Adrienne Marden Movies
- 1977
Not long after Jim (James Garner) hides his .38 in a cookie jar, he is charged with murder when the weapon is used in a gas station holdup. Can the pilfering of the pistol have anything to do with Viola Wenke (Nora Marlowe), the new cleaning lady that Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.) talked Jim into hiring? Perhaps--but first the detective must figure out the connection between the murder of a gas station attendant and a radical paramilitary group headed by one Lee Ronstadt (Adrienne Marden). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Through a series of misunderstandings and misapprehensions, Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) arrives at the conclusion that he isn't a "real" Walton at all--and that he is instead an adopted foundling. Fueling the boy's suspicion is the fact that no one in family seems willing to discuss the "mysterious" circumstances surrounding his birth. Only at episode's end is Jim-Bob given the real reason why so many secrets have been kept from him for so many years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Now that he's had a taste of performing with Bobby Bigelow's band, Jason (Jon Walmsley) aspires to a career in music. But father John (Ralph Waite), who has plans of expanding his lumber business as "Walton and Sons", is dead set against Jason pursuing his dream. Thus, when the opportunity arises to land a music scholarship with the prestigious Klineberg Conservatory, Jason must send in his application without John's knowledge. The inevitable father-son clash is tempered somewhat by a "disinterested" third party: namely, John-Boy (Richard Thomas). Jon Walmsley performs his own composition, "The Maiden and the Soldier", in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Rummaging through a second-hand purse which she has purchased in anticipation of going to a dance with John-Boy's friend Mike (Ted Eccles), Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) finds a valuable ring. Allowing vanity to get the better of her, Mary Ellen decides to wear the ring to the dance, even as its previous owner Mrs. Breckenride (Adrienne Marden) announces that the ring is missing. A crisis ensues when our heroine loses the ring somewhere in the school gym--necessitating a nocturnal "burglary" involving two of the Walton kids. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
No sooner has Olivia (Michael Learned) taken a job as a door-to-door salesman to help make ends meet in the Walton home than she discovers she is pregnant...again. As John (Ralph Waite) wonders if the family can afford another child, his youngest daughter Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) makes no secret of her disappointment over being supplanted as the "baby" of the family. Ultimately, the family comes to accept what seems to be The Inevitable--and then an unexpected plot twist puts the situation in a whole new light. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
At large in the Bay Area is an elusive maniac who has assaulted several different women--all blondes, all single and living alone, all approximately 25 years old. There was one other thing that the victims had in common: all of them had met their assailant through a computer dating service. In order to bring the criminal out in the open, Eve (Barbara Anderson) signs up for the service and sets herself up as bait. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Tragedy strikes the Ironside team when policewoman Eve Whitfield (Barbara Anderson) is seriously injured in a shooting. As Eve hovers between life and death, Ironside (Raymond Burr) flashes back to his first meeting with the socialite-turned-cop, a time when he was unconvinced that she was cut out for police work (and incidentally, when he was still able to move around without a wheelchair). Meanwhile, Sgt. Ed Brown (Don Galloway) is poised to take the law in his own hands and kill Eve's attacker unless Ironside and Mark (Don Mitchell) can talk him out of it. Featured in the cast of this "retrospective" episode Quinn Redeker, who later shared an Oscar for his screenplay contributions to the 1978 theatrical feature The Deer Hunter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Like many another seven-year-old, Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) has invented an invisible friend--in his case, a giant bear named Arthur. When Jody starts getting in trouble at school and blaming "Arthur" for his mischief, Uncle Bill (Brian Keith) consults child psychologist Dr. Dorothy Cramer (Adrienne Marden) for advice. Theorizing that Jody is using Arthur to release his pent-up anger, Dr. Cramer suggest that Bill pretend to "accept" the nonexistent bear into the Davis household--which turns out to be a major error in judgement! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Emma Morgan (Adrienne Marden, the jealous wife of religious cult leader Rev. Evan Morgan (John Doucette), is convinced that Morgan's niece Sarah Reynolds (Ina Balin) is possessed by the Devil. It is up to Ben Cartwright to save Sarah from a grisly demise at the hands of Morgan's more rabid followers. Also in the cast are Peter Helm as Gwylem and Angela Dorian (aka Victoria Vetri) as Essie. First broadcast October 17, 1965, "Devil on Her Shoulder" was written by Suzanne Clauser. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1964
Behind every great woman, there's a man who isn't so sure he's happy to be there -- or at least that's the state of affairs in this gender-switch comedy. Leslie McCloud (Polly Bergen) makes history when she becomes the first woman elected to the office of President of the United States. However, while Leslie's achievement is a great step forward for women, her husband Thad McCloud is less enthusiastic about his own role in closing the gender gap. Thad soon finds his daily schedule is filled with meeting women from garden clubs, his official quarters are still filled with pink and frilly furniture from the previous resident, and Leslie's extremely busy schedule is putting a severe crimp in their love life. While Thad stews over his lowly status as a male "First Lady," Leslie is attempting to avoid an international incident by negotiating with Latin dictator Valdez (Eli Walach), who develops a less-than-diplomatic interest in the Leader of the Free World. Kisses For My President also features Arlene Dahl, Edward Andrews, and Ana Capri. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred MacMurray, Polly Bergen, (more)
- 1964
Having followed the trail of the One-Armed Man to Northern Wisconsin, Kimble (David Janssen) runs afoul of a mean-spirited sheriff named Deebold (John Doucette). In his efforts to elude the vindictive lawman, Kimble steals a car--which by a cruel twist of fate belongs to his perennial pursuer Lt. Gerard (Barry Morse. Worse still, Kimble has inadvertently kidnapped Gerard's son Phil Jr. (played by a young Kurt Russell), who is every bit as determined to bring the Fugitive to "justice" as his father. Featured in the cast are Slim Pickens as colorful mountain man Corbin, and guest star Kurt Russell's real-life father Bing Russell as Davis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Everybody knows the "punchline" of this classic Twilight Zone episode, but that doesn't make this entry any less entertaining. Told in flashback (a last-minute decision, judging by the original script), this is the story of the Kanamints, a race of giant space aliens who arrive on Earth, ostensibly on a mission of goodwill. The Kanamints offer all manner of scientific advancements; all they ask in exchange is that the earthlings trust them without question. Meanwhile, a team of scientists, headed by Dr. Chambers (Lloyd Bochner), work day and night to translate a Kanamint book, the title of which is, of course, "To Serve Man." Richard Kiel, the 7-foot-plus actor who gained fame as "Jaws" in the James Bond series, appears as the Kanamint leader (though his voice is dubbed by Marvin Miller. Scripted by Rod Serling from a short story by Damon Knight, "To Serve Man" was originally telecast March 2, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lloyd Bochner, Richard Kiel, (more)
This moody and controversial drama takes place in Depression-era New Orleans. Dove (Laurence Harvey) has traveled by bus from Texas to find his wayward lover Hallie (Capucine). He meets young Kitty Twist (Jane Fonda) as the two get off in the crescent city. Teresina (Anne Baxter) gives him a job at her small cafe. In his free time, Dove searches for Hallie and finds her at work as a prostitute in the Doll's House. Dove implores Hallie to return to him but she refuses. When the lecherous lesbian madame Jo (Barbara Stanwyck) discovers Dove's intentions towards Hallie, she has him beaten to a bloody pulp by her hired goons. He is found by Kitty, now a happy hooker at the Doll House, and is taken back to the cafe where the compassionate Teresina heals his physical and emotional wounds. The film taken from the novel by Nelson Algren is much tamer than the original text. The title track, sung by Brook Benton, was nominated for an Academy Award. The "black-cat stalking" opening and closing sequences (by designer Saul Bass) is a perfect little "film-within-a-film." This footage, with its superb lighting, framing, panning, and editing, should be appreciated by anyone who wants to know more about the art of cinematography. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Harvey, Capucine, (more)
In this film based on a true story, Burt Lancaster plays Robert Stroud, a withdrawn prison inmate who cures a sick bird that flies into his cell and eventually becomes a world-renowned ornithologist -- all while serving a life sentence. An overbearing warden (Karl Malden) eventually transfers Stroud to the notoriously brutal prison on Alcatraz, but he is able to continue his research, abort a riot, start a romance, and eventually get his story out through a determined reporter (Edmond O'Brien). Directed with his usual solid craftsmanship by John Frankenheimer, Birdman Of Alcatraz tells a quietly moving tale for which Lancaster, Telly Savalas (as one of Stroud's fellow inmates), and Thelma Ritter (as Stroud's mother) all received Oscar nominations. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, (more)
- 1961
The price of fish in New York City has gone up nearly fifty percent, and it's all because of mobster Frank Makouris (Ricardo Montalban), who wields control over Fulton's Fish Market with an iron hand, killing and maiming his enemies in broad daylight. With Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) collaborating with a Federal Grand Jury to bring Makouris down, Joe "The Teacher" Kulak (Oscar Beregi) orders Frank to lay off on the strongarm stuff. . .at least until the heat is off. But Makouris merely steps up his campaign of terror, forcing Kulak to throw a lesser hoodlum to the wolves to get the Feds off the trail--a plan that backfires disastrously. With this episode, Gene Roth becomes the first of several actors to play the role of infamous gangster Louie "Lepke" Buchalter, while Robert Wilke takes over from Lawrence Dobkin in the role of Dutch Schultz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Nehemiah Persoff, who appeared in the premiere Untouchables episode as mob accountant Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik, returns to the series in the role of crooked gambler Johnny Fortunato. Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) is reunited with his former school chum Frank Barber (Jack Warden), now the owner of the Chicago Sports Palace--and one of many entrepreneurs forced to pay tribute to Fortunato. A series of violent incidents convince Ness that Barber and his girlfriend Chickie (Madlyn Rhue) are in desperate need of police protection. What Elliot doesn't know is that old buddy Frank is setting him up as a dupe in an elaborate scheme to blackmail Fortunato and his flunkeys. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
While Alice Wagner (Spring Byington) is leaving a movie late one night, her purse is stolen by an unseen assailant. Heading to the police station to report the crime, Alice thumbs through the mug book -- only to find the picture of a criminal who closely resembles her own son-in-law Leo (Harp McGuire). Worried that it was Leo who robbed her, Alice confronts her daughter Mabel (Bethel Leslie), thereby setting the stage for a shocking conclusion to this sordid little affair. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Much to her astonishment, Eva Martell (played by Maggie Mahoney, the mother of Oscar-winning actress Sally Field) is paid $100 a day and installed in a luxurious apartment: all she has to do is impersonate another woman named Helen Reynolds (Paula Raymond). Eva and her Aunt Agnes (Sheila Bromley) begin to smell a rat when they notice that the apartment is being watched day and night by seedy private eye Melvin Slater (Joe De Santis). Investigating of Eva's behalf, Perry (Raymond Burr) is assured by the real Helen Reynolds that everything is on the up-and-up, though she won't reveal the reasons for the deception. Things take a really sinister turn when Slater is murdered and Aunt Agnes is arrested for the crime. This episode is based on a 1946 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1956
The dramatic weight of Man From Del Rio rests securely on the broad shoulders of star Anthony Quinn. Cast as an indigent Mexican gunslinger, Quinn is asked by an old pal to clean up an outlaw-ridden western town. Knowing that his reputation is exaggerated, Quinn relies on braggadocio and bluff to keep the villains at bay. But when he is appointed town sheriff, it is "put up or shut up" time. Katy Jurado, who'd become "typed" as a western actress since High Noon, costars as Quinn's would-be lover. Man From Del Rio offers little that hasn't been seen before, but Anthony Quinn keeps things moving at a fast and exciting clip. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Katy Jurado, (more)
- 1955
Joseph Kramm's Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play The Shrike was brought to the screen by its original director/star, Jose Ferrer. Most of the film takes place in a state hospital, where theatrical director Jim Downs (Ferrer) is convalescing after a suicide attempt. Downs' wife Ann (June Allyson) visits every day, ostensibly to offer support and comfort to her husband. In truth, Ann is the "shrike" of the title, tearing into Downs and mercilessly berating him for his lack of success. To the rest of the world, however, Ann is a self-sacrificing saint, because that's the side of her personality that she prefers to display. Unless Jim can escape Ann's harangues, he will be driven completely over the edge. The script, by Ketty Frings, adds all sorts of motivations for Ann's abusive behavior, thereby softening the misogynism of the original play. June Allyson does as best as she can in a most atypical role, though one would liked to have seen the original "shrike", Judith Evelyn, whose talents were never sufficiently utilized by Hollywood. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- José Ferrer, June Allyson, (more)
- 1955
This laid-back western manages to deliver a full quota of action, an agreeable dash of sentiment, and quite a few three-dimensional characterizations. Van Heflin plays Luke Fargo, a Civil War veteran who returns to his Southern homeland to find his house destroyed, his crops burned out, and the local town under the thumb of "white trash" Vancey Huggins (Raymond Burr). In addition, Fargo is on the outs with the townsfolk because he fought for the Union instead of the Confederacy. Having grown weary of death and killing, Fargo hopes to start life anew as a minister, and to that end intends to rebuild the town's only church. Complicating matters is the presence of unkempt, hoydenish teenager Lissy (Joanne Woodward, in her film debut). Though Fargo's feelings for Lissy are basically paternal, the townsfolk, stirred up by Huggins, suspect the worst and prepare to drive the novice minister out of town. A happy--or at least satisfying--ending is reached through a series of logical events not often seen in "formula" westerns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Van Heflin, Joanne Woodward, (more)
- 1955
The "one desire" of ex-gamblers Rock Hudson and Anne Baxter is to escape their shady former lives and settle down to respectability. Rock and Baxter move to a small town, with Hudson's younger brother (Barry Curtis) and an orphaned girl (Natalie Wood) in tow. Julie Adams, daughter of the town banker, set her sights on Hudson and tries to win him away from Baxter. Adams dies in a convenient-to-the-plotline fire, but everybody else lives happily ever after. Conrad Richter's novel Tracey Cromwell was the base for this 1890s soap opera, produced by Ross Hunter with a veneer of class that the material itself lacks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anne Baxter, Rock Hudson, (more)
- 1954
Detective Frank Smith (Ben Alexander) gets word that four vicious hoodlums who have cut quite a swath of crime and terror in San Francisco are headed for LA. Setting up a stakeout in a seedy hotel, Smith and his partner Joe Friday (Jack Webb) must contend with a drunken desk clerk (Peter Leeds) while waiting to pounce upon the four outlaws. Based on the Dragnet radio broadcast of March 14, 1950, this is one of the most readily accessible of the original black and white TV episodes, and no wonder: one of the thugs is played by a young and very swarthy-looking Leonard Nimoy (complete with pencil mustache!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this suspenseful drama, based on a John Dickson Carr novel, blissfully happy newlywed Ruth Bowman (Jeanne Crain) boards a transatlantic ocean liner with her new husband John (Carl Betz). A few days later, however, John suddenly disappears. Ruth quickly discovers that her cruise ticket was made out under her maiden name, and that her "husband" never even bought one. To make matters worse, no one on board admits to ever having seen them together. Only the ship's doctor (Michael Rennie) believes the distraught bride's story. Together they discover the truth about her husband's disappearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeanne Crain, Michael Rennie, (more)
- 1953
There's a lot more physical action than usual in this episode, in which Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) chase after an armed bandit with a history of successful jail breaks. In the course of events, the "perp" not only busts out of a county jail, but also an Army stockade. A fierce gun battle caps the action--but only after a great deal of diligent detective work and laborious research! Adapted from the Dragnet radio broadcast of December 14, 1950, this episode features the TV series' longtime production designer Harper Goff in an acting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
