Virgil Vogel Movies

The titular "architect" in this episode is Arthur McBride (Monte Markham), so named for his brilliant execution of complex crimes. Escaping from a federal prison with two cohorts named Borden (Billy Dee Williams) and Deal (Dabbs Greer), the brash McBride laughs at the fact that he's "graducated" to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. In fact, McBride intends to make fools of the Feds by pulling off a racetrack robbery right under their noses! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Neil Kriton (Michael Tolan), a respectable businessman, is none too pleased when his black-sheep younger brother Ricky (Scott Marlowe) shows up, begging for a job. Neil relents and finds employment for Ricky, despite the reservations of Neil's wife Denise (Julie Adams) and sister-in-law Lori Donna Baccala). Perhaps the elder Kriton would have been wise to heed the warnings of the women in his life: Ricky happens to be a fugitive from the FBI, wanted for hijacking and attempted murder--and he has no intention of reforming. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Growing increasingly fond of lovely Claire Amory (Nancy Gates), Ben Cartwright must deal with Claire's invalid brother Carl (Wesley Lau). Cruel and manipulative, Carl exploits his infimirities to force Claire to marry Ben whether she wants to or not. A real-life accident forced Lorne Greene to wear an eyepatch throughout this episode. Written by Mort Thaw and Lee Pickett, "His Brother's Keeper" first aired March 6, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Adam Cartwright rescues long-suffering schoolteacher Barbara (Mariette Hartley), who has been tied to a burning post by her unruly pupils. While Barbara recovers from her ordeal, Adam takes over her classroom, determined to teach her contentious charges the history of the Nevada Territory. In so doing, he unexpectedly unearths some deep, dark and ugly secrets about several of the territory's leading citizens. First shown on March 7, 1965, "Right is the Fourth R" was written by Jerry Adelman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Telly Savalas guest-stars as Charles Hackett, the richest man in the world. Accustomed to getting what he wants, Hackett now covets the Ponderosa. When Ben Cartwright refuses to sell, Hackett uses every method at his disposal-fair and foul-to force Ben off his own property. But in so doing, Hackett all but destroys the one person in the world he genuine cares about: his beloved wife Maria (Linda Lawson). Though not the final episode in which series regular Pernell Roberts appeared, this was the final one to be telecast, on April 18, 1965. "To Own the World" was written by Ed Adamson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Diane Wilson (Barbara Wilson) experiences an extraterrestrial visit one night while sleeping, awakening to a horrible, ear-splitting sound that only she can hear. Overcome by confusion, panic, and pain, she runs outside in her nightgown and sees weird lights in the sky. By the time paramedics take her to the hospital, she is catatonic, no longer able to explain what she has experienced. Doctors cannot explain this mystery seizure, since Diane has never shown any signs of insanity before. Could it have something to do with the UFO sightings that were reported the same night as her attack? Before it can be determined, Diane recovers suddenly and completely from her coma, then decides to follow her dream of becoming an Olympic figure skating champion. She moves to Sweden, where she meets up with her uncle, famous geologist Dr. Vance Wilson (Robert Burton), who has ventured there to help investigate a recent meteor landing. Diane is courted by her uncle's associate, the handsome Dr. Erik Engstrom (Sten Gester), though she aggressively plays hard to get. Their romance is interrupted by the discovery of a herd of mutilated reindeer, and the scientists decide to immediately fly to the site of the meteor crash, far north in the Arctic mountains of Lapland. Much to the irritation of the men, Diane stows away aboard their plane, though when it is determined that the meteor is actually an alien spaceship, she realizes just how dangerous a decision she has made. Soon an enormous hairy creature with powerful jaws and massive feet is menacing the scientists and the native Lapland villagers. The beast destroys the airplane, tears houses apart with its bare hands, and causes avalanches. But when this extraterrestrial monster catches up with Diane, it begins displaying tender feelings for the terrified figure skater, and even the elusive pilots of the spacecraft show her kindness. Invasion of the Animal People consists mostly of footage from a Swedish sci-fi film called Rymdinvasion i Lappland that director Jerry Warren bought and edited together with new scenes, plus narration by the distinguished John Carradine. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide

A meteor crashes into the frozen mountains of Northern Sweden, though the Laplanders who witness the event swear that it flew horizontally for hundreds of feet and left skidmarks in the snow. American scientist Dr. Vance Wilson (Robert Burton) is called overseas to help investigate, and joins dashing young geologist Erik Engstrom (Sten Gester) in Stockholm to discuss the phenomenon. Erik meets Wilson's niece, Diane (Barbara Wilson), an Olympic ice skater in training, and the two of them begin flirting heavily both on the slopes and the dancefloor. The scientists are called to the scene of the interstellar accident when an entire herd of reindeer are found mutilated nearby, and Diane stows away on their plane to get close to the action. When Erik and Dr. Wilson examine the meteor closely, however, it's clear to them that it's actually some sort of vessel from outer space. Before they can fly back to the city and alert the authorities, a 20-foot tall behemoth with shaggy fur and gruesome fangs kills a guard and destroys their airplane. Erik and Diane ski off for help, but she injures her knee and finds herself a captive of the enormous monster. Strangely, the creature treats her with gentleness despite her screams. What is the origin of this unearthly beast, and what is its connection to the alien spacecraft? This Swedish-made sci-fi picture was purchased by American producer Jerry Warren, who changed the narrative with new footage and released it to state-side audiences as Invasion of the Animal People in 1962. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide

Generous portions of The Secret Land, the 1948 documentary on the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, were worked into the action of The Land Unknown. Jock Mahoney and William Reynolds play Hal and Jack, leaders of an expedition to the South Pole. Along for the ride is girl reporter Maggie (Shawn Smith), over whose affections Hal and Jack constantly battle. Making a forced landing in the Antarctic, our intrepid explorers find that they've descended well below sea level. Before long, they are attacked by prehistoric beasts which have been preserved in this heretofore uncharted region. When not fending off Tyrannosauri and Pterodactyls, Hal, Jack, Maggie and copter pilot Steve (Phil Harvey) try to steer clear of an unwieldly carnivorous plant. Further complicating things is the presence of a long-lost, slightly demented scientist (Henry Brandon) who craves companionship...specifically the female companionship of Maggie. Its reasonably convincing special effects notwithstanding, The Land Unknown is much ado about nothing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

For reasons that defy logic, the excellent This Island Earth was held up for ridicule as an allegedly bad movie in the film version of TV's Mystery Science Theater. If not the best science-fiction film of the 1950s, Earth is certainly one of the most intelligent and elaborate. The story begins when the image of Exeter (Jeff Morrow), a huge-domed scientific genius from the planet Metaluna, appears on an experimental 3D television screen. Exeter invites several noted scientists from around the world to work on a top-secret project at Exeter's earthly mansion. Among those accepting the invitation are Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) and his ex-fiancee Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue). Soon, Cal and Ruth learn Exeter's true motives; to use the Earth's atomic knowhow in building a defense shield to protect Metaluna against the enemy planet Zahgon. Eventually, Exeter boards his high-tech flying saucer and whisks Cal and Ruth off to his dying planet, where, among other perils, they are menaced by a hideous mutant. Based on a novel by Raymond F. Jones, This Island Earth is one of those rare 1950s speculative films that holds up as well today as it did when first released, despite the comparative quaintness of the special effects and high-tech paraphernalia. Incidentally, the climactic Metalunan scenes were directed by Universal's resident sci-fi specialist, Jack Arnold. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The title tells all in this seventh entry in Universal's "Ma and Pa Kettle" series. This time around, Ma (Marjorie Main) and Pa (Percy Kilbride) take their brood to Hawaii, where Pa is to take over management of his cousin's fruit processing operation. The villains are a group of rival businessmen who kidnap Pa and spirit him off to a remote island. Before long, however, it's the bad guys who need rescuing. Some of the funnier scenes involve Ma and Pa's Hawaiian counterparts, played by Hilo Hattie and Charley Lung. With this entry, Percy Kilbride bade adieu to the role of Pa Kettle, leaving Marjorie Main to carry on alone in the remaining two series installments. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide