Frank Aletter Movies
- 1966
Can it be that one of the guests at the Shady Rest is invisible? That's what Kate (Bea Benaderet) is led to believe when another guest, a Mr. Benton (Frank Aletter), begins carrying on two-way conversations with his "partner" Mr. Dobble--whom no one can see! Naturally, Kate thinks she's going crazy...but of course, there's the usual Logical Explanation to all this (as if the viewer can't guess Mr. Benton's profession long before the episode ends). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
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
- Starring:
- Jack Mullaney, Frank Aletter, (more)
- 1965
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
- 1964
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
- Starring:
- Brian Keith, Vera Miles, (more)
- 1964
Ex-fire chief Carey York (Tom Tully) hires Perry (Raymond Burr) to sue TV repoter Tommy Towne (Frank Aletter) for slander, after Towne claims on the air that York burned down his own warehouse for the insurance money. To avoid ponying up $1.5 million, Towne issues a "retraction"--still insisting that York is an arsonist, but now claiming that he was trying to save his son Dorian (Wynn Pearce) from bankruptcy. Ultimately, Towne is murdered, York is charged, and Perry must find out who is really going around setting fires and killing people. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
The citizens of Cliffside Heights hire Perry (Raymond Burr) to press a libel suit against novelist Richard Harris (Michael Pate), the author of a Peyton Place-style "roman a clef." A financial settlement is reached, but turned down by publisher Albert McCann (David Lewis), who for some reason is afraid of Harris. Likewise fearful is Harris' ex-wife Margaret Layton (Peggy McCay), who is desperate to hide her lurid past from her children--so desperate, in fact, that she becomes the Number One Suspect when Harris is murdered. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
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
- 1963
While on an orbital flight, American astronaut Robert Gaines (Steve Forrest) experiences a sudden blackout. When he awakens, he finds himself in a hospital room surrounded by his friends, loved ones and fellow officers, and he is told that his spacecraft somehow managed to land by itself. All well and good -- until Gaines begins to suspect that the world on which he landed was not the world he had originally left behind. Written by Rod Serling, the 60-minute Twilight Zone episode "The Parallel" first aired March 14, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Forrest, Jacqueline Scott, (more)
- 1962
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
- Starring:
- Frank Aletter, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1960
The typical roles played by adults and children in sitcoms underwent a dramatic and stunning reversal in this one-season CBS series. Frank Aletter starred as Buddy Flower, a responsible, reliable and intelligent young man in his early 30s who worked as an investment counselor. His home life, however, was something else - he lived with two childlike and thoroughly daffy maiden aunts, Aunt Iris Flower (Doro Merande) and Aunt Violet Flower (Enid Markey). Though sweet natured, the women added an endless series of wacky complications to Buddy's life; typical situations had them attempting to make some dramatic change to the young man's lifestyle (such as presenting him with any one of several "perfect girls" to marry) or putting themselves in impossible circumstances from which Buddy had to liberate them. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Aletter, Enid Markey, (more)
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
- Starring:
- Henry Fonda, James Cagney, (more)
