Dee Carroll Movies
- 1977
The formal title for this TV mini-series was Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue, just in case you might mistake it for William Makepeace Thackeray's 79 Park Avenue. Originally presented in three parts, this adaptation of the Robbins best-seller stars Lesley Ann Warren as Marja Fludjicki, a Depression-era tenement girl who is accused of murdering her drunken stepfather. Part One details how Marja's "crime" was justifiable; she'd been raped by the bounder. Parts Two and Three would trace Marja's progress from teenaged prostitute to elegant, high-priced Park Avenue Madam--and mob mistress. Forced by circumstance into a life of prostitution, Marja marries Las Vegas high-roller Ross Savitch (Marc Singer). Ross is bumped off by the Syndicate, leaving Marja in the lurch. Marja rebounds from tragedy to become a federal witness against the Mob. 79 Park Avenue was first telecast on October 16, 17, and 18, 1977. Though all the names are changed, it isn't hard to discern the Bugsy Siegel story in this video equivalent to eating a whole box of chocolates in one sitting. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1956
A Day Of Fury stars Jock Mahoney as town marshal Alan Burnett, whose life is saved by a stranger he meets on the trail. His rescuer turns out to be Jagade (Dale Robertson), a gunslinger just returned after years away, who finds when he gets into town that he can't abide the peace that has been settled between "his" people (i.e. the saloon-keepers, gamblers, etc.) and the righteous, "respectable" folk. Jagade stirs up trouble by persuading the saloon owners to open on Sunday, which they'd voluntarily stopped doing years ago. Suddenly, the peace that had settled over the town is broken, and gambling and other vices that had been in check rise anew, drawing in many of the respectable townsmen and women in the process -- some of the men can't resist the lure of a good high-stakes poker game or a pretty woman, and even the spinster schoolteacher finds herself drawn to Jagade's dark charisma. An escalating cycle of vice and violence unfolds in barely 24 hours; Burnett won't back Jagade down, partly because the man has broken no laws and also partly due to his gratitude to the gunman for saving his life. None of the townspeople can comprehend his inaction, however, and this soon jeopardizes not only his job as marshal and his safety, but also the well-being of his fiancée, Sharmon Fulton (Mara Corday), who was a saloon girl before she was brought out of that life and given a home with a respectable family. Soon Jagade loses control of what he's started, and the town begins to destroy itself in a cycle of guilt, anger, betrayal, murder, suicide, and lynch law.
~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dale Robertson, Mara Corday, (more)
Ed Stander (Robert Morse), with the help of an all-star cast, teaches Paul Manning (Walter Matthau) the fine art of philandering in A Guide for the Married Man. Paul, happily married to sexy Ruth (Inger Stevens), has no burning desire to cheat, but Ed makes the prospect sound very attractive. Finally taking the "big step" with a glamorous brunette after months of careful preparation, Paul finds that he loves his wife way too much to betray her -- while the ever-careful Ed ends up in divorce court. Among the myriad of "advisors" peppered throughout Guide for the Married Man are Art Carney, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Jayne Mansfield, Terry-Thomas, and Carl Reiner. The best guest-star vignette features Joey Bishop as a man caught in bed with another woman by his wife -- whereupon he calmly puts on his clothes, straightens up the room, and quietly responds to his wife's outrage by saying "What bed? What girl?" Adapted by Frank Tarloff from his book of the same name, Guide for the Married Man was directed by Gene Kelly, who makes a cameo "appearance" of his own as a voice on a TV set. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Robert Morse, (more)
- 1973
Tonight's case log for Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) includes their high-speed pursuit of a teenage robber. And elsewhere, the two cops confront a gun-wielding father (Raymond Mayo) who has held his daughter (Mia Bendixsen) a virtual prisoner for nearly all her life. Among the "perps" on this occasion is ex-convict Reno West (Jed Allan, whom Jim and Pete will hear much more from in a later episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
In this sequel to the 1962 Bonanza episode "Inger, My Love," Ben Cartwright once again waxes nostalgic over his late second wife, Inger (again played by Inga Swenson). In a lengthy flashback, Ben and Inger head westward to a remote frontier outpost, where they are besieged by hostile Indians. In the course of the story, Inger's son Hoss is born (and, for the benefit of the viewer, it is explained that Hoss' name holds a special meaning in Inger's native country). Also in the cast are Johnny Stephens as five-year-old Adam Cartwright, Gene Evans as Lucas, Kevin Hagen as Simon, Dee Carroll as Rachel, Ken Lynch as Welks, John Frederick as Payne, Kathleen O'Malley as Mrs. Payne, and William Fawcett as Tulliver. Written by Anthony Lawrence, "Journey Remembered" was originally seen on November 10, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1966
In Part Two of "The Pursued", Mormon rancher Heber Clawson (Eric Fleming) is burned out of his home and shot to death by a bigoted mob, spurred on by a demented self-ordained minister. It is up to the Cartwrights to provide safe passage for Heber's two wives Susannah (Dina Merrill) and Elizabeth Ann (Lois Nettelton)-and to secure emergency medical attention for the seriously injured, and very pregnant, Elizabeth Ann. The story takes a positive turn when a new minister tries to undo the damage wrought upon the Mormon women. Written by Thomas Thompson and Marc Michaels, Part Two of "The Pursued" originally aired on October 9, 1966. Both Parts One and Two were removed from the Bonanza syndicated package when the series aired on the Family Channel cable network, reportedly because the story's religious message did not jibe with the beliefs of network chairman Pat Robertson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1974
- R
Peter Hyams made his feature-film directing debut with this clumsily paced crime film concerning two Los Angeles vice-squad detectives. Michael Keneely (Eliott Gould) is the swaggering non-conformist and Patrick Farrel (Robert Blake) is the cocky follower. The two cops live for their work and spend most of their time busting call girls, massage parlor employees, and homosexuals. Keneely and Farrel eventually come to the conclusion that every criminal act in Los Angeles is due to the efforts of crime lord Carl Rizzo (Allen Garfield). The boys begin to harass Rizzo to the point of distraction, but their singular attempts to arrest Rizzo cause them to become the targets of, not only the criminal population, but the police force as well. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elliott Gould, Robert Blake, (more)
- 1954
A small LA business district has been plague by a series of jewelry store holdups, in which the perpetrator violently assaults his victim. Working on the slimmest of leads, Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) are finally able to determine that the criminal is carrying on an affair with a married woman. The bad guy makes the proverbial "One False Step" when he places a phone call to his paramour--with the cops listening in. This episode is based on the Dragnet radio broadcast of November 29, 1951. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) search for a check forger who has been using the name of old-time movie villain Parker Allington. The detectives are given a lead by one of the forger's would-be victims, a dedicated movie buff who is well aware that Parker Allington has been dead for three years. Ultimately, the search narrows down to a shabby Hollywood bit player who has given up acting in favor of bunco. This episode was adapted from the Dragnet radio broadcast of January 25, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Now that he has been promoted to Engineer, Roy DeSoto (Kevin Tighe) is faced with the prospect of having to leave the Paramedics program. Meanwhile, a huge pileup on the fog-enshrouded San Diego Freeway results in dozens of seriously injured motorists. Other major crises arise when John (Randolph Mantooth) is trapped by a fire, and when the staff is called away from more pressing matters by a phony suicide alert. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
In this western, a US marshal escorts five female killers across Texas to prison. Along the way, they are ambushed by Indians and by one of the women's outlaw husbands. They must also endure the rugged terrain, weather, and romantic yearnings. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1967
The posh St. Gregory Hotel in New Orleans is the setting for this drama based on a popular novel by Arthur Hailey. Trent (Melvyn Douglas) is the long-time owner who realizes that the hotel is in dire financial straits. Trent calls on faithful manager Peter McDermott (Rod Taylor) to try and bring about the necessary reversal of fortune so that they can stay in business. After the Duke (Michael Rennie) and Duchess (Merle Oberon) of Lanbourne check in, the Duke is involved in a vehicular homicide after he has too much to drink. His car is traced back to the St. Gregory by hotel detective Dupere (Richard Conte), who blackmails the Duke. Although not on the same level of Grand Hotel, the film contains first-rate performances from a fine cast portraying a variety of eccentric guests. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rod Taylor, Catherine Spaak, (more)
- 1975
It's still the same old story...but what a story. This umpteenth filmization of the classic Mark Twain novel stars Ron Howard as Huck and Donny Most as Tom Sawyer. After faking his own murder to escape his brutish Pap (played by Howard's real-life father Rance), Huck and fugitive slave Jim (Antonio Fargas) fashion a raft and head off down the Mississippi. The darker elements and sociological commentary of the Twain original are carefully excised from this version, the better to allow more time for the antics of those "royal" rapscallions, the King (Jack Elam) and the Duke (Merle Haggard). Mark Twain himself makes a guest appearance, in the person of Royal Dano. Filmed along the Sacramento River in California (a frequent movie "stand-in" for the Mississippi), Huckleberry Finn was first broadcast March 25, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
For his only directorial effort, Jack Lemmon selected his old friend and habitual co-star Walter Matthau to play the central character. Joseph P. "Kotch" Kotcher (Walter Matthau) is an irksome 72-year-old who lives with his son (Charles Aidman) and daughter-in-law (played by Lemmon's wife Felicia Farr). Kotch is far from senile, but there are times that his family wishes he was a little more docile and doddering; he insists upon expressing his unwarranted opinions on all matters, both large and small, forever challenging his daughter-in-law's authority. When it is suggested that Kotch find himself a nice retirement home, the rebellious old man decides instead to take a long bus ride, hoping that his family will have cooled off by the time he returns. Before leaving, he tries to make amends with the family's former baby-sitter Erica (Deborah Winters), whose dismissal he has brought about. Upon learning that Erica is pregnant, Kotch loans her some money; and when she moves away to Palm Springs, he moves in with her, hoping to be of some help. As they get to know one another, Kotch and Erica discover that they're very much alike: both have been cast aside by their relatives due to their independent airs. Kotch was adapted by John Paxton from a novel by Katharine Topkins. Watch for director Jack Lemmon in a bit as a bus passenger. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Deborah Winters, (more)
- 1960
Given money by his parents to purchase a pet, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) is advised by Larry (Rusty Stevens) to pocket the dough when the boys see a note in the supermarket offering a monkey named Stanley free to anyone willing to take it. Sure enough, Stanley is installed in the Cleaver household, much to the dismay of dad Ward and mom June. But since the name of this series isn't "Leave It to Stanley," one can assume that Beav's simian pal will not be a permanent resident. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rusty Stevens, Norman Leavitt, (more)
- 1960
Wally (Tony Dow) considers himself the luckiest teen on Earth when the wealthy and "sophisticated" Myra (Pamela Beaird) agrees to date him. There's only one problem -- Myra has made clear that she would like Wally to purchase an orchid for her corsage. This of course, requires more money than Wally has ever seen in his life -- and his dad Ward (Hugh Beaumont) isn't about to lend it to him. This was the first Leave It to Beaver episode directed by Norman Abbott, a future fixture of such '70s sitcoms as Sanford and Son (and incidentally, fans of the first Back to the Future will instantly recognize the exterior of Wally's high school). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Osmond, Doris Packer, (more)
- 1950
The second of Universal's "Ma and Pa Kettle" series, Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town stars, as ever, Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride. This time, the Kettles win a letter-writing contest, which offers as first prize an all-expense-paid trip to New York City. Once in Manhattan, the huge Kettle brood raises all sorts of Holy Ned, culminating in an episode involving stolen bank money. Somehow this all ends with a riotous, slapstick-laden square dance. The film's romantic subplot is handled by Richard Long as oldest son Tom Kettle and Meg Randall as his high-society wife Kim. Also carried over from the first Kettle entry are Ray Collins and Barbara Brown as the Kettle's wealthy in-laws. A winner at the box-office, Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town helped pay for many of Universal's "prestige" releases of 1950. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, (more)
- 1969
- PG
James Garner is so good as Raymond Chandler's philosophical gumshoe Philip Marlowe that you forget he's totally wrong for the part. Based on Chandler's The Little Sister, Marlowe involves the detective's efforts to locate the missing brother of Orfamay Quest (Sharon Farrell). He follows the clues to two men who deny any knowledge of the brother's existence. Since both men soon find themselves on the wrong end of an ice pick, Marlowe deduces that there's more to this caper than a mere missing-person case. The plot thickens as more "dramatis personae" are added to the intrigues, including TV star Gayle Hunnicutt, Hunnicutt's gangster boyfriend H.M. Wynant and stripper Rita Moreno. A pre-stardom Bruce Lee shows up as a karate-happy thug who lays waste to Marlowe's office shortly before suffering a spectacular demise. It is preferable to view Marlowe in videocassette or theatrical form; the commercial TV print cuts so much out that viewers are left with virtually nothing but protection leader and a few close-ups of James Garner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Garner, Gayle Hunnicutt, (more)
- 1968
Taking a well-deserved vacation, Phelps finds himself in a small town populated almost exlclusively by political assassins. Captured, Phelps is drugged and left in a paralytic state. Despite his helplessness, he manages to blink a message to Rollin, who rallies the rest of the IMF to prevent the murder of a Russian defector. Future Waltons costar Will Geer delivers a nicely nasty performance as a duplicitious doctor. First shown on February 18, 1968, "The Town" was written by Sy Salkowitz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1966
Outraged at the high tax assessment levied on the Shady Rest Hotel, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) is determined to outwit the IRS. To this end, Joe goes to great length to "downgrade" the hotel, turning the lobby into a shambles. Alas, Joe's destructive rampage occurs just as Kate (Bea Benaderet) is trying to improve the looks of the Shady Rest in hopes of attracting the convention trade! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Hooterville storekeeper Sam Drucker (Frank Cady) has noticed a considerable drop in business over the past few days. The rest: a brand-new supermarket in nearby Pixley is stealing away all of Sam's steady customers. While things look bleak for a while,fans can take heart in the fact that Sam Drucker would remain on both Petticoat Junction and its spinoff series Green Acres for several seasons to come. Former child actor Jack Searl, best known for his portrayals of such snivelling brats as Sidney Sawyer in the 1930 version of Tom Sawyer, shows up in the role of Jack Hull. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Arthur O'Connell guest stars as William Lawrence, a new arrival at the Shady Rest Hotel. Clearly a man of wealth, Lawrence claims to be a rocket scientist. But ever-suspicious Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) is convinced that Lawrence is actually a wanted bank robber--and, characteristically, he makes an utter fool of himself to prove his theory! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
This is the much-anticipated episode in which Betty Jo Bradley (Linda Kaye) is married to Steve Elliott (Mike Minor). But it's still a sitcom episode, meaning that a few complications must ensue before the happy moment. Especially vexing to Betty Jo is the fact that her well-meaning friends and relatives have presented her with four different wedding gowns...meaning that, if she chooses one gown over the other, she risks offending a good portion of the wedding party! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
A bizarre western that at times veers dangerously close to outright burlesque, Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend concluded Randolph Scott's long-term contract with Warner Bros. and sat on the shelf for nearly two years before being dumped on the double-bill market in 1957. Scott and two fellow cavalry officers (Gordon Jones and a very young James Garner) have their clothes stolen while skinny-dipping. Offered new apparel by a group of Quakers (or are they Mormons? It is never made quite clear), the threesome go on to prevent James Craig from supplying the territory with faulty guns and ammo. Dani Crayne (the wife of actor David Janssen at the time) seductively warbles {&"Kiss Me Quick") and a young Angie Dickinson lends further femininity to the proceedings. Much of this is strangely watchable, but as a western Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend can never make up its mind whether to play it straight or for comedy. Not too surprisingly, director Richard L. Bare had gotten his start helming the studio's "Joe McDoakes" comedy shorts in the 1940s. A final paradox: There is nary a shoot-out in the entire film. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Randolph Scott, Angie Dickinson, (more)
Shirley MacLaine plays Charity Hope Valentine who, despite her job at a seedy dime-a-dance joint, is an incurable optimist. Charity never stops looking for true love and never seems to look for it in the right places. We first see her in the company of Charlie (Dante DiPaolo), a slimeball who steals her purse and pushes her into the Central Park pond. Next she stumbles into a one-night stand with Vittorio Vidal (Ricardo Montalban), an egotistical movie star; this comes to nothing when Vittorio's contrite girlfriend Ursula (Barbara Bouchet) comes calling, forcing Charity to spend the night hiding in the closet. Desperate to escape the dance hall, Charity heads to an employment agency, where a bureaucratic clerk (Alan Hewitt) informs her that she has no qualifications. Unhappily, Charity heads for the elevator, where she becomes trapped with the very shy -- and very claustrophobic -- Oscar Lindquist (John McMartin). Once they've gotten out of the stalled elevator, Charity begins dating Oscar, never telling him of her checkered past or her sordid dance-hall job. Oscar eventually finds out but assures her that it doesn't matter. However, at the engagement party held at the dance hall, Oscar's puritanical streak emerges. He walks out on Charity, leaving her alone and heartbroken once more. With the help of a group of flower children (among them Bud Cort and Kristoffer Tabori), Charity is able to pick herself up and start living "Hopefully Ever After." Sweet Charity was adapted from the 1965 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the 1957 Fellini flick Nights of Cabiria. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shirley MacLaine, John McMartin, (more)
