Thomas Thompson Movies

Made for Canadian television, Lost is a sometimes grueling tale of courage and perserverance. The film is based on the true story of three men whose boat capsizes in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. For 74 days, the men cling to their overturned boat, hoping against hope for salvation. Special attention is given one of the men, a religious near-fanatic who believes that their peril is a test from God. Kenneth Walsh, Michael Hogan and Charles Joliffe play the three protagonists, while Helen Shaver and Linda Goranson portray the women who agonizingly wait for their return. Though unrated, Lost is much too tense for younger viewers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lindsay Wagner stars as Callie, who battles her way up the ladder from waitress to fabulously wealthy Texas socialite. The price for her success is her son Randy, played by Jameson Parker. Though wielding great power, Callie is nearly powerless in her efforts to keep Randy away from beautiful young schemer Michelle Pfeiffer. The film's many intrigues result in a sensational murder trial. Made for TV, Callie and Son was originally seen October 13, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This powerful made-for-television drama made a memorable impact on audiences in the late '70s and has earned a cult following as a result. The story focuses on Richie (Robby Benson), a well-meaning but emotionally confused teen who finds it all too easy to turn to drugs when he feels the world closing in on him. This brings him into conflict with his father, George (Ben Gazzara), a stern man who loves his son, but has trouble expressing his feelings. Both men make genuine attempts to meet each other halfway, but their relationship worsens as social pressures and personal failings drive Richie deeper into his drug addiction. The interaction between father and son becomes violent, resulting in a tragedy for the whole family. The Death of Richie attracted critical acclaim when it was telecast in 1977 for its sensitive but unflinching treatment of difficult family issues, as well as the impressive performances of Benson and Gazzara. In recent years, it has attracted a cult following that includes actor/director Vincent Gallo, who cast Gazzara as the father in Buffalo '66 on the strength of his work in The Death of Richie. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide

Candy comes to the aid of down-and-out Laura Jean Pollard (Tisha Sterling), offering the bedraggled young woman the shelter and hospitality of the Ponderosa. Before long, however, an ex-marshal named Passmore (William Windom) has arrived on the scene to blackmail poor Laura. What is her secret-and how will it affect the Cartwright clan? Also appearing are Jean Willes as Mrs. O'Brien and Bruno Ve Sota as the Bartender. Written by Thomas Thompson, "Star Crossed" was originally telecast on March 10, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The wife of vicious outlaw Jess Miller (Michael Witney), long-suffering Allie (Janet De Gore takes refuge at the Ponderosa, where she grew up. Jess wants to forcibly take Allie back-but he wants nothing to do with their son Tommy (Teddy Quinn, a deaf mute. Frank Puglia appears as the kindly Padre. Another Bonanza object lesson in tolerance and understanding, "Tommy" was written by Mort Thaw, Mary T. Taylor and Thomas Thompson, and first aired on December 18, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Written by Thomas Thompson and Marc Michaels, "The Pursued" was the second of Bonanza's two-part stories. In Beehive, Nevada, the Cartwrights arranged to buy horses from Mormon rancher Heber Clawson (Eric Fleming). Soon they become involved in Clawson's stubborn determination to remain in Beehive with his two wives Susannah (Dina Merrill) and Elizabeth Ann (Lois Nettleton), despite religious persecution from the townsfolk in general and a fanatical self-ordained minister (Booth Colman) in particular. Things go from bad to worse when ruthless town boss Grant Carbo (Vincent Beck) falls in love with Elizabeth Ann. Part One of "The Pursued" originally aired on October 2, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ed Begley Sr. is cast as Clint Watson, an old muleskinner friend of Ben Cartwright. Now an explosives expert, Clint agrees to help Ben transport a shipment of nitroglycerin to a flood site, with Clint's sons Andy (Tom Simcox) and Ellis (Richard Evans) providing assistance. What begins as a western replay of the French suspense film The Wages of Fear develops into the sad story of a stubborn man who is unable to love his two sons equally. Bing Russell, normally cast as Deputy Clem, is here seen as Sheriff Walker. Written by Thomas Thompson, "The Other Son" originally aired on October, 3 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Robert Taylor closed out his MGM contract with the 1963 western Cattle King. Taylor plays a Wyoming rancher at odds with cattle baron Robert Middleton, who is dead set against barbed wire being erected on "his" land. Just so we know the film isn't kidding around, leading lady Joan Caulfield is shot full of holes some thirty minutes before the fade-out. Taylor finally vanquishes the evil Middleton, but not without help from Caulfield's previously spineless brother William Windom-not to mention the legal support of President Chester A. Arthur (Larry Gates). Cattle King was released in England as Guns of Wyoming. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally scheduled to air on March 18, 1961, the Bonanza episode "The Gift" finally made its first appearance on April 1 of that same year. Determined to capture a white Arabian stallion as a birthday present for his father, Joe Cartwright makes a treacherous desert journey to Yuma, Arizona. Attacked by Indians en route, Joe finds that his life is in the hands of Emeliano (Martin Landau), the mercurial Mexican who raised the stallion. Also appearing are Jim Davis as Sam Wolfe, Jack Hogan as Cash, and Joe Yrigoyen as Cayetano. "The Gift" was written by Denne Petticlerc and Thomas Thompson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The ugly consequences of bigotry are examined in this episode of Bonanza. Gene Evans plays Andrew Fulmer, who runs for mayor of Virginia City on a "hate all outsiders" platform. Backed up by hired thugs, Fulmer targets the town's Chinese population for his most violent persecution. The hostility reaches a fever pitch when, after trying to protect Sally Ridley (Pat Michon) from being mauled by two of Fulmer's hooligans (Ray Stricklyn, Christopher Dark), Jimmy Chong (Guy Lee) is accused of assaulting -- and then killing -- the girl. Helen Westcott co-stars as Amanda Ridley. First broadcast on January 30, 1960, "The Fear Merchants" was written by Fred Unger and Thomas Thompson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

At the end of a cattle drive, the Cartwrights and their cowhands look forward to rest and relaxation in San Francisco, Instead, two of Ben's gullible drovers are shanghaied on a boat bound for Hong Kong. While searching for his missing employees, Ben is himself shanghaied, forcing Hoss and Joe to go to the rescue. Featured in the cast are Murvyn Vye as Cut-Rate Joe, Robert Nichols as Johnny and O.Z. Whitehead. Written by Thomas Thompson, "San Francisco Holiday" (aka "San Francisco") first aired on April 2, 1960. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ida Lupino is cast as the titular Annie O'Toole, who along with her father (John Patrick) arrives in Washoe Diggings with a gold claim filed by her fiancé Swede Lumberg (Alan Hale Jr.). When Annie's father dies, Adam Cartwright helps her establish a restaurant to keep her solvent. Annie is going to need every penny she can get: an old acquaintance, Gregory Spain (Henry Lascoe), insists that he is the rightful owner of Swede's claim. The case is taken to Miner's Court, where Annie's fate rests in the hands of Adam's father Ben. First telecast October 24, 1959, "The Saga of Annie O'Toole" was written by Thomas Thompson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Though seriously wounded during a bank robbery, Ben Cartwright manages to kill a member of the Morgan gang. When outlaw leader Carl Morgan (Mort Mill) swears revenge, the citizens of Virginia City flee in terror, leaving Ben and his son Hoss to their fate. Only the town drunk and a nervous Eastern doctor remain to help the Cartwrights make their stand against the Morgans. Featured in the cast are Simon Scott as Tom Pryor and William Pullen as Sheriff Tolliver. Written by Thomas Thompson, "The Vendetta" originally aired on December 5, 1959. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide