George F. Slavin Movies
- 1972
Syndicate boss Charles Rogan (Robert Webber) has salted away $5,000,000 in order to finance a mob-benefiting political coup in the Carribean nation of Camagua. Commandeering a Navy patrol boat, the IMF stages a characteristically elaborate scam (including the "murder" of agent Barney) in order to locate the key to Rogan's hidden millions. Barbara Anderson makes her second appearance as temporary IMF agent Mimi Davis. Originally telecast on September 30, 1972, "The Deal" was scripted by George F. Slavin and Stephen Kandel, from a story by Slavin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1970
Having survived seventy years and outlived four wives, old Mr. Montero is as spry and lively as ever. Thus it comes as surprise to the nuns when Montero insists that they arrange his funeral, insisting that he will be dead by the end of the week. Sr. Bertrille quickly deduces that Montero is not ill but lonely, and she begins flying about in search of Mrs. Montero Number Five. Written by Stanley Adams and George F. Slavin, "No Tears for Mrs. Thomas" originally aired April 3, 1970, as the final first-run episode of The Flying Nun. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Celebrated bullfighter El Charro (Ben Archibek) has entered convent San Tanco under an assumed name. His purpose: to learn to read and write English, without attracting the attention of his adoring fans. Sr. Bertrille enlists the aid of casino owner Carlos in helping the timid toreador keep his secret. First broadcast on March 13, 1970, "A Gift for El Charro" was written by actor Stanley Adams, in collaboration with George F. Slavin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Back during the Korean War, Carlos Ramirez adopted a 2-year-old orphan girl named Kim, whom he has supported, sight unseen, ever since. Now it is 1970: Kim (Mike Kayama) is 19 years old, a stunning beauty-and intent upon marrying Carlos! Once again, it's Sr. Bertrille to the rescue. Written by actor Stanley Adams in collaboration with George F. Slavin, "Papa Carlos" originally aired on February 27, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
A cagey and none too honest merchant named Antonio (Titos Vandis) saddles the nuns with a burro named Hector. Before long, the convent has been all but reduced to rubble by the contentious and destructive beast. But with a little "boost" from Sr. Bertrille-coupled with a curiously convenient streak of bad luck-Antonio begins to see the error of his ways. First telecast on November 12, 1969, "Hector and the Brass Band" was written by actor Stanley Adams in collaboration with George F. Slavin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Though the character of Adam Cartwright was gone from Bonanza, he was far from forgotten, as proven by this episode from May 1, 1966. Alan Bergmann guest-stars as Gilly Maples, a shipmate of the now-seafaring Adam. Arriving at the Ponderosa, Gilly claims to be a lonely fellow, seeking only the warm companionship of the Cartwright clan. In truth, however, Gilly is a thief, who plans to rob Adam's family once he has wormed his way into their confidence. Ivor Barry costars as Gilly's cohort Morgan. "Home from the Sea" was cowritten by George F. Slavin and actor Stanley Adams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1965
While Pvt. Steve Kovac (Chad Everett) is out on patrol, Lt. Hanley receives word that Kovac's wife is dying. Though he intends to give the man emergency leave, Hanley decides to withhold the tragic information until the patrol has returned. Meanwhile, Kovac is trapped in a basement with the rest of the squad--and all that is keeping him from succumbing to panic and despair is the "certainty" that his wife will be waiting for him when he comes home. This is the final episode of Combat's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Assigned to tap a German communications line, Pvt. Andy Marsh (Burt Brinckerhoff) is caught in an explosion and pinned down by a falling beam. Sgt. Saunders (Vic Morrow) tells Marsh that the other men have to move out, and that he'll send help. But Marsh replies that it's "no-go": unless he is freed immediately, he will never reveal the top-secret information which he claims is in his possession. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
With the Germans advancing, Hanley (Rick Jason) and his men are ordered to evacuate a French village. Taking advantage of the situation, Frenchman Paul Lejeune (Jay Novello) switches a few road signs in order to misdirect Hanley's platoon into another village--his own. Lejeune hopes that by pulling the wool over the Americans' eyes, he can not only save the lives of the few villagers remaining, but also prevent a local winery from being bombed into oblivion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Finnegan's Wake was the first attempt to cinematize the works of Irish author James Joyce. Based more on a stage adaptation by Mary Manning than the Joyce novel itself, the film concentrates on Dublin pubkeeper Finnegan (Martin J. Kelly), who while in the throes of inebriation has a vision of his own death. As the bemused Finnegan lies in his coffin, his friends gather for his wake. The "corpse" tries to cut through the keening and platitudes by probing the innermost thoughts of those closest to him. The surprising aspect of Finnegan's Wake is that so much of its difficult text works on screen--a tribute to the loving care of scripter/director/ editor Mary Ellen Bute, who while preparing this film spent her waking hours picking the brains and burrowing through the resource materials of the James Joyce Society. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin J. Kelley, Jane Reilly, (more)
- 1963
When he is unexpectedly reunited with his wife Amelia (Peggy Ann Garner), an Army nurse, Cpl. Andy March (Jeremy Slate) begs Saunders (Vic Morrow) to give him a 48-hour pass. Unfortunately, military bureaucracy prohibits Andy from his long-awaited conjugal visit. But that isn't the worst of it: Amelia is secretly carrying on a torrid affair with Army doctor Lew Anders (William Windom). The drama intensifies when, while replacing the temporarily incapacitated Pvt. Kirby (Jack Hogan), March is seriously wounded--and Dr. Anders must perform an emergency operation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Entering into a poker game with a fellow named Jonesy (George Neise), Maverick ends up winning big--and as a result becomes the new owner of a frontier newspaper. But his victory turns hollow when Bart discovers that the paper is being sued for libel by a powerful senator (Lloyd Corrigan). Peter Breck makes a return appearance in the role of worldly gunslinger Doc Holliday. Some sources list this episode as having originally aired on March 11, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Bart's cousin Jacqueline (Kathy Bennett) is conned out of the $10,000 she needs to square her family's debts by the inimitable Big Ed Murphy. It seems that Murphy claims he's invented a machine that can manufacture money--not counterfeit, but the genuine article. In order to get Jacqueline's cash back, Bart (Jack Kelly) must somehow beat Big Ed at his own crooked game. Originally played by John Dehner in the previous episode "Greenbacks, Unlimited", Bug Ed Murphy is herein portrayed by Andrew Duggan, who was then starring in another Warner Bros. TV series, Room for One More. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
A blinding snowstorm outside of Denver forces Beau Maverick (Roger Moore) and his friend Judge Scott (Alan Baxter) to seek shelter in seedy hotel. Here Beau is attracted to the beautiful Sally Flood (Marlene Willis), only to be informed by Sally's aunt Martha (Jeanne Cooper) that the poor girl is insane. Beau is inclined to believe this when Sally begins prattling about "strange voices" in the night. . .until he begins hearing those strange voices as well. The actual sinister presence in this little melodrama is Aunt Molly's very good friend Chet Whitehead (played by Australian actor-director Michael Pate). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Although Jack Kelly was the sole star of Maverick as the tongue-in-cheek western series entered its fifth and final season, he continued to share on-screen billing with James Garner--who, despite having left the series at the end of Season Three, was still being represented by reruns of his best episodes. Only thirteen new episodes were shot for Season Five, all starring Kelly as frontier gambler Bart Maverick. In the opener, Bart is cheated out of $5000 by suave con artist Pearly Gates (Mike Road). Likewise swindled by Gates is his partner in crime Marla (Kathleen Crowley), who's out for blood after Pearly jilts her at the altar. Thus, Marla teams with Bart to track Pearly down and make him pay for his sins...presuming, of course, that he won't able to sweet-talk his way out of his predicament, as he has done on so many previous occasions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) dispatches his team to Calum City, a mob-controlled town 30 miles south of Chicago (and obviously based on the real-life Calumet City), when honest mayoral candidate Leon Zabo (Raymond Greenleaf) dies in a suspicious accident. Zabo's demise was actually ordered by Guido Morelli (Anthony Caruso), who controls all gambling activities in Calum City. With the help of Zabo's duaghter Rosetta (Gail Kobe), Ness sets in motion a plan to break Morelli by getting hold of his incriminating financial records--and this time he isn't above using some slightly unethical methods to sweat the truth out of secondary hoodlum Nick Bravo (Jack Elam). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
The off-spring of the legendary British bandit dons his father's tights to help save his countrymen from the tyrannical rule of an evil aristocrat. Unfortunately, the "son" is a sham and after several unsuccessful attempts to stop the nasty nobleman, the merry men decide to send for Robin's real son. Imagine their surprise when they discover that Robin, Jr. is a she! Still the men rally around her and the imposter. Together they successfully defeat the evil-doer and the country is again safe. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Hedison, June Laverick, (more)
- 1958
Good samaritan Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly) offers assistance to two tired travellers with only one horse. They repay his generosity by stealing his horse--and then framing him for bank robbery and murder. When one of the thieves is killed, the other escapes with a posse hot on heels. . .while Bart cools his own heels in jail, under the watchful eye of Sheriff Edwards (Dick Foran). Clearly, the only way Bart can clear himself is by capturing the remaining outlaw--but how is he going to get past the sheriff? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Terminally ill Clarence Weems (Russell Collins) is offered 50 dollars per week for the rest of his life if he will invest in a cemetery plot purchased by his lodge brothers. Unfortunately for the other investors, it soon becomes apparent that Clarence is not about to cash in his chips in the near future. Out of desperation, his "brothers" give serious thought to hastening Clarence's demise before his 50-per-week stipend bankrupts them all. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Having been summoned Westward by a letter from her husband, who claims to have a valuable silver mine, Linda Harris (Erin O'Brien) arrives to find that she is now a widow. Enlisting the aid of Bret Maverick (James Garner), Linda embarks upon a perilous journey through Indian territory in search of her late husband's mine. Taking refuge from an Indian attack, Bret and Linda find themselves trapped in a way station with the Fallon family--who turn out to be the same outlaws who murdered Linda's husband, and are now determined to trick her into leading them to the silver (and of course bump her off as well). This episode is based on "That Packsaddle Affair", a short story by celebrated Western author Louis L'Amour. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
It's "Freud on the Frontier" time in the tension-filled western The Halliday Brand. Ward Bond plays Big Dan, the despotic head of the Halliday clan, while Joseph Cotten and Betsy Blair costar as Halliday's offspring Daniel and Martha. Intensely anti-Indian, Big Dan encourages a mob to lynch Jivaro (Christopher Dark), Martha's half-breed sweetheart. Despising his father's complicity in Jivaro's death, Daniel breaks off his relationship with the elder Halliday, casting his lot with Jivaro's father (Jay C. Flippen) and sister (Viveca Lindfors). The climactic showdown between father and son is superbly and innovatively handled by director Joseph H. Lewis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joseph Cotten, Viveca Lindfors, (more)
- 1956
In this drama, two prospectors search the Colorado Territory for precious radioactive metal. They find large deposits and become rich men. Unfortunately, their friendship almost disintegrates after they fall in love with the same sexy woman. She pits them against each other. Fortunately, their mutual sense of loyalty and honor kicks in just before they dissolve their lucrative partnership. In the end, they both dump the troublesome lady and return to their work. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Morgan, Patricia Medina, (more)
- 1955
Dana Andrews plays Cavalry deserter Brett Halliday in the compact Universal western Smoke Signal. Cavalry captain Harper (William Talman) is determined to bring Halliday to justice, but first he must lead his men and a handful of Indian-massacre survivors to safety through hostile, uncharted territory. Halliday's sympathies are with the Indians, whom he believes have resorted to violence only because of the cruelty of certain white officers. Piper Laurie co-stars as Laura Evans, the romantic bone of contention between Halliday and Lt. Wayne Ford (Rex Reason). Though the plotline of Smoke Signal is pedestrian, the film's action highlights are well-worth the price of admission. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dana Andrews, Piper Laurie, (more)
- 1955
Although the French Foreign Legion became increasingly anachronistic in the 1950s, films like Desert Sands helped to perpetuate the glamorous legend of this mercenary aggregation. Ralph Meeker heads the cast as a bold legionnaire who falls in love with gorgeous Arab girl Marla English. Alas, Marla is the daughter of shiek John Carradine and the sister of vengeful Keith Larsen, both of whom have vowed to kill all Legionnaires within shouting distance. Larsen eventually discovers that his real enemy is not Meeker, but the duplicitous Carradine. Director Lesley Selander staged most of the action scenes in the manner of his western films, with excellent results. One of the scriptwriters of Desert Sands was Danny Arnold, later the prime mover of TV's Barney Miller. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ralph Meeker, Marla English, (more)
- 1954
The strangest aspect of the low-budget fantasy effort The Rocket Man is the fact that one of its screenwriters was Lenny Bruce. There's nothing scatalogical or even satirical in the film itself, however. Essentially an Andy Hardyesque comedy drama with a peripheral sci-fi slant, the story concerns a lonely orphan boy named Timmy (George "Foghorn" Winslow) who receives a toy ray gun for Christmas. Only it isn't a toy, but the genuine article, dropped off by a friendly spaceman. Whenever Timmy shoots the gun at someone, the rays cause the "victim" to speak nothing but the truth. The gun comes in handy when the villain of the piece (Emory Parnell) tries to evict the orphans. Timmy also uses the weapon to expedite the romance of nominal leads Anne Francis and John Agar. Also appearing in Rocket Man are Spring Byington and Charles Coburn, who'd previously been felicitously teamed in Louisa (1950). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Coburn, Spring Byington, (more)
