John Newland Movies
During the late '50s, John Newland was best known as a television as host of the fantasy series One Step Beyond, which specialized in dramas dealing with difficult-to-explain phenomenon involving telepathy, life after death, and other stuff of fantasy and speculation. He made his first feature film, That Night (1957) -- a daring, ahead-of-its-time story of a businessman's heart attack and its effect on his family -- during that same period. His second movie, The Violators (1957), attracted less attention, and since then Newland has worked largely in television-based material, including The Spy With My Face (1968), an above-average feature film adaptation of a Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode featuring Senta Berger with the usual cast of Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, and Leo G. Carroll, and TV movies such as A Sensitive Passionate Man (1977) and The Suicide's Wife (1979). ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide- 1987
The "history is inviolate" theory so chillingly elucidated in Ray Bradbury's The Sound of Thunder is recycled for the made-for-TV Timestalkers. William Devane plays a genially eccentric professor who teams with time traveller Lauren Hutton to prevent the course of history from being disastrously altered. In a manner slightly reminiscent of the 1984 movie hit The Terminator, Devane and Hutton must deal with Klaus Kinski, a mad scientist from the 26th century, who plans to hopscotch through time, spreading death and destruction wherever he goes. The odyssey takes the main characters to all manner of locales, including the Old West. Veteran actor Forrest Tucker made his final screen appearance in Timestalkers, which originally aired March 10, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Devane, Lauren Hutton, (more)
- 1985
Five Holocaust survivors conspire to have revenge upon the Nazi doctor who tormented them in this taut made-for-TV drama. All five are women living in Los Angeles and all have vividly painful memories of the atrocities he performed upon them. The memories come flooding back when they find him innocently running a local restaurant. Realizing that no one else will help them, the ladies conspire to kill him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Erich Maria Remarque's novel Arch of Triumph was originally adapted to film in 1948 with stars Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman under the direction of Lewis Milestone. This TV-movie remake aired May 29, 1985. Anthony Hopkins and Lesley-Anne Down play the star-crossed lovers whose prewar romance in Paris is endangered by intrigue and revenge. Hopkins, a doctor recently escaped from a concentration camp, rescues Down, the mistress of a dissipated playboy, from committing suicide. Their chance for happiness is sabotaged by Hopkins' desire to wreak vengeance on SS officer Donald Pleasence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Historically, most multiple-personality cases have been women. Based on the autobiographical book by Henry Hawksworth, The Five of Me centers on a rare male victim of this bizarre syndrome. David Birney plays Hawksworth, who for his first 36 years lived with four separate personalities. When a fifth manifested itself, the other four displayed reactions ranging from petulant to sadistic. Dee Wallace co-stars as Hawksworth's wife Ann ("Ann is married to five men!" screamed the insensitive ad copy for this film). Made for television, The Five of Me was first broadcast on May 12, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Angel City plays like a Grapes of Wrath updated to the 1980s. Ralph Waite plays a West Virginia farmer who, faced with the prospect of starving to death on his unproductive land, packs up his family and moves to the so-called Promised Land of Florida. There he goes to work on what is euphemistically called a collective farm. But soon he finds himself surrounded in squalor and misery, working back-breaking hours for slave-labor wages. Paul Winfield, Jennifer Warren and Mitchell Ryan co-star in this made for TV movie, which debuted November 12, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In this drama, a woman attempts to put together her shattered life after her husband inexplicably commits suicide. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1977
We are told time and again in this 1977 TV movie that star David Janssen is the "sensitive, passionate man" of the title. But when Janssen, playing an aerospace engineer who loses his job, crawls into the booze bottle, there's little evidence that he's anything more than aloof and self-pitying. Angie Dickinson all but dons a wing and halo as Janssen's incredibly forgiving and understanding wife. The only people we truly care about in this film are the couple's children, played with a pleasing lack of affectation by Todd Lookinland and Justin Randi. As superficial as its title, A Sensitive, Passionate Man seems to argue that no matter how much emotional damage you incur, it's all OK if your family adores you. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Based primarily on the "Silver John" tales of Manly Wade Wellman, this enthusiastically silly low-budgeter tells the story of young John (Hedge Capers), a balladeer who returns home to find that his Grandpappy (Denver Pyle) -- also named John -- has decided to do battle with the Devil by playing a special tune (penned by Hoyt Axton, no less!) on a silver-stringed guitar. Unwisely, the elder John chose silver dollars to make his strings, realizing too late that modern-day dollar coins contain no silver at all (due, of course, to an evil government conspiracy), and his soul is lost. The younger John decides to follow the old man's path -- only not quite as stupidly -- and creates his own silver strings (this time genuine). In his travels, he encounters an undertaker who made a deal with a witch (Susan Strasberg) in exchange for gold; an evil gatekeeper named O.J. and his "Big Ugly Bird" (depicted via stop-motion animation); and a cotton plantation run by a voodoo overlord. He eventually reaches Washington, D.C., presumably to do battle with the ultimate evil: the Army Corps of Engineers. Sticking to the essence of the Appalachian ghost stories on which Wellman's stories were based, director John Newland (erstwhile host of One Step Beyond) conjures some delightfully bizarre images despite the painfully low budget, but one wonders exactly where he was going with this. This film is also known as Who Fears the Devil. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Ranking with Dan Curtis' Trilogy of Terror as one of the spookiest made-for-TV horror films of the 1970's, this atmospheric monster chiller stars Kim Darby and Jim Hutton as a comfortable, reasonably happy young couple who inherit the archetypal "Old Dark House" from the wife Sally's deceased aunt. While renovating the creepy mansion, they enter a previously-sealed room, which features a securely bricked-up fireplace. Despite the insistence of a local contractor (My Three Sons' William Demarest) that they leave the room undisturbed, Sally's husband manages to open the flue, releasing a horde of shriveled mini-monsters imprisoned there for decades. The little demons immediately fixate their malevolent attention on Sally in an effort to claim her soul, a mission which can only be averted by the love of her husband -- which, in light of his self-centered careerism, means poor Sally's pretty much on her own. Director John Newland manages to pull off this one-note premise with some effective, frightening scenes -- especially when he chooses to show as little of the goofy-looking monsters as possible -- but it's hard to sustain this level of suspense for a full 90 minutes. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Jim Hutton and Anjanette Comer have the misfortune to be honeymooning while a forest fire ranges all around them. But that's only the beginning, folks. The lovebirds are also being stalked by crazed hunters Tony Franciosa and Peter Lawford. Deadly Hunt is based on Autumn of a Hunter, a novel by Pat Stadley, but it also owes quite a lot to Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game. Made for television, the film debuted October 1, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Crawlspace is a quirky made-for-TV movie about a strange young drifter (Tom Harper) who arrives in a small New England town. He is sheltered by a generous middle-aged couple (Arthur Kennedy and Teresa Wright), but he insists upon living in a tiny crawlspace in the couple's cellar. His hosts had hoped that the boy would fill an emotional gap in their childless lives, but the young visitor refuses to leave his cramped living area, where he harbors disturbing notions of taking revenge on a world he feels has wronged him. Crawlspace was adapted from the suspense novel by Herbert Lieberman. It should not be confused with a 1986 slasher flick also titled Crawlspace, wherein Klaus Kinski hides in the homes of the beautiful girls he intends to murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
- R
The British/American co-production My Lover, My Son stars Romy Schneider as Frances, the unhappy wife of businessman Robert (Donald Houston). When her lover is accidentally drowned, Frances turns to her teenaged son James (Dennis Waterman) for comfort. Her husband doesn't like this set-up and bundles James off to college, but upon his return the boy enters into an affair with his own mother. Robert discovers the incestuous couple in an embrace and reacts violently, whereupon Frances kills him in self defense. Knocked unconscious during the struggle, James thinks he is the killer and takes the rap. The boy is released on the grounds of self defense and returns to his mother -- only to renounce her when he discovers that he's the illegitimate son of his mother's dead lover. MGM was the American distributor for My Lover, My Son, and that low vibration you feel is Louis B. Mayer spinning in his grave. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Romy Schneider, Donald Houston, (more)
- 1967
The Enterprise is called to respond to an unprovoked attack by the enemy Klingons on the neutral planet of Organia in this episode of the original Star Trek television series. Thanks to the strategic significance of the planet's location, the attack threatens to initiate total war between the Federation and the Klingons. In an attempt to stem the tide of the Klingon invasion, Kirk and Spock visit the planet's surface, discovering a civilization that remains surprisingly sedate, despite the increasing presence of Klingon soldiers. Kirk and Spock attempt to disguise themselves as natives to explore the situation further, but they are discovered by the rival Klingon commander. When violent conflict seems inevitable, however, the Organians prove to be more aware and more powerful than they might seem, unexpectedly stepping forward to intervene. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Some extra footage was added to segments of two episodes from the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964-68) to create this feature film-length espionage adventure that was released theatrically in some countries to cash in on the James Bond craze. Ordered by their secret organization U.N.C.L.E. to stop the sinister group THRUSH from obtaining a top-secret nuclear weapon, spies Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) travel to Switzerland. Once there, Solo is lured into a trap by a comely enemy agent, Serena (Senta Berger). Kidnapped by THRUSH, Solo is replaced with an exact double who infiltrates U.N.C.L.E. Kuryakin eventually becomes suspicious due to his friend's odd behavior and takes steps to learn the truth, while Solo attempts to escape from captivity and stop THRUSH's plot to get its hands on the weapon. The episodes represented in the film are "The Double Affair," which first aired November 17, 1964, and "The Four Steps Affair," which originally aired February 22, 1965. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Vaughn, Senta Berger, (more)
- 1964
THRUSH replaces UNCLE agent Napoleon Solo with an exact look-alike. It is the first step in a master scheme to gain control of the world's most powerful secret weapon. Meanwhile, Illya suspects that there's something amiss with the phony Solo, and with the help of stewardess Sandy Wister (Sharon Farrell), he sets out to foil THRUSH's machinations. The episode's climax finds series star Robert Vaughn doing battle with -- Robert Vaughn. Also appearing is Senta Berger as seductive enemy agent Serena. Written by Clyde Ware and filmed in color (though originally broadcast in black-and-white), "The Double Affair" first aired on November 17, 1964. An expanded theatrical-feature version, written by Ware and Joseph Cavelli, was released in 1966 under the title The Spy With My Face; this film also included scenes from another Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode, "The Four Steps Affair." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Suffering under the tyranny of his nasty boss, Sylvester Tupper (Wendell Holmes), investment broker Herbert J. Wiggam (Dick York) devises a scheme to get even -- and to make a profit in the bargain. Together with two other disgruntled employees, Wiggam steals a 565,000-dollar bond that has been delivered to the office. Alas, although the trio successfully pulls off the heist, the valuable bond is lost -- and for a while, it looks like only the office cleaning lady will profit from the amateur crooks' bumbling. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Out of favor with his client, the Holdwell Safe Corporation, ad executive Harrison Fell (Robert Webber) desperately concocts a spectacular publicity stunt to prove the efficiency of the new 801 Burglar-Proof Safe. To this end, he hires retired safecracker Sammy Morrissey (Paul Hartman) to attempt to rob the safe, offering the man a prize of 50,000 dollars. But Sammy balks at the prospect, arguing that he is now in another line of work...and despite his criminal past, no one can accuse Sammy of telling a lie, as proven by the ironic outcome of the episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
This episode is dominated by the presence of a pre-stardom Robert Duvall, here ironically cast as an unsuccessful actor named Bart Conway. When he finds out that fellow actor Jerry Lane (Charles Robinson) is his main competition for an upcoming role, he invites Jerry to his apartment to prepare for the audition -- hoping of course, to scare off the younger actor with his "method" histrionics. In the course of the evening, Bart gets carried away and ends up killing Jerry, leaving him with the problem of disposing of the body. The method hit upon by the methodical Mr. Conway is gruesome but efficient -- or it would have been had he not forgotten about a certain ice bucket in his living room. "Bad Actor" was remade for the 1985 revival of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, with Martin Sheen taking over for Robert Duvall. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Having been appointed to the Bench, wealthy and ambitious British lawyer Harvey Laurence (Donald Pleasence) is being fitted for his judicial robes when he finds a strange key in his pocket. As it turns out, this key will unlock a unsavory secret in Laurence's past, in which he had allowed an innocent man to go to the gallows for the murder of a woman that the lawyer knew to be still alive. A shattering denoument in London's Hyde Park caps this episode, one of several One Step Beyond entries filmed in England. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Forbidden to fight in the US because he has sustained too many serious injuries, boxer Yank Dawson (a pre-Death Wish Charles Bronson) travels to war-torn London in hopes of continuing his carrer. But just before a crucial bout, Yank is visited by an old colleague,who warns him to pack up his gloves and quit the ring. Normally, there would nothing out of the ordinary about such a warning...but this old colleague happens to be long dead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Bronson
- 1961
Having quit his job as a newspaperman, Phillip Werris (Lonny Chapman) tries to make a go of a farm in Canada, but before long he and his wife Jan (Jena Engstrom) are flat broke. With no other option, Phillip decides to go back to writing, and begins turning out freelance articles. . .in his sleep. Curiouser still, the articles written by the slumbering journalist are about a pair of dead men whom Phillip has neither seen nor previously heard of--but whom he describes down to the smallest detail. This episode was remade on the sequel series Next Step Beyondin 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
The year is 1777: the place, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. With his troops demoralized and facing starvation, General George Washington (Robert Douglas) writes a letter to the Continental Congress, asking permission to negotiate peace terms with the British. As he wrestles with his conscience over whether or not he should deliver the letter, Washington experiences a miraculous vision of future events--a paranormal phenomenon that will change the course of history. And yes, this episode is based on a true story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Seeking emotional and financial security, young Elisa Minden (Antoinette Bower) marries the wealthy, and considerably older, Sir Humphrey J. Orford (Michael Rennie). Before long, however, Elisa has reason to regret her decision -- especially when evidence surfaces indicating that Sir Humphrey, a widower, used torture to keep his first wife from cheating on him. But this is nothing compared to the double-barrelled shock Elisa receives upon meeting an ominously silent woman named Flora (Shirley O'Hara). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Future "Phantom of the Opera" star Michael Crawford) appears in this episode as Tony Hudson, a young medical student who conducts an after-dinner experiment by hypnotizing Mary Low (Elizabeth Sellars), wife of his best friend Jim Low (Geoffrey Toone). While under Tony's spell, Mary sees and hears a woman trapped in an elevator, and becomes hysterical. Now the only way that Mary can preserve her sanity is to locate that mysterious elevator--and the woman inside. This is one of several One Step Beyond episodes filmed in England. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
