Harry Falk Movies

In this episode of the series, Cromwell proves that the owner of a California winery did not murder his brother who also owned the company and with whom he was always feuding. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this socially conscious drama, an ex-con meets constant opposition from avaricious land owners who want the land on which he has set up a ranch-style juvenile correctional facility. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

The never-seen Robin Masters declares war on his hated rival, girlie-magazine publisher Buzz Benoit (Dick Shawn). Wagering everything he owns, including his mansion in Hawaii, Masters challenges Buzz to a winner-take-all softball game. If they want to keep their jobs, Magnum (Tom Selleck) and Higgins (John Hillerman) must assemble a team capable of beating Benoit's "Buzzettes", which consists of a bevy of beautiful and athletically skilled models. When Magnum finds out that Benoit is cheating by hiring some professional ballplayers, he brings in a fascinating "ringer" of his own! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The made-for-TV Advice to the Lovelorn stars Cloris Leachman as a "Dear Abby" type newspaper advice columnist. Walter Brooke costars as her editor, who discourages her efforts to follow up her advice in person. But follow she does, trying to untangle the problems of guest stars Melissa Sue Anderson, Lance Kerwin, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Donna Pescow. She even finds time for a romantic episode with special guest star Paul Burke. Intended as the pilot for a weekly series, the 2-hour Advice to the Lovelorn was telecast November 30, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Originally a five-part miniseries, The Contender was also made available as a pared-down feature film. Marc Singer stars as Johnny Captor, an Oregon-based boxer with Olympic aspirations. When his dad commits suicide, Johnny decides to quit college and support his mom (Louise Latham) and brother (Alan Stock) by boxing professionally. Moses Gunn costars as Captor's trainer George Beifus, who vicariously relives his own glory days in the ring through his boy Johnny. And Katherine Cannon is Jill, the obligatory girl friend who hates boxing and wants Johnny to quit. The Contender ran on the CBS TV network from April 3 to May 1, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this disaster movie, eight people stranded on a bridge find their lives jeopardized after a collision has caused the unstable structure to collapse. One of the eight is a bank robber on the lam. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

This feature-length pilot for an unsold TV series was based on Mandrake the Magician, the long-running comic strip created by Lee Falk and Phil Davis in 1934. Raised in the Himalayas, the orphaned Mandrake (played as a child by David Hollander, and as an adult by Anthony Herrera) is taught the secrets of magic and mass hypnosis by the wizard Theron (James Hong), and is given an enchanted amulet that will protect him from harm. With the help of his loyal assistant Lother (Ji-Tu Cumbuka), the caped, top-hatted Mandrake attempts to thwart an insane extortionist who threatens to kill innocent amusement-park patrons unless he is given 10,000,000 dollars. Princess Narda, Mandrake's exotic vis-à-vis from the funny papers, is here replaced by a feisty female cohort named Stacy (Simone Griffeth). Earning no plaudits from devotees of the original comic strip, Mandrake was little heard from after its initial NBC telecast on January 24, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Having published absolutely nothing since his bestseller "Freefall to Destiny", hard-drinking writer Jack Skowran (Anthony Zerbe) pins his future career hopes on his next book, which he claims will be a "Where Are They Now?" tome about a group of high schoolers who used to hang around the same drive-in back in the early 1960s. Asked to help Jack research the book, Jim is unaware that the author is actually endeavoring to solve a 17-year-old murder which took place on the yacht of a prominent publisher. Not surprisingly, there are some very powerful people who don't want the murder case reopened--and they hire a professional hit man to throw Jim off the trail for keeps. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Two men from widely opposite spectrums in life are trapped in the same dilemma. Highly respected police detective Dave Lambert (Barry Primus) and seedy informer Art DeVoe (Mills Watson) have both witnessed a cop killing--and the murderer has sent his minions forth to get rid of them both. Featured prominently in the supporting cast is Robert Walden, on the cusp of his stardom as gonzo reporter Rossi on Lou Grant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Vengeful ex-convict Harlan Betts (Lawrence Pressman) is determined to get even with high-profile attorney Larry Drake (Lawrence Pressman), who when serving as deputy district attorney sent Betts to prison. At the same time, Charlie Finn (Pernell Roberts), a businessman facing bankruptcy, is further weighed down by divorce proceedings instigated by his wife's attorney--Larry Drake. With grim inevitability, these two separate storylines converge, bringing homicide detectives Keller (Karl Malden) and Robbins (Richard Hatch) onto the scene. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A ship pulls into San Francisco with a most unsual cargo: a dog collar containing a fortune in diamond. Smuggler Paul Weber (George Dzundza) is determined to get his hands on those diamonds, even if it means committing murder at a high-profile dog show held at San Francisco's Cow Palace. This was the final episode of Streets of San Francisco to be filmed, but not the last one to be telecast. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Future Brady Bunch star Robert Reed appears in this episode as Martin Avery, self-proclaimed doctor who treats a fatally wounded policeman at a crime, only to vanish from sight. Stone and Keller want to locate the doctor, who is the only eyewitness to the killing, but they are stymied by the fact that the man has given them a false name. It turns out that "Dr. Martin Avery" isn't a physician at all, but a very clever and talented impostor--and it is this fact that puts the lives of the phony medico and several other people in dire jeopardy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi