony a better job. Soon it's Tony's turn to fight in Korea; when he returns, the opportunity arises for Tony to redeem himself for his past misdeeds. Watch for Richard "Mel Cooley" Deacon in a bit as a hostile witness. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The Young Philadelphians is a glossy adaptation of Richard Powell's bestselling novel
The Philadelphians that revels in melodrama. The film opens strongly, with a lengthy 1924 prologue. Socialite Kate Lawrence (Diane Brewster) jilts impoverished lover Mike Flannagan (Brian Keith) in favor of wealthy William Lawrence (Adam West). On their wedding night, William drunkenly announces that he's impotent and commits suicide (this scene should fascinate Batman fans). Returning to Mike, Kate has a child by him, Tony. The boy grows up amid an atmosphere of dire poverty, which imparts him with a relentless drive for success. Flash forward to 1952: the out-of-wedlock kid, Tony, has grown up (now played by Paul Newman) and still doesn't know that he was an illegitimate child. Tony attends Princeton Law School, and falls in love with rich girl Joan Dickinson (Barbara Rush). Via the doings of Joan's father, wealthy Gilbert Dickinson (John Williams), Tony ends up taking a cushy job in a law office, at the expense of the relationship. The heartbroken Joan marries Carter Henley (Fred Eisley) on the rebound, who is conveniently killed in Korea. Tony then begins spending a prodigious amount of time with Carol Wharton (Alexis Smith), wife of attorney John Wharton (Otto Kruger), so that she will persuade John to find Tony a better job. Soon it's Tony's turn to fight in Korea; when he returns, the opportunity arises for Tony to redeem himself for his past misdeeds. Watch for Richard "Mel Cooley" Deacon in a bit as a hostile witness. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Barbara Rush, (more)
- 1961
Summoned to a small California mountain community by his client Iris McKay (Enid James), detective Paul Drake (William Hopper) is prompty arrested for the crime of being clean-shaven; it seems that it is "Pioneer Week", and every male in town is required to wear a false beard! Once this matter is cleared up, Paul gets down to business, attempting to locate nearly $34,000 that had been embezzled from the local bank by its former president Fred Swan (Russ Conway), who has returned to town after being released from prison. Paul ultimately finds the money--and also Swan's dead body. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) arrives on the scene to defend poor Iris on a murder charge. Watch for a pre-Batman Adam West in the supporting cast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
During Ben Cartwright's absence, a woman named Jennifer (Suzanne Lloyd) shows up at the Ponderosa, claiming to be Ben's new wife-and she has a marriage license to back up her claims. The Cartwright boys soon determine that Jennifer has been fleeced by a con artist who has been posing as their father. Determined to reclaim the woman's money and reputation, the brothers head to Crater Plains to confront the imposter-little realizing that they're riding into a neat little ambush. Future Batman star Adam West is seen as Frank Milton, while others in the cast include John McIntire (Sheriff Mike Latimer), William Mims (Ed Bailey), Hank Worden (Old Miner), Mickey Simpson (Miner), Herb Vigran (Bartender) and Clarence Straight (Driver). Written by Richard Newman, "The Bride" was originally telecast on January 21, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1962
Moving from Saturday to Thursday evening for its sixth season on CBS, Perry Mason kicks off the new year with another baffling murder case. This time the victim is Joseph Kraft (Maurice Manson) a crooked book dealer who traffics in forgeries of rare first editions. Not long after firing his clerk Ellen Carter (Phyllis Love) for misplacing a copy of Tristam Shandy), Kraft is found dead in a locked room, apparently the victim of a gas leak. Ultimately, the police decide that Kraft was murdered, and that Ellen is the most likely suspect. Enter Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), who intends to prove Ellen's innocence while setting a trap for the real killer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
In the saga of Hollywood's slow, slow maturation in the depiction of Native Americans, Geronimo highlights an early '60s turning point -- his character is drawn with sympathy -- but no more than that. Chuck Connors, an obviously Caucasian actor, plays the great chief, and there is not a single Native American actor in the cast. The story centers on Geronimo's escape from oppressive conditions on his reservation, and his garnering of forces in Mexico to wage war against the U.S. Several misconceptions are still scattered throughout the tale, especially the indication at the end that Geronimo was successful in obtaining fair treatment for all Native Americans at the hands of the U.S. government. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chuck Connors, Kamala Devi, (more)
- 1963
This time around, Tammy, played by Sandra Dee, becomes a nurse's aid to care for an old rich woman and causes a commotion. Since she is charming and warm, everyone likes her--especially Dr. Mark Cheswick (Peter Fonda)--who is warned by boss Dr. Bentley (MacDonald Carey) of the consequences of his pursuit. Fearing for his job, Doc Cheswick backs off, but everything gets complicated by romantic inclinations between head nurse Rachel Coleman (Margaret Lindsay) and head Doc Bentley. After Tammy saves the elderly woman's life and Bentley and Rachel get together, she and the Doctor soon are left to bask in the glow of new love. Third in the series of four, Tammy and the Doctor spun from the original Tammy and the Bachelor (1957)--starring Debbie Reynolds, and is followed by the last Tammy and the Millionaire (1967). ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sandra Dee, Peter Fonda, (more)
- 1963
The unlikely duo of Steve McQueen and Jackie Gleason star in this military comedy-drama. Gleason is Master Sergeant Max Slaughter, a corpulent man perfectly content with his solitary life in the Army, where his room and board are paid for and free sodas are his for the taking. His comrade, the more ambitious Sergeant Eustis Clay (McQueen), looks forward to leaving the service and making a big success of himself in business. Nevertheless, Eustis worships the ground that the kindly Max walks on and introduces him to a pretty teenager, Bobby Jo Pepperdine (Tuesday Weld). This sets off the ire of Bobby Jo's would-be suitor Sergeant Fred Lenahan (Lew Gallo), a tough military policeman who's already got a bone to pick with Eustis, leading to a tragic turn of events for Eustis and Max. The script for Soldier in the Rain (1963) was co-written by Blake Edwards. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Gleason, Steve McQueen, (more)
- 1963
In Volume 12 of a collection culled from the 1963-1965 science fiction anthology television series, scientists attempting to contact the spirit of a dead child are sucked into another dimension. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Matchmaker Samantha tries to pair up her friend Gertrude (Kit Smythe) with handsome artist Kermit (a pre-Batman Adam West). In this pursuit, Sam tries to enlist Darrin's aid. Darrin, wrongly convinced that Gertrude is a witch, wants no part of the matter -- and even tries to break up the romance. Ubiquitous 1960s starlet Chris Noel appears as Susan. Written by Roland Wolper, "Love Is Blind" first aired on December 10, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, (more)
- 1964
The M-1, a two-man American mission, reaches Mars. The landing goes smoothly, but first one and then the other member of the crew is attacked and killed, suddenly and without warning. The mission controllers on Earth are baffled, and, three years later, the M-2, with a four-man crew, is sent with strict orders as to how to conduct extra-vehicular activity. Still, they start disappearing, slaughtered by an unseen attacker until there are only two left, straight-arrow mission commander Major Merritt (Adam West) and perpetual screw-up Captain Jack Buckley (Rudy Solari), who must figure out what killed these men. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In the first episode of a two-part story, Billie Jo (Jeannine Riley) falls heir to a $500 insurance endowment from her late father. Unfortunately, the conditions stipulate that Billie is to study to be a doctor--but she wants to use the money to go to Hollywood and become an actress. A pre-Batman Adam West appears as Dr. Clayton Harris (at the time West was so little-known that he isn't even listed in the TV Guide synopsis!), while another of the supporting players, Paul DeRolf, performs his own composition, "The Hooterville Hop". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Billie Jo (Jeannine Riley) is determined to use the $500 left her by her father to launch an acting career. But the money was intended to finance her medical studies, and Billie's mom Kate (Bea Benadaret) is determined to see that the letter of the law is carried out--even if it means taking her own daughter to court before Judge Sam Drucker (Frank Cady) (most folks forget that Sam wasn't merely the owner of the Hooterville general store). The name of the character played by Don Beddoe was "borrowed" from the real-life Joseph Depew, an assistant director long in the employ of Beverly Hillbillies producer Paul Henning. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Spun from Daniel DeFoe's tale of the titular character, this sci-fi story involves a spaceship commander, Chris Draper (Paul Mantee) in a similar situation to the original Robinson Crusoe -- but rather than being stranded on an island, our hero is on a hostile planet. Draper, Colonel Dan McReady (Adam West), and a test monkey look as if they are going to collide with a meteor. Draper and the chimp are able to eject themselves from the vessel, but McReady is not so lucky. The two survivors safely land on Mars and figure out how to breathe, drink, and eat on the inhospitable planet. After some time, Draper crosses paths with a human, Friday, who has recently escaped slavery on an alien planet. As the two find a means of communication, they become friends. They soon work together to survive the incredible odds, including an alien attack and meteorological phenomena. Filmed on location in California's Death Valley, this impressive feature owes much to cinematographer Winton C. Hoch and special effects master Lawrence W. Butler. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Mantee, Vic Lundin, (more)
The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Joe De Rita) leave Boston for the Wild West when they are fired from the Society for the Preservation of Wildlife. With Eastern editor Kenneth Cabot (Adam West), the boys find themselves in lawless Wyoming and the target of every infamous gunslinger of the era. With help from Annie Oakley (Nancy Kovak), the Stooges and Cabot fight the likes of Billy the Kid, Johnny Ringo, Jesse James, Cole Younger, and the Dalton Gang, and soon Wild Bill Hickok and Bat Masters arrive in a blaze of bullets. Watch for longtime Stooges foil Emily Sitar in a triple role as Aberrant, a U.S. cavalry Colonel, and the Witch Doctor, with Henry Gibson as Charlie Horse, and Murray Alper as Chief Crazy Horse. Ellwood Ullman provides the screenplay from the story by director Norman Maurer, Moe's son-in-law. With character names like the Sunstroke Kid and Trigger Mortis, this last of the Stooges feature films ranks among the best. Annie has a fight in the middle of town with Belle Starr (Sally Starr), and the cowardly editor Cabot proves his bravery and falls for his heroine Annie. Years later in a tribute to history's longest running comedy trio, Adam West fondly remembered his experience in making The Outlaws Is Coming with the Stooges. West would score his biggest career plume with the television series Batman, but he was obviously in awe of working with Larry, Moe, and Curly Joe. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Fine, Moe Howard, (more)
- 1965
Just before gaining TV immortality as Batman, Adam West starred in this brutal spaghetti western. West plays a Texas ranger who comes up against four bandits (Robert Hundar, Red Ross, Robert Camardiel, Ralph Baldwyn). When they can't buy him off or kill him off, the Relentless Four frame West on a murder rap. When justice comes, it is swift, decisive and bloody. Funny how Relentless Four didn't get much play in the US until after Batman took hold. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Tongue-in-cheek humor prevails in Batman, a witty homage to the Dynamic Duo's exaggerated exploits. The Caped Crusaders (Adam West and Burt Ward) are called in as a last resort when the criminal masterminds of the millennium team up to conquer Gotham City by turning the U.N. Security Council into dehydrated dust; among the villains are the Joker (Cesar Romero), Catwoman (Lee Meriwether), the Riddler (Frank Gorshin), and the Penguin (Burgess Meredith). The entire cast is excellent, particularly West and Ward, who distinguish themselves among a standout list with hilariously straight-faced performances. The film includes some truly memorable scenes, highlighted by a particularly tenacious shark with a vertical leap that would put Spud Webb to shame and a bomb on the waterfront with no place to explode (nuns, infants and lovebirds beware!). ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
- 1966
In this Alaskan adventure, kindly forest ranger Adam West endeavors to civilize a beautiful young girl who was raised by wolves after she saves him from a bear trap. Obstructing West's attempts are a greedy fellow who wants to sell her to a carnival. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam West, Linda Saunders, (more)
- 1969
- R
Johnny Cain (Adam West) is a suave, smooth talking nightclub owner who helps the CIA undermine a conspiracy between the communists and the underworld in this routine mystery. With tips from his piano-playing pal Lucky (Buddy Greco), he manages to stay one step ahead of the villains as he races against time to stop their evil plan. Nancy Kwan, Nehemiah Persoff and Robert Alda also appear in this feature in which the promotional posters tried to capitalize on West's television success in "Batman." ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam West, Nancy Kwan, (more)
- 1970
Hollywood Blue is a compilation of scenes taken from cinematic pornography over the years. Mickey Rooney and June Wilkerson are interviewed and give their thoughts about the late Jane Mansfield. Supposedly, Marilyn Monroe is the subject of one film where the female writhes on the floor in her underpants. Another film is a homosexual meeting in a park between a sailor and a marine. One of the performers went on to a successful career as a rugged western film hero. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Rooney, June Wilkerson, (more)
- 1971
- R
A man who can't stop looking at other women finds that it might cost him his marriage in this farcical comedy. William and Lisa Alren (Richard Benjamin and Joanna Shimkus) are a young married couple whose relationship has begun to go stale. Bored and looking for diversion, William begins spying playfully on the sexual habits of their neighbors and watching attractive women passing by; while his voyeurism falls short of criminal activity, it doesn't sit at all well with Lisa. Eventually, she becomes so troubled by William's roving eye that she leaves their home and moves in with her sister Nan (Elizabeth Ashley), a harridan who has verbally browbeaten her attorney husband Chester (Adam West) into submission. At Nan's insistence and with Chester's help, Lisa begins divorce proceedings against William, but he tries to convince her to give him another chance. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Benjamin, Joanna Shimkus, (more)
