Billy Halop Movies
The original leader of the original "Dead End Kids," American actor Billy Halop came from a theatrical family; his mother was a dancer and his sister Florence was a busy radio actress. After several years as a well-paid radio juvenile, Billy was cast as Tommy Gordon in the Broadway production of Sidney Kingsley's Dead End (1935), where thanks to his previous credentials he was accorded star status. Travelling to Hollywood with the rest of the Dead End Kids when Samuel Goldwyn produced a film version of the play in 1937, Billy had no trouble lining up important roles, specializing in tough kids, bullies and reform school inmates in such major pictures as Dust be My Destiny (1939) and Tom Brown's School Days (1940). A long-standing rivalry between Halop and fellow Dead-Ender Leo Gorcey (both actors wanted to be the leader of the gang) led to Billy's breakaway from the Dead End Kids and its offspring groups, the East Side Kids and the Bowery Boys, though Halop briefly starred in Universal's "Little Tough Guys" films. After serving in World War II, Halop found that he'd grown too old to be effective in the roles that had brought him fame; at one point he was reduced to starring in a cheap "East Side Kids" imitation at PRC studios, Gas House Kids (1946). Diminishing film work, marital difficulties and a drinking problem eventually ate away at Halop's show business career. In 1960, he married a multiple sclerosis victim, and the nursing skills he learned while taking care of his wife led him to steady work as a registered nurse at St. John's Hospital in Malibu. For the rest of his life, Billy Halop supplemented his nursing income with small TV and movie roles, gaining a measure of latter-day prominence as Archie Bunker's cab-driving pal Bert Munson on the '70s TV series All in the Family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1976
The Bunker family's doctor forces Archie to go on a diet. In the spirit of "one for all," Edith convinces the rest of the family to watch their calories. Even so, Archie is constitutionally incapable of sticking to his rigid diet -- until he receives unexpected moral support from octogenarian Justin Quigley (Burt Mustin). Incidentally, series star Carroll O'Connor requested that the producers refilm the opening theme-song sequence of All in the Family during the 1975-1976 season precisely because he'd put on considerable weight since the program debut in 1971. Written by Mel Tolkin and Larry Rhine, "Archie's Weighty Problem" was first broadcast on February 9, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1975
An old sitcom plot line is given a fresh new workout in this episode of All in the Family. Receiving a chain letter from superstitious Edith, Archie and Mike laugh off the "dire predictions" catalogued therein and disdainfully throw the letter away. But then, both men experiencing an uncanny streak of bad luck. Future Benson star Robert Guillaume appears as the doctor. Written by Lou Derman and Milt Josefsberg, "Chain Letter" originally aired on October 20, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1975
Archie basks in the adulation of his friends and family when, while moonlighting as a cabdriver, he uses mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to save the life of an attractive passenger named Beverly LaSalle. But when the grateful passenger shows up at the Bunker doorstep, Archie is appalled to discover that "she" is a "he" -- a professional female impersonator. Lori Shannon makes his first series appearance as the cross-dressing Beverly. Written by Lou Derman, Bill Davenport, and Larry Rhine, "Archie the Hero" originally aired on September 29, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1974
Season four of All in the Family began on September 14, 1974, with the first of the series' multipart stories. "The Bunkers and Inflation" gets under way with the news that Archie's union is going on strike. The action could not happen at a worse time; the Bunkers' bank account is at an all-time low and the cost of living is at an all-time high. The first installment of a four-episode story arc, "The Bunkers and Inflation" was written by Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernie West. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1974
In this thriller, an enigmatic phantom lives in the dank tunnels running beneath the ramshackle back lot of a former movie lot. When prospective buyers endeavor to purchase the property, the furious phantom goes on the rampage. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Prejudiced though he may be, Archie Bunker is no Nazi. Thus, he is both outraged and terrified when a swastika is painted on the Bunkers' front door. It turns out that Archie's home has been mistaken for the residence of a Jewish extremist named Paul Benjamin (Gregory Sierra), who pays a visit to the Bunkers to air his radical political views. Surprisingly, Archie finds that he has much in common with Paul -- but their blossoming friendship is abruptly terminated by one of the most chilling episode climaxes in the series' history. Written by Vincent Bogart, "Archie Is Branded" was originally scheduled to air on January 13, 1973, but was moved back to February 24. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1972
Written by comedian Bill Dana (aka Jose Jimenez), this classic episode represents the one and only time that All in the Family relied upon a guest star. It all begins when moonlighting cabbie Archie comes home bearing a briefcase left in his taxi by Sammy Davis Jr. Intending to return the briefcase to the cab company in the morning, Archie is amazed when Davis himself shows up on the Bunker doorstep. What follows is a brilliant blend of Davis' patented charisma and Archie's bumbling, unintentional bigotry: "I know you had no choice about bein' colored, but what made you turn Jew?" The episode's final gag need not be revealed here, since it has been excerpted ad infinitum in dozens of TV-history specials since its first airing on February 19, 1972. Director John Rich, who won an Emmy for this episode, has claimed that "Sammy's Visit" came about because Sammy Davis Jr. insisted upon appearing on his favorite sitcom -- and has further claimed that Archie's "second job" as a cabdriver was added to the All in the Family lexicon so that Davis' visit to the Bunkers would be a logical plot development. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1972
Still moonlighting as a cab driver, Archie has neglected to report his additional income to the IRS. Inevitably, the Feds come calling, whereupon Archie "handles" matters by offering the IRS agent (James McEachin) a little under-the-counter hush money. Of course, the agent is neither impressed nor amused. Former "Dead End Kid" Billy Halop appears in the recurring role of Munsey the cabbie. Written by Michael Ross and Bernie West, "Archie's Fraud" originally aired on September 23, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1972
John Vernon, usually cast as a corrupt prison warden, plays a sympathetic (by default!) role in this episode. Escaping from Federal custody, second-echelon mobster Mike Durgom (Vernon) quickly learns that crime boss Nelson Wayland (Gene Lyons) has ordered him killed to keep him from testifying at Wayland's trial. The rest of the episode finds Durgom on the lam from both Wayland and the FBI--in other words, between the proverbial Rock and Hard Place. This is the final offering of The F.B.I.'s seventh season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Archie thinks he knows a homosexual when he sees one, and when Mike invites his flamboyant photographer friend Roger to the Bunker household, Archie automatically assumes that Roger is a "flamer." Retreating to the safety of Kelsey's Bar, Arch chooses to spend some time with his "he-man" pals, notably his old arm-wrestling crony Steve. This early episode scores not only by radically reversing the usual stereotypical expectations, but also with the casting of future General Hospital heartthrob Tony Geary as the fluttery Roger and veteran movie tough guy Philip Carey as the ostensibly "safe" Steve. Written by Norman Lear and Burt Styler, "Judging Books by Covers" was originally scheduled to air on February 2, 1971, but was moved down to February 9. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1969
While making a routine arrest on a traffic warrant, Officers Reed (Kent McCord) and Malloy (Martin Milner) come upon a large staff of narcotics. Convicted on a drug charge on the strength of this evidence, the perp turns the table on the two cops and brings them to court, hoping to gain his own freedom by charging the police with improper search and seizure. Watch for former "Dead End Kid" Billy Halop, atypically cast as a judge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
When an aging philanthropist falls on hard times, her butler starts to rob the rich so that she can keep on giving to the poor in this comedy. Claude Fitzwilliam (Dick Van Dyke), known to his friends as "Fitzwilly," works as a butler for Victoria Woodworth (Edith Evans), who -- ever since the death of her husband -- has been using her inheritance to benefit her favorite charitable causes. However, no one has the heart to tell Mrs. Woodworth that she doesn't have much money left, and to compensate for the shortfall brought on by her philanthropy, Fitzwilly and his fellow domestics have been pulling a series of robberies at department stores. When Mrs. Woodworth gets the idea of compiling "A Dictionary for Dopes," which indexes phonetic spellings of commonly misspelled words, she hires Juliet Nowell (Barbara Feldon) to help on the project as a secretary. Juliet senses that there's something fishy about Fitzwilly, especially when she finds out that he has a college education but earns a meager salary as a butler, and she imagines the worst when she finds out about his criminal activities. Watch for Sam Waterston in a small role; this was his first film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Van Dyke, Barbara Feldon, (more)
- 1966
James Garner plays a man who awakens in Central Park with no memories at all. This drama chronicles his search for his identity. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Garner, Jean Simmons, (more)
- 1965
While attending a carnival, Opie is made the unwitting shill of a rigged shooting gallery. After a brief winning spell, the boy promptly loses all the money he'd been saving for his dad Andy's birthday present. Andy solves the dilemma by paying a visit to the carnival and doing a little "rigging" of his own. "Opie and the Carnival" was written by Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen, and was originally telecast on April 26, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) finds himself on the horns of an ironic dilemma. Pornographer Bert Anslem (James Gregory), against whom the FBI has been trying to build a case for months, has been kidnapped by career criminal Nick Kirby (Robert Doyle), who demands a $100,000 ransom. This places Erskine in the position of having to rescue Anslem--while simultaneously preventing the man's inevitable flight from the FBI's jurisdiction. Jill Haworth, who created the role of Sally Bowles in the original Broadway production of "Cabaret", appears as Anslem's daughter. (Note: some sources have incorrectly identified this episode as "To Free Mine Enemy"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Recovering alcoholic William Sherwood (Peter Breck) falls off the wagon when he sees his wife Ruth (Janet Dey)--who was supposed to have died five years ago! Later, Sherwood finds Ruth's body--again--and calls Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) for help. He'll need all the help he can get: with his bloody fingerprints all over the murder scene, Sherwood is charged with his wife's murder (and she's dead for keeps this time). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
In this romantic comedy, Deke Gentry (Kirk Douglas) is a lawyer who gets an unusual assignment from Chloe Brasher (Thelma Ritter), a wealthy widow, owner of a successful hotel chain, and one of his most prominent clients. Chloe has three daughters, sensible Kate (Mitzi Gaynor), bohemian Jan (Leslie Parrish), and heath food fanatic Bonnie (Julie Newmar), and she wants Deke to find them husbands. Though Deke protests that matchmaking is outside his traditional area of expertise, Chloe is insistent, and he ends up taking the job. To be sure that he's going through with it, Chloe assigns her security chief Joe (William Bendix) to keep his eye on Deke. Eventually, Deke fixes up Bonnie with Harvey Wofford (Richard Sargent), a meek IRS agent, and pairs Jan with artist Sam Travis (William Windom), but Kate turns out to be the hardest Brasher sister to marry off, until he throws his own hat into the ring. Richard Sargent would later shorten his first name to Dick and find success on the popular television comedy Bewitched. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Mitzi Gaynor, (more)
A man makes the highly unexpected discovery that he has two wives in this romantic comedy. Widower Nick Arden (James Garner) has just set off on his honeymoon with his new wife Bianca (Polly Bergen) when his mother Grace (Thelma Ritter) receives a very unexpected guest -- Nick's late wife Ellen (Doris Day). While Ellen was proclaimed legally dead five years after her plane disappeared in a flight over the Pacific Ocean, in truth her flight crash-landed on a desert island where she was stranded with Stephen Burkett (Chuck Connors) and only now has managed to return to civilization. When Grace informs Ellen that Nick has just left town with his new wife, Ellen heads out to the resort where the newlyweds are staying, and comic confusion ensues. Move Over, Darling began life as a project called Something's Got to Give, which was the film that Marilyn Monroe was working on at the time of her death; besides Monroe, the original cast included Dean Martin, Cyd Charisse, and Phil Silvers. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Doris Day, James Garner, (more)
- 1963
Austin Lloyd (Gerald Mohr) is convinced that his business partner Dwight Garrett (Douglas Henderson) is stealing money from their firm--and worse, that Garrett is fooling around with Lloyd's wife Bonnie (Gloria Talbott). To get even, Lloyd first tries to frame Garrett for embezzlement, then fakes an attempt on his life so that both Garrett and Bonnie will be charged with attempted murder. That charge is immediately bumped up to murder in the first degree when Lloyd is killed for real--and Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) has two clients on his hands. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Locked up in the Mayberry jail, a pair of fugitive thieves warn Andy and Barney that their accomplices will soon show up to break them out. Thus it is that Barney arrests the first two strangers in town-who turn out to be police detectives from Raleigh. In the course of events, Barney and temporary deputy Gomer manage to allow the real crooks to escape no fewer than three times! Former "Dead End Kid" Billy Halop appears as Tiny. Written by Harvey Bullock, "The Big House" originally aired on May 6, 1963, as the final episode of The Andy Griffith Show's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
While working on a construction crew under the alias "Paul Beaumont", Kimble (David Janssen) befriends Jamie (Buck Taylor), a mentally challenged youth who has been hired for a menial job by crew boss Buck Harmon (Jack Klugman). Defending Jamie against the cruel taunts of his fellow workers, Kimble is also the only person to believe in the boy's innocence when he is accused of sexually assaulting Harmon's wife Ruth (Elizabeth Allen). Unfortunately, the beleaguered Harmon is pressured into hunting the runaway Jamie down like a dog--and possibly allowing the other workers to kill the boy when they catch up with him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
- NR
In this comedy, the head of a United Nations department suddenly becomes a father when he stumbles across an abandoned baby in one of the halls. He tries to find a home for the darling and suddenly finds himself surrounded by assorted exotic beauties all trying to win the baby for their country. In the end, though, the bachelor takes the babe for his own. Songs include: "So Wide the World," "Fais Do Do," and "A Global Affair." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hope, Liselotte Pulver, (more)
- 1962
Poised to receive a huge inheritance on her 21st birthday, mixed-up Merle Telford (Jana Taylor) plans to free herself from her domineering Aunt Olivia (Jorja Curtwright) and elope with boyfriend Danny Pierce (Jack Ging). Correctly sizing up Danny as a fortune hunter--indeed, he intends to swipe the inheritance and run off with his real sweetheart Gina Gilbert (Joan Staley)--Olivia hires detective Paul Drake (William Hopper) to prevent Merle from ruining her life. But it appears as if Drake will be too late when Merle is accused of murdering Olivia during a party. Lucky for Merle that Drake is a close friend of defense attorney Perry Mason (Raymond Burr). This is the final episode of Perry Mason's fifth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When Lizabeth Scott's Jane Greer husband Arthur Kennedy accidentally gets his mitts on $60,000 in stolen money, she insists that he keep the dough rather than turn it over to the authorities. Two-bit private eye Dan Duryea catches on to Scott's subterfuge, and demands that she turn the cash over to him. Scott persuades Duryea to split the money with her--then, determining that Kennedy might be too honest for everyone's own good, she murders her husband. To cover her tracks, Scott reports her husband as missing. This brings in yet another fly in the ointment: Don DeFore, the brother of Scott's first husband, who died under mysterious circumstances. The already knotted webs of intrigue become even more tangled before Scott's ironic comeuppance. Too Late for Tears was scripted by Roy Huggins, who later produced such TV detective series as The Rockford Files. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lizabeth Scott, Don DeFore, (more)
- 1949
Charles Starrett once more dons the mask of mysterious do-gooder "The Durango Kid" in Columbia's Challenge of the Range. Wandering cowboy Steve Roper (Starrett) is hired by the Farmers Association to stem the activities of a group of gunmen who are driving ranchers off their land. The most likely suspect turns out to be innocent: the real culprits are within the Association itself. With the help of the chief suspect's son, Roper brings the crooks to justice. Cast as the son is onetime "Dead End Kid" Billy Halop, whose previous western credentials included the radio series Bobby Benson of the B Bar V Ranch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, (more)
