Don Forbes Movies
Newscaster and actor Don Forbes appeared in a handful of features during the 1940s and early '50s, including Yesterday's Heroes (1940) and In This Corner (1948). A native of Canada, he started out on the radio in 1930. From there, he moved to Los Angeles to become a newscaster. In 1952, he narrated the Oscar-winning documentary The Sea Around Us. In the early '60s, Forbes joined the Bowles Advertising Agency and produced several popular shows, including Perry Mason, Cheyenne, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Andy Griffith Show. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi- 1965
While it is true that Lost in Space officially debuted on September 15, 1965, every true fan of the series knows that it actually begins on October 16, 1997, the date that the Robinson family, along with pilot Don West (Mark Goddard), are to be launched in the space vessel Jupiter 2 on a colonization mission to Alpha Centauri. Shortly before lift-off, the Robinsons are given words of encouragement by their trusted associate Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris)--who, once he is alone, reveals himself to be an enemy agent, intent upon sabotaging the Jupiter 1 before it reaches its destination. For this purpose, Smith has planted a booby-trapped robot in the space vessel, programmed to destroy both the vessel and its occupants. Unfortunately for Smith, he himself is trapped on board the Jupiter a few seconds before the final countdown! Much of the expository footage in this episode is lifted from the original pilot film for Lost in Space, in which neither Dr. Smith nor the robot appeared. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
The second episode of Lost in Space picks up where the first one left off, as the Jupiter 2 is thrown off course by the sabotage efforts of enemy agent Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris)--who, in fine "hoist on his own petard" fashion, has been trapped on board the ship along with the Space Family Robinson and their pilot Don West (Mark Goddard). Although Maureen Robinson (June Lockhart) has successfully rescued her husband John (Guy Williams) from drifting helplessly in space, the family isn't out of danger yet, thanks to a comet which is rapidly approaching their vessel. And in a later development, the family faces new perils from a group of strange, bubblelike creatures in a huge alien spaceship. In addition to utilizing stock footage from the original Lost in Space pilot (in which Dr. Smith did not appear), this episode features a portion of the "giant human brain" set from the 20th Century-Fox theatrical feature Fantastic Voyage--which hadn't yet been released when the episode originally aired! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1955
Humphrey Bogart stars in this improbable tale that marked Gene Tierney's return to the screen after battling mental illness for a number of years. Bogart plays Jim Carmody, an American soldier of fortune who, after crashing his plane in China, takes up with the Chinese warlord General Yang (Lee J. Cobb). Jim becomes Yang's advisor, but after watching one of the General's flunkies brutally kill a priest, Jim decides to leave. Unfortunately, Yang has declared that any deserter will be shot. Disguising himself as the slain priest, Jim sneaks out of the General's headquarters and makes his way to a mountain village where missionaries Beryl (Agnes Moorehead) and David (E.G. Marshall) take him in. Jim still is posing as the priest but his vows of celibacy are challenged when he falls in love with the attractive mission nurse Anne Scott (Gene Tierney). Anne feels ashamed because she is also attracted to him, but Jim writes to the bishop confessing that he is an impostor. At that moment, General Yang arrives, insisting that Jim rejoin his army or else he will burn down the village. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Humphrey Bogart, Gene Tierney, (more)
- 1952
Based on the best-selling book by Rachel Carson, The Sea Around Us is a superior underwater documentary. Produced by future "master of disaster" Irwin Allen, the film offers footage culled from several marine expeditions all over the world. The film's basic thesis: That mankind may someday face extinction when the polar ice caps melt and the Earth is covered with water. Most audiences weren't interested in the film's speculative passages: they had eyes only for such exciting vignettes as a fight between a shark and an octopus. Radio veterans Don Forbes and Theodore Von Eltz narrate. Gorgeously filmed in color, The Sea Around Us won the 1952 "Best Documentary Feature" Academy Award. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1948
This boxing drama focuses on the manager rather than the fighter. The story begins as a corrupt manager fakes the death of his fighter's sparring partner after he refuses to take a dive knowing that it will push him over the edge and destroy his career as he accidently killed a man while boxing in the military. Fortunately, the boxer has a devoted, supportive girlfriend who investigates the "death" and brings the dead partner to ringside at the crucial moment. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Scott Brady, Anabel Shaw, (more)
- 1942
Secret Agent of Japan sometimes looks like a B-grade "answer" to Warner Bros.' Casablanca, except that the answer was released several months before the question. The principal character is Roy Bonnell (Preston Foster), the cynical American owner of Shanghai nightclub. On the lam from a criminal charge in the US, Bonnell prefers to keep a low profile, especially in political matters. His long-dormant patriotism is revived when he finds out that Japanese spies are buying up property in Shanghai and are mistreating the local citizens. Teaming up with glamorous British secret agent Kay Murdock (Lynn Bari), Bonnell turns spy himself, secretly reporting Axis activities to the British government-even though he's putting his own life on the line by doing so. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Preston S. Foster, Lynn Bari, (more)
- 1940
While paging through a scrapbook, Dr. Wyman (Robert Sterling) recalls his college days. Though preferring to stick to his studies, Wyman was strong-armed into joining the football team because of his athletic abilities. Sure enough, his gridiron activities caused his grades to drop, while his dalliance with seductive Janice (Katherine Aldridge) endangered his campus romance with Lee (Jean Rogers). It took his best pal Garrett (Russell Gleason) to put Wyman's priorities in order. An excellent early showcase for Robert Sterling, Yesterday's Heroes is also a treat for serial fans, featuring former "Dale Arden" Jean Rogers and future "Nyoka the Tiger Woman" Katherine Aldridge in prominent roles. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Rogers, Robert Sterling, (more)
