Monty Margetts Movies

Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) are dispatched to a cheap hotel room, where young drug addict Mona Fenton has apparently attempted suicide. Acting upon the possibility that the girl was actually the victim of attempted murder, the two detectives conduct a citywide manhunt for Mona's supplier, identified only as "a guy with a flashy foreign car." And what about the unfortunate girl's hot-tempered boyfriend? This episode is based on the Dragnet radio broadcast of January 12, 1954. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Several holdups have been pulled off by a tall, well-dressed and very nervous thief. When store clerk Bert Matthews is killed during one of these robberies, Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) swing into action. The two detectives know that Matthews was shot with a .38, and that the thief made his getaway in a taxi. Working almost exclusively with these clues, Friday and Smith conclude that the thief and the cabbie are in cahoots--and that a previous cabbie accomplice has met the same grisly fate as the unfortunate Matthews. This episode is based on the Dragnet radio broadcast of October 5, 1950. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Told in flashback, this episode recounts the misadventures of Herman Munster (Fred Gwynne) as he prepares to attend an Army reunion. Finding that he no longer fits in his old uniform, Herman decides to go on a crash diet--a scheme that is systematically sabotaged by his wife Lily (Yvonne DeCarlo), who doesn't want her husband galavanting around with a bunch of drunken veterans. Paul Lynde returns in the role of the extremely nearsighted Dr. Dudley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The star of the Broadway version of Any Wednesday was Sandy Dennis. Headlining the 1966 film version is Jane Fonda, who imbues her character with enough quirkiness to satisfy both herself and the endearingly mannered Ms. Dennis. Fonda plays the dippy mistress of philanderer Jason Robards, who visits his paramour only on Wednesdays (hence the title). Dean Jones costars as the erstwhile swain who messes up Robards' routine by falling in love with Fonda. Screenwriter Julius J. Epstein does a expert job at expanding Muriel Resnick's play for the screen without robbing it of its inherent charm. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When Andy enrolls him in an expensive boys' camp, Opie befriends wealthy young Billy Hollander (Don Wyndham). Worried that his son's head will be turned by Billy's opulent lifestyle, Andy warns Opie not to start "putting on airs." But when he meets Billy's parents (Joyce Van Patten and Sandy Kenyon), Andy blithely ignores his own advice. First broadcast on October 9, 1967, "Opie Steps Up in Class" was written by Joe Bonaduce. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Minister Sam (Andy Griffith) and his wife Mary Elizabeth (Lee Meriweather) move to a Kansas town divided by political concerns that stall the town's progress. Will Sinclair (Henry Jones) and Alex Gresham (Edgar Buchanan) have allowed a long-standing family argument to impede the progress of the small rural community. Sam must contend with his mother-in-law (Kay Medford) and his wild brother-in-law Bubba (Jerry Van Dyke) when Bubba sets up a moonshine still in the church basement with the help of his friend Calvin (Parker Fennelly). Art Shields (Gary Collins) is the ambitious young country lawyer who runs for mayor in hopes of bringing peace to the families, and he works for the best interests of the divided community. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

War Games is the streamlined reissue title for the satirical Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? The story is set in a sleepy Southern town, the site of a tranquil army base. Commanding officer Col. Flanders (Don Ameche), anxious to win the hearts and minds of the locals, invites the populace to an ice-breaking dance. When the festivities degenerate into a fistfight, right-wing militia leader Billy Joe Davis (Tom Ewell) declares war against the Army. The film's romantic subplot is carried by Tony Curtis as a love-'em-and-leave-'em sergeant and Suzanne Pleshette as a smarter-than-she-looks local gal. Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? was reworked as in 1984 as Tank. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first half of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), John-Boy (Richard Thomas) is afforded the opportunity to qualify for a scholarship at Boatwright University--and, as icing on the cake, his former girlfriend Jenny (Sian Barbara Allen) is paying a return visit to Walton's Mountain. But joy turns to despair when John-Boy is injured in an accident, which may render him permanently blind. Meanwhile, Jason (Jon Walmsley) is beginning to have second thoughts about accepting a job from the dithery Baldwin Sisters (Mary Jackson, Helen Kleeb). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-part episode), John-Boy (Richard Thomas) refuses to reveal the seriousness of his accident, terrified that he will no longer qualify for a scholarship at Boatwright University. As John-Boy's eyesight grows weaker with each passing day, it is painfully obvious that the only way he can prevent permanent blindness is to undergo surgery. . .if it isn't already too late. Elsewhere, Olivia (Michael Learned) is outraged to discover that Jason (Jon Walsmley) has been dragooned into helping the Baldwin Sisters cook up their intoxicating "recipe"; and Ben (Eric Scott) and Grandpa (Will Geer) continue hunting for the family's Thanksgiving turkey. This episode earned an Emmy Award for scriptwriter Joanna Lee. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide