Dick Elliott Movies
Short, portly, and possessed of a high-pitched laugh that cuts through the air like a buzzsaw, Massachussetts-born Dick Elliott had been on stage for nearly thirty before making his screen bow in 1933. Elliott was a frequent visitor to Broadway, enjoying a substantial run in the marathon hit Abie's Irish Rose. Physically and vocally unchanged from his first screen appearance in the '30s to his last in 1961, Elliott was most generally cast in peripheral roles designed to annoy the film's principal characters with his laughing jags or his obtrusive behavior; in this capacity, he appeared as drunken conventioneers, loud-mouthed theatre audience members, and "helpful" pedestrians. Elliott also excelled playing small-scale authority figures, such as stage managers, truant officers and rural judges. Still acting into his mid 70s, Dick Elliott appeared regularly as the mayor of Mayberry on the first season of The Andy Griffith Show, and was frequently cast as a department-store Santa in the Yuletide programs of such comics as Jack Benny and Red Skelton. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A French/Czech co-production, the dream-like La Planete Sauvage concerns the degradation of the Oms, human-like creatures on the futuristic planet Yagam. The Oms are kept as pets and beasts of burden by the Draggs, 39-foot beings who comprise Yagam's ruling class. The status quo is upset when Terr, one of the Oms, accidentally receives an education, whereupon he organizes the other Oms to demand equality with the Draggs. Based on Stefen Wul's novel Ems En Serie, Fantastic Planet was the winner of a 1973 Cannes Film Festival grand prize. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1970
- R
In this melodrama, Jim Carlton (George E. Carey) is settling in for a relaxing weekend at home when his wife, Mona (Luanne Roberts) takes their baby off for a weekend trip. However, when the baby-sitter (Susan Roman) mistakenly shows up, she whisks Jim off to a wild weekend in Hollywood, where he discovers some sobering facts about his wife. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- 1962
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, Rovi
- 1961
In Andy's absence, deputy Barney takes over as acting sheriff. By the time Andy returns, by-the-book Barney has jailed practically everyone in Mayberry-including Aunt Bee. Humiliated when Andy releases the outraged prisoners, Barney tenders his resignation. It is up to Andy to restore Barney's self-esteem-a task for which he receives unexpected assistance. Written by David Adler, "Andy Saves Barney's Morale" first aired on February 20, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1961
It is time for the annual Mayberry Founders Day celebration, and the committee has decided to hold a beauty contest. Sheriff Andy is all for the idea-until he is appointed to judge the contest. Making matters worse, Andy's girlfriend Ellie is one of the contestants. How is the Sheriff going to get out of this predicament without hurting everyone's feelings-and messing up his own love life? The solution provided by scriptwriters Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart is in keeping with the warmth, humanity and insight that always set The Andy Griffith Show apart from its sitcom competitors. "The Beauty Contest" was originally telecast on January 23, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1961
Hoping to rid Mayberry of that old eyesore cannon in the town square, Sheriff Andy fabricates a tall tale about the cannon's "celebrated" history to a potential buyer. The scheme backfires when Andy's son Opie begins to imitate his father's propensity for stretching the truth. Casey Adams, later billed as Max Showalter, plays the out-of-town buyer. Written by Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart, "The Horse Trader" originally aired on January 9, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1961
The Colonial Dames of America breeze into Mayberry, searching for the descendant of a celebrated hero of the Revolutionary War. Everyone in town is convinced that he or she is the person who will receive the coveted plaques from the C.D.A. Imagine everyone's shock and dismay when the descendant turns out to be town tosspot Otis Campbell. Written by Ben Gershman and Leo Solomon, "Plaque for Mayberry" originally aired on April 3, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1961
Sheriff Andy is forced by the indignant taxpayers of Mayberry to evict old Frank Myers (Andy Myers), the poorest man in town. While helping Frank pack, Andy comes across an old document: A bond worth nearly $350,000. Suddenly, the townsfolk can't do enough to curry Frank's favor, even unto fixing up the old man's ramshackle house. And then the painful truth about the "lucky" bond is revealed. Originally shown on October 23, 1961, "Mayberry Goes Bankrupt" was written by Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1961
Jean Hagen guest-stars as beautiful but reckless motorist Liz Crowley, who is arrested for doing 70 in a 45-mile zone by Mayberry sheriff Andy Taylor. Using her considerable charm-and her seemingly limitless monetary resources-Elizabeth manages to coerce witnesses Opie, Floyd and Barney into changing their testimony in court. But upon realizing the extent to which she has humiliated Andy, Liz decides to set things right. Written by Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart, "Andy and the Woman Speeder" originally aired on October 16, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1961
Jim Lindsey (James Best), the wandering troubadour introduced in the 1960 episode "The Guitar Player," pays a return visit to Mayberry. The townsfolk are impressed by Jim's stories of his newfound fame and fortune-stories that seem to be backed up by the guitarist's fancy new Mercedes Benz. Ultimately, however, Sheriff Andy discovers that Jim isn't the huge success he claims to be. Also repeating his role from "The Guitar Player" is Henry Slate as bandleader Bobby Fleet. Written by Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart, "The Guitar Player Returns" was first shown on May 15, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1961
The citizens of Mayberry are duly impressed when an FBI man and a press photographer arrive in town to celebrate Sheriff Andy for making Mayberry the most crime-free city in the county. Andy is likewise impressed-until he notices that the FBI agent allows himself to be photographed. Sure enough, the two strangers turn out to be crooks, who have breezed into town to rob the local bank. Best bit: Barney making a great show of locking up that "mad killer" Otis Campbell. Scripted by a pre-Beverly Hillbillies Paul Henning, "Crime-free Mayberry" originally aired on November 20, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1961
The town of Mayberry is agog when a Hollywood producer and his entourage breeze into town. Captivated by the community's rustic charm, the producer decides to use Mayberry as the setting for his newest film. Almost immediately, the local merchants begins catering to the moviemakers' every whim-but Sheriff Andy draws the line when a town landmark is threatened with destruction, simply to make a "clearer picture." First shown on January 2, 1961, "Mayberry Goes Hollywood" was written by Benedict Freeman and John Fenton Murray. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1958
This is the very last entry in the long-running Bowery Boys saga. This time the gang gets involved with English diamond smugglers after they are hired to safely escort a valuable poodle on a Transatlantic voyage. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1957
Frank Sinatra stars as legendary nightclub comic Joe E. Lewis in this dramatic screen biography. In the 1920s, Lewis was a popular singer in Chicago who could fill any nightclub he chose to play. This doesn't go unnoticed by the mobsters who control many of the city's venues; when they ask Lewis to leave his steady gig and come work for them, he politely but firmly refuses. This does not make Al Capone and his men happy, and they respond by brutally attacking Lewis, cutting his throat and damaging his vocal cords so severely that he can never sing again. Lewis sinks into a deep depression and develops a highly caustic sense of humor, but his friend Austin Mack (Eddie Albert) suggests that he could put his sharp wit to work as a comedian. With little to lose, Lewis tries his hand at comedy, and with the encouragement of famous entertainer Sophie Tucker, Lewis once again rises to stardom as his salty material makes him the talk of late-night spots and burlesque houses everywhere. Along the way, he becomes involved with chorus girl Martha Stewart (Mitzi Gaynor) and wealthy socialite Letty Page (Jeanne Crain); while he marries Martha, he's not able to get Letty out of his thoughts for long. Lewis' romantic conflicts and the pressures of success fan the flames of his already potent taste for alcohol, and soon Lewis becomes a bitter drunk whose addiction to the bottle threatens to send his career (and his life) back into the gutter. The classic Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen number "All the Way" was introduced in The Joker Is Wild, and it won a 1957 Academy Award for Best Song; the film was later re-released as All the Way. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Frank Sinatra, Mitzi Gaynor, (more)
- 1957
In this entry in the long-running series, The Bowery Boys must help their leader after he becomes hypnotized by an unscrupulous mesmerizer who sends him back in time to the swashbuckling days of Blackbeard the pirate. There he is to find a buried treasure. The lad finds it, but upon awakening, he finds the hypnotist holding a gun on him. The crook then escapes to find the loot. Fortunately the other boys beat him to it. At the location, they learn that the treasure is really the hidden loot from an old theft of a jewelry store. The honest boys hand the crook, and the treasure over to the police. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1957
In this entry in the long-running "Bowery Boys" series Sach sells his soul to the Devil so he can atone for spending a charity fund at the track. The bargain enables the young man to successfully predict winning horses at the track. Soon Sach finds himself pursued by greedy mobsters who want him to work with them. Sach demurs and then ends up riding a horse in the big race. Despite his efforts to force the steed to slow down and lose, it wins. Fortunately, the horse is disqualified because Sach was an illegal rider. This has the added benefit of proving the Devil wrong and nullifying their contract. To pay for his crimes, Sach must work in a diner. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1957
In this episode of the long-running "Bowery Boys" series, Sach reminisces about the time he and the gang spent helping the Allies in North Africa during WW II. The boys were working as spies and were assigned to bring in "The Hawk" a key member of the African underground. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1956
In this crime drama, mobsters swear to get revenge upon a zealous public prosecutor as he tries to get them put into prison. The desperate mobsters try to stop him by using his innocent daughter in a blackmail scheme. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1956
Coming off of a hit New York gig, successful rock & roll crooner Arnie Haines (Alan Dale) realizes he and his bandmates are weary from the grind of two years of steady gigs. They tell their manager (DJ Alan Freed, playing himself) they're taking a break and return to the small town where they started, Mellonville (state unspecified, but it looks like central Pennsylvania). Upon arriving, however, Haines finds himself denounced by the mayor (Pierre Watkin) as a bad influence on the teenagers and banned from any public performances. That would suit him fine -- he and the boys wanted the summer off -- but their local teenage fans can't abide the repressive atmosphere, and then nationally syndicated columnist Arlene MacLaine (Fay Baker), visiting Mellonville, attacks Haines and rock & roll in her column, threatening the whole music business. Arlene's comely daughter, Francine (Patricia Hardy), urges Arnie to fight back and convince her mother that rock & roll is harmless fun. Toward that end, with help from the sympathetic mayor (George Cisar) of the next town, Arnie and Freed organize an all-star show that includes Little Richard, the Treniers, and Bill Haley & His Comets. Everything goes according to plan until one petty, jealous girl (Jana Lund) nearly starts a riot when Arnie rejects her advances. Then it's up to Francine and her acting troupe friends to help Arnie and Alan Freed make one last pitch for rock & roll. Though Don't Knock the Rock has more plot and characters than most movies of this type, and it did reflect an actual serious controversy that was growing at the time (and not just in the South), it is really just lighthearted fun. Its real appeal lay in the singing and dancing, not only by some top rock & roll talent of the day (Bill Haley is great, Little Richard and his band are amazing, and the Treniers are dazzling), but also by the dancers portraying ordinary teenagers having fun. Photographer Ben Kline gets all of his camera angles spot on, so that the movie, though no classic, is a visual and musical delight a half century later. And just to show where the film's heart really lies, producer Sam Katzman and director Fred Sears (who were old enough to be "squares") replace "The End" at the final frame with a more nonchalant (and topical) "Dig You Later." ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bill Haley, Alan Dale, (more)
- 1954
The witness of the title is Barbara Stanwyck, who insists she's seen a man strangling a girl in the apartment across the street. The murderer is George Sanders, an ex-Nazi with plenty of experience in covering his tracks. Deftly disposing of body and clues, Sanders is able to convince the authorities that Stanwyck is hallucinating. But Stanwyck persists, forcing Sanders to show his hand in a fateful climax. Witness to Murder is far beneath the talents of its stars, though both Stanwyck and Sanders, pros that they are, give the material the old "Academy Award" treatment. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Barbara Stanwyck, George Sanders, (more)
- 1954
Jealous Lucy (Lucille Ball) wants to one-up her wealthy former schoolmate Cynthia Harcourt (Mary Jane Croft) by making a large financial pledge to charity. Unfortunately, she doesn't realize how large her pledge really is until the money comes due ("Put me down for five," she said magnanimously -- whereupon she was put down for five hundred!). Desperate to cover the pledge, Lucy and Ethel (Vivian Vance) take jobs promoting the upcoming movie "Women From Mars" -- said promotion requiring the girls to dress as Martians and "invade" the observation deck of the Empire State Building. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Mary Jane Croft, Herb Vigran, (more)
- 1952
In this musical comedy, a rambunctious small-town girl inadvertently joins the Army and decides to make the best of it. Songs include: "Lovey," "If Only Dreams Came True," "Boy, Oh Boy," "Song of the Women's Army Corps." ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Judy Canova, Stephen Dunne, (more)
- 1952
In 1880s New York City, newspapers were engaged in a free-for-all competition, with the respectable practitioners such as Joseph Pulitzer leading a horde of sheets that included every kind of yellow rag imaginable. Newspaperman Phineas Mitchell (Gene Evans) is so appalled by the brand of journalism practiced by The Star, the newspaper where he works, and its publisher, Charity Hackett (Mary Welch), that he gets himself fired. But instead of looking for another job, he decides to start up his own newspaper, The Globe, which will adhere to principals he has developed across his career. This immediately puts him on a head-to-head collision with The Star and Hackett, who scoffs at Mitchell's ideals but is frightened of his resourcefulness and ideas -- all of which combine to make the feisty little under-financed newspaper a more honest and exciting read than her own publication. And Mitchell's embrace of cutting-edge technology, such as the Linotype machine, and innovations such as by-lines and newsstands only heighten her mixed feelings of admiration and fear. When Mitchell seizes upon the Statue of Liberty, newly-delivered from France but without a base to stand on (or an appropriation from Congress for the money to build one), The Globe takes on this cause. A circulation war -- and then an all-out war -- breaks out between the two newspapers, with fraud, violence, bombings, and other mayhem visited on Mitchell's enterprise. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gene Evans, Mary Welch, (more)
- 1952
Originally filmed at Republic in 1948, Montana Belle was purchased by producer Howard R. Hughes, who'd loaned the services of the film's star, Jane Russell. After laying on the shelf for three years, Montana Belle was finally released by Hughes' RKO Radio Pictures in October of 1952. Russell plays notorious western outlaw Belle Starr, who after being saved by the Dalton Gang from the hangman's noose, falls in love with Bob Dalton (Scott Brady). This doesn't stop Belle and Dalton from trying to stab one another in the back for the next 8 reels. It is gambler Tom Bradfield (George Brent) who finally offers Belle a new start in life--and, incidentally, a new romance. The film's high point of imbecility arrives when Jane Russell disguises herself as a man. In other words, Montana Belle is lots of fun so long as no one takes it too seriously (it is clear that the people who made the film didn't!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jane Russell, George Brent, (more)
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