Hollis Morrison Movies

Cameron Mitchell's most flamboyantly silly role came as the horribly disfigured ex-makeup-artist Vincent Renard in this cult variation on the horror classic House of Wax. The vengeful Renard runs the Movieland Wax Museum, where he kidnaps actors, gives them paralyzing drugs, and dips them in wax for use as exhibits. John Cardos and Scott Brady from the Al Adamson movies are here as detectives, but it is Mitchell's crazed performance which gives this tatty feature its campy charm. Director Bud Townsend returned with the cannibal comedy The Folks at Red Wolf Inn. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

This January 29, 1968 episode of The Andy Griffith Show was inspired by a recent real-life event: The US-Soviet Summit conference in the small college town of Glassboro, New Jersey. Don Knotts makes his final series appearance as Barney Fife, who has been put in charge of coordinating a crucial East-West summit meeting in Mayberry. Alas, Barney messes up the assignment, but the spirit of détente is preserved thanks of Aunt Bee's cold fried chicken. "Barney Hosts a Summit Meeting" was written by Aaron Ruben. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Coming in for an emergency landing while flying important documents to the Mother Superior, Sr. Bertrille drops into the middle of a secret Mob conclave. Her sudden arrival has a profound effect on a gangster chieftain (Noam Pitlik), who is convinced that Sr. Bertrille is a sign from Heaven. Insisting upon giving up his evil ways, the gangster may also give up breathing if his cronies have anything to say about it. Written by John McGreevey, "It's an Ill Wind" was first telecast on November 16, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story arc, Aunt Clara tries to magically summon an electrician to fix Samantha's lamp. As usual, however, Clara gets her wires crossed, and as a result the Stephenses play host to the spirit of Benjamin Franklin. Actor Fredd Wayne, then touring the country in his one-man show Benjamin Franklin, Citizen, is cast as old Ben. Written by James Henerson, "My Friend Ben" first aired on December 8, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Toward the end of Jerry Lewis's Paramount studio period, Lewis slapped together this bitter comedy about Hollywood phoniness and fame that has to be the most rancid portrait of the Hollywood star system in the Rat Pack era this side of Clifford Odets. When a famous entertainer suddenly is killed in an airplane crash, his team of flunkies -- producer Caryl Fergusson (Everett Sloane), writer Chic Wymore (Phil Harris), press agent Harry Silver (Keenan Wynn), director Morgan Heywood (Peter Lorre in his final film role), valet Bruce Alden (John Carradine), and secretary Ellen Betz (Ina Balin) -- decide to continue their life style by finding a complete unknown and manufacturing him into a Hollywood star. That unknown turns out to be the nervous and inept bellboy Stanley Belt (Jerry Lewis). They train Stanley to become an over-night singing sensation, and despite a disastrous recording session and a failed nightclub performance, the public relations blitz makes Stanley's recording of "I Lost My Heart in a Drive-In Movie" a smash single. So much so that Stanley is given a shot at appearing on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Expecting the worst, Stanley's management team abandons him right before his performance. But Stanley musters up enough confidence to go on the live program alone and manages to surprise his pessimistic ex-staff. A collection of Hollywood celebrities circa 1964 --George Raft, Ed Wynn, Ed Sullivan, Mel Torme, Rhonda Fleming and Hedda Hopper -- make cameo appearances. High spots include an apocalyptic music lesson with voice teacher Dr. Mule-rrr (Hans Conried), Ed Sullivan performing a bizarre impersonation of himself, and an ending that would make even Jean-Luc Godard blush. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide