Don Medford Movies
- 1985
This made-for-TV movie was edited from several episodes of the short-lived television series Hell Town, in which Robert Blake starred as Father Noah "Hardstep" Rivers, a tough but giving Catholic priest trying to do good works in a rough ghetto neighborhood. Also appearing in Father of Hell Town are Jeff Corey and James Gammon. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Jeff Corey, (more)
Coach of the Year is the pilot film for a potential Robert Conrad TV series. Conrad plays Jim Brandon, formerly a star athlete, now a wheelchair-bound Vietnam vet. The embittered, self-involved Brandon is hired to coach a team of teenagers at a correctional facility. Once he's "reached" these so-called incorrigibles, Brandon begins to see his own life in a different light. The film was co-produced by John Ashley of Filipino horror-flick fame. Originally titled The Coach, then 4 Down Behind Bars, Coach of the Year debuted December 20, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In this failed pilot for a series, a biochemist reproduces. He copies himself 13 times to help stop a top-secret cloning project from being destroyed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Art Hindle, Robyn Douglass, (more)
- 1978
Sheila DeWindt guest stars as Minnie, the cousin of flamboyant street snitch Rooster (Michael D. Roberts). Having stolen $50,000 from her job, Minnie hides it somewhere known only to her. Big mistake: Now the men who murdered Minnie's boss have put her on the hit list. It is up to Rooster's "pal", undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake), to save the day. This was the final first-run episode of Baretta. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) is assigned to special duty with the vice squad. Before long, he finds that someone is running a numbers racket--from within the department. Especially disheartening is the possibility that some of Baretta's best friends on the police force may be deeply involved. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) tries to dissuade his friend Carmine (Madison Arnold) from becoming a murderer. Acting out of family loyalty, Carmine is bound and determined to bump off a prominent racketeer--and he won't let anyone, not even Baretta, get in his way. Former MGM musical star Kathryn Grayson makes a cameo appearance as a nightclub singer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
This time, Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) goes undercover as a truck driver. Heading to the waterfront, Baretta searches for the person or persons who have been stealing valuable truck shipments. The key to the mystery may be in the hands of title character Barney, played by familiar character actor Robert Symonds. Also in the cast is Sheila Larken, best known to later viewers as the mother of FBI agent Scully on The X-Files, and veteran character actor Arthur Space, who played Robert Blake's father in the 1944 Laurel and Hardy comedy The Big Noise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Robert Viharo guest stars as Michael, the new partner of undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake). Michael is of gypsy blood, and is on the outs with his family because he has joined the force. Things get even dicier when, after accidentally killing his brother in a shootout, Michael refuses to perform the ceremonial gypsy atonement. This episode was based on a story by Pulitzer-winning playwright Miguel Pinero. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In this sequel to the 3rd season Baretta episode "Think Mink", Ned Glass and Josha Shelley (who also scripted the episode) make return appearances as eternally luckless horseplayers Sam and Leo. Still dreaming of a huge financial windfall, the elderly duo seek out a stolen thoroughbred, hoping to collect a reward of $100,000. Inevitably, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) has to prevent Sam and Leo from being bumped off by the horse thieves. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
The focus in this episode is on ex-cop Billy Truman (Tom Ewell), manager of the fleabag hotel that undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) calls home. Billy is among the patrons of a roadside tavern who are taken hostage by a particular nasty gang of robbers. Naturally, Baretta regards it as his sacred duty to rescue his old pal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
After 27 years, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) finally catches up to the man who killed his father. In a deathbed confession, the killer insists that he pulled the trigger on the orders of his boss. Alas, the mastermind of the murder is an "untouchable", a philanthropic pillar of society. One suspects that this fact won't stop Baretta from avenging his father's death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) reluctantly finds himself cast in the role of child psychologist. It all begins when three teenagers run away from their respective homes, threatening to kill themselves if they're forced to return. Baretta must not only talk the kids out of suicide, but also find out what it is that makes the runaways despise their families. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Ned Glass and Joshua Shelley make their first Baretta appearances as Sam and Leo, a pair of elderly, eternally luckless horse players who live in the same rundown hotel occupied by undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake). In their latest effort to get rich quick, Sam and Leo make off with a van full of mink coats. The trouble is, both the van and the minks had already been stolen by someone else--and that someone else isn't above killing people to get back what is unlawfully his. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Troubled teenager Don Locker (John Friedrich) takes the first step in launching a reign of terror by stealing a pickup truck. Don then persuades his older brother Ray (Brad Davis) to help him swipe 30 cases of army rifles. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake), aware that the combination of the unstable Don Locker and all that weaponry is potentially disastrous, races against time to foil the brothers' scheme. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In his second Baretta appearance, Slim Pickens is cast as Charlie, a middle-aged, mother-dominated newspaper vendor. After he helps break up a mugging, Charlie is a marked man, obliging undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) to offer his protection. And as long as he is being so helpful, Baretta decides to play matchmaker between Charlie (Slim Pickens) and the equally unwed Amy (Sheree North). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The "heavy" in this episode is a crooked federal narcotics agent. Enjoying a brisk sideline of peddling dope during his off-hours, the agent commits murder when one of his customers discovers his true identity. Meanwhile, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) tries to root out the rotten apple in the law-enforcement barrel. Originally slated to air on January 5, 1977, "Don't Kill the Sparrow" was bumped forward to January 12. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1977
A particularly vicious heroin dealer haunts the local playgrounds, getting school kids hooked on the stuff. When his "connection" quits after too many youngsters have overdosed, the dealer needs someone else to push his merchandise. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) tries to put the villain out of business by posing as his new connection. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) finds himself dealing with a group of disabled protestors, fervently demanding their civil rights from an unsympathetic "normal" society. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
This time, undercover detective Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) is up against two police officers (Alex Rocco, Scoey Mitchlll) who sideline in extortion. Truth to tell, however, the "cops" are both phonies, preying upon other crooks who can't go to the authorities for protection. "Playin' Police" was the final episode of Baretta's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Mario Roccuzzo guest stars as Joey, a reformed alcoholic. As a personal favor to his friend, undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake), Joey pretends to fall off the wagon. It is all part of a scheme to get the goods on Joey's former boss, a blackmailer/pornographer/pimp who sidelines in murder. Onetime Bonanza star Pernell Roberts makes quite a meal of his supporting role in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake
- 1977
Detective Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) again goes undercover, infiltrating the seamy world of male prostitution. A young hustler has been murdered, and Baretta is determined to find out why--and if the killing had any further significance than it seemed to at first glance. The guest cast includes a very youthful Dennis Quaid. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
