Polly James Movies
- 1944
The usual modus operandi for Hollywood "through the years" sagas was to gradually age its young actors in the course of the film. In Mrs. Parkington, 35-year-old Greer Garson appears in old-lady makeup for virtually the entire 124-minute running time, even though this filmization of Louis Bromfield's best-selling novel covers the years 1875 through 1938. Eightyish widow Mrs. Susie Parkington (Garson) gathers together all of her grown children in an effort to bail out son-in-law Amory Stilham (Edward Arnold), who's gotten in Dutch through crooked financial deals. As the children and grandchildren bicker over the "impossibility" of giving up any part of their inheritance, Mrs. Parkington's mind wanders back to her marriage to wealthy mine owner Maj. Augustus Parkington (Walter Pidgeon) and her own efforts, as an unlearned Nevada serving girl, to fit into proper Manhattan society. Augustus' ex-love Aspasia Conti (Agnes Moorehead, in a surprisingly sexy role) is engaged to teach Susie the in and outs of which fork to use and how low to curtsy. Shut out by the "400," Susie is avenged by her husband, who wheels and deals to ruin the snobs financially. Later on, he assuages his anger by conducting several extramarital affairs, before perishing in one of those convenient movie auto accidents. Just how all these incidents strengthen Mrs. Parkington's resolve to rescue her wastrel son-in-law is a mystery that even two viewings of this overlong soap opera may not solve. Incidentally, Greer Garson isn't the only one who is prematurely aged in Mrs. Parkington; keep an eye out for 27-year-old Hans Conried, convincingly playing a doddering musician. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, (more)
- 1950
Someone is trying to ruin the Rocky Mountain Stage Line in Dentonville and mine superintendent Gene Autry suspects that Collins (Gregg Barton), the stage driver, has something to do with it. Meanwhile, the local stage agent, Mrs. Wilhelmina Wilkins (Minerva Urecal), takes a dim view of Dentonville's new schoolmarm, Lucy Lawrence (Sheila Ryan), whom the clerk, Henry Mason (Steve Darrell), accuses of being a former saloon girl. But the Widow Wilkins changes her mind when Pat's divining rod, aka the doodle bug, reveals Mason to be behind the recent stage holdups. Gene Autry sings his own and Smiley Burnette's "Ridin' Down the Canyon." Leading lady Sheila Ryan and comedic sidekick Pat Buttram were married two years later. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1952
Reportedly, there was no love lost between the three stars of Untamed Frontier, and perhaps it was this tension that added so much depth to this otherwise formula-bound western. Joseph Cotten plays Kirk Denbow, the straight-laced son of ruthless cattle-baron Matt Denbow (Minor Watson), while Scott Brady co-stars as Glen Denbow, Kirk's firebrand brother (shades of Duel in the Sun, which also starred Cotten). Waitress Jane Stevens (Shelley Winters) witnesses a murder committed by Glen, then is railroaded into marrying him to prevent her from testifying in court. Inevitably, Jane falls in love with Kirk, the first of several fateful steps which lead to the film's bloody denouement. The late Suzan Ball, whose screen career was so tragically brief, makes her movie debut in Untamed Frontier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joseph Cotten, Shelley Winters, (more)
- 1952
It's always a pleasure to see ace western director Leslie Selander in action, and Riders of Vengeance is no exception. Originally released as The Raiders, this Universal programmer stars Richard Conte as a miner who leads an expedition of his compatriots to the California Gold Rush. Crooked Morris Ankrum sets about to cheat Conte and his friends out of their claims. The good guys stage a counteroffensive with the help of Mexican miner Richard Martin. Viveca Lindfors once more brings intelligence and charm to a two-dimensional role. Watch for future Gunsmoke star Dennis Weaver as "Logan". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Conte, Viveca Lindfors, (more)
The title character of this western can only be one of two actresses: Maureen O'Hara or Rhonda Fleming. But Fleming apparently had something else to do, so O'Hara won the coin-toss. She plays a dance-hall gal who protects the identity of a cattle rustler--mainly because she's the same crooked business herself. Complications ensue when O'Hara falls in love with the very sheriff (Alex Nicol) who intends to bring the rustler to justice. Redhead from Wyoming was filmed in Technicolor; the producers would have been insane not to do so. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maureen O'Hara, Alex Nicol, (more)
- 1958
The oft-told tale of controversial Southern-sympathizing outlaw Quantrill is recounted again in this low-budget western. Leo Gordon, possessor of one of the meanest faces in the movies, plays Quantrill, but top billing is bestowed upon Steve Cochran as Westcott, a Confederate officer assigned to collaborate with the vigilante leader in a raid on an ammunition depot in Lawrence, Kansas. Westcott is forced to move on when the ammo supply is moved, but the vengeance-driven Quantrill insists upon remaining in Lawrence, there to indulge in one of the bloodiest and most sadistic raids in Kansas history. Quantrill's Raiders was directed by Edward Bernds, who'd come a long way since his Three Stooges shorts of the early 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Cochran, Leo Gordon, (more)
- 1984
The Doctor (Peter Davison) accompanies Tegan (Janet Fielding) on a visit to Little Hodcombe, the home of her grandfather, historian Andrew Verney. They arrive just in time for a local historical society's reenactment of the English Civil War. The "festivities" unexpectedly awaken a malevolent telekinetic alien called the Malus, which has long slumbered in the crypt of the village church. Written by Eric Pringle, "The Awakening" inaugurated its two-episode run on January 19, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, (more)
- 1984
In the conclusion of the two-part story "The Awakening," the citizens of Little Holcombe seem to be taking their reenactment of the English Civil War a bit too seriously -- especially when Tegan (Janet Fielding) is chosen as a human sacrifice. Meanwhile, the Doctor (Peter Davison) tries to purge the community of the evil telekinetic influence of the Malus, with the assistance of a transplanted 17th century lad named Will Chandler (Keith Jayne). Other key players in the proceedings are local squire (and slave-of-the-Malus) Sir George Hutchinson (Dennis Lill) and Tegan's beleagured grandfather, historian Andrew Verney (Frederick Hall). Written by Eric Pringle, "The Awakening, Episode 2" originally aired on January 20, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, (more)
