Morton S. Fine Movies
- 1982
Money on the Side is a feminist's worst nightmare. This TV movie proposes that the only recourse a housewife has to the nation's "faltering economy" (to quote the film's press release) is to turn to prostitution. The three suburban housewife hookers in this opus are Jamie Lee Curtis, Linda Purl, and....Karen VALENTINE?!?!?!? Say it ain't so, Joe. Forget this one: even the title of Money on the Side sounds like a dirty joke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
- R
In this strange, unsatisfying remake of Casablanca, directed by J. Lee Thompson, a bar owner helps a woman find a missing fortune. Right after the end of WWII, Giff Hoyt (Charles Bronson) owns a bar in Peru into which Marie Allesandri (Dominique Sanda) enters one day, in search of her lover and some missing money. Matters are complicated by Gunther Beckdorff (Jason Robards), a Nazi who has his own plans for the money. Terredo (Fernando Rey) observes all the action and helps at an important moment. Despite the very good cast which also includes Camilla Sparv and Gilbert Roland, all of the various subplots and characters fail to gel, and Caboblanco is confusing, unsatisfying and slow-moving. Any fan of Casablanca should skip this and see the original again. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, Jr., (more)
- 1978
The Nativity is just what it says it is. This low-key retelling of the Biblical story of the birth of Christ stars Madeline Stowe as Mary and John V. Shea as Joseph. The network publicists assured the viewers that there would be as much emphasis on the "human love story" as the Birth itself. Also in the cast are Leo McKern as Herod, Jane Wyatt as Anna, Paul Stewart as Zacharias, Audrey Totter as Elizabeth, George Voskovec as Joachim and Julie Garfield (daughter of John Garfield) as Zipporah. The made-for-TV The Nativity premiered on December 17, 1978; one day later, Madeline Stowe showed up in a small role in another TV movie, The Deerslayer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
- R
The producers of The Greek Tycoon insisted that their film was not based on any "actual persons, living or dead." Yeh, right. Anthony Quinn stars as Greek shipping-magnate Theo Tomassis, who becomes the second husband of socialite Liz Cassidy (Jacqueline Bisset). It seems that Liz is the widow of young, charismatic American president James Cassidy (James Franciscus), who was felled by an assassin's bullet. When Tomassis marries the former Mrs. Cassidy, it is over the strident protests of his former love, Paola Scotti (Luciana Paluzzi), not to mention the millions of American who consider Liz to be an icon. Too long at 106 minutes, The Greek Tycoon was nonetheless expanded to 112 minutes for home video. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Jacqueline Bisset, (more)
- 1976
Hardbitten, hard-driving San Francisco police detectives Mike Stone (Karl Malden) and Steve Keller (Michael Douglas) may have finally met their match in the form of brash, bullying New York cop Bert D'Angelo (Paul Sorvino). Having arrived in the Bay Area to track down a runaway informant who may have set up his ex-partner for murder, D'Angelo breaks as many rules as humanly possible--but withal, he earns the grudging respect of his SFPD counterparts. Originally telecast on March 4, 1976, this episode was rather blatantly designed as the pilot for the weekly Streets of San Francisco spinoff Bert D'Angelo, Superstar, which had launched its single-season run some two weeks earlier on February 21. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Audiences loved him as a Berber sheik in the historical saga The Wind and the Lion, so who better to play a Saudi Arabian minister of state who wants to make peace with Israel during the Arab oil embargo of 1976 than Sean Connery? Connery plays Khalil Abdull-Muhsen, a peace-mongering diplomat who wants to sign a mutual assistance pact with Israel and sell Saudi oil to needy nations at cost. The object of his pipe-dream plan is to free those needy nations from the East-West conflict. Unfortunately, the world is not ready for such starry-eyed idealism, and before you can say "Tiger in your tank," Khalil finds himself the victim of choice for a network of Arab terrorist groups. The terrorists clearly have the pick of the litter at the casting office, for Khalil finds himself pursued by the frisky and beautiful Bryn Mawr graduate and cool-as-a-cucumber terrorist Nicole Scott (Cornelia Sharpe). ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Connery, Cornelia Sharpe, (more)
- 1975
A Martinez heads the guest cast in this episode as Hispanic SFPD officer Jimmy Vega. Outraged that his old neighborhood is in the grip of elusive drug pusher Roberto Perez (Lloyd Battista), Jimmy is willing to do anything to bring Perez to justice--even if it means planting false evidence. Once again, detectives Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) are placed in the ethical dilemma of ruining the career of a fellow cop in order to protect the rights of a scurrilous piece of scum like Perez. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Gil Weaver (Roger Robinson), one of Kojak's best young detectives, learns to his dismay that his ex-classmate Richie Linden (James Watson) is now a fence for a gang of diamond thieves. At the same time, Kojak (Telly Savalas) maps out a scheme to recover $1,000,000 in stolen gems and to capture the thieves. This plan would require Weaver to set up Linden as the fall guy--but is he a good enough cop to "betray" his lifelong friend? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Kojak (Telly Savalas) is certain that he has finally nailed an elusive heroin dealer when the man is accused of shooting and killing a prominent plastic surgeon. Problem is, the victim may have already been dead when the dealer shot him. Once it is determined that the surgeon did not die of natural causes, Kojak is faced with two unpleasant possibilities: His prize suspect could be entirely innocent, and there may be another, even more slippery murderer on the loose. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Mike Evans, who at the time this episode aired was also starring as Lionel on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons, guest stars as Paul Hudson, a neurotic kid living in a tough ghetto neighborhood. After witnessing a murder, Paul promises to keep his mouth shut, providing that the killer find Paul a job with a notorious underworld organization. Will detectives Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) be able to save Paul from his new "friends"--and from himself? Intriguingly, Berlinda Tolbert, who later costarred with Mike Evans on The Jeffersons as Lionel's wife Jenny, also shows up in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) investigates when two out-of-town conventioneers fall to their deaths from separate hotel windows. It's clearly more than a coincidence--and despite what some authorities believe, the two victims did not commit suicide. Kojak determines that a mad killer is on the loose...and there's every possibility that the perpetrator is a woman. Watch for brief appearances by future sitcom regulars Paul Benedict (The Jeffersons) and Gordon Jump (WKRP in Cincinnati). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
In one of his occasional undercover assignments, Kojak (Telly Savalas) poses as a chemist. It's all part of a plan to flush out a gang of crooks who have stolen a valuable shipment of morphine in order to sell it back to the rightful owners for an exorbitant price. Naturally, Kojak pretends to be corruptible enough to attract the crooks' attention--a dangerous game which could cost him his life at any moment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
In a disturbing turn of events, Lt. Theo Kojak (Telly Savalas) appears to be on the take, living extravagantly, spending lavishly and gambling heavily. Only a handful of intimates are aware that Kojak's "corruption" is actually part of a scheme to trap a heroin dealer who has repeatedly eluded the authorities. Complicating (and possibly compromising) this carefully calculated sting is the vengeful widow of a murdered mob courier, played by future Jaws costar Lorraine Gary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
When a call girl wearing a stolen diamond ring turns up murdered, Kojak (Telly Savalas) begins following the fragmentary clues, the path eventually leading to a gang of upstate bank burglars. At the same time, the gang is preparing a spectacular robbery in Kojak's former jurisdiction--and have set up plenty of diversions to keep the cops from nipping at their heels. This episode features a rare TV appearance by former film star Karen Morley, whose career was all but destroyed by the Hollywood Blacklist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Richard Egan guest stars as waterfront priest Father Joe Scarne, who hinders a robbery investigation by refusing to reveal the whereabouts of the main suspect to Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas). An essential ingredient to the outcome of the case is a stolen crate of cobra venom which, unbeknownst to the Law, actually contains heroin. Oh, and one more thing: Father Scarne is himself a reformed drug addict. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) match wits with Amory Gilliam, a wealthy but demented executive who "molds" his women into his own special image of perfection--then murders them if they fail to live up to his standards, or dare to walk out on him. Gilliam's latest girlfirend is Toni Craig (Stefanie Powers), who he has "re-invented" as Kim Ahern. Racing against time, the detectives hope to save Toni/Kim from meeting the same grisly fate as her unfortunate predecessors. (Ironically, Edward Mulhare played a far more benign "Pygmalion" of women as Henry Higgins during the original Broadway run of "My Fair Lady"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Arlene Golonka guest-stars as Melanie, a scatterbrained secret agent with a habit of bollixing up her assignments. Be that as it may, Melanie is teamed with Kelly and Scotty to retrieve a set of documents detailing the secret alliance between the Soviets and an emerging African nation. The plan also requires Melanie to pose as Kelly's wife. Written by David Friedkin and Morton Fine, "Pinwheel" first aired on April 15, 1968-and though no one knew it at the time, this episode served as the swan song for I Spy after three seasons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Fresh from his starmaking turn in Bonnie and Clyde, Gene Hackman is cast as Frank Hunter, an unbalanced Vietnam veteran. Convinced that retired secret agent Tom Mathews (Jim Backus) is responsible for his troubles, Hunter vows to use his guerilla-warfare skills to wipe out Mathews and his family. Kelly and Scott do their best to protect Mathews against Hunter, but their adversary always seems to be one step ahead of them. Also in the cast are Jeanne Bal as Shirl Mathews and Perla Walteras Rosie. Filmed in Mexico, "Happy Birthday. . .Everybody" was written by David Friedkin and Morton Fine. The episode was originally telecast on February 26, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
While providing safe escort to a European defector in Mexico, agents Kelly and Scotty are intercepted by a group of US Army representatives, who assume full responsibility for the defector's wellbeing. Unfortunately, one of the Army men is a traitor, determined to kill the defector and disgrace the agents. Inasmuch as the traitor seems to anticipate Kelly and Scotty's every move, Kelly comes to the sad conclusion that the villain is his old friend Mike Woods (Dane Clark)-but is he? Originally seen on April 1, 1968, "The Spy Business" was written by David Friedkin and Morton Fine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Boris Karloff guest-stars as eccentric Spanish missile scientist Don Ernesto Silvando, a political neutral whom the United States would like to win over. Unfortunately, Don Ernesto has convinced himself that he is the living incarnation of Cervantes' Don Quixote. Assigned to protect the old man, Kelly and Scotty find themselves playing "Sancho Panza" as Don Ernesto indulges his windmill-tilting fantasies throughout the Spanish countryside. First telecast on February 22, 1967, "Mainly on the Plains" was written by Mort Fine and David Friedkin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Janet McLachlan plays the title role in September 25, 1967 I Spy episode "Laya." Scotty is ordered to gain the confidence of Laya, an African embassy clerk in possession of top-secret information about the armaments in her home country. But Scotty balks at the second part of his assignment: To kill the girl. Featured in the cast are Michael Rennie as Hamilton and Keith Andes in the recurring role of Scotty and Kelly's boss Troy Duncan. "Laya" was written by Mort Fine and David Friedkin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Jack Cassidy guest-stars as Nick Fleming, an American filmmaker who despises the U.S. government and the black race with equal fervor. Assigned to prove that Fleming is selling secret films of NATO maneuvers to the highest bidder, Kelly makes time with Fleming's disgruntled girlfriend Temple (Carol Wayne). Unbeknownst to Kelly, his partner Scotty has been kidnapped by Fleming's henchmen, who are at this very moment sadistically torturing the helpless agent. First shown on January 25, 1967, "The Trouble With Temple" was written by Mort Fine and David Friedkin (Friedkin is also listed as director in some sources). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Having faked their own suicides to escape punishment at the end of WW2, a group of Nazi death-camp supervisors has now been targetted for extermination by Lena (Eileen Baral), a survivor of the holocaust. Eventually, Lena is murdered, but not before handing over a list of the fugitive Nazis to her daughter Gerta (Nina Foch), who subsequently commits that list to memory. Originally hired to protect one of the former Nazis in exchange for vital information, agents Kelly and Scotty now must also save Gerta from her mother's killers. Filmed in Madrid, this labyrinthine-plotted episode was written by Mort Fine and David Friedkin. "Child Out of Time" originally aired on January 11, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
In Italy, an American State Department official has apparently killed himself. The catalyst for this tragedy is deported gangster and blackmailer Coly Colissi (Nehemiah Persoff), but the authorities cannot prove Colissi's involvement. To expose the wily criminal, agents Kelly and Scotty hire on as Colissi's bodyguards. Alf Kjellin, who directed this episode, appears as Dean Sherman. Written by Tim Ballinger, Mort Fine and David Friedkin, "Rome. . .Take Away Three" first aired on December 28, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Filmed in Rome, "Sophia" features Rafaella Carra as the title character. Unofficially adopted by agent Kelly during WW2, Sophia has now become engaged to Gino (Enzo Ceruscio), a charming scoundrel. Before long, both Kelly and Scotty find themselves trying to undo the damage perpetrated by Gino's habit of stealing and fencing jewelry that doesn't belong to him. It was on the strength of this I Spy episode that Enzo Ceruscio was cast in another Sheldon Leonard-produced TV series, My Friend Tony. Written by Mort Fine and David Friedkin, "Sophia" was originally telecast on September 28, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
