Larry Marcus Movies
- 1961
After a town in Asia Minor is reduced to rubble by an earthquake, an American named Hadley (Peter Dyneley) volunteers to help locate the injured survivors. Also pitching in to help is a mysterious stranger, who after rescuing seven people from certain death perishes himself. When the fingerprints of the unknown Good Samaritan are taken and matched with police records, the authorities are in for quite a shock. This is the first of several One Step Beyond episodes filmed in England. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
This episode is based on an actual incident in the life of famed Mexican revolutionary and muralist Gerardo Murino Cornado, aka "Dr. Atl." On the run from the authorities, Atl (played by David J. Stewart) takes refuge in a convent that is allegedly haunted by the ghost of an aztec warrior. Of course, Atl is too intelligent a man to believe in such nonsense--until the Federale who is pursuing him is mysteriously strangled to death. The real Dr. Atl makes a guest appearance in the closing scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Departing from its usual format, One Step Beyond offers a "reality" episode filmed on location in Oxaca, Mexico. Playing "themselves", host John Newland and series producer Collier Young investigate reports of a remarkable mushroom, used in the religious rituals of the Chatino Indians. According to legend, anyone who consumes these mushrooms will be endowed with astonishing psychic powers. In a series of tests supervised by a team of real-life scientists and paranormal experts, Newland samples the "sacred" mushroom, then chronicles the remarkable results. (Needless to say, this particular episode was very popular in the Psychedelic Sixties). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Having survived the Holocaust, Ruth Goldman (Catherine Feller), a Jewish refugee relocated to Warsaw, lives for the day that she can exact revenge against the Nazis. She finally gets her chance when, walking through the war-ravaged streets, she comes upon a seriously injured German soldier--and promptly kills the man. But when the soldier's body is taken to the morgue, the doctor reports that the man has been dead for six years. This is one of several One Step Beyond episodes filmed in England. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Lois Maxwell, best remembered as Miss Moneypenny in the "James Bond" films of the 1960s, is here cast as Esther Hollis. Though she and her husband want to have children, Esther is afraid of conceiving because of a history of insanity in her family. Late one night, Esther hears the sound of sobbing child, emanating from a room in her house that has never been used or even furnished. Open the door, she finds that the "room upstairs" has been converted into a nursery. . .whereupon the crying intensifies at a maddening rate. This is one of several One Step Beyond episodes filmed in England. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Having been appointed to the Bench, wealthy and ambitious British lawyer Harvey Laurence (Donald Pleasence) is being fitted for his judicial robes when he finds a strange key in his pocket. As it turns out, this key will unlock a unsavory secret in Laurence's past, in which he had allowed an innocent man to go to the gallows for the murder of a woman that the lawyer knew to be still alive. A shattering denoument in London's Hyde Park caps this episode, one of several One Step Beyond entries filmed in England. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
William Shatner guest stars as Carl Bremmer, a London working stiff who in his off-hours volunteers as a deactivator of unexploded bombs left over from the wartime blitz. Upon finding out that she is pregnant, Carl's wife Lois (Deidre Owen) begs him to give up his dangerous job. Carl agrees--but unfortunately, there is one more bomb to be defused. That Lois' grim premonitions come true is not a surprise...but what happens after this tragedy is a genuine shocker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
In the thick of the Korean war, Cpl. Fred Cossage (Dick Davalos) is separated from the rest of his patrol. Unable to find Cossage, and under heavy enemy fire, his grieving comrades are forced to return to their own lines without him. Meanwhile, a seriously wounded Cossage begins a perilous search for his fellow soldiers--a search made all the more perilous by the fact that the corporal is now totally deaf and blind. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
This poignant episode catalogues the many strange occurences and paranormal phenomena surrounding the death of President Abraham Lincoln in April of 1865. It is well documented that both Lincoln (here played by Barry Atwarter) and his wife Mary Todd (Jeanne Bates) both had premonitions of his violent death. What is less well known is that, throughout the country, thousands of other people bore witness to ominous signs and portents...a blood-red moon, the sounds of sobbing, eerie visions of a distant shore... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Suffering a nervous breakdown brought on by the tragic death of her baby, famous actress Elena Stacy (Margaret Phillips) is released after a long and therapeutic sanitarium stay. Believing that work is the best therapy, Elena tries to forget the past and returns to her stage career. But no matter where she goes, no matter what play she appears in, Elena is haunted by the cries of a child...her child? The actor playing a scene from "Othello" is Murvyn Vye, a prolific movie villain and the original Jigger Craigin in the 1945 Broadway production "Carousel." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Every night, at precisely the same hour, pregnant housewife Laura Perkins (Peggy Ann Garner) insists that she hears the sound of an airplane buzzing over her house. Laura's husband John (John Lassell) hears nothing, and dismisses his wife's fears as a delusion arising from her delicate condition. Even so, Laura is obsessed with the belief that a plane will crash directly into her bedroom at 12:17 AM--but as it turns out, her future may hold something even more devastating. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
The scene is Paris, where lonely Henri Lamont (Fabrizio Mioni) loves the beautiful Therese (Lisa Montell) from afar. Henri would give anything to speak to Therese, but is overcome by shyness. Then, one day, our hero glances out his window and sees a romantic couple strolling by--a couple who turns out to be Therese and himself. (Note: some earlier sources claim that Theresa was played by Letizia Moverese, who later billed herself as Leticia Roman, indicating a last-minute cast change). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Yes, that's 23-year-old Warren Beatty as grouchy, middle-aged Harry Grayson, the husband of bitter, quarrelsome Ellen Grayson (Joan Fontaine). After a violent argument with his wife, Harry storms out of the couple's mountain cabin and drives away, vowing never to return. Shortly afterward, his car plunges off an icy road, rendering him unconscious and helpless at the bottom of a cliff. Meanwhile, Ellen, as yet unaware of her husband's plight, answers a loud and persistent knock at her door--and in walks a handsome, affable young man who looks just like the Harry Grayson of twenty years ago. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Chicago physician Dr. Barnes (Alex Gerry) is baffled when Dominic DiNovio (Mike Kellin), who has never been sick a day in his life, suddenly begins developing strange symptoms--such as an acute attack of claustrophobia and an insatiable thirst. It takes some doing, but Barnes finally determines that Dominic is suffering from the exact same pains which are currently being endured by a man trapped in a desert mine shaft, thousands of miles away. But this bizarre link between Dominic and the mysterious stranger goes far, far beyond their state of health. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Forced to bail out over the Sahara desert, WW2 flyer Harold Wilenski (Wesley Lau) is eventually taken to a field hospital to recuperate from a bad case of desert sunstroke. As he lies in his hospital bed, his face swathed in bandages, Wilenski suddenly begins taking on the mannerisms of ancient Egyptian prince, whose tomb has never been found. An Egyptologist named Brimley (Luis Van Rooten) confirms that there is indeed something amiss about Wilenski--but the extent of the "possession" is not revealed until the startling finale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
San Francisco, 1906: As a fancy downtown hotel prepares for a concert by the legendary Enrico Caruso, overrage bellhop Gerald Perkins (David Opatoshu) has a disturbing premonition, involving widespread death, devastation and destruction. Alas, when Gerald tries to warn people of his visions, he is believed to be drunk and is booted out of his job. But at least one other person in San Francisco seems willing to believe Gerald...just before the earth begins to move. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
In this lighthearted episode, timid Viennese postman Josef (Rudolph Anders) is pining over pretty coffee house waitress Elsa (Vanessa Brown), who in turns feels much the same affection towards Josef. Alas, the lovers are repeatedly kept apart, no matter how much they yearn to be together. Is it a disapproving relative or a jilted suitor who wants to sabotage this romance. No, the "villain" is a curmudgeonly poltergeist--a restless ghost who is particularly troublesome because he's unaware that he is a ghost. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
On vacation in France with her American friend Ann (Sally Fraser), English librarian Emily (Elen Willard) has a disturbing vision in which an English military officer dies in combat on French soil. Addition "sign" in the vision somehow suggest that the ill-fated officer is Emily's husband. Thing of it is, Emily is not only not married, but she isn't even engaged. . .and for that matter, there isn't any war of any kind going on. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Three explorers are hopelessly lost in the desert, their water supply all but depleted. Suddenly, a young man calling himself Eric Borgner (Jeremy Slates) appears out of nowhere, offering to guide the explorers to safety. Sadly, though the three men survive their ordeal, Eric does not. Years later, one of the explorers pays a visit to Eric's parents, to offer condolences and thank them for their son's help. But Mr. and Mrs. Borgner have quite a surprise for the nonplussed survivor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Taking a few small steps into her rented country house, Ruth Graham (June Vincent) prompty vanishes, never to be seen again. When Ruth's husband Fred (Edward Binns) reports her disappearance to the authorities, police lieutenant Barnes (Fredd Wayne) accuses him of murder. There is a trial and an acquittal, but neither Fred nor Barnes will be satisfied until the truth is revealed--which it is, sort of, once the history of the country house is fully researched. Series host John Newland takes an active part in the episode's finale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
As war clouds gather in the Summer of 1939, a group of young German glider enthusiasts gather together for a picnic. Despite the rivalry between Peter (Paul Carr) and Hans (Rory Harrity) over the beautiful Helga (Betsy Von Furstenberg), the young people promise to stage a reunion the first Sunday after the end of the war. Then, inexplicably, one of Helga's boyfriends disappears, never to be seen again until that reunion in 1945...and then only under the most bizarre of circumstances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
After receiving a brooch from lovelorn student Tomachek (Robert Ellenstein), Lois Morrision (Barbara Baxley), who teaches in a classroom comprised of adult immigrants, suddenly begins writing on the blackboard in a language she has never used--and doesn't even recognize. But Tomachek does understand the language, and recognizes the chalk writings as a message from a girl he knew a long time ago. What Lois doesn't realize--until it is almost too late--is that the message is a dark and foreboding one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Robert Loggia is cast as New Orleans pianist Tom Brandt, who in an alcoholic rage kills his girlfriend with a broken bottle. After the police arrest a drunken derelict for the crime, Tom figures he's in the clear. But before long he is haunted by a perverse form of "stigmata", causing his hands to soak everyone he touches with blood...and not his own blood. Appearing as Tom's fellow musician Johnny is famed jazz trumpeter Pete Candoli. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
This episode bears a marked resemblance to the first-season One Step Beyond entry "Twelve Hours to Live". Once again, two complete strangers experience the same premonition, one that will thrust them headlong toward a mutual date with destiny. This time around, the wife of a prominent banker foresees the death of her husband...while at the very same moment, a machine-shop employee envisions his own demise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Tired of churning out dull commission jobs, sketch artist Anthony March (Michael Higgins) yearns for more excitement in his life. One afternoon, Anthony glances out of the window of his Greenwich Village apartment and sees a young woman apparently planning to commit suicide in her hotel room--but when he rushes over to save her, the room turns out to be empty. This disturbing hallucination occurs time and time again before coming to a startling climax when Anthony's model Jeannie (a young Louise Fletcher) finds herself playing a key role in the proceedings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
