Judson Pratt Movies

California politics is the clinically dissected yet informative and interesting topic of this feature-length drama by co-directors Bernard Girard and Robert Lewis. Relegating any character development to secondary status, the two directors have opted for a mode more in keeping with a television educational drama (TV is their principle medium) than the dynamic, personal interactions of the larger screen. At issue is the mud-slinging involved in a campaign to stop legislation regulating the practices of collection agencies. A few California lawmen lead the legislation and are determined to succeed in spite of their underhanded detractors. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Out of spite, Endora casts a spell that will make everyone hate and despite her son-in-law, Darrin. Unable to undo the spell, Samantha tries to set things right by giving Endora a taste of her own medicine. But Darrin, unaware that the spell is about to be lifted, nearly gums up the works with a boneheaded strategy of his own. Written by Jack Sher, "No More Mr. Nice Guy" originally aired on March 23, 1967, as the 100th episode of Bewitched. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ben Cartwright's suspicions are aroused when scruffy prospectors Cunningham (Parley Baer) and Furnas (Walter Coy) arrive in town, claiming to have struck a valuable silver lode at Thunderhead Mine. Investigating, Ben discovers that Jim Bronson (Judson Pratt), former owner of the mine, has been murdered. Could the two prospectors be responsible, or is there another sinister figure waiting in the wings? Also in the cast are Ross Elliot as Watkins and the ineluctable Vito Scotti as Leon Flores. Written by Gene L. Coon, "Thunderhead Swindle" made its network debut on April 29, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

John Ford's last western film, Cheyenne Autumn was allegedly produced to compensate for the hundreds of Native Americans who had bitten the dust in Ford's earlier films (that was the director's story, anyway). Set in 1887, the film recounts the defiant migration of 300 Cheyennes from their reservation in Oklahoma territory to their original home in Wyoming. They have done this at the behest of chiefs Little Wolf (Ricardo Montalban) and Dull Knife (Gilbert Roland), peaceful souls who have been driven to desperate measures because the US government has ignored their pleas for food and shelter. Since the Cheyennes' trek is in defiance of their treaty, Captain Thomas Archer (Richard Widmark), who agrees with the Indians in principle, reluctantly leads his troops in pursuit of the tribe. While there was never any intention to shed blood, the white press finds it politically expedient to distort the Cheyennes' action into a declaration of war. Thanks to the cruelties of such chauvinistic whites as Captain Oscar Wessels (Karl Malden), the Cheyennes are forced to defend themselves--and whenever Indians take arms against whites in the 1880s, it's usually misrepresented as a massacre. Only the intervention of US secretary of the interior Carl Schurz (Edward G. Robinson) prevents the hostilities from erupting into wholesale bloodshed. Based on a novel by Mari Sandoz, Cheyenne Autumn is a cinematic elegy--not only for the beleaguered Cheyennes, but for John Ford's fifty years in pictures. It is weakest when arbitrarily throwing in a wearisome romance between Richard Widmark and pacifistic schoolmarm Carroll Baker, who out of sympathy for the Indians has joined them in their 1500-mile westward journey. When the Warner Bros. people decided that the film ran too long, they chopped out the wholly unnecessary but very funny episode involving a poker-obsessed Wyatt Earp (James Stewart). Contrary to popular belief, this episode was included in the earliest non-roadshow prints of Cheyenne Autumn; the scene was excised only when the film went into its second and third runs in 1966 (it has since been restored). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of Walt Disney's 17-part miniseries Tales of Texas John Slaughter, Slaughter (Tom Tryon) and another Texas ranger are sent to a bank to pick up the ranger's payroll. Unfortunately, the bank is held up by the vicious Barko gang, who kill Slaughter's comrade and leave him beaten and unconscious. Upon recovering, Slaughter takes it upon himself to bring in the leader of the gang -- Mrs. Barko (Beverly Garland), a sadistic murderer who holds her husband and his henchmen in thrall. Originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology, "Killers From Kansas" and the subsequent episode "Showdown at Sandoval" were edited together in 1961 and released overseas as the "feature film" Gunfight at Sandoval. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Of the many TV miniseries produced by Walt Disney for his various weekly anthologies of the '50s and '60s, only Tales of Texas John Slaughter came close to matching the "Davy Crockett" programs in popularity and longevity. Based on fact, the 17-episode saga of Texas Ranger-turned-rancher John Slaughter began with this 1958 episode, as Slaughter (played by future bestselling novelist Tom Tryon) rides into the Texas community of Friotown in 1870. Almost immediately, Slaughter is forced to kill two men in self-defense, whereupon he learns that the men had attacked him because they thought he was Texas Ranger Ben Jenkins (Harry Carey Jr.). Offered an opportunity to join the Rangers himself, Slaughter turns Jenkins down, preffering instead to set up a cattle ranch. Unfortunately, the murderous activities of outlaw boss Frank Davis (Robert Middleton) force Slaughter to forsake his peaceloving ways and slap on his shootin' irons. Originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology, this episode and the subsequent "Ambush at Laredo" were in 1960 edited together and released theatrically overseas as the "feature film" Texas John Slaughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Four Girls in Town is essentially an excuse by Universal-International to test out several of their newer contractees. The plot is motivated by a worldwide movie talent hunt, which naturally arouses the attentions of a bevy of pretty young aspiring actresses. The four girls of the title are Kathy Sonway (Julie Adams, who'd been appearing in films since 1950), Ina Schiller (Germany's Marianne Cook, nee Koch), Maria Antonelli (Italy's Elsa Martinelli) and Vicki Dauray (Gia Scala, also from Italy but herein portraying a Frenchwoman). Conducting the screen tests is budding director Mike Snowden (George Nader), who predictably falls in love with one of the hopefuls. Some laughs are had at the expense of Universal's rival 20th Century-Fox in the person of Helene Stanton, cast as a Marilyn Monroe clone named "Rita Holloway". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Saloon girl Laura Simmons (Gloria McGhee) asks Matt (James Arness) not to reveal her whereabouts to her fiance Philip Locke (Michael Pate), who has just arrived in town. But Philip arms himself with a shotgun and threatens violence if Laura doesn't immediately materialize. Convinced that Laura is not responsible for her current "disgraceful" state and that she wants to be "saved", Philip seems dangerously inclined to kill anyone who tells him otherwise. This episode is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of December 19, 1953. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the town of San Sebastian, Paladin (Richard Boone) is hired by wealthy Scotsman Ian Crown (Judson Pratt) to track down Sancho Fernandez (Simon Oakland), a bandit who has been terrorizing the countryside. It soon becomes obvious that there is more to this situation than a simple manhunt: at the center of the intrigue is a valuable religious relic that has allegedly been stolen by Fernandez--and is highly coveted by the tight-fisted Mr. Crown. This is the final episode of Have Gun--Will Travel's first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on the turn-of-the-century play Our Two Consciences by Paul Anthelme, Hitchcock's I Confess is set in Quebec. Montgomery Clift plays a priest who hears the confession of church sexton O.E. Hasse. "I...killed...a man" whispers Hasse in tight closeup--and, bound by the laws of the Confessional, Clift is unable to turn Hasse over to the police. But police-inspector Karl Malden has a pretty good idea who the guilty party is: all evidence points to Clift. It seems that the dead man had been blackmailing Anne Baxter, who was once in a factually innocent, but seemingly exploitable compromising position with Clift. Tried for murder, Clift is released due to lack of evidence, but he is ruined in the eyes of the community. Then it is Hasse's turn to make that One Fatal Error. I Confess is frequently dismissed as a lesser Hitchcock, due mainly to the quirky performance of Montgomery Clift (who, it is said, steadfastly refused to take direction). Today, four decades removed from its on-set intrigues, the film has taken its place as one of the best of Hitchcock's "between the classics" efforts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This musical boxing drama finds Walter (Elvis Presley) as a recently discharged soldier looking forwork in New York's Catskill Mountains. He happens across Grogan's Gym, a boxing emporium that helps perfect the "gentle art." Proprioter Willie Grogan (Gig Young) and trainer Lew (Charles Bronson) run the camp for aspiring pugilists. Walter saves Grogan's long suffering girlfriend Rose (Joan Blackman) from an assault by a gangster when he knocks out the goon. He earns the nickname "Kid Galahad" and a chance to show off his talents in the boxing ring. While Walter trains for the big fight, Lew is approached by unsavory gamblers, who want Lew to be lax in repairing any cuts Walter sustains in the ring for a slice of the economic pie. Lew refuses and has his hands broken by the gambling goons. Although Walter knows the fix is on, he battles his way to victory against overwhelming odds and an intimidating opponent. Walter exacts revenge on the men who broke Lew's hands, which may be the first and only time in cinematic history that Charles Bronson needs any outside help. Presley delivers seven songs, the most memorable being "I Got Lucky." United Artists got lucky with the release of Kid Galahad, which drew legions of loyal Presley fans at the box office. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Although he is locked up in prison on a tax-evasion charge, Syndicate boss Sam Dexter (Dane Clark) is still running his criminal operation with the outside assistance of his silent partner, a shadowy figure known only as The General. The IMF must determine the identity of the General, and also prove that Dexter murdered his mistress --- and to do that, another of the Force's celebrated prison breakouts is called for. Barbara Anderson again appears as on-and-off IMF agent Mimi Davis, who as an ex-thief is no stranger to life behind bars. First telecast on November 11, 1972, "Hit" was written by Douglas Weir. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide