Grant Withers Movies

In the sixth episode of Walt Disney's ten-part miniseries Elfego Baca, the titular hero (Robert Loggia, a gunslinger-turned-lawyer) defends British-born rancher Cecil Cunningham (Patrick Knowles), who has been accused of murdering land baron Drew Griswold. According to witnesses, Griswold had been fooling around with Cyril's wife (Audrey Dalton), thereby firmly establishing a motive. In court, Baca finds that he must go face to face with his former law partner J. Henry Newman (James Dunn), the newly appointed District Attorney. Outside the courtroom, the dead man's relatives begin forming a lynch mob. Originally telecast on the Walt Disney Presents anthology, "The Griswold Murder" and the fifth Elfego Baca episode "Attorney at Law" were edited together in 1962 and released as a theatrical feature, Six-Gun Law. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Charles Brent (Grant Withers), owner of the building where Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) keeps his offices, is being blackmailed by Arthur Binney (Richard Erdman), who threatens to expose the sordid past of Brent's young wife Anne (Mari Aldon). When Binney turns up dead, Brent takes the rap, believing that Anne is the guilty party. Complicating the situation for Brent's attorney Perry is the fact that Brent's secretary Enid (Barbara Baxley) had earlier attempted suicide when Anne married her boss. This episode is based on a 1956 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

June Lockhart makes a return appearance as lady medico Dr. Phyllis Thackeray, a character introduced in the earlier episode "No Visitors". Once again, Dr. Thackeray must rely upon the aid of Paladin (Richard Boone) to effectively administer to the sick. This time, she has imposed a smallpox quarantine on the ranch owned by wealthy Sam Barton (Grant Withers)--who refuses to allow his cowboys to be vaccinated against the disease. Singer Johnny Western, best known for his rendition of the Have Gun--Will Travel theme music during the series' closing credits, makes a rare on-screen appearance as an ill-tempered gunslinger. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Paladin (Richard Boone) is hired to track down convicted murderer Manfred Holt (a young Charles Bronson), who has killed two guards while escaped from the Laramie jail and may be gunning for banker Ned Alcorn, the banker who testified against him. Once Holt is recaptured, he tells Paladin that his only purpose in escaping is to be briefly reunited with his wife Sarah (Peggy Stewart), and to see his newborn son; once he does this, he promises to return to jail without further bloodshed. Though he doesn't entirely trust Holt, Paladin allows his prisoner to visit his family, an act of charity which leads to a violent (yet curiously poignant) climax. This episode was filmed on location in the Alabama Hills just outside Lone Pine, California. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Left to die by his greedy partner Jed Lamer (Grant Withers) in the wintry plains outside Dodge City, elderly buffalo hunter Ira Puckett (Edgar Stehli) manages to survive the ordeal thanks to Doc (Milburn Stone). Unfortunately, Ira's legs have been permanently damaged by the below-zero weather and he is unable to find work. Matt (James Arness) is sympathetic, but he can do little to help Ira, nor has he any legal grounds to arrest Lamer. A happy ending may not be in the cards for old Ira in this melancholy episode, adapted from the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of January 1, 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hidden Guns is not so much a western as a suspense melodrama. Bruce Bennett plays Stragg, a mean-spirited cardsharp with friends in high places. Though he has ordered the killing of a rival, Stragg is able to escape prosecution by greasing a few local palms. It is up to heretofore ineffectual sheriff Young (Richard Arlen) to bring justice to his corrupt community. Aiding Young is his callow son Faron (Faron Young), who likewise is considered too wishy-washy to be effective--at least until the slam-bang climax. John Carradine steals the show as Stragg's saturnine hired gun. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

To say that Lady Godiva is historically inaccurate is a moot point, since most historians agree that the whole Lady Godiva story never happened. At any rate, Maureen O'Hara stars in the title role, as the rebellious Saxon wife of a Norman nobleman. To show her fidelity to her people, and to protest Norman taxation, Lady Godiva rides naked through the streets of Coventry. All the elements of the original middle-ages legend are in attendance, including the blinding of "Peeping Tom" (about the only effective moment in the whole film). Whatever audience titillation there might have been in the dreary climactic ride was dissipated by tons of studio publicity which insisted that Maureen O'Hara wasn't really naked under her long red tresses. Lady Godiva is interesting only for its supporting cast, including such veterans as Victor McLaglen and a few newcomers like Clint Eastwood. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on a novel by Gwen Bristow, Jubilee Trail is a sprawling, all-star western from the Republic Studio mills. Despite is vaunted budget, the plot is strictly B-picture material. Ambitious California landowner Charles Hale (Ray Middleton) hopes to add to his riches by marrying off his brother Oliver (John Russell) to a wealthy Spanish family. But when Oliver weds a gal named Garnet (Joan Leslie) instead, Charles vows revenge against the new bride. Later, Oliver is killed, leaving Garnet to raise their baby alone. Charles intends to claim the baby for himself, but Garnet, who has subsequently fallen in love with John Ives (Forrest Tucker), isn't about to let that happen. Top-billed Vera Ralston plays saloon-hall chirp Florinda, a Woman With a Past who is peripherally involved in the plot proper, while Richard Webb, TV's "Captain Midnight", fills the obligatory "disgruntled suitor" role. The film is stolen hands down by Pat O'Brien as a drunken doctor who serves as last-minute problem-solver. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It's always fun to watch Ronald Reagan play a slightly disreputable type, and Tropic Zone is no exception. Reagan stars as Dan McCloud, a self-styled "banana expert" who is hiding out in a mythical South American country for obscure political reasons. Motivated by greed, McCloud comes to the aid of banana-plantation owner Flanders White (Rhonda Fleming), whose livelihood is threatened by covetous Lukats (John Wengraf). Redeemed by love, McCloud turns honest, rallying Flanders' workers and tenant farmers to form a united front against the crooked Lukats and his chief henchman Nelson (Grant Withers). High point: Flanders White, jealous of local cabaret cutie Elena (Estelita Rodriguez), bares her midriff and performs a sexy dance for McCloud's benefit. Tropic Zone was another winner from Paramount's Pine-Thomas production team. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Director John Ford, notoriously difficult to please, regarded The Sun Shines Bright as his favorite film. Laurence Stalllings' screenplay is based on several short stories by Kentucky humorist Irvin S. Cobb, some of which had previously been cinematized in Ford's 1934 Will Rogers vehicle Judge Priest. Charles Winninger stars as Judge William Pittman Priest, whose down-home, common-sense approach to his job has endeared himself to most of the residents of his small Kentucky home town, while alienating many of the "better" people. Up for election, Judge Priest is challenged by a Yankee upstart who has most of the influential citizens in his pocket. Almost deliberately courting defeat, the doggedly honest Priest champions several unpopular causes. In the film's most memorable scene, the Judge arranges a fancy funeral procession for an impoverished town prostitute. The film retains much of the charm of its predecessor Judge Priest; unfortunately (at least by P.C. standards), The Sun Shines Bright also retains the most questionable aspect of the earlier film: the stereotyped routines of African-American comedian Stepin Fetchit. One hardly knows how to react to the sequence in which the supplicative Fetchit tries to hush up a defiant young black man who is in danger of being lynched (Ford plays this scene for laughs!) While Fetchit's participation will hardly endear the film to modern audiences, it is unfair to write off the rest of The Sun Shines Bright, which otherwise fully lives up to director Ford's affectionate assessment. Long available only in its 90 minute release version, the film has in recent years been restored to the 100-minute "director's cut." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Republic Pictures' notion of an "epic", Fair Wind to Java manages to pack in enough entertainment value to send the adventure fans home happy. Tough South Seas skipper Fred MacMurray goes hunting for pearls on a forbidden Javanese island. Native girl Vera Ralston (never mind her Czech accent) falls in love with MacMurray and defies local laws to help him. She is punished by the island rulers, compelling MacMurray to spirit both Vera and the pearls off the island. As they make a last desperate attempt to escape, a lava-spewing volcano threatens to destroy the island. While the shipboard scenes in Fair Wind to Java are as shoddy as a high school production of Pirates of Penzance, the climactic volcanic eruption is masterfully staged by miniature experts Howard Lydecker and Theodore Lydecker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this western, a U.S. marshal rides into Leadville to get a prisoner and ends up staying to help a needy friend who is in trouble with the outlaws attempting to oust him from his ranch. To stop them, the lawman poses as a bandit. He then discovers that the town banker is behind it all as he has learned that there is oil underneath the rancher's land. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Ruth Hussey stars in this big-budget Republic actioner. She plays Christine Powell, the grasping, conniving sister of Minnesota mining magnate David Powell (John Agar). Using her feminine wiles, Christine tries to undermine her brother's competition by romancing rival mine owner Kyle Ramlo (Rod Cameron). He falls for her ruse, deserting his loyal sweetheart Cathy Nordlund (Gale Storm) in the process. Christine then proceeds to strip Ramlo of his wealth and prestige on her brother's behalf. How long will it be before the thick-headed Ramlo finally wises up? As was always the case at Republic, Woman of the North Country is peopled by some of the best supporting players in the business, including J. Carroll Naish, Jay C. Flippen, Jim Davis and Barry Kelley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide