Charles Horvath Movies

Stanley Kramer directed this paranoid thriller involving a murderer who is inexplicably released from prison by a mysterious organization. Gene Hackman is Roy Tucker, serving time in San Quentin when he's busted out by a secret organization in return for having to assassinate an unnamed person. Roy travels from San Francisco to Spain trying to find out why he was released from prison and who he has to kill. His only lead is the organization is run by a collection of unknown people, collectively known as "They." ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

In this light-hearted (and slightly light-headed) episode, Angel (Stuart Margolin) prevails upon Jim (James Garner) to recover some money from gambler Tom "Chicken" Little. When Little turns up dead, Jim finds out that the man was involved in an elaborate swindle, and that the money Angel had been after actually belonged to Mob. The only way Jim can recover the cash and avoid being offed by the Mob himself is to stage a swindle of his own--and that's why the episode ends with a free-for-all at Angel's "funeral." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ricardo Montalban is well cast as legendary Mexican bandit Joaquin Murietta in Desperate Mission. As in most previous filmed adaptations of the life of this controversial character, Murietta is depicted as a South of the Border Robin Hood, more sinned against than sinning. The storyline is open-ended enough to suggest that this made-for-TV movie was intended as the pilot for a weekly series. If this was indeed the case, the producers needn't have bothered. Lensed in 1969, Desperate Mission didn't get a TV playdate until December 3, 1971 (though it was released theatrically outside the US in 1970). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This January 29, 1968 episode of The Andy Griffith Show was inspired by a recent real-life event: The US-Soviet Summit conference in the small college town of Glassboro, New Jersey. Don Knotts makes his final series appearance as Barney Fife, who has been put in charge of coordinating a crucial East-West summit meeting in Mayberry. Alas, Barney messes up the assignment, but the spirit of détente is preserved thanks of Aunt Bee's cold fried chicken. "Barney Hosts a Summit Meeting" was written by Aaron Ruben. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Don Knotts makes another of his highly-rated return trips to The Andy Griffth Show in the role of Barney Fife. When Andy comes to visit him in Raleigh, Barney boasts about his importance as a city detective. In truth, however, bumbling Barn' is on the verge of being fired. His only hope for salvation is to solve a string of supermarket robberies-and as it turns out, the solution is closer to home than Barney ever realized. Richard X. Slattery appears as Captain Dewhurst, while Betty Kean plays Barney's deceptively sweet-natured landlady. The first of a two-episode story arc, "A Visit to Barney Fife" was written by Bill Idelson, and originally aired on January 16, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jason (Chuck Connors) rescues a white girl (Zeme North) dressed in Indian garb, who has been staked out in a clearing near the corpse of an Indian brave. Despite the girl's delirium, Jason soon discovers that she is the victim of three crazed wolf hunters, one of whom intends to claim her as "his woman" even if he has kill her--and Jason--to do so. The principal villain in this tense melodrama is played by Bruce Dern, essaying yet another of those slavering psychotics that he played so well in his pre-stardom days. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lola Albright makes the first of three Branded appearances in the role of feisty newspaper publisher Ann Williams. When refuses to endorse the election of ruthless town boss Paul Mandell (Kevin Hagen), Ann is targeted for persecution--and ultimate extermination. Needless to say, Ann's fellow "outcast" Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) is eager and willing to champion her cause. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This musical spoof of Westerns featured Lee Marvin in dual roles that won him a Best Actor Oscar. Jane Fonda stars as the title character, a prim schoolmarm returning to her hometown of Wolf City, Wyoming, after receiving an Eastern education. On the train ride, Cat meets up with a pair of friendly, charming crooks, Clay Boone (Michael Callan) and his uncle, Jed (Dwayne Hickman), the former becoming hopelessly smitten with the naive but tough Cat. Upon arriving home, Cat discovers that her eccentric father, Frankie (John Marley), is being threatened with bodily harm by a development company that desperately wants his land. When Frankie is murdered by ruthless, noseless killer Tim Strawn (Marvin), Cat straps on a pair of six-shooters and persuades Clay, Jed, and her father's loyal Native American hand Jackson Two-Bears (Tom Nardini) to sign on as her posse. In her quest for revenge, Cat also recruits Kid Shelleen (also played by Marvin), a one-time fearsome gunslinger who's now a hopeless alcoholic. Cat Ballou (1965) is interspersed throughout the narrative with appearances by Stubby Kaye and Nat King Cole as a pair of balladeers who comment on the action musically in Greek chorus style. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

In this western adventure set in a Mexican border town, two prisoners Foster and Pickett (Audie Murphy and Charles Drake), who are chained to a stake, somehow escape with other prisoners. They are led by cruel outlaw Lavalle (Harold J. Stone) who steals $12,000 in securities. Later the two fugitives try to steal the securities from the gang-leader. Unfortunately, they are caught by Lavalle. He holds Foster hostage and sends Pickett to town to cash the securities. The fugitive gives the resulting loot to his ex-girlfriend Estelle (Kathleen Crowley), and returns with nothing. The enraged Lavalle then lets Foster go to get the money. He meets the newly wealthy dance-hall girl who explains that Pickett gave her the money to make up for his losing her life savings gambling. She then grudgingly hands Foster the money. But as he returns to the outlaw lair, he is unaware that Estelle pursues him. Unfortunately, Lavalle sees her, and in the ensuing scuffle Pickett dies trying to protect Foster and the girl. Later the two flee with the angry Lavalle in hot pursuit. In the end, fugitive Foster kills the gang leader. He and Estelle then settle down and lead a peaceful life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Allegedly based on the 1946 film starring Ray Milland but bearing no real resemblance to it, this is the story of the fight for statehood in California. The Californians want to break from Mexico, but Mexico doesn't want them to. This tale brings to the screen two brothers who are fighting on opposite sides in the battle. Not one of the best of Hollywood's efforts. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide

One of Hollywood's great directors, Vincente Minnelli, turns a jaundiced eye towards the film industry in this drama about the inner workings of the movie business. Jack Andrus (Kirk Douglas) is an actor whose career has gone into a tailspin along with his personal life; after a severe bout with alcoholism, a messy break-up with his wife, a life-threatening auto accident, and a nervous breakdown, Andrus has spent three years in a private mental hospital in Connecticut. Andrus is approached by Maurice Kruger (Edward G. Robinson), a noted filmmaker who worked many times with Andrus in the past, offering him a small role in his next picture, and with the blessings of his doctors, the actor flies to Rome to return to work. However, once he arrives, Andrus finds the project is in chaos -- his role has been recast, Kruger is constantly battling with producer Tucino (Mino Doro), leading man Davie Drew (George Hamilton) is squabbling with both %Kruger and his girlfriend Veronica (Daliah Lavi), and the female lead (Rosanna Schiaffino) can't recite her dialogue in English. With the shooting in shambles, Kruger asks Andrus to take over the dubbing work in hopes of bringing the film in on schedule, and against his better judgement Andrus agrees. As Andrus tries to rise to this new challenge -- made all the more trying by the arrival of his ex-wife Carlotta (Cyd Charisse) -- the production receives its biggest setback when Kruger suffers a heart attack after a bitter argument with his wife (Claire Trevor). Andrus takes over the direction of the picture, and proves a capable hand for the job, bringing in the project on time and on budget. However, Kruger expresses resentment rather than gratitude, claiming that Andrus is trying to put an end to his career. Two Weeks In Another Town was adapted from a novel by Irwin Shaw. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Audie Murphy plays a gunslinger put in charge of a posse. His quarry is a four-man bandit gang that has robbed the local bank, killed several citizens and abducted leading lady Zohra Lampert. Though Lampert is obviously a New York-based actress, it is John Saxon who plays the tenderfoot Manhattanite posse member, unaccustomed to the Wild West. It's nip and tuck for a while, but Audie Murphy successfully completes his mission and rescues the hostage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This Biblical epic stars Elana Eden as Ruth, who serves in the temple where the High Priestess (Viveca Lindfors) leads the worship of the Pagan idols of the people of Moab. When Ruth falls in love with Mahlon (Tom Tryon), a Hebrew, she must come to terms with his spiritual beliefs, but in time she embraces his faith and converts to Judaism when they marry. Ruth travels with Mahlon and his mother Naomi (Peggy Wood) to their homeland of Bethlehem. Ruth suffers hardship and religious persecution, and when Mahlon dies, Ruth's faith is severely tested. But her belief in God survives this trial by fire, and in time Ruth finds a new love with Boaz (Stuart Whitman). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide