Pat Cardi Movies
- 1974
- PG
Also known as Twisted Brain, Horror High is a no-budget fright flick set in -- you guessed it -- a high school. Nerdy student Pat Cardi is picked on by everyone in the free world: his parents, school bullies, pretty girls, even the school janitor. Spending a lonely evening in his basement lab, Cardi creates a serum that turns him into a monster. Here's the crayons...fill in the blanks as to what happens next. None of the supporting cast members of Horror High have ever been heard from again. Could it have been foul play or foul acting? You be the judge! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
- G
- Add Battle for the Planet of the Apes to QueueAdd Battle for the Planet of the Apes to top of Queue
The fifth and last of the original series of motion pictures based upon author Pierre Boulle's imaginative novel Monkey Planet, this science fiction film was the least-liked by the series' legion of fans. Roddy McDowall returns as Caesar, the rebellious intelligent chimp of the previous film, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972). Caesar led his brethren in a revolution against their human masters earlier, but humanity has since nearly destroyed itself in a nuclear apocalypse, and survivors are second-class citizens within ape society. Now a beneficent ruler of his people, Caesar encourages a fragile, peaceful coexistence with humans, despite the protests of militaristic gorilla leader General Aldo (Claude Akins). When Caesar learns that recordings of his murdered parents may exist in the Forbidden City, he journeys to the irradiated wasteland with the human MacDonald (Austin Stoker) and the wise orangutan Virgil (Paul Williams). Although Caesar finds what he's looking for, he also attracts unwanted attention: mutant humans who still dwell underground in the devastated war zone follow the search party back home, leading to a climactic battle and Aldo's tragic challenge of Caesar's authority. Suffering greatly due to penny-pinching studio 20th Century Fox's low budget, Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) is most notable for a cameo by director John Huston as an ape named "The Lawgiver," who appears in a wraparound segment. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roddy McDowall, Claude Akins, (more)
- 1967
After the seemingly random murder of a civil servant, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) follows the trail of clues to a Communist-funded news service based in Mexico City. What follows is a maelstrom of intrigue involving a possible defector, an eccentric collector of antiques, and a "mole" planted in the American Embassy in Vienna. The acting honors in this episode are won hands-down by the magnificent Viveca Lindfors. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Based on the popular novel by Joseph Krumgold, And Now Miguel is an easygoing yarn about a small boy with a big dream. Miguel (Pat Cardi), a shepherd's son, hopes some day to himself shepherd the flocks of sheep that has been managed by his family for so many years. Filmed mostly out-of-doors, the film benefits from the natural scenic beauty of New Mexico. The plot itself tends to be pokey, especially whenever the camera lingers on shots of sheep grazing, sheep moving from pasture to pasture, and sheep being shorn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Ansara, Guy Stockwell, (more)
- 1966
As "Bob Stoddard", Kimble (David Janssen) works as a bartender at the same restaurant where Susan Cartwright (Lois Nettelton) is a waitress. Recognizing Kimble from a police description, Susan's nephew Gary (Pat Cardi) and his pals decide to capture the fugitive and claim the reward, using a mail-order rifle for this purpose. Things become even stickier when a social worker arrives to determine if Susan is a fit guardina for the orphaned Gary--and likewise recognizes Kimble for who he really is. Featured in the cast are 16-year-old Kurt Russell and his actor father Bing Russell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
The twelve-year old heir to a fortune decides to fight back after he learns that his avaricious uncle is out to kill him in this thriller. He learns of the plot after his uncle, who is next in line for the fortune, generously invites him to visit him on a remote tropical island. To help foil the man's evil scheme, the boy enlists the aide of a young girl. It's a good thing too as the wicked relative has written a book on how to kill people and uses every trick in it to kill him including sharks, poison mushrooms, tarantulas, fire, and hypnotism to do the deed. When the children begin trying to beat him at his own game, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues until the uncle finally calls it quits and leaves the islands. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nigel Green, Mary Badham, (more)
- 1965
Brainstorm is a somewhat contrived but still well done and frightening thriller written and well-directed by actor William Conrad. Jim Grayam (Jeffrey Hunter) is a young scientist who saves Lorrie Benson (Anne Francis) from committing suicide. They fall in love, but Lorrie's husband Cort Benson (Dana Andrews), who had driven her to the brink of suicide before, discovers that Jim has had a history of mental instability and fabricates obscene phone calls and other actions to create the impression that Jim is unstable. The pair decide to murder Cort, using insanity as a defense. The film has a series of interesting plot twists and a plausible ending, and the performances are generally excellent with Conrad's direction maintaining a good pace and an excellent visual style aided by a good, simple musical score by George Duning. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeffrey Hunter, Anne Francis, (more)
- 1965
Investigating the destruction of a group photo of several bank employees, Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) finds that the bank in question has a $100,000 shortage. The case narrows down to fugitive embezzler Charles Gates, played by guest star Jack Klugman (whose then-wife Brett Somers also appears as Mrs. Gates). Sensitive to the curious parallels between Gates' past life and his own, Erskine devises a scheme to play upon the fugitive's intense devotion to his family and thus bring him out in the open. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Elderly tailor Julius Perrin (Ludwig Donath) establishes a home for the orphans in his community. A few days before Christmas, the townsfolk try to force Perrin out of town, accusing one of the orphans of killing the son of Martin Stoddard (Ken Mayer), the community's leading citizen. It is only a matter of time before Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) involves himself in Perrin's plight, ultimately bringing the locals to their senses in a most unusual fashion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
