Shug Fisher Movies

In the opening episode of The Dukes of Hazzard's second season, lifelong antagonists Jesse Duke (Denver Pyle) and Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) take a trip down Memory Lane while watching a scratchy old newsreel of their bootlegging days. Arguing over which of them was the better "ridge-runner", Boss and Jesse decide to solve their differences with an illegal, no-holds-barred grudge race. This puts both of the Good Ol' Boys in the gunsights of an elderly, embittered sheriff who has waited for years to wreak vengeance. With this episode, Sonny Shroyer becomes a regular in his familiair role of dumb-but-honest deputy Enos; also, the episode marks the moment in which corrupt Sheriff Roscoe Coltrane forevers forsakes his "cynical villain" status to become a live-action equivalent of Wile E. Coyote--literally so in the climactic chase sequence! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It's still the same old story...but what a story. This umpteenth filmization of the classic Mark Twain novel stars Ron Howard as Huck and Donny Most as Tom Sawyer. After faking his own murder to escape his brutish Pap (played by Howard's real-life father Rance), Huck and fugitive slave Jim (Antonio Fargas) fashion a raft and head off down the Mississippi. The darker elements and sociological commentary of the Twain original are carefully excised from this version, the better to allow more time for the antics of those "royal" rapscallions, the King (Jack Elam) and the Duke (Merle Haggard). Mark Twain himself makes a guest appearance, in the person of Royal Dano. Filmed along the Sacramento River in California (a frequent movie "stand-in" for the Mississippi), Huckleberry Finn was first broadcast March 25, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this musical western, a wanderer saves a ranch from the badguys. Music and gunplay ensue. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In the seventh episode of a nine-part story arc, Granny is still convinced that Elly May's fiance Mark Templeton (Roger Torrey), a Navy frogman, is genuinely half-frog and half-man. Determined to break up Elly's impending wedding, Granny summons the assistance of backwoodsman Shorty Kellems (Shug Fisher). Hoping to bank on Shorty's reputation as a rustic Romeo, Granny intends to lure Elly away from her "amphibian" sweetheart. "Shorty to the Rescue" originally aired on December 1, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of an eight-part story arc, the Big Day has arrived: The wedding between backwoodsman Shorty Kellems (Shug Fisher) and Granny's hillbilly rival Elverna Bradshaw (Elvia Allman). To make sure that Shorty doesn't escape, the Clampetts lock him in Elly May's bear cage. Alas, Jethro is left in charge of guarding Shorty -- and by day's end, the elusive Mr. Kellems has wed someone other than Elverna. Bettina Brenna appears as avaricious bank secretary Gloria. "The Wedding" first aired on February 11, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of an eight-part story arc, Granny's Ozark rival Elverna Bradshaw (Elvia Allman) has succeeded in landing Shorty Kellems (Shug Fisher) as a prospective husband. To weasel out of his engagement, Shorty schemes to alienate Elverna by pretending to be a hopelessly compulsive gambler. Meanwhile, Beverly Hills banker Drysdale has his own problems, in the form of two muscular athletes (played by real-life football pros Cookie Gilchrist and Earl Faison), who mistakenly believe that Drysdale has "compromised" their sister. "Shorty Spits the Hook" originally aired on January 28, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Shug Fisher returns to the role of hillbilly hotelier Shorty Kellems, this time accompanied by Lloyd "Shad" Heller), the real-life mayor of Silver Dollar City in the Missouri Ozarks. Arriving in Beverly Hills to visit the Clampetts, Mayor Heller tries to enlist Jed and Granny's aid in getting Shorty to return to Silver Dollar City. Of even more urgency, the Mayor wants Shorty to make good his promise to marry Granny's longtime rival Elverna Bradshaw (Elvia Allman. The first episode in an extremely lengthy story arc, "What Happened to Shorty?" originally aired on January 14, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Aranda (Rodolfo Acosta, the Mexican-born sheriff of Prince River, regularly betrays his own people by participating in a land grab perpetrated by ruthless miner Owen Driscoll (Warren Stevens). The Cartwrights become involved when Aranda frames Mexican farmer Ramon Cardenas (Jaime Sanchez) for murder, the first step in Driscoll's scheme to buy out the other farmers for ridiculously low prices. A shocker ending caps this Bonanza episode, which was written by Ken Pettus and Dick McDonough. "El Jefe" first aired on November 15, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Adapted from William Faulkner's final novel, The Reivers top-bills Steve McQueen, but the major character is feisty 11-year-old Lucius McCaslin, played by Mitch Vogel. Growing up in Mississippi in the early 1900s, Lucius finds himself (through a hectic series of circumstances) in a bordello, where he is nearly killed trying to defend the "fast lady" (Sharon Farrell) who has befriended him. He has been brought to the house of ill repute by ne'er-do-well farm hand Boon Hoggenbeck (Steve McQueen), with whom he has been tooling about the countryside in a vintage automobile, together with his very distant African-American relative Ned (Rupert Crosse). This adventure segues into the next, as the three man combine their resources to train a broken-down racehorse. Meanwhile, Vogel's grandfather (Will Geer), who owns the fancy automobile that the "reivers" hope to win back, threatens to reappear at any moment to tan Lucius's bottom. Not exactly as wholesome as a Disney film, The Reivers is nonetheless acceptable family entertainment, with Steve McQueen delivering one of his best and most laid-back performances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With Elly May's Ozark wedding called off, the Clampett family begins casting about for another potential husband. Figuring that he'll have better luck in a new location, Jed draws up plans to visit New York. Unfortunately, he falls into the clutches of a chap named "Honest John" -- actually con artist Shifty Shafer (Phil Silvers) -- who arranges for Jed to "buy" Central Park. The first episode in a three-part story arc filmed on location in New York City, "Jed Buys Central Park" originally aired on October 29, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Clampetts have arrived at the conclusion that their hillbilly houseguest Shorty Kellems (Shug Fisher) has worn out his welcome. The only member of the family who can still tolerate Shorty is Jethro, who regularly joins the scuzzy backwoods "playboy" on nocturnal carousings throughout Beverly Hills, usually accompanied by one or more of Mr. Drysdale's sexy secretaries. Meanwhile, Granny schemes to get rid of Shorty by working him to a frazzle around the house. The conclusion of a three-part story arc, "Shorty Go Home" first aired on December 10, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth of five episodes filmed on location at Silver Dollar City in the Missouri Ozarks, Jane Hathaway and Jethro arrive in town to link up with the rest of the Clampett family. Succeeding where Granny has failed, Jane manages to find a potential husband for Elly May, a handsome young backwoodsman named Matthew Templeton. Roger Torrey, who had originally been the number one contender for the role of Jethro Bodine before Max Baer Jr. landed the part, appears as Matthew. "Jane Finds Elly a Man" was first telecast on October 15, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide