Fred Carson Movies
A tall (reportedly 6'4") stuntman from Texas, Fred Carson played scores of bit parts in both films and television while doubling the likes of Rod Cameron, Victor Mature, and Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1954). He later functioned as stunt coordinator on such films as The Big Circus (1959), More Dead Than Alive (1969), and the made-for-television movie Tarantula: The Deadly Cargo (1977). ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1972
Richard Boone stars as Anton Solca, an Iron Curtain defector living contentedly in California's Napa Valley. Now a successful wine grower, Solca finds himself targetted by a mysterious assailant. Someone from his East European past wants him dead, and by mid-film we find out why. Patty Duke, Michael Constantine, Jack Kruschen and Murray Hamilton costar in this TV-movie adaptation of Geoffrey Household's novel Watcher in the Shadows. Deadly Harvest debuted September 26, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Herman (Fred Gwynne) decides to buy a car for niece Marilyn (Pat Priest). This brings him to the used-car establishment run by Fair Deal Dan (played by impressionist Frank Gorshin), who not unexpectedly belies his name by selling Herman a lemon. Even worse, the car is stolen, and Herman finds himself a fugitive from justice. Featured in the cast is Johnny Silver as a character named Blinky, a full three years before the diminutive Silver donned the costume of "Dr. Blinkey" on Sid and Marty Krofft's H.R. Pufnstuf. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Though he hardly relishes the assignment, Jason (Chuck Connors) agrees to help a rural undertaker haul a coffin into town. Little does Jason know that the coffin's occupant is a very-much-alive outlaw who intends to rob the local Wells Fargo office. J. Pat O'Malley makes a return appearance as lovable reprobate Rufus L. Pitkin in this episode, which also includes a suitably menacing performance by the great Lee Van Cleef. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In this western, a gunfighter finds himself mistaken for a judge when he journeys to a beleaguered town that is under the oppressive influence of an outlaw and his evil gang. One couple knows the gunslinger's true avocation and they talk him into working as a lawman and putting one of the crooks on trial. Things go well until one of the outlaws recognizes him and tells all during the trial. This leads to a classic showdown in which the gunfighter shoots the gun from the villain's hand. He then discards his own weapon and literally rides off into the sunset to pursue a more peaceful life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1963
This film about characters who hang around a horseracing focuses on the darker side rather than the limelight of the winner's circle. Joey (Ty Hardin) is an ambitious horse trainer who is sleeping with the boss' wife Laura (Susan Pleshette). When husband Matt (Ralph Meeker) discovers the affair, Joey get fired. He goes to the boyfriend of an old flame to borrow money to buy the horse. The steed wins a race and a post position in an even bigger race. Matt tries to buy the horse from Joey, who refuses the generous offer. The horse loses the big race, leaving Joey harnessed with a balloon payment he can't possibly make. Another old flame helps Joey out by paring off the debt and sleeping with the sleazy loanshark. Exciting racing scenes and a cameo appearance of real life sportswriter Jim Murray highlight this film where hardly of the characters are likeable or endearing. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Suzanne Pleshette, Ty Hardin, (more)
- 1956
Mail-order bride Ann Smithwright (Mary Carver) travels all the way from Philadelphia to Dodge City, whereupon she identifies Matt Dillon (James Arness) as her future husband. Thing of it is, Matt has never heard of Ann: it seems that Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver) had sent a picture of Matt to Ann, passing it off as his own likeness. But even after Ann finds out that Chester is her "intended", she intends to remain in Dodge, and never again return to her prosperous Philadelphia family. By now, Chester realizes that it would be a big mistake to wed Ann--but it is up to Matt to resolve the sitution. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1953
With all those flaming arrows being aimed directly at the audience, it is fairly obvious that Charge of Feather River was originally released in 3D. Fresh from his TV success as Wild Bill Hickok, Guy Madison stars as frontiersman Miles Archer (his character name will be amusing to fans of The Maltese Falcon). In the company of cavalry sergeant Baker (Frank Lovejoy) and a column of troops, Archer heads into Indian country to rescue a pair of white female captives. One of the two girls, Ann McKeever (Helen Westcott), is reluctant to return because she's been despoiled by her Indian captors; the other girl, Ann's sister Jennie (Vera Miles), is in love with the tribal chief and intends to betray her rescuers at the first opportunity. The rescue has been staged to divert the Indians' attention away from the railroad that is being constructed across their territory. The trick now is for Archer, the soldiers and the women to return to Cavalry headquarters in one piece. The film ends with the eponymous charge, excitingly staged by director Gordon Douglas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Guy Madison, Frank Lovejoy, (more)
- 1953
Son of the Renegade was the first of a short series of westerns produced and written by John Carpenter (not the horror-film specialist), who also starred. The villain, a chap named Three Fingers (Jack Ingram) frames Red River Johnny (John Carpenter) for a series of bank holdups. While trying to clear himself, Our Hero crosses the path of characters with the names Valley, Dusty, Wild Bill, Cherokee, Baby Face Bill and the Long Haired Kid, the Australian Kid, the Texas Kid. Evidently Carpenter isn't taking any chances: he wants the world to know he's making a western. John Carpenter made one more of these low-budgeters before he began billing himself as John Forbes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Carpenter, Lori Irving, (more)
