Hank Brandt Movies
- 1962
Inasmuch as this episode was scripted by Robert Bloch, one shouldn't be surprised by its echoes of Bloch's suspense classic Psycho. The titular Annabel (Susan Oliver) is the former girlfriend of nerdy chemist David Kelsey (Dean Stockwell), who obsesses over the girl day and night. Having spent a great deal of money to purchase a "dream home" for Annabel and himself, David is startled to learn that the girl is now married and wants nothing to do with him. Refusing to believe that he has lost Annabel forever, David immediately goes into denial -- which in his case proves to be a lethal affliction. "Annabel" was adapted from a story by Patricia Highsmith, the author of another classic Hitchcock film, Strangers on a Train. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) finds himself on the horns of an ironic dilemma. Pornographer Bert Anslem (James Gregory), against whom the FBI has been trying to build a case for months, has been kidnapped by career criminal Nick Kirby (Robert Doyle), who demands a $100,000 ransom. This places Erskine in the position of having to rescue Anslem--while simultaneously preventing the man's inevitable flight from the FBI's jurisdiction. Jill Haworth, who created the role of Sally Bowles in the original Broadway production of "Cabaret", appears as Anslem's daughter. (Note: some sources have incorrectly identified this episode as "To Free Mine Enemy"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
With the help of his accomplice Hammond (Mark Richman), Captain Jennerson (Ralph Bellamy) has deliberately sunk his freighter in order to collect $40,000 in insurance. What Jennerson doesn't know is that Hammond is having an affair with his wife Gloria (Elizabeth Allen), who plans to dump the captain once the check arrives. He is also unaware that his scuttled freighter contained a sealed shipment of deadly chlorine, which will wreak havoc upon the coastline of Hawaii should the seals be shattered in an approaching tidal wave! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Deep in enemy territory, Saunders (Vic Morrow) and the squad come across a stranded Special Services jazz combo. In his efforts to escort the musicians back to safety, Saunders is stymied by the mercurial behavior of bandleader Bernie (Dan Duryea), who seems eager and willing to surrender to the Germans at the first opportunity. New Orleans-born squad member Caje (Pierre Jalbert) has a terrific line about the eccentricities of jazzmen in this episode, which features strong performances by a young Dennis Hopper and by celebrated Hollywood dialect coach Robert Easton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Ricardo Montalban guest stars as Barbu, the fiery leader of a band of gypsies. After capturing an SS officer named Krieghoffen (David Sheiner), Saunders (Vic Morrow) finds Barbu dogging his trail. It seems that Krieghoffen was responsible for the mass slaughter of Barbu's tribesmen, and the embittered gypsy intends to exact his own brand of vengeance--even if means killing Saunders to do so. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
During a flight from New York to Seattle, a passenger identifying himself as Ernest Putnam (Arthur Hill) hijacks the plane and demands to be flown to Manchuria. Inspector Erskine learns that "Putnam" is actually a scientist named Charles King, and that he is in possession of vital government information that must not fall into the hands of the Red Chinese. In a desperate effort to stop King and rescue the passengers, Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) tries to intercept the plane during a refueling stopover in Alaska--but the situation is far from resolved! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Follow Me, Boys!, Disney's paean to the Boys Scouts of America, leaves no cliché unturned: we're even offered the old reliable "kid hanging over cliff by rope" bit. Corny, sentimental and obvious though it may be, the film is a delight to watch, especially whenever Fred MacMurray dominates the screen. MacMurray plays Lem Siddons, a 1930s musician who decides to settle down in a small Midwestern town. Here he meets pretty bank teller Vida Downey (Vera Miles), who bemoans the fact that the local boys have no organized activities with which to occupy their time. Volunteering to be a scoutmaster, Lem begins a local scout troop. There are some tense moments when banker Ralph Hastings (Elliot Reid) demands that Lem's scouts vacate their headquarters, but Reid's feisty millionaire Aunt Hetty (Lillian Gish) comes to the rescue. The film's throughline is the regeneration of local "tough kid" Whitey (Kurt Russell), who, after joining the Boy Scouts, straightens out and matures into a solid citizen. The film's lachrymose climax is kept "honest" by the sincere underplaying of Fred MacMurray. Though lambasted by reviewers, Follow Me, Boys! struck a responsive chord with filmgoers, to the tune of a $5.5 million box-office take. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred MacMurray, Vera Miles, (more)
- 1966
The only survivors of a night patrol in enemy territory are Lt. Hanley (Rick Jason) and a nervous young private named Wilder (played by Brandon DeWilde of Shane and Hud) fame). Having sustained a bad shoulder wound, Hanley is of little help when Wilder suddenly gets caught in quicksand. Worse still, the terrified private threatens to betray Hanley to the surrounding Germans in a desperate effort to save himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
In the final episode of Combat, frequent series guest star Robert Duvall makes a return appearance, this time as a French resistance fighter named Michel. Saunders takes Michel along on a vital reconnaissance mission--little suspecting that the "Frenchman" is actually an American deserter in disguise. The truth is revealed at the worst possible time, as Saunders and the squad prepare brace themselves against a relentless German assault. Also in the cast is singer Claudine Longet,then the wife of entertainer Andy Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Although he does not believe that decorated Vietnam veteran David Larkin (Gary Collins) is guilty of murder, Ironside (Raymond Burr) is duty-bound to turn over evidence that secures the man's conviction in court. To save Larkin from the gas chamber, Ironside launches his own investigation, only to be hampered by the interference of Larkin's so-called "buddies"--not to mention the fact that all of the witnesses are being systematically bumped off. This is the final episode of Ironside's first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A murder investigation uncovers a plot that could destroy the world as we know it in this thriller. When a scientist doing research on nuclear weapons is murdered during a hospital stay, federal investigator Dave Pomeroy (Howard Duff) is called in to find out who killed him and why. With the help of Dr. Paula Stevens (Linda Cristal), the late scientist's assistant, Pomeroy learns that the scientist fell victim to a group of communist renegades whose members include two brilliant but unstable weapons experts, August Best (Nehemiah Persoff) and Myra Pryor (Anne Jeffreys). Pomeroy discovers that Best and Pryor have constructed an atomic bomb of their own -- and that they're threatening to use it to start World War III, forcing the detective to take swift action to prevent worldwide devastation. Panic in the City also features Dennis Hopper in the small role of Goff, just a year before Easy Rider would make him a star. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Howard Duff, Linda Cristal, (more)
- 1968
When the skeleton of a shooting victim is unearthed by the Feds, Mafia functionary John Duqesne (a pre-superstardom Burt Reynolds) begins to tremble. He's currently trying to beat one murder rap,and now he's faced with charges for another killing ten years earlier. Further worrying Duquesne is the fact that the Mob has ordered the extermination of the one witness who could seal his doom--his ex-wife Irene (Diana Muldaur). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Don Grady of My Three Sons fame guest stars as John McElroy, the irresponsible son of business executive Douglas McElroy (Murray Hamilton). After John inadvertently commits a crime on a government reservation, a mobster who witnessed the incident strongarms the boy's father into allowing his company to be taken over by the Mafia. Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) must not only bring John to justice for his crime, but also save the boy from becoming yet another Mob casualty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Woe betide the criminal who ever makes the mistake of victimizing a friend of Chief Robert Ironside (Raymond Burr)! In this case, the friend is a fruit seller named Dora Copeland (Ann Doran). A syndicate of protection racketeers has swarmed into town in hopes of gaining control of San Francisco's produce market--and their first step is to blackmail Dora by framing a compromising situation involving her son Paul (Stewart Moss), a prominent attorney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
The FBI is summoned to a ranching community to investigate a possible Civil Rights violation. Sheriff William Temple (James Olson) has been accused of excessive brutality and attempted murder by Peter Griffith (Bill Hickman), who has been arrested for smuggling illegal aliens. Faced with overwhelming evidence, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) has no choice but to place Temple in custody--but Erskine can't shake the feeling that the sheriff is being framed by his longtime enemy, rancher Cliff Wyant (J.D. Cannon). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this thriller, adapted from the novel Binary by John Lange and directed by Michael Crichton, a federal agent played by Ben Gazzara must stop a madman before he can unleash a toxic nerve gas upon an unwitting political convention. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Syndicate loan sharks Ollie Shanks (Paul Koslo) and Rudy Blake (Lou Antonio) must be intercepted before they can transfer $10 million from Hawaii to California. Assigned to put Shanks and Blake out of business, IMF agent Willy ends up being captured himself. As the villains inject Willy with near-fatal doses of truth serum, his fellow agents race against time to complete his mission before their cover is blown. Scripted by Jackson Gillis and Laurence Heath from a story by Gillis, "Double Dead" originally aired on February 12, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) is assigned to recover some stolen platinum and round up the thieves. To do this, he poses as the go-between for a notorious fence--then sets the stage for a major falling out amongst the criminals. An abundance of TV veterans show up in this episode, including Stefanie Powers in her one-and-only F.B.I. appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this crime drama, a hard-nosed cop is assigned to find a psychotic rapist in order to stop a mad bomber with delusions of grandeur who has been razing Los Angeles buildings to punish the evil sinners that live therein. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1973
A Mob trial in Boston ends abruptly in a mistrial thanks to a couple of bribed jurors. Does this mean that the Mob wants defendant Mario Dracus (Frank De Kova) to go free? Not quite: still worried that he intends to turn on them, Dracus' former associates plan to murder him before he ever gets the chance. Already on the case because of the jury-tampering angle, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) is now faced with the daunting task of keeping Dracus alive--and expediting a retrial that will send him to prison. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
In this thriller a federal officer acts upon his suspicion that the recent death of his predecessor was part of a conspiracy to kill a presidential candidate. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1975
An upcoming election for a departmental welfare committee finds Roy (Kevin Tighe) and John (Randolph Mantooth) running against each other. In various emergency calls, a sculptress (Sharon Gless) summons Squad 51 to help extricate her model from a plaster cast; a beer drinker chokes on a pull tab; and a construction worker is stranded on a hgh crane. And at the hospital, the staff has its hands full with a delirious youngster. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
In stark contrast with Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner), fellow officer Ed Wells (Gary Crosby) has no time for "teamwork" with his partner Officer Brady (Hank Brandt); indeed, Ed prides himself on the fact that he and Brandt choose to work independently. This attitude proves disastrous when Wells runs up against a well-armed homeowner who mistakes the officer for a burglar. Perhaps coincidentally, this episode represents a rally of "second-generation" Hollywood talent: in addition to semiregular Gary Crosby, who of course was the son of Bing Crosby, the supporting cast features Deanna Martin, the daughter of Dean Martin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
In this crime drama, two dogged FBI agents are on the case to investigate one of the U.S.'s most infamous bank robberies. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Darren McGavin, Leslie Nielsen, (more)
- 1976
Bill Bixby earned an Emmy nomination for his chilling yet pathetic performance as Eric Doyle, a mild-mannered loser who is fascinated by police procedure. Rejected when he tries to join the San Francisco police force, Doyle vows to prove his worth by turning vigilante. Donning an authentic-looking cop's uniform, Doyle sets about to methodically--and savagely--wipe out all criminals who have managed to slip through the fingers of the legal system. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
