1003 - MERLIN'S SHOP OF MYSTICAL WONDERS (1996; 1995; PD=PG; 92m) a.k.a. MERLIN'S SHOP OF MAGICAL WONDERS (typo?) Ad: "In a world where magic only exists, anything can happen." Plot: Grandpa tells his grandson a story about a modern day Merlin. Exec: Rose Ciolino and Grace Beretta Prod/Dir/Scr: Kenneth J. Burton Cin: Michael Gfelner (Santa with Muscles) Cin: Tony Martin (asst cin/Damn Whitey) M/U: Douglas White (Desperado) M/U: Howard Tsubura PDes: Lee Sjostrum and Melodie Ennist ADir: Laura Chariton (Coffee and Cigarettes) Score: Todd Hayen (Panic in the Skies) Score: Frank Macchia (Getting Away With Murder) grandfather / Ernest Borgnine* grandson / Mark Hurtado (storyboard/Breaking Up) Merlin / George Milan (319-War of the Colossal Beast) Jonathan Cooper III / John Terrence (Evil Spawn) Madeline Cooper / Pat Sansone (Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh) Zurella / Bunny Summers (Big Top Pee-Wee) David Andrews / Ben Mendelsohn (Quigley Down Under) Michael Andrews / Struan Robertson Pete / Bruce Perry Marie Andrews / J. Renee Gilbert Adrienne / Madelon Phillips Jay Cosgrove / Ben Sussman Trivia: Born Ermes Effron Borgnino in 1917, ERNEST BORGNINE has had a film career that matched his real-life marriages...some great, some mediocre, and some abysmal. He's most known for his role of Lt. Comm. Quinton McHale on the TV series "McHale's Navy" (1962-66) plus a movie version (1964). Borgnine's stocky physique and dramatic presence garnered some excellent film roles early in his career: 1953's From Here to Eternity starring Frank Sinatra and Montgomery Clift; 1954's Demetrius and the Gladiators with Victor Mature; 1954's Johnny Guitar starring Joan Crawford; 1955's Marty for which he won an Academy Award; 1955's Bad Day at Black Rock with Spencer Tracy; and 1956's The Catered Affair with Bette Davis and Debbie Reynolds. After the TV series ended, the quality of Borgnine's film roles slowly declined: 1967's The Dirty Dozen, perhaps the first modern action film (followed by three Dirty Dozen TV movies); 1968's awful The Legend of Lylah Clare with Kim Novak; 1968's Ice Station Zebra with Rock Hudson; 1969's highly-praised The Wild Bunch directed by Sam Peckinpah; 1971's rat-infested horror movie Willard; 1971's disastrous comedy flop Bunny O'Hare again with Bette Davis; 1972's The Poseidon Adventure, perhaps the first modern disaster flick, featuring a bloated swimming Shelley Winters; 1975's The Devil's Rain with Ida Lupino; 1978's Convoy with Kris Kristofferson; 1979's Ravagers with Richard Harris; 1981's Escape from New York starring Kurt Russell and directed by John Carpenter; 1990's Laser Mission with Brandon Lee; 1998's BASEketball and Small Soldiers. Borgnine's later television work included the 1984-1986 series "Airwolf" with Jan Michael Vincent, plus numerous TV-movies. Borgnine's marriages were just as interesting. His second wife was the sultry Mexican actress Katy Jurado, with whom he appeared in the 1962 movie Barabbas. His third marriage (to legendary Broadway star Ethel Merman) lasted only 32 days. His fifth and current wife Tova can be seen constantly on the QVC channel, hawking her full line of beauty products. Her hubbie should try using some of them. Last Updated: 6/7/1999 Welcome! | Author, Contributors, Disclaimer | Introduction | FAQs Movies by Year | Titles by Experiment # | Titles by Alphabetical Order Performers and Production Crew