Henry Calvin Movies

The first person the audience sees in Ship of Fools is dwarf Michael Dunn, who speaks to viewers directly and acts as a Greek chorus throughout the film. It begins on the deck of an ocean liner travelling from Vera Cruz to Bremerhaven. The time is the 1930s, so close and yet so far from war. The cross-section of humanity on board includes ship's doctor Oscar Werner, Spanish political activist Simone Signoret, aging coquette Vivien Leigh, hedonistic baseball player Lee Marvin, philosophical Jew Heinz Ruhmann, a smattering of pro- and anti-Hitlerites (Jose Ferrer plays the nastiest and most vocal "pro") and young lovers George Segal and Elizabeth Ashley. Yes, it's Grand Hotel at sea, a feast for stargazers and an endurance test for those who aren't comfortable with non-stop speechmaking. Despite such lines as "What can the Nazis do? Kill all six million of us?," Ship of Fools manages to stay afloat throughout its 148 minutes. Michael Dunn was nominated for an Academy Award for his interlocutory characterization; the rest of the performances range from brilliant to merely filling up the room. Other Oscars were presented to cinematographer Ernest Lazslo and to the art-direction staff. Ship of Fools was adapted by Abby Mann from the novel by Katharine Ann Porter. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rob (Dick Van Dyke), Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), Buddy (Morey Amsterdam), Pickles (Joan Shawlee), Sally (Rose Marie), and Mel (Richard Deacon) are invited to spend a weekend at the tourist lodge owned by Rob's old army buddy Sam Pomerantz (Henry Calvin). It so happens that the lodge has a floor show, and the star attraction is comic impressionist Danny Brewster (Lennie Weinrib). Alas, Rob accidentally incapacitates Danny while playing tennis with him. What to do? Why, it's simple: Rob and the gang will stage a lavish "song, dance, and snappy patter" show themselves! This is the episode that features the unforgettable Laurel and Hardy routine, with Dick Van Dyke as Stan and Henry Calvin as Ollie. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this one-hour spin-off of Walt Disney's popular TV series Zorro, the tiny pueblo of Los Angeles is again targeted for plunder by a bandido. This time, the villain is Ramón Castillo (Ricardo Montalban), an old enemy of leading citizen Don Diego (Guy Williams). Stumbling onto the fact that Diego and the dashing masked do-gooder Zorro are one and the same, Castillo plans to use this knowledge to keep Zorro away while he steals an Army payroll from the fat and fatuous Sergeant García (Henry Calvin). "Auld Acquaintance" originally aired as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the first episode of a two-part Zorro adventure, dashing Mexican bandit leader El Cuchillo (Gilbert Roland) and his gang are diverted from robbing a stagecoach by alluring señorita Chulita (Rita Moreno). Changing his plans, El Cuchillo decides to hide out in the pueblo of Los Angeles to steal a valuable cache of silver from the local warehouse. But that dauntless masked do-gooder Zorro (Guy Williams) (aka Don Diego de la Vega), is not about to let that happen. Originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology, "El Bandido" was a one-hour spin-off of Disney's popular weekly series Zorro, which ran from 1957 to 1959. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Taken from the Walt Disney "Zorro" television series, this film was created from a number of episodes starring the popular masked hero (Guy Williams). ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

Child star Kevin "Moochie" Cocoran shares his top billing with a chimp, Mr. Stubbs, in this story about a forlorn lad who runs away from his foster parents believing he is unloved. Little Toby and his pet chimp leave home and end up at the circus as an oily yet comic Harry Tupper (Bob Sweeney), in charge of a concessions stand, takes them under his wing. Between the circus acts and friendly performers, as well as the antics of Mr. Stubbs and Harry himself, there is plenty to amuse viewers of any age. Sure enough, Toby manages to come to the rescue of the circus when it most needs help, and because this is a Disney film, those foster parents are certain to discover his whereabouts. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Director Lesley Selander, a western specialist with humble ambitions whose work has fostered a minor cult, was the man behind the megaphone in Broken Star. Bill Williams stars as a deputy sheriff who encounters stiff resistance when he investigates the murder of a Mexican. Only dance hall girl Lita Baron and marshal Addison Richards seem interested in bringing the culprit to justice. When Williams locates the guilty man, he wishes he hadn't; it turns out to be his best friend and fellow deputy Howard Duff. Striking a blow for tolerance (in standard western terms, of course), Broken Star is a solid medium-budget job from a modest but talented craftsman. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi