Tom Bower Movies

This episode marks the first appearance of Gretchen Corbett as attorney Beth Davenport, erstwhile girlfriend of private eye Jim Rockford (James Garner). Characteristically, Beth has called upon Jim for a teeny-tiny favor: namely, to prove the innocence of her impoverished client Ann Calhoun (Patricia Smith), who is accused of killing her husband. Dutifully, Rockford heads to Parker Arizona, the hometown of Ann's late husband Kevin, in hopes of gathering new evidence. Before long both Jim and Beth find their lives threatened by a certain party who is harboring a sinister secret--in this case, the fact that Kevin Calhoun wasn't Kevin Calhoun at all. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Much against his will (and his better judgement), Jim (James Garner) gets involved in the trials and tribulations of Warren Weeks (Ron Rifkin), the wimpish cousin of attorney Beth Davenport (Gretchen Corbett). Warren was recently fired from his job by a man who later turned up murdered. The principal suspect in the killing is the victim's own boss Perry Lefcourt (Joe Maross)--who happens to be the husband of Warren's current sweetheart Catherine (played by onetime Playboy centerfold Anne Randall). When Lefcourt himself turns up dead, the feckless Warren finds himself facing charges for both murders--and in his efforts to clear Warren, Jim ends up getting arrested no fewer than three times! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Larry Peerce directed this tired disaster movie about a mad sniper loose in a football stadium. At the beginning, the sniper picks off a cyclist for practice and then takes roost in the top tower of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Sent in to stop the terror is Captain Peter Holly (Charlton Heston), who wants to get his hands on the sniper without endangering the lives of the people in the stadium. Unfortunately, there is a second group of law enforcement officers, a tactical commando group, who want to go into the stadium and rush the sniper -- regardless of the danger such an action would cause to the crowd watching the game. The sniper plans to start blasting at the two-minute warning signal of the football game. Holly has to find the sniper before the two-minute warning is given -- not merely to prevent the killings threatened by the sniper but to head off the tactical force before any other unnecessary deaths are incurred by the force's bulldog techniques. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

After a single spin on Ike Godsey's motorcyle, Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) is determined to enter an upcoming race--and Olivia (Michael Learned) is equally determined to stop him. As for Ike (Joe Conley) himself, he and his wife Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) are eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the baby boy whom the couple has adopted. Imagine their surprise (and dismay!) when the "boy" turns out be a temperamental ten-year-old girl named Aimee Louise (Rachel Longaker in her first series appearance). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Newly married to Dr. Curt Willard (Tom Bower), Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) begins to doubt that she is worthy of her husband--especially when she faints dead away while helping him during surgery. Elsewhere, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) comes to regret selling land entrusted to him by Grandpa when it turns out the property is going to be used for hydraulic mining. And Rev. Fordwick's pregnant wife Rosemary (Mariclare Costello) suddenly goes into labor just as a rainstorm comes hammering down on Walton's Mountain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A heavy snowstorm may prevent the Walton family from gathering on the Mountain for Christmas Eve. No one is more upset by this than Olivia (Michael Learned), who has convinced herself that this will be the last Christmas in which the whole family will be able to get together. A plethora of unexpected mishaps and eleventh-hour emergencies only serve to deepen Olivia's depression...but the story isn't quite over yet! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Waltons offer food and shelter to Josh (played by a pre-Diff'rent Strokes Todd Bridges) , a young black orphan who has walked all the way from North Carolina. Though he quickly becomes attached to his "temporary" family, Josh runs away after John Walton (Ralph Waite) reprimands him for stealing a fishing rod. Unfortunately, the boy subsequently finds himself surrounded by people who have no great affection for blacks--and things looks grim for Josh until Verdie Foster (Lynn Hamilton) takes a hand in matters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As John-Boy heads to New York to find out if his novel has been accepted for publication, he recalls the events leading to this critical and anxious moment. Presented as "flashback" are choice excerpts from the previous episodes "The Typewriter", "The Literary Man" and "The Burnout". This final episode of The Waltons' fifth season also marks the final regular appearance of Richard Thomas as John-Boy Walton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough) prepares to graduate from high school, she despairs over being the only Walton who has no idea of what she wants to do with her life. She is also convinced that she has absolutely no marketable skills, which is even more depressing. Ultimately, the path to Erin's future is revealed purely by accident--and with the unwitting help of older brother John-Boy (Richard Thomas). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Laboring under the misapprehension that he will be able to bring Grandma home from the hospital, Grandpa Walton (Will Geer) is rudely rebuffed by the medical staff. Not surprisingly, the old man raises a ruckus--and as result is barred from any further hospital visits. Elsewhere, high-and-mighty Corabeth Godsey (Ronnie Claire Edwards) is upset that her adopted daughter Aimee (Rachel Longaker) is playing with Elizabeth Walton (Kami Cotler), whom Corabeth considers a bad influence! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After winning a national writing contest, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) is sent to cover the arrival of the dirigible Hindenburg in Lakehurst, New Jersey. But after the giant airship bursts into flames ("Oh, the humanity!"), John-Boy cannot summon up the words to describe the horrendous tragedy. Meanwhile, Mary Ellen's husband Curt (Tom Bowers) begins to worry that the family will never allow him to spend a few moments alone with his new wife. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With America's entry into WW2 still several months away, Mary Ellen's husband Curt (Tom Bower) is drafted in to the US Army Medical Corps, while Erin's erstwhile soldier boyfriend G.W. (David Doremus) returns on furlough. At the same time, Jason's rambunctious pal Yancy (Robert Donner) decides to enlist, pausing only long enough to wed his girlfriend Sissy (Cissy Wellman). The episode ends on a tragic note as one of the Mountain's three soldiers returns home in a coffin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide