Burt Mustin Movies
Life literally began at 60 for American actor Burt Mustin, who didn't enter show business until that age and didn't make his film debut until Detective Story (1951), at which time he was 68. After a decade of uncredited movie roles as hillbilly patriarchs and Town's Oldest Citizens, Mustin began getting name recognition for numerous TV appearances in the late '50s and early '60s. The actor was a particular favorite of producer/actor Jack Webb, who cast Mustin several times on Dragnet; in one episode Burt was an octogenarian burglar, and in another was a retired detective who solved a murder case - and chewed out a young cop for not knowing the proper way to take fingerprints! Situation comedy producers made good use of Burt Mustin as well, and he was featured in innumerable cameos on such programs as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Get Smart and The Jack Benny Program, usually stealing most of the laughs from the stars. Mustin had regular TV roles as eccentric neighbor Finley on Date with the Angels, Gus the Fireman on Leave It to Beaver, barber shop patron Jud Crowley on The Andy Griffith Show, the amorous senior-citizen husband of Queenie Smith on The Funny Side, and nursing-home refugee Justin Quigley on All in the Family. Mustin got the biggest press coverage of his career when, in character as Arthur Lanson, he married Mother Dexter - played by 82-year-old Judith Lowry - on the December 13, 1976 episode of Phyllis. It was a hilarious and, in retrospect, poignant moment in TV history: Judith Lowry had died a few days before the program was aired, and Burt Mustin, who was too ill to watch the show, passed away six weeks later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Steve McQueen stars as the Cincinnati Kid, a crackerjack New Orleans stud poker player. Tired of chicken feed, the Kid decides to challenge The Man (Edward G. Robinson), the reigning poker champ, who is in town for a private game. The Shooter (Karl Malden), another gambling pro, arranges a game between the Kid and the Man, with the Shooter dealing. The game is compromised by the intervention of Slade (Rip Torn), an old foe of the Man's who tries to fix the outcome. The Kid finds out about this and tells Slade to get lost, preferring to win fair and square. The outcome is in the cagey hands of The Man, who is smart enough to do (as one reviewer put it) the wrong thing at the right time. The Cincinnati Kid was based on the novel by Richard Jessup. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson, (more)
- 1964
Spring is here, and "Doctor" Granny hopes to administer her special tonic (read: moonshine) to her friends and neighbors. Among the recipients of Granny's master brew is the Clampetts' Beverly Hills neighbor, jet-setting Maria von Holstein (Jean Willes). Once she tastes the tonic, Maria is "hooked" -- and so, hopefully, are the viewers of this half-hour laughfest. "Another Neighbor" made its initial network appearance on April 1, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Don Siegel directed this intensely pessimistic re-make of Robert Siodmak's 1946 film noir masterpiece The Killers, based upon a story by Ernest Hemingway. As the story opens two professional looking men in business suits -- Charlie (Lee Marvin) and Lee (Clu Gulager) -- push their way into a school for the blind and terrorize a secretary until she reveals the whereabouts of Johnny North (John Cassavetes). When Charlie and Lee trace Johnny to an automobile repair class, Johnny just stands there as the two men gun him down. Afterwards, Charlie wonders why Johnny just stood there, accepting his death. He also starts to wonder about his hefty paycheck for the murder and rumors that Johnny was involved in a million-dollar heist. He decides to pay Johnny's old friend Earl Sylvester (Claude Akins) a visit at his auto shop in Florida. Earl recalls the summer day long ago when former race car driver Johnny caught the eye of the rich and beautiful Sheila Farr (Angie Dickinson). Johnny has been preparing for a race, but Sheila's attentions sidetrack him. The day of the big race, Earl notices that Sheila is visited by a group of rich gangsters, headed by Browning (Ronald Reagan, in a very surprising performance). During the race, Johnny is involved in a terrible crash, effectively ending his racing career. However, it seems Browning is arranging a mail heist and hires Johnny to drive the getaway car. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson, (more)
- 1964
Travelling under the name of "Richard Clark", Kimble (David Janssen) is arrested for hitchhiking by Marshall Joe Bob Simms (Pat Hingle). Though he enjoys a reputation as a prince of a fellow, Simms is actually a scheming sadist who uses prisoners like Kimble as slave labor, forcing them to work on a town park that the Marshal hopes will advance his political career. Though he manages to leave town after serving his time, Kimble returns to make Simms pay the penalty for the death of another prisoner (Tom Skerritt)--thereby placing his own life in jeopardy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This lavishly produced, big-budget comedy (it cost $20 million in 1964 dollars) stars Shirley MacLaine as Louisa, a widow who is worth $200 million dollars. However, she's convinced that her fortune is cursed, and she wants to give all her money to the IRS. As she explains her sad tale to her psychiatrist, Dr. Stephanson (Robert Cummings), it seems that when Louisa was young she had the choice of marrying rich playboy Leonard Crawley (Dean Martin) or poor but decent Edgar Hopper (Dick Van Dyke). She chose Edgar, but soon he became obsessed with providing a fine home and fortune for her; he got rich but worked himself to death in the process. Despondent, Louisa flies to Paris, where she strikes up a romance with expatriate artist Larry Flint (Paul Newman). When Larry invents a machine that creates paintings based on sounds, he becomes wealthy and famous -- and dies. Louisa returns to America, where she figures to break her streak by marrying Rod (Robert Mitchum), a business tycoon who already has lots of money. He resolves to take life easier and becomes a farmer, only to die in a strange accident with a bull. Louisa is drowning her sorrows one night at a sleazy night spot when she falls for second rate entertainer Jerry (Gene Kelly). They marry, and a now-wealthy Jerry develops a relaxed, carefree quality to his act that makes him a huge star, which leads to his being crushed by a mob of his biggest fans. What a Way to Go! boasted a screenplay by Betty Comdon and Adolph Green that featured many amusing film parodies and a score by Nelson Riddle; it also marked the final screen appearance of comic actress Margaret Dumont, best remembered as Groucho Marx's straight woman in several films. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shirley MacLaine, Paul Newman, (more)
- 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
- 1964
Andy heads to Raleigh, there to interview for a job as that city's sheriff. Assuming that he will be Andy's successor, Barney casts about for a new deputy, but the only candidates turn out to be dimwitted mechanic Goober Pyle, town drunk Otis Campbell and octogenarian Judd (Burt Mustin). By the time Andy returns to Mayberry, chaos is reigning supreme. First aired on November 23, 1964, "Goobye, Sheriff Taylor" was written by Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
- G
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In this Disney family film, brainy college student Merlin Jones (Tommy Kirk) invents a mind-reading machine, but the consequences of its use prove to be a lot of trouble. With help from his girlfriend (Annette Funicello), he must set to right all that has gone wrong. The movie spawned the sequel Monkey's Uncle two years later. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello, (more)
Helen Gurley Brown's self-help best-seller was the nominal source for this Hollywood sex romp, directed by Richard Quine, co-scripted by Joseph Heller and David R. Schwartz, and starring Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood. Tony Curtis plays Bob Weston, a writer for the scandal sheet "Dirt," who is working on an article on research psychologist Helen Gurley Brown (Natalie Wood) and her best-selling book Sex and the Single Girl. Bob needs to interview Helen, but she refuses to see him. Bob impersonates one of her neighbors, Frank Broderick (Henry Fonda), as a ruse in order to see her on the pretext of marital counseling. After several meetings, Bob attempts to seduce her; after they fall out of a boat and head back to Helen's apartment to dry out, Bob plies her with martinis. Rip-roarin' drunk, Helen confesses her love for Bob. He assures her it's fine, since he's not legally married, but Helen doesn't believe him and asks to meet his wife, Sylvia (Lauren Bacall). To fill up the breach, Bob mistakenly sends both his secretary, Susan (Leslie Parrish), and his ex-girlfriend Gretchen (Fran Jeffries) to see Helen -- both impersonating Sylvia. When the real Sylvia arrives at Helen's apartment with the two other women, Sylvia has her hapless husband Frank put in jail for bigamy. By this point, Helen has realized Bob's skullduggery and leaves town with her colleague Rudy DeMeyer (Mel Ferrer). Bob chases Helen onto the San Diego Freeway, where they also encounter Frank, who is being followed in a cab by Sylvia. A wild chase ensues as the bickering couples try to make it to their flights at the L.A. airport. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, (more)
- 1963
Ben Wister (Fess Parker), sheriff of the small town of Linvale, is besieged by phone calls from the widowed Mrs. Logan (Phyllis Thaxter), who insists that her next-door neighbor Harry Jarvis (Gary Merrill) has murdered his wife and buried her in his backyard. When Wister investigates, Jarvis tells him that his wife has walked out on him, and that he had dug a hole in his yard to bury his dead dog. Further investigation would seem to prove Jarvis' innocence -- a turn of events that has a mighty interesting effect on Mrs. Logan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Merrill, Fess Parker, (more)
- 1963
Deputy Barney tickets the Governor's car for illegal parking-then thinks he's in for it when the governor himself prepares to visit Mayberry. Actually, the state's top executive is coming to congratulate Barney for doing his duty without showing any sort of favoritism. Alas, the nervous Barney is unaware of this impending honor, and while bemoaning his fate to town drunk Otis Campbell, the deputy inadvertently gets thoroughly "gassed" himself. First broadcast on January 7, 1963, "Barney and the Governor" was written by Bill Freedman and Henry Sharp. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carl Benton Reid
This amusing romantic comedy concerns Dr. Gerald Boyer (James Garner), a successful gynecologist with a wife and two children. Wife Beverly (Doris Day) focuses on maintaining the household and watching the kids. One of Gerald's patients, Mrs. Fraleigh (Arlene Francis), overhears Beverly talking up a new product she's discovered called 'Happy Soap' - whose manufacturer just happens to be Mrs. Fraleigh's father-in-law, Old Tom Fraleigh (Reginald Owen). She introduces Beverly to him; hugely impressed, the old man offers her $80,000 a year to pitch a new product called "Happy Soap." Beverly's career takes her away from her family responsibilities and causes a series of comedic commotions for Gerald and the kids. He comes home from work one morning and accidentally drives his convertible into a freshly dug swimming pool ordered by Beverly without his knowledge. The furious physician throws a bevy of boxes of Happy Soap into the pool, causing the house to be engulfed in suds by morning (which the kids mistake for snow). The family maid Olivia (Zasu Pitts) is nearly driven crazy with the events and has many harried scenes of comedic frustration. Directed by Norman Jewison, this thouroughly engaging comedy was written by Larry Gelbart and Carl Reiner. Reiner provides the screenplay for the feature which turned out to be the last film appearance of Zasu Pitts. With her passing marked the end of a long and successful career as a comedic and well respected actress that began in 1917. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Doris Day, James Garner, (more)
- 1963
Former TV leading man Richard Chamberlain plays a young lawyer about to take on an important murder case. He is shepherded through this big break by veteran attorney Claude Rains. The client is the disreputable Nick Adams, who seems determined to sabotage his own case. But a last-minute scrap of evidence saves the day and establishes Chamberlain's reputation. Based on a novel by Al Dewlen, Twilight of Honor was released in Britain as The Charge is Murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Chamberlain, Joey Heatherton, (more)
- 1963
George Brenlin is cast as Whizzer McGee, a short-statured scrapper who doesn't take kindly to people making fun of his size. As a result, Whizzer loses job after job, usually by pummeling his latest employer into unconsciousness. It appears that Whizzer's fortunes will improve when he is befriended by Hoss Cartwright; instead, the troubles are just beginning. Other cast members include Jeanne Bal (Melissa), Med Flory (Otis), Burt Mustin (Washburn), Hal Baylor (Big Red), Mike Ragan (Mike), and Bern Hoffman (Bartender). Scripted by Robert Lyon Welch, "The Saga of Whizzer McGee" was originally shown on April 28, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1963
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) has confessed to Rob (Dick Van Dyke) that she was only 17 years old when they were married. Though technically speaking, the Petries are still legally man and wife, the rules about "age of consent" vary from state to state, so their lawyer has advised them to undergo a second marriage ceremony just to make sure. However, by the time they show up at the home of justice of the peace Judge Krata (Russell Collins), Rob and Laura are so angry with each other that the judge flatly refuses to perform the ceremony! The day is saved by the two marital witnesses, superbly played by venerable character actors Madge Blake and Burt Mustin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Deacon, Ann Morgan Guilbert, (more)
Son of Flubber represented the first time that Walt Disney ever attempted a theatrical feature sequel: in this case, the earlier film was the 1961 moneyspinner The Absent-Minded Professor. While Flubber is more formula-bound than Professor, it proved an instant audience-pleaser, and a hit to the tune of nine million dollars. Fred MacMurray returns as professor Ned Brainerd, currently working on his new discovery, "dry rain." The comically destructive side effects of this discovery seemingly doom the professor to failure -- at least until the closing courtroom sequence -- but meanwhile he has better luck with Flubbergas, a byproduct of the antigravity glop he'd invented in the first film. In addition to MacMurray, Absent-Minded Professor alumni Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Leon Ames, Elliott Reid, Alan Carney, Gordon Jones, Forrest Lewis, and James Westerfield reprise their roles from the earlier film, while Ed Wynn shows up in a new guise as a nervous agricultural agent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, (more)
- 1962
Wally (Tony Dow) needs to bring three friends along to the amusement park to qualify for a discount, but only Eddie (Ken Osmond) and Lumpy (Frank Bank) are available. With no other option, Wally decides to invite Beaver to go along. Things run smoothly until the foursome reaches the roller coaster. Thanks to the dire warnings of the prankish Eddie, Beav is terrified at the prospect of going for a ride on the coaster. But by the time the episode reaches its climax, guess who's frightened and who isn't? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Mustin, Richard Correll, (more)
- 1962
A true watershed in the Leave It to Beaver canon, this episode finds Beaver (Jerry Mathers) reaching that "awkward age" when it seems that nothing he does is right and no one is willing to make allowance for his youth. Convinced that his folks have stopped loving him, Beaver decides to clean up his act -- by cleaning up his room -- then is plunged into despair when Ward (Hugh Beaumont) and June (Barbara Billingsley) apparently take no notice. In desperation, he wanders around the haunts of his youth, only to find that the firehouse where he used to pass the time with old Gus (Burt Mustin) is closed up -- and in the most devastating blow of all, his beloved elementary school teacher Miss Landers (Sue Randall) almost doesn't recognize him! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sue Randall, Burt Mustin, (more)
- 1962
It looks as though the Mayberry Band's annual trip to the state band competition in Charlotte will be cancelled. Characteristically, Mayor Stoner has refused to allocate the necessary funds for the trip, insisting that the town band is "a disgrace." Will Andy's old bandleader pal Bobby Fleet (Joe Sirola) come to the rescue? Wirtten by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum, "The Mayberry Band" was first broadcast on November 19, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Written by George Clayton Johnson, this elegiac Twilight Zone episode stars 72-year-old Ernest Truex as Charles Whitley, a reluctant resident of the Sunnyvale Rest Home. Becoming convinced that he'll never truly grow old so long as he "thinks young," Charlie begins indulging in such children's games as kick the can. Before long, Charlie has been joined in his youth-quest by the rest of Sunnydale's residents -- all except for his roommate Ben Conroy (Russell Collins), who pays dearly for his unwillingness to shed his inhibitions. Ernest Truex's real-life son Barry Truex appears in the opening scene as Charlie's insensitive son David, while the rest of the cast includes such familiar Hollywood "oldsters" as Burt Mustin, Hank Patterson, Marjorie Bennett, Anne O'Neal, and Earle Hodgins. Originally telecast February 9, 1962, "Kick the Can" was one of three Twilight Zone episodes that would be remade and included in the 1983 theatrical film Twilight Zone: The Movie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernest Truex, Russell Collins, (more)
- 1961
In Andy's absence, deputy Barney takes over as acting sheriff. By the time Andy returns, by-the-book Barney has jailed practically everyone in Mayberry-including Aunt Bee. Humiliated when Andy releases the outraged prisoners, Barney tenders his resignation. It is up to Andy to restore Barney's self-esteem-a task for which he receives unexpected assistance. Written by David Adler, "Andy Saves Barney's Morale" first aired on February 20, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
The Colonial Dames of America breeze into Mayberry, searching for the descendant of a celebrated hero of the Revolutionary War. Everyone in town is convinced that he or she is the person who will receive the coveted plaques from the C.D.A. Imagine everyone's shock and dismay when the descendant turns out to be town tosspot Otis Campbell. Written by Ben Gershman and Leo Solomon, "Plaque for Mayberry" originally aired on April 3, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Deputy Barney arrests a stranger for carelessly tossing a candy wrapper into the street. The stranger turns out to be Eddie Brooks (Barney Philips), a fugitive bank robber-and Barney is given credit for Brooks' capture. When Brooks, who has threatened to "get" Barney, later breaks out of jail, Andy manages to cook up a scheme that will not only entrap the outlaw, but make Barney a hero all over again. Written by Ben Gershman and Leo Solomon, "Barney Gets His Man" originally aired on May 8, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Sheriff Andy is invited to join the exclusive Esquire Club in Raleigh. Showing up at a club dinner with deputy Barney, Andy immediately makes a good impression on the members-more than can be said for Barney, despite his overbearing efforts to be "one of the fellows." Ultimately, the club makes a decision: Andy is welcome to join, but Barney is not. A wry plot twist permits both Andy and Barney to save face-and their friendship. Written by Fred S. Fox and Iz Elinson, "The Clubmen" originally aired on December 11, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
New in town, bank clerk Billy Weaver (Dean Stockwell) rents a room from a slightly daffy old woman (Patricia Collinge). After a few days, Billy begins to wonder why he never sees any of the lady's other tenants. While he doesn't get any answers right away, he does find out that his landlady is rather fond of stuffed domestic animals -- and exotic beverages. This merrily macabre episode was given the full "Hitchcock" treatment by both its original author Roald Dahl and its adaptor Robert Bloch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
