Howard Harris Movies
Screenwriter Howard Harris penned the script for the Marx Brothers' Copacabana (1947) and worked on their A Night in Casablanca. He also worked on a couple of westerns during the '40s. Later he became a comedy writer for such stars as Phil Baker and W.C. Fields and also wrote for numerous television shows of the '50s and early '60s including The Jimmy Durante Show, Gilligan's Island, Here's Lucy, and "Honeymooners" segments on the Jackie Gleason Show. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1982
New Jersey convincingly stands in for Nebraska in the independently produced Plainsong. This historical vignette deals with the hardships awaiting the first plains settlers of the 19th century. Emphasis is given the travails of three women pioneers, played by Jessica Nelson, Teresanne Joseph and Lynn Traverse. The photography in Plainsong fluctuates between color and black and white throughout. This might have been a stylistic choice--or, as in the case of A Man and A Woman (66), it might have been because the budget didn't allow for color film stock on certain shooting days. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jessica Nelson, Teresanne Joseph, (more)
- 1976
- PG
14-year-old Jodie Foster portrays Deirdre Striden, an 11-year-old cancer victim in Echoes of a Summer. Eugene (Richard Harris) and Ruth (Lois Nettleton), her parents, are consumed by grief over the imminent demise of their daughter. It is Deirdre herself who, during a summer vacation in Nova Scotia, tries to help her parents face the inevitable with courage. Echoes of a Summer was originally titled The Last Castle, which is also the title of its theme song, composed by costar Richard Harris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Harris, Lois Nettleton, (more)
- 1966
Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) has set her sights on purchasing a motorbike; all she needs now is the money. What to do? What else but set up a baby-sitting service at the Shady Rest Hotel--meaning that Betty's mom Kate (Bea Benaderet) will be saddled with the squalling infants when things inevitably get out of hand. Curiously, although Frank Cady is very prominent in his familiar role as storekeeper Sam Drucker in this final episode of Petticoat Junction's third season, Cady receives no screen credit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
The great character actor Sig Ruman, best known for his appearances with the Marx Brothers and his performance as "Concentration Camp Ehrhardt" in 1942's To Be or Not to Be, is cast as vocal teacher Professor Lieberschmit, who declares that Bobbie Jo (Pat Woodell) has an exquisite singing voice--and recommends that she take lessons in New York. Meanwhile, Bobbie Jo's sister Billie Jo (Jeanine Riley) has a chance for a screen test at Mammoth Studios in Hollywood, while youngest sister Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) has been accepted at a prestigious New England college. But there's a problem: the girls' mother Kate (Bea Benadaret) can only afford to finance one of her daughters' dreams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
This episode is the first of many Petticoat Junction-Green Acres crossovers, with Eddie Albert appearing in his familiar Green Acres guise as lawyer Oliver Wendell Douglas. "Gentleman farmer" Oliver is solicited for free legal advice by Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan), who is on the horns of another dilemma. It seems that Joe's niece Kate (Bea Benaderet) is holding the winning raffle ticket for a new TV; unfortunately, Kate is also serving on a sequestered jury, meaning that the precious ticket is tantalizingly out of Joe's reach--unless, of course, Oliver can come up with a solution to the problem. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Bobbie Jo (Lori Saunders) wants to win a school spelling bee, and is pinning her hopes on the "good luck" ring in her possession. Alas, panic and confusion sets in when our heroine loses the precious ring. This crisis also affects Bobbie's mom Kate, who'd hoped that her daughter's win would settle the hash of her arch-rival Cora Watson (Elvia Allman), whose daughter Henrietta (Susan Walther) is also in the contest. (Trivia note: Elvia Allman would later become a Petticoat Junction semi-regular as another of Kate's rivals, Selma Plout--who, coincidentally, also had a daughter named Henrietta!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In her neverending efforts to bring culture to the island, Mrs. Howell (Natalie Schafer) organizes a Castaway Orchestra. Much of the music that results is pretty wretched, save for the percussion section, which consists primarily of Gilligan (Bob Denver) on the drums. In fact, Gilligan's persistent beat-beat-beat of the tom-toms has a remarkable effect on the natives of a neighboring island--who are convinced that the drums are tapping out a war chant! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Corsentino, Russ Grieve, (more)
- 1965
A team of surveyors determines that the Shady Rest Hotel has been built right in the middle of the border between two counties. Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) hopes to exploit this phenomenon by building up the hotel as a tourist attraction. Unfortunately, Joe hadn't reckoned with such exigencies as bureaucracy and taxes. The strong supporting cast includes radio veteran Sam Edwards (Dragnet, Gunsmoke etc.) and comic actor Milton Frome, the latter best known to contemporary viewers for his appearances on the Superman TV series and in the Three Stooges two-reelers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
The citizens of Hooterville are excited when a top-secret Air Force camera lands in the yard outside the Shady Rest Hotel. What no one realizes is that the camera has been equipped with a detonation device--set to explode should anyone try to use the device. The role of General Loomis is played by Fred Clark), who had previously costarred with Petticoat Junction's Bea Benadaret in the respective roles of Harry and Blance Morton on the old Burns and Allen Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) has decided that the Shady Rest Hotel needs a new water heater. Not only would it be more efficient than Kate's wood-burning stove, but also Uncle Joe wouldn't have to chop any more firewood. To raise money to purchase the heater, Joe transforms the hotel into a corporation and begins merrily issuing stock--yet another get-rich-quick scheme doomed to spectacular failure. Byron Foulger, who would later join the series' cast as train engineer Wendell Gibbs, is here cast as Mr. Guerney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Two feuds are fired up in the course of this episode. For starters, Hooterville vies with Crabwell Corners over the ownership of a cannon originally used in the Spanish American war. Meanwhile, Hooterville's Betty Jo Bradley (Linda Kaye) squares off against Crabwell Corners' Tad Winslow (Frank Kilmond) as to who owns the best and smartest dog. Robert Shayne, best known as Inspector Henderson on the 1950s TV-series version of The Adventures of Superman, appears as Mr. Fillmore. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Ever seeking opportunities to bring prestige to the Shady Rest Hotel, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) tries to stir up interest in inviting the state governor to visit Hooterville. Unfortunately, no one else in town is willing to support Joe in his efforts, forcing him to take drastic (and potentially disastrous) action. The role of Emily Simpson is played by Florence Lake, the sister of moviedom's "Dagwood Bumstead" Arthur Lake and a longtime fixture of Edgar Kennedy's "Mr. Average Man" two-reelers of the 1930s and 1940s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Hooterville storekeeper Sam Drucker (Frank Cady) has noticed a considerable drop in business over the past few days. The rest: a brand-new supermarket in nearby Pixley is stealing away all of Sam's steady customers. While things look bleak for a while,fans can take heart in the fact that Sam Drucker would remain on both Petticoat Junction and its spinoff series Green Acres for several seasons to come. Former child actor Jack Searl, best known for his portrayals of such snivelling brats as Sidney Sawyer in the 1930 version of Tom Sawyer, shows up in the role of Jack Hull. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
A 14-year-old Kurt Russell guests in this episode as an elusive and resourceful "jungle boy" who has made his home on Gilligan's Island. At first unable to convince any of his fellow castaways that the Jungle Boy exists, Gilligan (Bob Denver) finally manages to bring the monosyllabic stranger out in the open. Helpfully, Jungle Boy leads the castaways to what appears to be a large deposit of helium--whereupon the Professor (Russell Johnson) declares that they might very well be able to float off the island in a jerry-built balloon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kurt Russell
- 1953
While attending a ballgame with his pal Ed Norton, Ralph finds he is holding the winning ticket in a pumpernickel bread contest and is rewarded with one thousand dollars in cash. Though he wants to spend it all immediately, wife Alice insists that he save the money for a rainy day. This argument becomes moot when Ralph realizes that, if he collects the money, his boss will know that he was playing hooky from work to attend the game. Running a little over 17 minutes, "Lucky Number" originated as a sketch on the September 26, 1953, edition of The Jackie Gleason Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1953
Hoping to get a raise and promotion, Ralph invites his boss Mr. Marshall to dinner at the Kramden apartment. Every effort he makes to impress his boss -- including plying Marshall with expensive champagne and cigars -- is undercut by the goofy antics of his pal Ed Norton. It hardly matters, however, since Ralph's carefully plotted strategy backfires in the usual spectacular fashion. Running ten minutes and 45 seconds, "Champagne and Caviar" originally aired on November 7, 1953, as a component of The Jackie Gleason Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1953
The Kramdens and the Nortons don elaborate costumes in anticipation of attending a Halloween party. No sooner has Ralph ripped up his tuxedo, intending to create an "elegant bum" costume, than he learns that the party is actually a birthday party for his boss -- and formal attire is mandatory! Running nine minutes, "Halloween Party" was originally telecast on October 31, 1953, as a sketch on The Jackie Gleason Show. The sketch was repeated in October of 1954, but this later version has not been made available for home video or TV syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1953
Elisha Cook Jr. is among the cast members of the 34-minute Honeymooners sketch "Santa and the Bookies." Jumping to the mistaken conclusion that Alice is pregnant, Ralph decides that he needs a second income. Answering a newspaper ad, Ralph signs on as a sidewalk Santa -- little realizing that he is being used as a front for a bookie ring. Inevitably, "Santa" Ralph and his "helper" Ed Norton end up in jail. There are several amusing plot twists still in store for the Kramdens and the Nortons as the sketch rushes towards its hilariously ironic conclusion. Originally telecast December 12, 1953, as a component of The Jackie Gleason Show, "Santa and the Bookies" was repeated on December 17, 1966, in color and with songs, as an episode of Gleason's Miami-based variety series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1953
In this classic Honeymooners sketch, Ralph is told to turn in his bus driver's uniform. Assuming that he's been fired, Ralph decides to get even with his boss Mr. Marshall (Robert Middleton) by dashing off an angry letter ("My Dear Mr. Marshall. . .You Dirty Bum!") Too angry to write the missive himself, Ralph dictates his vitriol to his pal Ed Norton, who duly records every single word. Only after the letter has been deposited in the mailbox does Ralph discover that Mr. Marshall has not fired him -- and in, fact, intends to give him a promotion! The rest of the episode is a hilarious exercise in desperation, highlighted by no fewer than two of Jackie Gleason's spectacular "faints." Originally telecast as a 33-minute sketch on the November 14, 1953, edition of The Jackie Gleason Show, "Letter to the Boss" was redone on December 16, 1967, with music and in full color, as a 60-minute episode of Gleason's Miami-based variety series. On that occasion, Mr. Marshall was played by Paul Ford. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
For their first independently-produced vehicle, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello chose to appear in a remake of the 1939 Universal programmer For Love or Money. Bud and Lou are cast as Ted and Tommy, two bumbling window washers hired by gangster Mike Craig (Joseph Calleila) to collect a $50,000 gambling debt. The boys manage to pick up the money, only to deliver it to the wrong person, a pretty private secretary named Carol (Cathy Downs). Ordered to retrieve the money within 24 hours "or else," Ted and Tommy trace the cash to Carol, who has mistakenly distributed it amongst the entries in a mailing list. As our heroes desperately concoct methods of escaping Craig's wrath, eccentric gambler Julius Caesar McBride (Leon Errol), the man who "never loses," comes to the rescue. Despite its seeming complexity, the plot exists merely as a peg on which to hang several of Abbott and Costello's best routines, including "Bet you 10 dollars you're not here," "Hole in the Wall," "Packing and unpacking," "Getting Arrested," and, best of all, "Mudder and Fodder." Beyond the seven credited actors, the huge unbilled supporting cast includes such reliable laugh-getters as Benny Rubin, Murray Leonard, Elvia Allman, Herb Vigran, Fred Kelsey, James Flavin, Lyle Latell, Isabel Randolph and Paul Maxey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lou Costello, Bud Abbott, (more)
Groucho Marx made his first solo film appearance away from his brothers in the musical comedy Copacabana. Groucho plays two-bit theatrical agent Lionel Q. Devereaux, whose favorite client--indeed, his only client--is fireball Brazilian entertainer Carmen Novarro (Carmen Miranda). Hoping for a double commission, Devereaux gets Carmen two different singing jobs at the Copacabana nightclub, through the simple expedient of having Carmen wear a veil and pose as a French chanteuse. Steve Hunt (Steve Cochran), manager of the Copa, falls in love with one of the Carmens, much to the dismay of pretty bookkeeper Anne (Gloria Jean). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Groucho Marx, Carmen Miranda, (more)
- 1947
In this comedy, a novelist visits a local nightclub to do some research for her upcoming novel. Her husband, away on a business trip, knows nothing of her shenanigans. While in the club, the novelist sees her boss out with a stripper. To help her husband's flagging career, the writer begins blackmailing her employer into promoting him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lennie Bremen, Claire Carleton, (more)
Higher and Higher was advertised by RKO Radio as "The Sinatra Show", and small wonder: In his first major film role, Frank Sinatra was easily the film's biggest box-office draw. Actually, Frankie was a last minute addition to the film, which began as a traditional adaptation of a popular Broadway musical. Repeating his original stage role, Jack Haley plays Mike, the head servant in the household of millionaire Mr. Drake (Leon Errol). When Drake faces bankruptcy, Mike rallies the servants together and cooks up a moneymaking scheme: they'll pass off pretty scullery maid Millie (Michele Morgan) as Drake's daughter, and marry her off to a wealthy bachelor. Complicating matters is Sir Bictor Fitzroy Victor (Victor Borge), an impoverished nobleman who is himself looking for a rich wife. Mike saves the day with a last-minute discovery in the wine cellar, but not before a series of hilarious and tuneful plot twists involving Millie, heiress Katherine (Barbara Hale), and hired help Mickey (Marcy McGuire) and Marty (Mel Torme). Hastily written into the proceedings as Drake's next door neighbor, Sinatra croons several standards-to-be, including "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night" and "This is a Lovely Way to Spend an Evening"; he also is arbitrarily permitted the film's closing shot, emerging from heavenly clouds like the Second Coming of Music. Thanks to the film's enormous box-office take, everybody was happy with Higher and Higher--except Jack Haley, understandably miffed that his onetime starring role was whittled down to a supporting part to allow more screen time for the estimable Mr. Sinatra. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michèle Morgan, Jack Haley, (more)
