Michael Rennie Movies

Two gunrunners' hunt for buried treasure in Java is disrupted by the quest for the same woman. ~ All Movie Guide

The first horror film from notorious British director Pete Walker, this is a brutal but rather pedestrian pulp thriller about a fetching young go-go dancer (Susan George, in her first starring role) who is stalked in and around an isolated house by ruthless assassins determined to prevent her from reaching her 21st birthday. It seems Marianne is in line for a sizable inheritance from the man she claims is her father -- a crooked magistrate whose career is threatened by her very existence. As if that weren't enough, knowledge of the girl's newfound wealth inspires a team of would-be kidnappers who show up at the villa to beef up the body count. Fans of Walker's blood-drenched thrillers might detect a glimmer of burgeoning talent here, but the suspense is hampered by a clunky script and silly dialogue, and the lovely George is probably just warming up for the following year's Straw Dogs. Also known as Die Beautiful, Marianne! ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Posing as a magazine writer, Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) dogs the trail of celebrated Parisian ballet dancer Danielle Chabrol (Claudine Longet), whom the Feds suspect of being a Communist spy. At present, Danielle is a guest at the Hawaiian estate of retired US diplomat Eric Reeverson (Michael Rennie). Her plan is to romance Reeverson and extract some top-secret information, which she will then relay to her Hawaiian contact James Kellogg (Russell Johnson)--who, conveniently, is Reeverson's next-door neighbor. But this scheme takes a deadly turn when Reeverson's son Glen (played by a young Harrison Ford) falls for Danielle himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) is on the hunt for Red spy major Jan Anka, who has assumed the identity of deceased American Albert Robinson. Having thus far successfully eluded the Feds, Anka is confronted with an unexpected threat to his safety with the arrival of a girl named Janet (Julie Sommars), who is convinced that "Robinson" is her long-lost father. With one murder charge already hanging over his head, Anka may be forced to kill again to rid himself of the "inconvenient" Janet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

No relation to the 1953 El Alamein (beyond a common "real life" source), The Battle of El Alamein was a French-Italian coproduction, largely lensed in Spain. Set during the titular desert battle of 1942, the film departs from expectation by concentrating on the Axis point of view. Though they mistrust one another, the German and Italian troops are forced to work shoulder to shoulder to ward off the British. And talk about revisionist history: Rommel (Robert Hossein) is the hero of the piece, and Montgomery (Michael Rennie) is the villain! Battle of El Alamein would make a fascinating triple feature with Five Graves to Cairo (1943) and The Desert Fox (1953). Incidentally, the "Calvin Jackson Padgett" credited with the direction is really Giorgio Ferroni. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

During the early days of World War II, while the United States was massing its forces for the war, England hastily plans commando raids against the German forces to keep them at bay until America's troops enter the war. As a part of this plan, the Allies create the 1st Special Service Force to plan and carry out an attack on Norway in order to tie up the German forces. This commando force of Canadian soldiers and American GIs is headed by Lt. Col. Robert T. Frederick (William Holden), a paper-pusher given his first field command. Antagonism immediately erupts between Canadian Maj. Alan Crown (Cliff Robertson) and American Maj. Cliff Bricker (Vince Edwards). But Frederick utilizes their mutual dislike as a basis for a rivalry that turns this rag-tag group of misfits into a disciplined fighting force. But now that Frederick's men are ready to fight, Frederick receives word that the Norway mission has been canceled. After appealing to Washington for another assignment for the commandos, the brigade is sent on a patrol near the German lines in southern Italy. The brigade captures an enemy-held village and is then given the seemingly impossible task of taking Mt. La Difensa. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

A seaport murder alerts Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) to the presence of Communist spies in the area. Sure enough, enemy agent Conrad Letterman (Michael Rennie) is laying the groundwork for a plan to blow up a military supply ship bound for the Orient. In order for the mission to succeed, Letterman must put pressure on a pair of "sleeper" agents, John and Viv Caldwell (Arthur Franz, Phyllis Thaxter), who are no longer devoted to the Communist cause. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The posh St. Gregory Hotel in New Orleans is the setting for this drama based on a popular novel by Arthur Hailey. Trent (Melvyn Douglas) is the long-time owner who realizes that the hotel is in dire financial straits. Trent calls on faithful manager Peter McDermott (Rod Taylor) to try and bring about the necessary reversal of fortune so that they can stay in business. After the Duke (Michael Rennie) and Duchess (Merle Oberon) of Lanbourne check in, the Duke is involved in a vehicular homicide after he has too much to drink. His car is traced back to the St. Gregory by hotel detective Dupere (Richard Conte), who blackmails the Duke. Although not on the same level of Grand Hotel, the film contains first-rate performances from a fine cast portraying a variety of eccentric guests. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Released theatrically in Europe, Hondo and the Apaches was stitched together from the first two episodes of the Hondo TV series, telecast September 7 and 15, 1967. Ralph Taegar plays the title role of western U.S. Army agent Hondo Lane, with Noah Beery Jr. as sidekick Buffalo Baker. Guest-star Robert Taylor is given top billing, but his participation is secondary to the main plotline: Hondo is told to help make peace with Indian Chief Vittoro (Michael Pate), whose daughter--Hondo's wife--had been killed by the Cavalry. Once the peace pipe is smoked, Hondo must deal with a renegade Native American who threatens the peace by randomly attacking settlers. The original TV series Hondo lasted only 13 weeks, knocked off in the ratings by the competing Star Trek. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Michael Rennie, who earned his sci-fi/fantasy chops as the benevolent alien Klatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still, essays a far less benign characterization in this, the first episode of a two-part story. Rennie plays the titular Keeper, the curator of an intergalactic zoo comprised of monstrosities gathered from all over the galaxy (two of each). Careless Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) accidentally releases the Keeper's hideous monstrosities, who threaten to destroy the Robinsons' planet unless the family agrees to a set of frightening "conditions." Although we're not supposed to notice, sharp-eyed viewers will recognize several of the monsters appearing herein as "carryover" creatures from earlier Lost in Space episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This futuristic sci-fi film contains a strong message against communism. It begins in the year 2087 and presents a totalitarian world ruled by Cyborgs. They are half-machine and their are incapable of free thought. Cyborg Garth has a glitch and is a rebel who swipes a time machine and travels back to 1965. There he encounters Marx, the scientist who started it all. Garth tries to prevent him from continuing his experiments. He succeeds and future humans are spared. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Michael Rennie guest stars as Charles Briswell, an accused murderer whom Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) rescues from a miner's kangaroo court. Jason's motives aren't entirely humanitarian: Briswell claims to have been a witness at the battle of Bitter Creek, and thus is in a position to clear McCord of cowardice charges. But as Jason escorts Briswell to the nearest army post, he begins to suspect that the man isn't being entirely open and above-board with his "eyewitness" testimony. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fortune hunter Ralph Manson (Michael Rennie) persuades wealthy widow Nora Cory (Phyllis Thaxter) to marry him, only to run afoul of Nora's son from a previous marriage. Manson tries to solve this problem by killing the boy, but Nora witnesses the crime -- whereupon she suffers a stroke which renders her paralyzed and mute. Now fully aware that Manson intends to murder her as well, the helpless Nora desperately tries to communicate her plight to her nurse Jean Dekker (Natalie Trundy). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide