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Patty Duke on Film and TV List 1 of 2
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The Miracle WorkerThe Miracle Worker
Buy new: $10.49 / Used from: $7.47
One of the finest films ever made. Bancroft and Duke both walked away with Oscars and with the heart of America. Just try not to cry at the ending. Try.
Valley of the Dolls (Special Edition)Valley of the Dolls (Special Edition)
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Great campy fun follows three young women as they enter show biz. Patty Duke makes the entire show. Parkins is bland and Tate pretty to look at. This movie would not be the cult classic it is today without Patty Duke.
A Christmas MemoryA Christmas Memory
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One of Patty Duke's finest, yet most under-rated performances. She shines as the simple Sook who along with young cousin Buddy, spend their last Christmas together. An excellent tearjerker. Why no Emmy?
The Legend of Prince Valiant - The Complete Series, Vol. 1The Legend of Prince Valiant - The Complete Series, Vol. 1
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Duke supplies the voice of Lady Morgana in three episodes here. She was later replaced by Diana Mulduar (her Miracle Worker remake co-star). I laughed when I saw this as Morgana is very tall and masculine. The total opposite of Duke in real life.
A Season For Miracles (Hallmark Hall of Fame)A Season For Miracles (Hallmark Hall of Fame)
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Nice Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas movie has an Aunt taking her sister's two kids to a magical town. Duke plays the Angel. Wait for the uncanny statue of her at the end.
BillieBillie
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Duke made this film between Patty Duke Show seasons in 1965. It only took fifteen days to shoot. Although extremely dated, the film could be seen as an early feminist movie - until the let down in the end.
Prelude to a KissPrelude to a Kiss
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Duke is in this all too briefly, but steals every scene she is in. She is hilarious and I believe that if this movie did better at the box office there would have been a bigger demand for her in comedy character roles in features. Here she plays Meg Ryan's mother.
Final JusticeFinal Justice
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BUTCHERED DVD version of the mini-series A Matter of Justice - cut down to half its length. Do yourself a favor and catch this one on Lifetime. Duke does some of her best work here - the viewer feels her determination and spirit as she tries to avenge her son's death. Yet another example of her being robbed of an Emmy.
Amityville, Vol. 4: The Evil EscapesAmityville, Vol. 4: The Evil Escapes
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Laughable sequel only keeps its head above water due to performances from Duke and Wyatt. Still, probably the best in the Amityville franchise (which is not saying much).
The Disappearing Act (True Stories Collection TV Movie)The Disappearing Act (True Stories Collection TV Movie)
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Orginally aired on TV as When He Didn't Come Home, this one has Patty Duke in one of her many 1990s "Determined Mom" roles. A genre she was quite good in.
Bigger Than the SkyBigger Than the Sky
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Duke is hilarious as twin sisters in this so-so comedy. Watch it just for her! She also works with son Sean Astin who comes off as pompous and annoying.
Touch of Truth (True Stories Collection TV Movie)Touch of Truth (True Stories Collection TV Movie)
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Originally aired as Cries From the Heart, Touch of Truth is the third, and least successful pairing of Patty Duke and Melissa Gilbert. Not one of their better efforts, but still worth a look.
Race Against Time - The Search For Sarah (True Stories Collection TV Movie)Race Against Time - The Search For Sarah (True Stories Collection TV Movie)
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This is a very sad movie. Not because Duke and Crenna are trying to find their missing daughter, but because two wonderful stars with such excellent chemistry are completely wasted. If you can, catch the 1974 TV film and the 1982-83 TV series they did together instead. PS - What's up with her hair???
The SwarmThe Swarm
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Duke is barely in this awful Irwin Allen disaster film. The second of three films she'd make with him in the 1970s.
Playboy After DarkPlayboy After Dark
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Duke is gorgeous in a party scene with Rex Reed.
Grave SecretsGrave Secrets
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Great cast, so-so film. It has remained popular in the fifteen years since it has aired and gained huge ratings.
Little JohnLittle John
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Duke is totally wasted and could have phoned her part in. Boring and trite.
Last WishLast Wish
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Patty Duke and Maureen Stapleton share a magical chemistry in this harrowing adaptation of Betty Rollin's book of her decision to help her cancer-stricken mother to end her life. Both actresses were robbed of Emmy nominations.
Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby [IMPORT]Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby [IMPORT]
Wretched sequel has Duke playing the old Mia Farrow part. It's a sin what they do with her.
The DaydreamerThe Daydreamer
Duke does the voice of Thumbelina and sings the song Happy Guy. Very cute film. Stars her Patty Duke Show co-star, Paul O'Keefe.
A Time to TriumphA Time to Triumph
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Duke met her fourth husband while making this film about a woman who joins the army when her husband can no longer work. Excellent pairing of Duke and Bologna. Catch this one!
Harvest Of FireHarvest Of Fire
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Ms. Duke's first, and finest, Hallmark Hall of Fame film. She and Davidovitch are excellent in this Amish mystery. Another Emmy robbery.
Murder Without ConvictionMurder Without Conviction
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Duke is very funny as a nun in this mystery for The Hallmark Channel.
4D Man4D Man
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One of Duke's first films. She is barely in it but is adorable. Otherwise film is very boring.
~ DOUBLE FEATURE ~ The Disappearance of Flight 412 and If Tomorrow Comes ~~ DOUBLE FEATURE ~ The Disappearance of Flight 412 and If Tomorrow Comes ~
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One of Ms. Duke's earliest TV films. Nice Romeo and Juliet-like story with a surprise ending.
Daddy Who?Daddy Who?
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Originally titled Kimberly, Duke has a funny cameo as the OBGYN who delivers Kimberly's baby. Sean Astin also appears as one of Kimberly's many suitors.
One Woman's Courage [Region 2]One Woman's Courage [Region 2]
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Okay thriller that Patty Duke makes worthwhile. She rises above the second-rate script.
Captains and the Kings [VHS]Captains and the Kings [VHS]
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Duke won her Second Emmy as the wife of Jordan. One of the finest mini-series' ever produced. An epic. A classic. Needs to be on DVD.
The Babysitter [VHS]The Babysitter [VHS]
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Duke gives one of her finest performances as the alcoholic mother in this suspense drama.
Curse of the Black Widow (1977) [VHS]Curse of the Black Widow (1977) [VHS]
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Duke's personal least-favorite of all her films, but a whole lotta fun! She plays a woman who turns into another woman who turns into a giant killing spider. Hilarious.
George Washington 2: Forging of a Nation [VHS]George Washington 2: Forging of a Nation [VHS]
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Very good sequel. Not as well-done as the original but at least Duke's Martha gets a lot more screen time here.
Patty Duke BiographyPatty Duke Biography
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Very good A&E Biography on the life and career of Patty Duke.
Goddess, the [VHS]Goddess, the [VHS]
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Duke made her film debut playing Kim Stanley's Marilyn Monroe-like character as a child. Her screen time is brief, but effective.
Fire (1977) [VHS]Fire (1977) [VHS]
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First and best of Ms. Duke's teamwork with Irwin Allen. Here she plays a doctor trying to save the lives of those caught in a huge inferno. Not a great movie, however.
Streets of San Francisco, The - V. 6 : episode: Thrill Killers [VHS]Streets of San Francisco, The - V. 6 : episode: Thrill Killers [VHS]
Buy used from: $2.90
Duke plays against-type as the head of a terrorist gang who kidnaps a busload of jurors until her demands are met. A lot of fun seeing her with a machine gun.
My Sweet Charlie [VHS]My Sweet Charlie [VHS]
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Duke won her first Emmy (also the first ever given to an actress for a TV movie) in this excellent racial story set in Texas. Her and Freeman are so good in their roles it's unbelievable.
You'll Like My Mother [VHS]You'll Like My Mother [VHS]
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Very scary film where pregnant Duke meets her dead husband's "mother" for the first time during a Minnesota snow storm. Her and Murphy work really well together.
A Family Upside Down [VHS]A Family Upside Down [VHS]
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Duke earned an Emmy nomination as Helen Hayes' and Fred Astaire's troubled daughter. Astaire won an Emmy and Hayes and Zimbalist were also nominated.
The Miracle Worker (1979)The Miracle Worker (1979)
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Duke won her third Emmy in a powerful role reversal - here she plays Annie Sullivan to Melissa's Gilbert's Helen Keller. Gilbert is no Duke in the role of Keller. This movie won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Special.
George Washington 1 [VHS]George Washington 1 [VHS]
Buy used from: $139.95
Excellent mini-series about out first president. Duke's Martha earned her her ninth Emmy nomination. She was the only one in the cast nominated. Followed two years later by a sequel.