Michael Barrett Movies
- 1968
There must be some significance to the fact that neither Jean Negulesco nor chroniclers of his career are eager to include The Invincible Six in the director's credits. This US/Iran coproduction (obviously filmed before 1977) stars Stuart Whitman as the top dog of a group of criminals. Failing to swipe the Tehran crown jewels, Whitman's gang heads for the rural regions, where they offer protection (for a price) to a small village. Elke Sommer wants the crooks to help her find a treasure, using a map that she's appropriated through questionable means. But when Whitman's minions defend the village against an attack by Iranian bandits, the map is destroyed. Only momentarily daunted, Elke joins the Invicible Six for the next adventure. Oh, almost forgot: There's some dancing in The Invincible Six, choreographed by Rudolph Nureyev. No, really. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Director Serge Bourguignon coadapted the screenplay for The Reward from a novel by Michael Barrett. Efrem Zimbalist Jr., usually cast on the right side of the law, is here a fugitive from American justice hiding from a murder rap in Mexico. Zimbalist and his girlfriend Yvette Mimieux try to avoid those who'd like to collect the $50,000 dead-or-alive price on his head. Police chief Gilbert Roland captures Zimbalist alive, promising to divvy up the reward with his men. But the police officers greedily turn on each other, leaving the audience to sort out for themselves just who's the real "bad guy" hereabouts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max von Sydow, Yvette Mimieux, (more)
- 1962
Essentially a chase film from beginning to end, this standard adventure yarn by director Ronald Neame is set in "Zahrain," a barely-disguised Middle Eastern nation. Sharif (Yul Brynner) is a rebel who has taken up arms against the country's corrupt government and the forces of Western imperialism. Now he and a small party of supporters (one a kidnapped woman about to become a supporter) take off across the desert with soldiers in hot pursuit. As the group flees through untamed country, there are brief moments of respite but no immediate escape in sight. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yul Brynner, Sal Mineo, (more)
- 1958
Several Los Angeles supermarkets have been burglarized over the past few weeks. Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) have but one clue to go on: The burglar always leaves cracker crumbs scattered on the floor of the crime scene. Among the supporting players is Sid Melton, best remembered by baby-boomers as "Ichabod Mudd" on Captain Midnight and "Charlie Halper" on The Danny Thomas Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
This week's Person of Interest is a slippery thief who specializes in swiping brand-new fur coats. In the course of their investigation, Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) interview an embittered woman named Wilda Chandler (Michael Ann Barrett), who points a finger at her no-good boyfriend, an "insurance agent" with a highly suspicious method of operation. This episode was adapted from the Dragnet radio broadcast of December 29, 1953. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this South Seas adventure, a sea captain teams up with lovely island princess help her vanquish the brutal smugglers who are forcing her people to dive for pearls. There are French colonialists on the island and a judge is there to ensure justice. Unfortunately, he is crooked, and after the smugglers are captured he gives them a choice: they can help him retrieve a sunken treasure or they can go to prison. They choose the former, but afterward, they double-cross the judge. Fortunately, the sea captain is still around to see that justice is served. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1955
An elusive gang of thieves have robbed four bars, tunnelling into the premises from adjoining buildings. Collaring a likely suspect, Friday (Jack Webb) plays on the man's inflated ego and discovers that the gang's next target is a bank--and this time, they intend to build their tunnel from below the vault. A suspiciously loose manhole cover leads Friday and Smith (Ben Alexander) to a thrilling denoument in a cavernous storm drain. This episode was inspired by the Dragnet radio broadcast of August 24, 1954. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) will not rest until they catch up with the sadistic prowler who has been beating up women in their own homes. The evidence suggests that the perpetrator always makes a thorough surveillance of the victim and her neighborhoods before he makes his attack--and that he apparently changes his appearance on each occasion. It is up to the detectives to second-guess the miscreant before he can strike again. This episode is based on the Dragnet radio broadcast of May 11, 1954. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
In one of the best-remembered of the original black and white Dragnet episodes, Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) investigate a series of robberies occuring within a ten-block area. Only after the stolen goods begin turning up abandoned or in trash cans do the detectives realize that they're looking for a kleptomaniac. The trail of clues leads to Mrs. Virginia Sterling (Peggy Webber), an otherwise respectable citizen with suffering from a serious mental aberration. The original radio version of this classic episode was heard on October 11, 1951. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) investigate when 33 small businessmen have been victimized by forged checks within a two-month period. The main suspect is veteran forger Stanley Bubeck, but Bubeck was in jail at the time the bogus checks were passed. Further evidence suggests that the perpetrator is a so-called travelling salesman who needs a lot of money to sustain his lifestyle--which includes two wives in two different cities! This episode is based on the Dragnet radio broadcast of August 31, 1950. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1950
Set in British Columbia but filmed in Colorado, Cariboo Trail stars Randolph Scott as a cattle-drive boss from Montana. Crooked Victor Jory and his minions stampede the cattle, causing Scott's partner Bill Williams to lose an arm. Out of a job, Scott gives gold mining a try, but even here he is tormented by Jory. The villain is hoist on his own petard when he tries to stir up the local Indian tribes. Proving that the good guys don't always win, Scott gives up mining and turns to cattle ranching. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Randolph Scott, Bill Williams, (more)
- 1949
- NR
The Dore Schary regime at MGM brought a much-needed dose of stark realism to the venerable studio. Van Johnson sheds his boy-next-door image to play L.A. plainclothes lieutenant Mike Conovan. Determined to bring a cop killer to justice, Conovan will let no man stand in his way -- not even his level-headed superiors. The detective's single-purposed pursuit causes a rift in his marriage to wife Gloria (Arlene Dahl). The film comes very close to the Dragnet school of unadorned, unglamorized police procedure: it adheres to standard MGM formula only in the final reconciliation scene. Officially a Harry Rapf production, Scene of the Crime was completed by another producer when Rapf died during filming. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Van Johnson, Arlene Dahl, (more)
