Jean Carson Movies

Dick Harper (George Segal) and his wife Jane (Jane Fonda) have always lived way beyond their means. Just because Dick has just lost his high-paying job is no reason for Jane to stop spending like there's no tomorrow. To make ends meet, Jane takes up a new career: armed robbery. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

LAPD detective Sgt. Tom Valens (David Janssen) is a ten-year veteran of the force who has had more than his share of hard luck lately -- his marriage is a wreck, and he hasn't fully recovered from a serious wound suffered in the line of duty a year ago. He and his partner, Sgt. Ed Musso (Keenan Wynn), are working a stakeout one night at the Seascape Apartments, in hope of catching a killer who has already claimed three victims in that part of the city, when he confronts a man seemingly trying to sneak off the premises. The man tries to run, stops when ordered but starts to pull a gun, and Valens shoots him dead. The deceased turns out to be Dr. James B. Ruston, a well-known humanitarian and pillar of the community -- worse yet, the police can't find any trace of the gun Valens says he saw Ruston pull. Valens' nightmare builds gradually, as he's first assigned to a desk, then hung out to dry by an indifferent coroner (Carroll O'Connor) at an inquest, suspended from the force, and then indicted for manslaughter by a crusading prosecutor (Sam Wanamaker) with a personal ax to grind. Villified in the press and by protesters in the street, Valens has few even slightly sympathetic ears around him -- his partner, his captain (Ed Begley Sr.), and his soon-to-be-ex-wife (Joan Collins) -- and even fewer allies. The one attorney (Walter Pidgeon) with enough juice to fight the case on an even footing with the DA says he would only plead him guilty and try for a deal, based on his understanding of the law and of juries; and the one public pundit (Steve Allen) who takes his part is doing so for the most cynical of reasons. Valens realizes that the only way to save himself is to first prove that the so-called victim wasn't quite the candidate for sainthood that he seemed -- why did he run? -- and to find the missing gun. To do all of that, he's got to confront the victim's aggrieved patients (Lillian Gish), his alcoholic widow (Eleanor Parker), and his employees (Stefanie Powers), all of whom have every reason to hate Valens. He starts to dig into the doctor's finances and finds some anomalies that no one can explain (or wants to look at -- they'd rather hang Valens), and as he puts together the pieces of the puzzle, helped by a sympathetic tenant at Seascape (George Grizzard), Valens finds himself pursued by the doctor's thug of son and his friends with mayhem on their minds -- and someone else with a deadlier agenda. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

Daphne and Skippy (Jean Carson and Joyce Jameson), those two "fun girls" from Mount Pilot, are back for more mischief in Mayberry. The girls deliberately get arrested for speeding so that they can spend all their time with those handsome hunks Andy and Barney. Though the boys manfully resist the girls' advances, their own sweethearts Helen and Thelma Lou choose to believe the evidence of their own eyes. First telecast on April 5, 1965, "The Arrest of the Fun Girls" was written by Richard M. Powell. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jean Carson and Joyce Jameson return as Skippy and Daphne, the "fun girls" from Mount Pilot. Still carrying a torch for Andy and Barney, the girls converge upon upon Mayberry, causing all sorts of embarrassment for our heroes-and a generous supply of green-eyed jealousy from Helen and Thelma Lou. This is the episode in which Gomer Pyle's cousin Goober (George Lindsey in his series debut) does his deathless imitation of Cary Grant ("JudyJudyJudyJudyJudyJudy. . .."). First telecast April 13, 1964, "Fun Girls" was written by Aaron Ruben. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

While on a fishing excursion, Barney and Floyd are held captive by three escaped female convicts: Big Maude Tyler (Reta Shaw), Naomi Connors (Jean Carson) and Sally Stringer (Jane Dulo). Back in Mayberry, Andy organizes a posse to round up the women, unaware of Barney and Floyd's plight. When he does find out that the boys are prisoners, Andy concocts a clever subterfuge to save the day. Written by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum, this episode affords series fans the opportunity to see actress Jean Carson in a role other than "fun girl" Daphne. "Convicts-at-Large" first aired December 10, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this crime drama, an ex-con goes looking for his late cellmate's hidden loot. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this sequel to "The Underground Court", Nero Rankin (Will Kuluva) has installed himself as chairman of the Syndicate, replacing the estimable Judge Foley. When Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) manages to convince Rankin's secretary Sylvia Orchins (Jean Carson) that her boss will be killed unless she cooperates with the Feds, Rankin quickly disposes of the hapless girl and gives Ness a "message" by sparking a bloodbath in which innocent bystanders are mowed down in the streets. Ironically, this turns the public against Ness rather than Nero--making it all the more crucial to end Rankin's reign of terror before Chicago becomes one huge slaughterhouse. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The creation and testing of jet planes is the focus of this action film. The story centers on a boozy hero from the Korean War who is hired as a test pilot by an aircraft executive on the condition that he sober up for good. It is a long road for the alcoholic aviator, and at one point he almost suffers a breakdown during a simulated flight, but he manages to dry out and begin flying experimental planes. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

It has now become a film-review clich to preface a write-up for I Married a Monster From Outer Space with the cautionary "Don't be misled by the title." The fact remains, however, that this one of the better and more intelligent horror outings of the late 1950s. The "I" of the title is Marge Farrell (Gloria Talbott), who can't help noticing that her husband Bill (Tom Tryon) has been acting very strangely since their dark-and-stormy wedding night. For one thing, the formerly demonstrative Bill behaves listlessly, as though possessing no emotions whatsoever; for another, though he spends much of his free time at Grady's Bar, Bill never takes a drink (now that is weird!) It isn't long before Marge discovers that Bill, along with several of his male friends, have been taken over by aliens from the Andromeda Nebula, who have arrived on earth to replenish their species. There's only one flaw to this plan: the aliens are unable to procreate! Once the authorities are alerted, a posse of non-possessed men attack the alien spaceship, paving the way for the not-altogether-predictable finale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Not quite a full-fledged musical, As Long as They're Happy can be described as a romantic comedy with song-and-dance interludes. Adapted from the London stage hit of the same name, the film stars Jack Buchanan as stockbroker John Bentley, whose household is thrown into a tizzy when popular singing star Bobby Denver (Jerry Wayne) visits his home. Bentley's three daughters Gwen (Janette Scott), Pat (Jeannie Carson) and Corinne (Susan Stephen) are immediately smitten by Bobby, though each reacts to his presence in a different manner. Mrs. Bentley (Brenda de Banzie), hoping to loosen up her staid hubby, pretends to be likewise enamored with the singer. The film did the most amount of good for recording artist Jeannie Carson, who landed her own American TV sitcom as a result of her appearance herein. Also well cast in As Long as They're Happy are sex-symbol Diana Dors in an extended cameo role, and "Carry On" regular Joan Sims as a comic maid. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Based on actual events, The Phenix City Story tells the tale of a wide-open "Sin City" in Alabama (across a bridge from Columbus, GA, and just a stone's throw from the Ft. Benning Army base) where gambling, prostitution, and any number of other vices were tolerated openly by the law, most of it centered on the main downtown drag, 14th Street, thanks to the 50-year influence of organized crime on the local government. Reform groups, mostly in the form of vigilantes, had tried to clean up "the wickedest city in the United States" before, even taking the law into their own hands and wrecking some of the establishments, only to be stymied by the courts (which were otherwise indifferent to activities on 14th Street). At the outset of the movie, set in 1954 -- when the actual events took place -- a new reform group is trying to organize and attempting to get the city's most prominent attorney, Albert Patterson (John McIntire) on their side; so are the club owners on 14th Street, led by Rhett Tanner (Edward Andrews), a cheerful, affable sort with a mean streak not far from the surface. But Patterson wants no part of either side's activities -- he's been a reformer, even a successful candidate, only to see his efforts come to little, and has also successfully defended Tanner and the others on 14th Street in an investigation of a murder of which they weren't guilty. Now he's old, and he wants to sit back with his wife and enjoy the return of his army office/lawyer son, John (Richard Kiley), and his family from Germany. But when the 14th Street boys, led by Clem Wilson (John Larch), go too far beating up Patterson's friends, and involve his son John, and then turn to murder and intimidation, it forces the elder Patterson and his son to join the reformers.

The Phenix City Story runs 87 minutes, but most prints also include a 13-minute preface, compiled from newsreel footage and interviews with the original participants, that provides background on the events that inspired the film (and also spoils a few plot points). Ironically, given the negative image that it portrays of Alabama, the movie was surprisingly well-received in the state at the time; residents were simply fascinated by and taken with the notion of a feature film set in their home state and even including a couple of actual local residents in its cast. Director Phil Karlson was to enjoy even greater success 18 years later with a similar story about one man fighting a city turned bad, Walking Tall, which included many similarly staged action scenes amid its somewhat wider plot-canvas. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi