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| NBC Saturday Night at the Movies |
1969–70: The fall of 1969 was included a TV milestone: 1,000 broadcasts of post-1948 movies. The achievement took the Big Three a mere 8 years. Despite mixed results overall, NBC stuck with its three nights of movies of Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday. To keep the number of new titles low, Monday included semi-regular Bob Hope specials and Tuesday had First Tuesdays once a month while Saturday repeated previous seasons' movies. A few years ago, that could've been an expensive solution, but now the price of Hollywood movies was dropping. In three years, the cost had dropped 25%. The market had become too flooded. This fall, NBC's asking price for 1-minute of advertising was $53,000 on Monday and Tuesday and $60,000 on Saturday.
Saturdays: Perhaps playing against the competition, this season's Saturday lineup was largely absent of typical Hollywood comedies. Instead, there were more thrills and adventure, and note the release dates; some of the movies were in theaters only a year prior, often British imports. They were becoming more common to use to fill the lineup. Since Saturday didn't having any specials or recurring series, there were 5 movie repeats, all movies that aired during the prior season, so it'd been several months since they last aired. And after stumbling a bit last season, NBC Saturday Night at the Movies was back in the top 30 programs. Despite their overabundance, movies were popular with viewers.
Of the 22 movies this season, 11 were from Universal, including two pilots that both went to series next fall. United Artists provided 6 titles and unlike last season, none had aired on ABC or CBS prior. 3 movies were from Paramount, of which 2 were from the 1940s, quite old considering the rest of NBC's lineup. Yet they were television premieres.
Of the 22 movies this season, 11 were from Universal, including two pilots that both went to series next fall. United Artists provided 6 titles and unlike last season, none had aired on ABC or CBS prior. 3 movies were from Paramount, of which 2 were from the 1940s, quite old considering the rest of NBC's lineup. Yet they were television premieres.
Programmer's Corner: After two seasons of occasional specials, Andy Williams returned to NBC with a weekly variety series, a new genre for the movie-era of NBC Saturday. Afterward, sophomore police drama Adam 12 moved to be the movie's lead-in. Competing against the movie, CBS brought in Green Acres to compliment fellow rural (and aging) sitcom Petticoat Junction. While the sitcoms were on their way out, the Eye's closer, Mannix, was able to crack the top 30. Also facing declining ratings, ABC threw in the towel on The Hollywood Palace, cancelling it at midseason and bringing in Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters, which didn't make it a second season. For the time being, The Lawrence Welk Show survived.
NBC SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES, 1969–70
Regular season
20 Sep 1969: A Countess from Hong Kong (1967, 2 hours 15 minutes)
In Hong Kong, the ambassador returning to America meets the Russian countess, a refugee without a passport, who decides to hide in his cabin. (Romantic Comedy / Color, Universal)
Director: Charles Chaplin; with Marlon Brando, Sophia Loren, Sydney Chaplin, Tippi Hedren
27 Sep 1969: Shenandoah (1965, 2 hours 15 minutes)
During the Civil War, a Virginia farmer and his family vow to remain neutral, but one of the sons is captured by Union soldiers, sending the farmer to his rescue. (War Drama / Color, Universal)
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen; with James Stewart, Doug McClure, Glenn Corbett
Ratings Report: Shenandoah tied The Flip Wilson Show for third place for the week.
4 Oct 1969: Arabesque (1966, 2 hours 15 minutes)
When a plot against a prominent Middle Eastern politician is uncovered, a professor of ancient hieroglyphics is recruited to find information believed to be in hieroglyphic code, but he must also contend with a mysterious man called Beshraavi, whose beautiful lover seems willing to aid Pollock. (Thriller / Color, Universal)
Director: Stanley Donen; with Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren, Alan Badel
Ratings Report: While it surely helped that ABC aired a college football game, Arabesque was consistently well over 40-share in Nielsen's early NYC ratings. Petticoat Junction was at 30 share. During the week, five movies placed in Nielsen's top 10.
11 Oct 1969: The Hell with Heroes (1968, 2 hours)
In 1946 North Africa, two former US Air Force pilots are forced to work for an international smuggler to get money needed for their return to civilian life after fighting in World War II. (War Drama / Color, Universal)
Director: Joseph Sargent; with Rod Taylor, Claudia Cardinale, Harry Guardino
More: Wikipedia | Letterboxd
18 Oct 1969: Jigsaw (1968, 2 hours)
After inadvertently ingesting some sugar laced with LSD, a man wakes up with amnesia and in the middle of a murder plot. This was originally made for television, but NBC refused it due to its content. Instead, it received a theatrical release in summer 1968. (Thriller / Color, Universal)
Director: James Goldstone; with Harry Guardino, Bradford Dillman, Hope Lange
25 Oct 1969: Tom Jones (1963, 2 hours 30 minutes)
The romantic and chivalrous adventures of adopted bastard Tom Jones in 18th-century England. (Adventure Comedy / Color, United Artists)
Director: Tony Richardson; with Albert Finney, Susannah York, George Devine
Programming Note: Tom Jones started at 8:30, preempting Adam 12.
1 Nov 1969: Sergeants 3 (1962, 2 hours 15 minutes)
Three cavalry officers and a bugler work together to thwart a Native American chief intent on uniting local tribes against the white man. (Western Comedy / Color, United Artists)
Director: John Sturges; with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.
8 Nov 1969: Night Gallery 📺 (1969, 2 hours)
TV Pilot. In the pilot movie of the Rod Serling anthology: a seemingly haunted painting drives a greedy man insane; a rich blind woman gets a new pair of eyes that allow her to see for only one brief ironic moment; and an idyllic painting gives a Nazi war criminal in hiding some fleeting comfort. (Supernatural Anthology / Color, Universal)
Director: Boris Sagal, Barry Shear, Steven Spielberg; with Joan Crawford, Ossie Davis, Richard Kiley, Roddy McDowall, Barry Sullivan
15 Nov 1969: The Fortune Cookie (1966, 2 hours 30 minutes)
A crooked lawyer persuades his brother-in-law to feign a serious injury. (Comedy / Black & White, United Artists)
Director: Billy Wilder; with Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau
22 Nov 1969: Robbery (1967, 2 hours 30 minutes)
A group of British criminals plans the robbery of the Royal Mail train on the Glasgow-London route. (Crime / Color, Embassy)
Director: Peter Yates; with Stanley Baker, Joanna Pettet, James Booth
29 Nov 1969: Journey to Shiloh (1968, 2 hours)
At the beginning of the Civil War, seven friends embark on a cross-country journey in order to join the Confederate army. (Western / Color, Universal)
Director: William Hale; with James Caan, Michael Sarrazin, Brenda Scott
6 Dec 1969: The Hallelujah Trail (1965, 3 hours)
Original Air Date: 19 Oct 1968
Original Air Date: 19 Oct 1968
13 Dec 1969: Return from the Ashes (1965, 2 hours 15 minutes)
In Paris, a Polish gigolo marries a rich Jewish doctor and stands to inherit her estate when she is deported to Dachau by the Nazis. (Thriller / Black & White, United Artists)
Director: J. Lee Thompson; with Maximilian Schell, Samantha Eggar, Ingrid Thulin
20 Dec 1969: Pocketful of Miracles (1961, 2 hours 45 minutes)
Original Air Date: 28 Dec 1968
Original Air Date: 28 Dec 1968
27 Dec 1969: Help! (1965, 2 hours)
Original Air Date: 12 Oct 1968
Original Air Date: 12 Oct 1968
3 Jan 1970: Namu, the Killer Whale (1966, 2 hours)
A compassionate scientist forms an unlikely friendship with a magnificent killer whale. (Adventure / Color, United Artists)
Director: Laslo Benedek; with Robert Lansing, John Anderson, Robin Mattson
10 Jan 1970: How to Murder Your Wife (1965, 2 hours 30 minutes)
Original Air Date: 30 Sep 1968
Original Air Date: 30 Sep 1968
17 Jan 1970: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966, 2 hours)
A wily slave must unite a virgin courtesan and his young smitten master to earn his freedom. (Musical Comedy / Color, United Artists)
Director: Richard Lester; with Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers, Jack Gilford, Buster Keaton
24 Jan 1970: The Last Safari (1967, 2 hours 15 minutes)
Miles Gilchrist is a big game hunter in Africa. He goes on a safari to shoot an elephant who killed his friend. (Adventure / Color, Paramount)
Director: Henry Hathaway; with Kaz Garas, Stewart Granger, Gabriella Licudi
31 Jan 1970: After the Fox (1966, 2 hours)
An Italian criminal mastermind, impersonating a film director, plans to grab the loot on a beach where a bogus movie is being filmed. (Crime Comedy / Color, United Artists)
Director: Vittorio De Sica; with Peter Sellers, Victor Mature, Britt Ekland
7 Feb 1970: The Train (1964, 2 hours 45 minutes)
Original Air Date: 28 Sep 1968
Original Air Date: 28 Sep 1968
14 Feb 1970: Angel in My Pocket (1969, 2 hours 15 minutes)
A homespun minister and his family move to a small town where he tries to win the support and trust of his new congregation. (Comedy / Color, Universal)
Director: Alan Rafkin; with Andy Griffith, Jerry Van Dyke, Kay Medford
21 Feb 1970: Samson and Delilah (1949, 2 hours 30 minutes)
When strongman Samson rejects the love of the beautiful Philistine woman Delilah, she seeks vengeance that brings horrible consequences they both regret. (Biblical Drama / Color, Paramount)
Director: Cecil B. DeMille; with Hedy Lamarr, Victor Mature, George Sanders, Angela Lansbury
Programming Note: Samson and Delilah started at 8:30, preempting Adam 12.
28 Feb 1970: P.J. (1968, 2 hours)
A down-on-his-luck New York private eye takes a bodyguard job for the death-threatened mistress of a shady millionaire and gets involved in conspiracy and murder. (Crime / Color, Universal)
Director: John Guillermin; with George Peppard, Raymond Burr, Gayle Hunnicutt
More: Wikipedia | Letterboxd
7 Mar 1970: The War Lord (1966, 2 hours 30 minutes)
In 11th century Normandy, a Norman duke sends one of his knights to build a defensive fortress in order to guard the borders against Frisian raiders. (Drama / Color, Universal)
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner; with Charlton Heston, Richard Boone, Rosemary Forsyth, Guy Stockwell
14 Mar 1970: I Walk Alone (1947, 2 hours)
Frankie Madison leaves prison expecting a share from his ex-partner. But Prohibition bootlegging didn't prepare Frankie for Big Business. (Film Noir / Film Noir, Paramount)
Director: Byron Haskin; with Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas, Wendell Corey
21 Mar 1970: A Clear and Present Danger 📺 (1970, 2 hours)
TV Pilot. The son of a U.S. Senator takes on the cause of clean air when a friend dies of emphysema. This was the pilot for The Bold Ones: The Senator, which would become a one-season wonder that'd win several Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series. (Drama / Color, Universal)
Director: James Goldstone; with Hal Holbrook, E.G. Marshall, Joseph Campanella
Summer repeats
(Movies aired entirely in the allotted timeslot unless otherwise noted.)
(Movies aired entirely in the allotted timeslot unless otherwise noted.)
28 Mar 1970: My Six Loves (1963)
4 Apr 1970: The Pink Jungle (1968)
11 Apr 1970: Shenandoah (1965, 2 hours 15 minutes)
18 Apr 1970: The Ballad of Josie (1967)
25 Apr 1970: Khartoum (1966, 2 hours 30 minutes)
Programming Note: Preempting Andy Williams and Adam 12 was the NBC White Paper special "Cry Help!"
2 May 1970: Nobody's Perfect (1968)
9 May 1970: Counterpoint (1968)
16 May 1970: The Stooge (1951)
23 May 1970: Mission Batangas (1968)
Programming Note: The one-hour NBC Experiment in Television special The New Communicators opened the night.
30 May 1970: Don't Just Stand There! (1968)
6 Jun 1970: For Those Who Think Young (1964)
13 Jun 1970: In Enemy Country (1968, 2 hours 15 minutes)
20 Jun 1970: Tobruk (1967)
27 Jun 1970: Kings Go Forth (1958)
4 Jul 1970: The Satan Bug (1965, 2 hours 15 minutes)
11 Jul 1970: The Glory Guys (1965, 2 hours 30 minutes)
18 Jul 1970: The Spy with a Cold Nose (1966)
25 Jul 1970: Rosie! (1968)
1 Aug 1970: Ambush Bay (1966, 2 hours 15 minutes)
8 Aug 1970: Silent Night, Lonely Night 📺 (1969)
15 Aug 1970: Masquerade (1965)
Programming Note: Summer series NBC Comedy Playhouse, which was comprised of repeats of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, replaced The Ray Stevens Show.
22 Aug 1970: By Love Possessed (1961, 2 hours 30 minutes)
29 Aug 1970: Follow That Dream (1962, 2 hours 15 minutes)
5 Sep 1970: NFL preseason game
Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys
Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys
12 Sep 1970: All-Star Circus and Miss America 1971
Opening the night was the 90-minute George M!, an adaptation/rehearsal of the stage musical starring Joel Grey and Bernadette Peters as well as Red Buttons, Jack Cassidy, Nanette Fabray, and Blythe Danner. After the Ed McMahon-host All-Star Circus, which featured 11 circus acts, Phyllis George was crown Miss America.
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NBC's NIGHT AT THE MOVIES
Sources: IMDb and Letterboxd for movie and TV specials information as well as Ultimate70s and Encyclopedia of Television: Series, Pilots and Specials, 1937-1973; Cedar Rapids Gazette and San Bernardino Sun for listing and programming information; Broadcasting for various ratings notes; if you see bad links or incorrect information, let me know in the comments.
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