David Friedkin Movies
- 1976
Even though a gang of art thieves have been caught in the act, five priceless Rembrandt drawings have seemingly disappeared from the face of the earth. To solve the case, Kojak (Telly Savalas) must work in concert with world-famous criminologist Dr. Anton Valentine (David Opatoshu)--a prospect that does not appeal to either man. Originally scheduled to air on March 7, 1976, this episode was moved up one week to accommodate an overall reshuffling of Kojak's Season Three manifest. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1976
Forrest Tucker guest stars as Paul Zachary, a jaded, world-weary NYPD detective. Zachary's obsessive devotion to his work has already alienated his family and stirred up ill will among his police colleagues. Now, the veteran detective's dogged determination to bring an elusive jewelry fence named Ballentine (Malachi Throne) to justice threatens to ruin the case that Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) has mounted against the selfsame Ballentine. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1975
Crime doesn't take a holiday on Christmas Eve, and detectives Kojak (Telly Savalas) and Stavros (Demosthenes) have plenty to keep them busy. For starters, there's a gun-wielding man on the loose, determined to kill his cheating wife--and anyone else who gets in his way. At the same time, Stavros tries to help a young girl search for her boyfriend, who is likewise heavily armed and very dangerous. Keep an eye out for two future stars, John Larroquette and Edward James Olmos), in very minor roles. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1975
Kojak (Telly Savalas) is approached with an offer that he may not be in a position to refuse. The detective has been ordered to relinquish incriminating evidence against a man named Steiner (Mark Stevens), who has been arrested on drug charges. If Kojak fails to do so, the kidnapped wife (Jean Le Bouvier) of police captain Frank McNeil (Dan Frazer) will be killed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
Elizabeth Ashley guest stars as Laura Keyes, who after suffering a heart attack crashes her car into Ironside's van. Laura is rushed to a hospital, where the doctors discover that the woman had had a bullet lodged near her heart for years. Ironside (Raymond Burr) is amazed to discover that, not only is Laura unconcerned about her wound, but she doesn't even remember being shot! His curiosity further aroused when Laura refuses to let the doctors remove the bullet, Ironside launches an investigation...and ends up reopening a cold murder case. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
Sgt. Ed Brown (Don Galloway) goes undercover as a member of gangster Lew Parker's entourage. Angered over the death of one of his "boys", Parker (Peter Mark Richman) puts out a contract on Chief Ironside (Raymnd Burr)--and now Ed must prove his loyalty to Parker by murdering his own boss. Will he be able to warn Ironside before the fatal moment? And what will happen to Ed when his cover is blown during a robbery? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
The drab and lonely life of Martha Howard (Joanne Linville) suddenly becomes quite eventful--and dangerous. Martha has entered into an affair with Brian Downing (Edward Mulhare), a prominent, and married, British cabinet minister. At the same time, Downing's embittered wife (Pippa Scott) hires a hotheaded young man named Bobby Nelson (Steve Keats)--for the purpose of getting close to Martha, then murdering her. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
Suffering from psychotic depression, a woman named Lisa (Andrea Marcovicci) witnesses the murder of her boyfriend. Making matters worse, the killing was committed by one of Lisa's closest friends, who has always carried a torch for her. Kojak (Telly Savalas) tries to determine the name of the guilty party, only to find that Lisa has blotted out all memory of the murder--while the perpetrator weighs the option of adding Lisa to his list of victims. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
Newly paroled and working at a group home for convicts' children, ex-prisoner Carl Parkos (Paul Burke) receives word that his oldest son has been killed in a gang fight. It is up to Chief Ironside to prevent Parkos from exacting vengeance against the killer, not so much for Carl's sake as for the man's surviving son. Featured as one of the Parkos kids is juvenile actor Butch Patrick, late of The Munsters and Lidsville. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
The wife and daughter of travelling salesman Baxter Flynn (Alllen Garfield) are unaware that he is carrying on a secret life as a compulsive gambler--and paid mob informant. When Flynn witnesses a double murder, Ironside (Raymond Burr) is determined to force the man to give testimony against the killers. Only one problem: If Flynn shows up in court, his dirty little secrets will be revealed to the world, resulting in disgrace for his family--and, very possibly, instant death for himself. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
Barry Sullivan guest stars as Chris Bane, a famous and powerful San Francisco newspaper columnist. After murdering his mistress, Bane uses his journalistic skills to pin the killing on his rival. Complications ensue when it turns out that Chris' son Greg (Geoffrey Deuel) was likewise involved with the dead woman. Also in the cast are former Disney leading man Tommy Kirk (here billed as "Thomas") and future TV soap-opera doyenne Anna Lee. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
In this crime drama a group of undercover cops look into a traveling gambling racket that works out of large vans. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1970
Dack Rambo and Roger Davis are two handsome young men (as if you didn't know) in search of a sunken treasure. They head to Mexico, where on behalf of several older, less athletically inclined wheeler-dealers, they dive for gold off the Mexican coast. They don't get what they want, and spend ever so long pontificating about it. Among the supporting players is Ray Milland, who in his autobiography made several veiled but pointed comments (along the lines of "how the mighty have fallen") about this misfire adventure. River of Gold was made for ABC's Movie of the Week. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 1967
Don Rickles guest-stars as Frank Bodie, a nasty, abusive USO comedian who has sparked more than one international crisis during his tour of Europe. Assigned to protect Bodie-and to keep him from stirring up further trouble-agents Kelly and Scotty make no secret of their contempt for the man, especially after watching him bully and browbeat his female entourage. Things really get down and dirty when Bodie's erstwhile girlfriend Joanne (Marianna Hill) is murdered en route to Madrid. Also appearing are Barbara McNair as Leona and Diahn Williams as Nora. First broadcast on March 22, 1967, "Night Train to Madrid" was written by Stephen Kandel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 1967
Captured and tortured in order to reveal a secret formula, agent Kelly manages to escape without betraying his trust. Unfortunately, the experience has unnerved him to the point that he may never work again. As he recovers from his ordeal in Spain, Kelly once again comes face to face with his torturer. But before he can give chase, Kelly must prove to his partner Scotty that he is up to the job. Featured in the cast are Salome Jens as Lindy, Keith Andes as Anderson, and Cyril Delevanti as Bendat. Written by Michael Zagor, "To Rome with a Rack" originally aired on February 8, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 1966
At the behest of the US State Department, Kelly and Scott must contact exiled South American dictator Ortiz (Victor Jory), who is planning to regain power via a military coup. This assignment proves only slightly more difficult than the agents' efforts to explain their bloated expense account to bean-counting bureaucrat Miss Clavell. Filmed in Mexico, this episode is graced by the presence of stellar Mexican actress Dolores Del Rio, in a rare TV appearance; also on hand is Antoinette Bower as Shelby. First telecast on February 23, 1966, "Return to Glory" was written by Mort Fine and David Friedkin. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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