John McGovern Movies
The story begins as an innocuous romantic triangle involving wealthy, spoiled Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren), handsome Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor), and schoolteacher Annie Hayworth (Suzanne Pleshette). The human story begins in a San Francisco pet shop and culminates at the home of Mitch's mother (Jessica Tandy) at Bodega Bay, where the characters' sense of security is slowly eroded by the curious behavior of the birds in the area. At first, it's no more than a sea gull swooping down and pecking at Melanie's head. Things take a truly ugly turn when hundreds of birds converge on a children's party. There is never an explanation as to why the birds have run amok, but once the onslaught begins, there's virtually no letup. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, (more)
- 1961
A scenic, tobacco-road soap opera by director Delmar Daves, known more for his westerns, Parrish features Troy Donahue in the eponymous title role. Parrish's mother Ellen (Claudette Colbert in her last movie role) happens to marry one of two competing tobacco growers in the Connecticut River Valley. Her new husband and Parrish's stepfather Judd Raike (a snarling Karl Malden) drums the tobacco business into Parrish, alienating him in the bargain. The lad is soon romancing three different women: Judd's daughter Paige (Sharon Hugeny), the daughter of Judd's arch-rival, and a wanton woman of the tobacco fields. Now all that remains is for the romance and the rivalry to shake down into the winners and losers. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Troy Donahue, Claudette Colbert, (more)
1961's premiere "date" movie represented the screen debut of Warren Beatty. Set in the 1920s, William Inge's screenplay concerns the superheated romance between working-class high schooler Natalie Wood and rich kid Beatty. Trying their best to keep their relationship from going "all the way," Beatty and Wood go through a series of unsatisfying interim romances. The troubled Wood attempts suicide and is sent to a mental institution, while Beatty impregnates freewheeling waitress Zohra Lampert. Wood and Beatty still carry a torch for one another, but circumstances preclude their getting together -- and besides, Wood suddenly realizes that she's outgrown the still-floundering Beatty. Scriptwriter William Inge shows up as a minister in Splendor in the Grass, while comedienne Phyllis Diller does a cameo as famed nightclub entertainer Texas Guinan; also, keep an eye out for Sandy Dennis, making her first movie appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Natalie Wood, Warren Beatty, (more)
- 1957
Produced by Himan Brown (of radio's Inner Sanctum) and directed by John Newland (of TV's One Step Beyond), The Violators stars Arthur O'Connell as a rule-bound probation officer. When O'Connell refuses to loan $500 to his prospective son-in-law Fred Beir, the latter cooks up a swindling scheme to raise the money. This rash act causes O'Connell to realign his thinking insofar as his strained relationship with daughter Nancy Malone is concerned. The plight of the central character is subjugated to the film's central "juvenile delinquent" storyline, involving Beir and his youthful cohorts. Produced by RKO Radio, The Violators was distributed by Universal-International. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Arthur O'Connell, Nancy Malone, (more)
- 1956
This 1956 presentation of the TV anthology The Alcoa Hour represented a new collaboration between writer Ernest Kinoy and the husband-wife acting team of Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, all of whom previously worked on the highly-regarded (but low-rated) situation comedy The Marriage. Cronyn plays the title character, a scam artist named Sam Pickens who is working the suckers in 1880s New York. Posing as a clergyman, Sam insinuates himself into a posh men's club, where begins taking up a collection for a bogus missionary project. Once his victims figure out what's going on, Sam is booted into the street--where he meets a wealthy spinster named Olivia Crummit (Tandy). Sizing the woman up as a prime pigeon, Sam worms his way into the confidence of Olivia and her family, fully intending to pick them all clean. But either Sam is losing his touch, or Olivia is not quite as innocent and gullible as she seems. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1952
Based on the autobiography by George and Anna Rose, Room for One More is a warm-hearted vehicle for husband-and-wife actors Cary Grant and Betsy Drake. Though she already has three children of her own, New Jersey housewife Anna Rose (Drake) adopts several kids born into less fortunate circumstances. Both Anna and her husband "Poppy" (Grant) must contend with the emotional baggage brought to their home by these "unwanted" kids, and both bear up quite well. The film's dramatic core concerns the Roses' efforts to reach a desperately unhappy 13-year-old girl (Iris Mann) and a physically handicapped boy with a penchant for getting into serious trouble (Clifford Tatum Jr). Despite occasional moments of anguish and pathos, Room for One More for the most part opts for a light-hearted approach to its subject matter. In 1962, a TV sitcom version of Room for One More, starring Andrew Duggan and Peggy McCay, debuted as a mid-season replacement over the ABC network; at that time, the original film was re-titled The Easy Way. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cary Grant, Betsy Drake, (more)
- 1951
When I Grow Up is an uncharacteristically modest film from producer Sam Spiegel (during his "S. P. Eagle" years). Bobby Driscoll plays a young boy who feels neglected and misunderstood at home. Preparing to run away, Bobby chances across an old diary once kept by his grandfather (Charley Grapewin). Leafing through the yellowed pages, Bobby discovers that grandpa went through many of the same childhood travails that Bobby is enduring today--and look how well gramps turned out! Armed with a renewed understanding of (and appreciation for) his elders, Bobby decides to stick around for a while and see how things develop. Sadly, such a pat happy ending was not the real-life lot of Bobby Driscoll, who died an alcoholic pauper seventeen years after When I Grow Up was filmed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bobby Driscoll, Robert Preston, (more)
- 1950
Tea for Two is a Technicolor adaptation of the 1924 Broadway musical No No Nanette, previously filmed under its own title in 1929. Doris Day stars as Nanette, a Roaring '20s Jazz Baby with showbiz aspirations. Nanette offers to put up $25,000 if producer Billy DeWolfe will star her in a Broadway show. The girl's wealthy, and stingy uncle S.Z. Sakall agrees to advance her the money, but only on one condition; for the next 24 hours, Nanette must answer "No" to every question. Gordon MacRae co-stars as Nanette's attorney, who worships her from afar and who finally manages to win her hand with a little wager of his own. The songs, culled from several sources and written by hands ranging from Irving Caesar to George Gershwin, include "Crazy Rhythm," "Do Do Do," "I Want to Be Happy," "I Only Have Eyes for You" and the title number. In 1970, the original No No Nanette was successfully revived for Broadway, with veterans Ruby Keeler and Patsy Kelly in the cast. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, (more)
- 1949
Filmed in 1947, Warner Bros. Night Unto Night wasn't released until 1949. Based on a novel by Philip Wylie, the film stars Ronald Reagan as John, a young scientist suffering from epilepsy (In 1951, Reagan would play another epileptic, baseball star Grover Cleveland Alexander, in The Winning Team). Viveca Lindfors co-stars as Ann, who is recovering from the loss of her husband. Both John and Ann head to the coast of Florida for rest and relaxation, and it is here that they fall in love. While John and Ann contend with their individual afflictions and private demons, their mutual friend Shawn (Broderick Crawford) dispenses philosophical advice. The psychological aspect of Night Unto Night seems dated and simplistic when seen today; even so, Reagan and especially Lindfors are convincing in their difficult roles. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ronald Reagan, Viveca Lindfors, (more)
- 1946
A nasty rancher orders his men to kill his own half-brother for a piece of valuable ranch land in this low-budget PRC oater starring singing cowboy Eddie Dean. Bill Ryan (Kermit Maynard) is indeed cowardly ambushed by Brad Barton's (Bob Duncan) henchmen, and the following day, Barton and his equally crooked attorney, Alton Small (Ted Adams), issue an order evicting Bill's daughter, Robin (Shirley Patterson), and son, Freckles (Johnny McGovern), from their home. After courageously standing up to Barton's threats, Robin and Freckles find allies in drifters Eddie Dean and Soapy Jones (Roscoe Ates), who are secretly in league with a very much alive Bill. Eddie manages to turn one of Barton's hirelings, Gringo (Jack O'Shea), and with the further assistance of the sheriff (Frank Ellis), the Ryan ranch is saved. In between the gun play, Eddie Dean sings "Tumbleweed Trail," "Lonesome Cowboy," and "Careless Darlin'." ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eddie Dean, Roscoe Ates, (more)
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.