Sherwood Keith Movies

Several robberies have been committed in a prosperous neighborhood, and Officers Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) and Jim Reed (Kent McCord) pull weekend duty to investigate. Also on this episode's case log is an attempted arson, and a feisty old lady with an inordinate fondness for firearms. And in a situation combining humor and tension, the two cops try to mediate a violent argument between a church organist and a choirmaster. Featured in the supporting cast is former "Eddie Munster" Butch Patrick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A mysterious hulking figure prowls a university campus at night and yanks the door off of a locked storage room to steal chemicals -- a guard spots the intruder but before he can react, the man knocks him cold and kills him, carrying the body as if it weighed nothing. The police investigation, led by Lt. Branch (James Doohan), can't figure out how the door was removed or the guard was asphyxiated -- and the materials that were stolen are fairly mystifying as well, chemicals used in experiments with consciousness-expanding ("CE") drugs. Dr. Peter Wayne (Keith Andes), the head of the drug experimentation program, and his associate (and brother-in-law) Dr. Roy Clinton (Skip Homeier), insist that there's nothing missing that was worth a burglary, much less a murder, but the lieutenant insists on checking out a possible connection between the crimes and a group of students and faculty members who were previously dismissed from the university for their CE experiments. This leads to new puzzlements -- including a man (Aki Aleong) who turns up, seemingly dead, for no apparent reason -- and the murder of a philanthropist associated with the university, apparently committed by a man that no one except Dr. Wayne remembers seeing. And of what significance is one student's claim that he saw Dr. Clinton on campus, at the science building, on the night of the burglary, which Clinton insists can't be true? Or Clinton's suggestion that CE drugs may be at work on others around them, affecting their judgement and their abilities? The story poses lots of questions, as well as momentarily waxing poetic on the potential of consciousness-expansion, and then answers them very slightly too early and quickly, in this otherwise eerie and suspenseful mystery. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

Minerva Doubleday (Phyllis Love) hires Paul Drake (William Hopper) to act as courier in the sale of her Uncle Homer's (Will Kuluva) rare Confederate half-dollar, which is supposedly worth $50,000. But what follows is a maelstrom of theft, embezzlement, blackmail, and finally murder, with George Parsons (Hunt Powers) as the victim. Lucky for accused killer Minerva that Paul Drake is a close associate of lawyer Perry Mason (Raymond Burr). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Barbara Eden guest-stars as Ellen Brown, a new arrival from Miami. With only the skimpiest credentials, Ellen talks herself into being hired as the new manicurist in Floyd's barbershop. Before long, Mayberry's male population is lining up in droves to have their nails done by the curvaceous Ellen-and the town's female population is seething. Best line: "That definitely is a woman." Written by Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart, "The Manicurist" was first shown on January 22, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Mayberry Chamber of Commerce hits upon a seemingly foolproof scheme to attract more tourists to the community. During Founder's Day, the first person to visit Mayberry will be designated "guest of honor" and handed the keys to the city. A perfect plan-except for the fact that the visitor in question is Sheldon Davis (Jay Novello), a well-known thief and pickpocket. Recognizing Davis, Andy says nothing, choosing instead to keep the stranger under surveillance during the festivities. But as often happens, Barney manages to bollix up Andy's strategy. Written by Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart, "Guest of Honor" was originally telecast on February 26, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The right for a rape victim to have an abortion is examined in this socially conscious drama. 21-year old Patty Smith is distraught to learn that she was impregnated during a rape. She looks for help, but finds none amongst the regular medical community. She tries talking to her priest, but he turns a blind eye, and offers no help. Finally, desperate to get rid of her unwanted baby, Patty goes to a back-alley abortionist. He literally butchers her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Edgar Buchanan guest-stars as Henry Wheeler, an itinerant handyman whom Aunt Bee hires as a gardener. It isn't long before Bee thinks she has fallen in love with the affable Wheeler. Andy sees through Henry's kindly façade, resulting in an episode denoument similar to that of the earlier Andy Griffith Show installment "Opie's Hobo Friend." First shown on December 4, 1961, "Aunt Bee's Brief Encounter" was written by Ben Gershman and Leo Solomon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide