Nora Marlowe Movies

Having quit his job at the "Blue Ridge Chronicle", Ben (Eric Scott) is hired by a high-pressure car salesman named Jarvis (Lew Brown). The family is worried that Ben's new boss is a bad influence, especially after Ben begins courting the boss' daughter (a young Melody Thomas). Elswhere, John-Boy is frustrated in his efforts to finish his novel in peace; and over the protests of John (Ralph Waite), Olivia (Michael Learned) tries to play matchmaker for Sheriff Bridges (John Crawford) and his WW1 sweetheart Sarah (Lynn Carlin). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

John-Boy (Richard Thomas) wants to devote the upcoming edition of "The Blue Ridge Chronicle" to a commemoration of local WW1 veterans. Much to his surprise, none of the former "doughboys" wants to share his experiences--not even Sheriff Ep Bridges (John Crawford), who received several medals for valor during the war. Only after the unexpected appearance of Ep's former lady love Sarah (Lynn Carlin) is the Sheriff willing to unlock the painful memories of his past. (Note: this is the episode in which we learn how Ben Walton [Eric Scott] got his name). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After winning a national writing contest, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) is sent to cover the arrival of the dirigible Hindenburg in Lakehurst, New Jersey. But after the giant airship bursts into flames ("Oh, the humanity!"), John-Boy cannot summon up the words to describe the horrendous tragedy. Meanwhile, Mary Ellen's husband Curt (Tom Bowers) begins to worry that the family will never allow him to spend a few moments alone with his new wife. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The sixth season of The Waltons) gets under way minus two longtime series regulars: Richard Thomas as John-Boy and Ellen Corby as Grandma Walton (though both actors would return during the season as guest stars). It is 1939, and as war clouds gather in Europe, a battle of a more spiritual nature is brewing on Walton's Mountain with the arrival of new minister Hank Buchanan (Peter Fox). Though many parishioners, notably Olivia Walton (Michael Learned), are turned off by Buchanan's unorthodox approach to his calling, John Walton (Ralph Waite) warms up to him immediately--if only because the Reverend is not the traditional "hell-fire and brimstome" type. Even more impressed by Buchanan is Olivia and John's daughter Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough), whose fascination with the newcomer soon develops into a crush! Meanwhile, Grandpa Walton (Will Geer) and grandson Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) try to kill the chicken hawk that has been systematically raiding the local coops. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Walton family is startled (to say the least!) when Mary Ellen (Judy-Norton) announces her engagement to wealthy medical intern David Spencer (Robert Merritt Woods). Even more startling is Mary Ellen's insistence that the wedding take place immediately so that David can join his father's practice in Richmond. But something very strange happens betwixt and between the announcement and the wedding ceremony. This is the first half of a two-part story (orginally telecast as a single two-hour episode). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hoping to get out of her rut, Olivia (Michael Learned) allows Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) to give her a brand-new hairstyle--which ends up as a source of ridicule from the rest of the family. Meanwhile, Grandma Walton is ticked off over the news that Rev. Fordwick (John Ritter) will allow Zelda Maynard (Audrey Christie) to share Grandma's organ-playing duties at church. Whereas Olivia's "rebellion" from conformity has disastrous results, Grandma's rebellion from church policy may be even more devastating! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Disaster strikes the Walton family when their house is gutted by a raging fire. While the neighbors help John (Ralph Waite) rebuild, Olivia (Michael Learned) arranges for several neighbors to shelter her children in the interim, causing a great deal of friction between the younger Waltons and their temporary "families." Meanwhile, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) despairs over the possibility that his nearly-completed novel has gone up in smoke--and is wracked with guilt over the likelihood that he himself caused the fire. This is the first half of a two-part story, originally telecast as a single two-hour episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It is a tradition on Walton's Mountain for a young girl to declare herself eligible for marriage by participating in a quilting bee with the older ladies of the community. Feeling that this is demeaning and insulting, Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) refuses to have anything to do with the quilting ritual--and thus begins a rancorous battle of wills between Mary Ellen and Grandma Walton (Ellen Corby). Inasmuch as this would seem to be a "Ladies Only" crisis, it is somewhat surprising that Mary Ellen's brother John-Boy (Richard Thomas) comes up with a satisfying resolution. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hoping to alert the people of Walton's Mountain of the threat of Nazism, John-Boy prints excerpts from Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf in his newspaper. In so doing, John-Boy incurs the anger of Rev. Fordwick (John Ritter), who worries that Hitler's rantings will "disturb" his flock. Even more opposed to John-Boy's expression of free speech is Mrs. Brimmer (Nora Marlowe), whose late husband, a German national, had suffered from the anti-German backlash in World War One--a backlash that appears to be starting up all over again with a mass book-burning! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), the Waltons struggle to put their lives back in order in the wake of the fire that has gutted their house. John-Boy (Richard Thomas) is guilt-ridden over the likelihood that he was responsible for the blaze, while Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonugh) believes that she may have indirectly caused John-Boy's novel to be destroyed. Olivia (Michael Learned) worries that her family will be split up now that she has been forced to "redistribute" the children to various other households while John (Ralph Waite) and the neighbors rebuild the Walton home. And Ben (Eric Scott) comes to realize the value of rules and regulations after spending a few days with the footloose Yancy Tucker (Robert Donner). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Darleen Carr is cast as flighty rich girl Sis Bradford, who regards college as just another lark. Having skipped most of her classes, Sis ends up stealing John-Boy's study notes just before an important exam. Meanwhile, Jim-Bob's new friend Danny (Willie Aames), the product of an unhappy home, begins spending all his time at the Walton house. The episode's two subplots collide head-on when Danny is blamed for Sis Bradford's act of thievery--and Danny's cruel father forces him to apologize for his "crime". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Grandma (Ellen Corby) blows her top when Grandpa (Will Geer) comes home with a statue that he's won in a raffle. The statue bears a startling resemblance to one of Grandpa's old girlfriends, which of course is why he insists upon keeping it...and never mind the consequences! Elsewhere, Emily Baldwin (Mary Jackson) is outraged when John-Boy (Richard Thomas) weaves her romantic fantasies into one of his short stories. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide