Anton Leader Movies

On behalf of an old rabbi friend, Ironside (Raymond Burr) investigates the theft of a priceless Torah from a San Francisco synagogue. Truth to tell, the ancient scroll is "priceless" only to the congregation, but the thieves--who've managed to cover their tracks and make the break-in look like an act of anti-Semitic vandalism--obviously didn't know that. Racing against time, Ironside must recover the Torah before the disgruntled criminals destroy the artifact. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The second-season opener of Ironside finds wheelchair-bound detective Robert Ironside (Raymond Burr) engaging in a high-stakes game of "sleight of hand". With a touring exhibition of rare jewels arriving at a San Francisco museum, Ironside must keep the method of shipment secret from master jewel thief Arthur Justin (Sorrell Brooke)--who in the past has had an irksome habit of remaining at least two steps ahead of the Law. For the sake of authenticity, several genuine jewels are seen in this episode, including the Kimberly and Transvaal Diamonds (studio publicity of the time indicated that the real gems were insured for seven million dollars, which was real money back in 1968!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Vicious, cop-hating Frank Vincent (Pernell Roberts) threatens dire consequences when he is arrested on a drunk driving charge by Ed Brown (Don Galloway) and two other officers (one of whom is played by director-stuntman Hal Needham, the other by Bing Russell, father of film star Kurt Russell)). Later, both of his colleagues turn up dead, convincing Ed that Vincent is the killer; unfortunately, he has no proof, and is told to leave Vincent alone. Ultimately suspended from the force, Ed literally puts his life on the line to expose Vincent as a murderer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The title character in the episode is a well-trained but ill-tempered Alsatian, who is the only witness to the murder of a sweet old lady. It turns out that the victim was anything but a paragon of virtue--in fact, she may well have been an accomplished con artist. What Ironside (Raymond Burr) finds curious is the fact that the old lady was killed in a manner similar to several other recent murders...in which all the victims were elderly males. Former football pro and future movie action star Fred Williamson appears as a detective. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cast in his school's spring pageant, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) is assigned the role of a bunny -- complete with long-eared, fuzzy-tailed costume. It's bad enough that he has to wear his bunny outfit while Lumpy (Frank Bank) is driving him to the show, but it's even worse when the car breaks down and Beav is forced to walk the rest of the way to school. No, it gets worse -- pack of bunny-hating dogs spot the costumed Beaver, and the chase is on! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

For reasons beyond comprehension, the Earth has changed its orbit and is moving inexorably toward the sun, sending temperatures soaring into the triple digits. Though most of New York City has been deserted, art student Norma (Lois Nettelton) and her landlady Mrs. Bronson (Betty Garde) elect to stay behind, braving the intense, blistering heat until the bitter end. And don't be misled by that "is it all a bad dream?" finale. Written by Rod Serling, "The Midnight Sun" made its Twilight Zone debut on November 17, 1961 (imagine the audience reaction had the episode been telecast in August). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

After the mysterious death of her motel-owner father Glenn (Russell Thorson), Stephanie Falkner (Peggy McCay) is left with nothing but her dad's property and a huge pile of debts. Enter big-time gambler George Castle (Joe De Santis), who dearly covets Stephanie's land. Unbeknownst to the girl, George had killed her father over a gambling debt--or perhaps Stephanie has known this all along. Whatever the case, when George himself turns up murdered, Stephanie is charged with the crime...and that's when Perry Mason (Perry Mason) takes a hand in matters. This episode is based on a 1958 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Perry (Raymond Burr) receives an urgent telegram from Frank Lawton (Stewart Bradley), an old Army buddy who apparently is in trouble. Not long afterward, Frank is charged with the murder of his boss, Scott Shelby (Tom Shelby). Offering to defend Frank, Perry is shocked to learn that his friend never sent that telegram, and was never in trouble...until now. This episode is based on a 1945 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Excluding a brace of 1980s TV-movie appearances, It Happens Every Thursday was the final feature film appearance of Loretta Young. As radiantly beautiful at 40 as she'd been as a teen-aged ingenue, Young plays Jane McAvoy, the pregnant wife of big-city newspaper reporter Bob McAvoy (John Forsythe). Tired of the urban rat race, Bob moves to a small California town and assumes ownership of a just-getting-by weekly paper. It's a hand-to-mouth existence for the first few editions, and the situation isn't remedied by the cloistered, resentful behavior of the local citizenry. The outcome of the plot hinges on a publicity stunt engineered by Bob: an attempt to artificially create rain for the drought-ridden community. The well-chosen supporting cast of It Happens Every Thursday includes Edgar Buchanan, Jimmy Conlin, Willard Waterman, and in her last film, Gladys George. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi