William Talman Movies

In this violent, gripping drama, a ruthless criminal kidnaps a little boy and takes him into the Colorado wilderness where, unfortunately, the lad accidentally dies in a terrible fall. This doesn't stop the crook from collecting and hiding a substantial ransom. He is eventually captured and imprisoned. There he hooks up with four other bad apples and together they escape and go looking for the money. These criminals are desperate and will stop at nothing to reach their goal. One of them is a true psychopath and the cops and FBI agents must hurry before more blood is spilled. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Six convicts plan a prison break and are successful, though their ringleader (William Bendix) is injured in the attempt. He promises to share the fortune in gold he has stowed away if they help him get to a doctor. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

Seeking revenge against those who lynched his Rebel father during the Civil War, young gun Jesse May Turnbow (Robert Blake) has cut a violent swath throughout the frontier, killing ten men in cold blood. Hired to bring Turnbow to justice, Paladin (Richard Boone) conducts a search which ends up in an isolated shack occupied by Southerner George Jundell (William Talman) and ex-slave Ansel James (Hari Rhodes). Though he befriends the two men, Paladin cannot shake the feeling that they know more about Turnbow's whereabouts than they're letting on--and in fact the outlaw may be hiding on their property this very moment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

There's propaganda aplenty in RKO's I Married a Communist, the first of producer Howard R. Hughes' many anti-Red broadsides. Robert Ryan plays shipping executive Brad Collins, whose youthful flirtations with certain left-wing causes have made him ripe for plucking by Commie cell leader Vanning (Thomas Gomez). Threatening to reveal Collins' "pinko" past, Vanning orders the executive to deliberately sabotage the shipping industry in the Frisco Bay area. Other characters essential to the plotline are Collins' wife Nan (Laraine Day), who knows nothing of her husband's politics, and his idealistic brother-in-law Don (John Agar) who spouts Marxist dogma at the drop of a hat. Apparently at a loss as to how to depict communist villainy, the screenwriters hark back on the gangster films of the 1930s, notably in the scene where a hapless stoolie (the inevitable Paul Guilfoyle) is taken for a ride. When the title I Married a Communist proved an audience turn-off during previews, the film was rechristened The Woman on Pier 13. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A tall horseman (Jock Mahoney) rides into the small town of Arborville, deserted except for redheaded Jody (Luana Patten), who's uncomfortable about it. Outside town, the rider finds all the townspeople working on an oil rig on a small ranch. They're led by Cal Moore (Charles McGraw), and include brothers Aaron (Claude Akins) and Adam Grant (Lee Van Cleef). The stranger asks a few questions, rousing the ire of the hot-tempered brothers, who toss him into a pool of oil. Glossy black but unconcerned, the stranger ambles out and rides back to town. Jody helps him clean up, so he tells her he has come to meet an old Indian who lived on the property where the oil well now is; he's clearly surprised when she refers to the old man, now missing, as Joe Dakota. Meanwhile, the townspeople gather, and we learn that Cal is a newcomer to town, an oil expert who decided to cast his lot with Arborville. We also learn that something happened to the old Indian, and that the townspeople were involved. The townspeople later are horrified when the stranger announces that he owns the land where the oil well is, and that his name is Joe Dakota.

Later, Jody comes to see Joe at the ranch, and reveals that the old man was her friend; she often came out to visit him. Joe tells her that the old man, whom he'd known well some years before, had simply borrowed his name. Jody says that the last time she'd visited the old Indian, he'd been drunk and had attacked (but not raped) her. Egged on by Cal, the townspeople had lynched him. The next day, Joe hangs a noose on the Arborville town sign, and puts a cross on the old man's grave. He explains that he was a captain in the infantry, and the old man was the finest scout he'd ever known. Everyone gathers at the oil well, where Joe explains that it was Cal who had attacked Jody, framing the old man for the crime to get the town to lynch him. He and Cal have a fight, but the townspeople, ashamed of what they've done, side with Joe.

Universal-International turned out quite a number of well-down, medium-budget westerns in the late 1950s, often starring Audie Murphy. This time, however, the lead is former stuntman Jock Mahoney, whom the studio was trying to groom as a star; his easy-going but very masculine personality made him ideal for roles such as this. The movie, co-written by Perry Mason's "Hamilton Burger," (William Talman), seems to owe something to Bad Day at Black Rock, but the plot works well in this context, too. There are good small details, like a wine store instead of a saloon, the town's beloved water trough, and the stranger's midnight shave. Richard H. Bartlett's direction is as low-key as the movie -- scarcely a shot is fired, and few wear guns -- and as likable. Joe Dakota is "just another movie," but it's a very good example of its long-gone kind. ~ Bill Warren, All Movie Guide

Here's one for the "Trivial Pursuit" crowd: What was the title of the first episode of Perry Mason, and who was Mason's first client? The answer: "The Case of the Restless Redhead", based on Erle Stanley Gardner's 1954 novel of the same name; and Evelyn Bagby, played by Whitney Blake,the mother of Meredith Baxter and later cocreator of the sitcom One Day at a Time. Needless to say, Evelyn is innocent of the murder charge--and of course, defense attorney Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) proves his client's innocence by exposing the actual miscreant in the middle of the trial, to the bewilderment of hapless prosecutor Hamilton Burger (William Talman). In addition to Burr and Talman, all the familiar Masonregulars are on hand from the beginning: loyal secretary Della Street (Barbara Hale), private detective Paul Drake (played along more rough-hewn lines than in later episodes by William Hopper) and phlegmatic police lieutenant Arthur Tragg (Ray Collins). Also making their earliest appearances this season are semi-regulars George E. Stone as the ubiquitous court clerk (he would make 45 appearances in all, more than any other actor, but seldom had a line to speak), Connie Cezon as Perry's receptionist Gertie, and Morris Ankrum and Kenneth MacDonald playing the first of their many nameless judges. Among the noteworthy guest performers this season are Angie Dickinson in "The Case of the One-Eyed Witness"; Fay Wray (King Kong) in "The Case of the Prodigal Parent", Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie) in "The Case of the Angry Mourner"; Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show) in "The Case of the Crimson Kiss", Werner Klemperer (Col. Klink on "Hogan's Heroes" in "The Case of the Desperate Daughter"; and, in "The Case of the Lazy Lover", Neil Hamilton and Yvonne Craig, cast as father and daughter long before their similar roles on Batman. Finally, Season One yields one of the few times that Perry Mason loses in court, in "The Case of the Terrified Typist"...but fear not, he ultimately triumphs on a technicality. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

By the time Perry Mason rolled into its third season in the fall of 1959, the series was the 10th most popular program in America, and the uncontested leader in its Saturday night timeslot--despite formidable competition from the upstart NBC western Bonanza. Ironically, Perry Mason would ultimately wither on the vine in its ninth season when once again CBS moved it opposite the by-now extremely profitable Bonanza, but that was still several years in the future. Ratings and popularity, aside, the series' star Raymond Burr and his costars Barbara Hale, William Hopper and Ray Collins had ample reason for complaint this season, thanks to a corporate decision by parent network CBS. In March of 1960, William Talman, who played defense attorney Mason's friendly adversary, prosecutor Hamilton Burger, was hauled into jail for throwing a wild party (marijuana may or may not have been involved). Though Talman was never charged with anything, the network invoked the "morals clause" in his contract and fired him on the spot. Only the combined protests of the cast members--led by Burr, who threatened to quit the show if Talman wasn't reinstated--and tons of supportive fan mail compelled CBS to reverse its decision in December of 1960. By this time, however, Talman had missed several episodes (most of which were seen in the series' fourth season). March 1960 Talman had his wild party. Fay Wray murdered in "The Case of the Watery Witness", "The Case of the Lucky Legs", in "The Case of the Prudent Prosecutor", Burger asks Mason's help to clear an old friend on a murder charge. Otherwise, things moved smoothly on the series, with Perry Mason consistently proving the innocence of his clients and and exposing the real murderer on a weekly basis. Also, as in previous years, Season Three had its share of noteworthy guest performers, ranging from old-timer Francis X. Bushman to comparative youngsters Barbara Bain, Bert Convy and future Oscar winner Louise Fletcher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season Five of Perry Mason marked the series' last stand in its traditional Saturday-night timeslot. Though ratings were quite good (the series ended the season in the Top Five), the CBS executives thought that the show would be more valuable on Thursdays, where the network had been floundering--so Thursdays it was, beginning with Season 6. Raymond Burr of course is still in harness as the fabulously successful defense attorney Perry Mason, with Barbara Haleas secretary Della Street, William Hopperas Paul Drake and William Talman (now fully reinstated after the unpleasantness of Season 3, during which the actor had been briefly fired because of his off-camera shenanigans) as prosecutor Hamilton Burger. Ray Collins is also on hand as irascible Lt.Trag, though illness had forced the veteran actor to curtail his appearances. The guest star roster this season includes Denver Pyle in the opener, "The Case of the Jealous Journalist"; Burt Reynolds in "The Case of the Counterfeit Crank", James Coburn in "The Case of the Angry Astronaut; future TV icons Alan Hale Jr. (Gilligan's Island) and DeForest Kelley (Star Trek) in "The Case of the Unwelcome Bride"; and James Drury, one year removed from his ascent to stardom as The Virginian, in "The Case of the Missing Melody". Significant to the overall Perry Mason saga is the presence of Bill Williams, real-life husband of series regular Barbara Hale, as the defendant in "The Case of the Crippled Cougar"; and Wesley Lau, who later joined the cast as Lt. Anderson, in a markedly different role in "The Case of the Impatient Partner". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although Perry Mason was showing signs of fatigue as the series entered its seventh season, the producers were able to stir up a great deal of publicity and audience interest with the announcement that, in the season's fourth episode "The Case of the Deadly Verdict", the unthinkable would happen: Brilliant defense attorney Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) would finally lose a case to prosecutor Hamilton Burger (William Talman), and his client (played by Julie Adams) would be sentenced to death). Not to give anything away, but it can be noted that Mason loses only because his client withholds information--a fact that affords our hero the opportunity to clear the poor woman in a second trial. Otherwise, Season Seven is fairly undistinguished, save for the always solid performances of supporting players Barbara Hale (as Della Street), William Hopper (Paul Drake), and Ray Collins (Lt. Tragg), who makes his final appearance this season due to illness. Of the guest stars, standouts include little Billy Mumy (pre-Lost in Space, and very pre-Babylon Five) in "The Case of the Shifty Shoebox", future superstar Ryan O'Neal in "The Case of the Bountiful Beauty", Oscar-winnner-to-be Strother Martin in "The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito", Man From UNCLE's David McCallum in "The Case of the 50 Millionth Frenchman", ventriloquist Paul Winchell as the murder victim in "The Case of the Nervous Neighbor", and Jerry Van Dyke in his first non-comic role in "The Case of the Woeful Widower". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Show business is full of ironies. Back in 1961, the NBC western Bonanza was moved from a Saturday to a Sunday slot to avoid the heavy competiton of the popular CBS legal drama Perry Mason. By 1965, Bonanza was riding high in the ratings and the nine-year-old Perry Mason was slowly withering. Thus, when Mason was moved to Sundays opposite Bonanza, guess what happened? Though the handwriting was on the wall, the cast and crew of Perry Mason rallied sufficently to offer some of the series' finest hours during its terminal ninth season. The two best-remembered offerings of the year are "he Case of the Dead Ringer", in which Raymond Burr essays the dual role of Perry Mason and a cockney murderer; and the series' only color episode, "The Case of the Twice-Told Twist", a mordernized Oliver Twist with the redoubtable Victor Buono as the Fagin counterpart. (This episode was initially removed from syndication, but restored in the early 1990s). Also of interest is the addition of a new cast member, Richard Anderson, as Lt. Steve Drumm, replacing Wesley Lau as Lt. Anderson--who in turn had replaced longtime regular Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg. Also, there are some fascinating guest stars this season, among them former "Captain Midnight" Richard Webb, future Hill Street Blues star Dan Travanti, and the multitalented Cloris Leachman--not to mention several members of the LA Rams football team (including Roman Gabriel) in "The Case of the Impetuous Imp". The series wraps up its 271-episode run with, appropriately, "The Case of the Final Fade-Out", which in addition to exposing one of the most suprising murderers in the show's history also features several members of the Perry Mason production staff (including producer and former film star Gail Patrick Jackson) in minor roles, and series creator Erle Stanley Gardner as a judge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dana Andrews plays Cavalry deserter Brett Halliday in the compact Universal western Smoke Signal. Cavalry captain Harper (William Talman) is determined to bring Halliday to justice, but first he must lead his men and a handful of Indian-massacre survivors to safety through hostile, uncharted territory. Halliday's sympathies are with the Indians, whom he believes have resorted to violence only because of the cruelty of certain white officers. Piper Laurie co-stars as Laura Evans, the romantic bone of contention between Halliday and Lt. Wayne Ford (Rex Reason). Though the plotline of Smoke Signal is pedestrian, the film's action highlights are well-worth the price of admission. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Daniel Mainwaring took this story right out of the headlines of the day, penning this true story of a mass murderer who was eventually executed in San Quentin's gas chamber. Released during McCarthy's witch-hunt, Mainwaring was not given credit because Howard R. Hughes, who produced it under RKO, refused to give credit to any "radicals." The story is that of two men on a fishing trip who pick up a hitchhiker. He turns out to be a sadistic psychopath who has committed multiple murders, a sociopath who hates humanity because of his own abuse as a child. He also has an affliction which terrifies these two men: an eye which is permanently open, thereby never allowing them to know if he is really asleep or just faking it--something which he does with regularity to scare them...letting them take off and then meeting up with them just as they feel they have escaped from him. A tense thriller skillfully directed by the only female director of the time, Ida Lupino, it is a suspenseful tale of terror on the highways. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide