Francine York Movies
American actress Francine York commenced her theatrical career at age nine, in a play titled Keen Teens, or Campus Quarantine; she produced and directed it herself, had it staged at the Aurora (Minnesota) town auditorium, and used the proceeds from the admissions to finance a wienie roast for the local drama club. That was her story, as related in a 1963 TV Guide, and is as good a story as any. Active in high school sports, York bypassed college to become an airline stewardess, but didn't like the work and decided to become a fashion model in San Francisco. From there she headed to Hollywood, and worked steadily in many of the top TV programs of the early '60s, including recurring appearances on the 1964 weekly Slattery's People (she also later appeared on the daytime drama Days of Our Lives as Lorraine Temple). Usually cast in semi-villainous roles, York was also proficient at comedy, as proven by her many appearances on the anthology series Love American Style (1969-1972). A bit too tall to be a movie leading lady (many leading men would have felt self-conscious), Francine York did manage to make several memorable appearances in the '60s films of six-foot-plus comedian Jerry Lewis; perhaps coincidentally, Lewis appeared in an unbilled cameo of the Batman episode in which York played the "moll" of the Bookworm (Roddy McDowall). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When disaster strikes and necessity dictates that the festering rivalry between the Franklin and Red Eagle families be set aside in the name of survival, the resulting tale of brotherhood gives testament to mankind's remarkable power for forgiveness in this family-oriented Western starring David Carradine and Wes Studi. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Parkes
In this whimsical romantic comedy that recalls It's a Wonderful Life, Nicolas Cage plays Jack Campbell, a workaholic bachelor who gets to see what his life might have been like had he stayed with his old sweetheart, Kate (Tea Leoni). Thirteen years before, Jack accepted a brokerage internship that marred his relationship with Kate, under the promise that they would only be separated one year. But much later, Jack has become an urban Wall Street exec with no wife or family of his own, and a mysterious proxy (Don Cheadle) offers him the opportunity to step into the life he left behind. After falling asleep in his posh New York apartment, Jack awakens to find himself in bed with his now-wife Kate, daughter Annie (Makenzie Vega), and a new baby, none of which he has ever experienced in his fast-paced single life. After discovering his "real" life has been eliminated, he begrudgingly tries to fit in with his newly appointed life as a family man. The Family Man also stars Saul Rubinek and Jeremy Piven. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicolas Cage, Téa Leoni, (more)
This erotic drama with an undercurrent of sexual politics stars Shannon Whirry as Emanuelle Griffith, a sexy supermodel who's also an outspoken feminist activist. Emanuelle is kidnapped one night by Richard Tate (Michael Christian), a deranged voyeur who floods her limousine with ether then imprisons the model in a high-tech love nest, where he intends to psychologically torture her into becoming the submissive and attentive "perfect woman." When her several attempts to escape don't work, Emanuelle decides to play Richard's sick game and uses her obvious assets to seduce and then turn the tables on her captor. In the meantime, a private eye (Bo Svenson) and an LAPD detective (Tony Burton) are searching for the famous Emanuelle, but by the time they track her down, she may no longer need any male assistance. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
Danny Warren (Edward Albert) is a former minor-league shortstop who becomes a narc to uncover drug dealing in this situation comedy. Investigating at a high-school adult-education class, he falls for the tempting teacher Katherine, played by the exotic Barbara Carrera. Danny forgets the reward of $10,000 per arrest when he elects to continue his "education." He joins a colorful group of characters that includes ex-cons, illegal aliens, and brain-dead baby boomers who cause more trouble than their younger counterparts. Swimming classes and wine tasting serve as background for a series of comic catastrophes. Danny soon suspects Katherine's colleague Mrs. Grant (Susan Tyrell) of being in cahoots with the drug dealers, and Katherine and Mrs. Grant have a prolonged fight scene that is memorably funny. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Albert, Barbara Carrera, (more)
- 1983
- PG
Jerry Lewis reprises his previous movie persona, this time as Warren Nefron, a man unable to successfully kill himself, while Herb Edelman is Dr. Jonas Pletchick, the psychiatrist out to cure him of his failure, in this undistinguished slapstick comedy. Many of Lewis' past routines crop up again through the device of flashbacks, as he sits in the doctor's office and remembers vignettes from his past. As usual, the French love his humor and flocked to see this film when it was first released. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Lewis, Herb Edelman, (more)
- 1977
Several adult members of the same high-school graduating class have turned up dead, killed by an assailant who wields a zip gun and leaves the word "Monkey" scrawled at each crime scene. The viewer is soon apprised of the fact that the murderer is one Charley Belasco (Gary Lockwood), fresh out of prison after serving 20 years for a crime he'd committed to qualify for membership in a teenage gang. It is up to Stone (Mike Douglas) and Keller (Richard Hatch) to figure out where the vengeance-driven "Monkey" Belasco plans to strike next! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Having already exhausted the dramatic possibilities of fire with The Towering Inferno, producer Irwin Allen turns to water in the made-for-TV Flood! The film is set in a small community, conveniently (for the purposes of the plot) located near a huge earthen dam. As the flood waters rise and the dam threatens to collapse, we are made privy to the individual reactions of such all-star victims-to-be as Robert Culp, Martin Milner, Richard Basehart, Cameron Mitchell, Barbara Hershey, Teresa Wright and Carol Lynley. As in Inferno, helicopter pilots come to the rescue. Most of the film was shot in Eugene, Oregon. Flood! first aired on November 24, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Officer Dan Segal (Robert Drivas) makes it his mission in life to avenge the death of his gambler brother (Harry Davis), who was murdered by a professional hit man. In order to expose the "brains" behind the murder, Segal goes undercover, posing as a bookie and infiltrating an unusually nasty gambling ring. Featured in the cast is the late Claudia Jennings, the well-proportioned leading lady of many an R-rated action flick of the 1970s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
A pair of scientists must travel through the Time Tunnel to search for the cure for a deadly epidemic. They land in late 19th century Chicago the night before the big fire. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1975
The Queen is a luxury cruise ship, "played" by the Queen Mary in this made-for-TV thriller. The villain has it in for one of the ship's millionaire passengers. Accordingly, he (or she-we're not telling) plans to destroy the vessel and everyone on board. The producer of this all-star disasterfest was-drum roll, please-Irwin Allen. TV movie "regulars" John Gay and David Lowell Rich served as scripter and director, respectively, for Adventures of the Queen, which first sailed into American homes on February 14, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Several women have been strangled in the Bay Area--and the two chief suspects were spotted wearing uniforms of the U.S. Air Force. Going undercover as a USAF officer, Keller (Michael Douglas) tries to figure out which of the two suspects (Dennis Cole, Kaz Garas), both highly decorated colonels, is the guilty party...or if the actual culprit is someone else entirely. Most of this episode was filmed on location at Travis Air Force Base in California. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) investigates when two out-of-town conventioneers fall to their deaths from separate hotel windows. It's clearly more than a coincidence--and despite what some authorities believe, the two victims did not commit suicide. Kojak determines that a mad killer is on the loose...and there's every possibility that the perpetrator is a woman. Watch for brief appearances by future sitcom regulars Paul Benedict (The Jeffersons) and Gordon Jump (WKRP in Cincinnati). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A psychopathic killer administers a series of death sentences to various pornographic models. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
When a Cape Kennedy space mission is interrupted by terrorists, Senator Stockwell (John Carter) turns to a massive computer for an analyzed report of which secret agents to trust with the case. The electronic brain suggests the Doll Squad, a crack team of highly trained female spies who are as beautiful as they are deadly. Their leader, Sabrina Kincaid (Francine York), is sent to round up the girls, but there's a mole in the Senator's organization, and the first two agents she contacts are murdered. Intelligence reports reveal that the head of the terrorist operation is Eamon O'Reilly (Michael Ansara), an ex-government agent and Sabrina's former lover. O'Reilly sends a carrier pigeon to the Senator with instructions to send back secret nuclear weapon plans, and threatens national disaster if he refuses. The mole is rooted out and the location of O'Reilly's secret island hideout is discovered, so Sabrina rounds up the rest of the Doll Squad and the ladies charter a boat. Once on shore, the girls are kidnapped, and O'Reilly explains his nefarious plans to Sabrina: He is going to spread bubonic plague across the civilized world and rule what is left with supreme power. But if she so desires, he'll inoculate her with the antidote and she will reign by his side as Queen. The Doll Squad fights back, using an arsenal of secret weapons, plastic explosives, and their own seductive charms to defeat O'Reilly's henchmen and save the world. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide
- 1973
I Love a Mystery was a campy TV revival of Phillips Lord's old radio series. The three adventure-loving heroes are Jack, Doc and Reggie (Les Crane, David Hartman and Hagan Beggs), insurance investigators hired to tackle a mystery at a remote island mansion. Ida Lupino plays a domineering matriarch whose billionaire husband is missing, and who seems to know more than she's letting on. The mystery's ingredients include the eerie nocturnal sound of a crying baby and a series of related murders and kidnappings. The heroes are occasionally distracted from their work by Lupino's nubile daughters Faith, Hope and Charity (Karen Jensen, Deanna Lund and Melodie Johnson). The script for I Love a Mystery was based on Philips Lord's classic radio serial "The Thing That Cries in the Night," but there's nothing classic or even remotely entertaining about the derisive, patronizing treatment of the source material herein. This made-for-TV "busted pilot" gathered dust for seven years before its 1973 premiere, and not without just cause. A further note: Though Don Knotts is advertised as one of the "stars," he shows up to sputter one miserable line at the end of the film! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
The emergency staff of Rampart Hospital is kept extra-busy this evening as a plane crashes into a tree, a child overdoses on phenobarbital, and a burglar has a heart attack. In addition, Dr. Early (Robert Fuller) must deal with a nervous hypochondriac and a football player who has been "over-tackled". And on a personal note, paramedics Roy (Kevin Tighe) and John (Randolph Mantooth) are having a lot of trouble settling an argument. Ronne Troup, the daughter of series regular Bobby Troup, plays a supporting role in this final episode of Emergency!'s first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
The seventh and final season of Mission:Impossible commenced on September 16, 1972 with the episode titled "Break!" In his second series appearance, guest star Carl Betz is cast as Syndicate gambling boss Dutch Krebs, who has just finished murdering a federal undercover agent. The IMF must recover the wristwatch camera that the dead agent was carrying, and to do this Jim Phelps poses as a pool hustler, engaging Krebs in a high-stakes game which had been meticulously rigged by fellow IMF agent Barney. Though series regular Lynda Day George receives billing as agent Lisa Casey in this and subsequent episodes, she spent most of the 1972-73 season on maternity leave. Her IMF replacement in "Break!" and elsewhere is paroled convict Mimi Davis, played by former Ironside regular Barbara Anderson. Thus, in this episode the viewer is treated to the ritual of the Impossible Mission Force's recruiting process for the first and only time. "Break!" was written by Sam Roeca and James L. Henderson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
In addition to tackling the usual traffic and drug violations--not to mention a thief posing as a cab driver-- Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) find themselves in the middle of a bizarre hostage situation. A frustated actor has taken a stewardess captive in hopes of forcing a producer to give him an audition. Ironically, the actor is played by Frank Sinatra Jr.), who had himself been the victim of an audacious pair of kidnappers back in 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
- R
This anti-war drama centers on four Vietnam veterans who are driving cross country to California. By the time they hit New Mexico, they are down to $69. They started out with over $9,000 between them. To get some quick cash, they rob a gas station. The irate owner begins shooting at them and they in turn show him that they are carrying a veritable ammunitions dump in their trunk. Donning their Green Beret uniforms, they get revenge upon the town and then begin waiting for the authorities to show up so they can have a showdown with them too. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) investigate a series of baffling thefts at a fancy riding school run by a washed-up cowboy star (Rod Cameron). Elsewhere, the two cops bust up a drug ring, and confront the problem of a young girl who has been hoodwinked into driving the getaway car at a robbery. The guest cast includes Oscar winner Strother Martin, former Petticoat Junction leading lady Linda Kaye Henning, and future Emegency! star Randolph Mantooth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
In the fifth episode of a seven-part story arc, the Stephenses arrive in Rome, where Endora immediately makes her mark by bringing a statue of Venus to life. In her human state, the irresistible Venus (Francine York) causes trouble for Darrin by causing his client, Mr. Baldoni (Lou Krugman), to stray from his marital vows. There is nothing for Samantha to do but deflect Venus by "enlivening" a statue of Adonis. First telecast on October 13, 1971, "Bewitched, Bothered and Baldoni" was written by Michael Morris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1970
The Tigers stickball team installs a new captain, the misogynistic Randy (Sean Kelly), who immediately imposes a "no girls allowed" policy. Not wishing to see Buffy (Anissa Jones) voted off the team, Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) protests, but eventually buckles under to peer pressure--with the expected negative results. And in a related incident, Bill (Brian Keith) unwittingly demonstrates his own chauvinistic side while dating an actress named Sherry (played by 1960s TV favorite Francine York). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
- R
In this limp western melodrama, when Mexican bandit Hector Cordoba (Raf Vallone) attacks a U.S. Army fort a few miles from the Mexican border, General John Pershing (John Russell) orders Captain Rod Douglas (George Peppard) to organize a group of soldiers to cross the border into Mexico to capture Cordoba and to bring him back to the U.S. for trial. When Douglas's band cross into Mexico, Douglas meets Leonora (Giovanna Ralli), a beautiful Mexican woman raped by Cordoba, who agrees to lead the Americans to Cordoba's stronghold. But Leonora is not entirely trustworthy, and when the Americans reach the fort, Cordoba takes them prisoners. Now, the Americans must escape from Cordoba's clutches and make it back to the other side of the border. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Peppard, Giovanna Ralli, (more)
- 1969
Ironside (Raymond Burr) investigates when a local college campus is besieged with phony bomb threats. It happens that there is another potentially explosive situation involving the bitterness between college newspaper editor Neal Morgan (Philip Chapin) and a pair of Army bomb-disposal squad members (played by stars-in-the-making Ed Asner and Gerald S. O'Loughlin). Things reach the crisis stage when a "fake" bombing turns real and one of the Army men is killed. This is the final episode of Ironside's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In his TV-movie debut, Stewart Granger plays a philandering photographer whose wealthy wife, Lois Nettleton, catches him in an adulterous situation. Not wishing to give up his cushy life style, Granger rigs a fatal automobile accident for Nettleton before she begins divorce proceedings. She survives the crash, but suffers a loss of memory. Granger must now figure out how to eliminate her before her amnesia passes and she can finger him as her would-be killer. Filmed in Mexico, Any Second Now is highly recommended to anyone who hasn't seen the story before in its many previous incarnations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
