Frank Aletter Movies

Henry Fonda returned to films after an eight-year absence in this masterful adaptation of the actor's Broadway hit Mister Roberts. Written and partially directed by Joshua Logan, the film stars Fonda as Lt. Doug Roberts, chief cargo officer of the supply ship "Reluctant." WW2 is in its last few months, and Roberts is itching for combat duty. But the Reluctant's surly, despotic captain (James Cagney), anxious to use Roberts to expedite his own promotion, refuses to sign any of Roberts' transfer requests. Helping to brighten Mister Roberts' humdrum existence are his best friends, Ensign Frank Pulver (Jack Lemmon, in an Oscar-winning performance) and the ship's philosophical doctor (William Powell, in his final film appearance). Most of the laughs are provided by Pulver, officer "in charge of laundry and morale." When he isn't wheeling and dealing to bring a bevy of beautiful nurses on board the Reluctant, Pulver is concocting elaborate schemes to avenge himself against the Captain -- even though he's spent 14 months on the Reluctant without ever meeting his nemesis. The film's highlights include the efforts by Roberts, Pulver, and Doc to mix a bottle of Scotch from Coca-Cola, Iodine, and other vital ingredients; and Mister Roberts' (and later Ensign Pulver's) assertion of manhood by tossing the Captain's precious palm tree overboard. Halfway through shooting, legendary director John Ford was replaced, ostensibly because of illness, by Mervyn LeRoy. One of the finest service comedies ever made, Mister Roberts spawned a less amusing sequel, Ensign Pulver (1964), as well as a 1965 TV sitcom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having passed along a blind date to Viv (Vivian Vance), Lucy (Lucille Ball) changes her mind when she meets the fellow, a handsome doctor named Sam Eastman (Frank Aletter). Upon learning that Sam is a lover of classical music, Lucy pretends to share the same interest, leading to an unforgettable evening at a chamber-music concert. But the limit comes when, in a moment of pique, Lucy accidentally injures the doctor's hand so he won't be able to play violin at a charity music recital--and we'll bet you can't guess what happens next. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Martin (Ray Walston) knows that the government's new $2 billion space project is doomed to fail--but of course he can't tell anyone without revealing the fact that he's a Martian. So Tim cooks up a subterfuge whereby he will write an editorial based on an "anonymous" letter to the editor concerning the expensive project. As a result, the Government becomes convinced that Tim is a Russian spy--thereby setting up a hilarious "lie detector" scene involving an imperious psychiatrist played by the inimitable Richard Deacon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After a dangerous tiger turns on its trainer and escapes from the circus, a small town in Texas finds itself in an uproar over its capture. As it is hunted by numerous parties, a young girl begins protesting and starts a nationwide movement to plead for the tiger's safety. As the situation gains more attention, the local attitude is torn by politics and outside pressure. At the time of its release, this feature (taken from a book by Ian Niall) was quite different for Disney as it portrayed realistic small-town politics rather than an ideal community. The titular tiger, on the other hand, seemed to have an uncanny knack of choosing baddies to prey upon while leaving all well-meaning folks alone. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

Claiming to have seen the One-Armed Man on the night of Helen Kimble's murder, Army captain James Eckhardt sends a letter to Donna Taft (Jacqueline Scott), the sister of fugitive Richard Kimble (David Janssen). When asked why he hasn't previously come forth with this valuable information, Eckhardt explains that he was stationed in Europe at the time of Kimble's trial. Accepting this story, Kimble is prepared to turn himself over to Lt. Gerard (Barry Morse) so that he can appear at a court hearing...until he learns a terrible secret about the troubled Captain Eckhardt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A half-decade after his sitcom Bringing Up Buddy wrapped, character actor Frank Aletter returned to CBS's prime-time lineup for this much different sci-fi-themed comedy about two astronauts, Hector and Mac (Jack Mullaney and Aletter), whose spaceship "took a wrong turn" in mid-orbit and broke through an interstellar "time barrier" without their knowledge. They re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, but touched down to discover themselves in the prehistoric age -- surrounded by bands of cavemen. Episodes for the first half of this one-season outing pertained to the 20th century boys' attempts to live in the Stone Age, surrounded by such nutty caveperson neighbors as Shad (Imogene Coca), her husband Gronk (Joe E. Ross), and their children Breer (Pat Cardi) and Mlor (Mary Grace). But in the January 22, 1967 episode, the format changed somewhat: the men figured out a way to repair their spaceship, returned to the present day, and took Shad and Gronk's family with them; thereafter, episodes focused exclusively on the attempts of the cavepeople to adjust to mid-20th century Los Angeles -- an experience fraught with complications (that probably, to no small degree, signified a desperate attempt on the part of the producers to clamor for higher ratings). It didn't work: It's About Time ran for the last time around a year after it premiered, on August 27, 1967. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

Leslie Parrish, best remembered for her film work in Li'l Abner and The Manchurian Candidate, guests in this episode as beautiful and worldly novelist Jacqueline Moran. Arriving at the Shady Rest, "Jackie" begins acting like one of her fictional characters by setting her cap for a married man--namely, Steve (Mike Minor). It looks like Betty Jo (Linda Kaye Henning) has got a real problem on her hands, but fortunately her sisters volunteer to help her remove Ms. Moran from the scene (or so they hope!). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This 25-million dollar epic collaboration accurately recreates the events that led to the Japanese attack on the American naval base during World War II. With Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, the wheels are set in motion by Japan to plan the attack. After internal differences in the government, the Japanese quickly mobilize plans for the assault. Key American personnel ignored warnings of the possibility of Japanese aggression. The first part of the film divides scenes from both countries. Part two contains spectacular battle scenes of the bombing that destroyed the American naval base of operations in Hawaii. Governmental errors on both sides add to the confusion, but the Japanese ultimately carry out the deadly mission. The film did well in Japan, did not do well in the he United States, and took years to make back the production costs. It remains an insightful and well crafted World War II action drama that was the result of years of negotiations between the two countries. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

There's plenty of trepidation amongst the emergency staffers of Rampart Hospital when paramedic Roy DeSoto (Kevin Tighe) tries his hand at cooking. On a more serious note, the staff must contend with a particularly odious case of child abuse at the hands of a drug-addicted parent, an attempted suicide, and the impending birth of a baby suffering from a defective heart. And elsewhere, a workman is stranded on a crane, while a repairman suffers a serious electric shock from a malfunctioning washing machine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In his second Ironside guest appearance, Burgess Meredith is cast as Harry Grenadine, a Hollywood make-up expert who has done jail time for bank robbery. No sooner has Harry been released from prison than a series of holdups occur, each one bearing his distinctive "signature." Ironside (Raymond Burr) sets about to determine whether Harry is back in business, or if his technique has been hijacked by a clever copycat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dana Wynter guest stars as Alexandria, a former sweetheart of Chief Ironside (Raymond Burr. Now that Alexandria has returned to San Francisco, the Chief is anxious to rekindle their romance. Alas, the course of true love is destined not to run smoothly: Alexandria happens to be a professional thief--and Ironside knows all too well that she is currently planning to swipe an ancient Chinese statue left in his care. This episode features the original composition "December Song", which like so many other incidental themes heard on Ironside was written by Marty and David Paich and performed by Carol Carmichael. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A pre-Rocky Sylvester Stallone is prominently featured in this episode as young detective Rick Daley, who accidentally shoots a boy while on duty. Daley claims that shots were being fired all around him at the time of the tragedy, and that he is innocent. Pressured by the higher-ups to protect Daley, Kojak (Telly Savalas) refuses to accept the young cop's story without positive proof--while certain members of the Internal Affairs division seem willing to throw Daley to the wolves whether he's guilty or not. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

More ambitious and expensive than ABC's first "novel for television" miniseries QB VII, the eight-episode, 12-hour Rich Man, Poor Man was the one that truly put the genre on the map, its phenomenal success in the ratings making possible the even more spectacular Roots. Adapted from the mammoth novel by Irwin Shaw, the miniseries covers the years from WWII to the 1960s, detailing the vacillating fortunes of the immigrant Jordache brothers. "Rich Man" Rudy Jordache (Peter Strauss) is determined to use his hard-earned education -- and his inherent ruthlessness -- to carve out a business and political empire not unlike that enjoyed by Joseph P. Kennedy and his progeny. "Poor Man" Tom Jordache (Nick Nolte), a quick-fisted hothead, goes an entirely different route, first as a professional boxer, then as a functionary of the evil gangster chieftain Falconetti (William Smith). Naturally, both brothers become entangled in romance along the way, with Julie Prescott (Susan Blakely) ending up as Rudy's benighted spouse. Originally telecast on February 1, 2, 9, 16, 23, and March 1, 8, and 15 in 1976, Rich Man, Poor Man earned 20 Emmy nominations and led to a weekly sequel, Rich Man, Poor Man -- Book 2, in the fall of 1976 (this version necessitated a title change for the original, which was rebroadcast as Rich Man, Poor Man -- Book 1 in the spring of 1977). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide