Bobby Hall Movies
A hapless outlaw discovers he isn't any better off on the right side of the law in this offbeat western comedy set at the turn of the century. While Bickford Waner (Dennis Hopper) is known to lawmen as notorious bandit Kid Blue, his reputation far outstrips his actual success as a crook, and after a train robbery falls apart moments after it began, Bick decides it's time to go straight. Bick settles in Dime Box, Texas, a shabby little town dominated by a ceramics factory that makes novelty ashtrays, and manages to find a lose a series of odd jobs through his innate clumsiness and his short temper. Bick moves into a rooming house where he's befriended by Reese Ford (Warren Oates), a good natured man fascinated with the ancient Greeks and their ideals of male friendship, and his wife Molly (Lee Purcell), who doesn't believe their relationship need be platonic. Bick also finds a friend in pill-popping Preacher Bob (Peter Boyle) and makes an especially fierce enemy in foul-tempered sheriff "Mean John" Simpson (Ben Johnson). After his personal and professional lives take unexpected turns for the worse, Bick decides he needs to go back to a life of crime, though he hasn't gotten much better at armed robbery than he was before. Also starring Janice Rule, Ralph Waite and Clifton James, Kid Blue was shot in 1971, but not released until 1973, after the box-office failure of Dennis Hopper's The Last Movie sent his career into a tailspin; it would be his last role in an American feature until 1979's Apocalypse Now. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
The exciting world of rodeo provides the framework for this western saga that centers around a temperamental bronc rider who tries prove himself worthy of his wife, son, and his best friend's respect. He also wants to keep his freedom. Songs include: "Easy Made for Lovin," "My Special Day," "I'm a Rodeo Cowboy." ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Coburn, Lois Nettleton, (more)
Abducted by a vicious band of outlaws and left for dead after being violated and tortured, a young teacher teams with the Apache chief who nursed her back to health to take revenge on her attackers in this violent western starring Michele Carey and Henry Silva. Alice (Carey) was an innocent passenger on a stagecoach when a gang of outlaws slaughtered her traveling companions and brought her back to their hideout as their own personal plaything, but when her captors left her for dead they should have made sure the job was finished. When a sympathetic Apache chief discovers Alice near death in the desert sun, he lovingly takes her under his wing to aid her in her grueling convalescence. Now back on her feet and thirsting for revenge, Alice and the chief track her tormentors as the vivid memories of her painful trauma push Alice to the edge of sanity. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Neville Brand makes another Bonanza appearance in the December 5, 1971 episode "The Rattlesnake Brigade." This time, Brand is cast as the vicious head of the Doyle Gang, who hold Jamie and three other teenagers hostage while making their escape. Jamie's adoptive father Ben Cartwright agonizes along with parents of the other hostages as the wagon bearing the Doyles and their youthful prisoners gets farther and farther away. The topnotch supporting cast includes such familiar character actors as David Sheiner, Severn Darden, Don Keefer, and Richard Yniquez. The 400th episode of Bonanza, "The Rattlesnake Brigade" was written by Gordon T. Dawson. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
Chuck (Tom Stern) and his brother Wes (Jeremy Slate) are the wealthy siblings who plan to rob Caesar's Palace more for fun than profit. They ingratiate themselves to the Hell's Angels of Oakland, lead by Sonny Barger (himself). The brothers plan to use the gang as a diversion during the staging of the planned heist. When Betsy the biker babe (Conny Van Dyke) mistakenly reveals the plan, the brothers are forced to take other measures when they become separated in this boring biker movie that features real Hell's Angels gang members. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Stern, Jeremy Slate, (more)
Gary Crosby makes his first series appearance as Officer Ed Wells, a hothead who subscribes to the "shoot first and ask questions later" theory of law enforcement. Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) is not happy that Wells is teaching several rookies the same philosophy, nor does he hestitate to call Wells down for taking too many risks on the job. But the headstrong cop refuses to listen--until a fateful (and nearly fatal) encounter with a sniper. Future Brady Bunch regular Barry Williams appears in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A priceless cache of blue diamonds cause criminal chaos in this grim action drama that is set in the Mexican jungle. The excitement begins with the robbery of an armored car carrying the valuable gems. Something goes awry and all but one of the thieves die violently. The sole witness to the crime then kills the surviving crook and hides the diamonds in the jungle. Later a gangster captures him and tries to force him to disclose their location. The gangster's moll takes pity on the fellow and helps him escape. The two then make a desperate bid for the border with both the crooks and the Diamond Syndicate Police in hot pursuit. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ina Balin, Sancho Gracia, (more)
This episode opens in a curious fashion as Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) is arrested by uniformed troops and placed in a prison van. Once incarcerated, he meets another prisonder: Former Confederate officer Randall Kirby (Harry Townes), who rambles on about overthrowing the government and establishing his own empire. It soon becomes obvious that Kirby will be able to set his plans in motion unless McCord--whose presence in the van may not be all that coincidental--intervenes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Paladin (Richard Boone) is hired to protect John Kellaway, a honest politician running against the dishonest incumbent in an upcoming mayoral race in Colton, Wyoming. Unfortunately, Paladin arrives in Colton too late; Kellaway has already been murdered by his opponent's minions. Grimly determined to earn his money--and to see that justice is done--Paladin urges Kellaway's wife Lucy (Norma Crane) to run for mayor in her husband's place. Edward C. Platt, the stalwart, long-suffering "Chief" on the spy sitcom Get Smart, is here cast in a radically different role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi







