William Fay Movies
- 1967
Hank Dolan (Tom Simcox), King Company's newest replacement, is a self-described "Jonah", causing mishaps and misfortune wherever he goes. Despite the trepidations of the other men, Hanley (Rick Jason) decides to take Dolan along on patrol. Sure enough, strange and inexplicable disasters begin to befall the members of the squad--and it looks like Dolan was telling the truth about being a bad-luck charm! This was the last Combat episode to be filmed, but not the last to be shown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Solo and Illya must guard Eastern European dictator Georgi Koz (Akim Tamiroff) during his Yuletide-season visit to New York City. While Koz's hard heart is melted by virtuous Salvation Army lass Priscilla Worth (Elen Willard), the two U.N.C.L.E. agents busy themselves by fending off assassins -- notably in a school for sidewalk Santas run by Francis X. O'Reilly (J. Pat O'Malley). Scriptwriter William Fay aims for warmth and whimsy, and generally succeeds. "The Jingle Bells Affair" was appropriately telecast on December 23, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
After meticulously planning a Baltimore bank robbery, four men--Hogan (Ralph Meeker) Collins (Don Quine), Cowboy (Albert Salmi and Breese (Paul Bryar)--steal only a few thousand dollars. Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) wants to know why the thieves were willing to settle for so paltry a sum. Doing a bit of digging, Erskine learns of a legendary bank robber who would likewise pull small robberies just for practice, in preparation for one big, spectacular heist. Now the Inspector must second-guess the thieves and prevent them from making their final haul. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
It's another tour of duty for Lt. Hanley (Rick Jason), Sgt. Saunders (Vic Morrow) and the men of King Company as Combat launches its fourth season. In one of those bureaucratic snafus that proliferated during WW2, pro boxer Willy Kleve (Ben Cooper) and his manager Doc Murphy (Jack Carter), originally slated for a cushy Special Services unit, are assigned to Saunders' squad instead. Knowing that Willy's hands are his meal ticket, Murphy is determined to protect his boy from harm at all costs--even if it means that the rest of Saunders' men must sacrifice their own lives. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Sentenced to 15 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Howard Clements (Bradford Dillman) is released after serving only two years. Shortly afterward, he pays a visit to Isabel Smith (Barbara Baxley), the woman whose testimony put him behind bars. Though Isabel is worried that he seeks revenge, Howard explains that he is now running a successful business, and is willing to let bygones be bygones. Ultimately, Howard and Isabel are married...but if you've guessed that this is not the end of the story, your guess is right on the money. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bradford Dillman, Barbara Barrie, (more)
- 1963
Popular movie star Lara Layne (Patricia Barry) is on the verge of wedding handsome Harry Lawrence (Robert Culp) when she is paid a visit by ex-convict George Cassidy (Stubby Kaye) -- who was himself married to Lara back when she was calling herself "Peaches." Lara is stunned by George's arrival, especially since he was reported to have died behind bars, but here he is, demanding a huge payoff to keep quiet. A struggles ensues, and Lara kills George, whereupon Harry valiantly volunteers to help her dispose of the body somewhere in Mexico, where the couple had planned to take a secret honeymoon. (Well, anyway, it was supposed to be a secret.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Culp, Stubby Kaye, (more)
This musical boxing drama finds Walter (Elvis Presley) as a recently discharged soldier looking forwork in New York's Catskill Mountains. He happens across Grogan's Gym, a boxing emporium that helps perfect the "gentle art." Proprioter Willie Grogan (Gig Young) and trainer Lew (Charles Bronson) run the camp for aspiring pugilists. Walter saves Grogan's long suffering girlfriend Rose (Joan Blackman) from an assault by a gangster when he knocks out the goon. He earns the nickname "Kid Galahad" and a chance to show off his talents in the boxing ring. While Walter trains for the big fight, Lew is approached by unsavory gamblers, who want Lew to be lax in repairing any cuts Walter sustains in the ring for a slice of the economic pie. Lew refuses and has his hands broken by the gambling goons. Although Walter knows the fix is on, he battles his way to victory against overwhelming odds and an intimidating opponent. Walter exacts revenge on the men who broke Lew's hands, which may be the first and only time in cinematic history that Charles Bronson needs any outside help. Presley delivers seven songs, the most memorable being "I Got Lucky." United Artists got lucky with the release of Kid Galahad, which drew legions of loyal Presley fans at the box office. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Gig Young, (more)
- 1962
Boxing manager Arthur "The Professor" Duffy (Robert Keith) is saddled with a punch-drunk pug named Soldier Fresno (Karl Lukas). Hoping to transform Fresno into a winner, Duffy begins injecting the boxer with a special stimulant recommended by horseplayer Boots Murphy (Frankie Darro). Before long, the reinvigorated Fresno is headed from the championship -- but things take a disastrous turn when Duffy decides to improve his chances by giving Soldier an extra "jolt." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Peter Falk guest stars as gangster Meyer Fine, a man who lives in mortal fear of sudden death. When a prominent young man commits suicide after losing heavily at Meyer's gambling house, a tough cop threatens to close Meyer down for good. To prevent this, Meyer murders the cop, only to incur the wrath of his fellow gangsters, who know they'll also suffer for the cop's death. Figuring he's a doomed man, Meyer wishes he could figure a way out of his dilemma -- a wish overheard by his loyal valet, John (Paul Hartman). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
One of the best-remembered of all the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes, "Man From the South" is a typically twisted tale from the pen of Roald Dahl. The scene is Las Vegas, where a middle-aged gent named Carlos (Peter Lorre) approaches a brash young gambler (Steve McQueen) with a peculiar wager. If the young man is able to ignite a cigarette lighter ten times in a row, Carlos will give him a new convertible. But if the lighter fails, the young man will have to sacrifice something of his own -- namely, the little finger of his right hand. "Man From the South" was later redone with José Ferrer as an episode of the syndicated anthology Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected, and still later with John Huston as a segment in the multipart pilot film for the 1985 Alfred Hitchcock Presents revival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
A short story by best-selling novelist Philip Roth (Goodbye Columbus, Portnoy's Complaint) is the basis for this sensitive -- and remarkably non-lethal! -- episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Unlike his fellow kids at summer camp, Aaron Gold (Barry J. Gordon) wants nothing to do with athletics, but does enjoy attending the ceramics class taught by frustrated artist Bernie Samuelson (played by future film director Sydney Pollack). Despite efforts from the camp's swimming instructor Lefty James (William Thourlby) to "toughen up" the spindly Aaron, Bernie encourages the boy's artistic gifts. Even so, Bernie cannot hide his disappointment when Aaron makes a clay figure of a knight with only one arm. Convinced that the neurotic Aaron simply doesn't want to finish the figure, Bernie secretly adds a second arm himself -- which proves to be a major blunder! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
It can be said with some assurance that Hollywood publicity agent Jimmy Dolan (Joby Baker) would sell his own mother to get ahead. With this in mind, it is entirely logical that Jimmy would want to milk the accidental drowning of actress Betsy Blake (Audrey Totter) for all it is worth. Selling his services to Goliath Studios, Jimmy builds a huge and lucrative campaign around the movie that Betsy had starred in before her untimely demise. Unfortunately, the campaign may go up in smoke when the "late" Ms. Blake shows up very much alive. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Scotland Yard inspector Benson (played by future "James Bond" Roger Moore) seems determined to monitor every movement made by Lady Gwendolyn Avon (Hazel Court). Benson informs his superiors that he is convinced that Lady Gwendolyn plans to smuggle a valuable emerald necklace out of the country, and then sell it so she won't have to pay the taxes on it. The story takes an unexpected turn when the necklace is stolen by a "person or persons unknown." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Used-car salesman John Forbes (Ralph Meeker) is saddled with a high-maintenance wife named Dorothy (Elizabeth Fraser), who spends far more than her husband earns. When Dorothy insists upon taking an expensive trip to New Zealand, John can stand no more. Using one of the cars on his lot, John prepares to "accidentally" kill his wife -- but his plan has one tiny, irksome flaw, namely another husband with another spendthrift spouse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Robert Horton took time off from his Wagon Train schedule to appear in this episode. Horton is cast as Brad Taylor, a man torn between two women. Brad would like to marry wealthy Janice Wright (Joyce Meadows), but his other girlfriend, Leslie Lenox (Fay Spain), refuses to break off their relationship. In desperation, Brad kills Leslie -- then is astonished by how quickly the police show up at his apartment to charge him with murder, especially since they couldn't possibly have found Leslie's body in so short a time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Arnold Shawn (Brian Keith), a brash young lawyer known for his unorthodox methods, is hired by wealthy Kenneth Jerome Sr. (Gordon Wynn) to defend his son Kenneth Jr. (Brian Hutton) on a hit-and-run charge. Among the courtroom spectators in Kenneth Jr.'s trial is Shawn's wife, Naomi (Leora Dana), who has long been aware of her husband's infidelities. Watching Shawn destroy the testimony of eyewitness Harry Babcock (William Hansen), Naomi suddenly comes up with a plan to destroy her husband as well. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Just at a point when he has everything to live for, wealthy Dave Ramey (Brian Keith) is stricken down with polio. Now confined to an iron lung, Ramey obsesses over the possibility that his wife, Cindy (Joanna Moore), plans to kill him. When Cindy falls for a handsome stranger named Arnold Barrett (Yale Wexler), it would appear that Ramey's fears are about to be realized -- but as we all know, appearances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents have a habit of being deceiving. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Art Carney guest stars as Cyril T. Jones, a timid gunsmith who is caught in the crossfire of a gangland killing. Though his wound is minor, Cyril is afraid to leave the hospital for fear he has been targeted for death because he witnessed the earlier "hit." Finally, Cyril hits upon a brilliant idea that will ensure him round-the-clock police protection: he will commit a murder himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
While driving along a country road, Harry Adams (Richard Kiley) and his wife (Patricia Breslin) are pulled over for speeding. This begins a chain reaction of events which lead to the inescapable conclusion that the town in which the Adamses are stranded is chock-full of crooks and grafters, including a corrupt traffic cop (Walter Matthau), a dishonest judge (Charles Watts), and a duplicitous car repairman (Richard Erdman). Without giving away too much of the outcome, let it be noted that Harry loudly complains about every outrage, while his nervous wife never relaxes her grip on her outsized purse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
After he accidentally kills a man whom he assumes to be his wife's lover, wealthy Lloyd Ashley (Leslie Nielsen) engages his lawyer -- and best friend -- Mark Robeson (Barry Sullivan) to defend him in court. To bind the bargain, Ashley offers Robeson half of his four-million-dollar fortune. Only after he has been exonerated does Ashley discover that the man he killed was not the only victim in the whole affair. This is the first Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode to be directed by longtime Hitchcock associate Norman Lloyd. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
