Lurene Tuttle Movies
Raised on a ranch near the Arizona border, American actress Lurene Tuttle took acting lessons in Phoenix while still a child. Feisty and naturally funny, she found work with Murphy's Comedians, a vaudeville troupe, then played traditional ingenues in a San Antonio stock company. Though she never appeared on Broadway, Tuttle was a busy stage actress throughout the '20s and '30s. When stock work dried up in the Depression, Ms. Tuttle entered radio, where she became one the busiest actresses in the business, playing everything from sugary high schoolers to hardbitten gun molls. Many of her fans feel that her best radio work was as Effie Perrine, the effusive and efficient secretary on The Adventures of Sam Spade, in which Howard Duff played private eye Spade. Concentrating on films and television as big-time radio faded, Tuttle played small character parts in several movies and was a regular on the TV sitcoms Life with Father, Father of the Bride and Julia. One of the actress' final performances was in the post-apocalyptic film drama Testament (1983), in which she was reunited with Leon Ames, her Life with Father and Father of the Bride costar. In private life, Lurene Tuttle was the wife of radio actor/announcer Mel Ruick, and the mother of musical comedy actress Barbara Ruick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1985
Up-and-coming actress Nita Cochran (Alice Krige), who happens to be the niece of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), lands a plum role on a popular TV soap opera. Nita has been cast as a serial murderer--a fact that proves most unfortunate when an actual murder occurs at the TV studio. The victim was Nita's boss, who may or may not have been planning to abruptly write her off the show. . .but it soon develops that Nita was only one of several people with a strong motive. This episode represents the final TV appearance of Lloyd Nolan, whose well-known difficulty in memorizing lines is cleverly woven into the final scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Ten years after the cancellation of the cornpone comedy series The Beverly Hillbillies, the property was revived -- mercifully briefly -- in the form of a two-hour movie. Originally titled Solving the Energy Crisis, The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies found Buddy Ebsen, Donna Douglas and Nancy Kulp recreating their sitcom roles as millionaire hillbilly Jed Clampett (who'd moved back to the hills after dividing up his fortune amongst his loved ones), his daughter Elly May (now the owner of a small petting zoo), and bank secretary-turned-government functionary Jane Hathaway. Max Baer Jr. took a pass on the project, thus the role of Jed's nephew Jethro Bodine-now a "sophisticated Hollywood producer"-was played by Ray Young. And with Irene Ryan (Granny) and Raymond Bailey (Milburn Drysdale) having passed on, their replacements were Imogene Coca, and former Hogan's Heroes regular Werner Klemperer as government bureaucrat C. D. Medford, Jane Hathaway's new boss. Also on hand was bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs, who with his late partner Lester Flatt has composed and performed the original Beverly Hillbillies theme song "The Ballad of Jed Clampett"; Shug Fisher and Shad Heller, who'd appeared in several 1969 episodes of the original series; and two veterans from The Beverly Hillbillies' sister series Petticoat Junction, Linda Kaye Henning and Charles Lane. The plot, if anyone cares, finds the Clampetts joining forces with Miss Jane to solve the energy shortage, using Granny's "white lightning" as a fuel substitute. As the film draws to a close, it looks as if Miss Jane and her boss Mr. Medford are about to be hitched in a good ol' Ozark wedding. Originally telecast on October 6, 1981, Return of the Beverly Hillbillies was intended as the pilot for a full-scale revival of the earlier series, but this was not to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Huckleberry Finn joins Tom Sawyer and Jim, a runaway slave, as they escape down the Mississippi River on a raft. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1980
Veteran comedy specialist Hal Kanter milks every chuckle, chortle and guffaw of Stanley Ralph Ross' teleplay for For the Love of It. The story gets under way when the bad guys surreptitiously plant top-secret documents on a model (Deborah Raffin) and a med student (Jeff Conaway). He's crazy about her, while she can't stand him. Even so, the two protagonists are compelled to join forces when the bad guys start pursuing them. The bulk of the film is a zany, Mack Sennett-style chase, replete with goofy sight gags. In addition, this may be the first made-for-TV movie to tap the comedy potential of Elvis imitators. For the Love of It was originally telecast September 26, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Bette Davis is White Mama in this custom-made TV movie. Ms. Davis plays a poverty-stricken widow who is too proud to go on welfare. Aware that she can receive a steady income if she takes in a foster child, Davis becomes surrogate mother to tough black teenager Ernest Harden Jr. The relationship is shaky at best in the beginning, but soon foster mother and foster "child" learn to love, respect and trust one another. Originally telecast March 3, 1980, White Mama garnered an Emmy nomination for Bette Davis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
To the people of Hazzard County, Granny Annie Coggins (Lurene Tuttle) is merely a sweet little old lady who has achieved fame as a rustic artist. But Granny Annie happens to have another little pastime--namely, the counterfeiting of five-dollar bills. As Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) schemes to get his mitts on Annie's beautifully rendered counterfeit plates, a professional "funny-money" purveyor named Big Jim Downey (George Murdock) schemes to put the old lady out of business--and out of this world in the bargain. Mickey Jones appears as temporary mechanic B.B. Davenport, replacing his "cousin" Cooter (Ben Jones, who had gone on strike against the show because he didn't want to shave his beard for his role). Also, The Oak Ridge Boys perform "Old Time Lovin". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Set to Tchaikovsky's score, this Japanese animated effort chronicles the adventures of a young girl dreaming of a magical land of anthropomorphic mice that are under the spell of a wicked two-headed mouse. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Lee, Melissa Gilbert, (more)
- 1978
Originally made for television and based on true events from 1972, the story concerns an airline crash in the Everglades and the courageous adventures of the 73 survivors. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1977
- Add Walking Tall: The Final Chapter to QueueAdd Walking Tall: The Final Chapter to top of Queue
Rated R for violence, this is another of the promises broken to us by the movie industry. When they promise that we won't have to see something again, why can't they make it happen? Although this, like the Jason movies (Friday the 13th ad nauseam), is followed by a made for TV movie and a series, they really have to be prequels to this "final chapter," as dictated by the fiery conclusion of the movie. The story of a sheriff who just isn't going to take it anymore, it is based on a true story but, as with all Hollywood fare, made larger than life. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bo Svenson, Maggie Blye, (more)
- 1976
Having endured any number of setbacks, Charles (Michael Landon) can stand no more when a tornado wipes out his crops. Thoroughly discouraged, Charles decides to sell the farm and return to Wisconsin -- but he doesn't tell his family about this decision. On a happier note, Charles' daughter Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) and Mr. Edwards' (Victor French) adopted son, John Jr. (Radames Pera), share their first kiss. This was the final episode of Little House on the Prairie's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1976
Alice (Linda Lavin) has every reason to assume that she is the beneficiary of her late husband's insurance policy. So imagine her surprise--and outrage--upon discovering that the policy is in the name of another woman. The first airing of this episode, on October 6, 1976, occurred only in the Mountain and Pacific time zones: the rest of the country had to make do with a presidential debate between a couple of guys named Ford and Carter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
The children of Walnut Grove pool their Sunday school funds to purchase an expensive Bible for Reverend Alden's (Dabbs Greer) birthday present. Entrusted with the money, Laura (Melissa Gilbert) and Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) attempt to double the amount by purchasing, then selling, a supply of patent medicine. Alas, the scheme backfires, and the girls are left without a cent -- and the reverend's birthday is rapidly approaching. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1973
Tonight's case log for Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) includes their high-speed pursuit of a teenage robber. And elsewhere, the two cops confront a gun-wielding father (Raymond Mayo) who has held his daughter (Mia Bendixsen) a virtual prisoner for nearly all her life. Among the "perps" on this occasion is ex-convict Reno West (Jed Allan, whom Jim and Pete will hear much more from in a later episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Fresh from her eight-season run on Bewitched, Elizabeth Montgomery embarked upon a whole new career as everyone's favorite TV-movie star in the ABC production Mrs. Sundance. Shamelessly promoted as a sequel to the movie megahit Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the film cast Montgomery as Sundance's schoolteacher widow Etta Place, the role played in the earlier movie by Katherine Ross. Like her outlaw husband, Etta finds herself on the lam from the law, with a $10,000 bounty on her head. Resigned to spending the rest of her life in hiding, Etta is ultimately flushed out by the rumor that Sundance is still very much alive (In truth, the authorities never found Etta Place, and even the date of her death is shrouded in mystery). Lensed on location near Lone Pine, California, the film represented the first on-screen teaming of Elizabeth Montgomery and her real-life future husband Robert Foxworth. Mrs. Sundance premiered January 15, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
When Officer Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) wins $5000 in a contest, everyone else at Rampart has a suggestion as to how he should spend the money. Unfortunately, Malloy does not heed the best advice, and suffers the consequences. In a less frivolous moment, Pete and his partner Jim Reed (Kent McCord) find themselves in the middle of a tense sniper situation. The episode's supporting cast includes such familiar veterans as 1930s movie favorite Regis Toomey, versatile radio actress (Lurene Tuttle), and Bewitched's former "Larry Tate", David White. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
In order to move into a newer, larger house (with a LOT more bathrooms), the Partridges must undergo the trauma of parting with their old house. Eventually the kids decide that they don't want to move and do everything they can to scare off the new owners (Bert Freed, Lurene Tuttle)--who prove very hard to scare. Worse still, the family has waited so long to close the deal on their new home that they might end up on the street without any sort of roof over their heads! Song: "As Long As You're There". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) returns to Hooterville, still bound and determined to put the Hooterville Cannonball out of business. This time Homer has come up with a surefire scheme: He puts the entire railroad up for sale! Before long, the townsfolk have sold practically everything they own to keep the Cannonball from being taken over by wealthy dowager Mrs. Green (Lurene Tuttle). This is one of several fifth-season episodes in which Bea Benaderet (Kate Bradley) does not appear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Still seeking appropriate spouses for Elly May and Jethro, Jed subscribes to a computer-dating service. The results are not what anyone expects, but then, if they had been, this wouldn't be a situation comedy, would it? The limit comes when Jethro mistakes Jed's computer-selected partner, middle-aged Gladys Peabody (Lurene Tuttle), for his own gal. "The Marriage Machine" was first shown on February 8, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Joe Cartwright's impending marriage to the lovely Sally Cutler (Shirley Bonne) is threatened by the girl's unwanted suitor Horace (Beau Bridges), who is not only clumsy and inept, but also potentially dangerous. When Horace accidently strangles Sally to death, Joe swears vengeance. Ben tries to prevent his son from making a mistake he'll regret the rest of his life. Also appearing are Lurene Tuttle as Mrs. Cutler and Roy Roberts as Bristol. First shown on January 8, 1967, "Justice" was written by Richard Wendley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
The British title of Billy Wilder's classic comedy was Meet Whiplash Willie -- for, despite Jack Lemmon's star billing, the movie's driving force is Oscar-winning Walter Matthau as gloriously underhanded lawyer "Whiplash" Willie Gingrich. CBS cameraman Harry Hinkle (Lemmon) is injured when he is accidentally bulldozed by football player Luther "Boom Boom" Jackson (Ron Rich) during a Cleveland Browns game. Willie, Harry's brother-in-law, foresees an insurance-settlement bonanza, and he convinces Harry to pretend to be incapacitated by the accident. To insure his client's cooperation, Willie arranges for Harry's covetous ex-wife Sandy (Judi West) to feign a rekindling of their romance. Harry's conscience is plagued by the solicitous behavior of Boom Boom, who is so devastated at causing Harry's injury that he insists on waiting on the "cripple" hand and foot. Meanwhile, dishevelled private eye Purkey (Cliff Osmond) keeps Harry under constant surveillance, hoping to catch him moving around so the insurance company can avoid shelling out a fortune. Wilder and usual co-writer I.A.L. Diamond were at their most jaundiced and cynical here, even if, after a sardonic semiclimax, the last ten minutes succumb to the sentimentality that often marred Wilder's later movies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, (more)
Luther Heggs (Don Knotts) is a typesetter at a newspaper who longs for a chance to be a reporter. Editor Beckett (Dick Sargent) gives Luther his big break and assigns him to spend the night in a house generally considered to be haunted. The situation allows a broad canvas for Knotts to react to sight gags with the special brand of eye-popping nervousness that made him a star. Former Playboy Bunny Joan Staley plays the pretty girlfriend of star reporter Ollie Skip Homeier. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Knotts, Joan Staley, (more)
- 1966
For reasons which he prefers to keep secret, wealthy industrialist Cameron Burgess (Paul Stewart) hires shady music promoter Clete Hawley (Richard Carlson) to groom a likable but untalented British rock singer named Sandy Chester (Martin Horsey) for superstardom. Soon afterward, Hawley is murdered, and Sandy is charged with the crime. Fortunately, Burgess is a client of Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), who agrees to defend the shaggy-haired suspect in court. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In this religious movie, a married pair of television writers begin researching a script on restless teenagers and end up as born-again Christians. Meanwhile their own adolescent son runs away with a pregnant teen who is looking for the child's father. When she cannot, she tries to kill herself. Later, the son goes to a Billy Graham crusade with his dad, and he too is saved. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Years ago, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) had his heart broken by Mary Alice Perkins, who left him waiting at the altar and married another man. Now, Mary Alice is a widow, and Uncle Joe decides to begin corresponding with her again. Are there wedding bells in the offing, or is Joe setting himself up for another fall? Lurene Tuttle, previously seen on Petticoat Junction as sterm schoolmarm Adelaide "Genghis" Keane, is here cast as Widow Perkins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
After purchasing the diary of an alleged suicide victim at an auction, Della (Barbara Hale) is surprised when someone offers her $1000 for the book. Turning down the offer, the intrigued Della begins paging through the diary, ultimately arriving at the conclusion that its author did not kill herself, as originally reported. Della brings the diary to the attention of her boss Perry Mason (Raymond Burr)--thereby setting off a chain of strange and sordid events, culminating in Perry's defense of Josephine Kempton (Lurene Tuttle) on a murder charge. The "grinning gorilla" mentioned in the title is played by celebrated stunt man and simian impersonator Janos Prohaska. This episode is based on a 1952 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
