Richard Erdman Movies
The son of an itinerant piano tuner-father and a restaurateur-mother, Richard Erdman was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Colorado. Having taken drama lessons since his early childhood, Erdman was 15 when he was brought to Hollywood by his mother to be "discovered." It wasn't until he'd held down an interim job as a sports reporter for the Los Angeles Examiner that Erdman finally appeared in his first film, Warner Bros.' Janie (1944). Rapidly outgrowing juvenile roles, Erdman played character parts in Hollywood films like Stalag 17 (1953) and in such European productions as Four Days Leave (1950) and Face of Fire (1959). In 1961, Erdman co-starred on the short-lived sitcom The Tab Hunter Show, playing Tab's millionaire-playboy buddy, Peter Fairchild III. In 1973, Erdman made his big-screen directorial debut with The Brothers O'Toole. Since that time, Richard Erdman has kept busy as a voice-over actor, offering a wide range of vocal characterizations for dozens of TV cartoon series, as well as the 1994 animated feature film The Pagemaster. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1990
When would-be concert cellist Helen (Crystal Bernard) finally receives a callback for a symphony audition, her old pal Brian (Steven Weber) suggests that she might improve her chances if she dressed a little more...invitingly. Elsewhere, Fay (Rebecca Schull) provides moral support to aging pilot Howard Banks (Richard Erdman) who is on the last lap of a two-year flight around the world. Banks is convinced that an earlier "pact with God" will result in his immediate demise the moment his journey ends, and Fay does her best to convince him otherwise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
In the first episode of Murder She Wrote's two-part Season Five finale, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) crosses swords with rival mystery writer Eudora McVeigh Shipton (Jean Simmons). Envious that Jessica's star has risen while hers has fallen, Eudora publicly declares that she intends to murder our heroine! But when Eudora shows up in Cabot Cove, she couldn't be more friendly or effusive towards Jessica. In fact, Eudora is even bearing a gift...a basket of big juicy apples.(Check the title of this episode and you'll see where this is going!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- PG
This fact-based TV movie is an account of a small-town nurse who is arrested for caring for her desert neighbors without a medical license. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lee Remick, Scott Wilson, (more)
- 1986
- R
Columbia Pictures spent as estimated $8 million dollars on this laughless sex comedy that crashes and burns before ever leaving the ground. Two bumbling boneheads who are kicked out of flying school decide to remain airborne by becoming stewardesses. Bathroom humor, sight gags, and the prerequisite nudity are the lowlights of this forgettable film. The only interest is the appearance of former Playboy bunny Yuliis Ruval. This dog makes Porky's seem like Shakespeare. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brett Cullen, Mary Cadorette, (more)
- 1986
Hoping to enrich himself in the process, Cliff (John Ratzenberger) sets up a date between his mother Esther (Frances Sternhagen) and wealthy Duncan Fitzgerald (Richard Erdman). It looks as though Cliff's machinations are going to pay off when Fitzgerald proposes. Alas, the old fellow puts a crimp in Cliff's plans by bequeathing his millions to charity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
- R
In this sex comedy, the hope of landing a profitable contract sets two rival valet services, the Fraternity Parkers and the Valet Girls, into competition with each other. In an attempt to outsell their competition, both services offer special bonuses and incentives to their lucky customers. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meri D. Marshall, April Stewart, (more)
- 1986
Twenty-one years after ending its original ABC prime-time run in 1965, the Hanna Barbera animated adventure series Jonny Quest was revived with 13 brand-new episodes as a component of the weekend syndicated package "Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera." All of the original characters were revived: globetrotting research scientist, Dr. Benton Quest; his tousled-haired son, Jonny; Jonny's bodyguard-tutor, Race Bannon; his mystical young Indian friend, Hadji; and the pet bulldog, Bandit. Of the original voice actors, only Don Messick (as Dr. Quest and Bandit) and Victor Perrin (as perennial villain Dr. Zin) were heard on the later series. In the sixth of the "new" episodes, another member of the Quest team was introduced, a "Monolith Man" named Hardrok. Slightly better animated than the original -- and with markedly wittier dialogue as well as a refreshing increase in its sci-fi-fantasy content -- the Jonny Quest (1986 series) was later incorporated in the same package as the 26 "original" Jonny Quest episodes. Under the blanket title "Classic Jonny Quest," this manifest was seen on cable's Cartoon Network from 1992 to 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Menville, Granville van Dusen, (more)
With the whimsical tagline "Jack Deth is back and he's never been here before," director Charles Band melds Blade Runner, The Terminator, and Jingle All the Way for this low-budget science fiction adventure. The story takes place in Angel City in the year 2247, when enforcer Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson) has just retired from the weekly grind after vanquishing villain Martin Whistler (Michael Stefani) and his roving cohorts, called "trancers." But Whistler and his trancers have gone back to Christmas 1985, with the insidious plan of exterminating the ruling council by killing off all the council members' ancestors. So Deth agrees to go back in time to get Whistler and the trancers all over again. To do so, he must transfer his memory into the body of one of his ancestors, who in this case has just had an erotic interlude with the perky and attractive Leena (Helen Hunt), who works as a Santa's elf at a shopping mall and gets to wear a skimpy, tight-fitting elf suit. Deth discovers that Whistler has taken over the body of the police inspector and has started transforming the Los Angeles population into trancers --including Santa Claus. With Leena's help, Deth sets out to even the score. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Thomerson, Helen Hunt, (more)
A young tomboy learns about love in this undistinguished story that focuses on the coyly named Tommy Boyd (Betsy Russell) who has a penchant for riding motorcycles, expertly tinkering with the mysterious inner workings of car engines and moving parts, and playing basketball. Her interest in men is nonexistent until she meets a handsome racecar driver (model Jerry Dinome) who manages to divert her attention a few degrees away from the underside of a car. After establishing their relationship, the couple have a serious argument that does not seem easy to settle. And so the two end up in a Daytona 500 race in which he drives his usual souped-up version of automotive splendor, and she counterattacks with a super-improved, four-wheeled wonder she put together before the race. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Betsy Russell, Jerry Dinome, (more)
- 1984
The two-hour debut episode of Murder, She Wrote finds former substitute teacher Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) reluctantly thrust into the limelight when her first mystery novel, "The Corpse Danced at Midnight," becomes a best-seller. Invited to a costume ball held by her publisher, Jessica comes face to face with a genuine murder when guest Dexter Baxendale (Dennis Patrick), wearing a Sherlock Holmes costume, turns up dead. Suspicion immediately falls upon Jessica's nephew Grady (Michael Horton), forcing our heroine to turn sleuth herself. Throughout the story, the widowed Jessica must also wrestle with her growing attraction to handsome Preston Giles (Arthur Hill). Watch for future Murder, She Wrote semi-regular Herb Edelman in a role other than Lt. Artie Gelber, and also for a young Andy Garcia in a bit part as a tough guy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Quincy (Jack Klugman) prepares to provide expert testimony in the murder trial of mob boss Victor Ramsay (Tige Andrews), determined to prove that Ramsay pressured his victim into having a heart attack. Unfortunately, Ramsay's son Joseph (Peter Virgo Jr.) has carefully arranged for Quincy to be discredited by planting phony evidence near the dead body of the only witness to the crime. Now Quincy has a scant three weeks to restore his reputation and nail the bad guys. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Singing her way through life as life sings back at her, little orphaned Heidi (voice by Margery Gray) is bounced around from her aunt's house, to her grouchy grandfather's place, to a wealthy family in the big city, and never do the vocals subside nor does her spirit droop to anything lower than high "C," probably a fitting classification for this animated film from the Hanna-Barbera studio. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Sammy Davis, Jr., (more)
- 1978
The recent film hit All the President's Men was the clear inspiration for this episode of Alice. Richard Erdman guest stars as a DC-based investigative reporter, who hides out at Mel's Diner in fear of his life. Wanna bet that there's a "Deep Throat" character waiting in the wings? Although many sources claim that this episode's original telecast date was February 12, 1978, the TV Guide listings for that date indicate that it was pre-empted by a movie. More likely it was shown on February 15, right after CBS' telecast of the Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks heavyweight championship bout. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
- R
This barely released western spoof stars John Astin and Steve Carlson as the con-artist title characters, at large in 1890 Colorado. The comedy is on a "Little Rascals" level, while the action highlights, centered around a gold hunt, are compromised by uncertain staging. Hans Conried provides some of the film's brightest moments as a bombastic, slovenly politician. Erdman himself plays a small role, sharing screen time with such reliables as Jesse White, Pat Carroll, Lee Meriweather and Allyn Joslyn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Monte Markham plays a professor of psychic phenomena who is himself "blessed" with ESP. When Monte picks up vibes about a plan to plant a time bomb, the cops don't believe him. Later the authorities change their minds, and finger Markham as their Number One suspect (maybe they've been watching all those other TV movies in which Monte turned out to be the "surprise killer"). That ellipsis at the end of the title Visions... led viewers to expect a punch line, so the film was retitled Visions of Death for syndication. On-location filming in Denver is one of the few tangible assets of this predictable yarn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
A pint-sized pooch with enormous Hollywood ambition wanders the streets of Hollywood and Malibu beach in search for her big break in this canine adventure for the entire family. After a pair of run-ins with Vincent Price and James Darren, Mooch sneaks into a major movie studio for a visit with Jill St. John - who subsequently orders her hairdresser to give the star-struck pup a new hairdo. Later, Mooch crosses paths with actor Jim Backus, who takes her along to a big industry party attended by her old friends, Price, Darren, and St. John. While her showbiz connections fail to land her a starring role, Mooch soon meets a kindly master who will accept her for the fun loving canine companion that she truly is. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
In the second episode of a three-part story arc, the Clampetts arrive in Washington, DC, where they plan to donate their entire fortune to the cause of ending air pollution in America. Though they intend to pay a visit to President Nixon, they are sidetracked by their old acquaintance Honest John -- actually, con artist Shifty Shafer (Phil Silvers). Claiming to be deeply touched by the Clampetts' ecological sentiments, Shafer schemes to deeply touch the Clampetts to the tune of several million bucks. Kathleen Freeman appears as Shifty Shafer's equally crooked wife Flo. Largely filmed on location, "The Clampetts in Washington" originally aired on September 22, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This 25-million dollar epic collaboration accurately recreates the events that led to the Japanese attack on the American naval base during World War II. With Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, the wheels are set in motion by Japan to plan the attack. After internal differences in the government, the Japanese quickly mobilize plans for the assault. Key American personnel ignored warnings of the possibility of Japanese aggression. The first part of the film divides scenes from both countries. Part two contains spectacular battle scenes of the bombing that destroyed the American naval base of operations in Hawaii. Governmental errors on both sides add to the confusion, but the Japanese ultimately carry out the deadly mission. The film did well in Japan, did not do well in the he United States, and took years to make back the production costs. It remains an insightful and well crafted World War II action drama that was the result of years of negotiations between the two countries. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Balsam, So Yamamura, (more)
- 1969
After winning a supermarket contest, Jeannie (Barbara Eden) is afforded the privilege of reigning as queen of the Cocoa Beach Rodeo. The event's star cowboy Wild Bill Barrows (played by Mark Miller, the father of contemporary film star Penelope Ann Miller) develops a hankerin' for Jeannie, hoping to rope her into matrimony. Jealously, Tony (Larry Hagman) enters the rodeo himself to reclaim Jeannie--and earns not a few lumps in the process! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Rascal, the Sterling North novel that has been a longtime fixture of Scholastic Magazine book clubs, was given Tiffany treatment by the Disney studios in 1969. Bill Mumy plays young Sterling North, whose Wisconsin childhood is enriched through his friendship with a stray raccoon. Though lacking the emotional depth of the novel, the film is distinguished by the lovingly detailed outdoor photography that has always been a Disney hallmark. Likewise a "regular" in the Disney canon are scenes of animals wreaking comic destruction and wild chase sequences, and Rascal does not flag when offering these. A favorite of the Saturday matinee circuit, Rascal has in recent years become a standard weekend TV offering whenever a sports event is rained out or otherwise delayed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Forrest, Bill Mumy, (more)
- 1968
Hogan and his crew enable war correspondent Walter Hobson (Richard Erdman) to escape to England. Unfortunately, Hobson chooses to honor Hogan by publishing an account of his underground exploits in an American newspaper. Though the article mentions no names, Gestapo officer Hochstetter puts zvei und zvei together and plants a spy among Klink's guards in order to get the goods on Hogan. Future Hill Street Blues regular James B. Sikking appears as Berger. Originally broadcast on November 30, 1968, "No Names Please" was written by Laurence Marks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
Based on a true story and suitable for the whole family, Namu, the Killer Whale was a film that debunked many myths about orca whales--animals that have traditionally been considered voracious, merciless killers. Set in Puget Sound on one of the San Juan islands, the tale centers on the relationship between a marine biologist and an orca who is wounded by angry fishermen and left to die in a shallow cove. The biologist helps to save the whale and while it recovers, he studies it. He soon realizes that the whale is not a single-minded killer but a sensitive and highly intelligent creature. Unfortunately, when local fishermen get wind of Namu's presence, they begin to get restless and decide that they must kill him once and for all. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Lansing, John Anderson, (more)
- 1966
So far as the authorities are concerned, Dr. Stacey Fielding (George Wallace) died in a plane crash while flying to Salt Lake City--and the cause of death was not the crash but a heavy dose of poison. As the last person to see Dr. Fielding alive, his wife Miriam (Jeanne Cooper) is the most likely murder suspect, but she is cleared thanks to attorney Perry Mason (Raymond Burr). End of story? No way! After Miriam's day in court, Perry finds out that the man who died in Dr. Fielding's plane was actually mechanic Al Dolby (John Goddard)--and that Fielding may have faked his death in order to run off with his sexy nurse! This episode is based on Erle Stanley Gardner's "Perry Mason" novel The Case of the Fugitive Nurse, which was previously filmed under that title in 1958. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Rob (Dick Van Dyke) and Sally (Rose Marie) suspect that something is amiss when Buddy (Morey Amsterdam) starts behaving strangely, making secret phone calls and leaving work before quitting time. At first, it seems that Buddy is visiting a psychiatrist -- but then, evidence falls in Rob's lap that the very married Buddy is seeing the proverbial "other woman." Without giving away any more of the plot, it can be noted that the woman in question (played by Pippa Scott) is the wife of Buddy's rabbi. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Deacon, Pippa Scott, (more)
