Leif Erickson Movies
Born William Anderson, this brawny, blond second lead had the looks of a Viking god. He worked as a band vocalist and trombone player, then gained a small amount of stage experience before debuting onscreen in a bit part (as a corpse) in Wanderer of the Wasteland (1935). Billed by Paramount as Glenn Erickson, he began his screen career as a leading man in Westerns. Because of his Nordic looks he was renamed Leif Erikson, which he later changed to Erickson. He played intelligent but unexciting second leads and supporting parts in many films. Erickson took four years off to serve in World War II and was twice wounded. He made few films after 1965 and retired from the screen after 1977. Also working on Broadway and in TV plays, he played the patriarch Big John Cannon in the TV series High Chaparral (1967-1971). From 1934 to 1942, he was married to actress Frances Farmer, with whom he co-starred in Ride a Crooked Mile (1938); later, he was briefly married to actress Margaret Hayes (aka Dana Dale). ~ All Movie Guide- 1963
A Gathering of Eagles stars Rock Hudson as a colonel in the peacetime Strategic Air Command. His devotion to his duty as a wing commander takes a toll on his men, his marriage, and his own well-being. It is to Hudson's credit that he was willing to put his image on the line with this essentially unsympathetic characterization, and a tribute to his underrated ability as an actor that he compels us to care for him. Popular British leading lady Mary Peach makes a rare Hollywood appearance as Hudson's English wife. An unexpected bonus to A Gathering of Eagles is a semicomic musical piece, "The SAC Song," by dilettante satirist Tom Lehrer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rock Hudson, Rod Taylor, (more)
- 1953
The much-maligned Vera Ralston turns in an acceptable performance as star of Republic's A Perilous Journey. Though seemingly inspired by MGM's Westward the Women, the film was actually based on The Golden Tide, a novel by Vingie Roe. In the year 1850, a group of 49 young women charter a full-rigger to sail for California to offer themselves as wives to the gold prospectors. As indicated by the title, the journey is indeed fraught with peril (not to mention a few geographical inaccuracies). Vera Ralston plays Francie Landreaux, who has undertaken the voyage in search of her no-good gambler husband. Instead, she finds romance in the arms of rough-and-ready Shard Benton (Scott Brady). A Perilous Journey is pepped up by several song numbers, written by Victor Young and Edward Heyman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vera Ralston, David Brian, (more)
- 1952
Though out of favor with many Abbott and Costello buffs, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd is actually a lot of fun, so long as the viewer parks logic and dignity at the door. Captain Kidd is played by no less than Charles Laughton, who reportedly agreed to sign up for this film because he wanted to learn how to perform a comedy double-take. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are cast as Rocky and Puddn'head, waiters at a pirate hangout on the island of Tortuga. Entrusted with a love letter written by the beautiful Lady Jane (Fran Warren) to cabaret singer Bruce Martingale (Bill Shirley), Puddn'head manages to get this missive mixed up with a treasure map coveted by both Captain Kidd and his rival, lady pirate Captain Bonney (Hillary Brooke). The upshot of all this finds Rocky, Pudd'nhead, Lady Jane and Bruce being shanghaied by Kidd, setting the stage for a climactic treasure hunt and chase on a faraway island. Laughton takes to broad slapstick comedy like a fish to water; indeed, at times he's a lot funnier than Bud and Lou! Filmed in Cinecolor, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd was the second of the team's independent productions for Warner Bros. release; like the first, Jack and the Beanstalk, it was well received by the public, even while critics tore their hair and gnashed their teeth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, (more)
- 1975
If familiar with the Patty Hearst episode, the viewer will likely believe this is a spin-off because it has most of the elements: wealthy white upper-class gal abducted by terrorists and held for big stakes--this time the ransom is the demand that a wealthy-man's palace (a high-rise condominium) be bombed in defiance of capitalist policy. However, the real source of the movie was a Harrison James novel published before the Hearst drama. This is an exploitative film, focused upon violence, nudity, lesbianism and of course, sex. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judith-Marie Bergan, David Pendleton, (more)
- 1958
Meek and mild Eldon Marsh (Martin Balsam) has never stood up for himself in his life. But when a bigger guy named Wayne Phillips (Leif Erickson) steals the affection of Eldon's wife Louise (Norma Crane), the time has come for the worm to turn. Realizing that he could never defeat Wayne with muscle power, Eldon confronts his rival with an "equalizer" -- namely, a gun. Radio announcer Dudley Manlove, best known to bad-movie fans as the arrogant alien Eros in the notorious Plan 9 from Outer Space, appears in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1942
In providing the "synopsis" for Are Husbands Necessary?, one best-selling film source says merely "And what about this film?" There's more to the story than that, of course--but not much. The film was based on Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, a novel by Frank Davis. Ray Milland and Betty Field play a warring married couple who hope to patch up their differences by adopting a baby. When Milland's ex-flame Patricia Morrison shows up unexpectedly, the fur flies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ray Milland, Betty Field, (more)
Blonde Savage was directed by one "S. K. Seeley"-who at closer examination turns out to be Steve Sekely hiding behind an alias. The story is the old saw about a blonde white woman who is raised from infancy by a savage jungle tribe. This time, it's a girl named Meelah (Gale Sherwood) who resides as a goddess amongst an entourage of African natives. While working for diamond mine owner Mark Harper (Douglass Dumbrille), transport pilots Steve (Leif Erickson) and Hoppy (Frank Jenks) crash-land near Meelah's domain. Upon discovering that the "blonde savage" is actually the daughter of Harper's murdered partner, they set about to bring their employer to justice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leif Erickson, Gale Sherwood, (more)
- 1965
Clint Howard is the center of attention on this Bonanza episode as impressionable young Michael Thorpe. When his father Evan (Simon Scott) is seriously wounded, Michael takes literally the words of Ponderosa ranchhand Lijah (Rodolfo Acosta), who mournfully declares that "Only God" can save Evan now. The boy sets off on a trek into the mountains to search for God-and believes he has gazed upon the face of the Almighty when he meets fugitive mountainer Tom Caine (Leif Erickson). Originally shown on December 19, 1965, "All Ye His Saints" was written by William Blinn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1961
Accusing Josh Tatum (Leif Erickson) of stealing cattle, Ben Cartwright gets into a fight with Tatum, and is seriously injured for his troubles. Ben's sons Joe, Adam and Hoss swear to avenge their father by taking care of Tatum themselves. Unfortunately, the well-intentioned Cartwright boys are not quite ready to fill their dad's boots. Former Captain Video star Richard Coogan is seen as Jake Moss. First telecast on February 25, 1961, "The Rescue" was written by Steve McNeil. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1953
William "One Take" Beaudine sat in the director's chair for the independently produced Born to the Saddle. Chuck Courtney plays a young horse trainer who goes to work for the truculent Donald Woods. Courtney believes that Woods was responsible for the death of the boy's father, and hopes to exact revenge if his suspicions are confirmed. Instead, the older and younger man become close friends thanks to their mutual love of horses. Featured in the cast is actress Karen Morley, in one of her few screen appearances after being officially blacklisted for her allegedly leftist political beliefs. Adele Buffington adapted the screenplay of Born to the Saddle from a short story by Gordon Young. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Leif Erickson and Rod Cameron guest star in this episode as two headstrong men on opposite sides of a bitter range war. Erickson plays Roy Beckwith, a cattleman who hires Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) to string barbed wire around his property. This puts Jason on a blacklist compiled by the local farmers, headed by Holland Thorp (Rod Cameron), who deeply and violently resent Beckwith's closing of their open range. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Considering its cast, it's surprising that Captain Scarface isn't better known. Filmed during the waning days of the 1950s "Red Scare", the story concerns a group of enemy agents (read: Communists), who plan to blow up the Panama Canal. The spies abduct a brilliant atomic scientist and force him to travel by tramp steamer to their South American headquarters. But the villain's haven't reckoned with Barton MacLane, the ship's captain-who may not be the most honest of men, but he's certainly no turncoat. Supporting MacLane are such reliable veterans as Virginia Grey, Peter Coe, Rudolph Anders, Howard Wendell and Leif Erickson. Barely seen upon its initial release, Captain Scarface enjoyed a healthy second life on TV. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barton MacLane
- 1952
- NR
The tougher postwar screen image of James Stewart is given a good workout in the fact-based Carbine Williams. In 1952, the world at large knew Marsh Williams as the developer of the US Army's M-1 carbine rifle. The film builds up to this event by detailing Williams' previous existence as a bootlegger and embittered prison inmate, sentenced to 30 years at hard labor for killing a revenue agent. After enduring the rigors of chain-gang life and solitary confinement, Williams (Stewart) gets his mind off his troubles by dreaming up a new type of automatic-gun piston. He is encouraged in this endeavor by prison warden H. T. Peoples (Wendell Corey), previously Williams' bitterest enemy. As Williams continues to develop his innovative weaponry notions, his wife Maggie (Jean Hagen) and Warden Peoples try to overcome penal bureaucracy to win a pardon for Williams. Some TV prints of Carbine Williams have been colorized by computer; despite this artistically offensive practice, the strong dramatic and human values of the story still shine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Stewart, Jean Hagen, (more)
- 1955
The Christmas, 1955 presentation of the CBS anthology Climax! was based on a true story in the lives of the ancestors of co-scenarists Dale and Katherine Eunson. Set in rural Wisconsin in the 1860s, the story begins on a somber note, as both parents of 12-year-old Robbie Eunson (Brandon De Wilde die within a few months of each other. Now the man of the family, Robbie sets about to honor his mother's dying wish, that proper homes be provided for Robbie and his five younger siblings. Thus it is that on Christmas eve, Robbie visits several of his neighbors, offering to give away his brothers and sisters. Joan Evans, actress daugher of the Eunsons, serves as narrator. Adapted from the authors' Cosmopolitan magazine article, "The Day They Gave Babies Away" was later transformed into a theatrical feature film, All Mine to Give (1957); of the TV play's cast, only Stephan Woolton repeated his role (as Jimmie Eunson) in the movie, though Allen Reisner directed both versions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1936
The quaint genetic theories of the 1930s are satirized in College Holiday. Dotty matron Mary Boland runs a ramshackle summer resort, opening her doors to college students of both sexes--but only those collegiates with extra-special physical and mental skills. She hopes to encourage these select co-eds to meet and mate, then produce a breed of "perfect" children. What Boland doesn't count on is the supremacy of the Heart over Science. Engagingly silly, College Holiday devotes generous screen space to some of the biggest comic talents of the 1930s: Jack Benny, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Martha Raye and Ben Blue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Benny, Gracie Allen, (more)
- 1937
Conquest was released in England as Marie Waleska, the name of the real-life historical personage portrayed by Greta Garbo. The film begins in 1807, when Marie, a Polish countess, is dispatched by her country to meet with Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (Charles Boyer). Marie has been encouraged to press for Polish independence by whatever means possible--and though no one comes out and says as much, it is understood that she will offer herself sexually to the promiscuous Napoleon. She dutifully becomes Bonaparte's mistress, bears his child, and--almost as an afterthought--falls in love with him. Thanks to the political chicanery of Talleyrand (Reginald Owen), Napoleon is obliged to marry Hapsburg princess Marie Louise, and Marie is cast aside, her usefulness at an end. Only after Napoleon has been exiled to Elba in 1815 is he reunited with Marie and their son (Scotty Beckett). Though it stands up pretty well today, Conquest was a flop in 1937, and the beginning of the end of Garbo's screen career. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Greta Garbo, Charles Boyer, (more)
- 1939
A filmed documentary of the last days in free Czechoslovakia before Hitler invaded. The film was not yet complete, or certain parts of it even processed, before German tanks came rolling into Prague. The raw footage was smuggled out piecemeal by the then-refugee filmmakers, who met in New York in 1939 to complete and screen the film, which ultimately played. It is, as one can imagine, heavily anti-fascist in tone, and remains a valuable document of life in Czechoslovakia between the wars. ~ David Lewis, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leif Erickson
In this casual, uninvolved comedy running on a low-octane script, a scruffy taxi company is about to be wiped out when its owner Harold (Max Gail) exhorts his cabbies to do what they can to help save the company -- and what they can do turns out to be a surprise to everyone concerned. Saving the day (and the film) are the likeable, eccentric drivers, introduced by means of a new trainee (Adam Baldwin) who rides around with each in turn. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Baldwin, Charlie Barnett, (more)
- 1950
With Dallas, Gary Cooper revived his long-dormant association with westerns. Cooper plays ex-Confederate officer Blayde Hollister, who rides into Dallas in search of the men who killed his family and stole his land. Because he is considered to be an outlaw by the authorities, Hollister is compelled to switch identities with U.S. marshal Martin Wetherby (Leif Erickson). This ruse requires Hollister to explain his plan to Wetherby's lady friend, Tonia Robles (Ruth Roman). One by one, Hollister gets rid of the men responsible for the murders of his loved ones. The most formidable of his enemies, Will Marlow (Raymond Massey), proves to be a bit too clever to fall into Hollister's trap...at least until Marlow shows his hand in the final scene. There's more talk than action in Dallas, but Gary Cooper's laconic performance holds the audience's interest throughout. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Cooper, Ruth Roman, (more)
Generous stock footage from Paramount's silent Zane Grey series enhances the production values of the entertaining "pocket" western Desert Gold. Though most of the storyline is taken up the romance between young pioneers Dick Gale (Tom Keene) and Jane Belding (Marsha Hunt), the most compelling character is young Indian chief Maya, played by Buster Crabbe. Faithfully guarding the gold deposits which rightfully belong to his people, Maya finds his hands full fending off the villainous incursions of claim-jumping Chetley Kasedon (Monte Blue) and his gang. Dick Gale casts his lot with Maya, forming a united front against the villains. Featured among the supporting cast are new Paramount contractees Robert Cummings as an eastern tenderfoot, and Glenn (later Leif) Erikson as Kasedon's brother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Robert Cummings, (more)
Although Larry "Buster" Crabbe earns top billing, the hero of Drift Fence is former Western star Tom Keene as Jim Travis, who, at a rodeo, meets city dweller Jim Traft (Benny Baker), who has come west to erect a fence that will prevent Clay Jackson (Stanley Andrews) from continuing his cattle rustling business. A tough Western type, Travis suggests that he impersonate Traft and the building of the fence soon begins. But Travis is opposed by Slinger Dunn (Crabbe) and his family, whose small ranch will suffer from the division of the land. A romance between Travis and Slinger's sister, Paula (Katherine DeMille), paves the way for a meeting of the minds, however, and Slinger switches sides completely upon learning that Travis is a Texas Ranger in disguise. An in-house production (as opposed to Harry Sherman's Hopalong Cassidy Westerns), Drift Fence was the closest Paramount came to a B-Western in the mid-'30s. Zane Grey's original novel was published in 1932. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Katherine de Mille, (more)
- 1942
With America's Air Force not completely mobilized in mid-1942, Universal paid tribute to those foresighted Yankee flyboys who joined England's Royal Air Force before America's entry into WW2 in Eagle Squadron. Robert Stack stars as Chuck Brewer, one of several US flyers participating in RAF bombing raids of Germany. The film stresses the importance of hands-across-the-sea teamwork in this massive undertaking, concluding with Brewer leading his British compatriots on a Commando raid behind enemy lines, the better to capture a revolutionary new Nazi war plane. Every so often, the story slows to a walk as Brewer romances British lass Anne Partridge, played by the unfortunate Diana Barrymore in her last truly important screen role. Producer Walter Wanger made special arrangements with the British government to incorporate several exciting shots of authentic air battles in the film's 108 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Stack, Diana Barrymore, (more)
- 1975
The made-for-TV Force Five can be described as "The Dirty Dozen Minus Seven." All that's missing is the WW II backdrop and the murderous impulses of the protagonists. Lt. Roy Kessler (Gerald Gordon) heads a police undercover unit, consisting of former convicts with unique lawbreaking skills (one is a swindler, another a burglar, etc.) The audience is never certain whether or not the members of "Force Five" have truly reformed, adding an extra layer of tension. In this pilot for a potential TV series, Kessler's men tackle the case of a basketball star's murder. For the record, the rest of the "five" are played by Nicholas Pryor, James Hampton, Roy Jenson and Bill Lucking. Force Five first aired March 28, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this adventure, set in Algiers, a French cabaret singer tries to expose the identity of an Arab leader who is conspiring to attack the French. She hopes that by cozying up to him in his palace that she will be able to steal his plans and thwart the conspiracy. Unfortunately, she is soon unmasked and must be rescued by her real lover, a soldier in the French Foreign Legion. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yvonne De Carlo, Carlos Thompson, (more)
- 1936
The Girl of the Ozarks is little Edie Mosely (Virginia Weidler), who's left on her own when her mother dies. Soft-hearted newspaper editor Tom Bolton (Leif Erikson) wants to adopt the little mischief-maker, but before he can do this he must find himself a bride. Edie plays matchmaker between Tom and eligible bachelorette Gail Rogers (Elizabeth Russell), but not before stirring up a passel of trouble in her small mountain community. The characters are pure "Beverly Hillbillies," right down to Henrietta Crossman as Edie's pipe-smokin' granny. Girl of the Ozarks was preteen Virginia Weidler's first starring feature, and she handles the assignment with the assuredness of a veteran. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Virginia Weidler, Elizabeth Russell, (more)
