Robert Leslie Bellem Movies
- 1967
Enemy agents Sava (Edward Mulhare), Karn (Diana Hyland) and Veltran (David Frankham) pool their efforts to kidnap prominent European statesman Anton Dieter (Anton Dieter). Their plan is to exchange Dieter for a Communist agent currently in Federal custody. Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) must locate the kidnappers in order to avert an embarrassing international incident and to plug up a potentially dangerous breach in national security. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Scheduled to go on trial for fraud, Mark Tabor (J.D. Cannon) jumps bail, feigns a nervous breakdown, and takes refuge in a mental instution. Going undercover as a fellow mental patient, Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist) tries to figure out the motivation behind Tabor's actions. Meanwhile, the Syndicate dispatches a few hired guns to make certain that Tabor never testifies in court. Anthony Eisley, later seen in the recurring role of Special Agent Chet Randolph, is here cast as another FBI operative, Kirby Greene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
With the help of his accomplice Hammond (Mark Richman), Captain Jennerson (Ralph Bellamy) has deliberately sunk his freighter in order to collect $40,000 in insurance. What Jennerson doesn't know is that Hammond is having an affair with his wife Gloria (Elizabeth Allen), who plans to dump the captain once the check arrives. He is also unaware that his scuttled freighter contained a sealed shipment of deadly chlorine, which will wreak havoc upon the coastline of Hawaii should the seals be shattered in an approaching tidal wave! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Beau Bridges guest stars as a wounded young man who stumbles into the Justice Department Building in Virginia, carrying half a million dollars in stolen cash. Awakening from a brief coma, the boy can remember nothing about what has happened to him nor how he came into possession of the loot. Though they suspect that "John Doe" is a thief and a possible killer, the Feds go through an elaborate charade of alerting the public that they are holding the money for its rightful owner. Predictably, the FBI offices are swamped with dozens of phony claimants--including two shady-looking gentleman who are determined to silence "John Doe" permanently! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
A group of South American exiles living in Miami assembles a plan to invade and liberate their homeland (the country is not identified, but viewers can draw their own conclusions). Unfortunately, there is a traitor in the would-be liberators' midst. Disguising himself a soldier of fortune, Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) infiltrates the group in hopes of exposing the mole--and convincing the freedom fighters not to embark upon a futile mission that will cost all of them their lives. This episode marks the last appearance of Lynn Loring as Erskine's daughter Barbara. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Scheming Harvey Scott (Tom Tully) has managed to regain control of his mining company while his nephew Rick (Henry Brandt) was in Acapulco, recuperating from an accident. To make certain that Rick doesn't return to the States to restake his claim on the company, Harvey orders his nephew's lovelorn niece Joanna (Anne Whitfield) to keep him occupied in Mexico. Eventually Rick tumbles to this scheme and heads to LA for a showdown. But when Harvey is killed, Rick is nowhere to be found--and Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) finds himself defending poor Joanna on a murder charge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Nelson (Richard Basehart) and Crane (David Hedison) are assigned to conduct a top Communist agent to the West, so that he can defect -- but their plan is betrayed and the man they're helping is wounded. He gets aboard, but unbeknownst to all concerned, the enemy has placed a trained assassin aboard to kill the defector -- and anyone who gets in his way. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Mob boss Big Jahnchek (Peter Whitney) escapes Federal custody and makes a beeline for his brother Gregory (R. G. Armstrong), who has managed to bury his connection to Big Steve by changing his name to John Gregory and establishing a successful fleet of tuna boats. Motivating Big Steve's getaway is the fact that the $100,000 trust fund of Helen Gregory (Susan Seaforth), whom each brother has at one time or another claimed as his own daughter, is being mismanaged by crooked Franz Moray (Steven Geray). When Moray is murdered, Gregory is charged with the crime, and a disturbing Jahnchek family secret is in danger of being exposed. It is up to Perry Mason to clear Gregory in court and to provide a happy ending for those who truly deserve one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
After he is seen literally throwing his money away, eccentric businessman Gus Dalgran (Otto Kruger) is locked up in a mental instution. Dalgran's far from loyal employees decide to use his absence as an opportunty to double-cross him, whereupon he escapes--and then things really get out of hand! Can it be that Dalgran was merely feigning insanity to cover up the murder of his duplicitous nephew Kenneth (Don Dubbins)? And what clues will Perry Mason find while visiting the military base which also figures into the story? Featured in the cast is a young Burt Reynolds, as well as soap-opera veteran John Larkin, who had previously starred in the radio version of Perry Mason. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Charles Cromwell (Karl Weber), president-elect of Euclid College, arranges a meeting with Robert Haskell, who is handling a million-dollar college grant provided by wealthy James Vardon (Will Wright). Alas, the deal may be nullified if a woman named Maizie Frietag (Barbara Stuart) reveals Cromwell's unsavory past as "Curly Oliver." But the poor pedant's troubles are just beginning: Haskell is murdered, and Cromwell is charged with the killing. Sounds like Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is going to have to invade the sacred halls of Academia to clear his client. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
When a storm at sea threatens to sink the freighter "Janeel Trader", first officer Jerry Griffin orders a million dollars' worth of cargo to be dumped overboard, taking full responsibility for what he regards as a life-saving act. But when returns to shore, Jerry must face charges brought by a maritime court. The only man who can clear Griffin is Captain Bancroft (Robert Armstrong); unfortunately, Bancroft is murdered and Griffin is accused of the crime. This turns out to be a real "out-of-town" assignment for Griffin's civilian attorney Perry Mason (Raymond Burr). Wesley Lau makes his first series appearance as Lt. Anderson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Reporters Clark (George Reeves), Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) venture onto a Nevada atomic testing site in hopes of interviewing scientist Dr. Latislav (Raskin Ben-Ari), who has exiled himself from the rest of humanity after being exposed to radioactivity. Meanwhile, a pair of enemy spies are planning to kidnap Latislav and liquidate the reporters. Worse still: The Army has scheduled an atomic blast on the very site when Latislav, the spies and our heroes are squirreled away. Can Superman rescue everyone from annihilation before it is--shudder--too late? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Introduced in the previous episode "Divide and Conquer", Professor LaSerne (Everett Glass) returns in this episode to help Superman (George Reeves) sidestep a legal obstacle. It seems that wanted criminal Paul Barton (Bruce Wendell) has evaded arrest for past crimes by sealing himself in a huge, impenetrable concrete cube until the seven-year statute of limitations has expired. Ordinarily Superman would bust down the cube and nab Barton, but even he is unable to smash down its walls. Fortunately, LaSerne has a solution: Superman can "deconstruct" his molecule structure on the outside of the wall, then reassemble himself inside! There's only one problem: If Superman attempts to go through with his plan, Barton's henchman Jody Malone (Ben Welden) will murder reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) at the very same moment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Arriving in a banana republic on a goodwill mission, Perry (John White), Clark (George Reeves) and Lois (Noel Neill) land smack-dab in the middle of an assassination attempt aimed at President Bateo (Donald Lawton). Quickly transforming into Superman, Clark manages to neutralize an exploding bomb, only to be promptly arrested when scheming Vice President Oberon (Robert Tafur) cites an obscure ordinance. To prevent Bateo from losing face in front of his people, Superman agrees to be placed behind bars, even though his absence leaves the President at the mercy of the villains. Enter eccentric Professor La Serne (Everett Glass), who has developed a theory whereby Superman can literally be in two places at once by dividing his molecule structure. Alas, once Superman has split himself in two, he dare not fuse back into a single body, lest "both" of him perish! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Superman (George Reeves) takes to the airwaves--the radio airwaves, that is--to declare war against gangster boss D.W. Griswald (Freeman Lusk). In retaliation, Griwald teams up with sinister scientist Prof. Von Brunner (George Selk), who has developed a process to extract Kryptonite from the earth and convert it into a deadly light beam (If you need reminding, Kryptonite is the only known element that can render Superman helpless). Kidnapping Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) to lure Superman into a trap, the crooks manage to gain the upper hand--until the Man of Steel decides to resort to a magic trick he'd learned from amateur illusionist (and "Daily Planet" editor) Perry White (John Hamilton). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
This 104th and final episode of The Adventures of Superman not only stars George Reeves as the title character, but was directed by Reeves as well. Eccentric inventor Professor Pepperwinkle (Phillips Tead) has created a machine which he claims can produce gold from ordinary metal. And that's not all: Pepperwinkle has also developed a new strain of positive and negative Kryptonite. Whereas negative Kryptonite has the capacity to sap Superman of his strength, positive Kryptonite restores that strength--and also transforms reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) into superpowered superheroes themselves! Unfortunately, once the inevitable villains arrive to steal the gold-manufacturing apparatus, "Super Lois" and "Super Jimmy" literally awaken to the discovery that they're still plain, ordinary mortals. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Directed by series star George Reeves, this wild-and-woolly spoof of old time movie serials begins when a mysterious masked man (Michael Fox) shows up at the "Daily Planet" to inform Clark (Reeves), Lois (Noel Neill), Jimmy (Jack Larson) and Perry White (John Hamilton) that their days are numbered. The masked figure turns out to be a criminal who has a vendetta against the "Planet" staff, and who has adopted a disguise to whet their curiosity and lure them into an elaborate trap. As the episode hurtles to its climax, Clark is about to be immersed in a vat of boiling acid, Perry has been strapped to a whirring buzz-saw, Jimmy is locked in a car without brakes that is careening down a treacherous mountain road, and Lois is tied to the railroad tracks as a speeding locomotive bears down upon her! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Curvaceous cult actress Joi Lansing appears in this episode as policewoman Helen O'Hara, who upon meeting Superman (George Reeves) evidently exudes such an attraction that the Man of Steel instantly proposes marriage! This of course is all part of a scheme to bring elusive criminal mastermind Mr. X (John Eldredge) out in the open to attempt the kidnapping of "Mrs. Superman"--whereupon the police will slap the cuffs on the villain. Unfortunately, Mr. X not only manages to abduct Helen and bind her to a bundle of sputtering explosives, but he also seals Perry (John Hamilton), Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) in a leaky diving bell some 250 feet beneath the sea--and though he may be able to bend steel in his bare hands and change the course of mighty rivers, no way can Superman be in two places at once! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1956
In this precursor to the "reality" series Survivor, the staff of the "Daily Planet" serve as referees for a treasure hunt conducted on a remote island by the three heirs to the fortune of Jonathan Skag (Raymond Hatton). It turns out, however, that the "late" Mr. Skag is very much alive, and is merely testing the mettle of his potential heirs. Naturally, not all of the participants play fair--and the result of this skullduggery could prove fatal to all concerned. Fortunately, Superman (George Reeves) is on hand to make sure that justice is served and the spirit of fair play is upheld, but this time he has to keep his presence a secret. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1947
The all-purpose title Blackmail was again revived for this breezy Republic comedy-mystery. William Marshall (not the African American star of Blacula) plays private eye Dan Turner, assigned to shield playboy Ziggy Cranston (Ricardo Cortez) from a pair of clever blackmailers (Adele Mara, Richard Fraser). As a result of Turner's interference, the extortionists up the ante from $50,000 to three times that amount. A few murders and plot twists later, Turner emerges triumphant; still, one wonders if Cranston wouldn't have been better off handling his persecutors by himself. Originally 67 minutes, Blackmail was trimmed to 54 minutes for its earliest TV showings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Marshall, Adele Mara, (more)
