John Peyser Movies
As the director of such Golden Age of Television classics as Studio One, John Peyser was a key player in one of the most exciting and important periods in media history. A pioneer who became involved in television production at its earliest stages, Peyser would continue to work on such popular small-screen series as Hawaii Five-O, Charlie's Angels, and CHiPs well into his later years. A native of New York City who was born in 1916, Peyser got his break in television as a producer and director for NBC after graduating from Colgate University. Though his career behind the camera was briefly halted due to service in the Psychological Warfare branch of the U.S. Army during World War II, television was in his blood and the once popular director's skills would grow even stronger after returning stateside and making a new home at CBS. Working under his former commanding officer William Paley in his postwar years, Peyser directed numerous live broadcasts in the Golden Age including Prudential Theater, The Frank Sinatra Show, Suspense, and Starlight Theater in addition to the aforementioned weekly drama Studio One. Following a relocation to the West Coast in 1955, Peyser directed such efforts as The Virginian, Perry Mason, and most of his later work as a contract director for Warner Bros. and Universal. A subsequent relocation to Spain did little to slow Peyser's tireless work, and it was while living in Europe that the director would helm such American studio films as Honeymoon With a Stranger (1969) and Kashmiri Run (1970) before returning stateside to work on The Young Warriors and direct numerous episodes of television's Ripley's Believe It or Not with Jack Palance. A resident of Woodland Hills, CA, in his later years, John Peyser died in his sleep at his home in mid-August 2002. He was 86. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide- 1982
When a Hollywood sex symbol is kidnapped for ransom, the daredevil team, The Fantastic Seven, head to Miami where the filming occurred. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1980
Forced to take a brief leave of absence, Quincy (Jack Klugman) is none too pleased to find out that his temporary replacement, pathologist Gerry McCracken (Beverly Sassoon), performs a major autopsy on congressman Lawrence Bridges, who died in an apparent accident. When it appears that Dr. McCracken is rushing the procedure to satisfy the media's demand for a quick diagnosis, Quincy returns to LA to give the poor woman a hard time. Ultimately, however, Quincy and McCracken work in close harmony to prove that the volatile congressman was the victim of foul play. Watch for a young Dennis Haysbert in a small role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
One of two 1979 TV pilot films concerning the exploits of crimefighting movie stuntmen (the other was Stunts Unlimited), Stunt Seven was telecast May 30, 1979. Christopher Connelly heads the cast as ace stunter Hill Singleton. His six-person "team" includes Skip (Christopher Lloyd), Elena (Morgan Brittany), Wally (Bob Seagren), Kenny (Soon Teck Oh), Horatio (Brian Brodsky) and Dinah (Juanin Clay). This time around, "Stunt Seven" must rescue sexy movie star Elke Sommer from the clutches of a well-guarded modern pirate. The fact that the villain is played by Patrick MacNee of Avengers fame should tip one off that Stunt Seven was conceived with tongue firmly in cheek. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
The TV adventure series B. J. and the Bear premiered as a midseason replacement on February 10, 1979. Greg Evigan starred as B.J. McCay, a wildcat trucker who'd do anything for a price, as long as it was honest. He travelled the length and breadth of the country in the company of his pet chimp "Bear." In the 90-minute pilot episode, B.J. is framed for a crime he didn't commit by his perennial enemy, corrupt Southern sheriff Elroy P. Lobo (Claude Akins). He is busted out of jail by toothsome female inmates JoAnn Harris and Randi Oakes. The B.J. and the Bear series proper ran until 1981, by which time Sheriff Lobo had turned honest, thus smoothing the road for the spin-off series Lobo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A psychopathic killer administers a series of death sentences to various pornographic models. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Anatomy of a Crime is comprised of two episodes from the 1968-69 TV series The Outsider. Darren McGavin earns top billing as David Ross, an ex-cop who became a private eye after cooling his heels in prison on a trumped-up murder charge. Ever on the outside looking in, Ross only accepts case from other "outsiders" who've been wronged by Society. Most of the footage in Anatomy of a Crime consists of the 60-minute Outsider episode "There Was a Little Girl", wherein a young woman claims to be the kidnapped-in-infancy daughter of a wealthy industrialist. Joan Blondell, Simon Scott, and Dorothy Green do guest-star duty in this 1968 installment. Woven into the continuity of "There Was a Little Girl" are scenes from another 1968 episode, "Tell It Like It Was...and You're Dead." Marilyn Maxwell, Whitney Blake, Jackie Coogan, and Ted Knight play major roles in this story of an ex-burlesque queen who receives death threats after announcing plans to write a tell-all autobiography. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
- R
In this western, a Mexican desperado tries to flee his partner, a determined girl friend, and a US Marshal. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1969
- R
An American adventurer leads another man and a girl on an escape route out of Chinese communist-occupied Tibet. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Filmed in Spain, this TV movie stars Janet Leigh as an American woman honeymooning with her new husband. She awakens after the wedding night, only to be confronted with a stranger who insists that he's her husband. Leigh goes to the authorities, who unfortunately believe the ersatz husband's story. Or perhaps it's not as unfortunate as it seems...because Leigh herself is not all she seems. The central plot twist in Honeymoon With a Stranger was reworked into several subsequent TV-movies, until overuse robbed the twist of any surprise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
In this WW II drama a naive group of men join the military to fight for their country, never anticipating the horrifying realities of war. One of them is mortified at first, but then turns into a heartless killer. His sergeant reprimands him for shooting a surrendering German. Later he proves himself worthy by risking his neck to save the sergeant. Afterwards the two become life-long friends. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Drury, Steve Carlson, (more)
- 1966
Jeremy Slate guest stars as a German spy, who is posing as a downed American flyer named Asher. In this guise, the phony Asher is supposed to infiltrate the French underground and relay their plans to the Nazis. But things don't quite go as planned when the spy is "rescued" by Lt. Hanley (Rick Jason), who is unaware of "Lt. Asher"'s true identity and purpose. Featured in the supporting cast is Felix Locher, the father of 1940s film favorite Jon Hall. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In a plot reminiscent of a key scene in The Longest Day, American paratrooper Riddell (David Scheiner) finds himself trapped when his chute gets caught on a church spire. Entering the church to cut Riddell down, Saunders (Vic Morrow) and his men are themselves trapped by the sudden arrival of enemy troops. There is nothing for Saunders to do but hide in the the shadows of the church--and pray that the Germans do not get to Riddell before he does. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Saunders (Vic Morrow) and the squad are ordered to destroy the machinery in a French quarry in order to keep it out of German hands. Witnessing the destruction of his precious tractors, quarry owner Paul Vertain (Fernando Lamas) threatens dire consequences to the Americans. Before long, Saunders' men are being besieged by an unseen sniper--none other than the crazed Vertrain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
SS Captain Reichhart (George Backman) and his minions take sadistic delight in capturing and torturing American officers. Reichart's latest "catch" is none other than Lt. Hanley (Rick Jason) of King Company. Sgt. Saunders (Vic Morrow) must locate the Nazi's secret headquarters before it is too late for Hanley. Prominent in the supporting cast is future Star Trek costar Leonard Nimoy, adopting a German accent for the occasion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
No sooner have Hanley (Rick Jason) and his squad returned from a brutal morning patrol than they are ordered on a rescue mission deep in enemy territory. Their assignment is to bring back Major Caldwell (Lee Phillips), a downed American air ace. Much to Hanley's disgust, Caldwell turns out to be an arrogant jerk with absolutely no respect for the Infantry--and with the firm conviction that he and he alone is qualified to fend off the Germans! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Vic Morrow (Sgt. Saunders) is the only series regular in this episode. Far behind enemy lines, Saunders manages to hide in a captured German tank with a wounded captain named Beggs (Than Wyenn) and the captain's driver Pvt. Gavin (Frank Gorshin)--who suffers from crippling claustrophobia. Will Saunders be able to convince the terrified Gavin to take control of the tank and rush the dying Beggs to a field hospital? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
While Pvt. Steve Kovac (Chad Everett) is out on patrol, Lt. Hanley receives word that Kovac's wife is dying. Though he intends to give the man emergency leave, Hanley decides to withhold the tragic information until the patrol has returned. Meanwhile, Kovac is trapped in a basement with the rest of the squad--and all that is keeping him from succumbing to panic and despair is the "certainty" that his wife will be waiting for him when he comes home. This is the final episode of Combat's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In anticipation of an enemy counterrattack, Saunders is forced to evacuate an elderly French couple (Felix Locher, Belle Mitchell) from their farm. This does not sit well with King Company's newest replacement, an Iowa farm boy named Noah (guest star Dennis Weaver). Offering to handle the couple's farm chores in their absence, Noah is as good as his word. Unfortunately,in so doing the private begins neglecting his military duties--and when he disobeys Saunders' orders in order to rescue a cow, his "generosity" may prove fatal to all concerned. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
John Cassavetes guest stars as Pvt. Kalb, newest member of King Company. Saunders (Vic Morrow) is none too happy with the arrival of Kalb, who has a reputation for goldbricking and cowardice--and who may or may not have been responsible for the decimation of the two previous squads to which he'd been assigned. Nor do things bode well for Saunders and his men when, on the eve of a dangerous mission, Kalb sustains a convenient leg wound. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In a variation of the "Colditz" legend, Hanley (Rick Jason) is among the Allied soldiers held captive in an ancient castle which has been converted into a German POW camp. Inevitably, the prisoners devise a plan to have one of their number escape and get word to their comrades. Chosen for the assignment is Hanley, who is given a phony Albanian uniform in order to pass through the German lines unnoticed--but will he be able to keep up the charade for the remainder of the episode? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Charles Bronson delivers an impressively sensitive performance as Corporal Velasquez, a demolitions expert with a genius-level understanding of geology. While accompanying Velasquez on a mission to blow up a German observation post surrounded by rock, Saunders (Vic Morrow) can't help but notice that the Corporal is showing signs of hesitance and uncertainty. It seems that in addition to his other talents, Velasquez is a lover of fine art--and he is extremely reluctant to destroy the priceless paintings, statues and religious artifacts stashed within the targeted building. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Advancing into a tiny French village, Hanley and his men kill two Germans and capture their lieutenant, a demolitions expert named Karl (played by a pre-stardom Robert Duvall). Sharkishly, Karl informs the Americans that the entire town has been booby-trapped with mines--and that he will help locate the explosives under certain conditions. With the local villagers clamoring to be let back into town, Hanley may have no choice but to enter into a deal with the eminently untrustworthy Nazi. This episode was cowritten by Steve Fisher, a specialist in such "film noir" exercises as I Wake Up Screaming. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Saunders (Vic Morrow) is among the wounded soldiers being carried by an American truk filled with ammunition. En route to their own lines, the soldiers are ambushed by a German patrol. Pinned down by enemy fire, Saunders tries to figure out a way to save himself and his fellow GIs--and to keep the ammo from falling into the wrong hands. Featured in the cast is William Wellman Jr., son of the fabled Hollywood action director whose war-film credits include Wings and The Story of GI Joe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Again behind enemy lines, Hanley (Rick Jason) and Caje (Pierre Jalbert) assume the task of rescuing a headstrong French nun named Sister Therese (Jeanette Nolan) and the three convent girls in her care. Thing of it is, the ladies don't want to be rescued: The girls insist upon returning to their ailing Mother Superior, while Sister Therese is determined to retrieve a precious religious icon called The Infant of Prague--which happens to be in the hands of the Nazis! Filmed earlier in Season Two, this episode was held back from telecast until Easter Week of 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Saunders (Vic Morrow) and his men are assigned to capture an important Nazi officer during a "welcome home" reception at German field headquarters. It soon develops that Saunders has less to worry about from the Germans than he does from his own ranks. The fly in the ointment is technical sergeant Meider (Gary Lockwood), a born malingerer and malcontent whose whining ineptitute threatens to snafu the entire mission. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
