Joseph Campanella Movies
Actor Joseph Campanella's father, a Sicilian immigrant, was an early member of the American Federation of Musicians; perhaps as a result, the younger Campanella remained active in liberal "underdog" political causes all his life. At eighteen, Campanella became one of the youngest-ever skippers in the wartime navy. He went on to attend Columbia University, then began his acting career on the New York stage and in TV soap operas. Over the next three decades he would portray Joe Turino on The Guiding Light, Alec Fielding on The Doctors, Dr. Ted Steffen on the nighttime TV serial The Doctors and the Nurses and Senator Harper Devereaux on Days of Our Lives. Additional TV assignments for Campanella included the role of Mike Connors' boss on the first season (1967-68) of Mannix; attorney Brian Darrell on four seasons (1969-73) of The Bold Ones; and Hutch Corrigan on the 1985-86 season of The Colbys. He also narrated several National Geographic Specials, and was host of the syndicated 1983 revival of This is Your Life. A steadfast film supporting player, Campanella was finally awarded a lead in 1972's "rampaging rat" thriller Ben, only to find that his was the second name above the title: "Leave it to me," Campanella remarked with his usual self-deprecation, "to get second billing to a rat in my first big starring movie." Recent credits include a "guest voice" role as Dr. Thorne on the Fox Network's Batman: The Animated Series. Joseph Campanella is the brother of Frank Campanella, a character actor usually cast as uniformed big-city cops. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1971
A charming doctor who kills his female patients is discovered by a private detective in this made for television movie. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1971
In this courtroom drama, an attorney investigates the murder of a woman and comes up with some very interesting findings. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Vacationing at a mountain cabin, Ironside (Raymond Burr) ends up trapped in a blizzard with an old friend named Harry Peters (Joseph Campanella). It soon becomes painfully obvious that Peters is a drug addict who will become dangerously violent once his supply runs out. Ironside's only hope for survival is to help Peters go "cold turkey" while the two men are confined to the cabin--but it doesn't look as though the hapless junkie will be able to withstand the ordeal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
The Bold Ones was the umbrella title given a group of rotating hour-long TV series, which ran from 1969 to 1973. Joining established Bold Ones components The Doctors and The Lawyers in 1970 was The Senator, starring Hal Holbrook as RFK-like Senator Hays Stowe. The pilot for The Senator was A Clear and Present Danger, which first aired March 21, 1970. In this 2-hour "problem drama", Senator Stowe tackles the issue of air pollution after a close friend dies of emphysema. The Emmy-nominated Hal Holbrook, Sharon Acker (as Erin Stowe) and Cindy Eilbacher (as Norma Stowe) carried their roles over to the "Senator" series proper, while Michael Tolan was cast as Stowe's aide Jordan Boyle, the role played in A Clear and Present Danger by Joseph Campanella. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Producer Roy Huggins and director Douglas Heyes, Maverick veterans both, reteamed for the made-for-TV Drive Hard, Drive Fast. Brian Kelly stars as a race car driver who would have been better off sticking to the track. Upon hopping out of his slicked-up auto, Kelly gets mixed up in an unsavory love triangle involving Joan Collins and Joseph Campanella. Before long, Kelly has to keep peeking over his shoulder to avoid being hacked to piece by a machete-wielding assailant. Completed in 1969, Drive Hard, Drive Fast was not telecast until September 11, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Season Thee of Ironside begins as wheelchair-bound detective Robert T. Ironside (Raymond Burr) and his team set their sighs on prolific con artist Raymond Otis Baker (Joseph Campanella), who specializes in bilking little old ladies out of their life savings. Unfortunately for Baker--or, as he is now calling himself, Mr. Braithwaite--his most recent victim was the aunt (Beah Richards) of Ironside's bodyguard Mark (Don Mitchell). In order to trap the elusive "R.O.B.", Ed (Don Galloway) and Eve (Barbara Anderson) pose as a wealthy couple, ripe for plucking. But the plan goes awry when one of the villain's accomplices recognizes Ed from an earlier sting operation! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
The Whole World Is Watching is a TV movie starring Burl Ives, Joseph Campanella and James Farentino as a high-profile law partnership. They take on the case of student activist Rick Ely, who is accused of killing a campus cop during a riot. Basking in the publicity for his cause, Ely refuses to take the stand in his own defense. This leaves the lawyers but one alternative: to locate the only eyewitness, another radical with reasons of his own for keeping silent. Taking hold of a hot issue and provocative title, The Whole World Is Watching cops out by trying too hard to be fair to everyone. This film and the subsequent Sound of Anger were both pilot films for The Lawyers one-third of the rotating NBC weekly series The Bold Ones. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In his TV-movie debut, Stewart Granger plays a philandering photographer whose wealthy wife, Lois Nettleton, catches him in an adulterous situation. Not wishing to give up his cushy life style, Granger rigs a fatal automobile accident for Nettleton before she begins divorce proceedings. She survives the crash, but suffers a loss of memory. Granger must now figure out how to eliminate her before her amnesia passes and she can finger him as her would-be killer. Filmed in Mexico, Any Second Now is highly recommended to anyone who hasn't seen the story before in its many previous incarnations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) gets to show off his tennis prowess when he goes undercover to end the criminal activities of suave racketeer John Harris (Joseph Campanella). The elusive Harris has ordered the killing of a Federal agent, and Erskine hopes to trap the man into incriminating himself. Meanwhile, Harris' paid assassin prepares to eliminate the only witness to the killing, a lonely teenage girl named Barbara (Brooke Bundy). Featured in a villainous role is future Hill Street Blues star Daniel J. Travanti, here billed as "Dan Travanty." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
The first amphibian crawled out of the primordial ooze some 350 million years ago. Today they exist on every continent and in every sea. With its trademark legacy of unearthing the wild and the bizarre, National Geographic takes the viewer into the exotic world of reptiles and amphibians, giving viewers a glimpse into the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. Highlights include such creatures as the mystical Komodo dragon and the evolutionary link between the dinosaur and its modern-day equivalents, the alligator and crocodile. ~ C. Dwayne Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Beautiful but dangerous enemy agent Felicia Vabar (Kate Woodville) engineers the theft of valuable NATO missile-defense plans. Fortunately, only half of the plans are in Vabar's possession: It is up to the IMF to protect the other half--and, of course, to recover the already stolen documents. Journeying far behind the Iron Curtain, Rollin puts his life on the line when he apparently arranges a deal with Vabar and her henchmen. Written by Barney Slater, "The Spy" was first telecast on January 7, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1967
Once more penetrating the Iron Curtain, the IMF agents attempt to rescue rocket scientist Helmut Cherlotov (Joseph Campanella), who has developed a high-tech antiballistic missle system. Unfortunately, Cherlotov, who was supposed to have defected to the West along with his wife Karen (Mala Powers), has had a change of heart, and doesn't want to leave. It is up to Rollin, posing as an East German official, to convince Cherlotov to join Karen in the U.S. Originally telecast January 14, 1967, "The Reluctant Dragon" was written by Chester Krumholz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Hill, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1967
- Add The St. Valentine's Day Massacre to QueueAdd The St. Valentine's Day Massacre to top of Queue
Schlockmeister Roger Corman produced this graphically violent chronicle of the Chicago gangster wars of the 1920s and the events that lead to the bloody title showdown between rival mobsters Al Capone (Jason Robards) and Bugs Moran (Ralph Meeker) that marked a brutal end to a terrifying era. Fred Steiner's film score is effectively mixed with popular songs from the 1920s, and the re-creation of gangster-era Chicago is a credit to the set designers. Historic and insightful narration is dramatically provided by Paul Frees, giving the film the flavor of a docudrama. Jean Hale plays Moran's gun moll, who is mercilessly kneed in the stomach while arguing over a fur coat. Though The St. Valentine's Day Massacre was heralded by critics at the time of its initial release, their opinion of the film has changed with each decade as they waver on the cinematic value of all of Corman's work. Audiences continue to relish the film, which is often shown on the anniversary of the bloody executions. Watch for Jack Nicholson as one of the unfortunate victims. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Robards, Jr., George Segal, (more)
- 1967
The Fugitive wraps up its four-season run with Part One of the series' legendary final episode "The Judgment". Having learned that Fred Johnson (Bill Raisch), the elusive one-armed man who committed the murder for which Kimble was wrongfully condemned, has been arrested in Tucson, Kimble makes a beeline to the police station--followed closely by his own perennial pursuer Lt. Gerard (Barry Morse). But both men manage to elude capture: Kimble is alerted to Gerard's presence by longtime friend Jean Carlisle (Diane Baker), while Johnson is bailed out by an unknown benefactor. During a confrontation with blackmailing bailbondsman Art Howe (Michael Constantine), Johnson commits another murder and also learns the identity of the person who posted his bond--whereupon he heads for Kimble's home town of Stafford, Indiana. Before long, Kimble has caught up with Johnson...only to be apprehended by the relentless Gerard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Travelling to California under the alias "Jim Parker", Kimble (David Janssen) is trapped by a sheriff named Corby (John Larch), who unexpectedly strikes a bargain with the fugitive. It seems that Corby's estranged son Larry (Beau Bridges), in desperate need of money for himself and his pregnant girlfriend Ellen (Melinda Plowman), has been wounded while attempting a holdup. If Kimble agrees to tend to Larry's injuries and assist in covering up his crime, the Sheriff promises to set him free. It's a tempting offer--providing that the duplicitous Corby can be trusted. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Working on a tip, Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) goes undercover at a Colorado federal prison, where becomes the cellmate of hard-bitten "lifer" Fritz Moline (Joe Campanella). Having spent five years formulating an escape plan, Moline has no qualms about killing anyone who might get in his way--including his new "buddy" Erskine. William Reynolds, who would join the series during Season Three as Special Agent Tom Colley, is here cast as another FBI operative named Kendall Lisbon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
George Savano (Edward Binns), an auto-parts dealer with mob connections, hires a new employee named Chris Benson--who, of course, is really fugitive Richard Kimble (David Janssen). When his sister Stella Savano (Diana Hyland) shows signs of being attracted to Kimble, the fiercely protective George warns Kimble to lay off or else. What George doesn't know is that Stella has already had a torrid affair with another employee, Jesse Strangl (Joseph Campanella), which resulted in an illegitimate baby. To prevent George from killing Jesse should he ever learn the truth, the delusional Stella convinces herself that Kimble is the father of her child. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr. took a stab at directing with this '60s-era melodrama about college students dealing with the realities of love, sex, and war. Peter Fonda and Sharon Hugueny star as Eddie and Pam, the titular young lovers. An art student and teacher's assistant, the two meet in college and proceed to fall into a passionate affair. Emotional tumult later follows though, when Pam announces she is pregnant with Eddie's child. Also starring Nick Adams' and Deborah Walley, The Young Lovers was the final big-screen appearance by Hugueny whose career spiraled into disarray after her short marriage to producer Robert Evans. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Fonda, Sharon Hugueny, (more)
- 1964
While Hanley (Rick Jason) recovers from battle wounds, he is temporarily replaced by veteran campaigner Lt. Douglas (Joseph Campanella). Almost immediately, Douglas alienates Saunders (Vic Morrow) and his combat-weary men by treating them like raw recruits. Is Douglas taking the right approach to his command responsibilities, or will his martinet attitude backfire when the going gets tough? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Recognizing the man in a picture snapped by a sidewalk photographer as Richard Kimble (David Janssen), Lt. Gerard (Barry Morse) rushes to Chicago in hopes of finally capturing the fugitive. Seeking a hideout, Kimble takes refuge in the home of two crotchety middle-agers named Jake (John McGiver) and Sam (John Fiedler), who by a strange coincidence are in the middle of a lengthy debate over Kimble's innocence. Legendary sportscaster Chick Hearn appears as a TV newscaster in this semi-comic episode, which brings the first season of The Fugitive to a close. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Hanley's life is saved by quick-thinking soldier Vince D'Amato (Joseph Campanella), who in the process is killed by enemy fire. Through a series of misunderstandings, D'Amato's nervous friend Wharton (Frank Gorshin) is given credit for his dead buddy's act of bravery , and is recommended by Hanley for the Silver Star. But does Wharton have what it takes to be a real hero--and what, precisely, is the definition of heroism? This episode was written by Richard Maibaum, better known for his script contributions to the "James Bond" film series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
This episode of The Untouchables was intended as the pilot for a spinoff series starring Scott Brady as celebrated war correspondent and gonzo journalist Floyd Gibbons. When his fellow reporter Carleton Edmunds (Paul Langton) is murdered while investigating a illegal scrap-metal operation, Gibbons picks up where Edmunds left off. Though no one admires Gibbons more than Elliot Ness (Robert Stack), the Federal agent is anxious to prevent the dashing, eyepatch-wearing globetrotter from walking into a death trap during a climactic confrontation with villain-of-the-week John Brecker (Alan Baxter). Featured in the cast as Edmunds' widow is Dorothy Malone, with whom Robert Stack memorably costarred in the 1956 theatrical feature Written on the Wind. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This true crime story was hardly "ripped from today's headlines," since the events took place some 20 to 30 years before the movie was released. Still, Murder, Inc. is not afraid to name names, notably those of syndicate boss Louis "Lepke" Buchalter (David J. Stewart) and killer Abe Reles (Peter Falk), who squeals on the Mob to earn immunity. The activities of Buchalter's murder-for-hire operation are played against a fictional story about a nightclub singer (Stuart Whitman) and a dancer (May Britt). Murder, Inc. has a queasy, unsettling quality, due in part to some offbeat casting: TV comedian Henry Morgan co-stars as a dead-serious federal agent, while "human joke machine" Morey Amsterdam shows up as a cabaret entertainer who is stabbed by the Mob. The film was a major boost for the career of Peter Falk, who very nearly managed to parlay his Murder, Inc. supporting role into an Academy Award. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stuart Whitman, May Britt, (more)
