Tom Allen Movies
- 1966
Sleazy George Emory (Ted DeCorsia) presents retired general Roger Brandon with an offer he may not be able to refuse: Unless Brandon steps down as head of an anti-crime commission, Emory will make public several compromising photographs of Brandon's wife Laura (Bettye Ackerman). Much to Emory's surprise, Brandon calls his bluff--only to be rewarded for his courageous stand when he is framed for Emory's murder. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) must save Brandon from execution without exposing Mrs. Brandon to public humiliation...a tricky proposition indeed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
While it is true that Lost in Space officially debuted on September 15, 1965, every true fan of the series knows that it actually begins on October 16, 1997, the date that the Robinson family, along with pilot Don West (Mark Goddard), are to be launched in the space vessel Jupiter 2 on a colonization mission to Alpha Centauri. Shortly before lift-off, the Robinsons are given words of encouragement by their trusted associate Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris)--who, once he is alone, reveals himself to be an enemy agent, intent upon sabotaging the Jupiter 1 before it reaches its destination. For this purpose, Smith has planted a booby-trapped robot in the space vessel, programmed to destroy both the vessel and its occupants. Unfortunately for Smith, he himself is trapped on board the Jupiter a few seconds before the final countdown! Much of the expository footage in this episode is lifted from the original pilot film for Lost in Space, in which neither Dr. Smith nor the robot appeared. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Roger Willoughby (Rock Hudson) is a super salesman of sporting goods who sells fishing equipment but knows nothing about the sport. Roger's boss Cadwalader (John McGiver) gets an idea from publicity director Abigail (Paula Prentiss) to enter him in a fishing contest, and the inept angler has a series of comic consequences before he wins the contest with some help from a bear. When Roger admits that his winning the event was merely luck, he turns in the prize and loses his job. Roger eventually wins Abigail's heart and gets his job back. Howard Hawks directs this slapstick comedy with his typical flair -- witty dialogue and effective sight gags included. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rock Hudson, Paula Prentiss, (more)
- 1963
Tired of relying upon others for his transportation, Barney is determined to become "Mr. Independent Wheels" by purchasing his own car. He ends up investing his life savings ($300) in a lemon provided by a deceptively sweet little old lady, Myrt Lesch (Ellen Corby)-actually the head of a gang of sophisticated con artists and thieves. To save Barney's bankroll, Andy calmly sets a trap for Myrt and her henchman Jake (Allan Melvin). This is the episode with the classic "septic tank" dialogue exchange. Appropriately telecast on April Fool's Day, 1963, "Barney's First Car" was written by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
This is the third time around for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. The action takes place in urban Texas instead of the traditional setting in rural Iowa. This film version contains five extra songs written exclusively by Richard Rodgers. Box office results were adequate at best, and movie going public deemed this version the least interesting of the three. The youth audience was lured by the casting of Ann-Margaret, Pat Boone and Bobby Darin. Alice Faye returned to the big screen after a sixteen year absence as Melissa Frake. Tom Ewell plays her husband, Abel. The plot finds a family traveling to Dallas for the Texas State Fair. Singing commences on the ferris wheel, the merry-go-round and in other locales. The only real action is the anticipation of a drag race between Wayne (Pat Boone) and the carrot topped, malevolent motorhead Red (Edward "Tap" Canutt). ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pat Boone, Bobby Darin, (more)
Tensely directed by Don Siegel, Flaming Star is the grittiest of Elvis Presley's post-Army films. Elvis plays Pacer Burton, a half-breed youth in the old West, torn between loyalty to the whites, as represented by his father (John McIntyre), and the Indians, represented by his mother (Dolores Del Rio). A series of brutal Kiowa raids, and the subsequent reprisals by the white settlers, sorely test Pacer's fortitude. Though offered moral support from his loved ones, Pacer is forced to work things out himself. The film was based on a novel by Clair Huffaker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Steve Forrest, (more)
Shadows was John Cassavetes' first directorial effort. Like his later critically acclaimed films Faces and Husbands, Cassavetes fills the screen with probing, unflattering closeups. Unlike his other films, however, Shadows zips along at 87 minutes, avoiding the pitfall of putting the director's nonfans to sleep. The film is a straightforward account of a biracial romance (a far less common film subject in 1960 than today). Light-skinned African-American Lelia Goldoni falls in love with a white man Anthony Ray, who spurns her when he meets the rest of her family. Far from subtle, Shadows benefits from the undisciplined energy of its direction and the excellence of its individual performances. Costing a scant $40,000 (less than the average half hour TV episode of the era), Shadows won the Critic's Award at the Cannes Film Festival and led to more expensive studio assignments for John Cassavetes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lelia Goldoni, Ben Carruthers, (more)
