Jim Hawkins Movies

This TV-movie biography of legendary black ballplayer Leroy "Satchel" Paige unfortunately whitewashes and hokes up his fascinating story. Louis Gossett Jr. stars as Paige, who spends virtually his entire professional career in the Negro leagues because of the "gentlemen's agreement" barring African-Americans from the Majors. Paige's prowess as a pitcher is so famous that he becomes the highest-paid player in the Negro leagues -- but as for joining the mainstream teams, the answer is always the same: "If only you were white." When Jackie Robinson is signed by the Dodgers in 1946, the doors open for other black ballplayers; thus it is that in 1948, Satchel Paige becomes the first black pitcher in the American leagues...at the tender age of 42. Don't Look Back down-pedals Satchel Paige's tempestuous private life (his two marriages are combined into one, for example), and tends to shortchange the viewer in the crucial ball-playing scenes. Its saving grace is the towering performance by star Louis Gossett Jr., who struggles manfully to overcome the script's shortcomings. When the film was first telecast on May 31, 1981, the real Satchel Paige appeared in the prologue; one year later, Paige was dead at the (reported) age of 76. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this children's movie, a single executive enjoys her life on the fast track, but when she is talked into becoming a den mother to a rambunctious pack of Cub Scouts, her life is temporarily derailed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Bobbie Jo (Lori Saunders) writes a poem which ends up winning a prestigious magazine award. Naturally, Kate (Bea Benaderet) is both pleased and proud of her daughter--or at least she was pleased and proud before Bobbie began hanging around a bunch of hip-talking beatniks. (By 1967 the "beat movement" had passed and hippies were in vogue, but try telling that to the Petticoat Junction producers!) This episode was originally scheduled for March 21, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Now that she's in junior college, Bobbie Jo (Lori Saunders) figures that she's old enough to attend an all-night party with her friends. But her mother Kate (Bea Benaderet) doesn't see things this way, and forbids Bobbie to attend the bash. Of course, this results in a series of subterfuges which culminate in a typical Petticoat Junction disaster. Appearing in a minor role is Buck Buchanan, the son of series regular Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Gidget (Sally Field) and Larue (Lynette Winter) organize a folk-singing group along with a couple of guys, one of whom is named Ringo--Ringo Feinberg, that is. A big opportunity comes the girls' way when local deejay Rick Farmer (Sandy Kenyon) holds a singing contest. Unfortunately, the contest is open only to rock 'n' rollers--obliging Gidget and company to switch musical gears literally overnight. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tomboy Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) has finally fallen in love. The object of her affections is Orville Miggs, played by Jimmy Hawkins) in a role quite different from his earlier Petticoat Junction appearance a s would-be bank robber. Unfortunately, Orville would rather spend time tinkering with his old Model T Ford than spooning with Betty Jo, obliging Kate (Bea Benadaret to come up with a plan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Charley Pratt (Smiley Burnette), one of the two engineers of the Hooterville Cannonball, has never been known as the sensitve type. But when it appears that no one wants to pay him any attention, Charley goes into a funk--one so deep that he quits his job. Bob Hastings, a busy comic actor best known in 1964 as the obsequious Lt. Carpenter on McHale's Navy, is here seen as Bill Tuttle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A pre-I Dream of Jeannie Hayden Rorke guests in this episode as Herbie Grant, a former schoolmate of Kate Bradley (Bea Benadaret). Now known as "H.B. Grant", Herbie arrives at the Shady Rest announcing that he is a millionaire--and that he is very, very interested in renewing his friendship with Kate. But Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan), evidently operating on the theory that it takes one to know one, is convinced that Grant is a con artist, and he intends to break up the budding romance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

During a gas station holdup, Richard Kimble (David Janssen) and Joanne Spencer (Brenda Vaccaro) are taken hostage by psychotic gunmen Miles (Chris Robinson) and Vinnie (Lou Antonio). In an effort to save Joanne's life, Kimble pretends to be a master criminal, offering to cut the two thugs in on a big heist if they'll drive him to Hollywood. Though Kimble tries to convince Joanne that he's really on her side, she panics when she disovers that he is an accused murderer--while the sadistic Miles awaits the opportunity to kill both captives in cold blood. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Working the late shift at the neighborhood cop shop, beleaguered Captain Shaw (John Larch) finds himself saddled with a pair of lost souls: an old man (Claude Rains) suffering from amnesia and a little boy (Bill Mumy) abandoned by his parents. Instinctively, Shaw is persuaded that the oldster and the youngster belong together -- and in his efforts to expedite this bonding, the lieutenant is in for a surprise. This episode reunites John Larch and Bill Mumy, previously cast as father and son in the chilling Twilight Zone entry "It's a Good Life." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This laid-back western manages to deliver a full quota of action, an agreeable dash of sentiment, and quite a few three-dimensional characterizations. Van Heflin plays Luke Fargo, a Civil War veteran who returns to his Southern homeland to find his house destroyed, his crops burned out, and the local town under the thumb of "white trash" Vancey Huggins (Raymond Burr). In addition, Fargo is on the outs with the townsfolk because he fought for the Union instead of the Confederacy. Having grown weary of death and killing, Fargo hopes to start life anew as a minister, and to that end intends to rebuild the town's only church. Complicating matters is the presence of unkempt, hoydenish teenager Lissy (Joanne Woodward, in her film debut). Though Fargo's feelings for Lissy are basically paternal, the townsfolk, stirred up by Huggins, suspect the worst and prepare to drive the novice minister out of town. A happy--or at least satisfying--ending is reached through a series of logical events not often seen in "formula" westerns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide