Brenda Bakke on High Mountain Rangers

In early 1988, lovely actress Brenda Bakke appeared on the short-lived television series High Mountain Rangers. In one of the final episodes of this Robert Conrad show, Bakke portrays a Russian skier who decides she wants to defect to the USA.

This episode of High Mountain Rangers is one of Brenda Bakke's earliest TV roles. She is young, gorgeous and, it was obvious even at this early stage in her career, very talented. Bakke is called upon to do a Russian accent here and she does this very well. With a stellar combination of physical beauty and acting skill, this can be considered a great guest appearance for the actress and it's no wonder that she went on to much success in the following years.

Brenda Bakke on Jake and the Fatman

In the 1990s, beautiful actress Brenda Bakke divided her time between television and feature film work. In early 1992, Bakke's guest appearance on the classic crime series Jake and the Fatman was first broadcast. The episode, titled "Come Closer to Me," found Brenda Bakke portraying an attractive thief who works for a pickpocketing mastermind (played by the always campy Alex Cord). Jake (Joe Penny) infiltrates their criminal enterprise in order to gain information on an upcoming mob hit.

Joe Penny & Brenda Bakke on Jake and the Fatman

Brenda Bakke is completely at ease playing a sexy but somewhat vulnerable pickpocketing accomplice. She looks stunning throughout this Jake and the Fatman episode and she has great chemistry with star Joe Penny. Of course, as with nearly every female guest star on the show, her character falls in love with the studly Jake Styles. All in all, this was a very successful guest appearance for Brenda Bakke and she really did a great job with her role.

Michelle Phillips in The Man with Bogart's Face

In 1980, Michelle Phillips starred alongside Humphrey Bogart lookalike Robert Scacchi in The Man with Bogart's Face. Why this movie is not more well known is a mystery to me. It's a fantastic film and a great homage to Bogart and thrillers of the 1940s. With an exceptionally strong cast (including Franco Nero, Herbert Lom, Olivia Hussey, Sybil Danning and ton more familiar faces...plus, a great cameo from Bogart contemporary George Raft!), clever script and a generally fun feel, this movie should not be missed.

Michelle Phillips does a great job in The Man with Bogart's Face. In the film, her character is supposed to resemble legendary actress Gene Tierney and this is successfully accomplished in many scenes. Phillips looks fantastic with a 1940s hairstyle and wardrobe and she seems to have been perfectly cast. She looks great throughout the movie and she brings a great energy and just the right amount of sensuality to her role.

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Another stunning Barbara De Rossi magazine cover

Twice before we've examined magazine covers featuring the beautiful Barbara De Rossi (here and here). Well, here is another example (circa 1984) of the young actress gracing a cover...and this one is particularly outstanding:

Carolyn Seymour in Steptoe and Son

In 1972, it looked as if Carolyn Seymour was going to be a big film star. The previous year she had co-starred with Albert Finney in the movie Gumshoe and with David Hemmings in Unman, Wittering and Zigo and the following year saw her acting alongside Peter O'Toole in The Ruling Class. 1972 also saw the lovely actress starring in a big screen adaptation of the popular television series Steptoe and Son. However, after appearing in these four popular features, Carolyn Seymour's film roles became more sporadic and she began concentrating on TV work.

In the 1972 Steptoe and Son movie Carolyn Seymour plays a stripper named Zita who unexpectedly falls in love with Harold, the 'son' of the film's title. Though Carolyn Seymour is well known for her trademark short hairstyle, this role called for her to wear a large, reddish wig for much of the film (she wears a curly wig for her stripping scenes). 

Carolyn Seymour did a great job with her part in Steptoe and Son. Besides doing some very classy stripping scenes at the beginning and end of the film, she also has many fine scenes with her co-stars, Harry H. Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell. Seymour's tremendous skills as an actress helped to make Steptoe and Son a cinematic triumph, with the perfect balance of humor and tragedy.

Ann Dusenberry in The Possessed

In 1977, Ann Dusenberry appeared in one of the largest roles so far in her career. The role was in a TV move titled The Possessed where she portrayed a beautiful young student at an all-girls school. Having only begun taking part in film and television projects about two years previously, this was a terrific showcase for the the talented actress.

One aspect of Ann Dusenberry's performance in The Possessed that many have noted was the fact she played a key scene in the movie opposite an actor who was on the cusp of becoming excessively popular: Harrison Ford. These two had a lot of chemistry in their single scene together.

This was the only real horror movie, besides Jaws 2, that Ann Dusenberry ever participated in. Undoubtedly, the lovely actress would have been great in a slasher flick if she had decided to do one...but, alas, horror film fans can only see her in these offerings.

Karen Allen in The Wanderers

In 1979, Karen Allen co-starred in The Wanderers, one of the best nostalgia/coming-of-age films ever made. The movie evokes a time and a place with great style and vast likeability...in fact, the only 'problem' with this cinematic treasure is that Karen Allen does not get enough time on screen (at least one of her scenes was cut from the general release version). Regardless, Karen Allen is so strikingly beautiful in The Wanderers it's no wonder at all that her talents were utilized soon after and she became a huge movie star in the 1980s. This early performance from the gorgeous actress should be enjoyed by everyone!