Phyllis Avery Movies

Kamden (John Larch), the former head of an elite WWII French underground unit comes to the Townsend agency for protection. It seems that several of Kamden's comrades in arms have been assassinated by a man called Jericho (Ricardo Montalban). Sabrina (Kate Jackson) poses as Kamden's current girlfriend to prevent another murder and to flush Jericho out of his hiding place. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

William Conrad, who also directed several episodes of Have Gun, Will Travel, is here cast as Moses Kadish, a man who has isolated himself in order to conquer his alcoholism. After barely avoiding being shot by the taciturn Kadish, Paladin (Richard Boone) tries to help the man overcome his demons. This soon proves to be a difficult if not impossible task when the well on Moses' property suddenly starts gushing 100-proof moonshine whiskey! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Perry (Raymond Burr) receives an urgent telegram from Frank Lawton (Stewart Bradley), an old Army buddy who apparently is in trouble. Not long afterward, Frank is charged with the murder of his boss, Scott Shelby (Tom Shelby). Offering to defend Frank, Perry is shocked to learn that his friend never sent that telegram, and was never in trouble...until now. This episode is based on a 1945 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Best Things in Life are Free is the tuneful if uninspired life story of popular composers DeSylva (Gordon MacRae), Brown (Ernest Borgnine) and Henderson (Dan Dailey). Pooling their talents, the trio rises from Tin Pan Alley to fame and fortune. The team's future is threatened when Buddy DeSylva becomes a big-time movie mogul, his ego expanding with his new responsibilities. But there's a happy ending, replete with a big, blow-out production number. Highlights include Sheree North and Jacques D'Amboise's dance deut to the tune of "Birth of the Blues"; this was North's first opportunity to play something other than a Marilyn Monroe type, and she acquits herself quite nicely. Other DeSylva-Brown-Henderson songs showcased throughout the film include "Button Up Your Overcoat", "Black Bottom", "Sunny Side Up" and the title number. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The genesis for Queen for a Day was the Dorothy Parker short story Horsie, all about a homely woman who takes a job as a nanny in the household of a selfish, insensitive couple. Months later, the husband receives a gift of an electric razor from "Horsie," out of gratitude for his kindnesses -- kindnesses which, of course, he never consciously extended. "Horsie" ended up as one of three short stories adapted to film by producer Robert Stillman in 1951. The unifying theme of the film was that each of the three female protagonists were contestants on the TV series Queen for a Day. You may remember that this long-running program was hosted by Jack Bailey, who on a daily basis selected one of three deserving women to be the recipient of fabulous prizes, the decision, which was made by the audience (there was an "applause meter" on the set), was predicated upon which of the three ladies had the saddest or most fascinating life story to tell. In addition to "Horsie," aka Miss Wilmarth (Edith Meiser), the other contestants in the film are Phyllis Avery and Kasia Orzazewski. Avery stars in the vignette titled "The Gossamer World," based on a John Answorth story, this episode concerns Avery's son Rudy Lee, a victim of polio. Orzazewski figures into the Faith Baldwyn story "High Diver," wherein she plays the immigrant mother of a college-bound boy (Adam Williams) who takes a job at a carnival to make ends meet. Queen for a Day was originally released as Horsie, until it was decided that the TV series' title was more saleable. (It wasn't, despite an aggressive ad campaign conducted on the Queen for a Day television program.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide