Norman Lessing Movies

A kidnapping has occurred, and the ruthless abductor has posted a ransom. Among the kidnaper's demands is that detective Mike Stone (Karl Malden) deliver the ransom himself. Stone agrees to this condition, even though he suspects that he is walking into a murder trap. Future Hardy Boys regular Parker Stevenson and reliable character actors Dabney Coleman and Eugene Roche are the principal players in this episode, which was originally networkcast in a 55-minute timeslot to accommodate a brief political message (1976 was an election year, of course!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Dr. Gregory Holman (George Voskovec), a cryptographer from an Iron Curtain country, has come to the US as part of a touring chess tournament. Just after the FBI receives word that Holman is planning to defect, the man is reported killed in a nightclub fire. By the time that Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) determines that Holman is still alive and in hiding, the situation has been complicated by a cagey double agent (John Van Dreelen) and a treacherous diplomat (Paul Lukas) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Using the alias "Richard Spaulding", fugitive Richard Kimble (David Janssen) pays a visit to his former mentor Dr. Andrew McAllister (Laurence Naismith), now gravely ill and confined to a wheelchair. Because of his virulent "anti-smog" campaign, McAllister is regarded by most people as a harmless crank. The truth, however, is that the doctor has become mentally unhinged, and he intends to lob a spectacular final "protest" against a local smoke-belching factory by destroying it with a bomb--with Kimble unwittingly delivering the explosives. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this romantic drama based on a novel by Betty Smith, Carl Brown (Richard Chamberlain) is a student in law school who wants to marry his sweetheart, Annie McGairy (Yvette Mimieux). However, Carl and Annie's parents knew each other when they grew up in Ireland before emigrating to America, and Carl's father Patrick (Arthur Kennedy) vehemently objects to their engagement. The young couple decide to tie the knot anyway, and Patrick retaliates by cutting off financial support to his son. The young couple deal with the usual tribulations of newlyweds while they struggle to keep their heads above water -- Carl takes a job as a night watchman, while Annie makes a few dollars babysitting for Beverly Karter (Joan Tetzel), a married woman who is cheating on her husband with Stan Pulaski (Oscar Homolka), a married man. Living in a tiny apartment on the shabby side of town, Carl and Annie get to know other people too poor or too different to fit in elsewhere in an upscale college town. When Annie becomes pregnant, she leaves Carl, not wanting to burden him so that he can continue with his education. This sends Carl into an emotional tailspin, and Patrick tries to patch up the marriage he once opposed for the sake of his son's happiness. Joy in the Morning marked the first and only feature film role for TV and stage actor Donald Davis, who played Anthony, a gay florist who befriends the young couple. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Patricia Crowley guest-stars as beautiful Julia Grant, an aspiring actress whose lofty ambitions far outdistance her modest talents. Despite Julia's thespic shortcomings, Joe Cartwright falls in love with her and promises to advance her career. To that end, Joe elicits the advice of the legendary Edwin Booth (John Rodney), who happens to be appearing in Virginia City. First shown on February 24, 1963, "The Actress" was written by Norman Lessing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Cartwrights are visited by Colonel Edward J. Dunwoody (Claude Akins), who is searching for an Army deserter. The fugitive turns out to be Bill Winters (Robert Sampson), the Cartwrights' well-liked neighbor-and, as it happens, Colonel Dunwoody's son. Meanwhile, the Shoshones plan to wreak vengeance against Dunwoody, who had previously engineered the massacre of a peaceful Indian village. Also appearing are Anthony Caruso as Keokuk, George Keymas as Running Wolf and Gale Garnett as Maria. Originally broadcast on October 21, 1962, "The Deserter" was written by Norman Lessing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bearing very little relation to the 1937 Paramount musical of the same name, Artists and Models is a lavish, girl-filled vehicle for the popular team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Martin plays Rick Todd, a comic-book artist who is under fire from his publisher (Eddie Mayehoff), who complains that Rick's work isn't gory enough. Lewis plays Eugene Fullstack, Rick's roommate, who while asleep dreams up elaborate comic-book plots and garishly costumed superheroes. Eugene's nightmares help Rick become a success; meanwhile, our two heroes romance their luscious neighbors, artist Dorothy Malone and rambunctious model Shirley MacLaine (who during one song wrestles Eugene to the floor and sits on his chest!) Eugene's overworked imagination somehow attracts the attention of a group of Russian spies, who attempt to abduct Eugene during the annual Artists and Models Ball. Director Frank Tashlin uses Artists and Models as an excuse for some of the wildest sight-gags seen in a mid-1950s film. At one point, the director contrives to stuff a gag in Shirley MacLaine's mouth. Tashlin also exhibits his ongoing fascination with female breasts and legs by giving ample screen time to the natural attributes of co-stars Anita Ekberg and Eva Gabor. One of the best of the Martin/Lewis efforts, Artists and Models suffers only from being about 20 minutes too long. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide