Joel Murcott Movies
- 1957
Anita Bonsal (Jean Willes) is jealous of her roommate Fay Allison (Sue England), who is about to marry Anita's ex-boyfriend Dane Grover (Douglas Dick). In fact, she is so jealous that she is willing to frame Fay for the murder of Carver Clement (John Holland), a married man with whom Anita is having an affair. As Fay's defense attorney, Perry must convince the court that the evidence against his client is not only circumstantial, but planted. And in case the reader thinks that the identity of the guilty party is obvious, consider that the "crimson kiss" found on Clement's corpse may NOT have been planted by a woman! This episode is based on a short story by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Petty thief Steve Morgan (Rip Torn) uses a toy gun to hold up a candy store. Later on, the cops make the necessary connections and Steve is arrested. At first, he is thrilled and delighted that so many people are making so much of a fuss over so minor a crime. But Steve is in for quite a shock when he learns exactly why the police, and the public, are so interested in his criminal career. "Number Twenty-Two" is based on a story by Evan Hunter, who later worked on the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
On the eve of his execution for a crime he didn't commit, Gerald Daniels (Harry Guardino) makes one last request: a typewriter. Angrily, Daniels pounds out a damning critique of D.A. Bernard Butler (Hugh Marlowe), the man who had sent him to death row. Daniels reveals that, not only did Butler prosecute him unfairly, but that the D.A. had previously condemned an innocent man for a murder that Butler had actually committed! "Is this the sort of man you want for governor?" Daniels asks at the conclusion of his embittered harangue -- just before an ironic twist caps this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Released from prison, criminal Joe Kedzie (Steven Hill) makes a beeline to an abandoned mine shaft in the desert, where he has hidden 100,000 dollars in stolen money. Hot on Joe's heels are his two cohorts, Maxie (Steve Brodie) and Madge, (Jean Hagen), who hope to claim their share of the dough -- or to knock Joe off and keep it all. There's double-crossing aplenty amongst the unholy trio throughout the rest of the episode, with only one conspirator remaining alive at the end...albeit no luckier nor richer than before. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Worrywart Norman Frayne (James Best) is so wrapped up with his own problems that he is neglecting his wife, Paula (Katherine Bard). All this changes when Norman's old pal, handsome Al Revenel (Steve Brodie), comes to town. Now Norman has something new to worry about -- namely, that Al is poised to steal Paula away from him. His solution to this dilemma is to move out of his own house...and that is the first of his many fatal errors. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Fired for his sympathetic coverage of an Arab leader who has been executed for murder, disgraced reporter Ted Franklin (Gary Merrill) boards a flight from Tangier to Cairo. His traveling companion is the beautiful Barbara Denham (Patricia Cutts), who expresses fascination over his unorthodox treatment of the murder trial. Gradually, Franklin reveals just why he believed the Arab was innocent -- and in so doing puts a noose around his own neck. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
A distraught man named Carl (Gary Merrill) climbs onto a skyscraper ledge, apparently planning to jump off. Several police officials and psychiatrists show up hoping to talk Carl out of suicide, but he refuses to talk to them, and in fact won't even reveal the reason that he has decided to end it all. Only when Officer Barrett (Mark Richman) arrives on the scene does Carl explain that his wife has recently killed herself after cheating on him with a man named Steve -- but why is Barrett able to succeed where so many others have failed? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Escaped killer Joe Philips (Joe Maross) is hiding in plain sight as a worker at a Mexican construction site. Later on, another man is hired to work alongside Joe: Bret Johnson (Wayne Morris), who turns out to be the detective hired to bring Joe to justice. Things don't quite work out as planned, thanks to a near-disaster at the site -- followed by a daring rescue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
DA Rudolph Cox (Leslie Nielsen) hopes to use the testimony of stoolie Lou Heinz (Bernard Kates) to put mobster Mac Davis (Harold J. Stone) away for keeps. Unfortunately, Heinz's cover is blown and he is marked for death. Even more unfortunately, the most important official in town seems to be in Davis' pocket -- which means that Cox's dreams of becoming a major political figure are in just as much danger as the hapless Heinz. This is the final episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents' sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Prison warden Bragen (Edward Asner) can't understand why former convict and recent parolee Fred Riordan (R.G. Armstrong) would commit a minor crime which lands him back behind bars. Thinking that Fred simply isn't psychologically capable of living in the outside world, Bragen asks the man to tell him his story. It turns out that, once sprung, Fred had been ordered to commit a murder by a gangster named Tony Wando (Steven Peccaro) -- and the only way Fred could solve his dilemma was to give up his freedom again. Of course, there is a bit more to the story...but Fred will reveal all when the time comes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
After suffering a blow on the head, Phil Townsend (Richard Basehart) awakens to discover that he has long been suffering from amnesia. Realizing that he's slated to be married, Phil rushes to the house of his fiancée, only to discover that he is three years late. Soon afterward, he finds out that he has spent those three years living under the name of David Webber -- and as it happens, "David Webber" is suspected of murdering the wife of his ex-employer. This episode is based on a novel by Cornell Woolrich, previously filmed in 1942 as Street of Chance (with Burgess Meredith as the amnesiac protagonist) and thereafter adapted several times for the radio anthology Suspense. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Paroled from jail, Terry (Chris Robinson), Fred (James Gregory), and Al (Norman Fell) manage to find honest jobs at a garage. Unfortunately, once a thief, always a thief, and before long the trio has broken into a safe in the payroll office next door. Even more unfortunately, they have also unwittingly stolen a radioactive capsule, capable of leveling the entire city once the safe is opened -- which is just what Terry, Fred, and Al are trying to do back in the garage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Robinson, James Gregory, (more)
- 1964
Wealthy Mrs. Daniels (Gloria Swanson) is convinced that Dave Snowden (James MacArthur), the current boyfriend of her daughter, Bonnie (Lynn Loring), is just another fortune hunter, even though Dave insists upon marrying Bonnie after Mrs. Daniels disinherits her. But when Dave runs out of money, he cooks up a scheme to persuade Mrs. Daniels to loosen the purse strings -- a scheme that involves Bonnie faking suicide. Alas, tragedy ensues, but this is only a prologue to the episode's macabre climax, in which the inquisitive Mr. Snowden finally learns what is "behind the locked door" in the deserted mansion on the Daniels' estate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gloria Swanson, James MacArthur, (more)
- 1967
Visiting the Blackwell farm, Joe Cartwright is aghast to learn that his friend Tom Blackwell (Jason Evers) has turned to crime. Enter a gang of outlaws, who hold Joe, Blackwell's wife Ellie Sue (Elizabeth Rogers) and the couple's son captive, thereby forcing Mrs. Blackwell to tend to the injuries of wounded outlaw boss Wade Hollister (John Ericson). Joel Murcott wrote the teleplay for this nail-biting drama. "Journey to Terror" was first telecast on February 5, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1967
Ben Cartwright protects longtime family friend Mary Farnum (Diane Baker) from the drunken rampages of her brutal husband Russ Wharton (Paul Richards). Misinterpreting Ben's kindness, the long-suffering Mary falls desperately in love with the Cartwright patriarch. Also in the cast are Dennis Cross as Monk and Raymond Guth as Goliath. Written by Joel Murcott, "A Woman in the House" originally aired on February 19, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Noah Beery Jr. guest-stars as Johnny Mule, on trial for the murder of David Lowdon. Typically, Hoss Cartwright casts the vote which deadlocks the jury, convinced that there is reasonable doubt regarding Johnny's guilt. But when Johnny breaks out of jail rather than face a retrial, Hoss must come to grips with the possibility that his instincts were wrong. Also in the cast are such powerhouse performers as Coleen Gray, Lee Patterson, Jack Ging and John Archer. Originally titled "The Trial of Johnny Mule", this episode was written by Joel Murcott, and first aired on February 25, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1969
Melissa Murphy is cast as Jenny Winters, who claims she can identify the outlaw Logan gang as the men who robbed a stagecoach and murdered the driver. Hoping to protect Jenny from the Logans, Joe Cartwright and Candy offer the girl shelter at the Ponderosa. What neither the good guys nor the bad guys know is that Jenny is a chronic liar, whose "eyewitness" yarn is a total fabrication. Others in the cast include Stefan Gierasch as Orvil Winters, Connie Hines as Hilda, Alan Baxter as Jim, and Bo Hopkins as Stretch. First shown on September 21, 1969, "The Witness" was written by Joel Murcott. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1970
Rupert Crosse guest-stars as Davis, a fugitive killer. While searching for Davis, Joe and a seriously wounded Ben are stranded at a desert water hole with the escapee. As Ben's life slowly ebbs away and a band of renegade Indians close in, Joe heads into the desert on foot to seek help-forcing him to place his trust in the mercurial Davis. First broadcast on October 11, 1970, "The Power of Life and Death" was written by Joel Murcott. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1970
Ben and his fellow cattlemen find themselves at the mercy of Chicago meat packer Emmett J. Whitney (Walter Barnes). Having purchased the rights to all railroad cattle cars, the greedy Whitney refuses to allow anyone to use those cars unless they allow him to purchase their stock at the outrageously low price of three dollars per head. Enraged, Ben puts his fortune-and the Ponderosa-on the line to beat Whitney at his own game. The supporting cast includes Kathleen Freeman as Ma Brinker, James McCallion as Luther, Mark Tapscott as Steve Rance, Billy Green Bush as Spanier, and Arthur Peterson as Lloyd Walsh. Written by Joel Murcott, "Long Way to Ogden" was originally telecast on February 22, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1972
Sian Barbara Allen guest-stars as the tenacious-and very pregnant-Teresa Burnside. Despite the imminent birth of her child, Teresa defiantly stands up to a gang of outlaws, who plan to use her as a pawn in a holdup scheme. As the crooks hold Teresa's husband Vance (James Olson) hostage, Ben Cartwright assumes the responsibility of delivering her baby. Also in the cast are Murray McLeod as Zachariah and Albert Salmi as Stretch. First shown on October 24, 1972, "Ambush at Rio Lobo" was written by Joel Murcott. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1973
Once again, Bonanza ranch hand Candy has been thrown in jail on a trumped-up murder charge. As his trial approaches, Candy must put his life in the hands of attorney Oscar Hammer (Stephen Nathan), a 20-year-old fresh out of law school. The outcome of the trial hinges on the testimony of an eyewitness named Kate (Sally Kemp), who has good reason not to appear in court. Originally broadcast on January 2, 1973, "The Witness" was written by Joel Murcott and Arthur Heinemann. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
