Maxine Semon Movies
- 1966
Hoping to prepare Billie Jo (Gunilla Hutton) for a job as public stenographer, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) encourages her to enroll in a secretarial school. To practice her typing skills, Billie types up a letter from her mom Kate (Bea Benaderet) that she finds lying around the house. Unfortunately, the letter is an extremely nasty and insulting one, and Kate had never intended for it to be delivered--but delivered it is, placing poor Kate at the mercy of Post Office bureaucracy as she tries to retrieve the embarrassing missive! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1966
Andy asks for it when he talks Howard into running for town council. It seems that Aunt Bee is dissatisfied with the local political scene, and has been persuaded to run for council herself. The battle royal culminates in a public debate, wherein Aunt Bee's "will of the people" platform doesn't stand much of a chance against Howard's common sense and civic knowhow. Written by Fred S. Fox, "Politics Begin at Home" first aired on November 7, 1966. Though it was the 200th episode of The Andy Griffith Show, it was only the 197th to be aired. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1964
This week Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) has created a talent contest for the young folk of Hooterville and Pixley. Of course, Joe has more in mind than simply helping a local person to stardom. In fact, he plans to "fix" the contest so that one of his nieces will win--whereupon he will pocket the prize money himself! Two-reel comedy veteran Maxine Semon makes the first of two series appearances as townswoman Mabel Snark. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1964
A pre-I Dream of Jeannie Hayden Rorke guests in this episode as Herbie Grant, a former schoolmate of Kate Bradley (Bea Benadaret). Now known as "H.B. Grant", Herbie arrives at the Shady Rest announcing that he is a millionaire--and that he is very, very interested in renewing his friendship with Kate. But Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan), evidently operating on the theory that it takes one to know one, is convinced that Grant is a con artist, and he intends to break up the budding romance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1955
At the insistence of Ricky (Desi Arnaz), Little Ricky (Joseph A. Mayer and Michael Mayer) spends his first day at nursery school -- and Lucy (Lucille Ball) is as nervous as a mother hen. Much to her relief, the boy adapts well to school, but close proximity to other children causes him to develop a slight cold. Lucy takes Little Ricky to the doctor, who diagnoses tonsillitis, necessitating a minor operation. Determined to spend the night with Little Ricky in his hospital room, Lucy disguises herself as a nurse -- and the medical profession will never be the same. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Olan Soule, Jesslyn Fax, (more)
- 1951
In this entry in the "Henry Latham" series, set during WW II, an independent young woman takes control of a flying school after the owner is called for military duty. She is assisted by her father, his friend, and the mayor who were all fliers during WW I. They all have a rip-roarin' time until a bank robber hijacks the mayor's plane with the mayor in it. Trouble ensues when the plane runs out of gas and crashes. The police capture the crooks. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Raymond Walburn, Walter Catlett, (more)
- 1950
In this entry in the "Henry Latham" comedy series, the parsimonious Henry protests the rising cost of meat and decides to take up hunting for wild game. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1948
The beauteous blonde Wilde Twins -- Lynn and Lee -- star in the Republic musical programmer Campus Honeymoon. Richard Crane and Hal Hackett co-star as a pair of GIs who offer to pose as the sisters' husbands so as to qualify for a couple of bungalows in a Veterans' housing project. The relationship is supposed to be platonic, of course, but it doesn't remain that way for long. The laughs really begin to roll in when the ersatz honeymooners are obliged to produce their marriage licenses. Republic contractee Adele Mara contributes a zesty performance as a former WAC sergeant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lynn Wilde, Lee Wilde, (more)
- 1947
In this suspenseful, convoluted low-budget mystery, a Scotland Yard inspector travels to the Big Apple to investigate the activities of international jewel thieves. The investigation begins after the corpse of a diplomatic courier, who has upon him a number of smuggled jewels, is found on the beach. The inspector is assisted by a pretty flight attendant. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1947
Having struck gold with the previous season's Dillinger, the King Brothers returned to Monogram as producers of The Gangster. Adapted by Daniel Fuchs from his own novel Low Company, the film stars Barry Sullivan as flint-faced racketeer Shubunka. Shown to be a product of the slums, Shubunka spends his adulthood in pursuit of power and riches, with no time for friendship or romance. Wounded in a gangland shootout, Shubunka ruminates on his past, present and (unlikely) future, wondering if it's all been worth it. Promoted as a "psychological" drama, The Gangster has plenty of gunplay and bloodshed to satiate action fans, and a surfeit of sex appeal in the form of gangster's moll Nancy (played by Monogram's resident skating star Belita). Prominent in the supporting cast is the ineluctable Sheldon Leonard as Shubunka's chief rival, delivering a subtler variation on his patented tough-guy screen persona. The Gangster was directed by Oscar-winning art director Gordon Wiles, later a mainstay of such TV series as Land of the Lost and Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Barry Sullivan, Belita, (more)
- 1945
Jane Randolph, the star of several Val Lewton projects at RKO, goes the "spoiled heiress" route in Republic's Sporting Chance. Before she can inherit the family millions, Jane must go out and find a job without using her connections. Not surprisingly, she is brought down to earth by the experience, finding true love in the form of poor-but-honest John O'Malley. Director George Blair managed to helm four pictures the same year that Sporting Chance came out. While the strain doesn't show, there is a paucity of inspiration and nuance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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