Jerome Courtland Movies
A gangling young Southerner and lead actor in comedies, Courtland played juveniles in the early to mid '40s, then served in World War II; upon his return he played young leads and second leads, generally in action-adventure flicks. After six year of doing native-language films in Germany and Italy, he did a variety of work for Disney in the '50s (starred in the TV series The Saga of Andy Burnett, sang the title song for Old Yeller, did all the male voiceovers for the cartoon Noah and the Ark, and narrated and sang for the TV show The Boy and the Falcon), all of which led to a position as a producer for Disney. In the '60s, Courtland gave up acting to produce for Disney and elsewhere (for an example, he produced the '60s TV show The Flying Nun). He was married at one time to actress Polly Bergen. ~ All Movie Guide
The title character, a nasty landlord (Elliott Gould), is killed in a car accident and descends into hell. There he meets the Devil (Bill Cosby), who promises him his life back if he can find three people willing to sell their souls in three months. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elliott Gould, Bill Cosby, (more)
- 1981
Amy Medford (Jenny Agutter) is a dutiful housewife of the early 1900s. But when her husband objects to a wife with a career, Amy leaves her husband and comfortable lifestyle. She goes on to devote her life to teaching sight-and-hearing-impaired students at a tradition-bound special school. This film betrays its Disney-studio origins with an audience-rousing action climax, in which Amy's students take on a team of "normal" kids at a football game. Amy was produced by onetime Hollywood leading man Jerome Courtland. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jenny Agutter, Barry Newman, (more)
The Fury meets The Misadventures of Merlin Jones in this comic-book sequel to Disney's Escape to Witch Mountain. Reprising their roles as the psychic siblings from another world are Kim Richards as Tia and Ike Eisenmann as Tony. Their Uncle Bene (Denver Pyle) gives the kids a treat by letting them vacation on planet Earth, and they make the most of it by immediately getting into hot water. It seems that arch-fiend Dr. Victor Gannon (Christopher Lee) and his Bette Davis-like accomplice, Letha (Bette Davis), are in the process of testing a mind-control device. They want to see if they can mentally save their cohort Sickle (Anthony James) from plunging to his death from atop a building. Tony spots Sickle's plunge and telekinetically saves him. When Dr. Gannon sees Tony's powers, he kidnaps him, hoping to utilize his otherworldly powers for his own nefarious purposes. Enlisting the aid of a collection of low-life youngsters (Christian Juttner, Brad Savage, Poindexter, and Jeffrey Jacquet), Tia uses her powers of telepathy to contact her brother and tries to rescue him from Gannon's clutches. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bette Davis, Christopher Lee, (more)
- 1978
In this suspenseful drama an adolescent glider pilot and his assistant are falsely accused of smuggling drugs by the Hawk's evil henchman. Naturally it is the enigmatic Hawk who is behind it all. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Based on a story by Hollywood old-timers Seton I. Miller and S. S. Field, Pete's Dragon divides its time between its flesh-and-blood characters and an animated blue dragon. Pete (Sean Marshall), a lonely orphan boy in turn-of-the-century Maine, runs away from his abusive foster family. He stumbles upon a lovable dragon named Elliot, and the two become inseparable companions. Elliot is visible only to Pete, leading the townsfolk to assume that the boy is a trifle tetched. Pete finally finds happiness with his "new" family, lighthouse-keeper Lampie (Mickey Rooney) and his daughter Nora (Helen Reddy, who sings and sings). British comic actor Jim Dale co-stars as the wacky dentist Dr. Terminus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Reddy, Jim Dale, (more)
Two children ride the same pony in this Disney film, but neither one is happy about sharing the animal they both love. James Ellison is rich and wears leg braces; on the pony, she is not crippled. Scotty Pirie is a poor farm boy, and he loves to ride the pony as well. The two dispute the ownership of the pony, and the townspeople create many complications through their support of one or the other. Eventually, the two become friends, and while the ownership issue is resolved, it is not so important anymore because they have learned to share the pony between them. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Craig, John Meillon, (more)
This fast-paced Disney endeavor stars Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann as two adolescents with acute psychic powers. The kids are actually space aliens, but suffer from amnesia and are unaware of their origins. Pursued by greedy business-mogul Ray Milland, who wants to harness their special powers for his benefit, Kim and Ike are rescued by likeable camper Eddie Albert. He and the kids escape to the mountain of the title when Albert's RV suddenly acquires the power of flight. In 1978, the film spawned the sequel Return from Witch Mountain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Albert, Ray Milland, (more)
- 1973
Several teenagers involved in auto-racing find they must outrun a gang of diamond robbers when the kids accidentally discover some stolen loot while on a road rally. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1972
In this nature adventure, a courageous cougar must struggle to survive after a cruel human hunter kills her mate. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Hoping to become a famous movie director, Keith (David Cassidy) picks up his handy 8-millimeter camera and films the deathless epic "History of the World", starring his own family in key roles and featuring Reuben (Dave Madden) in drag as Dolly Madison! Thanks to the wheeling and dealing of brother Danny (Danny Bonaduce), Keith's movie is given a showing at a local theater--but after the family imposes innumerable cuts in the action, there's very little left to run (And no, you won't be seeing the original "director's cut" on DVD). Song: "Hello, Hello". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
To qualify for state aid to build a children's day camp, Convent San Tanco must increase their community's popular by 444 residents. Spunky Sr. Bertrille immediately embarks upon a recruiting drive for new citizens-and with equal immediacy, runs afoul of a land-grabbing business tycoon. Pedro Gonzales Gonzales, Hilarie Thompson, Julio Medina and Naomi Stevens appear in supporting roles. First telecast on March 27, 1970, "Operation Population" was written by Arnold Horwitt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Back during the Korean War, Carlos Ramirez adopted a 2-year-old orphan girl named Kim, whom he has supported, sight unseen, ever since. Now it is 1970: Kim (Mike Kayama) is 19 years old, a stunning beauty-and intent upon marrying Carlos! Once again, it's Sr. Bertrille to the rescue. Written by actor Stanley Adams in collaboration with George F. Slavin, "Papa Carlos" originally aired on February 27, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Robert Lansing guest-stars as Mr. Sanders, a former (and none too distinguished) student of San Tanco's convent school. Now a successful businessman, Sanders wants to demonstrate his gratitude to the nuns by adopting the most backward and troublesome orphan in Sr. Bertrille's classroom, a lad named Joey (Eric Shea). But when the boy cleans up his act to make himself a worthy candidate for adoption, Sanders loses all interest--forcing Sr. Bertrille to take charge of the situation. Written by Roy Kammerman, "The Dumbest Kid in School" originally aired on February 6, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Part One of the two-part Flying Nun episode "Great Casino Robbery" first aired on January 30, 1969. Alan Hale Jr. guest-stars as Sr. Bertrille's lovably larcenous Uncle Reggie, who goes to work at Carlos Ramirez' casino. Reggie's fast-and-loose relationship with honesty inadvertenly paves the way for a full-scale robbery committed by professional thief Faye (Ruta Lee)-a heist for which the nuns of San Tanco will be blamed. "Great Casino Robbery" was written by Michael Morris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Written by Michael Morris, "The Boyfriend" is The Flying Nun's spin on "Rashomon." Dwayne Hickman guest-stars as Randy Putnam, the former boyfriend of Elsie Ethrington, aka Sr. Bertrille. In flashbacks, Randy and Sr. Bertrille offer different versions of their romance, their breakup, and the reason Elsie became a nun. Also appearing are Bob Hastings as Tom and Cynthia Pepper as Liz. "The Boyfriend" originally aired on February 13, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Gidget, the teenybopper surfer created by Frederick Kohner, grows up in the form of Karen Valentine (rather than such previous Gidgets as Sandra Dee and Sally Field). She leaves her friends and family at Malibu to head for New York, there to take a job as a guide at the United Nations building. Before this made-for-TV effort is over, Gidget teaches the U.N. delegates the true meaning of the words "foreign relations" by falling in love with handsome Edward Mulhare. Gidget Grows Up was one of several pilot films produced in hopes of reviving the 1966 Gidget series. This 1969 effort would be a waste of time if not for the presence of the ever-sneering Paul Lynde as Gidget's landlord. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Season Three of "The Flying Nun" was ushered in on September 17, 1969 with the episode titled "The Big Game." On this occasion, Sr. Bertrille takes over the coaching duties for the Convent San Tanco baseball team-and the result is a staggering 43-to-1 loss! Former Los Angeles Dodgers stars Willie Davis and Don Drysdale are cast respectively as the team manager and the opposition umpire. "The Big Giame" was written by Clifford Goldsmith, whose 1939 Broadway play What a Life served to introduce the character of Henry Aldrich. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Casino owner Carlos Ramirez' latest romantic conquest is the lovely Elena. At least, she was his latest conquest until Carlos was besieged by a huge number of very distant-and dependent-relatives, led by Uncle Antonio (Henry Corden) and Aunt Constancia (Athena Lorde). Not surprisingly, the innocent cause of Carlos' troubles is well-meaning Sr. Bertrille. Originally broadcast on April 3, 1969, "Cousins by the Dozens" was written by Frank Crow and Leo Rifkin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In the conclusion of the two-part "Great Casino Robbery," Sr. Bertrille and her light-fingered Uncle Reggie (Alan Hale Jr.) are accused of masterminded a heist at Carlos Ramirez' casino. Meanwhile, the genuine thief, a brassy blonde named Faye (Ruta Lee), is hiding in Convent San Tanco, posing as one Sister Mary Grace. Sr. Bertrille must figure out a way to escape jail without arousing the suspicions of the diligent-and dimwitted-Police Captain Fomento. Written by Michael Morris, Part Two of "Great Casino Robbery" first aired on February 6, 1969, at which time The Flying Nun switched its Thursday-night timeslot from 8:00 PM EST to 7:30 PM. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
At the urging of Sr. Bertrille, casino owner Carlos Ramirez agrees to act as surrogate father to convent orphan Marcello (Manuel Padilla). Things take a tricky turn when Marcello, suffering a severe case of hero worship, insists upon being adopted by Carlos-and even offers to pick his own stepmother. Future Charlie's Angels diva Farrah Fawcett appears as Lila. Originally telecast on October 15, 1969, "Marcello's Idol" was written by John L. Greene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Vocalist Abbe Lane plays Felicia and sings Burt Bacharach's "The Look of Love" in this episode of The Flying Nun. It all begins when Sr. Bertrille purchases an ancient pipe organ for Convent San Tanco. Before the episode is half over, the organ has caused a heap o' trouble for long-suffering casino proprietor Carlos Ramirez. First broadcast on November 7, 1968, "The Organ Transplant" was written by Lawrence Marks and directed by former actor Jerome Courtland. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In this religious movie, a married pair of television writers begin researching a script on restless teenagers and end up as born-again Christians. Meanwhile their own adolescent son runs away with a pregnant teen who is looking for the child's father. When she cannot, she tries to kill herself. Later, the son goes to a Billy Graham crusade with his dad, and he too is saved. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In this western, a world-weary bounty hunter begins working for an avaricious crook who wants to destroy the good name of a little town so that the railroad will be built across his land. To enact his plan he brings a notorious gambler to town. He also establishes a brothel in the saloon. The sheriff and the good townspeople protest, but the villain takes care of him. This angers the bounty hunter, who has come to like the lawman and he turns against his boss. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rory Calhoun, Linda Darnell, (more)
- 1962
A couple of beefy barbarian brothers battle each other over a luscious babe while going up against a malevolent ruler. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
