Robert Schlitt Movies
- 1986
"Not since Columbo has catching a killer been this clever!" That was the ad come-on for Diary of a Perfect Murder, a 1986 TV movie starring Andy Griffith as a homespun Georgia defense attorney. Griffith takes the case of a TV reporter (Steve Inwood) who has been accused of the murder of his ex-wife. In the tradition of Perry Mason, Matlock plays his cards close to the vest, then reveals the identity of the true murderer right in the courtroom. Sound familiar? It should: Diary of a Perfect Murder was the pilot film for Andy Griffith's still-running Matlock series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Signe Hasso guest stars as Madame Vasiliev, a self-styled psychic operating out of her own "Chapel of the Mind." Though Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) suspect that Madame Vasiliev is a phony, they cannot deny that most of her prognostications have come true--and thus the two cops are forced to work alongside the Madame in hopes of locating a kidnapped girl. Cast as the victim's mother is Diana Douglas, the real-life mother of series costar Michael Douglas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Featuring a deft blend of sci-fi, horror and suspense, this Canadian thriller centers on a Montreal police detective's attempts to solve the strange and grisly murder of a young woman. His investigation leads him into a mysterious terrifying world of Satanic ritual. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Richard Farina's late-1960s "alienation" novel Been Down So Long it Looks Like Up to Me was given a belated, and somewhat anachronistic, screen treatment in 1971. Though set in 1958, the original novel spoke most loudly to the post-Beat Generation hippies of the next decade. The film spoke to no one, except perhaps a few ageing hipsters who couldn't shake off the past. Barry Primus plays the central character, a sixties activist in the making on an uptight college campus. Amidst the jive-talk and the scrungy clothing, the film contains a few obligatory sex scenes, indicating perhaps that it was this element of beatnik life that most attracted the filmmakers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Comedian Joey Forman plays the title role in the Monkees episode "Captain Crocodile." Appearing as guest stars on a popular kiddie show, the Monkees run afoul of host Captain Crocodile, who worries that they'll steal his fans. To prevent this, the Captain decides to sabotage the boys, but the plan backfires spectacularly. Songs: "Valleri" and "Your Auntie Grizelda". Written by Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso, Peter Meyerson, and Robert Schlitt from a story by Meyerson and Schlitt, "Captain Crocodile" first aired on February 20, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Having previously appeared as a gangster boss in the Monkees episode "Monkees in a Ghost Town," comedian Rose Marie projects a more benign -- but no less forceful -- characterization in "Monkee Mother." About to be evicted from their apartment, the Monkees are "adopted" by the new tenant, the maternally inclined Milly (Rose Marie). At first responding positively to Milly's effusions of affection, our heroes begin to worry that she'll love them to death, so they concoct a scheme to marry off the well-meaning widow. Songs: "Sometime In the Morning" and "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)". Written by Peter Myerson and Bob Schlitt, "Monkee Mother" first aired on March 20, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
When The Monkees debuted on September 12, 1966, viewers did not see the pilot episode (titled, logically enough, "The Monkees"), but instead the third episode filmed, "Royal Flush." Characteristically, the story, written by Robert Schlitt and Peter Myerson, is set in motion when Davy Jones gets stars in his eyes over the beautiful Princess Bettina (Katherine Walsh) of the Kingdom of Harmonica. Davy also stumbles onto a plot to kill Bettina, hatched by her usurping uncle Duke Otto (Theo Marcuse). Like several first-season episodes, this one bills Monkee Mike Nesmith as "Wool Hat." Songs include "This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day" and "Take a Giant Step". When "Royal Flush" was rerun on May 8, 1967, two new songs were grafted to the soundtrack : "A Girl I Knew Somewhere" and "You Told Me". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Stranded in a deserted western town, the Monkees are captured by a couple of gangsters named Lennie (Lon Chaney Jr. and George (Len Lesser). While our heroes plan a daring escape, the two crooks await the arrival of "The Big Man" -- who turns out to be a brassy female, Bessie Kowalski (Rose Marie). Songs: "Papa Gene's Blues" and "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day". Written by Robert Schlitt and Peter Meyerson, "Monkees In a Ghost Town" was originally broadcast on October 24, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
