George Selk Movies
- 1962
Mob boss Big Jahnchek (Peter Whitney) escapes Federal custody and makes a beeline for his brother Gregory (R. G. Armstrong), who has managed to bury his connection to Big Steve by changing his name to John Gregory and establishing a successful fleet of tuna boats. Motivating Big Steve's getaway is the fact that the $100,000 trust fund of Helen Gregory (Susan Seaforth), whom each brother has at one time or another claimed as his own daughter, is being mismanaged by crooked Franz Moray (Steven Geray). When Moray is murdered, Gregory is charged with the crime, and a disturbing Jahnchek family secret is in danger of being exposed. It is up to Perry Mason to clear Gregory in court and to provide a happy ending for those who truly deserve one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Carter Gilman (Walter Kinsella) abruptly vanishes from his home while he is having breakfast with his daughter Muriell (Kaye Elhardt). Investigating Gilman's disappearance, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) finds evidence of a struggle in the man's workshop. He also finds a great deal of money--and before long a greater deal of money, specifically two million dollars, will enter into the proceedings, along with such diverse elements as blackmail and false identities. Ultimately, Perry must defend Gilman on a charge of murder. This episode is based on a 1960 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
After the death of his father, a highly respected attorney, Daniel Gardner (played by a pre-Hawaii 5-0) finds that his inheritance includes an old, shuttered burlesque house. Unable to understand his father's interest in such a place, Dan conducts his own investigation. Ultimately, the younger Gardner is thrust into a different time and place, as events entirely beyond his control reveal a long-suppressed secret about his father. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Superman (George Reeves) takes to the airwaves--the radio airwaves, that is--to declare war against gangster boss D.W. Griswald (Freeman Lusk). In retaliation, Griwald teams up with sinister scientist Prof. Von Brunner (George Selk), who has developed a process to extract Kryptonite from the earth and convert it into a deadly light beam (If you need reminding, Kryptonite is the only known element that can render Superman helpless). Kidnapping Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) to lure Superman into a trap, the crooks manage to gain the upper hand--until the Man of Steel decides to resort to a magic trick he'd learned from amateur illusionist (and "Daily Planet" editor) Perry White (John Hamilton). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Former Army officer Emmett Egan (Herbert Rudley) arrives in Dodge City, in hopes of eventually replacing Matt Dillon (James Arness) as the marshal. Hoping to prove to Egan that his job is no bed of roses, Matt allows him to spend a week following him around as he carries out his duties. But Egan is not satisfied with just being an observer, and he insists on showing off his peacekeeping skills--with disastrous consequences. Featured in the cast as Clarise is country music legend June Carter Cash, here billed under her maiden name. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of March 18, 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Small-town doctor Paul Beecher (John Beal) is given some strange pills by a dying elderly researcher. Later, when Paul gets a severe headache, his young daughter accidentally gives him the mystery pills. He's later puzzled by a series of strange deaths in which all the blood was drained from the bodies of the victims and then discovers the old researcher was working on a project involving vampire bats. The horrified Paul gradually begins to suspect that he himself is the killer. ~ Bill Warren, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Beal, Coleen Gray, (more)
- 1956
Former lawman Troy Carver (Wilton Graff), an old friend of Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness), arrives in Dodge with a travelling sideshow, where Troy is making a living showing off his sharpshooting skills. Lee Polen (Martin Kingsley), a farmer with long-standing grudge against Carver, also shows up in town intent upon killing the old man. Though Matt is aware that Carver is going blind, the aging gunman defiantly insists upon handling Polen himself--thus setting the stage for a surprising, and ironic, finale. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of July 18, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1956
Elderly simpleton Nip Cullers (John Dehner) shambles into Dodge City looking for a wife. Mercilessly taunted by the local dance hall girls, Nip is protected by Kitty (Amanda Blake)--whereupon the old coot declares that she will become his bride, going so far as to notify a preacher and arrange a church wedding. Outraged by Nip's presumptive behavior, Kitty threatens to blow him apart with a shotgun if he ever comes near her again. Shortly afterward, Matt (James Arness) and Chester (Dennis Weaver) find Nip lying in an alley, a shotgun wound in his back--and surrounded by the footprints of a woman. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of July 30, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1956
Two newcomers have arrived in Dodge City: Disillusioned preacher Seth Tandy (Royal Dano) and sadistic ex-boxer Sam Keeler (a pre-Rifleman Chuck Connors. Angered that Seth refuses to talk to him--or to anyone else, for that matter--Sam tries to goad the man into a fight, but no matter how much physical abuse he is forced to endure, Seth refuses to lift a hand to defend himself. Matt (James Arness) does what he can to protect Seth, but the situation won't be resolved until a climactic showdown, which yields surprising results. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of November 13, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
This time the criminal at large is a con artist who poses as a "displaced person" in need of quick cash. Each of the con man's victims is offered a handful of genuine "perfect cut" blue-white diamonds for a fraction of what they are worth--but by the time the victim has made the purchase, the real gems have been switched with all-but-worthless zircon. When Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) catch up with the phony diamond merchant, he minces no words congratulating himself for proving the old adage "You can't cheat an honest man." This episode is based on the Dragnet radio broadcast of February 16, 1954. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Convinced by Matt Dillon (James Arness) to hang up his weapons, reformed gunman Andy Travis (Adam Kennedy) settles down to an honest job in Dodge City. Unfortunately, Travis' violent past catches up with him when Joe Kite (James Griffith) saunters into town, determined to collect the $1000 bounty on Andy. It is up to Matt to make sure that justice is served--and that the reprehensible Kite leaves empty-handed. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of March 5, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
The departmental rotation wheel spins once more, and Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) are assigned to the LAPD Business Office on a typically frantic Saturday morning. Throughout their shift, the two dectetives dispense advice on police procedure, issue weapons and other materiel, and handle such "citizen traffic" as an eccentric lady carrying a box of gift-wrapped uranium, a "trapped skunk" report, an old man who can't remember who or where he is, and, on a more serious note, a homicide stemming from a drunken domestic squabble. This episode was adapted from the Dragnet radio broadcast of August 31, 1954. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
