Fuzzy Knight Movies
To western fans, the nickname "Fuzzy" invokes fond memories of two first-rate comedy sidekicks: Al "Fuzzy" St. John and John Forest "Fuzzy" Knight. Knight inaugurated his career at age 15 with a tent minstrel troupe. His skill as a musician enabled him to work his way through West Virginia University, after which he headed his own band. Among Knight's theatrical credits in the '20s was the 1927 edition of Earl Carroll's Vanities and the 1928 "book" musical Here's How. Mae West caught Knight's act on the Keith vaudeville circuit and cast the bucolic entertainer in her 1933 film vehicle She Done Him Wrong; he would later show up playing West's country cousin in the actress' last important film, My Little Chickadee (1940). Usually essaying comedy roles, Knight was effective in the his dramatic scenes in Paramount's Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936), wherein he tearfully sings a mountain ballad at the funeral of little Spanky McFarland. Knight's B-western comedy sidekick activity peaked in the mid '40s (he appeared most often with Johnny Mack Brown), after which his film roles diminished as his fondness for the bottle increased. Promising to behave himself (at least during filming), Fuzzy Knight signed on in 1955 for Buster Crabbe's popular TV adventure series Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion; for the next two years, Knight played a semi-serious legionnaire -- named Private Fuzzy Knight. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1951
A stage line is once again threatened by a greedy rival in this ultra low-budget western from small-scale Monogram Pictures. This time the owner is lovely Phyllis Coates, who desperately needs to win a valuable mail contract in order to survive. The rival appears at first to be none other than the local sheriff (Pierce Lyden), but he is actually in the employ of a mystery man. Enter the whip-wielding Whip Wilson and his faithful sidekick Fuzzy Knight, and Miss Coates' stagecoach is saved in no time. In fairness to the age-old plot, here credited to former serial writer Joseph F. Poland, we shall not reveal the identity of the mystery villain; suffice it to say, the blackguard turns out to be the least likely candidate and is therefore highly suspicious from the get-go. Stage to Blue River was filmed many times before, most recently as Stage to Mesa City (1948), a "Cheyenne Kid" series entry featuring Al "Lash" LaRue and Al "Fuzzy" St. John. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Whip Wilson, Fuzzy Knight, (more)
- 1951
After a lengthy absence from the screen, Judy Canova returned in the raucous musical Honeychile. The plot had been utilized in several previous Republic films, but was good for yet another go-round here. Canova plays Judy, a would-be songwriter who sends one of her tunes to a big-city composer. When the song, published under another author's name, becomes a hit, music agent Eddie Price (Eddie Foy Jr.) heads to the sticks to negotiate a contract with Judy. By now, however, she doesn't want to sell her song: instead, she wants all the royalties for herself. Eddie's efforts to get her to change her mind are stymied by the presence of Judy's muscle-bound boyfriend Joe Boyd (Alan Hale Jr.) Somehow, everything is resolved during a climactic chuck-wagon race. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judy Canova, Eddie Foy, Jr., (more)
- 1951
The "badmen" of the title in this average western from Monogram are Waller (I. Stanford Jolley), a greedy express agent and Banker Jensen (Bill Kennedy, who conspire to separate Bob Bannon (Kenne Duncan) from the gold found on his property. Bob's brother Jim (Jim Bannon) and his two pals Whip Wilson and Texas (Fuzzy Knight) arrive too late to save Bob from the bad guys. Hoping to flush out the killer, Whip arranges to auction off the property. The ruse works and the hidden mine is handed over to Bob's lovely daughter, and heir, Carol (Phyllis Coates). ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1951
Originally slated for release by Eagle Lion, Skipalong Rosenbloom purchased by United Artists -- who gave it a cursory theatrical release before selling the film to television. As it turned out, TV was the appropriate medium for this heavy-handed satire of video westerns. Former boxing champ Maxie Rosenbloom plays a lampooned variation of Hopalong Cassidy, with all the standard western cliches in evidence. "Skipalong" Rosenbloom is depicted as the star of a heavily commercialized TV kiddie show, presided over by a smarmy announcer. The plot proper finds "Skipalong" at odds with western bad guy Butcher Baer, played by Rosenbloom's onetime ring opponent Max Baer. Others in the cast are Jackie Coogan, Fuzzy Knight and Hillary Brooke, who seem to be having fun with the dreadful material foisted upon them. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- "Slapsie Maxie" Rosenbloom, Max Baer, (more)
- 1951
No relation to the TV series of the same name, Wanted: Dead or Alive is a Monogram "B" western, vintage 1951. Its star is the studio's answer to PRC's Lash LaRue: Whip Wilson. Riding into a small town, a stranger (Whip) is accused of being a fugitive criminal. He eventually clears himself, but not before several displays of his remarkable whip-wielding skills. Andy Clyde, as ever, is on hand as Wilson's grizzled saddle pal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1951
Judy Canova continues to bring home the box-office bacon for Republic Pictures in Oklahoma Annie. Judy plays Judy, Queen of the Cowgirls, a backwoods shopkeeper who falls in love with new sheriff Dan Fraser (John Russell). In order to stay in close proximity with the handsome lawkeeper, Judy performs an act of courage which earns her a deputy's badge. Working together, Judy and Dan do their best to rid their community of corrupt politicians, beginning with their assault on a local gambling den. When Dan is kidnapped by the bad guys, Judy rallies all the womenfolk in town and heads to the rescue. Even nonfans of Judy Canova will enjoy this rambunctious musical comedy, with the star functioning full-force on all eight cylinders. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judy Canova, John Russell, (more)
- 1950
Sudden Death is the TV title of the 55-minute western Fast on the Draw. Colorado Ranger Jimmy Ellison has a phobia about handling guns, but it's his job to keep the peace. So Ellison poses as a famous gunslinger, hoping to intimidate a crooked land baron into capitulation. There comes a time in the course of the film that the Ranger must prove that he isn't all talk. Fast on the Draw was one of six Lippert "Four Star" westerns filmed back to back in the space of one month; all six films starred Ellison, Russell Hayden, Raymond Hatton and Betty (later Julie) Adams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1950
Colorado Ranger was the third in Lippert Studio's six-film "Four Star Western" series. All six entries were filmed simultaneously within the same month, and all starred Russell "Lucky" Hayden, James "Shamock" Ellison, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight, and Betty (later Julie) Adams. In this installment, "Shamrock" takes on the outlaw gang that kidnapped his father. "Lucky" tags along to give his pal a hand. The dialogue sounds as if it was being made up as the film went along, which may very well have been the case. Colorado Ranger was released to television as The Last Bullet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Russell Hayden, (more)
- 1950
Crooked River is another of Lippert Studio's "Four Star" western series. These six films were shot back-to-back in the space of a month; all were directed by Thomas Carr, and all starred Russell "Lucky" Hayden, Jimmy "Shamrock" Ellison, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight and Betty (later Julie) Adams. This time, Shamrock hopes to avenge the murder of his parents. The clue to the killer's identity is a ring, stolen from Shamrock's father. Director Thomas Carr was later a leading light of TV's Superman. Crooked River was released to television as The Last Bullet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Russell Hayden, (more)
- 1950
Blazing Guns is the television title of the Lippert Studios western Marshal of Helldorado. Jimmie Ellison and Russell Hayden star as perennial frontier do-gooders Shamrock and Lucky. This time, our heroes come to the assistance of banker Raymond Hatton, who is being blackmailed by an outlaw band that is savvy to Hatton's past life as a desperado. Fuzzy Knight co-stars as comedy relief, while Betty Adams provides the feminine interest. Marshal of Helldorado was one of a quartet of "Four Star Westerns" filmed back to back in the space of a single month: all four films starred Ellison, Hayden, Hatton, Knight and Adams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1950
Marshal of Heldorado is one of six "Four-Star" westerns produced and released by Lippert Pictures in 1950. If these six films tend to look alike, it isn't surprising. All six were filmed at the same time within a space of four weeks, and all starred Russell "Lucky" Hayden, Jimmy "Shamrock" Ellison, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight and Betty (later Julie) Adams. In this outing, Shamrock and Lucky come to the aid of a banker (Hatton) with an unsavory past. A gang of crooks has been blackmailing the banker into cooperating with their robbery schemes, but Our Heroes scotch this little racket in record time. Marshal of Heldorado was released to television as Blazing Guns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Russell Hayden, (more)
- 1950
Fast on the Draw was one of six Lippert Studios "Four Star" westerns, all of which were filmed simultaneously in the space of a single month. Jimmy Ellison plays Shamrock, a Colorado Ranger who suffers from a fear of firearms. Despite this handicap, Shamrock is assigned to pose as a gunman, the better to get the goods on a crooked land baron. As in the early "Four Star" outings, Ellison's co-stars are Russ Hayden, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight and Betty (later Julie) Adams. Cast as the outlaw leader is Tom Tyler, whose performance is hampered somewhat by encroaching arthritis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Russell Hayden, (more)
- 1950
West of the Brazos was one of six westerns filmed back-to-back within a single month by Lippert Studios in 1950. All of these films starred Russ "Lucky" Hayden, Jimmy "Shamrock" Ellson, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight and Betty (later Julie) Adams. In Brazos, "Lucky" and "Shamrock" try to foil the evil machinations of a group of crooked land speculators. At stake are thousand of acres of oil-rich property, rightfully belonging to the local ranchers. West of the Brazos has been released to television as Rangeland Empire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Raymond Hatton, (more)
- 1950
In his second starring vehicle, singing cowboy Rex Allen plays the head of a frontier cattlemen's association. The villain is dishonest meat packer Charles Stevens (Robert Emmet Keane), who has been trying to fix cattle prices to his advantage. When Rex decides to do business with another firm, it requires driving the herds through miles and miles of desolation--and, incidentally, avoiding Stevens' hired guns. The action highlights include a harrowing cattle stampede. Johnny Downs, star of many of collegiate musicals of the 1940s, has a cameo role as a square-dance caller. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rex Allen, Elisabeth Fraser, (more)
- 1950
Though released second, Hostile Country was the first of six "Four Star" westerns, filmed back to back within the space of four weeks by Lippert Productions. Starring in all six of these quickie oaters are Jimmie Ellison and Russell Hayden as a couple of wandering cavaliers named Shamrock and Lucky. This time around, Our Heroes come to the aid of a pretty cattle rancher (Betty Adams), who is being victimized by a gang of landgrabbers. Like Ellison and Hayden, Betty Adams (who later billed herself as Julie Adams) was also present in all six of Lippert's "Four Star" westerns, as were Raymond Hatton and Fuzzy Knight. Hostile Country was later released to TV as Outlaw Fury. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Russell Hayden, (more)
- 1949
Apache Chief was the second film to be lensed with the Garutso Balanced Lens, which gave the illusion of a three-dimensional effect (the first was Deputy Marshal). Alan Curtis plays the title character, a pacifistic Native American named Young Eagle. When his tribesmen begin killing off white settlers, Young Eagle is opposed to the carnage. In order to assure a lasting peace, however, the chief must deal with renegade Apache Black Wolf (Russell Hayden). The white soldier gives Young Eagle six days to bring Black Wolf to justice before they strike back. Produced under the Screen Guild banner, Apache Chief was released by that company's successor, Lippert Films. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Curtis, Tom Neal, (more)
- 1949
This full-blooded saga of the 19th century whaling industry stars Lionel Barrymore as tough old salt Captain Bering Joy and Dean Stockwell as his grandson Jed. Anxious to embark upon a life on the sea, Jed aligns himself with Joy's first mate, Dan Lunceford (Richard Widmark). The captain disdainfully regards Dan as one of the "new breed" of whalers, who, in his mind, aren't completely up to the rigors of maritime life. Dan gains Joy's respect when he rescues Jed, even though the captain sticks to the book and relieves Dan of his duties for leaving his post. A last-reel crisis involving an iceberg provides a satisfactory gathering of climaxes. Down to the Sea in Ships proved a moneymaker for 20th Century Fox, and also demonstrated that Richard Widmark could portray a character more sympathetic than the psychos and hoodlums he'd previously essayed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dean Stockwell, Richard Widmark, (more)
- 1949
Bargain-budget Screen Guild Productions was in the process of metamorphosing into Lippert Studios when Rimfire was filmed in 1949. This "government vs. gold thieves" affair has all of the virtues of the eager-to-please Lippert production team and none of the shortcomings of the pinchpenny Screen Guild operation. James Millican heads the cast as a special agent tracking down a lost shipment of Army gold. This leads him to a superstition-laden village where the townsfolk are convinced that the ghost of a hanged gambler is wreaking all sorts of havoc. It doesn't take Millican long to get to the bottom of the occult activity-and to locate the gold robbers in the process. With bigger star names, Rimfire might have secured better bookings; still, it did respectable business under the circumstances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Millican, Mary Beth Hughes, (more)
Bearing little relation to the 1946 MGM production Gallant Bess, The Adventures of Gallant Bess is a heartwarming low-budgeter from Eagle-Lion. Cameron Mitchell tops the cast as itinerant rodeo rider Ted Daniels, whose best "friend" is his trained horse Gallant Bess. When Ted falls in love with pretty Peggy Gray (Audrey Long), he is forced to choose between the girl and the horse. This being a formula picture, he manages to end up with both. Fuzzy Knight provides gentle comedy relief, while Gallant Bess herself steals every scene she's in, as animal stars are wont to do. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cameron Mitchell, Audrey Long, (more)
- 1947
Based on the humorous autobiographical book by Betty McDonald, The Egg & I casts Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray as Manhattan-dwelling newlyweds. When MacMurray enthusiastically purchases an upstate farm in the hopes of cleaning up in the egg business, Colbert cautiously goes along. The film's humor is derived from the efforts of these two hopelessly citified slickers to adapt themselves to the rigors of rural life. In a plot complication added to the film, pretty neighbor Louise Allbritton upsets the equilibrium of MacMurray and Colbert's union, but both husband and wife are happily reunited at the finale (in real life, Betty McDonald and her husband were splitsville before the book even hit the stands). Retained from the novel, though heavily laundered, were the earthy characters of farmers Ma and Pa Kettle and their huge brood of children. Marjorie Main as Ma and Percy Kilbride as Pa struck so responsive a chord with filmgoers that Universal headlined them in their own "Kettle" series of B pictures, which endured until 1956. The Egg & I would be adapted into a live TV comedy serial in 1952, with Pat Kirkland and John Craven in the leading roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, (more)
- 1946
A would-be nightclub entertainer finds her life jeopardized after she inadvertently witnesses a gangland murder while heading for an audition. Fortunately, a brave photographer is there to save her and this crime drama ends on a happy note. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1946
In this western, the leader of an outlaw band tries to take over the reins of a stagecoach line. The outlaw's gal is a singer and saloon keeper who does all she can to assist her man. It looks as if they will succeed in stealing the stage company when a good-guy intervenes. Not only does he save the stage, he also steals the girl. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirby Grant, Fuzzy Knight, (more)
- 1946
Stagecoach thieves are stalked by Wells Fargo agent Grant who wants to bring them to justice. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1946
In this western, a tuneful saddletramp is appointed sheriff of Rawhide and begins rounding up three troublesome brothers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
