Martin Beck Movies

It's hard to be critical of an exploitation film that revels so gleefully in its awfulness. To begin with, we're presented with dazed, glassy-eyed heroine Judy Landers, whose condition is readily explained by a bout with amnesia brought on by the brutal murder of her mother at the hands of a sleazy villain, Ray Sharkey. She is sent to the prison-like Ashland Mental Hospital for therapy, at first blissfully unaware of the diabolical mind experiments being performed on the all-female patients in the title dungeon by leering mad doctor Mary Woronov (who's done more than her share of leering in films of this type). Sharkey's not out of the picture -- he's lurking about the grounds, hoping to wring some secrets from our heroine about the documents he tried to obtain from her poor mom. The usual women-in-prison accouterments abound, from glue-sniffing lesbians to lecherous guards. The exploitation elements seem somewhat restrained (Landers doesn't even get her hair mussed) and they make the film look more like a sleazy made-for-TV movie with a few nude scenes thrown in for spice. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Comedy falls as flat as a blowout in this film by Joseph Sargent about a down-to-earth trucker (Robert Blake) and the rich and looney witch (Dyan Cannon) he is forced to take on a haul from New York to L.A. Madie (Cannon) is running away from her money-grubbing husband who is conniving to get the most inexpensive divorce he can. Charlie (Blake) the trucker is under pressure from a ruthless creditor and is in desperate need of cash. As the mismatched duo continues in a stressful journey across country, sparks fly but fail to ignite much of anything along the way. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Earl Owensby, the Orson Welles of the South, produced, directed and starred in Manhunter. Playing a soldier of fortune, Owensby vows to squash organized crime in America. Deciding that fish rots from the head, he goes after the "untouchable" political biggies he holds responsible. Calling the directorial shots while Owensby was acting was his loyal assistant, Martin Beck. The cast is the usual mixture of regional professionals and ambitious college drama students. For a film with a next-to-nothing budget, Manhunter is pretty good. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A couple of old-timers -- character actor Tully Marshall and director Gilbert M. "Bronco Billy" Anderson --bring out the best in this corny crime drama. While Jim Barlow (Robert Edeson) is hiding from the cops, his wife Ann (Lilie Leslie) goes to a mission The minister, Reverend John Matthews (Gordon Sackville), gives her the address of a good Samaritan, Dr. LeRoy Clifford (William Courtleigh). When her child is hit by an automobile, she takes him to Clifford, who proceeds to operate right at his house. Meanwhile, one of Barlow's former associates, known as the Weasel (Marshall) tracks him down and convinces him to come on a job. The home they break into is Clifford's, while he is in the middle of working on Barlow's little boy. Barlow helps the doctor by holding a spotlight so he can complete the operation. As a result of this incident, the crooks seek redemption. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide