Jim Beck Movies
- 1961
In the final episode of Walt Disney's 17-part miniseries Tales of Texas John Slaughter, John (Tom Tryon), in his capacity as sheriff of Tombstone, AZ, has captured vicious robber and murderer Jimmy Deuce. As a result, every other outlaw in Tombstone has fled for the hills -- thereby utterly ruining the town's economy and causing the populace to turn against Sheriff Slaughter. Urged to give up his badge by his wife Viola (Betty Lynn), John refuses, insisting that his job is far from finished. Meanwhile, professional gunfighter Frank Clell (Ralph Meeker) rides into town, insisting that he's mended his murderous ways -- but has he? Originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology, "Frank Clell's in Town" and the previous episode, "A Trip to Tucson," were in 1966 excerpted for use in the expanded theatrical-feature version of the earlier Tales of Texas John Slaughter entry "A Holster Full of Law." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
In the 16th episode of Walt Disney's 17-part miniseries Tales of Texas John Slaughter, John (Tom Tryon) has been hired as the new sheriff of Tombstone, AZ. In his efforts to uphold the letter of the law, John has been forced to shoot and kill many a miscreant, and as a result, the townspeople are beginning to turn against him. But Sheriff Slaughter refuses to change his methods and is even more determined to prove that his way is the right way when he rides to Tucson to capture notorious stagecoach robber and murderer Jimmy Deuce (Joe Maross). Originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology, "Trip to Tucson" and the subsequent episode "Frank Clell's in Town" were in 1966 excerpted for use in the expanded theatrical-feature version of the earlier Tales of Texas John Slaughter entry "A Holster Full of Law." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Wounded bandit Track (Paul Richards) takes refuge at the home of widow Lee Bolden (Faith Domergue). Another of Lee's house guests, Joe Cartwright, recognizes Trock as a fugitive from justice. At first prepared to reveal Trock's identity, Joe hesitates when he realizes that Lee is falling in love with the injured outlaw. Featured in the cast are Jim Beck as Gavin and Vito Scotti as Pooch. Originally telecast October 15, 1961, "The Lonely House" was written by Frank Chase. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1961
In the 15th episode of Walt Disney's 17-part miniseries Tales of Texas John Slaughter, John (Tom Tryon) has vowed to permanently hang up his guns and live a peaceful life as a cattle rancher and family man. But upon learning that his old enemy Billy Soto (R.G. Armstrong) is rustling his cattle, John prepares to settle matters with hot lead. Persuaded by his wife, Viola (Betty Lynn), to seek a more peaceful solution, John agrees to file a complaint against Soto with Tombstone's Sheriff Hatch. As usual, however, one thing leads to another, and before long, Slaughter himself has pinned on the sheriff's badge. Originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents antholgy, "A Holster Full of Law" was released as a theatrical feature in 1966, its running time padded with footage from the subsequent episodes "A Trip to Tucson" and "Frank Clell's in Town." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
A rustic drama set in the early 20th century, Hound Dog Man is the simple story of a young man, Spud Kinney (Dennis Holmes) constantly in hot water for disobeying his mother (Betty Field). The lad should be watching the family farm, but he falls in with his older brother, Clint (pop music's teen heartthrob Fabian), and his reckless buddy Blackie Scantling (Stuart Whitman) who take him hunting in hillbilly country. The boy falls in love with a beautiful mountain girl (Carol Lynley), while Blackie has his own fling with another attractive hillbilly maiden, Nita Stringer (Dodie Stevens), and then becomes mixed up with an older, married woman, Sussie Bell (Margo Moore). Not much else happens, but perhaps not much else is needed. This leisurely little film represents the film debut of Fabian, who not unexpectedly sings several songs (some written by another teen idol, Frankie Avalon). Lynley and Whitman would team up again several years later for the much underrated Shock Treatment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fabian, Carol Lynley, (more)
- 1959
This routine wartime drama of bravery and misunderstanding stars (Richard Bakalyan) as Charlie, a soldier who suffers the scorn of his paratroop unit because he accidentally kills one of their own men. The setting is World War II in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. There seems to be no clear way to square himself with his own conscience, or to right the fatal mistake he made, and so Charlie has to somehow live with the retribution and the tensions his act causes among the other paratroopers. But since everyone is in the same combat situation, he might one day get a chance to redeem himself. Director William Witney made his reputation in action films like this one. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Bakalyan, Ken Lynch, (more)
- 1958
Dorothy Provine gives her all to the title role in The Bonnie Parker Story. Billed in the picture's ad campaign as "the cigar-smoking she-devil of the thirties", the tommy-gun wielding Bonnie cuts quite a swath across the South after her husband (Richard Bakalyan) is sent to jail for life . Teaming up with a young bucko named Guy--not Clyde!--Barrow (Jack Hogan), Bonnie robs banks, kills people, and broods about the pointlessness of her existence. Put as charitably as possible, this isn't Bonnie and Clyde, not by a long shot. The Bonnie Parker Story was originally released on a double bill with Machine Gun Kelly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Provine, Jack Hogan, (more)
