Jerry Riggio Movies
- 1969
Nehemiah Persoff makes his second Mission: Impossible guest appearance, this time in the role of corrupt Latin American official Phillipe Pereda. Planning to loot his country's treasury of $40,000,000, Pereda intends to pin the blame on the country's honest president, De Varo (Rodolfo Acosta). The IMF is assigned to destroy Pereda by stealing back the money--from a high-tech safe which is controlled by sound waves and requires perfect pitch to open. Originally broadcast April 6 1969, "The Vault" was scripted by Judy Burns from a story by Burns and John Kingsbridge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1969
Charged with murdering her husband, Tracy Oliver (Dana Wynter) is set free because of a hung jury. But in some cases, "free" is only a relative term: Unable to withstand the innuendos and accusations of an insensitive public, Tracy attempts suicide, whereupon opportunistic TV reporter Len Leavitt (Mort Sahl) decides to capitalize on the woman's anguish. Tracy's old friend Ironside (Raymond Burr) is galvanized into reopening the murder investigation, hoping once and for all to establish the truth--even if the truth is not something that he wants to hear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Two parents worry about the feelings of their love-struck teenage son in this engaging romantic comedy. Grif (James Garner) and wife Jenny (Debbie Reynolds) are concerned about their son Davey (Donald Losby). When his girlfriend is slated for a tour of Europe, the teenage boy is heartbroken. Grif, a photographer by trade, draws the assignment as a photo journalist to cover the girl's tour. Jenny is swindled by Mr. Tilly (Terry-Thomas) who takes her money as rent payment on a Riviera villa. The house is owned by a French playboy who allows the pretty mom to stay. Comedy ensues when a jealous Grif discovers wife Jenny in a bikini given to her by the amorous Frenchman. Prolific songwriter Jimmy Webb provides the music for this feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Garner, Debbie Reynolds, (more)
- 1965
Thanks to Martin's Molecular Reassembler, Martin (Ray Walston) and Mrs. Brown (Pamela Britton) swap personalities and intellects. Complications ensure when Detective Brennan takes Martin-as-Mrs. Brown on a date, for the purpose of proposing marriage. Meanwhile, Mrs. Brown-as-Martin is coming dangerously close to revealing the Martian's true identity. Future M*A*S*H director Bill Idelson appears as Mrs. Brown's brother Leroy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1950
- NR
Cary Grant's utter credibility in the role of a brilliant, world-famous brain surgeon Dr. Eugene Norland Ferguson is the single element that keeps Crisis afloat. While vacationing in a politically unstable Latin American country, Ferguson and his wife, Helen (Paula Raymond), find themselves the unwilling house guests of dictator Raoul Farrago (José Ferrer). Suffering from a brain tumor, Farrago insists that Ferguson operate at once. The "crisis" of the title arises when revolutionary leader Gonzales (Gilbert Roland) demands that Farrago be killed on the operating table -- and kidnaps Dr. Ferguson's wife to bind the bargain. Unaware of his wife's plight, Ferguson proceeds with the operation, setting into motion a series of events leading to a grimly ironic denouement. Director Richard Brooks adapted the screenplay of Crisis from a story by George Tabori. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cary Grant, José Ferrer, (more)
- 1949
- NR
As far removed from a "typical" MGM picture as it was possible to get back in 1949, Border Incident is a gritty, realistic crime melodrama. The story concerns the efforts by both the Mexican and American governments to stop the smuggling of Mexican migrant workers across the border. Representing Mexico is special agent Pablo Rodriguez (Ricardo Montalban), while Jack Bearnes (George Murphy) works on behalf of the US. Screenwriter John C. Higgins and producer/director Anthony Mann refuse to pull any punches, as witness the surprising mid-film murder of one of the major characters. Highlights include a harrowing episode involving a plowing machine and a climactic shootout in a quicksand swamp. The uniformly well-chosen supporting cast includes Howard da Silva, Arnold Moss, Alfonso Bedoya and Charles McGraw, "film noir" veterans all. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, (more)
- 1949
If it weren't for the movies, how would the public have known that Billy the Kid, who died at the age of 21, had a son? According to this low-budget sagebrusher, Billy (George Baxter) didn't die in 1881 as previously reported, but escaped to another town, started up a whole new life as a respectable banker, and fathered a boy named Colt (Johnny Jones). U.S. marshal Jack Garrett (Lash LaRue) doesn't believe that Billy has gone straight, but he changes his mind when a gang of outlaws try to frame the ex-outlaw. Amusingly, the most dangerous character in this little opus is the nominal heroine (Marion Colby)! As always, Lash LaRue is partnered with comical sidekick Fuzzy Q. Jones (Al St. John). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lash LaRue, June Carr, (more)
- 1948
East Indian actor Sabu heads the cast of the location-filmed Man-Eater of Kumaon. While the film's romantic plotline is carried by native couple Naraian (Sabu) and Lali (Joanne Page), the main story concentrates on the regeneration of American society doctor John Collins (Wendell Corey). Despite his distaste for all things Indian, Collins agrees to participate in a tiger hunt. Upon meeting the residents of a Himalayan village which is being decimated by the titular man-eating tiger, the doctor gains a new perspective on his fellow man, dropping many of his inbuilt prejudices along the way. Based on the best-selling novel by Jim Corbett, Man-Eater of Kumaon is at once a rousing adventure tale and an easy-to-take sociological tract. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sabu, Wendell Corey, (more)
- 1948
The peaceful, solitary existence of a crippled lad and his grandfather living in a remote wooded valley is disturbed when two armed robbers accompanied by moll visit. On the lam from the law, the crooks are desperate and dangerous. But as time passes and they get to know the strange and gentle boy, the robbers begin to think about giving up on crime. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Curtis, Anne Gwynne, (more)
- 1946
A rare black-and-white Maria Montez vehicle, Tangier can be described as a second-echelon Casablanca. Montez plays a Spanish dancer named Rita, who is determined to bring Nazi collaborator Colonel Jose Artiego (Preston Foster) to justice. Artiego is at presently working incognito, as military governor of the North African city of Tangier. Maria finds an unexpected ally in the form of Artiego's discarded mistress Dolores (Louise Allbritton). Dominating the film's hotel-lobby set is an old-fashioned "open" elevator, which will obviously figure prominently in the climax. A camp classic, Tangier is distinguished by supporting actor Sabu's offkey renditions of such American standards as "Polly Wolly Doodle" and "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain"! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Montez, Preston S. Foster, (more)
- 1946
Filmed in two-toned Cinecolor, Romance of the West was the second of PRC's western vehicles for singing cowboy Eddie Dean. Our hero is cast as a government agent, bound and determined to prevent an Indian war. The villains are a gang of outlaws who are fomenting discord between the Indians and the white settlers for their own gain. The plan is to have both sides wipe each other out, so that the crooks can move in and claim the silver-rich land. Emmet Lynn, Dean's comedy relief, would be replaced in later entries by Roscoe Ates, all for the better. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Dean, Joan Barton, (more)
