Clyde Howdy Movies
- 1968
Policewoman Eve Whitfield (Barbara Anderson) is faced with a profound personal crisis when she shoots and kills an armed robber in self-defense. It turns out that the victim was only 17 years old, regarded as a "model kid" by friends and loved ones alike. Tortured by guilt and self-doubt, Eve must rely upon Chief Ironside (Raymond Burr) to determine if her instincts were correct when she pulled the trigger. This episode was cowritten by famed crime novelist Evan Hunter, whose screenwriting credits include the landmark "J.D." drama The Blackboard Jungle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Producer/star Warren Beatty had to convince Warner Bros. to finance this film, which went on to become the studio's second-highest grosser. It also caused major controversy by redefining violence in cinema and casting its criminal protagonists as sympathetic anti-heroes. Based loosely on the true exploits of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker during the 30s, the film begins as Clyde (Beatty) tries to steal the car of Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway)'s mother. Bonnie is excited by Clyde's outlaw demeanor, and he further stimulates her by robbing a store in her presence. Clyde steals a car, with Bonnie in tow, and their legendary crime spree begins. The two move from town to town, pulling off small heists, until they join up with Clyde's brother Buck (Gene Hackman), his shrill wife Blanche (Estelle Parsons), and a slow-witted gas station attendant named C.W. Moss (Michael J. Pollard). The new gang robs a bank and Clyde is soon painted in the press as a Depression-era Robin Hood when he allows one bank customer to hold onto his money. Soon the police are on the gang's trail and they are constantly on the run, even kidnapping a Texas Ranger (Denver Pyle) and setting him adrift on a raft, handcuffed, after he spits in Bonnie's face when she kisses him. That same ranger leads a later raid on the gang that leaves Buck dying, Blanche captured, and both Clyde and Bonnie injured. The ever-loyal C.W. takes them to his father's house. C.W.'s father disaproves his son's affiliation with gangsters and enters a plea bargain with the Texas Rangers. A trap is set that ends in one of the bloodiest death scenes in cinematic history. The film made stars out of Beatty and Dunaway, and it also featured the screen debut of Gene Wilder as a mortician briefly captured by the gang. Its portrayal of Bonnie and Clyde as rebels who empathized with the poor working folks of the 1930s struck a chord with the counterculture of the 1960s and helped generate a new, young audience for American movies that carried over into Hollywood's renewal of the 1970s. Its combination of sex and violence with dynamic stars, social relevance, a traditional Hollywood genre, and an appeal to hip young audiences set the pace for many American movies to come. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, (more)
- 1967
Joe Cartwright is kidnaped by a band of impoverished Mexicans, who hope to save their rundown village by collecting a $25,000 ransom from Joe's father Ben. Meanwhile, a pair of thieves named Anderson (John Kellogg) and Perkins (Eddie Ryder) prepare to steal the ransom before it can be delivered, and to that end they join a rescue party, ostensibly to "save" the hapless Joe. John Saxon heads the guest cast in the role of Blas. Written by Walter Black, "The Conquistadores" first aired October 1, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1966
In Sheriff Coffee's absence, Virginia City's mayor (Ted Knight) hires ruthlessly efficient lawman Wes Dann (Eric Fleming) as peacekeeper. At first an admirer of Dann, Joe Cartwright soon learns that the cold-blooded temporary sheriff is less interested in upholding the law than meting out his own sadistic brand of punishment. This episode marked one of the final TV appearances of former Rawhide star Eric Fleming; others in the cast include Roy Foster, Ray Stricklyn, Dee Pollack, Clyde Howdy, Grandon Rhodes, I. Stanford Jolley, and legendary serial villain Roy Barcroft. First telecast on February 6, 1966, "Peace Officer" was written by Don Mullaly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1966
Henry Gibson guest stars as Private Wrongo Starr, the Army's most notorious jinx. The men of F Troop are terrified that Private Starr will wreak disaster upon them; after all, he has only recently finished a hitch with Custer at the Little Big Horn. Meanwhile, another infamous character shows up at Fort Courage: Hermione Gooderly (Sarah Marshall), aka "The Black Widow", whose last four husbands have all died mysteriously. (While the source of the character name "Wrongo Starr" needs no explanation, it perhaps should be noted that "Hermione Gooderly" is a play on the name of British actress Hermione Baddeley, the sister of Upstairs, Downstairs costar Angela Baddeley.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Arthur Godfrey, at one time the most popular (and powerful) personality on radio and TV, makes a guest appearance in this episode. Hoping to persuade Godfrey to appear in the Riverboat musical being staged by the Danfield Little Theater, Lucy (Lucille Ball) is willing to go to great and near-impossible lengths to achieve her goal. She is even willing to travel all the way to Godfrey's home in Virginia--and then the fun (?) begins. The original songs heard in this episode were written by Max Showalter), who appears as Lucy's former beau Vinnie Meyers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arthur Godfrey, Max Showalter, (more)
- 1963
This WW II adventure chronicles the real-life courage of President John F. Kennedy when he was a Navy lieutenant in charge of the illustrious PT 109. Among the adventures they had was the courageous rescue of Marines stranded upon the isle of Choiseul. As they flee, their little boat is split in half by a Japanese destroyer. The survivors then make a long, dangerous swim to an island. One of them is too badly injured to do it, so Kennedy helps him. Later, the future leader braves many dangers to get to another island to radio for help. This video also contains a newsreel chronicling the President's assassination and a cartoon short featuring Foghorn Leghorn. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cliff Robertson, Ty Hardin, (more)
- 1961
Broke again, Bart (Jack Kelly) accepts a job from rancher Cal Powers (Andrew Duggan), hauling ice from the nearby mountains. While on the job, Bart comes upon a corpse, frozen beneath the surface of an icy river. This discovery will prove to have dire consequence for our hero, thanks largely to villainous machinous of political boss Rath Lawson, played by Bruce Gordon in the same manner as the actor's interpretation of mobster Frank Nitti on The Untouchables. The heroine of the occasion is Shirley Knight, who went on to a stellar stage, film and TV career, including such memorable roles as the mother of Helen Hunt in the 1997 Jack Nicholson theatrical feature As Good as It Gets. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
