Howard McNear Movies
Character actor Howard McNear made a name for himself on network radio in a vast array of characterizations, from snivelling murderers to dapper French detectives. McNear's best-known radio role was as Doc on Gunsmoke, which ran from 1955 to 1962; his spin on the character was slightly more ghoulish than the interpretation offered by Milburn Stone on television. In films from 1954, the bespectacled, mustachioed McNear was usually cast as a querulous fussbudget. He was spotlighted as Dr. Dompierre in Otto Preminger's Anatomy of a Murder (1959), and was prominently featured in three Billy Wilder comedies, Irma La Douce (1963), Kiss Me Stupid (1964) and The Fortune Cookie (1966). He appeared with frequency on TV in the 1950s and 1960s, often as a foil to such comedians as Jack Benny and Burns and Allen. Howard McNear's most beloved TV characterization was as Mayberry barber Floyd Lawson on The Andy Griffith Show; when McNear suffered a debilitating stroke in 1967, Griffith kept him on the payroll, re-writing the scripts to allow "Floyd" to be seated and non-ambulatory without drawing undue attention to McNear's affliction. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1966
Jess Pearson, who played Conrad Birdie in the 1963 film version of Bye Bye Birdie, is here cast as celebrated country-western singer Keevy Hazleton. Aunt Bee and Clara successfully persuade Keevy to record a song they've written about Mayberry. When the ladies attend the recording session, they are sorely displeased with Keevy's interpretation of their masterpiece. Written by Stan Dreben and Howard Merrill, "A Singer in Town" originally aired April 11, 1966, as the final episode of The Andy Griffith Show's sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
My Blood Runs Cold was a typically lurid horror chiller produced and directed by William Conrad during his 1960s tenure on the Warner Bros. staff. Heiress Joey Heatherton falls prey to the charms of a handsome young man (Troy Donahue) who claims to be the reincarnation of a legendary lothario. Troy further insists that Joey had been his lover in a previous life. Pretty soon Joey nearly has the opportunity to check out the veracity of Troy's story in the Hereafter, for Mr. Donahue is actually a psychopath who hopes to claim Ms. Heatherton's fortune and then bump her off. My Blood Runs Cold is silly enough to have been dreamt up by Bill Conrad while he was narrating Rocky and His Friends. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Troy Donahue, Joey Heatherton, (more)
- 1965
In this domestic comedy, a high school graduate causes chaos when he tells his parents that he is going to get married and remain at home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ricky Nelson, Jack Kelly, (more)
- 1965
Goober finds himself the servant of two masters when he simultaneously promises to answer the courthouse phone in Andy's absence, and to perform emergency maintenance on Gilly Walker's automobile. Killing two birds with one stone, Goober takes Gilly's car apart piece by piece and reassembles the vehicle within the courthouse walls. Naturally, Andy blows his stack, but it turns out that Goober has actually done the Sheriff a big public-relations favor. The role of Gilly is played by future Hogan's Heroes and Laugh-In regular Larry Hovis. Written by Bill Idelson and Sam Bobrick, "Goober Takes a Car Apart" first aired on January 11, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Clara coerces Andy into taking up a collection to buy a new church organ. But when time comes for the donors to ante up the money that they promised, everyone begs off. Taking matters in her own hands, Clara tries to charm the owner of the organ-a taciturn bachelor named Harlan Robinson (Woodrow Chambliss)-into donating the instrument for free. Written by Paul Wayne, "The Church Organ" was originally telecast on December 13, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Aunt Bee becomes quite the celebrity when she wins an abundance of prizes on the TV game show Win or Lose. As her fame grows, so does her ego-at least until the IRS shows up to burst her bubble. "Aunt Bee on TV" was filmed before the series' three-episode "Hollywood arc" ("Off to Hollywood", "Taylors in Hollywood" and "The Hollywood Party"), but telecast afterward, on November 15, 1965. The episode was written by Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
It is time again for Founder's Day in Mayberry, and on this occasion a mobile museum has arrived in town. Meanwhile, deputy Warren struggles to get the park's ornamental cannon in working condition, hoping to fire a salute in honor of the governor's visit. As an added plot complication, a gang of crooks has shown up in town, planning to take advantage of the excitement by staging a heist. Written by Jack Elinson, "The Cannon" originally aired on November 22, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Burns
- 1965
Using a toy walkie-talkie, youngsters Opie and Tommy (Michael Petit) trick gullible Goober into thinking that his dog Spot can talk. Andy eventually figures out what's going on, and with Goober's help he teaches the two pranksters a lesson. Written by Ben Joelson and Art Baer, "A Man's Best Friend" was filmed as the 170th episode of The Andy Griffith Show. It was, however, shown as the series' 171st installment, on November 29, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
The Belmont Film Company of Hollywood decides to make a feature film about Andy's life and career, titled Sheriff Without a Gun. Accordingly, the studio sends Andy a check for $1000-and before long, everyone has come out of the woodwork to advise Andy how best to spend his sudden windfall. Finally, Andy decides to use the money to visit Hollywood, with Aunt Bee and Opie in tow. The first installment of the three-episode "Hollywood arc," "Off to Hollywood" was written by Bill Idelson and Sam Bobrick, and first aired on October 25, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Andy's new deputy Warren Ferguson is convinced that he, Warren, has psychic powers. When Andy and Helen refuse to heed his warnings of an impending accident, Warren decides to teach them a lesson by carefully staging the aforementioned mishap. Written by Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen, "A Warning from Warren" was filmed after The Andy Griffith Show's "Hollywood arc" (the three episodes wherein Andy goes to Hollywood with Aunt Bee and Opie), but telecast earlier, on October 18, 1965. In fact, it was originally slated to air on October 11, until the producers opted to "introduce" the character of Warren with the episode titled "The Bazaar." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aneta Corsaut, Howard McNear, (more)
- 1965
Bernard Fox makes a return visit to The Andy Griffith Show in the role of resourceful Britisher Malcolm Merriwether. This time around, Andy appoints Malcolm as Mayberry's crossing guard, replacing the unreliable Ernest T. Bass. Outraged, Ernest T. invokes his Irish heritage and challenges the "British-ter" to a fist fight. Fully aware that Ernest will probably slaughter Malcolm (especially since the Englishman is taking boxing lessons from Goober!), Andy has to do some mighty quick thinking. Written by Harvey Bullock and first telecast September 27, 1965, "Malcolm at the Crossroads" represented the final Andy Griffith Show appearances of both Malcolm Merriwether and Ernest T. Bass. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bernard Fox, Howard Morris, (more)
- 1965
Aunt Bee finds a soulmate in the form of retired US Congressman John Canfield (Charlie Ruggles). Before long, both of the oldsters are behaving like schoolkids-and wearing each other out in the process. "Aunt Bee, the Swinger" was the first color episode of The Andy Griffith Show, albeit the fourth such episode to be telecast, on October 4, 1965. It was scripted by Jack Elinson as his first series contribution minus his longtime writing partner Charles Stewart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Switching from black-and-white to color at the outset of its sixth season, The Andy Griffth Show began "the color years" with the episode titled "Opie's Job" (actually the series' second color episode). After wrecking his bike, Opie tries out for a box-boy job at Foley's Market. He wins the position over another boy, Billy Crenshaw (John Bangert), then discovers that Billy needs the job more than he does. Generously, Opie arranges to get himself fired-and, naturally, his dad Andy misunderstands. "Opie's Job" first aired on September 13, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
When the ladies of Mayberrry complain about the hootchie-kootchie dancers at a travelling carnival, Andy is forced to close the show down. As a result, the carnival's "one man band", Jerry Miller (Jerry Van Dyke) is thrown out of work. Feeling sorry for Jerry, Andy hires the man as a potential replacement for departing deputy Barney-and lives to regret it. Written by Bob Ross, "Banjo-Playing Deputy" originally aired May 3, 1965, as the final episode of The Andy Griffith Show's fifth season; it was also the series' last black-and-white episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Stumbling upon a satchel containing $250,000 in stolen bank money, Barney uses the dough to bring the bandits out into the open. Alas, Barney's master plan comes undone when the money is claimed by an "FBI agent"-who turns out to be one of the crooks. Featured in the cast are Al Checco as Hennessy, Robert Brubaker as Brewster, Byron Foulger as Fred, and Hank Patterson as the fleeing hobo who sets the plot in motion. Written by Bob Ross, "If I Had a Quarter Million" originally aired on February 15, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Cleaning out old courthouse files, Barney comes across a never-closed assault case involving Floyd the barber and Charlie Foley (Frank Ferguson). The incident happened so long ago that both Floyd and Charlie have forgotten all about, but that's not good enough for a completist like Barney. In attempting to "reconstruct" the events leading up to the case, Barney succeeds only in rekindling old hostilities, which spread like wildfire throughout Mayberry. Written by Bill Idelson and Sam Bobrick, "The Case of the Punch In the Nose" was first shown on March 15, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Anticipating the imminent departure of Don Knotts from The Andy Griffith Show, the series' producers tested a number of actors to replace Knotts as Griffith's sidekick. One such actor was comedian Don Rickles, who played the title role in the April 12, 1965 episode "The Luck of Newton Monroe." A spectacularly unsuccessful travelling salesman, Newton suffers from a distinct lack of self-esteem. In trying to help Newton find his proper place in life, Andy hires him to paint the Taylor house-but Newton is as inept a painter as he is a peddler. "The Luck of Newton Monroe" was written by Bill Idelson and Sam Bobrick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Rickles
- 1965
Andy balks at the notion of entertaining Aunt Bee's house-guest, a young girl named Gloria (Jan Shutan) who is nursing a broken heart. He then expresses jaw-dropping astonishment when Gloria turns out to be a very attractive woman. Likewise astonished, and not a little outraged, is Andy's hometown girlfriend Helen Crump. First broadcast on March 8, 1965, "Guest in the House" was written by Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aneta Corsaut
- 1965
A magazine story about Andy, titled "The Sheriff Without a Gun," attracts the attention of a group of Hollywoodites, who come to Mayberry announcing their plans to develop a TV series about Sheriff Taylor. Naturally, the town rolls out the red carpet for the visiting dignitaries, who immediately set about filming a robbery scene at the local bank. But Andy suspects that the Hollywood folks are not exactly whom they claim to be. Future Mary Tyler Moore regular Gavin Macleod appears as self-proclaimed TV writer Gilbert Jamel. Scripted by Ben Joelson and Art Baer, "TV or Not TV" first aired on March 1, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Offered a job in South America, Andy convinces Barney to run for the office of sheriff. But when the job falls through, Andy returns, fully expecting his old pal Barn' to drop out of the electoral race. Instead, the two former chums become bitter political enemies, culminating in a "great debate" wherein mudslinging is the order of the day. Rest assured, however, that all will turn out well by the final commercial break. First seen on February 8, 1965, "Barney Runs for Sheriff" was written by Richard M. Powell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Laughing at Barney's trepidations, Andy throws away a chain letter, which offers the usual dire predictions to anyone who ignores its message. Before long, all sorts of mishaps befall Barney, leading him to conclude that he is too "jinxed" to pass the upcoming police officer's pistol qualification. Andy enlists the (unwitting) aid of Goober to put the superstitious Barney at ease. First shown on January 25, 1965, "The Lucky Letter" was written by Richard M. Powell and directed by future cult-film auteur Theodore J. Flicker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
When all his efforts to reform town drunk Otis Campbell fail, Barney orders Otis to do all his future drinking in Mount Pilot. Before long, however, Barney and Andy realize that they miss old Otis. Utilizing Barney's "psychological therapy" ploy, Andy tries to lure everyone's favorite tosspot back to Mayberry. Written by Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen, "The Rehabilitation of Otis" made its network TV bow on January 18, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hal Smith
- 1964
Filmed as the first episode of The Andy Griffith Show's fifth season, "Barney's Bloodhound" was not telecast until October 26, 1964, by which time the season was already six weeks old. Hoping to track down an escaped convict (Arthur Banatides), Barney adds a stray bloodhound named Blue to the Mayberry Police Force. Alas, Blue does not respond to Barney's commands-and even worse, the dog develops a strong affection for the fugitive! "Barney's Blodhound" was written by Bill Idelson and Sam Bobrick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Leaving his usual jail cell after sobering up from his weekly bender, Otis Campbell trips and falls. Though the injury is minor, Barney insists that Otis sign all manner of documents absolving the county of any blame. This insignificant incident mushrooms into a major crisis when Otis falls into the clutches of an ambulance-chasing lawyer named Bentley (Jay Novello). Written by Bob Ross, "Otis Sues the County" was originally shown on December 28, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hal Smith
- 1964
Barney is hoodwinked into purchasing a "magic kit" at an auction. Convinced of his ability to summon up the 200-year-old spirit of Count Iz Van Tileckie, Barney is equally convinced that he himself is possessed with the power of fortunetelling. His efforts to predict the future and grant wishes succeed only in getting Barney into hot water once more. First shown on December 21, 1964, "Three Wishes for Opie" was written by Richard M. Powell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
