Wynn Pearce Movies
- 1972
- PG
Two modern day cowboys smuggle a herd of cows across the border in this loosely amiable comedy. Jim Kane (Paul Newman) is a cowboy who unexpectedly finds himself deep in debt and in need of some fast cash. A less-than-scrupulous businessman approaches Kane and offers him a handsome payday to escort 200 head of cattle from Mexico into the United States for use of the rodeo circuit. While the deal seems dubious, Kane goes along with it, and persuades his friend Leonard (Lee Marvin) to tag along. However, the cattle drive proves to be more of a challenge than the men expected, with a number of less-than-welcome adventures following the cattlemen along the way. Pocket Money also features Strother Martin, Hector Elizondo and Wayne Rogers; keep an eye peeled for a cameo appearance by Terrence Malick, who wrote the film's screenplay years before directing the acclaimed Badlands and Days of Heaven. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Lee Marvin, (more)
- 1966
The Ponderosa is thrown into a tizzy when Kentucky woman Annie Slocum (Majel Barrett) shows up, claiming that Hoss Cartwright asked her to be his bride. In short order, two other women named Yvette (Danielle Aubry and Libby (Mitzi Hoag) also arrive, making the same claim! It is all the handiwork of a crafty widower named Jester (Stu Erwin), who hopes to secure a bride for himself and a stepmom for his daughter Jenny (Sharyl Locke) by signing Hoss' name to innumerable mail-order applications. This comic episode was written by Jo Pagano. "Three Brides for Hoss" was originally seen on February 20, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1964
Ex-fire chief Carey York (Tom Tully) hires Perry (Raymond Burr) to sue TV repoter Tommy Towne (Frank Aletter) for slander, after Towne claims on the air that York burned down his own warehouse for the insurance money. To avoid ponying up $1.5 million, Towne issues a "retraction"--still insisting that York is an arsonist, but now claiming that he was trying to save his son Dorian (Wynn Pearce) from bankruptcy. Ultimately, Towne is murdered, York is charged, and Perry must find out who is really going around setting fires and killing people. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
A young lady calling herself Eva Griffin (Patricia Barry) calls upon Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) hoping that he will save her from a nasty scandal. Eva is really a married woman named Eva Belter, and she was photographed leaving a local gambling joint with prominent politician Harrison Burke (James Philbrook). If the photo is published in the lurid scandal sheet "Spicy Bits", Burke will be ruined and Eva will face a violent reprisal from her husband George (Richard Webb). Having an old score to settle with "Spicy Bits", Perry agrees to take Eva's case--only to find himself a murder suspect when Eva's husband George is shot dead! This episode is based on the very first "Perry Mason" novel written by Erle Stanley Gardner, which was previously adapted as a theatrical film in 1935 with Warren William as Mason (in the original film, the events took place while Perry was on his honeymoon with his new bride--Della Street!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Pete Manders (Wynn Pearce), chief assistant to cartoonist Gabe Philips (Mark Roberts), cannot believe his good fortune when Philips sells him the rights to his popular comic strip "Zingy" at a bargain rate. Philips claims that he wants to retire from the daily grind and set up residence in the tiny artists' colony of Port Harmon, where he intends to become a serious painter under the name of Otto Gervaert. But that's only part of the story: Philips also wants to claim Manders' girlfriend Lesley Lawrence (Pamela Curran) for himself. When Philips--or Gervaert--is murdered, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) must seek out clues amongst the denizens of Port Harmon in order to keep Manders out of the Death House. The supporting cast offers a wide and varied range of acting styles, from the fluttery mannerisms of veteran comedienne ZaSu Pitts to the pompous pontifications of perennial "heavy" Victor Buono. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
First broadcast January 28, 1961, "Bank Run" was one of several second-season Bonanza episodes directed by Robert Altman. Left in charge of the Ponderosa, Joe Cartwright receives word that town banker Harrison (Ian Wolfe) plans to create a phony bank panic so he can foreclose on a mining property for a quick financial turnover. To thwart Harrison's machinations, Joe decides to stage a bank robbery-and drags a reluctant Hoss into the scheme. Also appearing are Walter Burke as Tim O'Brien, Wynn Pearce as the Bank Teller, and Owen Bush as Huggins. This comic episode was written by N.B. Stone Jr.. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1960
Lewis Martin (Wynn Pearce) considers himself lucky to be alive; he has been kidnapped, driven way in the country, and forced to get drunk, apparently as part of an elaborate frame-up. After his ordeal, Martin contacts Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), accusing his stepfather Judson Bailey (Bruce Gordon) of arranging the abduction in order to get Martin out of the way so that Bailey could take over the family business. Perry is asked to locate a photograph showing Bailey conspiring with the mysterious kidnapper--but the lawyer ends up defending Martin when Bailey turns up dead. H.M. Wynant makes his first appearance as Deputy DA Sampson, one of several temporary replacements for absentee series regular William Talman (DA Hamilton Burger). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Bart (Jack Kelly) is hired to impersonate millionaire Cornelius Van Rensselaer Jr. (Wynn Pearce) at an important business conference in St. Louis. It seems that there are several powerful men who will stop at nothing to prevent Van Renssalaer from attending the meeting, so it's up to Bart to stop these men first...and keep himself alive in the bargain. This episode represents a reunion of sorts for the former stars of the TV western series Judge Roy Bean: Edgar Buchanan (aka "Uncle Joe" on Petticoat Junction) and Jack Beutel (previously "Billy the Kid" in the notorious Jane Russell western The Outlaw). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Perennial loser Larry Benton (Wynn Pearce) is convinced that he has killed a guy named Mike during a poker-game argument. Actually, Larry is the victim of a blackmail scam, perpetrated by a shady customer named Johnny Clay. After Larry forges his brother Steve's name on a check to Johnny, the blackmailer is murdered, whereupon Steve (Dick Foran) tries to cover for his ne'er-do-well sibling. In his efforts to save Steve from the gas chamber, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) must prove that the "late" Mike is still alive--if indeed he IS still alive! This episode is based on a short story by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
