Stanley Z. Cherry Movies

The second of two TV-movie attempts to revive the Dobie Gillis sitcom series of the 1950s and 1960s, Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis rounds up as many cast members of the old show as humanly possible. Dwayne Hickman took a break from his busy career as a CBS daytime-drama executive to recreate the role of Dobie Gillis, while Bob Denver was back as his beatnik "good buddy" Maynard G. Krebs. Also making return appearances are Sheila James as Zelda Gilroy (now Mrs. Dobie Gillis), Steve Franken as ridiculously wealthy Chatsworth Osborne Jr., and William Schallert as Dobie's college teacher Mr. Pomfritt. The plot concerns the attempts by Dobie's former high school sweetheart, the ever-mercenary Thalia Menninger, to wrest Dobie away from wife Zelda and claim him for her own. Tuesday Weld, the original Thalia, wasn't interested in reprising the character (nor was Dwayne Hickman interested in working with the troublesome Ms. Weld again), so the role was assumed by another 1950s TV icon, Connie Stevens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This made-for-TV comedy postulates that, someday, members of carpools will be selected by computer. The four so anointed herein are Harvey Korman, Peter Scolari, T.K. Carter and Stephanie Faracy. Their lives go along in their usual luckless fashion until the quarter of mismatched "poolers" find themselves in possession of a million dollars that has fallen from an armored car. But ex-cop Ernest Borgnine has his eyes on the loot as well, and the chase is on. Basically a bargain-basement It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Carpool first aired October 5, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Would you believe Bette Davis and Ernest Borgnine as a pair of free-spirited hippies on a crime spree? That's the premise of this unlikely comedy starring the two Oscar-winning veterans. Bunny O'Hare (Bette Davis) is an elderly woman living in New Mexico who is trying to keep herself afloat financially while supporting her two grown children, both of whom have fallen into bad straits. Thanks to a mistake by her bank, Bunny is evicted from her home, which is quickly torn down, but not before one Bill Green (Ernest Borgnine) can repossess her commode. Bunny is left with nowhere to go, and Bill allows Bunny to tag along in his trailer after he leaves. Bunny soon learns that Bill was once a bank robber who is still on the run from the law, and she persuades him to show her the ropes so she can steal her nest egg back from the bank. Dressed as hippies, Bunny and Bill pull the job, but rather than escape to Mexico, Bunny decides to stay in the Southwest and rob more banks with Bill to help keep her kids out of hock. Bunny O'Hare also features Jack Cassidy, John Astin, and Jay Robinson; ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A fascinating exercise in cross-dressing, late-1960s' style, "Some Like It Lukewarm" finds the Monkees entering yet another band contest. Discovering that all the contestants must be mixed-gender groups, the boys decide to add a female member to their aggregation through the simple expedient of disguising Davy as a girl. Complications ensue when an all-girl group comes up with the same notion, disguising their lead singer Daphne as a male named William McCochrane. Deana Martin, daughter of Dean Martin, plays Daphne, while radio DJ and rock impresario Jerry Blavat ("The Geator with the Heater") appears as himself. Songs: "The Door Into Summer" and "She Hangs Out". First telecast on March 4, 1968, "Some Like It Lukewarm" was written by Joel Kane and Stanley Z. Cherry. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Gilligan (Bob Denver) and the Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.) come across an old Honolulu newspaper announcing the death of one Randolph Blake. It seems that every one of the castaways had contact with Blake just before embarking on their fateful "three-hour tour"--and thus, every one of them is under suspicion for murder. Before long, the island is in the thrall of mass paranoia, with each castaway assuming that another one is the killer! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hoping to prepare Billie Jo (Gunilla Hutton) for a job as public stenographer, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) encourages her to enroll in a secretarial school. To practice her typing skills, Billie types up a letter from her mom Kate (Bea Benaderet) that she finds lying around the house. Unfortunately, the letter is an extremely nasty and insulting one, and Kate had never intended for it to be delivered--but delivered it is, placing poor Kate at the mercy of Post Office bureaucracy as she tries to retrieve the embarrassing missive! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) once again shows up at the Shady Rest, a battered and tattered shell of his former self. Claiming to be broke and ruined because of his failure to put the Hooterville Cannonball out of business, Homer begs his longtime nemesis Kate (Bea Benaderet) for a place to stay until he can get back on his feet. Shortly thereafter, Homer's successor, Wilbur Goodfellow (Donald Curtis), shows up...and thus the wheels start turning in another master scheme to foil Kate and scuttle the Cannonball for keeps. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Arthur O'Connell guest stars as William Lawrence, a new arrival at the Shady Rest Hotel. Clearly a man of wealth, Lawrence claims to be a rocket scientist. But ever-suspicious Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) is convinced that Lawrence is actually a wanted bank robber--and, characteristically, he makes an utter fool of himself to prove his theory! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The island's spring has run dry, forcing the castaways to ration the water supply. Placed in charge of this ever diminishing reservoir is Gilligan (Bob Denver), who unfortunately is unable to prevent the other castaways from selfishly "borrowing" more water than they've been allotted. Ironically, it is Gilligan who saves the day by locating another spring--with the unexpected assistance of a friendly frog. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Accidentally listening into a conversation between Jerry and Millie on the intercom, Rob and Laura are offended by the comments made about themselves by their neighbors. Thus, when the Petries behave in a brusque, angry manner at a party at the Helpers, Jerry and Millie can't figure out what's wrong -- and are even more confused by the veiled, double-meaning comments made during an otherwise harmless game of charades. Inevitably, Rob and Laura learn their lesson about eavesdropping -- but it takes nearly the entire episode, as usual! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide