Gale Gordon Movies

The Lucy Show undergoes a number of major changes as the series enters it fourth season. For one thing, the show is now lensed in color rather than black-and-white. For another, wacky widow Lucy Carmichael (Lucille Ball) has moved from Danfield, CA to San Francisco -- as has banker Theodore J. Mooney (Gale Gordon), who by transferring to an executive post at Frisco's Westland Bank had foolishly assumed he had rid himself of his longtime nemesis Mrs. Carmichael, whose bank account had been (and would continue to be) in Mr. Mooney's trembling hands. Also, Lucy's longtime cohort Vivian Bagley (Vivian Vance) has left the series as a regular character, though she will continue to show up for several well-received guest appearances. Other regulars missing from season four are Lucy's daughter Chris (Candy Moore) and Viv's son Sherman (Ralph Hart), while Lucy's son Jerry (Jimmy Garrett) has been reduced to "recurring" status. Although most of this season's episodes are set in motion by the friction between Lucy and Mr. Mooney -- especially after Lucy takes a job as Mooney's secretary in order to make financial ends meet -- a trio of guest actresses have been added to the fold to make up for Vivian Vance's absence. Mary Jane Croft is seen in a handful of episodes as Mary Jane Lewis, Lucy's co-worker at the bank and frequent coconspirator in our heroine's zany schemes. And carried over from the previous season for a number of memorable appearances is Ann Sothern as the glamorous globetrotter Countess Framboise, who in an earlier life had been Lucy's school chum Rosie Harrigan -- and who, being as flat broke as Lucy, is forced to accept a job as a real estate agent. Finally, Joan Blondell can be seen in two episodes as another of Lucy's bosom buddies, movie-studio employee Joan Brenner. Season four is distinguished by a number of celebrity guest appearances, beginning with baseball great Jimmy Piersall in the season opener, "Lucy at Marineland" (which also marks the first time that the series filmed an episode "on location" rather than within the walls of Desilu studios). Later episodes this year include "Lucy Helps Danny Thomas," "Lucy Saves Milton Berle," "Lucy and Art Linkletter," "Lucy Discovers Wayne Newton" -- and best of all, "Lucy Dates Dean Martin," which Lucille Ball has cited as her all-time favorite Lucy Show installment. One of these "guest" episodes, "Lucy Meets Bob Crane," is a continuation of a running gag introduced during season five, wherein Lucy supplements her income by moonlighting -- in drag -- as Hollywood stunt double "Iron Man Carmichael." And on at least two occasions, the series' reliance upon guest performances conjures up sweet memories of past triumphs for Desilu studios. "Lucy the Gun Moll" is a broad spoof of the classic Desilu crime drama The Untouchables, with Robert Stack (the former Elliot Ness), Bruce Gordon (the onetime Frank Nitti), and narrator Walter Winchell going through their familiar paces; and on a more poignant note, "Lucy and the Countess Have a Horse Guest," which features the last-ever TV appearance by I Love Lucy's unforgettable Fred Mertz, William Frawley. The changes wrought upon The Lucy Show resulted in some of the series' best ratings, with the series ending its fifth season as America's third most popular program. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Although actress/producer Lucille Ball had gone through her usual song and dance with CBS by insisting that the fourth season of The Lucy Show would be the last, the network came through with enough incentives and perks -- financial and otherwise -- to encourage the actress to continue the series for a fifth season. As before, the show deals primarily with the merry misadventures of wacky redheaded widow Lucy Carmichael (Lucille Ball), whose various efforts to increase her bank account invariably spelled disaster for her boss, bank vice president Theodore J. Mooney. Also, the series' policy of peppering its episodes with top guest stars continues unabated. Typical episodes during season five include "Lucy With George Burns," "Lucy and Paul Winchell," "Lucy and John Wayne," "Lucy and Phil Silvers," "Lucy and Tennessee Ernie Ford," and "Lucy Meets Sheldon Leonard" -- not to mention a brace of story arcs utilizing the talents of Carol Burnett and Mel Tormé. Plus, former Lucy Show co-star Vivian Vance is on hand for the unforgettable episode in which Lucy and her visiting pal Viv disguise themselves as hippies. Finally, in the tradition of the previous season's "Lucy at Marineland," the series' fifth season offers a few more location-filmed jaunts for heroine Lucy Carmichael, to such faraway places as Las Vegas and London. Although Lucille Ball was showing signs of slowing down and wearing out (her already raspy voice had, in the past few seasons, dropped several octives, and her face was ever so slightly beginning to betray her age), audiences still "loved Lucy" with a passion, as witnessed by the year's Top Ten ratings, in which The Lucy Show held strong in a solid fourth place. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Filmed on leftover Magnificent Ambersons sets, Here We Go Again is the most endearingly wacky of RKO Radio's Fibber McGee & Molly vehicles. The story begins as the popular radio duo prepares to leave their home town of Wistful Vista and embark upon a second honeymoon. After discovering that hotel where they originally stayed 20 years earlier is now a rundown fleabag, Fibber (Jim Jordan) and Molly (Marian Jordan) head to fancy-schmansy Silver Tip Lodge, where they run into Molly's former sweetheart Otis Cadwalader (Gale Gordon) and Fibber's "friendly enemy" Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve (Harold Peary). Meanwhile, ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy pals Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd are trying to enjoy an outdoor camping trip, only to be periodically interrupted by a hungry bear and an irascible Indian tribe. The destinities of the various characters are brought together when Cadwalader tries to convince Fibber to invest in a revolutionary motor-fuel formula, while Bergen romances Gildersleeve's pretty niece Jean (Ginny Simms). Also contributing to this "comedy salad" are Fibber McGee and Molly regulars Bill Thompson as wispy Wallace Wimple and Isabel Randolph as haughty Mrs. Uppington, and Edgar Bergen's radio orchestra leader Ray Noble. Highlights include Fibber's special effects-laden billiard game, Charlie McCarthy's song-and-dance number "This Delicious Delirium" (the dapper little dummy is rather obviously doubled by a midget in the long shots!), and the film's whimsical black-comedy fadeout gag. An enormous box-office hit, Here We Go Again is an absolute must for old-time radio aficionados. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Gale Gordon, who would later co-star with Lucille Ball on TV's The Lucy Show, is seen in this I Love Lucy episode as Alvin Littlefield, the boss of Lucy Ricardo's husband, Ricky (Desi Arnaz). The plot involves Ricky's displeasure when Lucy shows up late for a dinner appointment with Mr. and Mrs. Littlefield (Edith Meiser). Ricky promptly puts Lucy on a rigid schedule, then informs Mr. Littlefield of this fact in hopes of currying favor with his boss. Meanwhile, an angry Lucy plots to get even with Ricky by putting on an act designed to convince Littlefield that her husband is a merciless slave driver -- with unexpected results. ~ Rovi

In this fourth of the "Francis" series, former Army officer Peter Stirling (Donald O'Connor) becomes a reporter for a big city newspaper. His greatest source of news tips is his talking mule Francis (voice by Chill Wills), who has become friendly with all the police horses. When asked how he manages to stay abreast of the news, Peter tries to explain about Francis, and is not unexpectedly labelled a looney-tune. But when Peter is brought to court on a homicide charge, Francis breaks his self-imposed rule of talking only to Peter and testifies on his master's behalf. With Francis' aid, Peter cracks the murder case and is graduated to star reporter. At fadeout time, Francis is seen wooing a female zebra, explaining "Don't let the striped pajamas fool ya." Francis Covers Big Town is harmless fun, bolstered by an expert supporting cast, including the always reliable Gene Lockhart (as Peter's editor) and Gale Gordon (as a flustered D.A.). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This semicomic Playhouse 90 episode was based on a true case history, as related in The 50 Minute Hour, a book by psychologist Dr. Robert Lindner. Although Donald O'Connor receives top billing in the role of Lindner's counterpart Robert Harrison, the real star of the proceedings is David Wayne as atomic physicist Kirk Allen. Unbeknownst to his friends and colleagues, the outwardly sane and secure Dr. Allen has for many years been "embarking" upon imaginary visits to another planet. At first this mental abnormality harms no one, but when Allen begins acting strangely on the job, the Pentagon begins to suspect that he is a security risk. Under psychological counseling, Allen reveals his "secret life"--and provides surprisingly accurate extraterrestrial charts as "proof" that he is truly out of this world. Actor Burgess Meredith codirected The Jet-Propelled Couch with James Clark. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Lou Costello made his only film appearance without Bud Abbott in 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock. Lou plays a bumbling junk dealer who fancies himself a great inventor. One of his creations transforms his girlfriend Dorothy Provine into a towering giant! The subsequent shenanigans involve Lou, the humongous Ms. Provine, her bombastic uncle Gale Gordon, and the entire US Army. Before Dorothy can be returned to normal size again, Lou's invention transmogrifies into a time machine and rocketship. 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock tries to be a satire of Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman, a slapstick comedy, a marital farce, and a sci-fi epic all in one, but it never really jells. Ill with rheumatic fever during shooting, Costello seems more solemn and reserved than usual; still, whenever the material is up to par, he rises to the occasion, offering some choice comic moments in the climactic chase sequence. The special effects are a bit grainy, but convincing within their medium-budget limits. Our favorite bit: the "barking Sputnik", a cute comment on the US-Russian space race. By the time 30-Foot Bride of Candy Rock hit the theaters, Lou Costello was dead, precluding any followups (if, indeed, any were planned). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When a space alien's fascination with Earthlings gets the better of him, he breaks one of his planet's laws and speeds off to visit the blue planet. Once there the alien (Jerry Lewis) encounters a nice family who kindly take him in. The father is a news commentator. Ironically, just prior to meeting the visitor, he had just aired a piece in which he derided all notions of extraterrestrial visits. In exchange for having them teach him about human ways, he uses his many fantastic powers to help them. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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

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

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

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