Lisa Davis Movies
Lisa Davis was one of 1950's cinema's most attractive supporting players. Born Cherry Ann Davis in 1936 to a performing family -- her father was the renowned British bandleader Harry Davis, her mother a chorus girl -- she made her screen debut in 1941, at age five. Her older sister Beryl Davis subsequently found success as a singer, working first with their father's band, and later with Django Reinhardt and Glenn Miller, amongst many others, before coming to America and working with Frank Sinatra. The younger Davis sibling attended the Arts Educational School while continuing to get roles on-screen, and in 1947 portrayed Jean Siimmons' character as a child in the film Woman In The Hall. Three years later, she was considered for the title-role by Walt Disney in his aborted live-action Alice In Wonderland. She later went to work for MGM and later at Columbia, and ended up re-christened Lisa Davis by John Ford while working on the latter's production of The Long Gray Line (1955).The 19-year-old Davis was, by this time, also starting to attract attention from the press over the men who were interested in her -- the latter included English actor Michael Rennie and American leading man Richard Long. In 1957, she was signed to play a major co-starring role in Queen Of Outer Space (originally "Queen of the Universe"), where she met her future husband, co-star Patrick Waltz. Davis managed to get noticed in the movie, despite competition for attention from Zsa Zsa Gabor and a brace of international beauty pageant winners. Amid more film and television work, and even some theatrical appearances, she and Waltz were married in 1958, and they later had two daughters and a son. Davis had another professional rendezvous with Walt Disney in 1959, when she was approached about portraying one of the characters in the animated feature 101 Dalmations -- Davis voiced the part of Anita, and the movie went on to become her best-known screen work. She retired from acting in the 1960's, and she and Waltz were divorced in 1971, a year before his death from a heart attack. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
- 1966
Model Sharon Camody (Mary Ann Mobley) has an excellent chance of being hired as the spokeswoman for White Snow Soap--so long as she is able to keep her unsavory past a secret from the public. Unfortunately, Sharon is targetted for a shakedown by blackmailer Ed Grover, who subsequently turns up murdered. Convinced that he has killed Grover with his bare hands, Sharon's ex-boxer boyfriend Duke (Paul Lukather) confesses his "crime" to Perry Mason (Raymond Burr)--who is subsequently faced with an ethical dilemma when derelict Jake Stearns (James Griffith) is arrested for the crime. In order to clear Jake, Perry may be forced to turn his own client Grover over to the authorities...a move that will not only ruin Grover's life but Sharon's as well. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1964
A pre-Man From UNCLE, pre-NCIs David McCallum is cast as Phillipe Bertain, an incredibly naïve young Frenchman who gives a "belle femme" named Ninette (Roxane Berard) a great deal of money so that she can afford to divorce her husband Armand (Jacques Bergerac). Instead, the duplicitous Ninette hands the cash to Armand, who immediately purchases a ski resort. The outraged Phillipe heads to the slopes to confront Armand, but before this can happen the scoundrel is killed in a plane crash. When the police determine that Armand was killed before the crash, Phillipe is arrested for the crime. Sacre bleu! Ou est Monsier Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), s'il vous plait? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1964
The big day has arrived: Jethro has been promoted to the sixth grade, the first step towards his chosen profession as a brain surgeon! Alas, when time comes for the graduation ceremony at Mrs. Millicent Potts' private school, Jethro is nowhere to be found. Helpfully, Elly May sends along a substitute -- her own "critter," Skipper the Chimp. "Jethro's Graduation" first aired on June 10, 1964, as the final episode of The Beverly Hillbillies' second season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1963
This is the last of four consecutive episodes in which Perry Mason appears only briefly, while a "guest" lawyer handles the case at hand (Raymond Burr was at the time recovering from minor surgery). Walter Pigeon stars as corporation lawyer Sherman Hatfield, who in Perry's absence tackles his first murder case. Hatfield's client is scatterbrained Hollis Wilburn (Joyce Bulifant), charged with the murder of her uncle John Wilburn (Carl Benton Reid), a high-profile industrialist who was being blackmailed by someone who knew of his illegal Swiss bank account. Excluded from the original Perry Mason syndicated rerun package in 1966, this episode would not be seen again until it was shown on cable TV in the mid-1990s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1962
The spokesman for a highly respected group of Danish artisans, cabinetmaker Axel Norstaad (Karl Swenson) is talked into selling the group's famous trademark to Martin Somers (Dennis Patrick), who claims that the money will be donated to charity. Only when several pieces of inferior furniture are shipped out under the coveted trademark does Axel realize that Somers is a con artist. Threatening to kill Somers if he ever sees him again, Axel is charged with murder when somebody beats him to it. Lawyer Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) investigates the possibility that Axel's sweetheart Edie (Marie Windsor) may know more about the crime than she's letting on (Detective fiction fans will be amused by the character name of the suspect played by Malcolm Atterbury). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1962
Jethro is determined to become a brain surgeon, but the fact that he hasn't completed the fifth grade puts a crimp in his plans. At the suggestion of cousin Pearl, Jed enrolls Jethro in the fancy private school managed by the snooty Millicent Schuyler-Potts (Eleanor Audley). At first, Mrs. Potts is appalled by Jethro's presence, but she changes her mind when she learns of the size of the Clampetts' bank account. Also known as "Fifth Grade," this episode first aired on November 14, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This Disney animated classic is based on the children's story by Dodie Smith. The story involves the canine pets of a struggling composer and his wife: Dalmatians Pongo (male) and Perdita (female). Perdita gives birth to fifteen spotted pups, cuing the entrance of the scheming Cruella De Vil. She demands that the dogs' owners sell her the pups, but she is shown the door instead. Under cover of night, Cruella arranges for the pups to be stolen. The human police are baffled, but the "dog network" is alerted by Pongo and sent to rescue the pups. It is discovered that Cruella has been rounding up every Dalmatian she can get her hands on, hoping to use their pelts to make one spectacular fur coat. The dogs rescue the 15 pups, plus 86 others stolen by Ms. DeVil. After an eventful escape, the 101 Dalmatians make their way home--whereupon the composer pens a hit tune, "Dalmatian Plantation". 101 Dalmatians represents the Disney animation staff at its very best, and as a bonus introduces the world to Cruella De Vil, one of the greatest movie villains--cartoon or "real"--of all time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rod Taylor, J. Pat O'Malley, (more)
- 1959
Frontier Rangers doesn't usually show up in the feature-film credits of director Jacques Tourneur for a very good reason: It really isn't a feature film at all. Rather, it is a pastiche of three episodes from the 1958 TV series Northwest Passage, stitched together as a feature and released theatrically in Europe. Produced by Adrian Samish and largely written by Gerald Drayson Adams, the series was based on the 1940 film of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the best-selling book by Kenneth Roberts. Keith Larsen stars as Major Robert Rogers, whose "Rangers" search tirelessly for an inland route that will permit boat travel through 18th century North America. Foremost among the troops is Rogers' old pal, Indian fighter Hunk Marriner, played by Buddy Ebsen. Guest stars in Frontier Rangers include Lisa Gaye and Angie Dickinson. The patchwork plotline is secondary to the unusually high (for a TV series) violence content. MGM released two additional ersatz Northwest Passage features for European consumption in 1959: Fury River and Mission of Danger. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This legendarily campy sci-fi epic (shot in color and CinemaScope, and rather lavish for a sci-fi film of this period) concerns a team of astronauts (all men -- this was 1958, you know) who are drawn off course and land on the planet Venus, only to discover it's populated entirely by beautiful women! The space travelers spend a lot of time drooling over their new hosts, dressed in highly practical mini-skirts, but the Venusian queen (Laurie Mitchell) does not much care for her visitors and wants to see them executed. However, not everyone on the planet takes such a hard line against the male gender. One of the Venusians is played by Zsa Zsa Gabor in what is probably the highlight of her film career; the original story was written by Ben Hecht. The producers helped stretch their budget by borrowing costumes and props from a number of other films, including spacesuits from Forbidden Planet, a spaceship from Flight To Mars and sets from World Without End (which was set on Mars, not Venus, though the differences must have escaped the film's scientific advisors). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Zsa Zsa Gabor, Eric Fleming, (more)
- 1957
It's called The Dalton Girls because there aren't any Dalton Boys left. After all the members of the notorious Dalton outlaw gang have been killed or arrested, their sisters decide to pick up where the boys left off. Led by Holly Dalton (Merry Anders), who since killing a man in self-defense has been outside the law, the girls terrorize Colorado territory with their criminal raids. The other members of the gang are Rose, Columbine and Marigold Dalton, played by B-picture perennials Lisa Davis, Penny Edwards, Sue George. In true Hollywood Chauvinist fashion, the Dalton girls are trailed by a bunch of matrimony-minded men; refreshingly, however, the ladies remain true to their heritage to the last. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Merry Anders, Lisa Davis, (more)
- 1957
Fittingly directed by Illinois native and bad-guy filmmaker Don Siegel, this action-packed film stars Mickey Rooney as the unflinching, trigger-happy member of the infamous Dillinger gang that besieged the Midwest circa 1933. Rooney is Lester "Baby Face Nelson" Gillis and Carolyn Jones his gun moll, Sue, in this fictionalized tale of a scrawny street tough turned psychotic gangster. After being released from prison, Nelson goes to work for mob boss Rocca (Ted De Corsia), who eventually recognizes that a madman is in his service and turns him in to the cops. Managing to elude capture, Nelson kills Rocca and takes Sue with him. He then joins Dillinger's gang in a series of savage robberies, obliterating anyone who gets in his way. Inevitably, FBI agents ambush and injure Nelson, who finally admits his own ruthlessness to himself and Sue, conceding that he would even murder children if necessary. He orders Sue to kill him before he commits any more savage acts. This is a coarse and deliberately aggressive film, distinguished by Rooney's frenzied performance as an unruly and deranged criminal. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mickey Rooney, Carolyn Jones, (more)
- 1956
Producer-director David Butler once listed Glory as among his favorite films. Margaret O'Brien plays her first grown-up role as the owner of the eponymous racing filly. Despite the fact that the horse seems to be a dud, Margaret insists upon entering Glory in race after race. This proves financially draining to Margaret and her grandmother Charlotte Greenwood, but Walter Brennan, trainer for handsome horse breeder John Lupton, helps to raise the necessary funds to enter Glory in--what else?--the Kentucky Derby. The inevitable romance between Margaret and Lupton is less interesting than the combative (but basically affectionate) relationship between ageing ex-sweethearts Greenwood and Brennan. With the uncredited aid of Lawrence Welk Show costar Norma Zimmer, Margaret O'Brien warbles three songs. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Margaret O'Brien, Walter Brennan, (more)
- 1956
The Bowery Boys find themselves up to their unwashed necks in international intrigue when they agree to help the exiled king (Sig Ruman) and the lovely princess (Lisa Davis) of the mythical country of Truania. It seems that sweet shop owner Louie (Bernard Gorcey) was born in Truania and is still loyal to its monarchy, thus Bowery boys Slip (Leo Gorcey) and Sach (Huntz Hall) are entrusted with a valuable half-coin that will be conjoined with its other half when it is safe for the king to return to his homeland. The king's "faithful" retinue (Leon Askin and Veola Vonn) turn out to be traitors, hoping to trap the king by doctoring the coin. Plots and counterplots are hatched in and around Louie's sweet shop, but the Bowery Boys vanquish the traitors and save the throne. The best scenes involve Sach, who is periodically put under a hypnotic spell by the wily female traitor. Spy Chasers isn't exactly John Le Carre, but as a Bowery Boys epic it's one the best. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, (more)
- 1956
Fury at Gunsight Pass is a brief, to-the-point "budget" western, well cast and excitingly staged. David Brian stars as bank robber Whitey Turner, whose outlaw gang takes over a small town. Beating gang leader Dirk Hogan (Neville Brand) to the punch by robbing the town bank ahead of schedule, Turner winds up empty-handed when crooked undertaker Boggs (Percy Helton) swipes the loot. Boggs is killed, whereupon his widow (Katherine Warren) gathers together the money and makes plans to skip town while the Law pursues Turner and Hogan. This is one of those stories in which no one emerges smelling like a rose; the suspense lies not in who will "get it", but how long will it be before someone halfway honest appears on screen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Brian, Neville Brand, (more)
Having previously portrayed England's Queen Elizabeth I in 1939's The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Bette Davis reprises the role in the Technicolor-and-Cinescope costumer The Virgin Queen. Harry Brown and Mindret Lord's screenplay proposes that Elizabeth's relationship with adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd) was somewhat more than cordial. Raleigh is depicted as a charming opportunist, who deliberate leads the Queen on in order to further his chances of heading an expedition to the New World. Complications ensue when Sir Walter falls in love with lady-in-waiting Beth Throgmorton (Joan Collins). Not to be believed for a single moment, The Virgin Queen works well on a swashbuckler level, with Davis outacting everyone in sight-even such veteran scene-stealers as Herbert Marshall, Dan O'Herlihy, and Jay "Caligula" Robinson. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bette Davis, Richard Todd, (more)
The life story of West Point athletic director Marty Maher was the inspiration for John Ford's The Long Gray Line. Told in flashback, the film recalls the first days at the Point for Irish immigrant Maher (Tyrone Power), a pugnacious boy who can't seem to fit in with the institution's regimen of unquestioning discipline. Athletic director Ward Bond takes a liking to Maher and arranges for the young man to become his assistant; Bond also plays Cupid between Maher and Irish maidservant Mary O'Donnell (Maureen O'Hara). When Mary's baby is stillborn, the Mahers begin to regard the West Point cadets as their surrogate children: this eventually leads to the film's most touching scene, in which Mary bids farewell to her son-substitute as he marches off to World War II. Following Mary's death, Marty stays on at the Point, until the place seems somehow incomplete without his presence. On the occasion of his forced retirement, Maher gently pleads with one of his former students--President Dwight D. Eisenhower--to permit him to remain at his post (Ike is played by Harry Carey Jr. in his early scenes, and by the voice of Paul Frees in the wraparound White House scenes). Based on Marty Maher's autobiography, The Long Gray Line seems at first glance too leisurely for its own good, but this appealing film gradually grows on its audience--just like Marty Maher himself. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara, (more)
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