Sheldon Keller Movies
Three giants of early television--Milton Berle, Sid Caesar and Danny Thomas--combine their talents in the made-for-TV Side by Side. Berle and Caesar play a couple of 65-year-olds who've just been forcibly retired; Thomas portrays a widower, who's been aimless and lethargic since the death of his wife. The trio gains a new lease on life when they team up to manufacture a line of clothing exclusively designed for senior citizens. Their zeal intensifies when Berle's old boss Richard Klein spitefully develops a rival wardrobe line. Marjorie Lord, who'd played Danny Thomas' wife on TV in the late 1950s and early 1960s, is here cast as Sid Caesar's spouse. Side By Side first aired on March 6, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1978
- PG
This spoof of a "typical" double-feature bill of the 1930s is introduced by George Burns, who explains that we're about to see two classic films produced by the legendary Warren Brothers. The first, "Dynamite Fists," is a black-and-white takeoff of such boxing dramas as Golden Boy. Harry Hamlin plays a John Garfield-like pugilist who is brought along by a tough-but-lovable fight promoter George C. Scott. Nasty gangster Eli Wallach attempts to compromise Hamlin by offering him the delectable Trish VanDevere, but Hamlin proves loyal to Scott. When Scott is killed by Wallach, Hamlin vows to become an attorney and bring the murderer to justice -- which he does in the space of one year. Along the way, Hamlin's gangster brother-in-law secures an eye operation for his nearly blind sister Kathleen Beller (whose bump-in-the-wall myopia is good for several laughs). After "Dynamite Fists," we are treated to a coming-attractions trailer for a Dawn Patrol-style aviation epic, again starring George C. Scott. The last segment, "Blansky's Beauties of 1933," is an all-stops-out Technicolor lampoon of Busby Berkeley musicals. Told by doctor Art Carney that he is dying, Broadway impresario Blansky (George C. Scott again) determines to produce one last spectacular show before the curtain goes down for good. The highlights in "Blansky's Beauties" are too numerous to mention here: memorable bits include composer Barry Bostwick's rooftop number, and the opening dialogue exchange between Carney and Scott (told that he has a month to live, Scott philosophically replies that at least he has 30 days left -- whereupon Carney dolefully reminds his patient that it's February). An additional sequence, parodying the Republic serials of the era, was filmed for Movie, Movie but cut from the final release print. Michael Kidd, who plays "Pop Popchick" in "Dynamite Fists," handled the choreography in "Blansky's Beauties." On the videocassette version of Movie, Movie, "Dynamite Fists" has been reprocessed in color. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- George C. Scott, Barbara Harris, (more)
- 1976
- Add CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years to Queue Add CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years to top of Queue
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years is a video homage to the unique redheaded comedienne. Loved by millions, hailed by critics as the funniest woman in television history, Lucille Ball became a living legend, her TV shows in wide syndication around the world for years. CBS adored Lucy, with good reason, and in 1976, the network gathered her fellow cast members and many guest stars to participate in a special televised presentation of Lucy's stellar television contributions thus far. Guest stars included Jimmy Stewart, Richard Burton, John Wayne, George Burns, Jack Benny, Carol Burnett, and others. ~ Betsy Boyd, Rovi
- 1974
All Hawkeye (Alan Alda) wants is a new pair of boots, but oh, what a labyrinthine route he must take to achieve his goal. Supply Sergeant Zale (Johnny Haymer, in his first series appearance) might be able to locate some boots, but only if he can wangle an appointment with overworked army dentist Futterman (Michael Lerner). Futterman agrees to see Zale, but only if he is given a three-day pass to Tokyo. Henry (McLean Stevenson) will okay the pass, but only if Hawkeye can mollify the contentious Margaret (Loretta Swit). Margaret will shut up only if her sweetie, Frank (Larry Linville), gets a surprise birthday party...and so it goes, on and on, round and round. "For Want of a Boot" first aired on January 12, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
Writing up his weekly report, Cpl. Radar O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff) recounts a "typical" series of events at the 4077th. Highlights of the report include a beserk, scalpel-wielding POW (Derick Shimatsu); the latest scheme concocted by Klinger (Jamie Farr) to get out of the army on a Section Eight; and Hawkeye's dalliance with a married nurse (Joan Van Ark). Allan Arbus makes his first series appearance as funky army psychiatrist Dr. Freedman, here given the first name of Milton, but later identified as Sidney. "Radar's Report" originally aired on September 29, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
A South Korean family refuses to leave the 4077th's compound, insisting that it is their property and that the Army should vacate instead. Meanwhile, a young Korean unwed mother insists that poor Radar (Gary Burghoff) is the baby's daddy. If Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) thought that the enemy North Koreans were a headache, they were nothing compared to these friendly locals. "The Chosen People" first aired on January 26, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Tamara Dobson stars as Cleopatra Jones in Jack Starrett's blaxploitation programmer that, in its own way, deals effectively with the ravages of drugs in inner-city black communities. Cleopatra Jones is a jive female James Bond, a special drug agent for the United States government who wears sleek and hip clothes, drives a fancy car with a submachine-gun compartment in the front door, and travels all over the world to stomp out drugs at their source. Cleopatra has a loving relationship with Ruben (Bernie Casey), the well-meaning head of a drug rehabilitation clinic in Los Angeles. When Cleopatra travels to Turkey to oversee the destruction of poppy fields owned by Mommy (Shelley Winters) -- a lesbian drug dealer -- Mommy becomes upset. She exacts her revenge on Cleopatra by having the police close down Ruben's drug clinic. Nevertheless, Cleopatra continues to wreak havoc upon Mommy's drug business, and Mommy continues to try to do Cleopatra in, until finally there is a major confrontation between Cleopatra and Mommy and her minions. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tamara Dobson, Bernie Casey, (more)
- 1972
In this follow-up to the 1972 episode "Dead Dad," Hawkeye (Alan Alda) writes another letter to his father. This time around, Hawkeye recounts the 4077th's "No-Talent Night," the efforts by Radar (Gary Burghoff) to earn a correspondence-course diploma, and the exploits of a new surgeon (Alex Henteloff) who is a little too good to be true. As a bonus, this is the episode in which Hawkeye bets that he can walk into the mess tent stark naked without attracting any attention whatsoever! "Dear Dad, Again" first aired on February 4, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1968
Gina Lollobrigida delivers a bright comic turn in Melvin Frank's farce concerning Carla, an Italian woman who, during World War II, had affairs with three American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army Air Force -- Phil Newman (Phil Silvers), Justin Young (Peter Lawford), and Walter Braddock (Telly Savalas). Finding that she is pregnant after the squadron is transferred, she convinces each of the three soldiers that he is the father of her child. Phil, Justin, and Walter react to Carla's pregnancy by sending her child-support checks -- checks that Carla has been receiving every month from each of them for the past 20 years. Meanwhile, in order to save face in her village, Carla concocted the story that the father was the fictitious Captain Eddie Campbell, who was killed in action. But Carla's deceptions are about to be exposed when she finds out that all three soldiers are returning to her village with their wives and children for a reunion of the squadron. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gina Lollobrigida, Shelley Winters, (more)
- 1964
Twice, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) has arranged a vacation for Rob (Dick Van Dyke) and herself at a lakeside resort -- and both times, the vacation has had to be canceled because Rob has come down with a backache. A tearful Laura concludes that Rob's pains are psychosomatic, and that he simply doesn't want to spend any time alone with her. To put Laura's mind (and his own) to rest, Rob pays an uproarious visit to psychiatrist Phil Nevins (Robert Elliott). Ken Berry makes the first of two appearances as Tony Daniels, "The Alan Brady Show"'s choreographer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ken Berry, Robert Elliott, (more)
- 1964
Doris Singleton, best known to TV comedy fans as the nearsighted Caroline Appleby on I Love Lucy, appears in this episode as magazine writer Lorraine Gilman. Preparing a story on "The Alan Brady Show," Lorraine wants to sit in on a typical writing session. Head writer Rob (Dick Van Dyke) is dead-set against the idea, worrying that Lorraine's presence will result in wholesale ego-tripping and one-upsmanship on the part of himself, Buddy (Morey Amsterdam), and Sally (Rose Marie). As it turns out, Rob's instincts are on target -- but not entirely for the reasons that he had listed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1963
For the third year in a row, PTA president Mrs. Billings (Eleanor Audley) hornswoggles Rob (Dick Van Dyke) into directing the annual charity show. This time around, Buddy (Morey Amsterdam) and Sally (Rose Marie) help Rob out by writing the material, but the problems of casting the right people for the right roles remain as troublesome as ever. Things come to a head when Rob must choose between his wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) and their talented neighbor Anita Lebost (Sylvia Lewis) for the coveted dance-solo spot. This is the episode in which would-be ventriloquist Mel Cooley (Richard Deacon) performs a side-splittingly awful routine with his "little friend Dummy McGee." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Deacon, Eleanor Audley, (more)
- 1963
Outraged when "Alan Brady Show" producer Mel Cooley (Richard Deacon) rejects a sketch over which he has labored for days, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) angrily walks off his job -- only to become angrier when his co-writers Buddy (Morey Amsterdam) and Sally (Rose Marie) fail to walk off with him. Stewing over this presumed act of disloyalty, Rob flashes back to his first day on the job, when Buddy and Sally cold-shouldered him upon finding out that he was to be their boss. Listen for one of Dick Van Dyke's many passing references to his comedy idol Stan Laurel -- and catch that ratty toupee on Richard Deacon in the flashback sequence! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1963
Future "Man From U.N.C.L.E." Robert Vaughn guest stars as Jim Darling, a handsome, self-made millionaire -- and the former boyfriend of Laura Petrie (Mary Tyler Moore). After a chance meeting with Darling, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) is not only jealous, but depressed, convincing himself that Laura could have done better for herself by accepting Jim's long-ago marriage proposal. Nor can Rob simply dismiss Mr. Darling's presence -- it turns out that Laura's ex is a potential sponsor for "The Alan Brady Show." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Vaughn, Frank Adamo, (more)
- 1963
Accidentally listening into a conversation between Jerry and Millie on the intercom, Rob and Laura are offended by the comments made about themselves by their neighbors. Thus, when the Petries behave in a brusque, angry manner at a party at the Helpers, Jerry and Millie can't figure out what's wrong -- and are even more confused by the veiled, double-meaning comments made during an otherwise harmless game of charades. Inevitably, Rob and Laura learn their lesson about eavesdropping -- but it takes nearly the entire episode, as usual! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jerry Paris, Ann Morgan Guilbert, (more)
- 1962
Ever seeking out new material for "The Alan Brady Show," capricious Rob (Dick Van Dyke) disguises his voice over the phone to see if he can fool his wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore). He comes to regret this little joke when Laura seems to succumb to the seductive charms of the Continental-sounding "stranger" with whom she has been speaking. Our hero spends the rest of the episode trying to find out if the demurely tight-lipped Laura knew that it was Rob on the phone all along! Listen for the voice of series creator Carl Reiner as a TV game show host. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Deacon, Herbie Faye, (more)
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