Bing Russell Movies

Screenwriter Jimmy Sangster and John Llewellyn Moxey, longtime collaborators in the field of British psychological-horror efforts, once more combined their skills for the American TV movie Taste of Evil. Barbara Parkins plays a young rape victim, recently released from a mental institution. She begins experiencing "flashbacks" to her rape; are these merely illusions, or is she being systematically tortured by a mystery villain? Barbara Stanwyck, Roddy McDowell, William Windom, Roddy McDowell and Bing Russell (Kurt's father) express varying degrees of concern and menace. Taste of Evil is a bit of a letdown considering its cast and the previous achievements of the Sangster/Moxey team. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jack Elam plays the title role in this Bonanza episode from December 20, 1970. Belying his nickname, Honest John is a prevaricating drifter, who over the protests of the Cartwrights has settled on the Ponderosa. Banking on the trust and friendship of young Jamie, Honest John finds himself in a predicament when Jamie insists that they both leave the Ponderosa and spend the rest of their lives together in carefree vagabondage. Yes, Jamie is in for yet another disillusionment, but there's an additional twist. "Honest John" was written by Arthur Heineman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Neville Brand guest-stars as Pepper Shannon, a stage robber whose career has been blown up to "heroic" proportions by the dime-novel brigade. Unfortunately, Ben Cartwright's adopted son Jamie idolizes Shannon, who has allowed Jamie to "capture" him to avoid being shot by his enemies. It is only after Shannon is framed for murder that the disillusioned Jamie realizes that his hero is a lily-livered coward. Also in the cast are Walter Brooke as Corey, Dan Tobin as Mills, and Arthur Peterson as Donovan. Written by John Hawkins, George Scheneck and William Marks, "The Luck of Pepper Shannon" originally aired on November 22, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bonanza's twelfth season commenced on September 13, 1970 with the episode titled "The Night Virginia City Died." Several Virginia City buildings have burned to the ground; the townsfolk are in an uproar, and the local constabulary is apparently helpless. Meanwhile, the Cartwrights have befriended a pretty young stranger named Janie (Angel Tompkins), the new sweetheart of Deputy Clem (Bing Russell). Only the audience knows that the profoundly disturbed Janie is the elusive arsonist whom everyone is seeking. Written by John Hawkins, this episode was specially contrived to "destroy" the old Virginia City sets at the Paramount studios so that the Bonanza company could move into its new home at Warner Bros. "The Night Virginia City Died" also boasted a new Bonanza theme song by David Rose, which would endure until the old theme was brought back by popular demand in 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Robert Lansing is cast as Gunny, a former Army officer dishonorably discharged for desertion, and now the owner of a small freight-hauling concern. Though Ben Cartwright cannot forgive Gunny for his dereliction of duty, he is willing to let the man prove his mettle by delivering three 30-foot beams to a distant construction site-but only after the Cambeau Construction Company has turned down this highly dangerous mission. Once Gunny undertakes the job, the envious Mr. Cambeau (William Sylvester) is keenly interested in the ex-officer's success-or failure. First shown on January 11, 1970, "Danger Road" was written by Milton S. Gelman and Brian McKay. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This film is another Disney comedy romp that takes place at the ubiquitous Medfield College. The plot kicks in when an interview, in which Professor Quigley (William Schallert) is denied a much-needed computer by apoplectic college president Dean Higgins (Joe Flynn), is broadcast to a student assembly. In order to help Quigley, the students convince rich college benefactor A.J. Arno (Cesar Romero) to donate a computer to the school instead of his usual 20,000-dollar contribution. Dexter (Kurt Russell), the student leader, attempts to repair the computer, but the machine is struck by lightning and transforms Dexter into a human being with the hard drive of the computer. Since the computer's memory is now in Dexter's brain, he now has information on his human memory chip about Arno's illegal gambling operations. When Dean Higgins puts Dexter on a televised competition for a prize of 100,000 dollars to benefit the college, every time the word "applejack" comes up during the game show, it triggers Dexter to regurgitate a rundown of Arno's illegal activities. In order to stop Dexter from exposing him, Arno kidnaps Dexter and hides him at his country estate. Dressing up as housepainters, Dexter's classmates come to Arno's mansion to rescue him. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Joe Cartwright is dumbfounded when his friend, bank employee Wade Turner (Gregory Walcott), abruptly leaves town before his marriage to his sweetheart Sarah (Sandra Smith). Wade's abrupt exit coincides with a shortage in the bank's accounts, prompting Joe to seek out his friend and demand an explanation. But no one knows the real reason for Wade's departure: he is slowly dying of a brain tumor. Featured in the cast is a young Dabney Coleman as Clyde. Written by John Hawkins, Jonathan Knopf and B.W. Sandefur, "A Darker Shadow" originally aired on November 23, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Joe Cartwright's coquettish former fiancee Emily Anderson (Beth Brickell) returns to town, quickly wrapping the moonstruck Joe around her little finger once more. Unfortunately, Emily has neglected to inform Joe that she is now married to Deputy Marshal Wade McPhail (Ron Hayes). Furthermore, the girl is an habitual liar, and before long a wounded Joe has been accused of robbery and murder. Written by Preston Wood and Elliot Gilbert, "Emily" originally aired on March 23 1969. It is currently unavailable in most circulating Bonanza rerun packages. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Melissa Murphy is cast as Jenny Winters, who claims she can identify the outlaw Logan gang as the men who robbed a stagecoach and murdered the driver. Hoping to protect Jenny from the Logans, Joe Cartwright and Candy offer the girl shelter at the Ponderosa. What neither the good guys nor the bad guys know is that Jenny is a chronic liar, whose "eyewitness" yarn is a total fabrication. Others in the cast include Stefan Gierasch as Orvil Winters, Connie Hines as Hilda, Alan Baxter as Jim, and Bo Hopkins as Stretch. First shown on September 21, 1969, "The Witness" was written by Joel Murcott. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Anne Baxter guest stars as Ironside's attorney friend Carolyn White, whom the authorities have tagged as the "most obvious" suspect in the murder of her cheating spouse. Convinced that Carolyn is being framed, Ironside (Raymond Burr) dedicates himself to proving his thesis, while his colleagues accuse him of allowing his heart to rule his head. Meanwhile, the search goes on for the murder victim's missing body--a search that yields startling results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Forced to kill the father of young Eddie McKay (Jan-Michael Vincent), Hoss Cartwright tries to make amends by hiring Eddie as a Ponderosa hand. Eddie accepts the job-but only because he has entered into an unholy alliance with rancher Sam Butler (Jim Davis), who also has a grudge against the Cartwrights. "The Arrival of Eddie" was written by Ward Hawkins and John M. Chester, and directed by former I Love Lucy stalwart Marc Daniels. The episode first aired on May 19, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The movie opens as two outlaws are just being rescued from being hung as thieves by an old friend. They go their separate ways, but keep running into each other across the country on their way to California as they alternately are on the good and bad side of the law. Their rescuer becomes the infamous "Black Bandit," the nemesis of the Wells Fargo line, they work for the line and have to protect it. They decide to rob the line.... ad infinitum. Good working relationship between the actors makes this a much more comfortable movie than it might have been with the hackneyed plot line. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide