Richard Arlen Movies

Naturalist Larry Jones, who in recent years has turned to evangelism, was responsible for The Great Call of the Wild. The film recounts Jones' efforts to preserve wildlife and wilderness in the face of man-made "progress." Despite great financial hardships, Jones struggles to create a huge preserve in the Great Northwest. Since we all know that he succeeded, the suspense factor is nil, but the scenery is lovely. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This Dino De Laurentiis-produced re-creation of the decisive Italian military operation top-bills Robert Mitchum as a battle-weary war correspondent. Robert Ryan and Arthur Kennedy play generals, Peter Falk is the lovable Brooklynese corporal, and Earl Holliman is the country-boy sergeant. Anzio was based on the book by Wynford Vaughan Thomas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Buddy Rogers and Richard Arlen, who costarred in the very first Oscar-winning movie Wings, are reunited in this episode. The two veteran actors show up in Hooterville Valley to save the Pixley Bijou Theater from demolition, agreeing to appear at the theater's premiere screening of Wings. . .some four decades after the film was originally released. Along the way, Arlen and Rogers agree to immortalize their footprints in cement--which dries a bit too soon! Several high-quality excerpts from Wings are shown, including the brief appearance of up-and-coming Gary Cooper as a doomed pilot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An insane, renegade cavalryman leads his vicious band of outlaws into a series of brutal raids against settlers and local Indians in this western. Fortunately, a former gunslinger and a brave Indian agent ride up to save the imperiled pioneers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Lucy (Lucille Ball) temporarily leaves her bank job to train as a flight attendant for Trans-Global Airways. Lucy's bunkmate and fellow trainee is one Carol Tilford (Carol Burnett)--who happens to be terrified of heights. Small wonder, then, that the girls' first flight for Trans-Global is an unforgettable experience, especially when the in-flight movie breaks down and Lucy and Carol are forced to improvise a show of their own. Highlights include the ladies' a capella performance of "That's Entertainment", not to mention Lucy and Carol's on-target impersonations of Charlie Chaplin, Jimmy Durante and George M. Cohan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Johnny Reno (Dana Andrews) is a US Marshall who is bushwhacked by outlaws on his way to Stone Junction, Kansas. Joe Connors (Tom Drake) and his brother Ab (Dale Van Sickle) mistakenly believe the lawman is after them and fire on Reno, and Reno captures Joe after Ab is killed in the gun battle. The two face an angry mob in a town where local Sheriff Hodges (Lon Chaney, Jr.) is in cahoots with the corrupt Mayor Jess Yates (Lyle Bettger). Although Reno believes Joe may have killed an innocent Indian, he must protect the prisoner from the growing mob that threatens to lynch the man before his trial. Jane Russell plays Johnny's sweetheart Nona, owner of the local saloon. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

In this western, a gunfighter is hired to clean up the chaotic streets of Emporia, Wyoming. The gunfighter arrives and finds that his ex-lover is there and is married to the town preacher. Though the two are still attracted, they resist temptation. When he sees how violent the town really is, the gunman sends for help. As soon as his friend gets there, the two begin cleaning up the town. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Adapting his own novel, Frank Gruber penned the screenplay for the A.C. Lyles production Town Tamer. Veteran filmmaker Leslie Selander directs an equally veteran cast in this high-action Western. After his wife is murdered, hired gun Tom Rosser (Dana Andrews) rides into town in search of revenge and justice. Two years later, the killers have become the corrupt town leaders: Marshall Lee Ring (Lyle Bettger) and saloon owner Riley Condor (Bruce Cabot). They are aided by the Marshall's sadist henchman Johnny Honsinger (Richard Jaeckel). Tom proceeds to clean up the town by engaging in constant shoot-outs and barroom brawls. Once he gets rid of the bad guys, he earns respect from Mayor Leach (Lon Chaney Jr.), Doctor Kent (Richard Arlen), and other townsfolk (Burton MacLane and Jeanne Cagney). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Dan Duryea plays a Western bounty hunter, expert in his job, but ill at ease with his conscience. He is shunned by the "good" townsfolk until they need him to track down and kill a criminal; the gratitude doesn't last long, and it's back to outcast status for Duryea. At one juncture, the embittered bounty hunter delivers a condemnation against the "hypocrites" who hire him -- but nonetheless takes one more job. Ultimately, Duryea meets his end at the hands of a younger man (Peter Duryea, Dan's son), who becomes a bounty hunter himself, starting the cycle all over again. Produced very economically by B-Western specialist Alex Gordon, The Bounty Killer is distinguished by Dan Duryea's superb performance and by the presence in the supporting cast of several cowboy film veterans -- including Hollywood's very first Westerner, Billy Anderson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this western, a gunslinger runs from the Dawson gang and decides to return home to the wife he abandoned many years before. There he finds that his infant son has grown into a thuggish hellion who has been lead to believe that his mother is dead. He also hates the father who left him. The mother isn't dead. She works as a saloon keeper, but her son doesn't recognize her. The father and son end up staging a showdown, and the father quickly outdraws his son. Later, the Dawsons catch up to the gunfighter. His son plans to do nothing to save him, but then he learns that his father left because his mother had cheated upon him. The son changes his mind and rides out to save his dad. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This is the first of numerous westerns produced by A.C. Lyles which became famous not for their stories but for who played in them--all the stars being veterans not often seen on the screen anymore. As far as plot line, essentially we have a badguy who has become a good guy (read that ex gunfighter turned judge) and meets his past in his own court room. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide

Gore Vidal adapted his biting and bitter political satire from his hit Broadway play. Franklin J. Schaffner directed and Haskell Wexler provided the sharp-edged cinematography. The story concerns the political back-biting and smear politics involved in a presidential election year scramble by potential presidential party nominees. Lee Tracy (in an Oscar-nominated performance and his final screen role) is Art Hockstader, a dying president who refuses to throw his support behind any of his party's presidential hopefuls. Hoping to get the nod as the party's presidential candidate is liberal do-gooder William Russell (Henry Fonda). His wife Alice (Margaret Leighton) wants to get a divorce from Russell but is delaying the divorce proceedings until after the party convention. Opposing Russell for the nomination is Joe Cantwell (Cliff Robertson), a slick and unscrupulous political monster who will use any bit of dirt to get ahead in the party. When he discovers that Russell once suffered from mental problems, he threatens to use it against him. Russell then finds out that Cantwell once had a homosexual relationship. Russell, who abhors smear politics, now has to decide whether to use the information against Cantwell or bury the secret and risk losing the nomination. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide