Harry Holcombe Movies

The Big Bus is set aboard a nonstop, nuclear-powered luxury bus commandeered by Joseph Bologna. Naturally, Bologna is a tortured hero with a deep dark secret (he keeps insisting he didn't eat all those passengers on his last disastrous drive). Stockard Channing and Harold Gould play the designers of the big bus, and of course they have a few skeletons in their closet. In fact, there isn't a passenger on the all-star manifest that isn't hiding something. The supporting cast features contributions by René Auberjonois (parodying his M*A*S*H role), Ned Beatty, José Ferrer, Ruth Gordon (doing a devastating send-up of Airport's Helen Hayes), Sally Kellerman, Richard Mulligan, and many others; Murphy Dunne contributes a memorable bit as a smarmy cocktail pianist. Unfortunately, The Big Bus was dumped onto the summer 1976 release schedule without fanfare by Paramount, and it sank without a trace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Circuitously commenting upon the drug culture of the 1970s, this Bonanza episode probes the dangers of the onetime "wonder drug" morphine. Future MASH regular Mike Farrell is cast as Dr. Will Agar, who is revealed to be a morphine addict after he inadvertently causes the death of a young patient during routine surgery. Also in the cast are Gary Busey as Dr. Agar's hapless victim Henry Johnson, David Huddleston as Henry's father, Melissa Murphy as Agar's wife Nancy, and Mons Kjellin (the son of director Alf Kjellen) as Agar's son Chris. Written by Stanley Roberts and Jack B. Sowards, "The Hidden Enemy" first aired on November 28, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Roscoe Lee Browne guest-stars as Joshua, the crippled grandfather of a black youngster killed in a bank robbery. Struggling to overcome his bitterness against the white race in general, Joshua accepts the assistance of Joe Cartwright and Jamie in tracking down his grandson's killers. Featured in the cast is Richard Farnsworth as Troy. Michael Landon, who plays Joe Cartwright, also wrote and directed this compelling episode. "He Was Only Seven" made its network broadcast debut on March 5, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Blinded in an explosion, Joe Cartwright, uncertain as to whether his sight will ever be restored, bitterly cuts himself off from the rest of his family. Enter Miss Ellen Dobbs (Jo Van Fleet) from San Francisco, who specializes in teaching the blind how to cope with the "sighted" world. Electing not to tell Joe that Ellen is herself sightless, Ben wonders if he made the right decision as Joe's anger-and unwillingness to learn from Ellen--threatens to permanent divide the Cartwright clan. Written by Suzanne Clauser, this episode was given the full approval of the Braille Institute of America, several of whose representatives acted as technical advisers. Directed by Michael Landon (who of course played Joe Cartwright), "The Stillness Within" first aired on March 14, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Carri Sturgis (Jewel Blanch), a young friend of Ben Cartwright's adopted son Jamie, lives in terror under the cruel supervision of her Aunt Vella (Madeleine Sherwood) and Uncle Gifford (William Bramley). Inasmuch as the couple hates children, Jamie can't understand why they so desperately desire custody of Carri. Before long, the truth is revealed: The girl is heir to her late grandfather's gold mine. Also in the cast are Paul Fix as Buford and Peggy Rea as Clara. Written by B.W. Sandefur, "For a Young Lady" initially aired on December 27, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Robert Pirosh's teleplay for this Bonanza episode was based on an actual 19th century phenomenon. In the years following the Civil War, many young and disillusioned ex-soldiers formed nomadic groups called the "Weary Willies", who roamed throughout the west living off the land and avoiding "proper" employment. In other words, they were the hippies of their time, something with which viewers could instantly relate when this episode first aired on September 27, 1970. In the course of the story, the Ponderosa welcomes the Willies to their property, but their neighbors do not. When a girl is attacked, the Willies are accused of the crime, but the truth lies closer to home. The cast includes a pre-Waltons Richard Thomas as Billy, Lee Purcell as Angie, Elisha Cook Jr. as Marcus, and Kevin Tighe as Krulak. In keeping with its flower-child ambience, "The Weary Willies" features several songs, including "Man Passing Through", "Blood Brothers" and "It Won't Be Very Long". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Candy is forced to kill the rancher husband of Lisa Campbell (Charlotte Stewart) in self-defense. Hoping to overcome Lisa's bitterness, Candy goes to work for her as a ranchhand. Ultimately, love blossoms between the two-but Lisa has already hired gunslinger Jake (Lloyd Battista) to kill Candy, and Jake refuses to back down from the job. Scripted by Star Trek stalwart D.C. Fontana, "The Stalker" first aired on November 2, 1969, then was selected by NBC for an encore presentation in the summer of 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Joe Cartwright's coquettish former fiancee Emily Anderson (Beth Brickell) returns to town, quickly wrapping the moonstruck Joe around her little finger once more. Unfortunately, Emily has neglected to inform Joe that she is now married to Deputy Marshal Wade McPhail (Ron Hayes). Furthermore, the girl is an habitual liar, and before long a wounded Joe has been accused of robbery and murder. Written by Preston Wood and Elliot Gilbert, "Emily" originally aired on March 23 1969. It is currently unavailable in most circulating Bonanza rerun packages. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This story is taken from the real-life marriage of two people in the early 1960s. Helen North (Lucille Ball) is a widow with eight children who falls in love with Naval officer Frank Beardsley (Henry Fonda), a widower with ten children of his own. The two marry as comedy ensues from the sheer numbers and diverse age groups of the offspring. Narration is used in the first half of the film to help set the stage for the impending nuptials. Van Johnson is the mutual friend who brings the couple together. Tom Bosley plays the harried doctor who makes a house call and finds almost two dozen patients under one roof. The newlyweds are soon off to the hospital when Helen becomes pregnant with the couple's first child in this amusing family comedy. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

The British title of Billy Wilder's classic comedy was Meet Whiplash Willie -- for, despite Jack Lemmon's star billing, the movie's driving force is Oscar-winning Walter Matthau as gloriously underhanded lawyer "Whiplash" Willie Gingrich. CBS cameraman Harry Hinkle (Lemmon) is injured when he is accidentally bulldozed by football player Luther "Boom Boom" Jackson (Ron Rich) during a Cleveland Browns game. Willie, Harry's brother-in-law, foresees an insurance-settlement bonanza, and he convinces Harry to pretend to be incapacitated by the accident. To insure his client's cooperation, Willie arranges for Harry's covetous ex-wife Sandy (Judi West) to feign a rekindling of their romance. Harry's conscience is plagued by the solicitous behavior of Boom Boom, who is so devastated at causing Harry's injury that he insists on waiting on the "cripple" hand and foot. Meanwhile, dishevelled private eye Purkey (Cliff Osmond) keeps Harry under constant surveillance, hoping to catch him moving around so the insurance company can avoid shelling out a fortune. Wilder and usual co-writer I.A.L. Diamond were at their most jaundiced and cynical here, even if, after a sardonic semiclimax, the last ten minutes succumb to the sentimentality that often marred Wilder's later movies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story arc, the Stephenses are still playing host to Benjamin Franklin (Fredd Wayne), whom Aunt Clara has accidentally zapped into the 20th century. Fascinated with all the "new" technology around him, Ben decides to take a test ride on a fire engine and ends up arrested for grand theft. Despite the very real possibility that she will be exposed as a witch, Samantha serves as Ben's defense attorney in court. Written by James Henerson, "Samantha for the Defense" originally aired on December 15, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Model Sharon Camody (Mary Ann Mobley) has an excellent chance of being hired as the spokeswoman for White Snow Soap--so long as she is able to keep her unsavory past a secret from the public. Unfortunately, Sharon is targetted for a shakedown by blackmailer Ed Grover, who subsequently turns up murdered. Convinced that he has killed Grover with his bare hands, Sharon's ex-boxer boyfriend Duke (Paul Lukather) confesses his "crime" to Perry Mason (Raymond Burr)--who is subsequently faced with an ethical dilemma when derelict Jake Stearns (James Griffith) is arrested for the crime. In order to clear Jake, Perry may be forced to turn his own client Grover over to the authorities...a move that will not only ruin Grover's life but Sharon's as well. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide