Ray Middleton Movies

Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is profoundly touched by a terminally ill GI (well played by a young Patrick Swayze) who is more concerned about the plight of his wounded pal. Unfortunately, the fact that Hawkeye can do nothing for the dying soldier exacts quite an emotional toll. All this occurs while a nervous Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) prepares for a visit from no-nonsense Cardinal Reardon (Ray Middleton). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The first independent production of former studio mogul Jack Warner, 1776 was adapted from the hit 1969 Broadway musical by Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards. William Daniels, Ken Howard, and Howard Da Silva are among the many actors who recreate their Broadway roles. The story is set during the first Continental Congress, when the Declaration of Independence was drafted by such founding fathers as John Adams (Daniels) and Benjamin Franklin (Da Silva). The script attempts to "humanize" these remote historical figures by contemporizing them -- particularly the character of Ben Franklin. Blythe Danner's character of Martha Jefferson is expanded for the film version to allow for an elaborate outdoor production number. After 1776, Warner made only one more film, the 1972 "grunge Western" Dirty Little Billy. On an added note: the picture was originally rated G with its theatrical running time of 141 minutes. It was later expanded to 166 minutes; the added scenes caused the MPAA to re-rate it PG (for language) in 1992. Both versions are available on video. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the first half of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), Ironside (Raymond Burr) begins to question his judgment in a manslaughter case which occurred seven years ago. At the time, the Chief rammed through the conviction of chief suspect Walter Booth (William Campbell). Now armed with new evidence, Ironside works hand and glove with Booth's attorney Ken Klaven (Cameron Mitchell) to secure the man's release--despite the formidable opposition of the DA's office, which is determined to keep Booth behind bars. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this drama, a divinity student endeavors to help the police break up the rackets by impersonating his jailed brother, a gangster. In his disguise, he gets into his brother's gang and cons them into to uniting with other gangs to improve efficiency. He then coerces them into keeping careful records of their various rackets. Trouble ensues when the real gangster brother busts out of jail and threatens to expose his brother. Fortunately, he is accidently killed by one of his own men. The good brother's actions bear fruit when all the racketeers are exposed, rounded-up, and sent to jail. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Produced as an installment of television's Shower of Stars, Maxwell Anderson's adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic stars Fredric March as Ebenezer Scrooge and Basil Rathbone as the spirit of Jacob Marley. Just when it seems that Scrooge has had his fill of the holiday season, a visit from the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future afford him the opportunity to seek redemption before it's too late. Featuring a score by legendary composer Bernard Hermann, this production of A Christmas Carol co-stars Bob Sweeney, Bonnie Franklin, and Sally Fraser. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Ray Middleton and Bill Shirley, Republic Pictures' answer to Hope and Crosby, star in Sweethearts on Parade. Middleton and Shirley play Cam Ellerby and Bill Gamble, the featured singers in a travelling medicine show. While stopping over in a small town, Cam renews his acquaintance with his former wife Sylvia (Eileen Christy), who now has a pretty, grown-up daughter -- Kathleen -- played by Lucille Norman. When Kathleen makes noises about a show-business career, Sylvia won't hear of it -- nor does she approve of her daughter's romance with Bill. One gets the sneaking suspicion that everything will turn out all right in the end for all four protagonists. With 26 songs in the picture, how could things not turn out all right? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Ray Middleton portrays the title character in Republic's Hurricane Smith. Mistakenly arrested on a holdup charge, Smith escapes, catches up with the real crooks, and forces them to hand over the dough. Had he returned it then and there the picture would have been over almost before it began; instead, Smith uses the money to build a Utopian city in the desert for himself and his lovely bride Joan (Jane Wyatt). Eventually, one of the criminals, Eggs Bonelli (J. Edward Bromberg), catches up with Smith and demands an exorbitant sum to keep his mouth shut. But Bonelli is silenced permanently by faithful Joan, who's not quite as demure as she seems. The 1952 Republic feature Hurricane Smith is not a remake of this offbeat romantic melodrrama. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The beautiful Florida Keys provide the setting of this adventure that tells the tale of a fun-filled fishing trip that becomes a nightmare when the charter boat is wrecked on an isolated island. Unfortunately, there are very few provisions and the group must fend for themselves. They are eventually assisted by a hermit, but before that one of the group goes insane, and another is eaten by an alligator. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

John Wayne goes up against the lottery racket, 1880 Louisiana-style, in this passable time-killer from Republic Pictures. Arriving from New England to look into the Louisiana lottery on behalf of uplifter Blanche Brunot (Helen Westley), attorney John Reynolds (Wayne) falls in love with sultry Julie Mirbeau (Osa Munson), who attempts to persuade him that her father's gaming business is on the up and up. When a New Orleans restaurateur, Gaston (Shimen Ruskin), is found murdered, Reynolds begins to suspect that General Mirbeau's (Henry Stephenson) gang is behind the killing. To meet the attorney halfway, Mirbeau fires his chief henchman, Blackie (Ray Middleton), but is himself killed by one of Blackie's men, Cuffy Brown (Jack Pennick). Reynolds, who has been appointed special city attorney, pays his respect to Julie, but the angry girl accuses him of indirectly causing the death of her father and then flaunts her engagement to Blackie. Said engagement, however, suffers a fatal blow when Julie finds her fiancé in the arms of gambling hall hostess Pearl (Jacqueline Dalya). Taking the stand in court against the racket, Julie's testimony is interrupted when a rainstorm sweeps the area, breaking a levee. While pursuing a fleeing Blackie, Reynolds orders a steamship to block the hole in the levee, a plan that ultimately saves New Orleans. Having survived the potential disaster, Julie leaves the lottery racket behind and agrees to become Mrs. Reynolds. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

In this crime drama, a young man becomes a criminal lawyer after witnessing the police shooting of his father, a thief. Most of his clients are criminals and he soon finds himself involved with a mob boss. Together they build a new crime syndicate. Unfortunately, the attorney's partner is secretly an FBI spy. When the agent is shot, his partner, the lawyer saves his life. He then reconsiders his life and rats on his gangster client to the cops. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi