Ian Wolfe Movies
Ian Wolfe was determined to become an actor even as a youth in his hometown of Canton, IL. His Broadway debut was in the warhorse Lionel Barrymore vehicle The Claw. While acting with Katherine Cornell in The Barretts of Wimpole Street in 1934, Wolfe was spotted by MGM producer Irving Thalberg, who brought the actor to Hollywood to re-create his Barretts role. Though not yet 40, Wolfe had the receding hairline and lined features necessary for aged character roles. By his own count, Wolfe appeared in over 200 films, often uncredited assignments in the roles of judges, attorneys, butlers, and shopkeepers. Some of his best screen moments occurred in producer Val Lewton's Bedlam (1946), wherein Wolfe played an 18th century scientist confined to a mental asylum for proposing the invention of motion pictures. Because his actual age was difficult to pinpoint, Wolfe kept working into the 1990s (and his nineties); he was a particular favorite of TV's MTM productions, appearing on such sitcoms as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, and Rhoda. Co-workers during this period noted affectionately that, despite his many years as a professional, Wolfe was always seized with "stage fright" just before walking on the set. Though often cast in timid roles, Ian Wolfe was quite outspoken and fiercely defensive of his craft; when asked what he thought of certain method actors who insist upon playing extensions of "themselves," Wolfe snapped that he became an actor to pretend to be other people. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1983
Vera (Beth Howland) is overwhelmed with plaintive poems, pretty balloons and assorted expensive presents. The explanation: Vera has a secret lover. The question: Is it anyone she knows (or for that matter, anyone WE know)? Originally filmed for Alice's seventh season and slated to air on June 5, 1983, this episode was held back until Season Eight due to a Hollywood writer's strike. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
When Diane (Shelley Long) decides to takes notes for a book she plans to write, she certainly does not lack for story material. For starters, a young man named Kevin (Boyd Bodwell) bursts into Cheers, determined to have one final fling before entering a monastery -- only to entertain the notion of chucking his vows when he falls for Diane. In addition, a septuagenarian WWI doughboy (Ian Wolfe) shows up at Cheers for his annual reunion with his army buddies -- a celebration that is, to say the least, woefully under-attended. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In this drama, union organizers, desperate to control the lumber and mining empire of a wealthy family, resort to sabotage. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Alex (Judd Hirsch) is surprisingly unaffected when his sister Charlotte (Joan Hackett) shows up with the news that their father, Joe, has suffered a near-fatal heart attack. It soon develops that Alex has never forgiven Joe for running out on his family years earlier. But when he shows up in the hospital, Alex is overcome with emotion and sobbingly expresses his love for his ailing dad. But there's another surprise in store for all concerned -- and without giving the game away, it should be noted that Jack Gilford is cast in the role of "Joe Reiger." ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Gilford, Joan Hackett, (more)
- 1977
Generous Edith offers the Bunker living room as the site for the wedding between Mr. Hooper (Ian Wolfe) and Florence Talley (Merie Earle), two octogenarian residents of the Sunshine Rest House. Unfortunately, the ceremony coincides with Archie's long-anticipated fishing trip. As the wedding plods on and on due to unexpected interruptions and delays, it looks as if the fishing season will be over before Archie ever gets to bait his hook. Written by Charles Stewart and Ben Starr, "Unequal Partners" first aired on October 23, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
James Michener's Dynasty is aptly named. This TV movie is indeed based on a novel by Michener, which does indeed cover thirty five years (1820-1855) in the lives of a land-rich family. Harris Yulin and Stacy Keach play the Blackwood brothers, a pair of enterprising Ohio pioneers. The ongoing rivalry between the older Yulin and younger Keach is intensified when Yulin's wife Sarah Miles leaves her husband in favor of Keach. As the brothers try to outdo each other in business, the Blackwood land empire grows to epic proportions. Unfortunately, this TV movie does not; at 2 hours, there just isn't enough time to do justice to Michener's sprawling novel. James Michener's Dynasty is worth noting for the supporting-cast contributions of Amy Irving and Harrison Ford. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stacy Keach, Harris Yulin, (more)
- 1975
The second made-for-TV movie based on Charles Moulton's classy comic-strip heroine Wonder Woman, The New Original Wonder Woman was the one that "sold", resulting in a popular and durable weekly series. Replacing Cathy Lee Crosby, who'd starred in the disastrous 1974 adaptation of Wonder Woman, is the statuesque Linda Carter. Having dwelled exclusively among females on Paradise Islandsince 200 BC, immortal Amazonian princess Diana comes in contact with the real world for the first time in her life when US Army Major Steve Trevor (Lyle Waggoner) crash-lands on the island during WWII. Falling in love with Steve, the Princess assumes the identity of mousy, bespectacled Diana Prince and returns with him to the mainland. Every so often, and unbeknownst to Steve, Diana occcasionally transforms herself into the scantily clad superheroine Wonder Woman (golden lasso, magic belt and bracelets, the whole bit) in order to save the world from the Nazi menace. On this occasion, Wonder Woman does her thing in order to prevent the Nazis from destroying the prototype of a revolutionary new bombsight. First telecast on November 7, 1975, The New Original Wonder Woman was seen on ABC; by the time the Wonder Woman series proper ran its course on September 11, 1979, the property had switched networks to CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynda Carter
- 1974
A meek and mild mailman decides that the only way to escape the constant nagging of his battle-ax of a wife is to turn himself into the title tree in this off-beat fantasy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Robards, Jr., Sandy Dennis, (more)
- 1973
Parademic trainee Billy Hanks (Kip Niven) has everyone at Rampart on edge with his lack of experience--and his more injurious lack of self-confidence. Billy's inner strength ultimately comes to surface when he must rescue a man from an overturned ambulance. Among the other emergencies facing the Squad 51 staffers this week are an elderly professor (Ian Wolfe) who is trapped under a collapsing bookcase, a car fancier who is pinned under a pile of junked autos, an exploding chemistry set, and a practical joke that goes tragically haywire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
After pulling duty at LA Harbor, Officers Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) and Jim Reed (Kent McCord) are back on their familiar Rampart Division stamping grounds. Their case log on this occasion contains a preponderance of incidents involving elderly people. Examples: two pensioners engaged in a violent fistfight; a septugenarian car thief; and a feisty old lady who's out for blood after her purse is stolen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Ironside star Raymond Burr makes his TV directorial debut in this episode, in which Chief Ironside comes to the aid of a troubled Federal judge and the judge's son. Slated to preside over a well-publicized fraud case, Judge Van Buren (William Windom) is approached by "certain parties" and told to either withdraw from the case or impose a lighter sentence than the defendant deserves. To make certain that Van Buren follows orders, the villains murder a young actress (Angel Tompkins)--then pin the blame on the judge's reckless son Larry (Rick Lenz). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Jeannot Szwarc, the director responsible for so many episodes (both good and bad) of the Night Gallery TV series, was the helmsman of The Devil's Daughter. This small-screen Rosemary's Baby clone stars Belinda Montgomery as a young woman targeted by a group of Satanists. It seems that Belinda's soul was purchased from the Devil when the girl was born, with payment due when she reaches the age of 21. Shelley Winters is at her overbearing best as the head of the cultists, while horror-flick vets Joseph Cotten and Jonathan Frid do their utmost to create the proper demonic atmosphere. Colin Higgins, who moved on to such prestige projects as Silver Streak and Foul Play, conjured up the script for The Devil's Daughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Belinda Montgomery, Shelley Winters, (more)
- 1971
In New Mexico, the Partridges take a runaway teenager named Maggie (Laurie Prange) under their wings. Trouble is, they aren't aware she's a runaway (at least not at first) because of her extremely inventive lies. Once the truth is known, Shirley (Shirley Jones) tries to a arrange a reunion between the girl and her family--only to have her run away again. Clearly, the time has come to reveal the root cause of the girl's troubles, and this requires a great deal of soul-searching on the part of Maggie's father (Sandy Kenyon) and grandfather (Ian Wolfe). Song: "Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
This episode finds Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock exploring the planet Sarpeidon, whose sun is about to go nova. They discover cities and other components of an advanced civilization, but no inhabitants save one, a mysterious man (Ian Wolfe) who identifies himself as the "librarian." They learn that the "library" is a time portal, and that the inhabitants have escaped the doom of their world by taking new lives in past eras. Kirk accidentally steps through the portal and becomes trapped in this world's equivalent of the 17th century, and accused of witchcraft; Spock and McCoy, in turn, are stranded in the planet's brutal ice age, where they meet Zarabeth (Mariette Hartley), an unwilling prisoner of that era. Kirk must try to avoid execution, while Spock -- quickly reverting to his primordial Vulcan nature, brutal and lustful, as a result of moving into the past -- finds his growing love for Zarabeth interfering with his efforts at escape. And that escape becomes even more imperative when they learn that because of the particular way they were transported, they can only survive for a matter of hours. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1968
On a distant planet, the Enterprise encounters a civilization that resembles a more technologically advanced version of the Roman Empire in this installment of the 1960s science fiction series. Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy are investigating the planet, hoping to explain the disappearance of a lost starship, when they are captured. The three Enterprise officers are forced into a violent training program which will culminate in their service as gladiators in a public arena. Part Roman arena and part 20th-century football stadium, this arena features bloody battles broadcast on giant video screens. Kirk and the others must discover a way to escape their captivity, in the hope that they might be rescued by the Enterprise, before their battles -- particularly since their captors plan to force McCoy and Spock to battle to the death. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- 1968
The FBI launches a search for the thieves who stripped the abandoned car owned by wealthy kidnap victim John Graham (Jim McMullan). Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) hopes that the thieves may have witnessed the crime and will be able to identify the abductor. Meanwhile, efforts to negotiate Graham's safe release hit a snag when the victim's brother Philip (Russell Johnson) refuses to pay the $300,000 ransom. In a fascinating bit of casting, the uncle-and-nephew team of kidnappers is played by Edward Asner and Martin Sheen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
In this psychological thriller, Paul (James Caan) and Jennifer (Katherine Ross) are a pair of wealthy but blasé socialites with a sadistic streak. Lisa (Simone Signoret), an older woman from France, arrives at their door one day selling cosmetics; the couple invite her in, and when the conversation reveals that Lisa is believed to have psychic abilities, Paul and Jennifer ask her to arrange some "games" for their amusement. Lisa proceeds to set up several situations of simulated domestic discord that the couple can react to. The arrival of Norman (Don Stroud), a delivery boy, is Jennifer's cue to seduce him, just in time for Paul to arrive and shoot him in a fit of jealousy. Norman is then coated with plaster and placed in the corner, disguised as a work of art; however, Paul soon leaves on a business trip, and Jennifer discovers that Norman isn't dead after all. She panics and shoots Norman dead, only to discover that the previous murder was merely a "game" staged by Lisa. Jennifer, however, is having a very real nervous breakdown, which seems to be what Paul had in mind all along. But once Jennifer is committed to a mental hospital, Paul discovers that Lisa is not necessarily his ally in this increasingly dangerous game. Games was directed by Curtis Harrington, a one-time experimental filmmaker who previously helmed such horror cult movies as Queen of Blood and Night Tide. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simone Signoret, James Caan, (more)
- 1966
This episode is set in a remote Oregon community plagued by a drought that has dragged on for over three months. A local religious sect headed by Adam MacDonald (John Anderson) has managed to incur the wrath of some bigoted townsfolk, who go out of their way to torment and persecute McDonald and his flock. But the case doesn't attract the attention of the FBI until a hate-maddened extortionist threatens to burn down the sect's settlement--an act which would also spell disaster for everyone else in the region. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Future Hill Street Blues star Dan Travanti (still billing himself as "Travanty") is cast as Barney Austin, the abrasive host of a late-night radio call-in show (one of several 1960s takeoffs of volatile talkmeister Joe Pyne). In mid-broadcast, Austin receives a note instructing him to place an on-the-air call to his boss Kevin Steele. As a result, the vast radio audience hears the sound of an argument, followed by two gunshots--and not long afterward, Holly Andrews (Myrna Fahey) is accused of Steele's murder. Normally, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) would enter the story at this point as Holly's defense attorney; instead, because he was listening to Austin at the time of the murder, Perry is subpoenaed as a witness for the prosecution! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Preparing for a visit from Mayberry's guest minister Rev. Leighton (Ian Wolfe), Aunt Bee worries that her natural hair-do won't survive the night. Thus, she quickly dons an attractive blonde wig, which duly impresses the visiting cleric. The problem: Aunt Bee grows fond of the minister, and hasn't the nerve to tell him that she isn't a natural blonde. The most amusing aspect of this episode is the fact that supporting actor Ian Wolfe is rather obviously wearing a "rug" himself! First shown on October 10, 1966, "Aunt Bee's Crowning Glory" was written by Ronald Axe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Written by Dick Carr, "The Spotlight" is a showcase for Viveca Lindfors in the role of long-retired opera diva Angela Drake. Appointed entertainment-committee chairman of the Virginia City anniversary celebration, Ben persuades Angela to come out of retirement for a command performance. Angela is so euphoric that she accepts the offer, neglecting to admit that she has completely lost her singing voice. Sharp-eared fans will hear a brief but pointed "inside joke" referring to recently departed series regular Pernell Roberts (Hint: It has something to do with Shakespeare). Also seen are Ron Randell as Carleton, Winnie Coffin as Mrs. Brown and Jean Determann as Mrs. Finch. "The Spotlight" originally aired on May 16, 1965, and was rebroadcast as the Christmas offering for Bonanza's 1965-66 season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1965
This is the first of several Branded episodes in which fictional ex-military officer Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) has a significant influence upon actual American history. In this instance, Jason is hired to survey the vast territory of Alaska, recently purchased for the U.S. by William Henry Seward (Ian Wolfe). Jason soon discovers that the supposedly worthless land is rich with gold and oil--and so do a pair of scoundrels who plan to steal Jason's maps and bump him off before he can make his discoveries public. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Veteran character actors Lyle Talbot, Olan Soule and Ian Wolfe are seen in this episode, a gentle spoof of the "modern art" world. When a visiting art dealer purchasing one of Uncle Joe's own paintings, Joe (Edgar Buchanan) thinks he has a lucrative future as a brush-pusher. In truth, the dealer is interested only in the painting's valuable frame--but Joe doesn't know that as he spends Kate's hard-earned dollars on canvases, easels, smocks, berets and the like! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Resentful over having to wait on her invalid Uncle Simon (Cedric Hardwicke) hand and foot, Barbara Polk (Constance Ford) perserveres only because she expects to inherit the old man's fortune. But Simon, a famed inventor, has a surprise in store for Barbara after he shuffles off his mortal coil. In order to claim Simon's legacy, Barbara must now service a talking robot -- who sounds and acts just like Uncle Simon. Robby the Robot of Forbidden Planet fame makes one of his several Twilight Zone "guest" appearances. Written by Rod Serling, "Uncle Simon" first aired November 15, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cedric Hardwicke, Constance Ford, (more)
