Hope Summers

Hope Summers could portray a friendly neighbor or companion as she did for Frances Bavier's Aunt Bee character on many episodes of The Andy Griffith Show (1960) or a seemingly amiable Satanist in Rosemary's Baby (1968). Born in Mattoon, Illinois, she developed an early interest in the theater. Graduating from Northwestern School of Speech in Evanston, Illinois, she subsequently taught speech and diction there. This, in turn, led to her the head position in the Speech Department at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, teaching students privately on the side as well. In the 1930s Hope began to focus on acting. She found work in community and stock theaters in Illinois and earned some notice for putting on one-woman shows such as "Backstage of Broadway." She made use of her vocal eloquence by building up her resumé on radio, performing in scores of dramatic shows, including "Authors' Playhouse," "First Night," "Ma Perkins", and "Step-Mother". In 1950 Hope transferred her talents to the new medium of television and earned a regular role on the comedy series Hawkins Falls: A Television Novel (1950). By the age of 50 she was customarily called upon to play slightly older than she was, appearing in a number of minuscule matron roles in such films as Zero Hour! (1957), Hound-Dog Man (1959), Inherit the Wind (1960), Spencer's Mountain (1963), The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), Charley Varrick (1973) and her last, Foul Play (1978). She never had any major stand-out roles in ...

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Rosemary's Baby (1968)

ClassicDarkDramaticInspiring

A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, moves into an infamous New York apartment building, known by frightening legends and mysterious events, with the purpose of starting a family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Mia Farrow  •  John Cassavetes  •  Ruth Gordon  •  Sidney Blackmer

A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, moves into an infamous New York apartment building, known by frightening legends and mysterious events, with the purpose of starting a family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roman Polanski
CAST:  Mia Farrow  •  John Cassavetes  •  Ruth Gordon  •  Sidney Blackmer

Charley Varrick (1973)

Charley Varrick robs a bank in a small town with his friends, but instead of obtaining a small amount of money, they discover they stole a very large amount of money belonging to the mob. Charley must now come up with a plan to not only evade the police but the mob ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Siegel
CAST:  Walter Matthau  •  Joe Don Baker  •  Felicia Farr  •  Andrew Robinson

Charley Varrick robs a bank in a small town with his friends, but instead of obtaining a small amount of money, they discover they stole a very large amount of money belonging to the mob. Charley must now come up with a plan to not only evade the police but the mob ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Siegel
CAST:  Walter Matthau  •  Joe Don Baker  •  Felicia Farr  •  Andrew Robinson

I Want to Live! (1958)

Barbara Graham is a woman with dubious moral standards, often a guest in seedy bars. She has been sentenced for some petty crimes. Two men she knows murder an older woman. When they get caught they start to think that Barbara has helped the police arresting them. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Wise
CAST:  Susan Hayward  •  Simon Oakland  •  Virginia Vincent  •  Theodore Bikel

Barbara Graham is a woman with dubious moral standards, often a guest in seedy bars. She has been sentenced for some petty crimes. Two men she knows murder an older woman. When they get caught they start to think that Barbara has helped the police arresting them. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Wise
CAST:  Susan Hayward  •  Simon Oakland  •  Virginia Vincent  •  Theodore Bikel

Spencer's Mountain (1963)

Clay Spencer is a hard-working man who loves his wife and large family. He is respected by his neighbors and always ready to give them a helping hand. Although not a churchgoer, he even helps a newly arrived local minister regain his flock after he and Clay get ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Delmer Daves
CAST:  Henry Fonda  •  Maureen O'Hara  •  James MacArthur  •  Donald Crisp

Clay Spencer is a hard-working man who loves his wife and large family. He is respected by his neighbors and always ready to give them a helping hand. Although not a churchgoer, he even helps a newly arrived local minister regain his flock after he and Clay get ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Delmer Daves
CAST:  Henry Fonda  •  Maureen O'Hara  •  James MacArthur  •  Donald Crisp

Foul Play (1978)

RomanticCuteFun

A shy San Francisco librarian and a bumbling cop fall in love as they solve a crime involving albinos, dwarves, and the Catholic Church.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Colin Higgins
CAST:  Goldie Hawn  •  Chevy Chase  •  Burgess Meredith  •  Eugene Roche

A shy San Francisco librarian and a bumbling cop fall in love as they solve a crime involving albinos, dwarves, and the Catholic Church.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Colin Higgins
CAST:  Goldie Hawn  •  Chevy Chase  •  Burgess Meredith  •  Eugene Roche

Zero Hour! (1957)

In 1950s Canada, during a commercial flight, the pilots and some passengers suffer food poisoning, thus forcing an ex-WW2 fighter pilot to try to land the airliner in heavy fog.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hall Bartlett
CAST:  Dana Andrews  •  Linda Darnell  •  Sterling Hayden  •  Geoffrey Toone

In 1950s Canada, during a commercial flight, the pilots and some passengers suffer food poisoning, thus forcing an ex-WW2 fighter pilot to try to land the airliner in heavy fog.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hall Bartlett
CAST:  Dana Andrews  •  Linda Darnell  •  Sterling Hayden  •  Geoffrey Toone

The Ghost & Mr. Chicken (1966)

Luther Heggs, a typesetter for the town newspaper, pitches an idea for a story about a local haunted house where a famous murder/suicide occurred 20 years earlier. After the editor assigns Luther to spend one night alone in the mansion, Heggs has a number of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Rafkin
CAST:  Don Knotts  •  Joan Staley  •  Liam Redmond  •  Dick Sargent

Luther Heggs, a typesetter for the town newspaper, pitches an idea for a story about a local haunted house where a famous murder/suicide occurred 20 years earlier. After the editor assigns Luther to spend one night alone in the mansion, Heggs has a number of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Rafkin
CAST:  Don Knotts  •  Joan Staley  •  Liam Redmond  •  Dick Sargent

The Hallelujah Trail (1965)

A wagon train heads for Denver with a cargo of whisky for the miners. Chaos ensues as the Temperance League, the US cavalry, the miners and the local Indians all try to take control of the valuable cargo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sturges
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Lee Remick  •  Jim Hutton  •  Donald Pleasence

A wagon train heads for Denver with a cargo of whisky for the miners. Chaos ensues as the Temperance League, the US cavalry, the miners and the local Indians all try to take control of the valuable cargo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sturges
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Lee Remick  •  Jim Hutton  •  Donald Pleasence

Edge of Eternity (1959)

Helped by socialite Janice Kendon and barkeeper Scott O'Brien, Arizona deputy sheriff Les Martin works to solve three brutal murders in and around the Grand Canyon. His efforts leads to the killer fleeing with Janice as a hostage and a chase by car and helicopter ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Siegel
CAST:  Cornel Wilde  •  Victoria Shaw  •  Mickey Shaughnessy  •  Edgar Buchanan

Helped by socialite Janice Kendon and barkeeper Scott O'Brien, Arizona deputy sheriff Les Martin works to solve three brutal murders in and around the Grand Canyon. His efforts leads to the killer fleeing with Janice as a hostage and a chase by car and helicopter ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Siegel
CAST:  Cornel Wilde  •  Victoria Shaw  •  Mickey Shaughnessy  •  Edgar Buchanan

Claudelle Inglish (1961)

A young daughter of poor farmers is forced by her mother to ditch her young boyfriend in order to marry an old rich neighbor but the girl rebels by becoming the town's harlot.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gordon Douglas
CAST:  Diane McBain  •  Arthur Kennedy  •  Will Hutchins  •  Constance Ford

A young daughter of poor farmers is forced by her mother to ditch her young boyfriend in order to marry an old rich neighbor but the girl rebels by becoming the town's harlot.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gordon Douglas
CAST:  Diane McBain  •  Arthur Kennedy  •  Will Hutchins  •  Constance Ford

The Children's Hour (1961)

Thought provokingBrilliantClassicComplex

A private school for young girls is scandalized when one spiteful student accuses the two young women who run the school of being in a relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Wyler
CAST:  Audrey Hepburn  •  Shirley MacLaine  •  James Garner  •  Miriam Hopkins

A private school for young girls is scandalized when one spiteful student accuses the two young women who run the school of being in a relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Wyler
CAST:  Audrey Hepburn  •  Shirley MacLaine  •  James Garner  •  Miriam Hopkins

The Couch (1962)

A psychopath calls the police before he kills, in between sessions with his father-figure analyst.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Owen Crump
CAST:  Grant Williams  •  Shirley Knight  •  Onslow Stevens  •  William Leslie

A psychopath calls the police before he kills, in between sessions with his father-figure analyst.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Owen Crump
CAST:  Grant Williams  •  Shirley Knight  •  Onslow Stevens  •  William Leslie

Death Sentence (1974)

A juror on a murder trial begins to believe that the man charged with the crime is innocent — and that the real killer is her own husband.  (more)

DIRECTION:  E.W. Swackhamer
CAST:  Cloris Leachman  •  Laurence Luckinbill  •  Nick Nolte  •  Alan Oppenheimer

A juror on a murder trial begins to believe that the man charged with the crime is innocent — and that the real killer is her own husband.  (more)

DIRECTION:  E.W. Swackhamer
CAST:  Cloris Leachman  •  Laurence Luckinbill  •  Nick Nolte  •  Alan Oppenheimer

Hound-Dog Man (1959)

A rustic drama set in the early 20th century, Hound Dog Man is the simple story of a young man, Spud Kinney constantly in hot water for disobeying his mother. The lad should be watching the family farm, but he falls in with his older brother, Clint, and his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Siegel
CAST:  Fabian  •  Betty Field  •  Stuart Whitman  •  Arthur O'Connell

A rustic drama set in the early 20th century, Hound Dog Man is the simple story of a young man, Spud Kinney constantly in hot water for disobeying his mother. The lad should be watching the family farm, but he falls in with his older brother, Clint, and his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Siegel
CAST:  Fabian  •  Betty Field  •  Stuart Whitman  •  Arthur O'Connell

Our Time (1974)

Drama about students at a girls' school, their boyfriends, and an unexpected pregnancy.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Hyams
CAST:  Pamela Sue Martin  •  Parker Stevenson  •  Betsy Slade  •  George O'Hanlon Jr.

Drama about students at a girls' school, their boyfriends, and an unexpected pregnancy.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Hyams
CAST:  Pamela Sue Martin  •  Parker Stevenson  •  Betsy Slade  •  George O'Hanlon Jr.

Inherit the Wind (1960)

UpliftingBrainyClassic

Schoolteacher Bertram Cates is arrested for teaching his students Darwin's theory of evolution. The case receives national attention and one of the newspaper reporters, E.K. Hornbeck, arranges to bring in renowned defense attorney and atheist Henry Drummond to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Kramer
CAST:  Spencer Tracy  •  Fredric March  •  Gene Kelly  •  Dick York

Schoolteacher Bertram Cates is arrested for teaching his students Darwin's theory of evolution. The case receives national attention and one of the newspaper reporters, E.K. Hornbeck, arranges to bring in renowned defense attorney and atheist Henry Drummond to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Kramer
CAST:  Spencer Tracy  •  Fredric March  •  Gene Kelly  •  Dick York

Where Does It Hurt? (1972)

In this classic hospital farce, Peter Sellers plays Dr. Albert T. Hopfnagel, a greedy, crooked hospital administrator who has perfected the art of bill padding, unnecessary surgery and kickbacks. Mistrusted by patients, and resented by other staffers, his assistant ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rod Amateau
CAST:  Peter Sellers  •  Jo Ann Pflug  •  Rick Lenz  •  Harold Gould

In this classic hospital farce, Peter Sellers plays Dr. Albert T. Hopfnagel, a greedy, crooked hospital administrator who has perfected the art of bill padding, unnecessary surgery and kickbacks. Mistrusted by patients, and resented by other staffers, his assistant ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rod Amateau
CAST:  Peter Sellers  •  Jo Ann Pflug  •  Rick Lenz  •  Harold Gould

The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968)

Jesse W. Haywood (Don Knotts) graduates from dental school in Philadelphia in 1870 and goes west to become a frontier dentist. Penelope "Bad Penny" Cushing (Barbara Rhoades) is offered a pardon if she will track down a ring of gun smugglers. She tricks Haywood into ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Rafkin
CAST:  Don Knotts  •  Barbara Rhoades  •  Jackie Coogan  •  Ruth McDevitt

Jesse W. Haywood (Don Knotts) graduates from dental school in Philadelphia in 1870 and goes west to become a frontier dentist. Penelope "Bad Penny" Cushing (Barbara Rhoades) is offered a pardon if she will track down a ring of gun smugglers. She tricks Haywood into ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Rafkin
CAST:  Don Knotts  •  Barbara Rhoades  •  Jackie Coogan  •  Ruth McDevitt

Parrish (1961)

Parrish McLean lives with his mother Ellen on Sala Post's tobacco plantation in the Connecticut River Valley. His mother winds up marrying Sala's rival Judd Raike, ruthless planter who wants to drive Sala out of business. Judd insists that Parrish learn the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Delmer Daves
CAST:  Troy Donahue  •  Claudette Colbert  •  Karl Malden  •  Dean Jagger

Parrish McLean lives with his mother Ellen on Sala Post's tobacco plantation in the Connecticut River Valley. His mother winds up marrying Sala's rival Judd Raike, ruthless planter who wants to drive Sala out of business. Judd insists that Parrish learn the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Delmer Daves
CAST:  Troy Donahue  •  Claudette Colbert  •  Karl Malden  •  Dean Jagger

Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies (1973)

The story of Ace Eli Walford, a 1920s stunt flyer who barnstorms around the country, taking his eleven-year-old son Rodger with him as he goes from town to town. The place is rural Kansas, and the time is midsummer in the early nineteen-twenties, not long after ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Erman
CAST:  Cliff Robertson  •  Eric Shea  •  Pamela Franklin  •  Bernadette Peters

The story of Ace Eli Walford, a 1920s stunt flyer who barnstorms around the country, taking his eleven-year-old son Rodger with him as he goes from town to town. The place is rural Kansas, and the time is midsummer in the early nineteen-twenties, not long after ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Erman
CAST:  Cliff Robertson  •  Eric Shea  •  Pamela Franklin  •  Bernadette Peters
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