Robert Gibbons Movies

Just before the Christmas vacation, Walnut Grove is threatened by a driving snowstorm. Schoolteacher Miss Beadle (Charlotte Stewart) decides to let her students go home earlier than usual so that they can avoid the impending blizzard; only the Oleson children remain behind to help their teacher clean the schoolroom. Alas, the storm is more violent than anyone could have expected -- and when the homebound children are lost and the Oleson youngsters come down with frostbite, the outraged citizens hold poor Miss Beadle responsible. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this made-for-TV film, a screenwriter (Robert Wagner) begins writing the biography of the dead movie queen who had a brief affair with his father. After work on the project has commenced, he becomes obsessed with her spirit and gets a response from the other side of the grave. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

Jackie Cooper guest stars as scientist Dr. Norman Chase, who early in the proceedings is waylaid by the minions of a criminal named Caesar (Richard Jaeckel) and forced to put on an explosive belt that cannot be removed . Unless Ironside (Raymond Burr) agrees to release three of Caesar's cohorts from prison, the belt will detonate in five hours. Racing against time, the Chief seeks out a duplicate for the key to the fatal belt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Though "The Election Story" originally aired on October 30, 1971, for plot purposes the action takes place during an election year. Predictably, Mike and Gloria throw their support behind a liberal candidate, while Archie takes the side of the conservative opponent. And that's about all that's predictable about this All in the Family-style civics lesson. "The Election Story" was scripted by Michael Ross and Bernie West. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A cinematic take on a 1960s best-seller, Valley of the Dolls traces the ups and downs of three young women as fame, booze, pills, and men consume their lives. Well-bred, small-town Anne Welles (Peyton Place star Barbara Parkins) arrives in New York eager for fame but settles for a job assisting theatrical attorney Henry Bellamy (Robert H. Harris). The job leads her to cross paths with Helen Lawson (Hollywood veteran Susan Hayward), the grand dame of Broadway musicals, and Neely O'Hara (sitcom star Patty Duke), an up-and-coming performer whom Lawson unceremoniously boots from her latest show. Neely lands on her feet thanks to a series of nightclub gigs, and soon she and Anne befriend Jennifer North (Sharon Tate), a buxom starlet. As Neely becomes a huge star of stage and screen and Jennifer appears topless in a string of European "art" films, Anne becomes a wealthy cosmetics spokeswoman and suffers though a passionate but failed affair with aspiring writer Lyon Burke (Paul Burke). As the pressures of fame and failed romance take their toll on all three women, they take refuge in food, sex, liquor, and pills -- especially Neely, who becomes downright monstrous (the titular "dolls" are the uppers and downers to which she becomes hopelessly addicted). Although the film's characters are fictitious composites, Neely most closely resembles Judy Garland; Garland herself was originally cast as Lawson, but she was replaced after only a few days by Hayward. Although the film's trailer played up the story's titillating subject matter, the script for Valley of the Dolls actually toned down Jacqueline Susann's novel. And despite the fact that Dionne Warwick can be heard singing "(Theme From) The Valley of the Dolls" twice during the film, contractual snags kept her from releasing the soundtrack version; a different arrangement later became a number two pop hit in 1968. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

This week's mission begins when a test model for the Germans' new radio-controlled tank is brought into Stalag 13. Hogan is ordered to make a blueprint of the tank, then destroy the vehicle before it can be taken for a trial run. A simple task, yes? No -- not with the roadblocks thrown in the path of Hogan and his heroes by scriptwriter Laurence Marks. "Tanks for the Memory" made its initial CBS network appearance on November 11, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In hopes of smashing a Red spy ring, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) poses as Adam Rogers, a foreign service worker. As expected, the undercover Erskine is approached by Chinese agents and asked to spy on his own country. The "maguffin" in this story is a document known as the Forsythe Memo. As often happens on The FBI, star Efrem Zimbalist Jr. is flanked by a veritable honor roll of scene-stealing character actors, including Patrick O'Neal, Kevin McCarthy and Keye Luke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Extra! Extra! The unthinkable has happened! PERRY MASON HAS LOST A CASE! The jury brings in a guilty verdict, and Perry's client Janice Barton (Vera Miles) is convicted of murder and sentenced to the gas chamber. Though perennial also-ran Hamilton Burger (William Talman) should be elated, he is sympathetic towards the brooding Mason (Raymond Burr), who blames himself for Janice's plight. But it soon develops that Janice had virtually condemned herself by lying about her whereabouts when the murder was committed. Still convinced of his former client's innocence, Perry works feverishly behind the scenes to expose the real killer--whose identity will come as quite a shock to fans of 1960s sitcoms. This justifiably famous episode, ranked as #51 in the "100 Greatest TV Episodes of All Time" by TV Guide, was originally scheduled to air on October 3, 1963. (Curiously, it was removed from the series' syndicated package in 1966, and not seen again until it was cablecast in 1988). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Heading towards Johnsonville, Paladin (Richard Boone) comes across a young woman named Kathy Rousseau (Pippa Scott), who is burying something along the road. That "something" turns out to be Kathy's fiancee, who was murdered by a jealous rival. The guilty party is ruthless town boss Leander Johnson (Werner Klemperer, minus his Hogan's Heroes German accent), who controls everything in Johnsonville including the local constabulary--meaning that justice for Kathy will have to be meted out by Paladin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Just before dropping dead, grizzled old prospector Leadhead Kane (Lita Milan) wills half the ownership of his valuable silver mine to the beauteous music-hall headliner Mlle. Annette (Lita Milan). Enter Leadhead's former partner, who will stop at nothing to claim the entire mine for himself. In order to keep what is justly hers, and to stay alive in the process, Annette asks Paladin (Richard Boone) to watch over her until Leadhead's estate is settled in court--but this proves well-nigh impossible thanks to a mysterious and elusive would-be assassin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide