Dabney Coleman Movies
Coleman attended a Virginia military school before studying law and serving in the army. While attending the University of Texas, Coleman became attracted to acting, and headed to New York, where he studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse. After stage experience and TV work, Coleman made his movie debut in 1965's The Slender Thread. Minus his trademarked mustache for the most part in the mid-1960s, Coleman specialized in secondary character roles that were not outright villains, but somehow lacking in leading-man integrity. The first inkling that Coleman could handle comedy occurred during his supporting stint as obstetrician Leon Bessemer on the Marlo Thomas sitcom That Girl. In 1976, Coleman was cast as self-serving Mayor Jeeter (a role the actor still regards as a favorite) on Norman Lear's soap opera spoof Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Four years later, Coleman burst forth in full hissable glory as the nasty, chauvinistic boss in 9 to 5 (1980); he is so thoroughly trounced by Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton in this film that one wonders how he was able to subsequently co-star with both Fonda and Tomlin in On Golden Pond [1981] and The Beverly Hillbillies [1993] respectively without flinching. After 9 to 5, Coleman's film roles became increasingly stereotyped; he was better served on television, where he starred in the ground-breaking sitcom Buffalo Bill (1983), playing TV's first thoroughly, unremittingly despicable "hero" and winning a nomination for a "Best Actor" Emmy. The series didn't last (audiences laughed at but did not love Buffalo Bill), but made enough of an impression for Coleman to ever afterward find himself playing cantankerous, mean-spirited sitcom leads; as recently as 1994, Coleman sneered his way through the starring role of a reactionary newspaper columnist in NBC's short-lived Madman of the People. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1970
After pulling off a jewel heist, four thieves headed by John Elgin (Steve Ihnat) escape to a ghost town in the desert. It isn't hard for Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) to follow the criminals' trail, but arresting them is another matter: The thieves have rounded up eight townspeople as hostages. When all is said and done, the fate of the prisoners is in the hands of a youngster named Josh Cobb (Clint Howard), who happens to own a ham radio--and knows how to use it. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In a desperate effort to escape from his Mafia bosses, Walter Hazlett (Tim O'Connor) hijacks a plane and demands to be flown to Cuba. Hoping to save the life of a wounded man on board the plane, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) tries to persuade Hazlett to give himself up. Meanwhile, Hazlett's daughter Ginny (Charlotte Stewart), who can't bring herself to believe that her father is a criminal, is targetted by Mob kidnappers who plan to use her to bring her father out in the open. Dabney Coleman is seen as the plane's beleagured pilot, while future M*A*S*H regular Larry Linville also plays a key role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Director Michael Ritchie's ongoing satirical spin on the American Dream is dressed up in quasi-documentary fashion in Downhill Racer. Robert Redford stars as an Olympic-grade skier, whose talent is matched only by his aloof self-involvement. As the cocksure Redford rises to the top of his class, he discards any emotional attachments that might impede his progress, ranging from girlfriends to his own father. When Redford finally attains his goal in life, the thrill of victory is an empty one indeed. The cold-bloodedness of Redford's character may have worked against Downhill Racer at the box office; on the other hand, Ritchie's similarly structured political satire The Candidate offered a "warmer" Redford -- but it, too, was a box-office disappointment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, (more)
- 1969
Joe Cartwright is dumbfounded when his friend, bank employee Wade Turner (Gregory Walcott), abruptly leaves town before his marriage to his sweetheart Sarah (Sandra Smith). Wade's abrupt exit coincides with a shortage in the bank's accounts, prompting Joe to seek out his friend and demand an explanation. But no one knows the real reason for Wade's departure: he is slowly dying of a brain tumor. Featured in the cast is a young Dabney Coleman as Clyde. Written by John Hawkins, Jonathan Knopf and B.W. Sandefur, "A Darker Shadow" originally aired on November 23, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
Walter Hale (Elvis Presley) is the manager of a chautauqua, a traveling show consisting of performances, lectures and entertainment. Along with manager Johnny (Edward Andrews), he helps some young kids break into show business and contends with the union-organizing Charlene (Marilyn Mason). Vincent Price appears as Mr. Morality. John Carradine, Sheree North and Dabney Coleman also appear in this forgettable film which makes Clambake and Girl Happy classics by comparison. Elvis is limited to three tunes as he plays out the string of poorly scripted vehicles that ended with his next feature, the equally awful Change of Habit. By now, the inane screenplays had done permanent damage to a once-promising film career, souring the King of Rock & Roll on everything in movies except live concert performances. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Marlyn Mason, (more)
For his third feature outing, director Sydney Pollack helmed this comedic western starring (Burt Lancaster) as fur trapper Joe Bass. While heading for the trading post for his pay after a successful hunting season, Bass runs into a band of Kiowa Indians, who offer to trade the educated slave Joseph (Ozzie Davis) for Bass's furs. Severely outnumbered, the uneducated Bass reluctantly agrees to the swap at gunpoint. Bass and Joseph then follow the Indians in hopes of retrieving the furs. Along the way, the Indians meet up with Jim Howie (Telly Savalas), who not only steals the furs from the Indians, but Joseph from Bass. From there, Jim and his mistress Kate (Shelley Winters) head for Mexico, a move that is fine with Joseph because slavery is outlawed there. But they may not make it south of the border, as the Indians have regrouped and are on their trail with plans to take back the furs. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Lancaster, Shelley Winters, (more)
- 1968
Roy Thinnes was the star of this 1967-1968 science fiction series, about an Earth poised on the brink of alien takeover. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Joe Cartwright, Candy and Kate Kelly (Celeste Yarnell) form a partnership to establish an ore-stamping mill. Though Joe and Candy know next to nothing about running the mill, they have no trouble courting Kate, with both partners showing up at the lady's doorstep on alternate evenings. But it isn't all fun and games: The boys must also contend with rival mine owner Miles Renfro (Paul Lambert), who doesn't cotton to the competition and has the guns to back up his objections. Dabney Coleman appears in the supporting role of Ivar Peterson. Originally shown on December 1, 1968, "Queen High" was written by Michael Fessier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1967
A seaport murder alerts Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) to the presence of Communist spies in the area. Sure enough, enemy agent Conrad Letterman (Michael Rennie) is laying the groundwork for a plan to blow up a military supply ship bound for the Orient. In order for the mission to succeed, Letterman must put pressure on a pair of "sleeper" agents, John and Viv Caldwell (Arthur Franz, Phyllis Thaxter), who are no longer devoted to the Communist cause. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
This one-hour pilot episode for the popular ABC sitcom The Flying Nun introduces viewers to Sister Bertrille (Sally Field), formerly Elsie Ethrington, the newest arrival at Convent San Tanco in San Juan, Puerto Rico. One morning, a gust of wind blows the 90-pound nun into the air, where she stays aloft thanks to her large coronet. Unfortunately, once she's taken flight, Sr. Bertrille has little control over where she goes, and therein lies the comic dilemma that will dominate the next 80 episodes. On this occasion, however, Sr. Bertrille uses her aviation skills to convince local casino owner Carlos Ramirez (Alejandro Rey) to donate some of his property to the convent, and in the bargain, she helps Carlos collect a gambling debt. Originally telecast on September 7, 1967, the inaugural episode of The Flying Nun was written by Bernard Slade; it was later divided into two half-hour episodes for off-network syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Tony (Larry Hagman) is looking forward to attending the "mod" party arranged by Roger (Bill Daily). Unfortunately, on the same night as the shindig, Dr. Bellows (Hayden Rorke) insists that Tony and Roger attend a party held by Bellows' wife Amanda (Emmaline Henry). To avoid this horrendous fate, our heroes tell Bellows that they're going on a duck-hunting expedition...and it is up to Jeannie (Barbara Eden) to straighten out the mess that results from this subterfuge. This is the final episode of I Dream of Jeannie's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Sydney Pollack's tawdry potboiler, adapted from a one-act play by Tennessee Williams, was rife with production problems, culminating in Williams' failed attempt to have his name removed from the credits. The story is set by a framing device as thirteen-year-old Willie Starr (Mary Badham) sits on an abandoned railroad track with her friend Tom (Jon Provost) and relates the tale of her deceased older sister Alva (Natalie Wood). Alva is a beautiful woman living in a small Mississippi town in the 1930s with her manipulative mother Hazel (Kate Reid), the owner of a boarding house. Hazel wants Alva to marry the well to do Mr. Johnson (John Harding), but Alva has fallen in love with a good-looking stranger from New Orleans, Owen Legate (Robert Redford), who is in Mississippi to lay off railroad workers. Hazel is opposed to their love affair and when Owen is beaten to a pulp by a gang of workers, he decides to leave town and take Alva with him. But Hazel fools Owen into thinking Alva is engaged to Mr. Johnson. In retaliation, Alva marries Hazel's loutish lover J.J. (Charles Bronson). The next day, she abandons J.J. to meet Owen in New Orleans. Her mother, incensed at Alva's betrayal, sets out to ruin her daughter's reputation by exposing her marriage to J.J. to the world. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Natalie Wood, Robert Redford, (more)
- 1966
Arriving in San Pedro Harbor, Richard Kimble (David Janssen)--alias "Tony Carter"--goes to work for two-fisted salvage boss Joe Steelman (Murray Hamilton). When one of Steelman's divers perishes beneath the waves, the locals fix the blame on the dead man's girlfriend Coralee (Antoinette Bower), who is widely regarded as a jinx. But Kimble knows that the diver's death was due to faulty equipment--and Steelman knows this as well, but doesn't intend to let anyone else find out. This is the last episode of The Fugitive's third season, and the final one filmed in black and white. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Now travelling under the name "Pete Allen", Kimble befriends Willie Turner (Denny Miller), a mentally challenged youth who is also on the lam from the law. To protect Willie, Kimble gets the boy a job as a carnival roustabout, but his generosity may result in his own arrest. Ultimately, the only person who can save both Kimble and Willie is Willie's sister Mary (Collin Wilcox)--if she chooses to do so. Featured in the cast are a young, pre-stardom Dabney Coleman and future Hill Street Blues regular Michael Conrad. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Sidney Pollack marked his feature film directing debut with this taut suspense drama, based upon an actual incident reported in Time Magazine. Sidney Poitier stars as Alan Nuell, a student volunteer at a medical clinic in Seattle who answers the phone to find Inge Dyson (Anne Bancroft) on the other end. Inge, depressed about her life, has just taken an overdose of sleeping pills. With Inge slowly dying, Alan tries to keep her talking on the phone while the police try to trace the call and save her life. Inge tells Alan that she has decided to end it all because her husband has discovered that he is not the father of her son. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sidney Poitier, Anne Bancroft, (more)
- 1965
The three astronauts chosen by NASA to make America's first spacewalk are Tony Nelson (Larry Hagman), Roger Healey (Bill Daily) and George Conway (yes, that's Dabney Coleman). Unfortunately, it looks as though Tony will be scrubbed from the mission thanks to a nervous Jeannie (Barbara Eden), who is worried that he will never return to earth. In order to "save" her Master, Jeannie causes all sorts of mischief during Tony's psychiatric exam--conducted, of course, by the ever suspicious Dr. Bellows (Hayden Rorke). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
The FBI investigates when a Maryland bank is robbed twice in the same day by the same bandit. This matches the modus operandi of Wayne Powell (Crahan Denton), who pulled off the same double-robbery strategy some twenty years earlier--and when Powell confesses to the more recent crimes, the Bureau figures that the case is closed. But Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) suspects that this time Powell is innocent, and that he is shielding the real criminal. Meanwhile, the romance between Erskine's daughter Barbara (Lynn Loring) and FBI agent Rhodes (Stephen Brooks) intensifies, while the good Inspector has relationship issues of his own with his erstwhile girlfriend Joanna Laurens (Lee Meriwether). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Forced into retirement, disgruntled truck driver Harold K. "Smitty" Smith (Arthur O'Connell) decides to get even with his employers. Assisted by two old friends, Smitty hijacks one of the company's trucks. It was supposed to have been a harmless gesture, but things become dangerous for Smitty when it turns out that the stolen vehicle contains a $500,000 shipment of furs--making him not only a fugitive from the FBI but also from some nasty professional thieves. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Travelling under the name of "Richard Clark", Kimble (David Janssen) is arrested for hitchhiking by Marshall Joe Bob Simms (Pat Hingle). Though he enjoys a reputation as a prince of a fellow, Simms is actually a scheming sadist who uses prisoners like Kimble as slave labor, forcing them to work on a town park that the Marshal hopes will advance his political career. Though he manages to leave town after serving his time, Kimble returns to make Simms pay the penalty for the death of another prisoner (Tom Skerritt)--thereby placing his own life in jeopardy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Suzanne Pleshette guest stars as Ellie Burnett, the daughter of the now-deceased lawyer who had unsuccessfully defended Richard Kimble (David Janssen) during his murder trial. Claiming to have new information about the One-Armed Man whom Kimble insists is the real murderer, Ellie manages to contact the fugitive, who is now posing as a "Mr. May." Problem is, Ellie is twisting the truth in an effort to persuade Kimble (for whom she has always carried a torch) to run off with her to South America--and even worse, Kimble's relentless pursuer Lt. Gerard (Barry Morse) is a regular dinner guest at the Burnett household. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Sentenced to 15 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Howard Clements (Bradford Dillman) is released after serving only two years. Shortly afterward, he pays a visit to Isabel Smith (Barbara Baxley), the woman whose testimony put him behind bars. Though Isabel is worried that he seeks revenge, Howard explains that he is now running a successful business, and is willing to let bygones be bygones. Ultimately, Howard and Isabel are married...but if you've guessed that this is not the end of the story, your guess is right on the money. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bradford Dillman, Barbara Barrie, (more)
- 1964
When contact is established between Earth and the planet Chroma, located ten light years away, an exchange is proposed between inhabitants of the two worlds. This is to be done by matter-transmitter, using technology provided by the Chromoites -- as it is a dangerous experiment, the first Earth subject, Chino Rivera (Henry Silva), is chosen from the ranks of convicts serving life sentences. As it turns out, both Rivera, who is twice as smart and three times more clever than the project director, Dr. Kellander (Michael Higgins), and the Chromoite visitor, a walking, human-sized crustacean, immensely strong, with nasty claw-like appendages and various openings that gulp, suck, and grind, are up to something other than what they're supposed to be doing, possibly involving murder. Rivera is injured in an escape attempt before he can be transmitted and, while recovering, attempts another breakout, only to find himself accused of killing one of the scientists on the project. Only one of his captors, Dr. Julia Harrison (Diana Sands), believes that he is innocent, and suspects that something far more sinister than even murder is taking place. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In Volume 22 of a collection culled from the 1963-1965 science fiction anthology television series, the crew of a spacecraft bound for Earth must kill a lethal plant attached to the ship before they reach their destination. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
