Robert S. Carson Movies

The Gnome-Mobile was Walt Disney's first all-out fantasy since Mary Poppins. Walter Brennan stars in a dual role, as kindly lumber tycoon D. J. Mulrooney and the irascible (and much tinier) 943-year-old gnome Knobby. Mulrooney likes Knobby and his fellow gnomes, but the feeling isn't reciprocal, since Knobby considers Mulrooney a threat to his beloved forest. Meanwhile, the tycoon's vice-president Ralph Yarby (Richard Deacon), hearing his boss' claims that he's been consorting with gnomes, decides that the old guy is insane and has him committed. Rescued by his grandchildren Rodney (Matthew Garber) and Elizabeth (Karen Dotrice), D.J. seeks out Knobby and Knobby's own grandson Jasper (Tom Lowell), who are hiding somewhere in the woods with gnome-king Rufus (Ed Wynn, in his final film role). There follows an amusing rite of passage wherein Jasper becomes engaged to gnomette Shy Violet (Cami Sebring), leading to a happy ending for all concerned. The film's title refers to D. J. Mulroney's precious 1930 Rolls Royce, which is "adopted" by the gnome population. Gnome-Mobile is a virtual inventory of Disney's most beloved trademarks, ranging from excellent miniature and special-effects work (including the producer's newest innovation, audio-animatronics) to a zany slapstick car chase. Walt Disney did receive a producer credit on this film, which was actually made in 1966 - the year of his death - and released nationally in 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tony Curtis stars as The Great Leslie, a hero among heroes whose purity of heart is manifested by his spotlessly white wardrobe. Leslie's great rival, played by Jack Lemmon, is Professor Fate, a scowling, mustachioed, top-hatted, black-garbed villain. Long envious of Leslie's record-setting accomplishments with airships and sea craft, Professor Fate schemes to win a 22,000-mile auto race from New York City to Paris by whatever insidious means possible. The problem is that Fate is his own worst enemy: each of his plans to remove Leslie from the running (and from the face of the earth) backfires. Leslie's own cross to bear is suffragette Maggie Dubois (Natalie Wood), who also hopes to win the contest and thus strike a blow for feminism. The race takes all three contestants to the Wild West, the frozen wastes of Alaska, and, in the longest sequence, the mythical European kingdom of Carpania. This last-named country is the setting for a wild Prisoner of Zenda spoof involving Professor Fate and his look-alike, the foppish Carpanian king. When Leslie and Fate approach the finish line at the Eiffel Tower, Leslie deliberately loses to prove his love for Maggie. Professor Fate cannot stand winning under these circumstances, thus he demands that he and Leslie race back to New York. The supporting cast includes Peter Falk as Fate's long-suffering flunkey Max, Keenan Wynn as Leslie's faithful general factotum, Dorothy Provine as a brassy saloon singer, Larry Storch as ill-tempered bandit Texas Jack, and Ross Martin as Baron Von Stuppe. The film also yielded a hit song, Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer's The Sweetheart Tree. The Great Race was dedicated to "Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Janet Brent (Mala Powers), a close friend of Perry Mason's secretary Della Street (Barbara Hale), is being blackmailed by Edward Franklin (John Dall), an employee of Janet's husband Alton (Wesley Addy). Franklin has in his possession some faked photos that could ruin the Brents' marriage and reputation unless Janet comes up with $25,000. Later on, Franklin is murdered and Janet is accused of the crime--with Della facing charges as an accessory. As if Perry doesn't have enough on his hands with this case, there's also the little matter of a Red Chinese slave ring complicating the plotline (which explains the preponderance of Asian-American actors in the supporting cast). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This episode unfolds in flashback, during testimony at a coroner's inquest. John Crane (William Shatner) is torn between two women: his domineering mother Claire (Jesse Royce Landis), and the bewitchingly beautiful Lottie Rank (Gia Scala), whom John has met during a vacation in Vermont. When it becomes clear that Claire strongly disapproves of Lottie, the girl suggests that John murder his mother so that they can be free to marry! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Project X, an experimental nuclear reactor located just outside of Metropolis, runs out of control and threatens the city and the surrounding area for 100 miles around with a devastating radioactive explosion. Superman (George Reeves) arrives barely in time and shuts the reactor down, but in the process absorbs a deadly level of radiation -- he's invulnerable to its effects, but he is now a deadly danger to every living thing around him. The Man of Steel is forced into exile in a remote mountain cabin, while the world's scientists try to find a way to neutralize the radiation permeating his body. Reporters Lois Lane (Noel Neill) and Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson) are as upset as everyone else about this tragic loss to the world, but are also puzzled and alarmed by the absence of Clark Kent who has informed the Daily Planet that he may be away for a while -- and possibly longer -- ostensibly following up a lead. Meanwhile, the criminal element in Metropolis is newly emboldened, not least of all Mr. Regan (Phil Van Zandt), a hood who had been put on to a priceless shipment of jewels being brought in from overseas. But to ensure that Superman won't interfere with the robbery, he takes Lois Lane hostage on the getaway plane. Can the Man of Steel find a way to save her life, before it's too late? ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide