Helen Van Tuyl Movies

This episode is a one-part adaptation of a two-part Dragnet radio broadcast, originally heard on July 20 and 27, 1950. Detectives Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) spend the better part of a year tracking down ex-convict Frank Cheney, also known as "The Gentleman Bandit" because of his wealthy upbringing. Cheney is suspected of masterminding a robbery in San Diego, in which $12,000 was sotlen and a man was killed. After months and months of false leads, the two detectives are finally able to locate the elusive Cheney thanks to a clue provided by the bandit's millionaire grandfather. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) search for a check forger who has been using the name of old-time movie villain Parker Allington. The detectives are given a lead by one of the forger's would-be victims, a dedicated movie buff who is well aware that Parker Allington has been dead for three years. Ultimately, the search narrows down to a shabby Hollywood bit player who has given up acting in favor of bunco. This episode was adapted from the Dragnet radio broadcast of January 25, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, the real-life personality so brilliantly (albeit briefly) portrayed by Elizabeth McGovern in Ragtime (1981), is given the full biopic treatment in 20th Century Fox's The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing. Since the real Mrs. Thaw served as technical advisor for the film, it isn't surprising that the controversial Evelyn comes across as being more sinned against that sinning. Joan Collins stars as Evelyn, the gorgeous chorine and original "Gibson Girl" who becomes the romantic bone of contention between ageing architect Stanford White (Ray Milland) and slightly unbalanced young millionaire Harry K. Thaw. Setting up Evelyn in a plush apartment, the lecherous White insists that she "perform" for him on the red velvet swing of the title (allegedly, Evelyn swung naked above the slavering White, though she's fully clothed in the film). Eventually, Thaw marries Evelyn, but cannot prevent White from continuing his romantic overtures. Things come to a head in 1906, on the roof of Madison Square Garden. As Evelyn sings and dances in a stage musical, the insanely jealous Thaw walks up to White, pulls out a pistol, and, in full view of the audience, pumps several bullets into the older man. Though Thaw manages to avoid the gallows by pleading insanity (he was eventually released), Evelyn's reputation is permanently besmirched, leaving her little choice but to capitalize upon her notoriety on the vaudeville stage (actually, Evelyn pursued a moderately successful film career before losing all her money to bad investments in the 1920s). By purifying the character of Evelyn Nesbit and thoroughly vilifying Stanford White, The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing is hardly 100 percent accurate; still, the film is immensely entertaining, thanks to the enthusiastic performances of the three stars. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The 1912 sinking of the luxury liner Titanic is used as a backdrop for a several fictional subplots, chief of which involves snooty socialite Clifton Webb and his wife Barbara Stanwyck. Stanwyck has booked passage on the ill-fated passenger ship with her daughter (Audrey Dalton) and son (Harper Carter), leaving Webb far behind. Webb manages to board the ship at the last minute, and discovers that Stanwyck plans to divorce him; she further informs him that he is not the father of their son. When the Titanic sideswipes an iceberg and begins its slow descent in the Atlantic, the women and children are put on the lifeboats while the men stay behind to face death (except for cowardly cardsharp Allyn Joslyn, who disguises himself as a woman). The formerly class-conscious Webb acts with conspicuous bravery, seeing to it that several steerage passengers are ushered to safety. He is reunited with his son, who has given up his lifeboat seat to an elderly woman. All misunderstandings swept aside, Webb and his son face their final moments on earth together. In the film's best moment, a miniature recreation of the Titanic is seen sinking beneath the waves as the survivors watch from their lifeboats in numb horror. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As was his custom, director Andrew L. Stone filmed most of Confidence Girl away from the studio on actual locations. The title character, Mary Webb (Hillary Brooke), is in league with sharpster Roger Kingsley (Tom Conway). The pair's latest scam is to pose as a clairvoyant and a detective while trimming their unwitting victims. After making a tidy profit, however, Mary has a change of heart. But Roger knows when he's got a good thing going, and he'll do anything--anything--to keep Mary from turning herself in and spilling the beans. The huge supporting cast of Confidence Girl includes such ever-reliables as Jack Kruschen, John Gallaudet, Walter Kingsford, Tyler McVey, Paul Guilfoyle, Edmund Cobb, Roy Engel and Duke York. Andrew Stone's wife Virginia handled the editing duties. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide