Herman Hoffman Movies
Filmmaker and screenwriter Herman Hoffman worked with MGM from 1934 through the early '70s, getting his start making promos for features films. Hoffman made his feature film directorial bow with The MGM Story. In addition to features, Hoffman was also noted for his documentaries, particularly such Academy Award-nominated documentaries as The Hoaxters (1952) and The Battle of Gettysburg (1955). As a director, he frequently worked closely with producer Dore Schary. After leaving MGM in the '70s, Hoffman went on to direct television episodes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1970
Captain Lee Mitchell (Stuart Whitman) is the American officer who joins the British in an attempt to smuggle scientist Von Heinken (Pinkas Braun) out of Germany. The group also assists refugees trying to escape the wrath of the Nazis. Mitchell must quickly mold an inexperienced unit of British soldiers into an effective unit before the Russian tank squadron invades Munich. SS troops and Allies engage in fierce combat as both sides try to capture the noted scientist in this routine World War II drama. The film was made in 1968 but not released until 1970. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stuart Whitman, John Collin, (more)
Chris (George Kennedy) is the lone survivor of the original seven gunmen who is recruited to help in a peasant struggle in Mexico. Colonel Diego (Michael Ansara)is the ruthless military commandant of a Mexican prison holding the leader of the revolt. With knife expert Levi Morgon (James Whitmore) and firearms experts Keno (Monte Markham), P.J. (Scott Thomas) and Slater (Joe Don Baker), they enlist the help of the giant black man Cassie (Bernie Casey) and two others to rescue the leader of the proposed revolt. The evil Diego employs his torturous and inhuman practices on both sides of the prison walls in a effort to stop the heroes from rescuing the prisoner in this action packed western saga. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Kennedy, James Whitmore, (more)
Major James Wilson (Lloyd Bridges) must lead his troops across the English channel in the D-day invasion of Normandy. He trains his regulars for the invasion knowing that many, if not all, may never survive the assault. Wilson is plagued by memories of previous missions that turned out to be suicidal. Captain Franklin (Andrew Keir) is the British officer who opposed the plan and has a personal vendetta against Wilson. The two are thrown together on the same mission when Franklin is slated to command the mine sweepers that transport Wilson's troops to their destination. They face overwhelming odds and a barrage of cannon fire from the Nazi stronghold on the Normandy coast. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andrew Keir, Sue Lloyd, (more)
- 1966
A ricocheting bullet catches Little Joe Cartwright in his-er-nether regions. Seeking answers to his brother's non-fatal but certainly embarrassing injury, Hoss tries to communicate with world-weady female gunslinger Willie Mae Rikeman (Louise Latham) and her two uncontrollable sons Judd (Mark Slade) and Jeb (Robert Doyle. Both Cartwright boys emerge from the experience with a better appreciation of their own family. Written and directed by Herman Hoffman, "A Real Nice, Friendly Little Town" was first shown on November 27, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1963
No one in King Company is in the mood to whistle "Dixie" when Pvt. Moseby Lovelace (Jonathan Bolt), an unreconstructed Southerner, joins the platoon. Saunders (Vic Morrow) is particularly peeved that Lovelace is constantly complaining about "Yankee" fighting methods: Why, he asks, does everyone duck into foxholes when you should be fighting the Nazis face-to-face, "Rebel" style? Also, the new recruit has a habit of playing fast and loose with regulations, including marching across a stream in his bare feet! Still, Lovelace gets results when the going gets tough--but will he ever learn to shed his Southern-friend skin and become a team player? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Nick Moses (Harry Guardino) breaks the code of the Mob by bumping off another gangster without permission. Grimly, Frank Nitti (Bruce Gordon) informs Moses that the only way he can save himself is to assassinate Federal agent Elliot Ness--and he is given a very limited space of time to pull off the deed. Featured in the cast of this nailbiter are Peter Mamakos and Herman Rudin, playing the same two hoodlums (albeit with different character names) whom we saw Frank Nitti gun down in a barbershop in the series' very first episode "The Empty Chair". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Though Richard Eyer and Philip Abbott get top billing, the real star of The Invisible Boy is Robby the Robot of Forbidden Planet fame. Based on a short story by Edmund Cooper (which, incidentally, contained no robots!), the film finds electronics genius Dr. Merrinoe (Abbott) developing a huge talking computer. While Merrinoe is the master of his laboratory, he has trouble controlling his rambunctious son Timmie (Eyer). When the doctor takes Timmie to the lab with him, hoping to impress his son with the importance of his work, Timmie is interested only in reassembling a robot left behind by Merrinoe's predecessor. Though the robot has been programmed not to bring harm to human beings, the poor clunking creature falls under the spell of Merrinoe's "super computer," which has developed a demonic mind of its own. The computer arranges to launch a rocket, with the robot at the controls, that will enable it to control the earth's orbit. But Timmie, who has stowed away on board the rocket, is able to bring the robot to its "senses" and save the day. Impressive on a technical level, The Invisible Boy is relentlessly silly storywise, which of course adds to the enjoyment. Best line: "Timmie, if you don't bring that rocketship back this instant, you'll get the spanking of your life!" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Eyer, Philip Abbott, (more)
- 1956
Tom Ewell plays a busy attorney who wishes to be closer to his son. To do this, he becomes manager of the boy's little league team, much to the dismay of his wife (Anne Francis), who can't stand baseball. Ewell finds that he must contend with pushy and ambitious parents who hope to live their own sports fantasies vicariously through their ballplaying children. The single mother of one of the kids (Ann Miller) goes to Ewell to plead for her boy's advancement, but the purpose of the meeting is misinterpreted by Ewell's jealous wife. Fed up with sacrificing sportsmanship to the whims of the parents, Ewell encourages his team to play for the love of the game rather than "winning at any cost." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Ewell, Anne Francis, (more)
- 1955
The narrator of Herman Hoffman's film is a bull terrier named Wildfire, who rises from life in the slums to status as a pampered pet of a wealthy home. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Richards, Jarma Lewis, (more)
- 1939
Fred Zinnemann directed this biographical short subject about David Bushnell (James Bush), who revolutionized naval warfare and ocean exploration with his invention of the submarine, which Bushnell introduced during the American revolutionary war. The Ash Can Fleet was one of eighteen shorts Zinnemann made for M-G-M prior to making his American debut feature, 1942's Kid Glove Killer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
