Douglas Evans Movies

A murder investigation uncovers a plot that could destroy the world as we know it in this thriller. When a scientist doing research on nuclear weapons is murdered during a hospital stay, federal investigator Dave Pomeroy (Howard Duff) is called in to find out who killed him and why. With the help of Dr. Paula Stevens (Linda Cristal), the late scientist's assistant, Pomeroy learns that the scientist fell victim to a group of communist renegades whose members include two brilliant but unstable weapons experts, August Best (Nehemiah Persoff) and Myra Pryor (Anne Jeffreys). Pomeroy discovers that Best and Pryor have constructed an atomic bomb of their own -- and that they're threatening to use it to start World War III, forcing the detective to take swift action to prevent worldwide devastation. Panic in the City also features Dennis Hopper in the small role of Goff, just a year before Easy Rider would make him a star. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

For reasons which he prefers to keep secret, wealthy industrialist Cameron Burgess (Paul Stewart) hires shady music promoter Clete Hawley (Richard Carlson) to groom a likable but untalented British rock singer named Sandy Chester (Martin Horsey) for superstardom. Soon afterward, Hawley is murdered, and Sandy is charged with the crime. Fortunately, Burgess is a client of Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), who agrees to defend the shaggy-haired suspect in court. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Contacted by a man claiming to be a US intelligence agent, lawyer Ward Toyama (James Shigeta) uses his influence with his father's export firm to help the self-proclaimed spy deliver a top-secret cargo to the Middle East. As a result, Toyama becomes innocently involved in an illegal gun-running operation--and worse, he is charged with the murder of Frank Jones, alias Frank Jensen (Douglas Henderson). Coming to Toyama's rescue is his old friend and colleague Perry Mason (Raymond Burr). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

With true William Castle-style flamboyance the advertisements for I Saw What You Did intrigued non-etymologically inclined audiences by warning them that this suspenseful thriller was about uxoricide. He then had some of the theaters where the film was shown equipped with seat belts so frightened audience members wouldn't flee the theater in a panic. It was a spooky film, but wasn't all that scary. The tale begins upon a dark and foggy night as two teenage girls, bored with their baby-sitting job, decide to have a little fun and make some prank phonecalls. Every time some hapless person answers, they whisper conspiritorally "I saw what you did. I know who you are." Unfortunately, they happen to call a man who has just murdered his wife --- in the shower no less! He takes the call seriously and so sets off into the night to find the girls and silence them forever. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Season Two of Petticoat Junction begins when a cute little dog follows Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) home to the Shady Rest Hotel. Naturally, Betty Jo wants to keep the pooch, but her mom Kate (Bea Benadaret) is dead set against it. And just as naturally, by the end of the episode the little mutt proves to be indispensable to all concerned. This episode introduces canine thespian Higgins in the role of the Bradley family's pet dog, who was never identified as anything other than "Dog" or "Boy". Several years later, Higgins would achieve big-screen fame as the star of the popular Benji movies. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Mob boss Big Jahnchek (Peter Whitney) escapes Federal custody and makes a beeline for his brother Gregory (R. G. Armstrong), who has managed to bury his connection to Big Steve by changing his name to John Gregory and establishing a successful fleet of tuna boats. Motivating Big Steve's getaway is the fact that the $100,000 trust fund of Helen Gregory (Susan Seaforth), whom each brother has at one time or another claimed as his own daughter, is being mismanaged by crooked Franz Moray (Steven Geray). When Moray is murdered, Gregory is charged with the crime, and a disturbing Jahnchek family secret is in danger of being exposed. It is up to Perry Mason to clear Gregory in court and to provide a happy ending for those who truly deserve one. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When a storm at sea threatens to sink the freighter "Janeel Trader", first officer Jerry Griffin orders a million dollars' worth of cargo to be dumped overboard, taking full responsibility for what he regards as a life-saving act. But when returns to shore, Jerry must face charges brought by a maritime court. The only man who can clear Griffin is Captain Bancroft (Robert Armstrong); unfortunately, Bancroft is murdered and Griffin is accused of the crime. This turns out to be a real "out-of-town" assignment for Griffin's civilian attorney Perry Mason (Raymond Burr). Wesley Lau makes his first series appearance as Lt. Anderson. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Beauty contest winner Marjorie Cluny (Lisabeth Hush) is really steamed when she finds out that her big prize, a Hollywood movie contract, is a hoax. After angrily confronting contest sponsor Frank Patton (Douglas Evans), Marjorie abruptly disappears--not surprising, since Patton has been murdered. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is puzzled when two different men hire him to locate the elusive Ms. Cluny. This episode is based on a 1934 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner), which was previously adapted as a theatrical feature starring Warren William as Mason. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Perry (Raymond Burr) would rather not get involved when he finds out that his childhood friend Eileen Harrison (Anne Sargent) plans to divorce her overworked husband Danny (Arthur Franz), a schoolteacher who moonlights as a restaurant worker to pay for his baby daughter's operation. But Perry is more than willing to handle Danny's defense when the poor man is charged with murdering his old acquaintance Frank Curran (Stacy Harris), after a rather unpleasant disturbance at the greasy spoon where Danny works. "Maytag repairman" Jesse White is appropriately abrasive as Danny's nighttime boss. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

As a favor to an old friend, producer Alex Gordon, James Cagney turned director for the first and only time in his career with Short Cut to Hell. The film is a remake of the 1942 Veronica Lake-Alan Ladd starrer This Gun For Hire. Robert Ivers plays Kyle, a hired killer who is double-crossed by his employer Bahrwell (Jacques Aubuchon). Seeking revenge, Kyle is reluctantly teamed with Glory Hamilton (Georgann Johnson), who has been targeted for elimination by Bahrwell and his henchman Nichols (Murvyn Vye). Unfortunately, Glory is the girlfriend of detective Stan (William Bishop), forcing Kyle to go on the lam before he can settle accounts with the film's principal villain. Kyle is finally able to get even with Bahrwell, and in the process reveals his long-dormant "good" side. Though the film itself is nothing special, Cagney's direction is sharp and efficient; it's too bad that Short Cut to Hell was his only effort behind the cameras. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This comedy is a remake of 1941's The Lady Eve, and tells the story of the vegetarian son of a prominent meat packer who is sailing back from an African safari when he meets and falls in love with a con-artist's lovely daughter. Posing as a military officer, the card-sharp and his boys have come to fleece a few wealthy passengers at poker. The daughter finds the milque-toast son irresistible and much to her father's dismay, they fall in love. Unfortunately their happiness is nearly destroyed when someone tells him the truth about her father. Fortunately, that is not the end of their affair. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Lucy (Lucille Ball) tries to find out if Ricky (Desi Arnaz) is faithful by donning a black wig and passing herself off as a sexy senorita. Ricky, however, is wise to her scheme, and decides to teach her a lesson by pretending to succumb to the seductions of the "mysterious brunette." Before the situation has played itself out, both Lucy and Ethel (Vivian Vance) have donned quite a few ludicrous disguises! The plot of this episode vaguely resembles the 1940 B-movie You Can't Fool Your Wife -- which also stars Lucille Ball. ~ Rovi

This tuneful remake of 1937's The Awful Truth centers on the rocky marriage of a philandering composer and the wife who has her fill and decides to get even by having an "affair" of her own. Actually, hers is quite innocent. Unfortunately, her husband doesn't known this and the couple get a divorce. But somehow, beneath all their anger, the two are still in love and show it by trying to make the other jealous at every opportunity. The wife allows a handsome Alaskan tycoon to court her while the composer uses a pretty young woman. Of course, it doesn't take the pair too long to realize the awful truth and reunite. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi