Arthur Marks Movies
- 1975
- R
In this drama, a greedy millionaire takes a Las Vegas showgirl for his new bride and no one in his family is terribly pleased. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1973
- R
Several good actors are laid low by the tawdriness of Bonnie's Kids. The title characters, played by Tiffany Bolling and Robin Mattson, are sisters of a single mind. They intend to be criminals, and they succeed beyond their wildest dreams. Before the film's 107 minutes has run its course, Bonnie's Kids have blazed a trail of murder, robbery and soft-score sex. Scott Brady and Alex Rocco, both of whom looking befuddled if not downright embarrassed, costar. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A man moves to the small and racially divided town where his bar-owning brother was murdered after he refused to pay crooked white cops for "protection." When he is threatened himself, he calls in some hefty men to help him, but they instead decide to take over the town. In order to oust the baddies, the hero becomes a one-man army with a mission. This blaxploitationer features the action hero, Fred Williamson. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, (more)
Titled Detroit Heat for video release, this blaxploitation flick concerns two Motor City detectives (Hari Rhodes, Alex Rocco) on the trail of a gang of thieves who attacked a political rally. Noted blaxploitation fan Quentin Tarantino sponsored a theatrical re-release in 1998, with a video reissue following. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
A woman looking for adventure finds romance, excitement and danger in her viewfinder in this action-packed comedy-drama. Friday Foster (Pam Grier) is a beautiful and ambitious young photographer who is working as an assistant at Glance Magazine, edited by the hard-boiled Monk Riley (Julius Harris). When Riley can't get in touch with his first-call photographer, he calls Foster with a very important New Year's Eve assignment -- reclusive billionaire Blake Tarr (Thalmus Rasulala), often called "the black Howard Hughes," is expected to be coming to Los Angeles, and Riley wants pictures of Tarr's arrival. But Foster gets more than she bargained for when Tarr is ambushed by a gang of assassins disguised as security guards. The next day, Foster is helping to shoot a fashion show introducing new creations from flamboyant designer Madame Rena (Eartha Kitt) when Clorils Boston (Rosalind Miles), a model who has known Friday since childhood, is stabled to death. Colt Hawkins (Yaphet Kotto), a private detective who is on the scene, offers to help Friday track down Clorils' killer after she notices that the same mysterious man (Carl Weathers) was present at both crimes. Foster and Hawkins discover the two killings are connected by a plot hatched by an underground group called "Black Widow" to kill off powerful and influential African-Americans. But who is behind the conspiracy, and can they be stopped in time? Also starring Godfrey Cambridge, Paul Benjamin, Scatman Crothers and Ted Lange, Friday Foster was based on the comic strip by Jim Lawrence and Jorge Longeron; running from 1970 to 1974, it was the first syndicated strip with an African-American woman as the leading character. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pam Grier, Yaphet Kotto, (more)
- 1968
A murder has been committed in a remote California town where a nuclear power station is scheduled to be built. Assigned to investigate the killing, agents Kelly and Scotty arrive in the tiny community, where they run up against hostility, gang violence, and obstreperous, tight-lipped locals who harbor a deep but unexplained hostility towards the government. Among the suspects are town boss Pierson (Andrew Duggan), housewife Kathy (Diahn Williams), and hooligans Clay (Ken Swofford) and Tiny (a pre-"Jaws" Richard Kiel). Written by Jerry Ludwig, "A Few Miles West of Nowhere" orginally aired on January 29, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This stylish and very entertaining blend of the horror and "Blaxploitation" genres takes some creative risks on a seriously limited budget but manages to deliver the gory goods. The story begins in New Orleans in the mid-1940s, with black crime kingpin J.D. Walker (David McKnight) shot dead on Bourbon Street. Flash forward to the present, when clean-cut college student Ike (Cooley High's Glynn E. Turman) falls under the malevolent influence of the ghostly gangster. As he begins to exhibit J.D.'s boisterous, violent traits, Ike seeks out a local minister (Louis Gossett, Jr., in a standout performance) -- who had once played a role in the gangster's execution -- to exact his revenge. This cult favorite has seen a revival of sorts on home video and primarily remains in the public eye due to the novelty value of its soundtrack: all songs are performed by the artist soon to be known as The Artist Formerly Known As Prince -- who also supplies the vocal for " Will Never Let You Go". ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glynn E. Turman, Joan Pringle, (more)
Voter apathy in the United States is at an all-time high, and the general consensus of the American attitude is that there simply isn't anyone worth voting for. A multi-ethnic, politically diverse committee comes together to name a new candidate that America can really get behind. When someone jokingly suggests famous porn star Linda Lovelace, the committee members realize that it isn't such a crazy idea after all ("At least she knows how to use her head!"). Lovelace agrees to run for president, the Upright Party is formed, and a cross-country campaign tour is launched. Her journey is full of ribald adventures in small towns, big cities, and rural spots along the highway, and she's loved by the people everywhere she goes. Unfortunately, that makes the Dirty Guys in Washington upset, so they send for The Assassinator (Chuck McCann) to make sure that Lovelace doesn't live to claim her rightful spot as leader of the free world. This wacky softcore sex farce features an assortment of celebrities in cameo roles, including Micky Dolenz, Scatman Crothers, Joe E. Ross, and Vaughn Meader. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Lovelace
- 1964
In a depature from the usual Perry Mason format, Perry (Raymond Burr) flies to Europe as a personal favor to his old friend Frederic Ralston II. Arriving in Switzerland, Perry is asked to check up on Greta Konig (Susanne Cramer), the German nightclub singer who wants to marry Ralston's son Freddy (Fred Vincent), a lieutenant in the Army Engineer Corps. Instead, the lawyer ends up investigating two mysterious deaths, both linked to a treasure hidden by Nazis at the bottom of a Swiss lake during WW2. Future Hogan's Heroes costar Werner Klemperer appears as the local detective on the case, while Jim Davis, aka "Jock Ewing" on Dallas, is one of the victims. Inasmuch as Perry is literally "flying solo" in this episode, neither Della Street (Barbara Hale) nor Paul Drake (William Hopper) appear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Returning to work after a four-week absence, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) makes up for lost time by agreeing to represent cantankerous orange grower Amos Keller (Arthur Hunnicutt). To get even with Amos for messing up his plans to bulldoze the local orange groves, land developer Gerald Thornton is suing the old coot, claiming to have been bitten by Amos' dog Hard Tack. Things turns deadly serious, however, when Thornton is murdered and Amos' granddaughter Sandra (Natalie Trundy) is charged with the crime. Watch for future spaghetti-western icon Lee Van Cleef in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Pete Manders (Wynn Pearce), chief assistant to cartoonist Gabe Philips (Mark Roberts), cannot believe his good fortune when Philips sells him the rights to his popular comic strip "Zingy" at a bargain rate. Philips claims that he wants to retire from the daily grind and set up residence in the tiny artists' colony of Port Harmon, where he intends to become a serious painter under the name of Otto Gervaert. But that's only part of the story: Philips also wants to claim Manders' girlfriend Lesley Lawrence (Pamela Curran) for himself. When Philips--or Gervaert--is murdered, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) must seek out clues amongst the denizens of Port Harmon in order to keep Manders out of the Death House. The supporting cast offers a wide and varied range of acting styles, from the fluttery mannerisms of veteran comedienne ZaSu Pitts to the pompous pontifications of perennial "heavy" Victor Buono. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
An otherwise peaceful lakeside resort is the scene of an angry confrontation between Edward Lewis (Richard Anderson) and his father-in-law B.K. Doran (Murray Matheson), with each man accusing the other of embezzling funds from the family business. Later on, Doran is stabbed to death, and Lewis is charged with murder. Fortunately for Lewis, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is also visiting the resort. Featured in the cast is actress and model Dee Hartford, who at one time was both the wife of director Howard Hawks and the sister-in-law of comedian Groucho Marx (whew!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
'Tis murder most foul when actor Franz Lachman (Jeff Morrow), starring in a stage production of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", is stabbed to death during Romeo's duel with Paris. There needs no ghost come from the grave to tell you that the police charge Steve Brock (Rex Reason), the actor playing Paris, with murder. In his efforts to save the star-cross'd Brock from the gas chamber, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) concludes that "the play's the thing," wherein he'll catch the conscience of the real murderer. Thus, Perry moves the trial to the scene of the crime--then asks the "Romeo and Juliet" troupe to re-enact the events leading up to the moment that Lachman shuffled off his mortal coil. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Eve Nesbitt (Gloria Talbott) contacts Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) to determine the progress of the insurance settlement related to the drowning death of her husband Willard (Les Tremayne). As it happens, however, Willard is only pretending to be dead so that Eve can collect on the policy's "double-indemnity" clause. But when his business partner Lloyd Castle (Edward Binns) cheats Eve out of her share of a gold mine, Willard emerges from hiding--only to be bumped off for real. Accused of murdering her husband, Eve once again puts her fate in Perry's hands. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Recovering alcoholic William Sherwood (Peter Breck) falls off the wagon when he sees his wife Ruth (Janet Dey)--who was supposed to have died five years ago! Later, Sherwood finds Ruth's body--again--and calls Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) for help. He'll need all the help he can get: with his bloody fingerprints all over the murder scene, Sherwood is charged with his wife's murder (and she's dead for keeps this time). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
The much-despised Allan Sheridan (William J. Campbell) is going to need the $162,000 he is due to inherit: deeply in debt to several people, Sheridan had better pay up in a hurry if he doesn't want his list of enemies to increase. As it turns out, one enemy is more than enough to bludgeon Sheridan to death with an ashtray. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) enters the scene to defend the chief suspect, Sheridan's cousin Sarette (Lurene Tuttle) (who curiously was identified as the victim's aunt in the original TV Guide synopsis!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Someone has stolen the confidential tapes of conversations between psychiatrist David Craig (Dick Foran) and his patients, and is using those tapes for blackmail. It so happens that Dr. Craig is in love with his nurse Edith (Marianne Stewart), whose brother Mark (Barry McGuire) who is in big trouble with the "mob" and is the primary suspect in the theft of the tapes. When Mark is murdered, Craig is charged, and Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) swings into action. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Middle-aged Nellie Dubois (Jeanette Nolan) became a widow when her husband died during their vacation in Europe. Upon her return to the States, Nellie's family is shocked to find her in the company of a new spouse--a much younger Frenchman named Pierre (Michael Forrest). Convinced that Pierre is only after Nellie's money, the family hires sexy French maid Marie Claudel (Anne Farge) to seduce Pierre and prove to Nellie that he is unfaithful. By an astonishing coincidence, Marie happens to be Pierre's jilted first wife--and when he turns up dead, she is charged with murder. Can Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) solve this one without causing any further domestic strife? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Since her husband Felton (Michael Conrad) always seems to be out of town on business, nervous Nell Grimes (Jackie Loughery) asks her best friend, door-to-door salesperson Gwynn Ellison (Pippa Scott), to temporarily move in with her--which Gwynn does, despite the fact that she hates Felton with a passion. Not long afterward, Gwynn accidentally discovers that Felton is leading a double life as "Frank Gillette", complete with a second wife!. In a rage, she concocts a scheme to bump off Felton, but someone else kills him first. In his efforts to clear Gwynn of a murder charge, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) comes upon several other "respectable" gentlemen who are carrying on double lives as well. This episode is based on a 1961 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
A man wearing dark glasses steals a valuable necklace from the showroom window of a jewelry store--then returns the item and walks away. It turns out that this is a mere "dress rehearsal" for an actual robbery planned by store employee Karl Addison (John Conte), who intends to use the fact that an upcoming operation will render him temporarily blind as his alibi. Alas, things go terribly wrong, and Addison is killed. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) enters the scene when his client James Kincannon (Jack Ging) is charged with Addison's murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Slim and svelte Dianne Adler (Mary Ann Mobley), a hometown girlfriend of Della Street (Barbara Hale), has launched a career as a model. Harrison Boring (Paul Gilbert) hands Dianne the most unusual assignment of her career: For 200 dollars per week, she is to gain a great deal of weight! It seems that Boring is promoting a line of clothes for full-figured women, and he needs a hefty model with "name" value. What Della can't understand is why Dianne would have signed a contract which forfeits 50% of everything she makes over her regular salary to the enterprising Boring. It's a good thing that Della brings this to the attention of her boss Perry Mason (Raymond Burr)--who ends up defending Dianne on a murder charge when Boring is killed. This episode is based on a 1962 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Moving from Saturday to Thursday evening for its sixth season on CBS, Perry Mason kicks off the new year with another baffling murder case. This time the victim is Joseph Kraft (Maurice Manson) a crooked book dealer who traffics in forgeries of rare first editions. Not long after firing his clerk Ellen Carter (Phyllis Love) for misplacing a copy of Tristam Shandy), Kraft is found dead in a locked room, apparently the victim of a gas leak. Ultimately, the police decide that Kraft was murdered, and that Ellen is the most likely suspect. Enter Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), who intends to prove Ellen's innocence while setting a trap for the real killer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Perry (Raymond Burr) and Della (Barbara Hale) return to their office to find that someone has left a four-month-old baby on Perry's desk. Soon thereafter, Ginny Talbot (Kaye Elhardt), claiming to be the child's mother, shows up--and not long after that, Perry receives evidence that the infant may be heir to the celebrated Kerrick fortune. The key to the child's true identity is the St. Christopher medal around its neck, but before this matter can be cleared up, Perry must defend Ginny on a charge of murdering one Lester Menke (Corey Allen). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Much to her astonishment, Eva Martell (played by Maggie Mahoney, the mother of Oscar-winning actress Sally Field) is paid $100 a day and installed in a luxurious apartment: all she has to do is impersonate another woman named Helen Reynolds (Paula Raymond). Eva and her Aunt Agnes (Sheila Bromley) begin to smell a rat when they notice that the apartment is being watched day and night by seedy private eye Melvin Slater (Joe De Santis). Investigating of Eva's behalf, Perry (Raymond Burr) is assured by the real Helen Reynolds that everything is on the up-and-up, though she won't reveal the reasons for the deception. Things take a really sinister turn when Slater is murdered and Aunt Agnes is arrested for the crime. This episode is based on a 1946 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
