Rusty Stevens Movies

Once again, Wally (Tony Dow) insists that he is responsible enough to babysit for Beaver (Jerry Mathers) while Ward (Hugh Beaumont) and June (Barbara Billingsley) are out. And once again, disaster reigns supreme in the Cleaver household. This time, it's all because Wally was busy making hamburgers while Beaver was taking a bath -- and only when it is too late do the boys realize that Beav forgot to turn the water off! Though it takes some doing, our heroes manage to clean up the watery mess...but should they tell mom and dad what happened, or should they zip their lips to avoid a potential "clobbering"? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

No sooner has the school bus service been extended to the Cleavers' neighborhood than Beaver (Jerry Mathers) is suspended from riding the bus for getting into a fight. At the suggestion of his parents, Beaver gets back in the good graces of the bus driver by writing a heartfelt letter of apology. Well and good -- but should Beaver share this strategy when his perennial classroom nemesis Judy Hensler (Jeri Weil) likewise gets suspended and tearfully begs Beav for his help? (The ending of this episode is priceless!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Miss Landers (Sue Randall) holds a "Most Beautiful Baby" contest at school, and assigns each student to bring in a baby picture. Well-meaning June Cleaver (Barbara Billingsley) digs up her favorite picture of the infant Beaver (Jerry Mathers) -- lying on a bearskin rug, naked as a jaybird! The mortified Beaver knows that if this picture wins the contest he'll never hear the end of it, so he subjects the dreaded photograph to a bit of "revisionist" editing. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

While messing around at Friends Lake, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) and Larry (Rusty Stevens) meet a couple of older kids, Red (Tommy Cole) and Fred (Tom Masters), who are floating in a boat. With unexpected generosity, Red and Fred let Beav and Larry borrow the boat, then quickly depart from the scene. It is only upon the arrival of a couple of scowling cops that our heroes discover that the boat was stolen -- and now they face arrest! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this classic episode, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) becomes a nervous wreck when his mom invites his teacher Miss Landers (Sue Randall) to the Cleaver house for dinner. He is especially worried after Larry (Rusty Stevens) warns him that something awful is bound to happen if his teacher is allowed to cross his threshold. On the night of the dinner, Miss Landers is more beautiful and charming than ever (she's even wearing open-toed shoes, proving that she's a human being after all), and gradually Beaver overcomes his trepidations. Little does he know that the enterprising Larry has perched himself in a tree next door to the Cleavers, charging his classmates a quarter apiece to spy upon Miss Landers as she eats her meal! Best moment -- attempting to make small talk with Miss L., Beaver's brother Wally (Tony Dow) comes up with a pointed question about President Andrew Johnson. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Beaver (Jerry Mathers) and Larry (Rusty Stevens) have convinced themselves that the old Cooper house is haunted, and that the elusive Mrs. Cooper (Lillian Bronson) is a witch. Thus, Beaver is chilled to the marrow when mom June (Barbara Billingsley) arranges for him to walk Mrs. Cooper's dog. Needless to say, the Beav is in for quite a surprise when he finally meets The Witch face to face...and her little dog, too! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Stephen Talbot makes his first series appearance as Beaver's troublesome pal Gilbert Bates, here billed as "Gilbert Gates." When new neighbors move in next to the Cleavers, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) introduces himself to Gilbert, who has a habit of playing fast and loose with the truth. When he finds out that the stories Gilbert has been feeding him are all lies, Beaver is really sore, and a fight erupts between the two boys. Can it be that this friendship is over before it even begins? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Determined that his sons aren't going to waste their time all weekend, Ward (Hugh Beaumont) encourages Beaver (Jerry Mathers) and Wally (Tony Dow) to read a book -- namely, Tom Sawyer. Fascinated by the famous "whitewashing" episode, the boys volunteer to paint garage doors, convinced they'll be able to inveigle their friends into doing all the work. Unfortunately, the only kid who takes the bait is little Bengie Bellamy (Joey Scott)...and to refer to the result as "a mess" would be giving it a break! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Beaver (Jerry Mathers) shells out good coin for a mail-order magic trick, but no one seems impressed by his conjuring skills. In desperation, Beaver and Larry (Rusty Stevens) put on a mini-magic show for the only person willing to watch: four-year-old Benjie Bellamy (Joey Scott). Larry covers Beav with a cloak, says the magic words and -- presto -- Beaver is gone and a rock is in his place. The astonished Benjie is now convinced that Beaver has turned into a rock, and cannot be convinced otherwise. The situation gets stickier when Benjie's mom insists to Ward (Hugh Beaumont) and June (Barbara Billingsley) that Beaver immediately reveal himself to mollify her fretting son -- something that just isn't possible at the moment! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Already in debt to his dad Ward (Hugh Beaumont) for the sum of 75 cents, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) probably shouldn't have loaned that amount to Larry (Rusty Stevens). But gee, Larry did promise to pay the money back. Alas, when time comes to call in the loan, Larry refuses to ante up -- and the "bad blood" between the two friends boils over. This is one of several Leave It to Beaver episodes directed by David Butler. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Beaver (Jerry Mathers) has saved up six dollars and fifty cents to buy Wally (Tony Dow) a new camera as a birthday present (six dollars and fifty cents for a camera? This really is 1959!) Unfortunately, Beaver is led to believe that he's not going to be invited to his brother's birthday party. Already in a sullen mood, Beaver is persuaded by his pal Larry (Rusty Stevens) to spend the gift money on a keen bow-and-arrow set for himself -- and to spend whatever is left over on the cheapest and chintziest present he can find. Of course, no sooner has the money been spent than Beav finds out he's been invited after all. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In his efforts to find out if school principal Mrs. Rayburn really has a spanking machine in her office, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) gets locked in -- just as school is being dismissed for the weekend. Facing the prospect of two whole days of imprisonment, Beaver sets off an alarm and is rescued by the fire department. Upset by Beaver's unwanted "fame," Ward (Hugh Beaumont) and June (Barbara Billingsley) warn him not to make a public spectacle of himself in the future. Without revealing too much more, it can be noted that this is the classic episode in which the Beav gets his head stuck in an iron fence. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

While climbing a tree, Beaver makes friends with another climber, a girl named Linda Dennison (Patty Turner). Unfortunately, this harmless encounter is witnessed by Larry (Rusty Stevens) and Whitey (Stanley Fafara), who proceed to give Beaver "the business" for allegedly having a girlfriend. To prove his tormentors wrong, Beaver must take drastic action -- which he does (to his everlasting regret) by insulting Linda in front of everyone! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi