David Kent Movies
- 1978
- PG
When his father does not return from the Norse colony in Vinland (Greenland) for years and years, warrior son Thorvald (Lee Majors) organizes an expedition to find him. He and his co-commander Ragnar (Cornel Wilde) arrive and swiftly discover that King Eurich (Mel Ferrer) and his company were abducted by Native Americans and taken to neighboring lands. With the help of a friendly tribal princess, and the comical assistance of the Norse shaman "Death Dreamer" (Jack Elam), Thorvald is able to locate and battle the tribesmen for the life of his father. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lee Majors, Cornel Wilde, (more)
- 1964
In Bayou country, Kimble (David Janssen) hitches a ride with Hanes McClure (Warren Oates), an obnoxious braggart who happens to be wanted by the authorities of a variety of crimes. Local police captain Charles Shafter (Philip Abbott) is grateful when Kimble subsequently helps him capture McClure, but he still is duty-bound to hold Kimble until Lt. Gerard (Barry Morse) arrives. Complicating matters is a mixed-up kid named Tad Thompson (Dee Pollock), who idolizes Hanes and helps him bust out of jail. Though willing to take advantage of the jailbreak himself, Kimble realizes that he must prevent Tad from following in McClure's crooked footsteps. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Having been burned by compromises to censors on his earlier films Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Sweet Bird of Youth, Paul Newman decided to star in as uncompromising a property as he could find. That property was Hud, inspired by a portion of Larry McMurtry's novel, Horseman Pass By. Hud Bannon (Newman) is a young Texas rancher who lives with his cattleman father Homer (Melvyn Douglas) and his hero-worshipping nephew Lon (Brandon DeWilde). Hud is an amoral, cold-hearted creature; his father, who holds Hud responsible for the death of his other son, tries to imbue Lon with a sense of decency and responsibility to others, but Lon is devoted to Hud and isn't inclined to listen. When hoof and mouth disease shows up in one of the elder Bannon's cows, Hud is all for selling the herd before the government inspectors find out. But Homer orders the cattle destroyed (the film's most harrowing sequence), driving an even deeper wedge between himself and Hud. Finally, Hud steps over the line by attempting to rape Alma (Patricia Neal), the earthy but warm-hearted housekeeper. Paul Newman was so repellantly brilliant as an unregenerate heel that his Oscar nomination for Hud was a foregone conclusion. Although Newman lost the Oscar to Sidney Poitier in Lilies of the Field, Oscars did go to Neal for Best Actress, Douglas for Best Supporting Actor, and cinematographer James Wong Howe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, (more)
- 1962
With Gilbert (Stephen Talbot) over to spend the evening with Beaver (Jerry Mathers), Ward (Hugh Beaumont) and June (Barbara Billingsley) agree to allow Wally (Tony Dow) to attend a party at Lumpy's house while they themselves go out. The only proviso is that Wally not spend the whole night with Lumpy (Frank Bank), and that he come home at a reasonable hour. But when Lumpy finds a stain on his rug, he begs Wally to stick around until morning so that his parents won't yell at him. Dutifully, Wally calls home for permission -- but Ward and June still haven't returned yet, placing Wally in another "darned if he does, darned if he doesn't" situation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Bank, Stephen Talbot, (more)
- 1962
Wally (Tony Dow) needs to bring three friends along to the amusement park to qualify for a discount, but only Eddie (Ken Osmond) and Lumpy (Frank Bank) are available. With no other option, Wally decides to invite Beaver to go along. Things run smoothly until the foursome reaches the roller coaster. Thanks to the dire warnings of the prankish Eddie, Beav is terrified at the prospect of going for a ride on the coaster. But by the time the episode reaches its climax, guess who's frightened and who isn't? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Mustin, Richard Correll, (more)
- 1962
Eddie (Ken Osmond) thinks it's cool to quit school when he does so to take a job at a garage for a princely 80 dollars a week. Parading around the neighborhood with his snazzy new clothes purchased with his own money, Eddie becomes the object of envy for his friends Wally (Tony Dow) and Lumpy (Frank Bank). As things turn out, however, Eddie's situation isn't as enviable as it seems -- not only is he unhappy at his job (a feeling reciprocated by his angry boss!), but he also misses the camaraderie of his old schoolmates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Osmond, Frank Bank, (more)
- 1962
Left alone in the Cleaver house one night, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) and Gilbert (Stephen Talbot) pass the time by watching television. It seems that there's a scary old crime picture on the air, and of course the two boys are duly frightened. In fact, they're so unnerved that, when they think someone is skulking around the house, they call the cops. Imagine their embarrassment when the two "burglars" turn out to be Wally's friends Lumpy (Frank Bank) and Bill (David Kent), both dressed up for a costume party! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Talbot, Richard Deacon, (more)
- 1961
Wally (Tony Dow) is among those invited to spend the weekend at the cabin owned by the family of his friend Scott (David Kent). However, Scott has failed to mentioned that there will be no adult chaperones. Upon learning this, Wally decides to come clean and tell his mom and dad (Hugh Beaumont and Barbara Billingsley). However, his parents have already learned the truth -- and they're now convinced that Wally was trying to pull a fast one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Bank, Richard Deacon, (more)
- 1961
Cliff Robertson plays Tolly Devlin, an embittered ex-convict who has spent a lifetime tracking down the men who murdered his father. Desirous of handling matters on his own, Devlin pretends to be loyal to both the Mob and the Government, playing one against the other in hopes of flushing out the killers. He learns that the three surviving assassins are employed by a supposedly charitable "cover" operation known as National Projects. To get what he wants, Devlin ingratiates himself with mob boss (and outwardly solid citizen) Conners (Robert Emhardt). What Robertson didn't count on was falling in love with "Cuddles" (Dolores Dorn), which leads to his own downfall -- but not before justice is served. Producer/director/writer Fuller based Underworld USA on a series of "exposé" articles in The Saturday Evening Post; the film's release fortuitously occurred shortly after that infamous mob convention in Appalachin, New York. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cliff Robertson, Dolores Dorn, (more)
- 1961
One of director John Ford's least characteristic films, it derives from the latter part of his career, when the director's belief in the myth of the West had faded, and he was beset by failing health and personal problems. In the cynicism of its humor, the director seems be to taking a page from the work of his friend Howard Hawks. James Stewart stars as Guthrie McCabe, the marshal of a Texas town who spends most of his time in front of the local saloon, where he gets 10 percent of the action, in addition to favors from its owner, Belle Aragon Anelle Hayes. Based on his knowledge of the Commanche tribe, his friend, cavalry officer Jim Gary (Richard Widmark), asks him to help the army to recover long-missing white captives. Despite his initial reluctance, the ability of the opportunistic McCabe to neogotiate a lucrative per capita deal for his recovery of the captives, in addition to his desire to evade the marital intentions of Belle, seal the deal. Even after interviewing the captives' desperate relatives, the hardened McCabe is unmoved, although he believes their chance of ever seeing their relatives again as they once knew them is remote. However, as events unfold, the all-knowing marshal find he has a few things to learn. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Stewart, Richard Widmark, (more)
