Harry Townes Movies
Wiry-featured American actor Harry Townes usually played informers, small-time crooks, wrong-headed military officers or duplicitous businessmen. His acting career began while he was attending the University of Alabama; chancing upon a Birmingham performance by a touring stage company of Richelieu starring Walter Hampden, Townes impulsively decided to become a performer himself. Within three years, Townes had worked in a New England stock company and was costarring in a travelling production of that old theatrical warhorse Tobacco Road. After two decades of stage performances, Townes came to Hollywood to appear on NBC television's Matinee Theatre, averaging some 18 TV performances per year thereafter. His personal favorite TV assignment was GE Theatre's Christmas offering The Other Wise Man, although Twilight Zone fans would argue in favor of Townes' role as a petty con artist endowed with the ability to change his facial features in the 1959 episode "The Four of Us are Dying." Harry Townes' film credits include The Mountain (1956), The Brothers Karamazov (1958), Sanctuary (1961) and The Warrior and the Sorceress (1974). His one recurring TV role was as Russell Winston on the 1986-87 season of Knots Landing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1957
District attorney Martin Ross (Royal Dano) is running for governor. To help Martin's chances, his mentally disturbed brother Richard (Harry Townes) murders Martin's opponent. As tough as it is for Martin to cover up Richard's "indiscretion," it gets even tougher when another man (Robert Ellis) is arrested for the crime -- and Martin is obliged to force a confession from him! A young Inger Stevens figures into the proceedings as Martin's anguished wife Laura. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1956
A stalwart of the radio anthology circuit, the classic suspense tale "The Creeper" is given its first TV treatment on this episode. The title character is a serial strangler who preys upon helpless women. Terrified at the prospect of being the next victim, Ellen Grant (Constance Ford) locks her apartment door and refuses to come out. Before long, however, salvation seems to be at hand, as a locksmith shows up to fix Ellen's door so that no one -- but no one -- will be able to break in. At least, that's what Ellen thinks until the very last, horrifying minute of this macabre little playlet. "The Creeper" was re-filmed for the 1985 revival of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, with Karen Allen as the protagonist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Videophiles will know The Protectors, Book 2 by its original title, Angel of H.E.A.T.. Porn star Marilyn Chambers plays a secret agent, teamed up with cult favorite Mary Woronov. Their mission is to stem the world-domination plans of evil Dan Jesse. To accomplish this task, Chambers finds it expedient to shed her clothes at the least provocation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marilyn Chambers, Stephen Johnson, (more)
- 1978
The TV adventure series B. J. and the Bear premiered as a midseason replacement on February 10, 1979. Greg Evigan starred as B.J. McCay, a wildcat trucker who'd do anything for a price, as long as it was honest. He travelled the length and breadth of the country in the company of his pet chimp "Bear." In the 90-minute pilot episode, B.J. is framed for a crime he didn't commit by his perennial enemy, corrupt Southern sheriff Elroy P. Lobo (Claude Akins). He is busted out of jail by toothsome female inmates JoAnn Harris and Randi Oakes. The B.J. and the Bear series proper ran until 1981, by which time Sheriff Lobo had turned honest, thus smoothing the road for the spin-off series Lobo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Based on the best-selling memoirs of Lillian Rogers Parks, the NBC miniseries Backstairs at the White House traces over five decades of American political history as witnessed from the vantage point of the servants' quarters. Played by Tania Johnson as a teenager and by Leslie Uggams as an adult, Lillian Rogers Parks served for 52 years as a maidservant at the White House. Though crippled early on with polio, Lillian diligently and loyally stuck to her duties -- and her own rock-solid set of principles and ideals -- through eight highly different Presidential administrations, often (and occasionally reluctantly) acting as friend and confidante to the First Lady of the moment. The large and stellar cast included a number of top-rank film and TV actors, obviously having the time of their lives impersonating such presidents as William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, and their respective wives. Also in the cast were several African-American veterans from the landmark TV miniseries Roots. Earning 11 Emmy Award nominations, the nine-hour Backstairs at the White House was seen in five installments from January 29 to February 19, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Uggams, Olivia Cole, (more)
- 1969
Dean Stockwell guest-stars as Mathew, a former Northern war hero and Congressional Medal of Honor Winner, now living a pauper's existence in Nevada. Ben Cartwright comes to Mathew's aid when the man is victimized by Seth Nagel (Harry Townes), a Southerner determined to avenge the loss of his home and family at the hands of the Yankees. The plot goes off on a rivetting tangent when Seth's daughter Lori (Susan Howard) befriends the beleagured Mathew. Written by Frank Chase, "The Medal" was originally broadcast on October 26, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1960
Crippled farmer Tom Edwards (Harry Townes) holds Ben Cartwright responsible for the accident which destroyed the use of his legs. Edwards' bitterness is fueled by his hired hand Ezekial (Claude Akins), who while plying Tom with liquor is also methodically cheating him out of his life savings. It turns out that Ezekial has another reason for his Iago-like treachery: He, too, despises the Cartwrights, and is determined to use Tom as his instrument for revenge. Dianne Foster costars as Tom's wife Joyce. Written by Halsted Wells, "The Mill" was originally seen on October 1, 1960. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1962
Once again, the loyalties of the Cartwright clan are divided by the ongoing Civil War. Confederate sympathizer Judge Terry (Harry Townes) hopes to use the Cartwrights' influence to become the governor of Nevada. As a byproduct of this political finagling, Joe Cartwright falls in love with the Judge's daughter Morvath (Joyce Taylor), infuriating-and ultimately alienating-his brother Adam, who remains faithful to the Union Cause. Weaving throughout the proceedings is celebrated British secret agent Bill Stewart (Barry Kelly). The fact-based teleplay for "The War Comes to Washoe" was written by Alvin Sapinsley; the episode originally aired on November 4, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1966
This episode opens in a curious fashion as Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) is arrested by uniformed troops and placed in a prison van. Once incarcerated, he meets another prisonder: Former Confederate officer Randall Kirby (Harry Townes), who rambles on about overthrowing the government and establishing his own empire. It soon becomes obvious that Kirby will be able to set his plans in motion unless McCord--whose presence in the van may not be all that coincidental--intervenes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
An episode of the television series, with Buck, Wilma, Hawk, and the crew plunged into strange surroundings because of a mysterious green box. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1980
Nick (Mike Conners) is the owner of a luxury liner and casino which cruises its way to action and adventure for those on board. Lackluster direction by Don Chaffey is not aided by a cast including Gary Burghoff, Joseph Cotten, Lynda Day George, Bo Hopkins and Robert Loggia, who seem to all be slightly embarrassed to be in the film. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Condominium is a two-part, four-hour TV adaptation of the novel by John D. McDonald. The setting is a hastily constructed Florida high-rise, assembled at the least possible cost by its greedy owners. An oncoming hurricane threatens to topple the structure and its residents into the ocean. Various degrees of greed, lust, terror and concern are displayed by stars Steve Forrest, Dan Haggerty, Ralph Bellamy, Barbara Eden, Stuart Whitman, Jack Jones and Pamela Hensley. Produced for the syndicated "Operation Prime Time" series, Condominium was first made available to local stations on November 20, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
This was the first film directed by Paul Stanley, and its theme of second-generation Puerto Ricans living in New York's Spanish Harlem would be picked up again in 1961's smash success, West Side Story. Miguel Estrada (John Saxon) was a member of a local gang before he went to prison for a year, and now that he is out he wants to walk the straight-and-narrow. His attempts at getting away from the life that binds him to the gangs are not anything his father can understand, and the gangs are not going to let him just walk away. At one point, he is forced into a knife fight with a gang member. A counterpoint to Miguel's dilemma is found in Sarita (Linda Cristal), a local "hostess" who prefers single bliss to marriage and its problems. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Saxon, Linda Cristal, (more)
- 1973
When a patient (Harry Townes) accuses them of stealing his money, Roy (Kevin Tighe) and John (Randolph Mantooth) play detective to trap the real thief. Other more pressing emergencies involve a daring rescue from a plane about to explode, and a car crash that results both in blindness and a premature birth. Former Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In regular Jo Ann Worley) has a riotous cameo role as a neurotic woman who believes in "scream therapy". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
When an aging philanthropist falls on hard times, her butler starts to rob the rich so that she can keep on giving to the poor in this comedy. Claude Fitzwilliam (Dick Van Dyke), known to his friends as "Fitzwilly," works as a butler for Victoria Woodworth (Edith Evans), who -- ever since the death of her husband -- has been using her inheritance to benefit her favorite charitable causes. However, no one has the heart to tell Mrs. Woodworth that she doesn't have much money left, and to compensate for the shortfall brought on by her philanthropy, Fitzwilly and his fellow domestics have been pulling a series of robberies at department stores. When Mrs. Woodworth gets the idea of compiling "A Dictionary for Dopes," which indexes phonetic spellings of commonly misspelled words, she hires Juliet Nowell (Barbara Feldon) to help on the project as a secretary. Juliet senses that there's something fishy about Fitzwilly, especially when she finds out that he has a college education but earns a meager salary as a butler, and she imagines the worst when she finds out about his criminal activities. Watch for Sam Waterston in a small role; this was his first film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Van Dyke, Barbara Feldon, (more)
- 1956
One of Dodge's finest citizens is shot down in cold blood on Front Street. Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) soon discovers that he himself was the intended target, and that the killing was masterminded by an old enemy. But as the story unfolds, it turns out that there's a third man involved in the conspiracy. One of several episodes directed by frequent John Wayne collaborator Andrew McLaglen, "Spring Term" is based on the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of June 13, 1953. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
"The Bostonian" is Henry Prince (Harry Townes), who with his wife Gloria (Constance Ford) has journeyed west to seek his fortune. Almost immediately upon arrival in Nevada, Prince incurs the wrath of greedy cattleman Clint Bryant (Joe Bryant) by purchasing a valuable and much-coveted piece of property. Paladin (Richard Boone), who to no one's surprise also has roots in Boston, comes to Prince's defence when Bryant decides to declare all-out war on the hapless Easterner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
- R
Jim Killian (Glenn Ford) is a reformed gunslinger who takes a job as a local preacher in Vinagaroon, Arizona. He arrives during a time of conflict between shepherds and cattlemen who are engaged in a bloody range war. When Coke Beck (David Carradine) hangs a local Indian, the victim's daughter Leloopa (Barbara Hershey) enlists the help of Killian. He tries to mediate the conflict in a meeting between the rival factions, but a member of the congregation exposes him as an ex-convict. He also enlists the help of the heart-of-gold saloon-operator Madge (Carolyn Jones). Killian and the townsfolk, women included, organize a march to the watering hole -- the center of the controversy. The cattlemen approach and draw their guns in what could be a potentially violent confrontation. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Ford, Carolyn Jones, (more)
- 1968
Occasionally listed as In Enemy Hands (evidently a working title), In Enemy Country is a war film with "A" ambitions and a TV-movie budget. Wartime secret agents Col. Charles Waslow-Carton (Tony Franciosa) and Lt. Col. Philip Braden (Guy Stockwell) infiltrate enemy lines, posing as POWs. Their mission is to destroy a deadly new type of torpedo, hidden in a Nazi stronghold in France. Their contact is Denise Marchois (Anjanette Comer), whom Waslow-Carton had coerced into marrying a German baron (Paul Hubschmid) before the outbreak of war, thus allowing her to continue her spying activities unimpeded. Upon the completion of their mission, Marchois chooses to remain behind with her husband, whom she has grown to love. Too many peripheral characters, way too many plot twists, and a "French" village obviously constructed on the Universal back lot: for these and other reasons, In Enemy Country is a must to avoid. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Franciosa, Anjanette Comer, (more)
- 1971
Posing as an elderly and very grouchy English professor, Ironside (Raymond Burr) infiltrates a convalescent home where many strange deaths have occurred. To lure the killer out of hiding, Ed (Don Galloway) and Fran (Elizabeth Baur) impersonate Ironside's grown children, carefully dropping hints that they'd be better off if "dad" was no longer alive. Without giving away the ending, it can be noted that Ruth Roman delivers an outstanding performance as a grim-visaged nurse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
The team infiltrates a hotel where a gangland convention is being held. While Mark (Don Mitchell) and Ed (Don Galloway) go undercover as thugs, Ironside (Raymond Burr) poses as a visiting businessman. Their purpose: to thwart the efforts of mob kingpin Harry Blocker (Pernell Roberts) to unify all California criminals under a single, all-powerful leader--himself. Though filmed for Ironside's eighth season, this episode remained unshown when the series was abruptly cancelled by NBC in January of 1975, and would not be aired until the show went into syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
While teaching a college investigation class, Magnum (Tom Selleck) tries to stem the alarming dropout rate by agreeing to take a case from one of his students on a pro-bono basis. At first, it appears that all Magnum has to do is locate the student's missing fiancee--but as the plot thickens, our hero becomes enmeshed in an entirely different mystery(or is it?) Guest star Tom Shadyac is better known for his latter-day accomplishments as a writer, director and producer on such Jim Carrey projects as Ace Ventura, Pet Detective, Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
While driving toward a secret rendezvous, adulterous couple Gerald Simms (Harry Townes) and Frances Hiller (Randy Stuart) accidentally strike a boy on a bicycle. Afraid that their illicit romance will be revealed, the couple speeds off without providing assistance to the dying boy. Exactly one year after the tragedy, Gerald turns on his office dictaphone, only to hear the sounds of pain and anguish--and at the same time, Frances is haunted by grotesque noises in her own home. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Originally under the sponsorship of the Alcoa company, One Step Beyond began its three-season "journey into the unknown" with this eerie episode, which like all subsequent episodes is based on a documented instance of paranormal activity. Virginia Leith (best remembed as the title "character" in the 1963 horror epic The Brain That Wouldn't Die is cast as newlywed bride Sally Conroy, who with her husband Matt arrives at the vacation resort where they plan to spend their honeymoon. Even though she has never been to this resort in her life, Sally recognizes everyone and everything there. Gradually, and to his mounting horror, Matt realizes that his new wife has been possessed by a malevolent spirit--and may never return to normal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
