Harry Ross Movies

Set in the mid-19th century during the California Gold Rush when the long-time Spanish residents of the territory found themselves being pushed off their ancestral lands by the avaricious prospectors, this exciting historical adventure tells of the exploits of a daring Spanish outlaw who plays Robin Hood to help his people. When prospectors ambush some of his band, the Firebrand rides out for bloody revenge against the killers and the one who betrayed him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A talented director (Charles Saunders) and cast cannot do very much with this weak story about an odd double deception. Two con-men, former Commander Binham-Ryley (Richard Murdoch) and former Major Rory McQuarry (William Kendall), are just out of prison for their dubious money-making schemes. They decide to hook up together to see how to bilk the next mark, when they meet a wealthy widow who obviously cannot see through them, and she hires them to run a factory for her. What the two men do not realize is that the widow needs two fall guys in her own shady, profit-making scheme. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Dr. James Moran (George Coulouris) is a scientist whose goals are beyond the pale of established medical science. While on an expedition to a remote part of the Amazon jungles, he encounters a huge plant being worshipped by a mysterious race descended from the Incas -- a plant that feeds off of women, devouring them almost like a giant Venus flytrap, and which also generates a fluid that can bring the dead back to life. Five years later, Moran has moved the plant into a laboratory in his basement, complete with a member of the tribe of worshipers who is capable of caring for it, and begins to experiment with it -- but he must find women to feed to it. Moran believes that using his scientific approach, the plant's sap will not only reanimate the dead, but could give its recipients immortality. He proceeds with his experiments despite the inquiries of the police, who are investigating the disappearances of several young women. He adds to the inevitable complications of his deceit when he brings in a pretty local girl (Vera Day) to assist his middle-aged housekeeper (Joyce Gregg), evoking deep and ultimately murderous jealousy from the older woman, who loves the doctor and also hasn't a clue as to what he's been up to in the basement laboratory, which is always locked. He's forced to kill her, and she becomes the object of his first serum experiment -- but she returns to life as a mindless zombie, and Moran realizes that all of his work, and the murders he's committed, have been for nothing. He recognizes that he has a monstrosity in his home, but it's still protected by that tribesman, who cares about nothing except the good of the plant. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

Regarded by some film buffs as the best of director Leslie Selander's many westerns, Panhandle stars Rod Cameron as an ex-lawman turned gunslinger. He hopes to bury his past and homestead in Texas, but his plans change when his newspaper-reporter brother (John Champion) is killed. Reluctantly, Cameron buckles on his gun belt and heads out for retribution against crooked gambler Reed Hadley. Making his screenwriting debut, Blake Edwards (who also coproduced the film and played a small supporting role) does his best to steer free of cliches, structuring his script in the manner of the detective stories Edwards had been churning out for radio. No mere B picture, Panhandle was permitted to unspool at an "A" length of 84 minutes. To further assure audience approval, Blake Edwards rewrote the ending, in which hero Rod Cameron had originally been killed off. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this costume melodrama, a virginal maid is impregnated by the footman in the household where they work. He offers to marry her, but then suddenly disappears with another woman. The next few years of the woman's life are spent trying to eke out a living for her and her son. Once again she meets the footman, who has now become a successful bookie. The two finally marry and lead a happy life until he falls sick, bets all their money on a losing horse, and expires before the fateful race concludes. Once again the woman and her son are impoverished. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Joe Palooka, Ham Fisher's famed comic-strip fighter, risks his life to clear the name of his manager in this series entry. In this episode, Palooka is blinded during a fight. Although surgery restores his vision, the doctors strongly caution him not to fight again for at least a year. Meanwhile Knobby Walsh, his manager, begins managing another heavyweight fighter who gets himself mixed up with gamblers. To save his manager's good name, Palooka disregards the doctors' advice and reenters the ring. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The Shadow (Richmond) investigates the murder of an art dealer with his only clue being a stolen jade statuette. ~ All Movie Guide