Byron Foulger Movies

The Gnome-Mobile was Walt Disney's first all-out fantasy since Mary Poppins. Walter Brennan stars in a dual role, as kindly lumber tycoon D. J. Mulrooney and the irascible (and much tinier) 943-year-old gnome Knobby. Mulrooney likes Knobby and his fellow gnomes, but the feeling isn't reciprocal, since Knobby considers Mulrooney a threat to his beloved forest. Meanwhile, the tycoon's vice-president Ralph Yarby (Richard Deacon), hearing his boss' claims that he's been consorting with gnomes, decides that the old guy is insane and has him committed. Rescued by his grandchildren Rodney (Matthew Garber) and Elizabeth (Karen Dotrice), D.J. seeks out Knobby and Knobby's own grandson Jasper (Tom Lowell), who are hiding somewhere in the woods with gnome-king Rufus (Ed Wynn, in his final film role). There follows an amusing rite of passage wherein Jasper becomes engaged to gnomette Shy Violet (Cami Sebring), leading to a happy ending for all concerned. The film's title refers to D. J. Mulroney's precious 1930 Rolls Royce, which is "adopted" by the gnome population. Gnome-Mobile is a virtual inventory of Disney's most beloved trademarks, ranging from excellent miniature and special-effects work (including the producer's newest innovation, audio-animatronics) to a zany slapstick car chase. Walt Disney did receive a producer credit on this film, which was actually made in 1966 - the year of his death - and released nationally in 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jess Pearson, who played Conrad Birdie in the 1963 film version of Bye Bye Birdie, is here cast as celebrated country-western singer Keevy Hazleton. Aunt Bee and Clara successfully persuade Keevy to record a song they've written about Mayberry. When the ladies attend the recording session, they are sorely displeased with Keevy's interpretation of their masterpiece. Written by Stan Dreben and Howard Merrill, "A Singer in Town" originally aired April 11, 1966, as the final episode of The Andy Griffith Show's sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) has decided that the Shady Rest Hotel needs a new water heater. Not only would it be more efficient than Kate's wood-burning stove, but also Uncle Joe wouldn't have to chop any more firewood. To raise money to purchase the heater, Joe transforms the hotel into a corporation and begins merrily issuing stock--yet another get-rich-quick scheme doomed to spectacular failure. Byron Foulger, who would later join the series' cast as train engineer Wendell Gibbs, is here cast as Mr. Guerney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of the two-part story, despicable railroad executive Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) has managed to become president of the Pixley Bank. In this capacity, he threatens to foreclose on the Shady Rest Hotel unless the Hooterville Cannonball is scrapped. Rather than see this happen, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice...and find a job! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A couple's marriage is nearly destroyed by their attempts to save it in this farcical comedy. Dan and Valerie Edwards (Frank Sinatra and Deborah Kerr) are a couple who have been married for close to 20 years. Dan, a busy but successful advertising executive, believes they have a happy relationship, but Valerie feels stifled and thinks her once fun-loving husband has become a bore. Valerie consults a lawyer, Shad Nathan (John McGiver), about a divorce, but Nathan suggests she give things one more try, and recommends a romantic second honeymoon to put the spark back in their relationship. Following his advice, Valerie books a vacation in Mexico; Dan agrees to join her, but once they arrive south of the border, they encounter Miguel Santos (Cesar Romero), an overzealous shyster lawyer who grants them a divorce before they're entirely aware of what's happening. Dan and Valerie take the matter in stride and decide to use it as an opportunity to renew their vows, but just prior to their ceremony, Dan is called away on business. Dan asks his best friend, Ernie Brewer (Dean Martin), a devil-may-care ladies' man, to keep Valerie company until he gets back; however, as Ernie tries to explain to Valerie and Miguel that the wedding is off, he finds he's just become Valerie's new husband. Valerie, angry at Dan's sudden disappearance, decides not to divorce Ernie right away, while Ernie, who has long been infatuated with Valerie, is torn between his feelings for her and his loyalty to Dan. Marriage on the Rocks also features guest appearances by Nancy Sinatra and Trini Lopez; keep an eye peeled for DeForest Kelley in a bit part. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

It is time again for Founder's Day in Mayberry, and on this occasion a mobile museum has arrived in town. Meanwhile, deputy Warren struggles to get the park's ornamental cannon in working condition, hoping to fire a salute in honor of the governor's visit. As an added plot complication, a gang of crooks has shown up in town, planning to take advantage of the excitement by staging a heist. Written by Jack Elinson, "The Cannon" originally aired on November 22, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The great character actor Sig Ruman, best known for his appearances with the Marx Brothers and his performance as "Concentration Camp Ehrhardt" in 1942's To Be or Not to Be, is cast as vocal teacher Professor Lieberschmit, who declares that Bobbie Jo (Pat Woodell) has an exquisite singing voice--and recommends that she take lessons in New York. Meanwhile, Bobbie Jo's sister Billie Jo (Jeanine Riley) has a chance for a screen test at Mammoth Studios in Hollywood, while youngest sister Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) has been accepted at a prestigious New England college. But there's a problem: the girls' mother Kate (Bea Benadaret) can only afford to finance one of her daughters' dreams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Slim Pickens makes a return appearance in the role of shifty, slovenly mountaineer Jim Leyton. Incredibly, Jim has become engaged to the lovely Julie (Laurie Mitchell), despite his long-standing feud with Julie's well-named father Grizzly (Robert Middleton). Hoss Cartwright is yanked into this powderkeg situation when Jim asks him to be best man at the wedding (if, indeed, there ever is a wedding!) Treble-chinned character actor Byron Foulger appears as the Parson. Originally seen on February 23, 1964, "King of the Mountain" was written by Frank Cleaver. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Son of Flubber represented the first time that Walt Disney ever attempted a theatrical feature sequel: in this case, the earlier film was the 1961 moneyspinner The Absent-Minded Professor. While Flubber is more formula-bound than Professor, it proved an instant audience-pleaser, and a hit to the tune of nine million dollars. Fred MacMurray returns as professor Ned Brainerd, currently working on his new discovery, "dry rain." The comically destructive side effects of this discovery seemingly doom the professor to failure -- at least until the closing courtroom sequence -- but meanwhile he has better luck with Flubbergas, a byproduct of the antigravity glop he'd invented in the first film. In addition to MacMurray, Absent-Minded Professor alumni Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Leon Ames, Elliott Reid, Alan Carney, Gordon Jones, Forrest Lewis, and James Westerfield reprise their roles from the earlier film, while Ed Wynn shows up in a new guise as a nervous agricultural agent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

All previous lawmen hired to escort the outlaw Wilder brothers (James Griffith, Harry Dean Stanton) to their hanging in Dakota territory have been murdered by the brothers' friends. Now Paladin (Richard Boone) has been engaged to take on the daunting task of seeing that the Wilders are brought to justice. En route to the Dakotas, Paladin and his prisoners cross the paths of several strangers--but which one has been chosen as Paladin's assassin? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Director Frank Capra's last feature film, Pocketful of Miracles is a Technicolor remake of his 1933 film Lady for a Day. A barely recognizable Bette Davis plays Apple Annie, the besotted, unkempt, rag-clad street vendor who controls the activities of all the beggars on Broadway. Apple Annie is the pet of Dave the Dude (Glenn Ford), a tough but basically kind-hearted gangster who believes that Annie's apples bring him luck. One morning, Annie fails to show up at her usual corner. That's because she is sitting disconsolate in her squalid shack, contemplating suicide. The reason: Annie has received a letter from her daughter Louise (Ann-Margret, in her screen debut). Annie has been supporting Louise's high-priced European education, leading the girl to believe that she, Annie, is a high-society dowager. Now Louise is returning home with her wealthy fiance Carlos Romero (Peter Mann) in tow, and it looks as though Annie's cover will be blown to bits. Partly out of sympathy, but mostly because of his superstitious belief in the power of Annie's apples, Dave the Dude arranges with his Broadway cohorts to "doll up" Annie so that she can pass as a woman of means, then stage-manages a huge, expensive reception for Louise and her beau. The complications that ensued in the original 1933 version of Lady for a Day exercise their prerogative once more, with a few added plot twists to pad out Glenn Ford's screen time. Cutting through the sentimental goo like a machete is Peter Falk, who is hilarious as Dave the Dude's sarcastic bodyguard. Evidently, Falk was one of the few actors on the set of Pocketful of Miracles with which Capra remained sympatico throughout shooting. In his autobiography (a not altogether reliable tome), Capra insisted that Pocketful of Miracles was ruined by Glenn Ford's autocratic and self-serving on-set behavior, and by Ford's demand that his current lady friend Hope Lange be (mis)cast as brash nightclub chirp Queenie Martin. As usual, Capra was not telling the whole story: at 63, he was beginning to lose his grip on his movie-making skills, allowing every scene to run well past its value and concentrating on cute isolated "bits" rather than the story at hand. Way too long at 136 minutes (Lady for a Day ran but 90), Pocketful of Miracles still has a lot going for it, especially the glowing performance of Bette Davis and the basic, foolproof Damon Runyon story on which it is based. While it disappointed at the box office, Miracles has since its release become a Christmastime TV perennial, seldom failing to draw big ratings numbers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although this quickly made, routine drama has some future television talent acting in it (Barbara Eden, Gavin MacLeod, Ted Knight), the story wanders back and forth between straight drama and an unintentional parody. Martin (Nico Minardos) has just witnessed a murder and in order to protect him, the police establish him in relative obscurity in a suburban neighborhood. What Martin does not know is that one of the policemen is not what he seems, and the cop sets up the unsuspecting man as a target to be eliminated. This is another in a long list of similar dramas directed by Edward L. Cahn in 1960-61. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

The story of America's most notorious gangster mother is chronicled in this crime drama. The tale starts in Oklahoma during the Depression. It is she who encourages her sons to become criminals. So sage is her advice, that other infamous mobsters such as Dillinger, and Machine Gun Kelly come to her for advice. She and her outlaw progeny go on the lam until the police finally corner her in her richly appointed Florida hide-out. A bloody shoot-out ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide