Leo Needham Movies
- 1962
Lassie's Great Adventure is the feature-film version of a three-episode cliffhanger, originally presented on the Lassie television series. It all begins when the faithful collie accompanies his master Timmy (Jon Provost) to the market. While nosing around the vegetables, Lassie wanders into a van, which is promptly locked up. By the time she makes her escape, Lassie is hundreds of miles from home. Meanwhile, Timmy never gives up hope that his beloved Lassie will eventually return. Written by Sumner Long, Lassie's Great Adventure (original title: Lassie's Odyssey) was first telecast February 18, 24, and March 4, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Beauty contest winner Marjorie Cluny (Lisabeth Hush) is really steamed when she finds out that her big prize, a Hollywood movie contract, is a hoax. After angrily confronting contest sponsor Frank Patton (Douglas Evans), Marjorie abruptly disappears--not surprising, since Patton has been murdered. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is puzzled when two different men hire him to locate the elusive Ms. Cluny. This episode is based on a 1934 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner), which was previously adapted as a theatrical feature starring Warren William as Mason. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Philip Larkin (Terry Becker) is murdered, and his stepfather Joseph Harrison (John Hoyt) is charged with the crime. A key piece of evidence for the prosecution is a home movie showing Larkin and Harrison quarrelling; could their argument have been about sexy Lorraine Stevens (Andra Martin), whom Philip had earlier tried to seduce? Fay Wray of King Kong fame makes the first of three Perry Mason appearances as Harrison's former wife Ethel, who hires Perry (Raymond Burr) to defend her ex-husband in court. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Another of Disney animation director Ward Kimball's "outer space" projects, this Disneyland episode was intended as a followup to the highly praised 1955 entry Man in Space. In the early animated sequence, the Disney staff illustrates the various theories and superstitions surrounding Old Man Moon throughout the centuries. We then move on to the pioneering tales of space travel, notably the fanciful moon flight undertaken by Cyrano de Bergerac (the same). Finally, a combination of animation and live action offers a speculation of what the first manned moon flight will actually be like. With rocket scientist Wernher Von Braun providing both narration and technical advice, the film was remarkably accurate, even though it would be 13 years before Man actually set foot on the lunar surface. Rebroadcast in 1959 under the title Tomorrow the Moon, Man and the Moon was later excerpted in one of the "Ludwig Von Drake" episodes on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Battle Taxi is set during the height of the Korean War. Sterling Hayden plays an officer of the Helicopter Air Rescue Service, whose job it is to save wounded or stranded soldiers from hostile territory. Arthur Franz costars as a lieutenant assigned to the copter service, who at first resents his position but eventually realizes his importance in the scheme of things. The film sticks to basics, eschewing any and all romantic subplots -- in fact, there isn't a single female character in the picture! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sterling Hayden, Arthur Franz, (more)
