Gale Gordon Movies
Described by TV producer Hy Averback as "a combination of Laurence Olivier andCharley Chase," bombastic comic actor Gale Gordon was the son of vaudeville performers. His father was "quick-change" artist Charles T. Aldrich, and his mother was actress Gloria Gordon (best known for her portrayal of Mrs. O'Reilly on radio's My Friend Irma). Born with a cleft palate, Gordon underwent two excruciating oral operations as a child. By the time he was 17, Gordon's diction was so precise and his "new" voice so richly developed that he was invited to study acting under the aegis of famed actor/manager Richard Bennett.After several years on stage, Gordon moved to California in 1929, where he worked in Los Angeles radio as a free-lance actor and announcer. He appeared in heroic and villainous "straight" parts on such syndicated radio series as The Adventures of Fu Manchu and English Coronets, but soon found that his true forte was comedy. Gordon played the flustered Mayor La Trivia on Fibber McGee and Molly, several prominent roles on The Burns and Allen Show, and, best of all, pompous principal Osgood Conklin on Our Miss Brooks. In films since 1933 (he played a bit at the end of Joe E. Brown's Elmer the Great), Gordon proved a formidable comic foil in such films as Here We Go Again (1942, again with Fibber McGee and Molly), and Jerry Lewis' Don't Give Up the Ship (1959) and Visit to a Small Planet (1960). It is impossible to have grown up watching television without at least once revelling in the comedy expertise of Gale Gordon. In addition to starring in the 1956 sitcom The Brothers, Gordon was also seen in the video versions of My Favorite Husband, Our Miss Brooks, The Danny Thomas Show, Dennis the Menace--and virtually every one of Lucille Ball's TV projects, including her last, 1986's Life with Lucy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Ward and June Cleaver have nothing on suburban couple Ray and Carol Peterson (Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher). Together with their perfect son, Ray and Carol are so clean that they squeak. Thus, when new neighbors Dr. Werner Klopek (Henry Gibson), Uncle Reuben (Brother Theodore), and Hans (Courtney Gains) begin evincing bizarre behavior, Ray is slightly put out. Carol thinks that Ray is getting all worked up over nothing. Ray and his fellow suburbanites endure all sorts of slapstick misadventures in the vain hope of getting "the goods" on the newcomers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, (more)
Steve Grayson (Elvis Presley) is a swinging racecar driver whose manager Kenny (Bill Bixby) has bet his money on the horses. Most of the horses didn't win, causing Steve to be visited by IRS agent Susan Jacks (Nancy Sinatra). Gale Gordon plays Hepworth, her stuffy supervisor, and William Shallert has the role of Abel Esterlake, former racecar driver who helps Steve on the track. Steve engages in the stock-car races at the Charlotte Speedway to get back the money to keep him and his manager out of jail. Presley delivers 11 songs, the most notable being "Let Yourself Go." Elvis by now was just playing out the innocuous string of movies that his musically insensitive, cigar-chomping manager Colonel Tom Parker had contracted for him. Soon Elvis would undertake the most successful live comeback by any performer in history and leave these trashy features behind. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra, (more)
- 1965
In this comedy, a hapless Army sergeant's plans to marry are temporarily delayed after he accidentally ends up launched into space with a chimpanzee. Upon his return, he is a changed man and is ultimately sent to prison after he threatens to go public with the mix-up. Meanwhile, suave Sgt. Donovan, Deadhead's double, takes his place at the altar. To stop him, Deadhead breaks out of prison and becomes his old self again just as he arrives at the honeymoon suite. Naturally he wins his rightful bride and happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Frankie Avalon, Deborah Walley, (more)
- 1964
Lucy (Lucille Ball) needs to have a check signed on behalf of daughter Chris (Candy Moore). Unfortunately, the only person authorized to sign the check is banker Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon), who is laid up in the hospital with a broken leg. Taking advantage of her "candy striper" status, Lucy tries to visit Mooney at the hospital, but when she is banned from doing so she returns disguised as a doctor--and almost has to perform an operation to keep up the pretense! Look for Bernie Kopell, the future "Doc" on The Love Boat, in a small role as (appropriately!) an intern. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Kathleen Freeman, (more)
- 1964
Michael J. Pollard, best known to film buffs as the moronic "C.W. Moss" in Bonnie and Clyde, makes his one-and-only Lucy Show appearance as Ted Mooney, son of banker Theodore J. Mooney (Gale Gordon). Ted is going steady with Lucy's daughter Chris (Candy Moore) a situation that neither Lucy (Lucille Ball) nor Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon approves of. To break up the young couple, Lucy applies reverse psychology, suggesting that Chris and Ted should get married. To teach her mom a lesson, Chris pretends to elope with Ted--and somehow this situation climaxes with Lucy and Mooney literally up a tree! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Michael J. Pollard, (more)
- 1964
Singer Roberta Sherwood and her real son Robert Lanning guest in this episode as Roberta Schaefer and her "reel" son Bob. After a quarrel with Lucy (Lucille Ball), Viv (Vivian Vance) moves out of the house, whereupon banker Mooney (Gale Gordon) insists that a new tenant be found immediately. Enter Mrs. Schaefer and her son, who in no time flat convert the Carmichael living room into a rehearsal hall so that Roberta can practice her singing--day and night! In an effort to get Roberta out of the house and Viv back in, Lucy and Mooney try to land a singing job for the melodious tenant. Roberta Sherwood shows off her talents with spirited renditions of "Lazy River" and "Bill Bailey". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Roberta Sherwood, (more)
- 1964
When her son Jerry (Jimmy Garrett) needs money for a new tuba, Lucy (Lucille Ball) wangles a job at the bank. Not surprisingly, she succeeds in driving Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) crazy, even though she's been given the simple, virtually foolproof task of handing out toasters to cutomers opening new accounts. But our gal Lucy hasn't even gotten started yet: wait until she inadvertently triggers a run on the bank! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1964
Lucy (Lucille Ball) goes ga-ga over handsome Italian millionaire Umberto Fabriani (Cesare Danova). Alas, Fabriani speaks no English, and Lucy isn't much better at Italian, despite the "assistance" of that master linguist Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon). Things get worse when, during an intimate dinner, Lucy accidentally spills spaghetti sauce all over Fabiani's tuxedo. This situation culminates with a nocturnal foray into a closed-up dry cleaning establishment--where Lucy is unceremoniously plunked into a vat of green dye! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Cesare Danova, (more)
- 1964
It's Carmichael vs. Mooney when Lucy (Lucille Ball) issues a complaint about Mr. Mooney's noisy sheepdog, Lord Nelson. When Mooney (Gale Gordon) refuses to do anything to keep the mutt quiet, Lucy takes him to court, waiving the services of an attorney by representing herself. Can it be that Lucy will prove the old legal adage about having a fool for a client? Well, it sure looks that way...until Lucy puts Lord Nelson on the stand for an intense "cross-examination!" ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, John McGiver, (more)
- 1964
In the first episode of a two-part story, Broadway legend Ethel Merman opens an account at the Danfield bank. Realizing what a pest the starstruck Lucy (Lucille Ball) can be, banker Mooney (Gale Gordon conspires with Merman to throw our redheaded heroine off the track. Thus, when Lucy spots the singing star, Mooney hastily explains that the new customer is actually one "Agnes Schmidlapp", who happens to bear a remarkable resemblance to Ethel Merman. The situation culminates in an unforgettable scene wherein tone-deaf Lucy teaches "Agnes" how to sing "You're the Top" for her upcoming appearance in the Boy Scout variety show. Originally intended as a single episode, this one was expanded to two parts at the request of Ethel Merman, who genuinely enjoyed working with Lucille Ball. (Incidentally, watch for Keith Thibodeaux--who as Richard Keith used to play "Little Ricky" on I Love Lucy--in a small role). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ethel Merman, Gale Gordon, (more)
- 1964
Once again, Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Viv (Vivian Vance) dream of untold riches by going into business together; this time their joint enterprise is a small restaurant. Unfortunately, despite several changes of "theme", the restaurant only seems to attract the local mailman and an army of bill collectors. Meanwhile, Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) finds out that a highway is to be built near the restaurant, which will potentially turn it into a goldmine. Mooney craftily tries to buy a share of the place for a cut-rate price, but circumstances conspire to foil his scheme. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Jack Albertson, (more)
- 1964
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Broadway legend Ethel Merman has agreed to perform in the Boy Scout variety show. Eagerly looking forward to sharing the stage with La Merman, Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Viv (Vivian Vance) are crestfallen when their Boy Scout sons arrange for the two ladies to remain offstage as wardrobe mistresses. Suffice to say that everyone--even Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon!--gets into the act before the final curtain. Ethel Merman sings "Everything's Coming Up Roses", Vivian Vance performs "On the Good Ship Lollipop", Gale Gordon warbles "Tiptoe Thru the Tulips", and the whole cast joins in for the finale, "There's No Business Like Show Business". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ethel Merman, Gale Gordon, (more)
- 1964
Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) is campaigning for the office of City Council Comptroller, and Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Viv (Vivian Vance) are his staunchest supporters. While planning a big political rally, Mooney entrusts Lucy with lining up some entertainment. Alas, Lucy forgets to make the necessary calls--and, just as expected, she and Viv are the "whole show" on the night of the rally. (This episode originally aired in the election year of 1964, in which Barry Goldwater almost fared as badly as poor Mr. Mooney!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, J. Pat O'Malley, (more)
- 1964
The local Cub Scouts are prepared to head for a major camporee when one of the boys' fathers is forced to pull out of the festivities. Thus it is that den mothers Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Viv (Vivian Vance) sub for the absent father, as their Scout pack enters into a series of competitions for a swell first prize: an all-expense-paid trip to the New York World's Fair. Unfortunately, the girls are pretty clumsy campers, and before the episode is over they have managed to get themselves and Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) hopelessly lost in the woods. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Desi Arnaz, Jr., (more)
- 1964
Ever on the lookout for extra money, Lucy (Lucille Ball lands a temp job as a process server. Her first assignment is to serve a subpoena to a prominent local banker--Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon), of course. Through a series of mishaps, Lucy is unable to hand over the subpoena at Mooney's home, forcing her to trail him to the train station, which is the first leg of his summer vacation. Finally, Lucy catches up with Mooney in the stateroom of an ocean liner--whereupon Mooney graciously accepts the summons, laughing over the fact that he's going to spend a glorious summer far, far away from the troublesome Mrs. Carmichael...or is he? Watch for Richard Keith, the former "Little Ricky" on I Love Lucy, in the train-station scene. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Lee Millar, (more)
- 1964
When Viv (Vivian Vance) casts aspersions on Lucy's cooking, Lucy (Lucille Ball) defiantly enters a big baking contest. Things get out of hand early on, with Lucy and Viv each inadvertently passing off the other's cooking as her own. The situation rapidly degenerates into--what else?--a huge pie fight! This final episode of The Lucy Show's second season was also the last written by Lucille Ball's longtime collaborators Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Martin. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1963
Gale Gordon makes his first series appearance as Theodore J. Mooney, the new banker in charge of Lucy's trust fund. Hoping to get on Mooney's good side, Lucy (Lucille Ball) inadvertently botches her chances when she subjects the banker's son Arnold (Barry Livingston) to a bad haircut. Rushing to the bank to beg Mooney's forgiveness, Lucy succeeds only in locking herself and the bombastic banker in the vault for eighteen hours! This was originally telecast as the first episode of a two-part story. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Barry Livingston, (more)
- 1963
There is an unexplained shortage at the bank, and banker Theodore Mooney (Gale Gordon) has been spending money like a sailor. Lucy (Lucille Ball) puts two and two together and concludes (wrongly, of course), that Mooney has turned embezzler! The misunderstanding is played to the hilt, with long-suffering police sergeant Wilcox (James Flavin) getting mixed up in the crazy climax. Eddie Applegate, then costarring as Patty Lane's boyfriend on The Patty Duke Show, is here cast as Mr. Mooney's son Bob. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, James Flavin, (more)
- 1963
Lucy (Lucille Ball) decides that it is time to redecorate her house, but such an undertaking requires money. The trick is to sweet-talk pennypinching banker Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) to fork over the necessary funds. He does, but only after warning Lucy to keep costs down. Well, of course she will--and what better way to economize than to do all the redecorating herself? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon
- 1963
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) are freed from the bank vault in which they've been locked up for 18 hours. In trying to explain to the media how she accidentally locked the door in the first place, Lucy succeeds in trapping Mooney in the vault all over again! The only person in town qualified to open the vault is candy manufacturer Mr. Bundy (Jay Novello), who'd once served time as a safecracker. Unfortunately, the temptation of all that money proves too much for the "reformed" Bundy, and he ends up robbing the safe and taking Lucy and Viv (Vivian Vance) hostage! The episode's riotous climax finds our two heroines, tied back to back, happily hopping around to sample the tasty confections in the back room of Bundy's candy store. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Jay Novello, (more)
- 1963
Stingy Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) refuses to provide funds for the Danville Volunteer Fire Department, arguing that fire captain Lucy (Lucille Ball) and her all-girl battalion are the epitome of ineptitude. Down but not out, Lucy cooks up a scheme to prove that the Fire Department is not only efficient, but necessary. The plan calls for Lucy to start a phony fire in the bank so that she and her brigade can rush to the rescue...and any further elaboration on the plot is surely unnecessary! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1963
Viv's son Sherman (Ralph Hart) accidentally causes the bathtub to overflow, collapsing the ceiling and obliging Viv (Vivian Vance) and Lucy (Lucille Ball) to embark upon an unusually messy plastering job. Banker Mooney (Gale Gordon) refuses to pay for the damage, telling Lucy that Viv should be held responsible, or else be evicted from the premises. Unfortunately, Viv has dug up a loophole in her lease, whereby she can evict Lucy whenever she chooses! The situation climaxes in a nocturnal foray for the lease, with Lucy and Mooney becoming burglars for the occasion. This episode was originally slated to air on November 25, 1963, but was rescheduled due to ongoing TV coverage of the JFK assassination. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gale Gordon
- 1961
Based on a popular comic strip, this touching children's drama centers on an adorable saucer-eyed Italian war orphan who sneaks into the U.S. by stowing away aboard a returning naval ship. He did this in part to be with the benevolent soldiers who showed him kindness on the Christmas Eve before the war ended. Once they dock in New York, poor Dondi's friends go their separate ways and he ends up lost and having several adventures alone until happiness and peace return in the form of one of the sailors. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Kory, David Janssen, (more)
Tony Ryder (Dean Martin) thinks that Katie Robbins (Shirley MacLaine) was the mistress of a recently deceased millionaire. On this fragile plot peg hangs the rest of All in a Night's Work. The millionaire died with a smile on his face, and Tony, who stands to inherit the dead man's publishing business, suspects that Katie, who has been left a fortune, administered the "favors" that pushed the old coot into the great beyond. Katie, wholly innocent, resents Tony's implications and gives him the brush-off. All turns out for the good when Tony realizes that he loves Katie for herself and not for her legacy. It took three writers (five, if you count the authors of the play upon which this film is based) to cook up the tickle-and-tease souffle that we've come to know as All in a Night's Work. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dean Martin, Shirley MacLaine, (more)
- 1961
This is a somewhat serviceable, light comedy by prolific director Norman Taurog (a favored helmer of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis films). Squeaky-clean Pat Boone is a singing lieutenant who has to briefly ship out to the Aleutians and regrettably leave Sally (Barbara Eden), his new love behind. Taking off with the ship is a stowaway turkey, nurtured by Garfield (Buddy Hackett), a zany sailor with a soft heart for the avian critter. The problem is, the turkey has a special attachment to the captain (Dennis O'Keefe). By the time the ship docks in Long Beach again, the turkey and an amorous pelican have produced a strange-looking egg, and Sally has just smuggled herself onboard, anxious to see her lieutenant. Now comes the inspection of the ship by Commander Bintle (Gale Gordon). ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Pat Boone, Buddy Hackett, (more)
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