Art Arthur Movies
American screenwriter and television writer Art Arthur began his career as a theater columnist for a Brooklyn newspaper. He began writing movie scripts in 1937. During the 1960s, he wrote for many popular TV series. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
When irascible boss T.R. Hollister (Jim Backus) threatens to pull the plug on an underwater environmental living project, employee Fred Miller (Tony Randall) and his wife, Vivian (Janet Leigh), take their family down in the deep to live for 30 days. With all the modern conveniences of a home on land, the family even invites a rock & roll band to get down and record. Merv Griffin (himself) arranges an underwater interview for his television show while Mel Cheever (Ken Berry) schemes to get Fred's job back on dry land. Two of the Miller kids, Lorrie (Kay Cole) and Tommy (Gary Tigerman), join three others (Richard Dreyfuss, Roddy McDowall, and Lou Wagner) in the rock band. Friendly dolphins fend of shark attacks as the land sharks try to scuttle the underwater project in this family film. Music is provided by Jeff Barry. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Randall, Janet Leigh, (more)
- 1968
Vic Powers (Lloyd Bridges) leads a specialized rescue unit known as the Flying Fish. When an American economics professor is kidnapped by a malevolent Latin American dictator, the call goes out to recover the victim. The unit is equally adept in or out of the water. Ricardo (Nico Minardos) is the resident beachcomber recruited to provide the team with valuable information vital to recovering the missing professor. The specialized unit travels by air, land and sea to meet their objective and races against time to avoid an international incident that could tip the balance of power in favor of the dictator. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lloyd Bridges, Nico Minardos, (more)
- 1966
Comedian Soupy Sales makes his feature film debut in this silly outing as a janitor cleaning up at Cape Kennedy. He has been specially assigned to make sure that none of the nuclear warheads there get dusty. It's not easy because spies run around spreading dust. One day the janitor stumbles into an experiment and ends up with some very strange abilities: he can fly and women cannot stay away from him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Soupy Sales, Tab Hunter, (more)
- 1965
Dr. Marsh Tracy (Marshall Thompson) is an animal behavioral research director who travels to East Africa with his daughter Paula (Cheryl Miller) in this engaging wildlife saga. While Tracy develops a relationship with anthropologist Julie Harper (Betsy Drake), Paula befriends the visually challenged lion named Clarence. Because his eyes are crossed, Clarence has never been able to rely on hunting for survival, so the family adopts the lovable lion. Richard Haydn plays the schoolmaster with comic flair as he runs scared from the harmless king of the jungle. The evil Gregory (Maurice Marsac) is the leader of a group of mercenaries who plan to capture Julie's beloved gorillas and sell them for profit. Clarence later traps Gregory in a slapstick scene to save the animals from danger. The film served as a pilot for the television series Daktari. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marshall Thompson, Betsy Drake, (more)
When Chris Carlyle's (Jay North) family leaves their farm for the city, Chris must give his pet puma up to the local zoo. When Chris discovers the terrible conditions that the animals are being kept in, he manages to find a way to set all of the creatures free, much to the dismay of the local residents. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jay North, Martin Milner, (more)
- 1965
A film crew arrives in Coral Key to shoot the underwater scenes for a horror movie. But the real monster turns out to be more of the green-eyed variety, when young Bud Ricks (Tommy Norden) becomes jealous -- the film cast includes a pretty young actress (Wende Wagner), who not only manages to infatuate Bud's older brother Sandy (Luke Halpin) but also Flipper, which leaves the boy feeling left out and very resentful. Between Bud's unhappiness, and the recklessness of the director (Jack Carr), a near-disaster takes place underwater, with potentially tragic consequences for the dolphin and several members of the film crew, including the "monster" (Ricou Browning). ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Ivan Tors Productions, the firm responsible for such aquatic TV delights as Sea Hunt and Flipper, was the prime mover behind MGM's Around the World Under the Sea. The official stars include Lloyd Bridges, Shirley Eaton, Brian Kelly, David McCallum, Keenan Wynn, Marshall Thompson, and Gary Merrill. The real stars are underwater photographer Lamar Bowen, diving-sequence director Ricou Browning, and the folks in Tors' special effects department. The plot concerns a series of underwater volcanic eruptions. Sub commander Bridges (who else?) heads into the depths to find out the cause of the disturbances. Before the THE END sign presents itself, Bridges and his crew are nearly devoured by a sea monster and sucked into a vortex. Though the film's technology-both on-screen and behind the camera--is dated, Around the World Under the Sea is still credible, not to mention thoroughly enjoyable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lloyd Bridges, Shirley Eaton, (more)
- 1964
Ivan Tors, the man who made dolphins and grizzlies lovable with Flipper and Gentle Ben respectively, tries to make the magic happen for a different species in Rhino! Robert Culp and Harry Guardino play hunters without bullets, armed only with tranquilizer guns to defend themselves from African wildlife. Culp and Guardino's mission is to locate the rare white Rhino, then herd them out of harm's way to save them from extinction. Complications ensue when zoologist Culp is tricked by the avaricious Guardino, who really wants the rhinos for their horns and pelts. Filmed on location in South Africa. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harry Guardino, Robert Culp, (more)
This 1964 sequel to the 1963 box-office hit Flipper is unnecessarily melodramatic at times, but at least it isn't a cookie-cutter imitation of the original. Suzy the Dolphin returns to the "male" role of the superintelligent Flipper, while Luke Halpin reprises the role of Sandy Ricks. This time, Flipper rescues a British family in the Bahamas, who are being held for ransom. Brian Kelly takes over from the first film's Chuck Connors as Ranger Porter Ricks, a role he'd continue to play in the long-running (1964-67) Flipper TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Luke Halpin, Pamela Franklin, (more)
- 1955
Battle Taxi is set during the height of the Korean War. Sterling Hayden plays an officer of the Helicopter Air Rescue Service, whose job it is to save wounded or stranded soldiers from hostile territory. Arthur Franz costars as a lieutenant assigned to the copter service, who at first resents his position but eventually realizes his importance in the scheme of things. The film sticks to basics, eschewing any and all romantic subplots -- in fact, there isn't a single female character in the picture! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sterling Hayden, Arthur Franz, (more)
- 1949
East Indian actor Sabu goes through his usual paces in Columbia's Song of India. Sabu plays Ramdar, prince of a jungle tribe, who comes into conflict with Indian maharajah Gopal (Turhan Bey). At the behest of the British government, Gopal has been trapping wild animals and selling them to zoos. Ramdar finds this offensive, and does his utmost to free the jungle beasts and undermine Gopal's activities. Leading lady Gail Russell plays Princess Tara, Gopal's beloved, whom Ramdar kidnaps and holds hostage to keep the maharajah at bay. Appropriately, the film's musical score is adapted from Rimsky-Korsakov's "Song of India." Original prints were released in Sepiatone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sabu, Gail Russell, (more)
- 1948
In this romantic western, the real stars are a mustang and a police dog. The human aspect of the story centers on a rodeo rider whose late father bequeathed him a ranch in Calgary, Canada. The rider really tries to settle down to ranching, but finds himself pining for the rodeo. His forewoman, also a former rodeo performer, thinks her employer is shirking his duties and needs to forget about broncos, and bull-riding and settle down. Meanwhile, the fellow also longs to catch the white stallion running wild. The dog helps out. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Leslie, James Craig, (more)
- 1947
Also released as Montana Mike, Heaven Only Knows is an offbeat western with fantasy overtones. Hard-bitten gambling boss Brian Donlevy rules his frontier community with brawn and bullets. To his dismay, Donlevy discovers that he has a guardian angel (Robert Cummings), who shows up in the guise of an Eastern tenderfoot. The angel has been sent from Above to save Donlevy's soul, and to that end encourages the one-time villain to squire a minister's daughter (Jorja Curtwright) rather than his usual dance-hall girls. Donlevy is also given tips on winning against his enemies without resorting to gunplay. The gambler finally redeems himself with Heaven by rescuing the angel from a lynch mob (how can you lynch an angel?) Heaven Only Knows deserves an "E" for Effort for bringing a fresh twist to the venerable western genre. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Cummings, Brian Donlevy, (more)
Based on the lives of big-band stars Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, this biographical chronicle begins with their childhood in an industrial Pennsylvania town. Encouraged in their musical talents by their father, the Dorsey brothers' sibling rivalry proves to be a stumbling block until the their father's death gives them the momentum they need to rise to fame, and they are eventually considered to be among the best bandleaders of the swing era. Appearances by Charlie Barnet, Art Tatum, and Bob Eberly jazz up the musical numbers, featuring such songs as "Green Eyes," "Everybody's Doin' It", "Marie," and "I'll Never Say Never Again." ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sara Allgood, William Bakewell, (more)
- 1945
The trouble begins when glamorous Broadway actress Roberta Baxter (Virginia Bruce) signs for her latest play. She proceeds to spend far too much time at rehearsals, and far too little time with her attorney husband William (Edward Ashley). Even so, it is Roberta who eventually walks out on William, claiming that he's been neglecting her! The nonplussed William gives Roberta's room to an unemployed tatoo artist named Terry (Victor McLaglen) and Terry's preteen ward Sally (Jacqueline Moore). Hoping to get grounds for divorce, Roberta returns to her apartment, posing as a French governness for Sally. The fact that William doesn't seem to recognize Roberta when she starts to flirt with him should be indication enough of the film's credibility level. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Virginia Bruce, Edward Ashley, (more)
- 1943
No relation to the 1950 Frank Capra film of the same name, the 1943 Technicolor musical Riding High is a by-the-numbers vehicle for Dorothy Lamour and Dick Powell. Lamour stars as Ann Castle, a former burlesque queen who heads westward to claim her father's silver mine. Powell plays mining engineer Steve Baird, who like Ann has a vested interest in the worked-out mine. With the help of genial counterfeiter Mortimer J. Slocum (Victor Moore), Steve and Ann are able to peddle mining stock, thus saving her from bankruptcy. The stockholders are in a lynching mood when it appears that they've been flim-flammed, but a last minute "miracle" saves the day. Featured in the cast are Paramount stalwarts Cass Daley and Gil Lamb, the former doing her quasi-Martha Raye act and the latter swallowing his harmonica for the millionth time. Production values are excellent and the songs are exuberantly performed; it's only in its hackneyed plot that Riding High slows to a clip-clop. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Lamour, Dick Powell, (more)
- 1943
In this romantic musical, a chipper radio crooner does everything she can and is still unable to get a break. Later her agent comes up with a sure-fire scheme to get her some publicity by announcing that she is the true love of a WW II hero who has just come home. Fortunately for her, the agent's ploy is quite prophetic and by the story's end, the hero and the singer are hopelessly in love. Musical numbers and songs include: "My Wife's a WAAC", "What Do You Do When It Rains?", "I'd Do It for You", "Left, Right" and ""Valse Continental"". ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Betty Jane Rhodes, MacDonald Carey, (more)
- 1942
In this mystery, a Times Square doctor rescues a chorus girl who, as part of a publicity stunt, was preparing to leap off a building. He later becomes friends with a killer who asks the doctor to take $100,000 to his estranged daughter. Before the doctor can run his errand, mobsters show up and shoot the killer. They then steal the key to the safe deposit box carrying the cash leaving the doctor to be blamed for the murder. Fortunately, he is able to capture the crooks and clear his name. He also manages to again save the chorus girl from a second attempt at jumping off a building. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- MacDonald Carey, Jean Phillips, (more)
- 1942
Judy Canova plays Bessie Cobb, a kitchen worker at a Miami hotel who happens to have a crackerjack singing voice. The bell captain, Chick Patterson, learns that band leader Danny Marlowe is looking for a new girl singer, and a contest will be held at the hotel to choose one. Chick sees this as a way to make some significant money, which would allow him to marry his sweetheart, and so he persuades Bessie to enter. Chick takes a recording of Bessie to Marlowe, only to discover that gangster Honest Joe Kincaid is ordering Marlowe to choose his moll, Sugar, instead. Marlowe doesn't want to do this, but he's in over his head with gambling debts. Chick plays Bessie's record, but tells Marlowe that the voice belongs to Sugar. When Sugar comes to town, Danny and his pals kidnap her and Bessie goes on, pretending to be her. Unfortunately, Sugar's former boy friend sends two hit men to take care of her -- and they abduct Bessie, assuming she is Sugar. Things get even more complicated before all identities are straightened out and Bessie emerges the winner of the contest. Songs include the title number and "Barrelhouse Bessie from Basin Street." ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- 1942
The Lady Bodyguard of the title is pretty but somewhat physically frail A. C. Baker (Anne Shirley). An advertising representative for an insurance company, A. C. gets into trouble when she okays several $1000 life-insurance policies as a publicity stunt. One of the recipients is Terry Moore (Eddie Albert), who, thanks to a typographical error, finds that he's been insured for one million dollars. Desperately, A. C. tries to talk Terry into cancelling the policy, but his avaricious beneficiaries don't want this to happen. There are laughs and thrills aplenty as a sleep-benumbed Terry pilots an airplane carrying A. C. and all of those vultures who'd benefit mightily from his demise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Albert, Anne Shirley, (more)
- 1942
In this musical comedy set during WW II, a circus aerialist desires to be closer to her lover, a soldier. When she finds herself chased by gangsters, the woman dresses up as a man and joins the military. Mayhem ensues as she tries to undergo training and keep her sex a secret. The secret is revealed at the end, when the camp puts on a show and the gangsters suddenly appear. Luckily the police arrive at the same time and justice prevails. Songs include: "In the Army," "Need I Speak," "Jitterbug's Lullaby," "Spangles on My Tights," "Wacky for Khaki" (Frank Loesser, Harold Spina), "Swing in Line" (Loesser, Joseph J. Lilley), "Love in Bloom" (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin), and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" (Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judy Canova, Allan Jones, (more)
- 1942
Very much a product of its times, Priorities on Parade was disliked by everyone but the public when it was first released in 1942. The story takes place in a wartime aircraft plant, where a group of entertainers secure jobs putting on shows for the workers during lunch and dinner breaks. The troupe's duties also include a bit of spot-welding and assembly-line work as well, leading to a variety of mildly comic complications. Naturally, all plot roads lead to a big, morale-boosting musical finale, highlighted by choreographer Jack Donahue's precision-dance routines, wherein the entertainers elect to turn down a Broadway show in favor of defense-plant work (this is a fantasy, isn't it?) The four protagonists are played by zany Jerry Colonna, handsome Johnnie Johnston, and gorgeous Ann Miller (in a blonde wig) and Betty Rhodes, while Vera Vague supplies her usual dizziness as a Rosie-the-Rivetter type. The Frank Loesser-Jules Styne-Herb Magidson score includes the hit tune "You're in Love With Somebody Else But I'm in Love With You". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Miller, Johnny Johnston, (more)
- 1941
This comedy-drama is adapted from a story by Damon Runyon and centers on a mobster with unusually large feet. The trouble begins when the big-footed crook buys a too-tight pair of shoes from a salesman and decides to use the store as a front for an illegal gambling operation. After buying the business, the crook tosses the salesman out. Angered at losing his livelihood, the salesman listens to his girl friend and a good-hearted city editor and begins looking to expose the crook. He succeeds and the crook's angry bosses then take away his standing. Meanwhile, the salesman suddenly finds himself hailed a hero; his ego begins to swell and trouble ensues until his girl helps him put it all in perspective. He marries her in the end. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Howard, Binnie Barnes, (more)
- 1941
Sailors on Leave stars William Lundigan as sailor Chuck Stephens, who has borrowed so much money from his fellow gobs that he's in debt up to his eyelids. Chuck's shipmates decide to get even with him by arranging a "fake" marriage with cafe songstress Shirley Ross that turns out to be genuine. Naturally, the two despise each other, at least until fadeout time. Staving off the inevitable final clinch is a silly subplot involving stolen jewels. Shirley Ross, who three years before this Republic programmer was filmed had introduced "Thanks For the Memory" with Bob Hope in Big Broadcast of 1938 (38), is here paired with the ever-popular Bill Shirley in four forgettable musical interludes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Lundigan, Shirley Ross, (more)
- 1941
Skating star Sonja Henie and the Glenn Miller Orchestra share the spotlight in Sun Valley Serenade. Henie plays a Norwegian refugee adopted by band pianist John Payne, who mistakenly thought that the full-grown Miss Henie was a 10-year-old little girl. Payne's girlfriend, Lynn Bari, is a soloist with the Miller band, and also a violently jealous sort. When Bari quits Miller out of pique, Henie stages an elaborate ice show as a substitute. This impromptu spectacular thrills the audience at the Sun Valley resort hotel where most of the action takes place. Joan Davis and Milton Berle provide comic relief to the music and romance (you haven't lived until you've seen Berle on skis), while The Nicholas Brothers and Dorothy Dandridge perform a lively chorus of "Chattanooga Choo Choo." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sonja Henie, John Payne, (more)
