Paul Genge Movies
Paul Genge was an American character actor who appeared in a few films between the late 1950s and early 1970s. He began in East-Coast theater and in 1936 debuted on Broadway in Hamlet opposite Olivia de Havilland and Leslie Howard. Genge came to Hollywood in 1958 and the following year debuted in The FBI Story. Other films he worked in include North by Northwest (1959), The Sandpiper (1965) and Bullitt (1968). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1973
- PG
A two-bit criminal takes on the Mafia to avenge his brother's death in this drama based on a novel by Donald E. Westlake. Earl Macklin (Robert Duvall) is a small time criminal who is released from prison after an unsuccessful bank robbery only to discover that a pair of gunmen killed his brother. As it turns out, the bank that Earl and his brother hit was controlled by gangster Mailer (Robert Ryan). Macklin learns that he's on the mob's hit list as well, so he teams up with his old partner Cody (Joe Don Baker) to take on Mailer and his second in command, Jake Menner (Timothy Carey). The Outfit also features a top-notch supporting cast, including Karen Black, Sheree North, Joanna Cassidy, Richard Jaeckel, and Anita O'Day; Marie Windsor and Elisha Cook, Jr. also appear, 18 years after their memorable turn together in The Killing. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Duvall, Karen Black, (more)
- 1973
Richard Egan guest stars as waterfront priest Father Joe Scarne, who hinders a robbery investigation by refusing to reveal the whereabouts of the main suspect to Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas). An essential ingredient to the outcome of the case is a stolen crate of cobra venom which, unbeknownst to the Law, actually contains heroin. Oh, and one more thing: Father Scarne is himself a reformed drug addict. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Robert L. Pike's crime novel Mute Witness makes the transition to the big screen in this film from director Peter Yates. In one of his most famous roles, Steve McQueen stars as tough-guy police detective Frank Bullitt. The story begins with Bullitt assigned to a seemingly routine detail, protecting mafia informant Johnny Ross (Pat Renella), who is scheduled to testify against his Mob cronies before a Senate subcommittee in San Francisco. But when a pair of hitmen ambush their secret location, fatally wounding Ross, things don't add up for Bullitt, so he decides to investigate the case on his own. Unfortunately for him, ambitious senator Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn), the head of the aforementioned subcommittee, wants to shut his investigation down, hindering Bullitt's plan to not only bring the killers to justice but discover who leaked the location of the hideout. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, (more)
In this youthful actioner, two young hot-rodding hoods torment a family while they are en route to a motel in the California desert. The film is also known as 52 Miles to Midnight. The family goes there to take over the establishment. When they finally arrive, tired and frightened by their ordeal, they are horrified to discover that the ramshackle inn is all but abandoned but for the teens who use it as a place to drink. The father and his clan then head for his brother's house 52 miles down the road. Again the young hoodlums launch a vicious attack. Something inside the father snaps. Suddenly stopping his speeding car, he aims his headlights right into the windshield of the oncoming teens, blinding them with the light. The kids crash. The father then forces them to promise to mend their delinquent ways. If they don't, he will send them to jail for a long, long, time. The creepy kids decide to reform. The father, decides to return to the motel and try to fix it up. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dana Andrews, Jeanne Crain, (more)
- 1967
The IMF is assigned to infiltrate a South American stronghold, where a group of unregenerate Nazis have gathered in hopes of reestablishing the Third Reich. Much to the agents' amazement, the leader of the Nazis is the infamous Martin Bormann! Will the agents be able to convince the old but wily Bormann that Briggs and Rollin are former members of Hitler's inner circle? Written by Mann Rubin, "The Legend" first aired on February 11 1967, during the same week that the cast of Mission: Impossible appeared on the cover of TV Guide. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Hill, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1966
Art-gallery owner Francis Clune (Donald Murphy) is the victim of theft and fraud, while his girlfriend Bobbie Dane (Francine York) is nearly killed by a "careless" motorist. The couple's woes are exacerbated when both are charged with killing a detective (Allan Melvin) and a hijacker (Peter Mamakos). Determined to prove the innocence of Francis and Bobbie, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), literally puts his own life on the line. This is the second Perry Mason episode based on Erle Stanley Gardner's 1952 novel The Case of the Moth-Easten Mink, previously filmed under that title in 1958 (and incidentally, the painting identified as "Sausalito Sunrise" had likewise appeared in at least two earlier episodes!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton -- then Hollywood's most bankable couple -- appeared onscreen together for the third time in this romantic drama shot on beautiful locations along the Big Sur region of the California coastline. Laura Edwards (Elizabeth Taylor) is a free-thinking artist and Bohemian who is raising a her teenage son, Danny (Morgan Mason), conceived out of wedlock, on her own. Laura has issues with conventional teaching methods, and prefers to educate Danny about both intellectual and ethical matters on her own. However, Danny has become something of a problem, and child welfare authorities demand that Danny either be sent to school or become a ward of the state. Rather than send Danny to public school, Laura arranges for him to attend a private academy run by Dr. Edward Hewitt (Richard Burton), an Episcopalian minister. Edward is at first shocked by Laura's embrace of free love and rejection of conventional moral codes, but as he gets to know her better, he finds himself increasingly attracted to her, despite the fact he has a wife, Claire (Eva Marie Saint), and two children. Before long, Edward's desire overpowers his scruples and he begins an affair with Laura. Wracked with guilt over his infidelity, Edward confesses his indiscretion to Claire, which proves to have severe and unexpected consequences. While saddled with poor reviews upon its initial release, The Sandpiper did win an Academy Award for Johnny Mandel's theme song, "The Shadow of Your Smile." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, (more)
- 1963
Victor Jory stars as veteran police officer Paul Reardon, who vows to avenge the murder of his rookie-cop son, Philip (Peter Brown). Although ordered by the higher-ups to lay off, Paul is determined to bring drug kingpin Herbie Lane (Lawrence Tierney), the man responsible for Peter's death in a shoot-out, to justice. In fact, Paul will go to any length to settle accounts with Herbie -- even if his efforts kill both men. This 300th episode of Alfred Hitchcock's popular TV anthology is also the final episode of the series' eighth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victor Jory, Peter Brown, (more)
- 1962
Wilma Gregson (Kathryn Givney), imperious owner of the Gregson Cannery Company, is outraged when details of a secret merger with Super Brand Foods is made public. It turns out that the information was accidentally leaked by Wilma's little granddaughter Sandra (Chrystine Jordan) while corresponding to her pen-pal. Refusing to take Sandra's age and innocence into consideration, Wilma threatens dire conseuqences to the girl and her parents--thus setting herself up as a perfect candidate for murder. Accused of the crime is family friend Karen Ross, whereupon Sandra begs Perry Mason to defend Karen in court. Inasmuch as the hearing takes place in San Francisco, Mason's usual nemesis Hamilton Burger is supplanted by the local DA, played by Everett Sloane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
In his never-ending efforts to outmaneuver Elliot Ness (Robert Stack), bootlegger Joe Lassiter (J.D. Cannon) commissions architect Harry Gordon (Milton Selzer) to build a "Ness-proof" brewery. The finished product is perched atop a six-story warehouse, undetectable to anyone at street level. Though Ness finds out about the brewery, he curiously makes no move to put it out of business--and even provides supplies for the brewers. What exactly is Ness up to? And what will happen to the hapless Harry Gordon once he has outlived his usefulness? An ironic ending caps this fact-based yarn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) would love to nail mobster Brian O'Malley (David Brian) on tax-evasion and interstate-smuggling charges; unfortunately, O'Malley has an irksome habit of murdering anyone who can testify against him. Worse still, O'Malley obviously has a number of corrupt officials in his pocket, as proven when Federal witness George Davas (Johnny Seven) "accidentally" falls from a heavily guarded hotel room to his death (a tragedy inspired by the similar demise of real-life hoodlum Abe Reles). Understandably, the only surviving witness, Stan Wolinski (Jack Elam) goes into hiding--from both the bad guys and the good guys. Michael Parks (Then Came Bronson) appears unbilled as an elevator operater. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Wandering into the small Mexican town where Luis Gallegos (John Alonso) is about to be hanged, mercenary peddler Sykes (Thomas Gomez) sells the rope to the hangman, then turns around and sells a handful of "magic dust" to the condemned man's father (Vladimir Sokoloff). Lying through his teeth, Sykes insists that the dust will spread goodwill throughout the community -- and, it is hoped, will spare Gallegos' life. One doesn't have to be a diehard Twilight Zone fan to guess what will happen next. Douglas Heyes, Jr., son of the episode's director, plays a small role. Written by Rod Serling, "Dust" was first telecast January 6, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Thomas Gomez, John Larch, (more)
- 1961
Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) joins forces with Willard Thornton (Wendell Corey), newly appointed Special Crime Commissioner of Chicago, to ferret out the brains behind a huge criminal combine. What Ness doesn't know (but the audience does) is that Thornton himself is a member of the combine, in cahoots with crooked lawyer Barney Lubin (a pre-All in the Family Carroll O'Connor). Thornton and Lubin ultimately precipitate their own downfall when they try to rub out fellow hoodlum "Country Boy" Parrish (Albert Salmi)--who, after escaping with his life from the traditional "one-way ride", finds himself in even greater danger at the hands of lovelorn hash-house waitress Emmy Sarver (Mary Fickett). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
This fast-paced, entertaining drama set in a high school is directed by Paul Wendkos who has a talent for turning teen-oriented movies into hits, as proven just before this release (his 1959 Gidget). The ever-young Dick Clark plays Neil, a new, dedicated history teacher who becomes involved with the lives of his students and always for the better. He also becomes involved with Joan (Victoria Shaw) the attractive secretary in the principal's office. In an era before cocaine, crack, and school shootings would destroy the nation's image of high schools forever, the problems of "delinquents" like Griff (Michael Callan), or Buddy (Warren Berlinger), whose mother is unfaithful, may seem archaic to some audiences. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Clark, Michael Callan, (more)
- 1960
Jared Corning (Robert Lansing) is assigned to cover a trial in a small New England town, where several townsfolk are accused of burning down the barn owned by Tom Goss (Paul Genge). Questioning Goss' daughter Joan (Luana Anders), Corning is surprised to learn that the blaze was started for express purpose of killing the girl's pet raccoon. Even more surprising--and far more frightening--is that weird, disembodied voice which seems to be urging Corning to ignite another fire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
A navy jet piloted by Captain Dale Heath (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) and carrying a junior officer (Troy Donahue), making a quick hop across country on leave, has already taken off when Heath realizes that both his radio and his navigation equipment have malfunctioned. They might be on the right course, but he can't tell if they're at the right altitude -- 500 feet too high or too low would put him in the path of a plane headed in the opposite direction -- and he can't get through to ground control to get a fix or to request clearance to a new course, or to send out a mayday call. Heath is quietly terrified at the prospect of what may happen, not just for the obvious reason but also because he's experienced this situation once before and saved himself at the cost of the other plane and its pilot. Meanwhile, flying in the opposite direction on the same course is a commercial airliner piloted by Dana Andrews and carrying a full load of passengers, each with their own worries. Much of the first 85 minutes of this thriller is devoted to the passengers and crew of the airliner struggling with their personal problems, never knowing the danger they're in, while Heath (and the audience) grow increasingly tense trying to solve his problem and prevent a tragedy. In the end, his best efforts are to no avail, and he faces the choice of saving his plane and dooming the airliner, or sacrificing himself and his passengers. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming, (more)
While having lunch at the Plaza Hotel in New York, advertising executive Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) has the bad luck to call for a messenger just as a page goes out for a "George Kaplan." From that moment, Thornhill finds that he has stepped into a nightmare -- he is quietly abducted by a pair of armed men out of the hotel's famous Oak Room and transported to a Long Island estate; there, he is interrogated by a mysterious man (James Mason) who, believing that Roger is George Kaplan, demands to know what he knows about his business and how he has come to acquire this knowledge. Roger, who knows nothing about who any of these people are, can do nothing but deny that he is Kaplan or that he knows what they're talking about. Finally, his captors force a bottle of bourbon into Roger and put him behind the wheel of a car on a dangerous downhill stretch. Through sheer luck and the intervention of a police patrol car and its driver (John Beradino), Roger survives the ride and evades his captors, and is booked for drunk driving. He's unable to persuade the court, the county detectives, or even his own mother (Jesse Royce Landis) of the truth of his story, however -- Thornhill returns with them to the mansion where he was held, only to find any incriminating evidence cleaned up and to learn that the owner of the house is a diplomat, Lester Townsend (Philip Ober), assigned to the United Nations. He backtracks to the hotel to find the room of the real George Kaplan, only to discover that no one at the hotel has ever actually seen the man. With his kidnappers once again pursuing him, Thornhill decides to confront Townsend at the United Nations, only to discover that he knows nothing of the events on Long Island, or his house being occupied -- but before he can learn more, Townsend gets a knife in his back in full view of 50 witnesses who believe that Roger did it. Now on the run from a murder charge, complete with a photograph of him holding the weapon plastered on the front page of every newspaper in the country, Thornhill tries to escape via train -- there he meets the cooly beautiful Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), who twice hides him from the police, once spontaneously and a second time in a more calculated rendezvous in her compartment that gets the two of them together romantically, at least for the night. By the next day, he's off following a clue to a remote rural highway, where he is attacked by an armed crop-dusting plane, one of the most famous scenes in Hitchcock's entire film output. Thornhill barely survives, but he does manage to learn that his mysterious tormentor/interrogator is named Phillip Vandamm, and that he goes under the cover of being an art dealer and importer/exporter, and that Eve is in bed with him in every sense of the phrase -- or is she? ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, (more)
If Warner Bros.' pageantlike The FBI Story resembles an episode of Jack Webb's Dragnet at times, it's probably because the screenplay was by veteran Dragnet scrivener Richard L. Breen. The film meticulously details the history of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from its formation in 1924 to the present day (1959, that is). The story is told through the eyes of FBI agent Chip Hardesty (James Stewart), who narrates the film. We see the FBI tackling such villains as the Ku Klux Klan, the mob, the Nazis and the communists. Subplots include the struggle by the federal agents to be given permission to carry firearms, a plight driven home when Hardesty's best friend (Murray Hamilton) is killed by gun-toting Baby Face Nelson (William Phipps). Offsetting moments like these are scenes of Hardesty's home life with his wife Lucy (Vera Miles), who at first opposed her husband's joining the bureau but who later becomesJ. Edgar Hoover's biggest fan. Excessively sentimental at times (it seems that the Hardesty family can never hold a party without receiving a terse telegram announcing yet another personal tragedy) and saddled with a rambling, stop-and-start continuity, the overall success of The FBI Story hinges upon its individual episodes, including a wowser of a pre-credits sequence involving matricidal mad bomber John Graham (Nick Adams). Since the film was made at a time when the FBI was considered to be of spotless reputation, don't expect to see any scenes of the bureau wiretapping civil rights leaders--or, for that matter, J. Edgar Hoover prancing around in drag. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Stewart, Vera Miles, (more)
- 1958
Claiming to be suffering from amnesia, an 18-year-old girl (Gigi Perreau) asks Perry (Raymond Burr) to find out who she is and help restore her memory. As it turns out, the girl has plenty to forget: Her name is Doris Bannister, and she is the daughter of Lisa Bannister (Osa Massen)--who herself is the daughter of the East German Communist party leader, and is living incognito in the U.S. When Stefan Riker (a pre-Hogan's Heroes Werner Klemperer) arrived in America threatening to expose Lisa, Doris pretended to fall in love with him to throw him off the track. Thus, when Riker turns up murdered, Doris is accused of the crime--and Perry really has his work cut out for him! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Although the trial of young Theodore Balfour (Tyler MacDuff), who was accused of killing his father Lawrence (Bruce Bennett), had ended in a hung jury, Theodore's lawyer had advised him to plead to the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. Outraged that Theodore seems to have been railroaded into prison, his grandfather Addison (Richard Hale) asks Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) to reopen the case, clear the boy, and expose the real killer. This episode is based on a 1957 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
