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I’m not saying Paramount is cheap. But when producer Garry Marshall hired Robin Williams to guest on Happy Days in anticipation of a potential spin-off series, the studio said, “Well, let’s see what we have hanging in the closet.”

Mork’s red jumpsuit was appropriately space-age, at least when seen through the lens of 1970s science fiction. But producers didn’t hire designers to cook up a Mork outfit — instead, they raided the wardrobe from the studio’s Star Trek series, which ended just a few years earlier.

Paramount Television

Phillip Pine guest-starred in the episode “The Savage Curtain” as Colonel Green, a badass in the exact same crimson onesie minus the silver triangle that the Costume Department ironed onto Mork’s version. Williams, who was a lifelong Star Trek fan, was no doubt thrilled.

The original Mork costume worked out so well that Paramount recycled more retread...

What's the connection between Star Trek and Happy Days? There are several: Anson Williams, who played Potsie on Happy Days, later directed two episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and four episodes of Voyager. Don Most, who played Ralph Malph on Happy Days, guest-starred in a Voyager two-parter.

Also, though it cannot be 10,000% proven, it's thought that Robin Williams' Mork costume, which he first wore during a guest appearance on Happy Days, and then later on Mork & Mindy, was created using the costume that Phillip Pine wore during his guest spot as Col. Green in Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Savage Curtain." And, as many Star Trek: The Next Generation fans know, Robin Williams -- a major Trek fan -- almost guest-starred on The Next Generation.

Delving into more detail, Anson Williams directed more than 150 episodes of nearly 40 different shows, as well as several made-for-television movies.

Although only one of these 1950s B&w thrillers falls within a mile of a hard definition of film noir, all give us glamorous actresses in interesting roles. Claudette Colbert takes her turn at playing a nun, Merle Oberon tries a femme fatale role on for size and Hedy Lamarr does very well for herself as a man-hungry movie star. Kino gives all three excellent transfers, and one comes with an appropriately gossipy audio commentary.

Film Noir the Dark Side of Cinema II

Thunder on the Hill, The Price of Fear, The Female Animal

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1951-58 / B&w / 1:37 Academy, 1:85 widescreen / 84,79,82 min. / Street Date May 12, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 49.95

Starring: Claudette Colbert, Ann Blyth, Robert Douglas, Anne Crawford, Connie Gilchrist, Gladys Cooper, Michael Pate, Phillip Friend; Merle Oberon, Lex Barker, Charles Drake, Gia Scala, Warren Stevens, Phillip Pine, Konstantin Shayne, Stafford Repp; Hedy Lamarr, Jane Powell,...

Minimalist 'Z' monster movies really took off in the 1950s, earning good money on tiny outlays of time, money, and sometimes talent. Dan Milner's directing is competent, to be kind, but the 'nothing happens' script is a sure-fire soporific -- Roger Corman surely didn't worry about the competition. The good news is Richard Harland Smith's commentary, which delivers more illuminating info on this show than we thought existed. The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues Blu-ray Kl Studio Classics 1956 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 80 min. / Street Date January 5, 2016 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring Kent Taylor, Cathy Downs, Michael Whalen, Helene Stanton, Phillip Pine, Rodney Bell, Vivi Janiss, Michael Garth, Pierce Lyden . Cinematography Brydon Baker Film Editor Dan Milner Original Music Ronald Stein Written by Lou Rusoff, Dorys Lukather Produced by Jack Milner Directed by Dan Milner

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

In his trailer commentary for The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues, Joe Dante remarks that...