Paul Leslie Peil Movies
- 1963
A decidedly pre-All in the Family Carroll O'Connor stars as freight line owner Tom Slayden. Using underhanded and monopolistic tactics, Slayden has managed to crown himself the unofficial boss of Virginia City. The Cartwrights become mixed up with the ruthlessly ambitious Slayden when one of his henchmen shoots Joe Cartwright in the back for "trespassing." Also in the cast are Judee Morton as Karen Slayden, Denver Pyle as the Sheriff, Phil Ober as Oliver, Chris Alcaide as Gus, William Tannen as Duran, and Roy Engel as the Doctor. Co-scripted by actor (and occasional Bonanza supporting player) Leo Gordon, with Paul Leslie Piel, "The Boss" originally aired on May 19, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1961
Jack Kelly plays a dual role in this episode, as frontier gambler Bart Maverick and his exact lookalike, vicious outlaw Red Claxton. Mistaken for Claxton, who has been systematically stealing army payrolls, Bart is arrested and thrown in the stockade. Sentenced to hang, our hero must somehow break out of jail to prove his innocence. Appearing as ingenue Caprice Rambeau is a young Dawn Wells, three years before her starmaking turn as Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Whenever the betwiching Roxane Berard guest-stars on Maverick, there's bound to be some elegant larceny, with at least one member of the Maverick clan ending up the victim. In this particular episode, Berard is cast as Danielle de Lisle, an apparent damsel in distress who asks Beau Maverick (Roger Moore) to safeguard a precious diamond. Sure enough, Beau is tricked into substituting a fake diamond for the genuine article--and ends up in jail for his troubles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
In New Orleans during Mardi Gras, Bart (Jack Kelly) witnesses the murder (or more accurately, the execution) of a wine merchant named Agostino (Joe Garcio). But when he tries to report the crime, Bart is accused of being the murderer himself. It soon develops that the killing was ordered by the local branch of the sinister "Black Hand" (a 1960s TV code-word for the Mafia), whose minions are determined to shut Bart up permanently before he can persuade someone to believe in his innocence. This episode was cowritten by actor Leo Gordon, who'd appeared in previous Maverick installments in the recurring role of Big Mike McComb. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Beau (Roger Moore) finds himself in the middle of some deadly intrigue (not to mention a bitter family feud) when he wins half-ownership of the Golden Wheel Casino. Shortly after this windfall, Bart's new partner Rand Storm is shot and killed in self-defense by dance-hall gal Flo Baker (Kathleen Crowley). When Flo disappears, Rand's brother Luke (played by Bing Russell, the father of film star Kurt Russell) takes advantage of the situation by framing Bart for murder and claiming the Golden Wheel as his own. This episode was cowritten by actor Leo Gordon, whose wife Lynn Cartwright (best known as the "older" Geena Davis in the 1992 theatrical feature A League of Their Own) appears in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
In this western, the battle between ranchers and farmers provides the background for a battle between two disparate brothers. One is the outlaw gangleader of the Blue Chip gang; the other is a hard-bitten lawman. The outlaw is only too happy to witness the land conflicts as he plans on stealing the lands of the dead on both sides. Fortunately, his good brother causes him to change his bad-guy ways, side with the farmers and go straight. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Stevens, Forrest Tucker, (more)
- 1956
In this western, a Mexican bandit and an angry rancher team up and take on a crooked saloon keeper. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Despite its lurid title, Betrayed Women is more subdued than the usual "babes behind bars" melodrama. The scene is a Southern women's prison, where the inmates are subjected to all manner of sadism and brutality. State's attorney Jeff (Tom Drake) arrives to investigate prison conditions, whereupon he is taken hostage during a breakout fomented by gun moll Honey (Beverly Michaels) and lifer Kate (Carole Mathews). As it happens, another of the hostages, inmate Nora (Peggy Knudsen), has fallen in love with Jeff. Esther Dale does her usual as a cruel prison matron, stealing the show from the capable but colorless Tom Drake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carole Mathews, Beverly Michaels, (more)
