Linda Lawson Movies
Linda Lawson was a singer/actress who enjoyed a busy career from the end of the 1950s until the start of the 1970s. Born in Ann Arbor, MI, in 1936, she was three when her family moved to Fontana, CA, and she began singing while still a child. By the end of her teen years, she'd turned professional and had even managed to land an engagement at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Her singing and her memorably dark, voluptuous good looks, coupled with some natural acting ability, led to Lawson getting roles on such series as 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, One Step Beyond, M Squad, The Rifleman, and Sea Hunt in her early twenties, and she made the jump to feature films in 1960 with a role in the thriller The Threat. She also found time to record an excellent jazz-pop album during this period, but eventually acting supplanted singing as the focus of her career. Lawson's best screen role was in her second film, as the doomed, tormented Mora in Curtis Harrington's hauntingly beautiful Night Tide (1961). She remained busy throughout the 1960s, including a regular role on Adventures in Paradise for one season, and on series such as The Virginian, interspersed with occasional feature-film work, and she married producer John Foreman (1925-1992), who subsequently became business partners with actor Paul Newman. Lawson's last major screen role was in Newman's Sometimes a Great Notion (1971). She wasn't seen on the screen for several decades after that, but her daughters, Julie Foreman and Amanda Foreman, entered the movie business during the start of the 21st century; Lawson was seen again onscreen in the made-for-television feature Another Woman's Husband (2000) and in a 2005 episode of ER. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide- 1971
- PG
Also known as Never Give an Inch, this film was based on a novel by Ken Kesey. Paul Newman (who also directed) stars as Hank Stamper, the oldest son of an Oregon logging family headed by Henry (Henry Fonda). Hank's half-brother, Leeland (Michael Sarrazin), embittered over Henry's treatment of his late mother, returns after a ten-year absence to work in the family business. Leeland's presence causes friction with Henry, who resents his prodigal son's hippie mindset, and Hank, who perceives Leeland as a threat to his own position in the family structure. Hank has good reason to feel resentful: before long, his wife, Viv (Lee Remick), has entered into an affair with Leeland. Meanwhile, Henry wages an ongoing battle with the unionized loggers in the region, who threaten reprisals should Henry attempt to continue his business without union help. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Henry Fonda, (more)
- 1966
The twelve-year old heir to a fortune decides to fight back after he learns that his avaricious uncle is out to kill him in this thriller. He learns of the plot after his uncle, who is next in line for the fortune, generously invites him to visit him on a remote tropical island. To help foil the man's evil scheme, the boy enlists the aide of a young girl. It's a good thing too as the wicked relative has written a book on how to kill people and uses every trick in it to kill him including sharks, poison mushrooms, tarantulas, fire, and hypnotism to do the deed. When the children begin trying to beat him at his own game, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues until the uncle finally calls it quits and leaves the islands. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nigel Green, Mary Badham, (more)
- 1965
Lawyer Alex Morrow (Henry Jones) would like to dump his wife, Angela (Kathleen Freeman), in favor of his sexy mistress, Fiona (Linda Lawson), but he draws the line at divorce: Alex owns a valuable stamp collection, and does not want his wife to get it in the divorce settlement. Then one day, Alex becomes aware of the fact that he is being followed by a man named Richard Schausak (Robert Loggia), who happens to be a professional hitman. Seizing the opportunity, Alex hires Richard to kill Angela -- only to have a last-minute change of heart, one that will end up costing him dearly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Jones, Robert Loggia, (more)
- 1965
Telly Savalas guest-stars as Charles Hackett, the richest man in the world. Accustomed to getting what he wants, Hackett now covets the Ponderosa. When Ben Cartwright refuses to sell, Hackett uses every method at his disposal-fair and foul-to force Ben off his own property. But in so doing, Hackett all but destroys the one person in the world he genuine cares about: his beloved wife Maria (Linda Lawson). Though not the final episode in which series regular Pernell Roberts appeared, this was the final one to be telecast, on April 18, 1965. "To Own the World" was written by Ed Adamson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1964
Marion Brown (Teresa Wright) of Cleveland, OH, travels to Newark, NJ, there to meet and murder Bernice Brown (Jean Hale). It seems that Marion has discovered that her traveling-salesman husband (Dan Duryea) is a bigamist, and she is determined to knock off not only his "second" wife but also his "third" spouse, Lucille (Linda Lawson). Making matters worse for the peripatetic Mr. Brown is the fact that every time Marion strikes, he loses yet another source of income to feed his gambling habit...but the absolute worst is still to come. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Teresa Wright, Dan Duryea, (more)
- 1964
This western presents a more sympathetic view of Native Americans than is usually found in the genre as it tells the tale of the army commander of an Arizona outpost who despises all Indians until he falls in love with a beautiful missionary girl. He must change his ways because one of her parents is an Apache. Unfortunately, his attempts to reform are nearly foiled by greedy gold-seekers trying to start a war with the local Apaches. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Audie Murphy, Michael Dante, (more)
Writer/director Curtis Harrington does an admirable job working around the severe budget limitations of the 1963 psychological chiller Night Tide. Sailor Johnny (Dennis Hopper) falls in love with carnival-girl Mora (Linda Lawson), despite warnings that Mora is a "jinx" who has brought about the deaths of two previous suitors. Mora performs a mermaid act at the carnival, but to her it's no act: she believes herself the descendant of an underwater race that must kill by the light of the full moon to survive. One evening, Mora tries to kill Johnny, prompting his quick exit. He returns some time later to discover, all too late, that the film's real villain is the jealous carney owner (Gavin Muir). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Hopper, Linda Lawson, (more)
- 1961
Wealthy manufacturer and race-car enthusiast Walter Eastman (Jess Barker) imports a revolutionary new engine for an upcoming race. Along for the ride is famous European driver Vincent Danielli (Alejandro Rey)--who proceeds to betray Eastman's trust by deliberately sabotaging the engine. Not long afterward, Danielli is murdered, and Eastman is flagged as the Number One Suspect--whereupon Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) races to the rescue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
After a nasty confrontation with business rival Joyce Chapman (Linda Lawson), career woman Karen Wadsworth (Joanne Linville) expresses the wish that Joyce were dead--and before long, the wish comes true. Coincidence? Karen doesn't think so, especially after it appears that she has "willed" the deaths of a few other people. Consulting a psychiatriast (John Kellogg), Karen is assured that she is only imagining things. It's a persuasive argument, at least until Karen makes just one more casual comment...or should we say, just one "famous last word"? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
In this routine crime melodrama, detective Steve Keenan (Robert Knapp) is faced with several problems at one time. He has a reputation for using excessive force in dealing with criminals, so when he kills a gangland boss during an arrest, there is some room for doubt about the circumstances leading up to the killing. In the meantime, Keenan is dogged by an unidentified man out to avenge the death of the gangster. Aside from that continually evolving situation, there is some mystery surrounding a woman who gets involved with Keenan. The setting is Los Angeles, and the city plays its own role in the film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Knapp, Linda Lawson, (more)
- 1960
When mobster Little Dandy Dorf (Frankie Darro) makes a pass at sultry nightclub singer Georgia (Linda Lawson), he is punched out by Georgia's accompanist, Bert Haber (Myron McCormick). Publicly humiliated by the incident, Little Dandy vows to get even with Bert -- but chooses an incredibly roundabout method to do so. Future One Day at a Time co-star (Pat Harrington Jr.) has a plum role as a curiously suspicious-looking insurance salesman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Outlaw Johnny Logan (Dick Davalos) has sworn to kill a sheriff (James Westerfield) who is also named Logan-and who happens to be Johnny's father. Travelling under the alias of Sam Jackson, Johnny signs on as a Ponderosa drover, intending to murder Sheriff Logan when the Ponderosa herd passes through the sheriff's town. Also appearing is Edgar Buchanan as Hallelujah Hicks. Written by Carey Wilbur, "The Trail Gang" was first telecast on November 26, 1960. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1959
Long before their teaming in the 1998 theatrical feature Space Cowboys, James Garner and Clint Eastwood shared screen time in this hilarious Maverick episode. As a favor to his old friend Jed Christiansen (Edgar Buchanan), Bret Maverick (Garner) agrees to break up the romance between Jed's daughter Carrie (Abby Dalton) and her shiftless cowpoke boyfriend Red Hardigan (Eastwood). Unfortunately, Red has a reputation of being the fastest gun in town, which puts something of a damper in Bret's original plan to expose Red as a coward in fromt of Carrie. Quickly reverting to Plan Two, our hero claims that he will be unable to shoot it out with Red until he settles a score with the notorious gunslinger John Wesley Hardin...who bears a startling resemblance to Bret's brother Bart (Jack Kelly). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
