Gertrude Flynn Movies

Something in Common is a made-for-television comedy about a middle-aged, widowed career woman (Ellen Burstyn) who discovers that her grown son is having a love affair with a woman (Tuesday Weld) her own age. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Though not actually a film addressing the evil lure of cream-filled chocolate cakes, this amusingly cheesy made-for-TV opus from director Curtis Harrington pits a relatively normal suburban family against a slavering, demonically-possessed German shepherd whose hunger for human souls far exceeds that of the normal household pet. Although not above resorting to the usual throat-maulings, the satanic psycho-pup's preferred method of attack is to supernaturally cause the deaths of various friends and neighbors, in a style reminiscent of The Omen. Though the gory potential of this scenario is obviously dulled by the TV-movie format, there are enough implied shocks and chills to keep up the pace -- particularly a grueling scene in which Dad finds himself unable to resist the urge to plunge his hand into a spinning lawnmower blade, while the possessed pooch looks on with tongue-wagging glee. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Rebelling against his old-world father Stefan (Will Kuluva), young Gus Kolner (played by future teen idol Bobby Sherman) runs away from home in the company of his "cool" new friend Spencer Lang (Andrew Prine). What Gus doesn't know is that Lang is a hardened criminal, who plans to kidnap the boy and hold him for ransom. As Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr. conducts a frantic search for the missing Gus, the boy lies helplessly bound and gagged--just inches away from a ticking time bomb! Veteran character actress Lynn Bari contributes an amusing cameo as the overaged-hippie owner of a "Mod" boutique. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A cinematic take on a 1960s best-seller, Valley of the Dolls traces the ups and downs of three young women as fame, booze, pills, and men consume their lives. Well-bred, small-town Anne Welles (Peyton Place star Barbara Parkins) arrives in New York eager for fame but settles for a job assisting theatrical attorney Henry Bellamy (Robert H. Harris). The job leads her to cross paths with Helen Lawson (Hollywood veteran Susan Hayward), the grand dame of Broadway musicals, and Neely O'Hara (sitcom star Patty Duke), an up-and-coming performer whom Lawson unceremoniously boots from her latest show. Neely lands on her feet thanks to a series of nightclub gigs, and soon she and Anne befriend Jennifer North (Sharon Tate), a buxom starlet. As Neely becomes a huge star of stage and screen and Jennifer appears topless in a string of European "art" films, Anne becomes a wealthy cosmetics spokeswoman and suffers though a passionate but failed affair with aspiring writer Lyon Burke (Paul Burke). As the pressures of fame and failed romance take their toll on all three women, they take refuge in food, sex, liquor, and pills -- especially Neely, who becomes downright monstrous (the titular "dolls" are the uppers and downers to which she becomes hopelessly addicted). Although the film's characters are fictitious composites, Neely most closely resembles Judy Garland; Garland herself was originally cast as Lawson, but she was replaced after only a few days by Hayward. Although the film's trailer played up the story's titillating subject matter, the script for Valley of the Dolls actually toned down Jacqueline Susann's novel. And despite the fact that Dionne Warwick can be heard singing "(Theme From) The Valley of the Dolls" twice during the film, contractual snags kept her from releasing the soundtrack version; a different arrangement later became a number two pop hit in 1968. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Lonely spinster Martha (June Lockhart) and taciturn coffin maker Luke (John Anderson) meet each other via a mail-order lonely hearts club. Agreeing to wed Luke sight unseen, Martha subsequently discovers that she is her new husband's second wife; it seems that wife number one died under very mysterious circumstances. Thus, when Luke begins spending an inordinate amount of time puttering in his cellar, Martha's suspicions are aroused -- and before long suspicion gives way to terror...and desperation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Disowned by his wealthy mother after he runs off with family maid, Maria (Zohra Lampert), young David Chesterman (Robert Redford) seeks advice from an old acquaintance, wigmaker Karl Gault (Barry Morse). Aware that David is a compulsive thief, Karl suggests that they go into business together as criminals. Eventually falling in love with Maria himself, Karl plots to get rid of David by setting him up for a murder rap. This episode is based on a suspense novel by Nicholas Blake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A young woman named Linda (Antoinette Bower) arrives in the town of Ladera, claiming to be the daughter of wealthy Addison Blake--who died seven years earlier, presumably a bachelor. Floyd Grant (played by Bill Williams, in real life the husband of Perry Mason costar Barbara Hale) insists that he has documented proof that Linda is a phony, but apparently doesn't trust the local DA to do anything about it. Otherwise, why would Grant arrange for Linda to be killed in an "accidental" explosion at the Ladera dairy? As it turns out, Grant is the one who ends up dead, and Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is called upon to defend Linda on a murder charge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Delmer Daves directs this cross between a travelog and a routine romantic drama set in Italy. The story begins when beautiful librarian Prudence (a misnomer, played by Suzanne Pleshette) decides to take off for Italy. She works in a women's college and was brought up short for recommending a racy book to one of the students. In a huff, she opts to go to the land of opera and find out if Italian men are as romantic as legend maintains. Once there, she runs into Roberto (Rossano Brazzi), who is likely to prove the legend true, and meets Don (Troy Donahue), an American running away from the love of his life, Lyda (Angie Dickinson). Between the glamour and the setting, Daves has geared this fluffy tale for the more innocent-minded teen set. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Keith Andes guest stars as Franz Lister, a celebrated German musician who has been brought to the US by his wealthy sponsor, a social-climbing former saloon hostess named Mona Lansing (Gertrude Flynn). No sooner has Lister arrived than his priceless piano is "kidnapped" and held for ransom. Paladin (Richard Boone) is hired to bring the piano back in one piece--assuming that he can remain in one piece as well! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Robert Colbert makes his first appearance as Brent Maverick, yet another cousin of frontier gambler Bart Maverick Jack Kelly) (Colbert sports the same costume worn by former series regular James Garner, a rather blatant move by Warner Bros. to create a "new" Bret Maverick). Riding into the town of Sunburst along with Bart, Brent is immediately thrown in jail--merely for owning the deck of cards used in a poker game. It appears on surface that Sunburst is a "temperance" town, where gambling and gunplay is strictly outlawed, and all the saloons close at sundown. But in truth, the town fathers have gone out of their way to make strangers feel unwelcome in order to to cover up a crime committed 20 years earlier--and they're willing to commit murder to make certain their dirty little secret is never revealed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Raucous comedianJudy Canova plays it straight in this episode as Helen Parch, a small-town gossip who shares a telephone party line with two other ladies, Betty (Gertrude Flynn) and Emma (Ellen Corby). Years earlier, Helen had relinquished the phone to a man claiming to be making an emergency call, only to find out that the man was simply contacting his bookie. Subsequently, Helen refused to hang up during an actual emergency that resulted in a death. Now, it is Helen's turn to find herself in a desperate situation -- and this time, it is her "friends" Betty and Emma who won't give up the party line. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Developing a hankerin' for Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly), wealthy young widow Belle Morgan (Julie Adams) arranges it so Bart can participate in a big-time poker game. Emerging victorious, Bart finds himself the proud owner of the Brasada railroad spur. Unfortunately, the "prize" soon turns out to be far more trouble than it's worth--and Bart once again faces a quick and ignominious demise. Featured in the cast is actor-producer James Lydon, best known for his portrayal of goofy teenager Henry Aldrich in a series of popular B-movies of the 1940s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Grim, almost unbearably intense, I Want To Live is the story of the life and execution of Barbara Graham (Susan Hayward) a perjurer, prostitute, liar and drug addict. The product of a broken home, Graham works as a shill, luring gullible men into crooked card games. She attempts to go straight, marries the wrong man, and has a baby. When her life falls apart, she returns to her former profession and is involved in a murder. Despite her claims of innocence, she is convicted and executed. Robert Wise directs the uniformly fine cast with grim efficiency, telling Graham's story in a series of adroitly crafted scenes that won him a well-deserved Academy Award nomination. However, the film belongs to Susan Hayward who gives a intense, shattering performance without one false note. Her performance is so grimly focused that she is, at times, almost unbearable to watch. The final scenes, which lead up to Graham's execution, are exhausting in their emotional intensity as the audience is spared nothing of Graham's agony, despair and desperation when she finally loses the long battle to save her life. Whether one sees Graham as a murderer or a hapless victim of society, the power and relentless, sordid reality of her story leaves an indelible memory in the mind of the viewer. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide