Peggy Converse Movies

Director Lawrence Kasdan and Frank Galati adapted their screenplay for The Accidental Tourist from Anne Tyler's novel. William Hurt plays Macon Leary, a well-known "travel advisor" headquartered in Baltimore. The tragic death of Leary's son causes him to withdraw from the world, which in turn prompts his wife (Kathleen Turner) to walk out on him. Recuperating from a broken leg, Leary moves in with his sister (Amy Wright) and brothers (Ed Begley Jr., David Ogden Stiers)-staid middle-aged intellectuals all. Discipline problems with his dead son's dog lead Leary to hire flaky professional dogwalker/trainer Muriel Pritchett (Geena Davis, who won an Oscar for her performance). The only non-uptight person within shouting distance, Muriel begins to melt Leary's self-protective shell. Once his wife realizes that she has some competition, she makes moves to get him back. But he has by now become accustomed to Muriel's unfettered lifestyle. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Missing for two years and presumed dead, hard-hearted businessman Hartley Bassett (Thomas B. Henry) suddenly returns and begins make everyone's life miserable all over again, especially his wife Sybil (Peggy Converse). After he fires his heir apparent Peter Dawson (Philip Ober), Bassett is murdered and Dawson is accused. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is approached by two eyewitnesses, Richard Hart (a young Robert Redford) and his wife Teddi (Cindy Robbins), who can prove that Bassett is innocent. There are only two problems: each witness claims that a different person is the guilty party--and both witnesses abuptly vanish just before the trial! This is the first episode of Perry Mason's fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this sensitive drama, a commercial artist is devastated by his tiny daughter's death and takes to drinking to numb the terrible pain. Soon he has become a full-blown alcoholic. His loving wife and caring doctor are unable to help. He wants to stop drinking, but he simply cannot until he meets another alcoholic who is also desperate to stop. Together, they support each other as they withdraw from the debilitating drug. Later the fellow founds an organization designed to help other drunks dry out by offering them the same kind of support he had. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Movie producer John Addison (Robert Ellenstein) ends up in deep trouble when he picks up an attractive female hitchhiker (Carol Leigh), who proceeds to shake him down for money. Addison turns to Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) for help when he is accused of murdering Edgar Ferrell (Paul Cavanaugh)--and the only witness to the crime happens to be the blackmailing girl. This episode is based on The Case of the Vagabond Virgin, a 1940 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner (the title was, of course, altered to satisfy the CBS censors!) In 1965, the same novel would be refilmed, with variations, as "The Case of the Golden Bears." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Though heavily advertised as Delmar Daves' Drum Beat, this film owed its existence to producer-star Alan Ladd. The star is cast as a veteran Indian fighter Johnny MacKay, who because of his close relationship with the Medoc tribe is sent out to negotiate a peace treaty. Once he has arrived in Medoc territory, Johnny (Ladd) must contend with the misspent emotions of his childhood sweetheart Toby (Marisa Pavan), the sister of Indian chief Manok (Anthony Caruso). Jealous over Johnny's relationship with pretty Nancy Meek (Audrey Dalton), Toby has cast her lot with renegade warrior Captain Jack (Charles Bronson), who honors no treaties. Though the film has a Native American villain, Drum Beat is largely sympathetic to the plight of the Indian. Based on a true story, the film is distinguished by J. Peverell Marley's breathtaking exterior photography, and by Victor Young's ballad-like musical score. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A lawyer must make the most difficult decision of his life in this crime drama that begins when the attorney's son inadvertently kills his best friend. No one was around to see what happened and only his family is the wiser. But the death creates a rift in the family. His father wants him to confess while his mother begs him to stay quiet. Eventually she prevails and the father promises to keep the secret. Then he finds himself appointed to defend the innocent man accused of the killing. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Though Columbia's Crime Doctor series officially ended with Crime Doctor's Secret, the studio trotted out the property one last time with the misleadingly titled Devil's Henchman. Instead of his usual "Crime Doctor" character Dr. Robert Ordway, (Warner Baxter) travels under the name of Jess Arno. It's all a ruse, of course; Ordway is working incognito, the better to track down a gang of smugglers. Forever hanging around the waterfront, gumming up the works for Ordway, is the pea-brained Captain (Harry Shannon), who's a lot smarter than he lets on. "B"-picture favorite Mary Beth Hughes is a delight as always as a stylish gangster's moll. Equally well-cast in surprising characterizations are Regis Toomey and Mike Mazurki. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

One of director Anthony Mann's earlier films, Railroaded features John Ireland as Duke Martin, a seedy criminal looking to skim off of his boss' money. Instead of making the extra cash by his usual means--a small gambling operation run by beautician Clara Cahhoun (Jane Randolph)--Duke (Ireland) chooses instead to hold up the beauty parlor at gunpoint. Things go awry, however, when the cops hear Calhoun's (Randolph) assistant scream in terror. In a spray of gunfire, both a policeman and Martin's partner in crime are killed. Meanwhile, a local delivery boy is accused of killing the police officer. Detective Mike Ferguson (Hugh Beaumont) is assigned to the case, and quickly begins to butt heads with Duke, who he realizes from the start is up to no good. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

A widow's grief turns to blind maniacal rage against the daughter she holds responsible for her husband's death in this, the second of three melodramatic films based on a novel by Gene Stratton Porter. In her anger, the mad mother abuses and torments her off-spring at every turn. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi