Elick Moll Movies
Writer Elick Moll got his start publishing short stories in such noted magazines as The Saturday Evening Post. He also wrote novels, a few of which, including Night Without Sleep, were adapted into films and plays. During the '40s and '50s, Moll penned screenplays alone and in collaboration for such studios as Fox and MGM. He also wrote a few pieces for the television shows Playhouse 90 and Chrysler Theater. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1967
In her fourth I Spy appearance, France Nuyen (the wife of series regular Robert Culp is cast as Mei Lin, the self-proclaimed "Empress in Exile" of China. While investigating the truth of Mei Lin's claims during her fund-raising visit to San Francisco, agent Kelly falls in love with her. Alas, the girl turns out to be a fake, used by the Red Chinese to syphon American money for their own purposes. The supporting cast reads like a Who's Who of Asian Character Actors: Benson Fong as Cheng, Philip Ahn as Tu Po, James Hong as the Curator, and Beulah Quo as Amah. First shown on December 25, 1967, "An American Empress" was written by Elick Moll and Joseph Than. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Kelly Robinson has evidently forsaken the spy business in favor of pursuing a life of ease on a picturesque Greek Island. Kelly's partner Alexander Scott can't understand this sudden character change, and decides to investigate. Imagine Scotty's shock and dismay when Kelly warns him to mind his own business-or risk getting killed. Series executive producer Sheldon Leonard appears as Sorge. Written by Elick Moll and Joseph Than, "The Lotus Eater" originally aired on December 11, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
After several years' absence from the screen, the vivacious Betty Hutton made a somewhat tepid comeback in Spring Reunion. The scene is a medium-sized Midwestern town, where Maggie Brewster (Hutton) is reacquainted with her high-school flame Fred Davis (Dana Andrews) during a class reunion. The first time around, Maggie turned down Fred at the behest of her wealthy, domineering father (Robert Simon). When Fred proposes a second time, history threatens to repeat itself -- at least until the lachrymose finale. Silent screen star Laura La Plante also makes a return to the screen as Maggie's understanding mother. Rumor has it that the barely saleable Spring Reunion was deliberately designed as a tax write-off by the accountants for Kirk Douglas' Bryna Productions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dana Andrews, Betty Hutton, (more)
- 1957
In his second Playhouse 90 appearance of the 1956-57 season, Art Crney stars as Robert Briscoe, the colorful, controversial Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ireland. Although of Jewish parentage, Briscoe was "accepted" as a Hibernian through and through on the strength of his fearless patriotism during the 1916 Irish Rebellion against British rule. As a member in good standing of the original Irish Republican Army and the nationalist Sinn Fein movement, Briscoe worked side by side with another legendary Irish freedom fighter, Eamon de Valera, reserving his fighting for the nighttime hours while pursuing a daytime job as a wool salesman. Briscoe's tireless and death-defying efforts on behalf of his countrymen were rewarded in 1956, when he won the mayoral race in the Dublin that he helped to wrest free from British domination. This 90-minute drama proved quite an eye-opener to TV fans who knew Art Carney only for his comic characterizations on The Jackie Gleason Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Art Carney, Katherine Bard, (more)
- 1956
Trouble brews when a widowed, small town librarian takes a stand against censorship. The trouble begins when the town fathers ask that she remove a book from the shelf because they deem it a pro-communist tract and fear it will taint susceptible young minds. She sees the idiocy of their request and defies them. They in turn fire her and replace her with her old friend and assistant. The town judge considers the whole mess a gross miscarriage of justice and demands a trial. This gives an ambitious young lawyer, the boyfriend of the new librarian the opportunity to do a little grandstanding by publicly proclaiming the highly-principled widow a communist. The poor woman suddenly finds herself the town pariah; her only remaining friend is a small boy she used to talk to in the library. He plays a key role in restoring her good name. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bette Davis, Kim Hunter, (more)
- 1952
Given to violent, unpredictable behavior, composer Richard Morton (Gary Merrill) is an accident waiting to happen. Attempting to drown his problems in drink, Morton awakens with a monumental hangover -- and the nagging belief that he has murdered a woman. Did this, in fact, happen? And was the victim his wealthy, quarrelsome wife (June Vincent), his former mistress (Hildegarde Neff) or the movie star (Linda Darnell) with whom he has been carrying on a casual romance? As he attempts to contact the three women, Morton flashes back to his experiences with each one. The ending is pure Hitchcock, even though the director of the moment was future Saint helmsman Roy Baker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Darnell, Gary Merrill, (more)
After surviving the hell of a Nazi death camp, a refugee faces even greater dangers in America in this tale of murder, deceit, and assumed identities. Victoria Kopwelska (Valentina Cortese) is a Polish woman imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp near the end of World War II. Desperate to survive, Victoria learns that her best friend has family in the United States, and if they are ever freed, she pledges to take Victoria to America with her. Victoria's friend, however, is killed shortly before American troops can liberate the camp. With nowhere to go, Victoria steals her friend's papers and sails to America, where she is accepted as her friend by her family. Victoria learns that she is now the godmother to a young boy, as well as the heir to a sizable fortune, following the death of her "aunt." Alan Spender (Richard Basehart), the boy's guardian, has been making secret plans to get his hands on the money, and Victoria's arrival causes him to draft a new scheme. Alan begins wooing Victoria, hoping to take her hand in marriage and then murder her, gaining her estate in the process. However, after several accidents befall the youngster, Victoria begins to believe that her new sweetheart is up to no good. The House on Telegraph Hill was directed by Robert Wise, who went on to helm such blockbusters as West Side Story and The Sound of Music. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Basehart, Valentina Cortese, (more)
- 1948
This musical romance is set during the Great Depression and centers upon the rocky marriage between a flapper script girl and her band-leader spouse. Prior to the big stock market crash, they spend much of their time touring. She tires of it and returns to her country home. Unable to find new bookings, he soon joins her and brings with him his acerbic, cynical manager. The bandleader finds the pastoral life a crashing bore and so heads for the big city to find fortune. Fortunately, by the story's end, he succeeds and happiness is the result. Songs include: "Crazy Rhythm," "You Were Meant for Me," "Goodnight Sweetheart" "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeanne Crain, Dan Dailey, (more)
- 1946
In this adventure, a young woman travels across Europe in search of her brother who was listed as missing in action during WW II. He had earlier told her that should he ever disappear, he could be found on a certain tiny island. She and her brother's girl friend head off and meet a strange old man. Though his boat is 300 miles from the nearest sea, she asks him to take her to this strange "dream" island. Suddenly a violent storm comes up and the land is flooded. The little boat is flushed out to sea. The hapless drifters end up saved by the Coast Guard who returns them to the brother who has at long last returned. Songs include: "Give Me the Simple Life," "I Wish I Could Tell You," "Into the Sun" (Harry Ruby, Rube Bloom), and "Who Knows?" (Don Raye, Gene De Paul). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Payne, June Haver, (more)
