Virginia Aldridge Movies
The Gnome-Mobile was Walt Disney's first all-out fantasy since Mary Poppins. Walter Brennan stars in a dual role, as kindly lumber tycoon D. J. Mulrooney and the irascible (and much tinier) 943-year-old gnome Knobby. Mulrooney likes Knobby and his fellow gnomes, but the feeling isn't reciprocal, since Knobby considers Mulrooney a threat to his beloved forest. Meanwhile, the tycoon's vice-president Ralph Yarby (Richard Deacon), hearing his boss' claims that he's been consorting with gnomes, decides that the old guy is insane and has him committed. Rescued by his grandchildren Rodney (Matthew Garber) and Elizabeth (Karen Dotrice), D.J. seeks out Knobby and Knobby's own grandson Jasper (Tom Lowell), who are hiding somewhere in the woods with gnome-king Rufus (Ed Wynn, in his final film role). There follows an amusing rite of passage wherein Jasper becomes engaged to gnomette Shy Violet (Cami Sebring), leading to a happy ending for all concerned. The film's title refers to D. J. Mulroney's precious 1930 Rolls Royce, which is "adopted" by the gnome population. Gnome-Mobile is a virtual inventory of Disney's most beloved trademarks, ranging from excellent miniature and special-effects work (including the producer's newest innovation, audio-animatronics) to a zany slapstick car chase. Walt Disney did receive a producer credit on this film, which was actually made in 1966 - the year of his death - and released nationally in 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Brennan, Tom Lowell, (more)
- 1965
Vera Miles, who starred in the very first half-hour episode of Alfred Hitchcock's TV suspense anthology, returns a decade later to headline this hour-long installment. Miles plays Nicky Revere, the daughter of once-famous Hollywood director Gavin Revere (John Carradine). Not long after Nicky takes her dad's limo to garage mechanic and would-be actor Leo Manfred (James Farentino), Leo proposes to her in order to gain access to her father. The elder Revere is dead set against the wedding, believing (accurately) that Leo is nothing but a fortune-seeking opportunist -- and to prove that he isn't, Leo is forced to take out a life-insurance policy naming Nicky as beneficiary. Five points to anyone who guess how this one turns out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Farentino, Vera Miles, (more)
- 1959
In this youthful drama, the nerdish high school genius, desperate to become popular, is easily duped by the prettiest girl in school, who convinces him to do her homework for her. This leads to the young man's downfall when a teacher recognizes his work on her assignments. He, believing he could never make it in academia, then becomes a criminal. He has mapped out an ingenious scheme for robbing a shipping office when the pretty girl again comes to use him. The results are disastrous for the awkward young man. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Conflicting views on how to handle juvenile delinquents are not convincingly brought across in this teen melodrama by Edward Cahn. Colonel Walton (John Hoyt) is the repressive head of an institution for young male juvenile delinquents. Responsibility for the deaths of two teens is indirectly laid on Walton's doorstep, and he is replaced by liberal-minded Dr. Paul Furman (Jerome Thor). Furman throws out the old rule book when he decides to change the attitude to the young men by housing female delinquents in the prison. Although warned against this action by a matron and the former warden, Furman goes ahead with his plan. The result is friction between two of the young men over two of the women, and an attempted rape, putting Furman's views and control in jeopardy. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerome Thor, Marcia Henderson, (more)
- 1958
Created and written by Sam Peckinpah, the premiere episode of The Rifleman stars Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford as Lucas and Mark McCain, father and 10-year-old son in search of settling down near North Fork, New Mexico. But when Lucas, a noted crack shot with a rifle, enters the local turkey shoot, he gets in the way of Jim Lewis (Leif Erickson), the local town czar, who has rigged the contest in favor of young Vernon Tippert (Dennis Hopper). All set to win the grand prize, Lucas is "persuaded" to throw the contest by Lewis, who uses little Mark as a bargaining tool. Sidney Blackmer and R.G. Armstrong also star in this fine television western, which premiered on ABC September 30, 1958. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
