Joe Morrison Movies
- 1966
There's an underwater menace haunting the Everglades, killing local fishermen in horrible ways and stealing equipment from a nearby research laboratory. Despite the presence of danger, marine biologist Dr. Richardson (Jack Nagle) welcomes his daughter Karen (Valerie Hawkins) and her sorority sisters to his home on the canal for a relaxing weekend of swimming. Karen meets Dr. John Hoyt (Joe Morrison), the doctor's handsome assistant and sparks fly; she also fends off the affections of Egon (John Vella), the ugly, awkward jellyfish researcher who has always loved her from afar. Egon is treated with derision by the other members of the team, and all of Karen's friends are uneasy around him, so the scarred, sensitive recluse becomes even more withdrawn. When a boatload of dance-crazed biology students arrives for a beer blast, the eerie half-man, half-jellyfish monster makes an appearance and attacks a beautiful girl in a swimming pool. Panic ensues, with deadly results. The scientists struggle to understand just what they're up against, while the murders continue and Karen is eventually targeted by the weird mutant monster. Famed pop star Neil Sedaka provides two numbers for the soundtrack, including the ska-flavored teen dance hit "Do The Jellyfish." ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Shot on location in Miami, Racing Fever is concerned with a professional hydroplane racer named Pop Gunner, who's getting ready for one last race before passing his crown on to his son Lee. Pop's main competition is the wealthy, but oily, Gregg Stevenson, who also happens to be having an affair with Pop's daughter Linda. Gregg is the sort of irresponsible lout who thinks nothing of driving his boat while drunk, which results in him killing Pop during the big race. Thanks to his influence and money, Gregg gets off scot-free, which angers Lee. Things aren't helped when Linda continues her affair with the man who murdered their father, and they get even more complicated when Lee takes up with Gregg's daughter, Connie. Eventually, things come to a head when Lee takes Gregg on in a boat race that will finally settle the score between them. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- 1963
A wealthy veteran race car driver and his bitter, alcoholic wife go around in circle as their marriage hits various bumps in the road. The wife continually steps out for adulterous tuneups with other men while the racer is driven to win even more races. Their fortunes improve when a young driver is added to the racing team. The thin plot is interspersed with thrilling action films of a Florida endurance race, complete with overhead shots filmed from a roving helicopter. It's hard to say what moves faster, the cars to the finish line or the unfaithful wife into yet another tawdry affair. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Morrison, Evelyn King, (more)
- 1962
Released in April of 1962 to take advantage of the new baseball season and the enthusiasm surrounding some of its better-known players, this sports-oriented children's story by Walter Doniger centers around some ill-advised bragging by a young Little Leaguer. Hutch Lawton (Brian Russell) has just told his friends that he and his Dad are good buddies with all-time baseball greats Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. This fib soon gets him in plenty of hot water as he is forced to search out his heroes at spring training in Florida and make a plea for help. Along with appearances by the Yankee's two top players are pitcher Whitey Ford and coach Ralph Houk. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, (more)
- 1936
It's a Great Life served as a vehicle for once-popular radio singer Joe Morrison (who can also be seen in W.C. Fields' It's the Old Fashioned Way). Morrison plays a young unemployed fellow who joins the Civilian Conservation Corps. Enjoying the twin euphoria of steady work and fresh air, Morrison and his new pal, hobo Paul Kelly, burst into song at the slightest provocation. A rift comes between Morrison and Kelly when Morrison's girl Rosalind Keith falls in love with the tramp, but all differences are swept away during a climactic bursting-dam sequence. It's a Great Life was co-written by future "Dagwood Bumstead" Arthur Lake, who in 1943 would star in a Blondie entry titled...It's a Great Life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Morrison, Paul Kelly, (more)
- 1935
Former child star Jackie Coogan made a somewhat awkward transition to adulthood in Home on the Range. Based on Zane Grey's novel Code of the West, the film casts Coogan and Randolph Scott as the Hatfield brothers, Tom and Jack. Owners of a racing stable, the boys figure that one of their ponies, a magnificent animal named Midnight is a sure winner. Before they're able to prove this, however, Tom and Jack fall victim to a gang of race-fixers who use high-powered rifles to ensure that their horses will win. This doesn't stop Tom from risking his life to ride Midnight to victory. Radio crooner Joe Morrison, whose chief claim to fame was the western ballad "Last Roundup", shows up in Home on the Range long enough to sing the title tune. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Coogan, Randolph Scott, (more)
- 1935
Radio baritone Joe Morrison was being groomed for stardom by Paramount when he was top-billed in One Hour Late. Morrison is cast as shipping clerk Eddie Blake, whose girlfriend Betty Dunn (Helen Twelvetrees) is secretary to big boss Stephen Barclay (Conrad Nagel). A trusting soul, Betty sees nothing wrong in accepting Barclay's invitation to visit his home for the weekend. But Eddie suspects the worst and tags along to make sure that Betty's virtue remains intact. As it happens, Eddie's fears are groundless -- as are those of Barclay's wife Ellen (Gail Patrick), who was poised to walk out on her husband at the first sign of extramarital hanky-panky. The script contrives to have a radio station located in the building where Eddie works, permitting Joe Morrison to croon a medley of his hit "The Last Roundup." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Morrison, Helen Twelvetrees, (more)
- 1935
Adapted from Norman Krasna's Broadway hit A Small Miracle, Four Hours to Kill is a multi-plotted effort that can best be described as "Grand Hotel goes to the theater." Richard Barthelmess stars as Tony, a condemned murderer, who is handcuffed to Detective Taft (Charles Wilson) while en route to the death house. Tony breaks loose and heads for the theater, where the man who squealed on him is attending a play. As the killer prepares to rub out the stoolie, the action cuts away to the romance between a hatcheck boy (Joe Morrison) and his girlfriend (Helen Mack), which is complicated by the clerk's allegedly pregnant former love (Dorothy Tree). Another subplot involves unfaithful wife Gertrude Michael and her lover Ray Milland. All the various plotlines are knitted together in the climax, wherein Tony closes in on his intended victim. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Barthelmess, Joe Morrison, (more)
- 1935
Love in Bloom ostensibly stars George Burns and Gracie Allen,but the team is actually comedy relief for the romantic leads, Joe Morrison and Dixie Lee. Burns and Allen are travelling carnival performers working in a rundown tent show for Lee's father. Lee tires of her nomad life and heads to New York, where she meets would-be songwriter Morrison. The hero loves Lee, but each time the twosome makes wedding plans some crisis or other gets in the way. The course of True Love finally runs smooth, but audiences can't help but feel disappointed that Burns and Allen aren't given more to do (Allen's big scene, set in a grocery store, is painfully unfunny). If nothing else, Love in Bloom features a rare screen appearance by Dixie Lee, better known as the first wife of Bing Crosby. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Burns, Gracie Allen, (more)
- 1934
W.C. Fields plays the Great McGonigle, the manipulative manager of a large 19th century theatrical troupe. Notorious for skipping board bills and forgetting the pay his actors, McGonigle descends on a small town, where he relies on the hospitality of a wealthy widow (Jan Duggan). He secures lodging for his cast and financing for his production by promising the widow a major part in his upcoming production of The Drunkard. The play goes on as schedule, but the widow's part is cut down to one line which she's never permitted to deliver. McGonigle escapes with his hide again, but not before securing the future happiness of his daughter (Judith Allen) so that she won't have to spend the rest of her life one step ahead of the sheriff. The storyline of The Old-Fashioned Way is conveniently shunted aside as W.C. Fields does battle with Baby LeRoy, cons everyone in sight with equanimity, and offers the audience an uninterrupted display of his remarkable juggling skills. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- W.C. Fields, Joe Morrison, (more)
