Jesse White Movies
A self-described "household face," character actor Jesse White made his first stage appearance as a teenager in his adopted hometown of Akron, OH. Supporting himself with a variety of civilian jobs, White worked the nightclub circuit in Cleveland, then moved on to what was left of vaudeville in the late '30s. White's first Broadway role was in 1942's The Moon is Down; two years later he scored his biggest success as the acerbic sanitarium attendant in Mary Chase's Harvey, a role he would repeat for the 1950 film version (though Harvey is often listed as White's film debut, he can be seen in a bit role as an elevator operator in 1947's Gentleman's Agreement). While he has appeared in some 60 films, White is best known for his TV work, which allowed him to play Runyon-esque gangsters, theatrical agents, neurotic TV talk show hosts, art connoisseurs, toy manufacturers, and whatever else suited his fancy. Two of his longest professional associations were with satirist Stan Freberg (White was featured in several of Freberg's commercials and comedy albums) and comedian/TV mogul Danny Thomas (White played agent Jesse Leeds during the first few seasons of Make Room for Daddy). In the 1970s, White became established as the "lonely" Maytag repairman in a series of well-circulated TV commercials; when he stepped down from this role in the late '80s, the event received a generous amount of press coverage. Jesse White was still in harness into the 1990s. In 1992, he was memorably cast as a sarcastic, cigar-chomping theater chain owner in Joe Dante's Matinee. He passed away at age 79 following complications from surgery on January 8, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
John Goodman's full-throttle performance as a William Castle-inspired schlockmeister propels Joe Dante's delightful and charming comedy Matinee. The film takes place during the fall 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, a time when America's innocence began to crumble. Goodman plays film producer Lawrence Woolsey, who is in Key West to premiere his latest horror epic, "Mant," the story of a man who turns into a giant insect ("Half Man! ... Half Ant! ... All Terror!"). He's busy rigging the local movie theater with all manner of gimmicks, such as Atomo-Vision and Rumble-Rama, and stationing a buxom nurse -- played by Woolsey's girlfriend and leading lady Ruth (Cathy Moriarty) -- in the lobby to assist potential heart attack victims. Amidst all the hubbub, a quartet of local teenagers gear up for the big premiere: Gene (Simon Fenton), a Navy brat whose father is on alert for the duration of the crisis; Stan (Omri Katz), Gene's friend who has a furious crush on Sherry (Kellie Martin); and Sandra (Lisa Jakub), the daughter of two beatnik free-thinkers. As the premiere of "Mant" gets closer and Soviet-U.S. tensions increase, the four teenagers' problems and desires also mount to the boiling point. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Goodman, Cathy Moriarty, (more)
A humorous and skilful parody of the cliches and plot contrivances of 50's horror films, this monster movie is set in California, where closets can be large and quite important. The monster (Kevin Peter Hall) is straight out of Alien, if not quite as gruesome. It hides out in closets and wait for victims to unsuspectingly grab a shirt or slacks. After several closet deaths, a San Francisco obituary writer (Donald Grant) is sent to cover the story. He soon teams up with a science teacher (Denise DuBarry) and her son, a super-smart child prodigy, and they set out to solve the murders. The plot thickens when the gruff, brash Gen. Turnbull (Donald Moffat) enters the picture. It seems the monster is bullet-proof, laser-proof and bomb-proof -- a challenge to capture, kill, or subdue. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Donald Grant, Denise DuBarry, (more)
- 1982
A music store proprietor helps a group of teenagers develop a rock band in this musical. ~ Rovi
Zunar J5/90 Doric 4-7, also known as Jake, is an alien cat who crash-lands on earth. He heads off to the nearest scientist to find gold ($120,000 worth!) in order to repair his spaceship. Jake reveals that he can predict the winners in sporting events and soon the military is trying to track him down. The plot becomes more complicated when a wacky veterinarian inadvertently puts Jake into a deep sleep; now he must hide the alien cat from government authorities. The Cat from Outer Space was written by cartoonist Ted Key, who also wrote other Disney family fare, including Gus and The $1,000,000 Duck. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ken Berry, Sandy Duncan, (more)
- 1977
The Coroner's Office is in a bit of a quandary when Quincy (Jack Klugman) does not show up for work. In his absence, celebrated pathologist Dr. Hiro (Yuki Shimoda) prepares to perform an autopsy on a woman who may have been hiding contraband (namely, stolen gems) on her body. When the "corpse" turns up to be very much alive, Dr. Hiro launches an investigation--and if Quincy's colleagues thought that Hiro would be any easier to deal with than our harranguing hero, they are sorely mistaken. (Incidentally, this is the only Quincy, M.E. episode in which star Jack Klugman does not appear). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1976
- PG
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This spoof makes fun of a certain famous German shepherd movie star from the 1920s. The mayhem begins when the head honcho of a financially struggling studio turns a lost dog into a legend. The story features a number of old stars making cameo appearances. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bruce Dern, Madeline Kahn, (more)
- 1976
- R
A Kentucky-born maiden realizes her dream of becoming a country music star, but finds that along the way, her single-minded determination has caused her to lose things far more precious than fame or money when she gets involved with corrupt music executives who are really only interested in exploiting her. The film was later retitled Country Music Daughter. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
This heist film stars Stella Stevens as a robber who enlists her friends--a trapeze artist and a magician's aide--to help her make off with $500,000 in casino cash. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stella Stevens, Stuart Whitman, (more)
- 1975
A 55-year old former high school football player finally gets to fulfill his life-long dream and play in the big game in this autobiographical fantasy. Though he had been a star player, he was drafted before he could play the championship bout. His dream becomes reality when the local high school coach asks the aging player to return and work with some of his kids. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Earl Keyes, Ray Troha, (more)
- 1973
- R
This barely released western spoof stars John Astin and Steve Carlson as the con-artist title characters, at large in 1890 Colorado. The comedy is on a "Little Rascals" level, while the action highlights, centered around a gold hunt, are compromised by uncertain staging. Hans Conried provides some of the film's brightest moments as a bombastic, slovenly politician. Erdman himself plays a small role, sharing screen time with such reliables as Jesse White, Pat Carroll, Lee Meriweather and Allyn Joslyn. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1971
Bless the Beasts and Children is most fondly remembered as the film which introduced the song "Nadia's Theme" (better known as the title music for CBS' Young and the Restless). The film itself is a well-meaning if heavy-handed tale of six idealistic young boys whom come to the rescue of a buffalo herd. There's a symbiotic relationship between the boys and the beasts: the kids have all been shunted aside as misfits and losers, while the buffalo have likewise been targetted for obscurity. Once the film makes its point, it really has nowhere to go; still, the location photography (with Catalina standing in for Arizona) is outstanding. Besides, how many other films have honored Billy Mumy with top billing? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Barry Robins, Miles Chapin, (more)
- 1970
- PG
In this Cold War comedy, a handsome American rake falls for a communist female athlete in Greece. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1967
In this spooky comedy, a couple and their adolescent son move into a quiet New England summer cottage. Soon their arrival, a series of strange and increasingly destructive occurrences begin to happen. Not believing in poltergeists, the puzzled parents immediately suspect their son. The real perpetrators are a trio of angry ghosts who want the cabin all to themselves. When the mortal family refuses to move, the ghostly trio (two women and a man) sink two boats belonging to the couples' wealthy uncle. Once again the poor boy is blamed and this nearly drives him insane for he can see the ghosts. More trouble follows when one of the lady spirits falls in love with the handsome uncle. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sid Caesar, Vera Miles, (more)
- 1967
Hoping to purchase some farmland for Granny, Jed gets his signals crossed and ends up at the Happy Valley Cemetery. Likewise confused are cemetery-plot salesmen Brubaker (Richard Deacon) and Mortimer (Jesse White). Convinced that Granny has passed over to the other side, the two men try to sell Jed the "ideal location" for the old girl. "A Plot for Granny" made its original network debut on November 1, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Roy Fleming (Don Knotts) is signed on to the space program at NASA by his father Buck (Arthur O'Connell), a gung-ho former World War I vet who is trying to make something out of his son. Roy becomes a janitor who is afraid of heights and mistaken for an astronaut through a series of comedic mishaps. (Jesse White) plays Roy's boss Donelli, with (Leslie Nielsen) as space hero Major Gifford. Knotts uses his patented brand of nervousness to perfection in this lighthearted situation comedy. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Don Knotts, Leslie Nielsen, (more)
- 1967
Archetypal "dumb blonde" Carol Wayne guests in this episode as shapely movie star Bootsie Nightingale, with the inimitable Jesse White as Bootsie's hot-shot agent Sam. When Tony (Larry Hagman) is ordered to escort Bootsie to a benefit reception during her visit to Cocoa Beach, Jeannie (Barbara Eden) is appalled. But it gets worse: Thanks to Sam's wheeling and dealing, Tony and Bootsie may well end up heading for the altar! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1966
In the conclusion of a two-part story, cropduster Steve Elliott (Mike Minor) is in danger of losing his plane because he can't keep up the payments. Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) rallies the citizens of Hooterville to raise enough money so that Steve can stay in business. But Joe's motives are not entirely altruistic: He's been cashing in on Steve's wrecked plane by touting it as a tourist attraction! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1966
American-International's Beach Party series came to an abrupt end with Ghost in the Invisible Bikini. Because of such tangible reasons as contractual commitments, coupled with such intangibles as illness and death, most of the series "regulars" are absent. Deborah Walley and Aron Kinkaid fill the roles usually played by Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon, while Benny Rubin plays a comic-Indian role obviously intended for Buster Keaton. Only Harvey Lembeck, as the inimitable Eric von Zipper, is on hand from the good old days. The plot is set in motion by the ghostly Boris Karloff, a corpse who must perform one good deed before gaining entrance into the Hereafter. Together with a sexy spirit (Susan Hart) (the titular lass in the invisible bikini), the corpse attempts to save the heiress (Walley) from the murderous machinations of a greedy attorney (Basil Rathbone) and his cohorts (Rubin and Jesse White). Music is provided by such second-generation celebs as Nancy Sinatra and Claudia Martin, and with The Bobby Fuller Four lip-synching a pair of songs. The climax is a less-funny reworking of the final sequence in Beach Blanket Bingo, with the heroine (Walley) strapped to the longest buzzsaw plank in film history. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Deborah Walley, Tommy Kirk, (more)
- 1965
Every prediction made by a fortune teller to Patricia Kean (Julie Adams) has come true, including her marriage to her wealthy boss Max Armstead (Jesse White). This is why Patricia begins worrying when the seer predicts "You'll wear white. . .then widow's black." Sure enough, Max ends up being fatally poisoned--and as he breathes his last, he accuses Patricia of being his murderer. This place Patricia's lawyer Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) in an uncomfortable position, inasmuch as both he and Lt. Drumm (Richard Anderson) were present when Max spoke his final words! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is in Reno, helping Pete Warren (Peter Breck) finalize his divorce from his wife Myrna. When an incriminating photo reveals that Myrna (Myrna Fahey) is mixed up in a counterfeit gambling-chip scam at a local gambling casino, Pete tells a pack of lies to the authorities to save his soon-to-be "ex" from prosectuion. Before long, Pete is facing a far more serious charge than counterfeiting: Myrna has been murdered, and all the evidence points to him. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
Oliver (Eddie Albert) wants to plant 160 acres of wheat on his farm -- just wheat, nothing else. Stumble-tongued agricultural agent Hank Kimball (Alvy Moore) informs Oliver that unless he practices parity (that is, varying his crops) he will be hit with a huge fine. Normally, a situation of this nature wouldn't arouse much laughter, but this is Green Acres, not "The Morning Farm Report"! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
This family comedy stars James Stewart as Dr. Robert Leaf, a college professor who dislikes science and tries to instill in his children a love of art and music. So Robert and his wife Vina (Glynis Johns) are dismayed to discover that their eight-year-old son Erasmus (Billy Mumy) is tone-deaf and color-blind; what's worse, he has a genius-level talent for mathematics. Robert isn't sure what to do about Erasmus, but while his older sister Pandora (Cindy Carol) puts his skills to work by getting him to do her homework, his older friend Kenneth (Fabian) has a better idea. Kenneth and Erasmus come up with a foolproof plan for picking the winners in horse racing -- so foolproof that it draws the attention of two con men, Upjohn (John Williams) and Argyle (Jesse White), who want to use Erasmus's skills to clean up at the track. Robert at first refuses, and then relents only when they agree to use a cut of the proceeds to endow a humanities scholarship, though Robert is about the only one surprised when the men prove not to be good to their word. Meanwhile, Erasmus is head over heels in love with French screen siren Brigitte Bardot -- so much so that he's been writing her love letters. In return, the lucky boy has received an invitation to come meet her, and Robert and Erasmus use some of their racetrack winnings to fly to Paris and take her up on her offer. Nunnally Johnson, who received no credit, contributed to the screenplay; Miss Bardot, of course, plays herself (who else could?). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Stewart, Fabian, (more)
- 1965
Jesse White and Walter Burke guest star as a pair of swindlers who stage and film phony accidents in order to defraud insurance companies. Needing a patsy to pose as their "victim", the two crooks convince Herman (Fred Gwynne) that they are Hollywood producers and that they want him star in a remake of Double Indemnity. As Herman's head swells at the prospect of stardom, the crooks realize that they must quickly bump off their "discovery" lest they end up in the hoosegow. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1964
This drama tells the true story of one of Broadway's most successful madams in the 1920s. It is loosely based on the autobiography of Polly Adler. The story begins when young Polly is seduced and raped at her job by the sweatshop foreman. When her uncle, with whom she lived, learns of the act, he blames her and tosses her out. She then moves into an apartment owned by a racketeer. It is he who encourages her into her "helping" profession when he gives her money for bringing her pals to a gangster party. Soon she is beginning to build up her own clientele. As her business prospers, she begins to choose nicer locations. Her tiny cathouse becomes a haven for sleazy politicos, mobsters, and businessmen. The madame herself has a passionate romance with a young songwriter and she helps his career. He does not know of her vocation and she eventually breaks up with him to keep his reputation intact. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Shelley Winters, Robert Taylor, (more)
- 1964
Popular singer Connie Francis stars in this romantic musical-comedy as Libby Caruso, an aspiring young entertainer who yearns for the attention of handsom Paul Davis (Jim Hutton). Though at first Paul is not interested in her, Libby soon wins him over. Upon catching him, however, Libby changes her mind and decides a young grocer (Joby Baker) is a better prospect. Libby's roomate and pal, Jan (Susan Oliver), doesn't seem to mind leftovers when Paul takes an interest in her. Along with much of the supporting cast from Francis' first screen role, Where the Boys Are (1960), a few celebrities also appear onscreen. Included are cameos from Johnny Carson, Danny Thomas, Paula Prentiss, George Hamilton and Yvette Mimeiux. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Connie Francis, Jim Hutton, (more)
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