Ted Jordan Movies

Tim Conway and Don Knotts, mere supporting characters in the original Apple Dumpling Gang, are promoted to starring roles in the 1979 sequel The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. Once more cast as clumsy, soft-hearted western outlaws, Conway and Knotts come to the rescue of cavalry private Tim Matheson. The villain, lieutenant Philip Pine, is undermining the authority of Matheson's commander Harry Morgan, and Matheson wants to find out why. Featured performers include Jack Elam as Big Mac and Ruth Buzzi as Tough Kate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When the editor shuts down the newspaper where he works, John-Boy is given the opportunity to start up a periodical of his own. But before he can issue the first edition of the "Blue Ridge Chronicle", he must purchase the old paper's printing press--and thus he takes a full-time job to raise the money. His new responsibility cut into his study time at college, and it seems as though John-Boy's journalism teacher Professor Parks (Paul Jenkins) has no intention of cutting the boy any slack. . .but Parks may not be quite as cold-hearted as he seems. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A runaway box-office hit to the tune of 17 million dollars, Walking Tall is the unabashedly manipulative story of real-life Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser. As played by Joe Don Baker, Pusser can either be regarded as a tireless champion of justice or a baseball-bat-wielding hooligan. But with some of the most scurrilous villains this side of a Republic serial as the main targets of Pusser's wrath, the audience cannot help but applaud the sheriff's strongarm methods. When the town baddies seek vengeance by killing Pusser's wife (Elizabeth Hartman), the you-know-what really hits the fan! Never resorting to subtlety, Walking Tall was such a winner that it spawned two sequels, a made-for-television movie, and a weekly TV series -- none of which were enjoyed by the real Buford Pusser, who had long since died under questionable circumstances. At the time of the film's theatrical release, the MPAA rating system was comparatively new, so the studio launched an ad campaign aimed at parents, letting them know that the R-rated Walking Tall contained violence and not sex, and therefore was good family entertainment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Don Knotts makes a return visit to The Andy Griffith Show in the role of ex-deputy Barney Fife. The occasion is the Mayberry High School reunion, where Barney hopes to rekindle his romance with Thelma Lou. But there are more than a few surprises in store for ol' Barn' as the evening draws to a conclusion. This episode earned Don Knotts another Emmy Award, and deservedly so. First telecast on January 10, 1966, "The Return of Barney Fife" was written by Bill Idelson and Sam Bobrick ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Germans capture Saunders (Vic Morrow) and place him in a makeshift prison compound along with three other newly acquired American prisoners: Sgt. Mike Martin (Claude Akins) and privates Coker (Ed Peck) and Murray (Carl Reindel). What Saunders doesn't know is that one of his three fellow POWs is a Nazi spy posing as an American. It is the spy's assignment to befriend his fellow prisoners and worm vital information out of them. Though Saunders knows enough not to reveal any secrets in front of anyone no matter what the circumstances, at least one of his "comrades" isn't quite so careful. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Burt Reynolds appears in this episode as Red Hand, a rebellious young Apache chief who has jumped the reservation with his family. Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) hopes to avert an all-out war with the Indians by negotiating the peaceful surrender of Red Hand, but his efforts may be thwarted by the bloodlust of Apache-hating Major Lynch (Noah Beery Jr. in a rare villainous role). "Now Join the Human Race" was later cobbled together with scenes from the multipart Branded episodes "Fill No Glass for Me" and "Call to Glory" to form the direct-to-video "feature film" Blade Rider: Revenge of the Indian Nations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

To fully appreciate the western comedy The Marshal's Daughter, one must be aware that its star, a zaftig, wide-eyed lass named Laurie Anders, was in 1953 a popular TV personality. A regular on The Ken Murray Show, Anders had risen to fame with the Southern-fried catchphrase "Ah love the wi-i-i-ide open spaces!" Striking while the iron was hot, the entrepreneurial Murray produced this inexpensive oater, which cast Anders as Laurie Dawson, the singing daughter of a U.S. marshal (Hoot Gibson). Teaming with her dad to capture outlaw Trigger Gans (Bob Duncan), Laurie briefly disguises herself as a masked bandit. Amidst much stock footage from earlier westerns and a plethora of lame jokes and dreadful puns, The Marshal's Daughter is a treat for trivia buffs, featuring such virile actors as Preston S. Foster, Johnny Mack Brown, Jimmy Wakely and Buddy Baer as "themselves." Ken Murray himself makes a supporting appearance as a leering frontier wiseacre named "Sliding Bill Murray." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lure of the Wilderness is a remake of 1941's Swamp Water, with Walter Brennan repeating his role as a half-crazed fugitive from justice. Living in the deepest recesses of the Okeefenokee Swamp with his daughter Laurie (Jean Peters), Jim Harper (Brennan) is discovered by young hunter Ben Tyler (Jeffrey Hunter). Believing in Harper's innocence, Tyler tries to raise enough money to mount a decent courtroom defense for the old man. Meanwhile, the actual perpetrators of the crime attributed to Harper do their best (or worst) to see to it that he never gets out of the swamp alive. While the original Swamp Water was the better of the two films, Lure of the Wilderness has the advantage of rich Technicolor photography. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Also known as The Rebel, The Bushwackers was coscripted by director Rodney Amateau and actor Tom Gries (later the director of such big-budgeters as Will Penny). Tired of senseless bloodshed, civil war veteran John Ireland vows never to use a gun again. This proves difficult when Ireland runs afoul of town despot Lon Chaney Jr. It seems that Chaney takes special delight in tormenting the local newspaper editor, who happens to be the father of pretty heroine Dorothy Malone. Effectively avoiding stereotypes and cliches, The Bushwackers is a virtually a model of everything a good program western should be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lorna Doone is based on the oft-filmed novel by Richard D. Blackmore. Set in 17th century Scotland during the reign of Britain's Charles II, the story concerns young Lorna (Barbara Hale), a member of a much-hated landowning family. Lorna falls in love with a humble villager (Richard Greene), who like the rest of community has suffered under the rule of the despotic Doones. The villagers revolt against their oppressors, but when it is revealed that Lorna is not a genuine Doone, she is able to marry her low-born swain. Star Barbara Hale was pregnant throughout the filming of Lorna Doone; thus it can be said that the film "co-starred" her son, future actor William Katt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Counterspy Meets Scotland Yard was the second entry in Columbia's "David Harding, Counterspy" series. Howard St. John stars as Harding, who, per the film's title, travels to England in this one. Joining forces with Scotland Yard operative Simon Langton (Ron Randell), Harding attempts to break up a spy ring that uses hypnosis as one of its "weapons." Future Gunsmoke heroine Amanda Blake co-stars as an alluring femme fatale. The Counterspy series was based on the radio series created by Philips H. Lord, which ran from 1942 to 1957. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Audie Murphy and Wanda Hendrix were husband and wife when they co-starred in the Technicolor western Sierra. Murphy plays Ring Hassard, the son of outlaw Jeff Hassard (Dean Jagger), who despite his dad's reputation is basically a good kid. Hendrix portrays Riley Martin, a lady lawyer who hopes to clear Ring's name -- and, eventually, to march him to the altar. The plot hinges on whether or not Ring's father is the ruthless desperado he's cracked up to be. The film's highlight is an extended wild-horse roundup sequence, which helps the audience forget Wanda Hendrix's miscasting as a female legal eagle. Sierra was based on a novel by Stuart Hardy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide