Charles Barton Movies
Charles T. Barton spent his first two decades as an actor in stock, vaudeville and movies. He learned the production end of the business under the exacting guidance of director James Cruze, finally graduating to director himself with the 1934 "Zane Grey" feature Wagon Wheels. Barton became indispensable to the various "B" units operating in Hollywood, guiding several inexpensive, tight-scheduled productions with breezy efficiency. He also proved a superb comedy director, bringing the best out of such performers as Joe E. Brown, Jackie Gleason and Lupe Velez. From 1946 on, Barton was a principal director of the Abbott and Costello comedies, establishing an excellent working relationship with Lou Costello -- who, like Barton, was short in stature but long on volatility. Barton entered television in the early 1950s, helming several episodes of the classic sitcom Amos N Andy. Barton's last theatrical features included a pair of delightful Disney films, The Shaggy Dog (1959) and Toby Tyler (1960). Charles Barton was married to actress/singer Julie Gibson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1970
Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) receives a miniature bonsai tree as a gift from an elderly Japanese gentleman named Mr. Osaki (Teru Shimada). Hoping to impart a bit of oriental mythology to Jody, Osaki explains that the life of the tree has paralleled his own. Unfortunately, the information proves traumatic to Jody when the tree begins to die--just as Mr. Osaki, on the verge of returning to Japan, suddenly falls ill. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
In celebration of her graduation from high school, Cissy (Kathy Garver) wants to attend an all-night party with her friends. Bill (Brian Keith) and Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) are understandably worried, but they don't want to treat Cissy like a child, nor do they want to suggest that they don't trust her. Comes the night of the party, and everyone learns one of the important Life Lessons so prevalent on this classic series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Veteran character actor Paul Fix (remember "Sheriff Micah" on The Rifleman?) guest stars as Ted Patterson, the grandfather of Buffy (Anissa Jones), Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) and Cissy (Kathy Garver). Returning from a five-year sojourn in Alaska, Grandpa Ted assumes that the children will treat him with the respect and deference worthy of his years. Unfortunately, the kids can barely remember Grandpa and aren't very comfortable around him--and Grandpa is just as uncomfortable with the ever-widening "generation gap" of the early 1970s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Tired of being taken for granted by kids and adults alike, Mr. French leaps at the opportunity to assert his authority and influence when his old friend Cedric (Michael Allinson) asks French to talk Cedric's daughter Anne (Jill Townsend) out of her plans to become an actress. Alas, things don't quite work out for French when, at the urging of the kids, Bill arranges an important audition for Annie, wherupon she lands a good small role in a Broadway play. Now feeling more useless and powerless than ever, French is shakens out of his doldrums only by a surprise plot twist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
After meeting a spoiled youngster (Kerry MacLane) whose parents cater to his every whim, Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) and Buffy (Anissa Jones) want to abandon all the house rules in the Davis apartment. Recalling a fable from his youth, Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) advises Bill (Brian Keith) to let the kids do whatever they please, certain that they'll tire of such independence and demand that the rules be reinstated. Thus, Apartment 27A becomes "The Land of Do-As-You-Please"--and predictably, overindulgence proves to have its consequences! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
The Tigers stickball team installs a new captain, the misogynistic Randy (Sean Kelly), who immediately imposes a "no girls allowed" policy. Not wishing to see Buffy (Anissa Jones) voted off the team, Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) protests, but eventually buckles under to peer pressure--with the expected negative results. And in a related incident, Bill (Brian Keith) unwittingly demonstrates his own chauvinistic side while dating an actress named Sherry (played by 1960s TV favorite Francine York). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
It's often been said that love flies out the door when money flies in the window. This proves to be painfully accurate when Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) receive an inheritance of 52 dollars. Dazzled by their "sudden wealth", the kids soon become uncharacteristically avaricious, as Jody demands more than Buffy's share in order to fulfill his dreams, and vice versa! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Buffy (Johnnie Whitaker) and Jody (Anissa Jones) are terrified when a Criswell-like TV psychic predicts that New York will be destroyed by a tidal wave. Though there are some otherwise responsible adults who swallow this story whole, Uncle Bill (Brian Keith) is not one of them, and he must work overtime to convince the twins that their fears are groundless. But when Bill suddenly has to leave New York, the kids jump to the obvious conclusion and the situation gets far worse than imagined! Watch for Erin Moran, four years away from her role of Joanie Cunningham on Happy Days, in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
In the opening episode of Family Affair's fifth and final season, Bill (Brian Keith), his nieces Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Cissy (Kathy Garver), and his nephew Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) have been living together in New York for nearly five years. Now the time has come for Buffy and Jody to wax nostalgic over the friendliness of the neighbors in their home town of Terre Haute--especially when compared to the coldness and hostility of their current neighbors in the Big Apple. The kids try to hold a "togetherness" party for the residents of their apartment building, but the event proves to be a failure. It takes something as simple as stuck elevator for the kids' neighbors to suddenly discover that there is nothing wrong with being gracious and generous--at least temporarily. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
With both Bill (Brian Keith) and Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) out of town, Cissy (Kathy Garver) is placed in charge of the twins and the household. When her boyfriend Gregg (Gregg Fedderson) invites her to attend the Winter Carnival in Dartmouth, Cissy arranges for a baby sitter to look after Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker). Only after Cissy is long gone does the sitter call to announce that she can't make it, leaving the terrified twins to baby-sit each other throughout the long, long night--which threatens to get even longer and more terrifying when a blizzard hits New York, preventing the rest of the family from returning home! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
In the first episode of Family Affair's two-part Season Four finale, Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot and the kids pay a visit to Bill (Brian Keith), who is on assignment in Tahiti. Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) bask in the carefree behavior of the local children (not to mention the idea of going to school outdoors), Cissy (Kathy Garver) falls in love with handsome tour guide Mike (Michael Blodgett), and Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) despairs over the new casual approach to life taken by the family. Then Bill drops a real bombshell: He's planning to marry Tahitian beauty Janine (Danielle Aubrey), and to settle in the tropics permanently! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
In the conclusion of Family Affair's two-part Season Four finale, Bill (Brian Keith) and the kids are so enchanted by their visit to Tahiti that they intend to remain there permanently--much to the dismay of Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot), who feels that the island's casual lifestyle may cause the family to disintegrate. But things begin to erode long before French thinks they will when Cissy (Kathy Garver) discovers that her new "dream boy", a tour guide named Mike (Michael Blodgett), is already married. But even though Cissy has been disillusioned, is this setback enough for Bill to abandon his own plans of settling in Tahiti--which include marriage with the alluring Janine (Danielle Aubrey? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Ida Lupino guest stars as Lady Marchwood, a very wealthy English widow. Her Ladyship makes quite an impression on Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot), who can remember when she was a humble London barmaid named Maude--and, incidentally, French's sweetheart. Now Lady Marchwood has summoned French back to England, hoping to pick up their romance she where they left off! This episode proved popular enough to warrant a sequel, "The Return of Maudie", likewise costarring Ida Lupino. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) is thrilled when his Bolivian pen pal Paco Mendez (Miguel Monsalve) pays a visit to New York. Hoping to make Paco feel at home, the members of the Davis household fall over themselves giving the boy excessive attention and lavishing him with kind words. As a result, Jody begins feeling neglected--and becomes intensely jealous! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Declaring her independence, Cissy (Kathy Garver) moves into her own apartment with her friend Rita (Rita Stone). Worrying about Cissy's wellbeing, the family persistently drops in on her, offering both advice and company, until she can't stand it anymore. Finally, they get the hint and leave Cissy alone--and of course, our now-homesick heroine can't stand that, either! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Scoring a winning run in a stickball game, Buffy also breaks her leg in the process. With her leg in a cast, Buffy despairs becauase she won't be able to go the circus as planned. Hoping to cheer the girl up, the family brings the circus to her--elephants and all! Curiously, Buffy is no happier now than before...and all because of a reason that no one even suspects until the final scene. This episode was hastily written to accommodate series star Anissa Jones, who had broken her leg in real life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) have fun with their pet hamsters, but can't understand why the little animals are constantly trying to escape the comfort and secruity of the Davis apartment. When Buffy's hamster runs away into the park, she feels it is somehow her fault, and there is something lacking in her. Ultimately, the twins--and the rest of the family--realize that the hamsters' love of independence constitutes a Life Lesson well worth having. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In the first episode of a three-part story, Bill takes Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) and the kids along on a business trip to Spain. Enchanted by the country and its people, both Bill and Cissy find romance, in the respective forms of a girl named Ana (Anna Navarro) and a boy named Ricardo (John Aladdin). Conversely, while taking a bus tour, poor Mr. French loses something--namely, Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Goaded by their classmate Norman (Bobby Riha), Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) begin secretly tape-recording other peoples' conversation. The kids' electronic eavesdropping proves embarrassing for both Cissy (Kathy Garver) and Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot), leading to even more embarrassing complications. And in a parallel development, Bill (Brian Keith) discovers that someone has planted a "bug" in his office. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Fired up with patriotic fervor, Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) agrees to play Henry VIII in a movie made by shoestring producer Fred Wallace (Joe Flynn). Though Mr. French is certain that this will be a good experience, the film turns out to be an unscripted, underfunded disaster, and as a result French loses something far more precious than his time and effort: namely, his dignity. This is the final episode of Family Affair's third season, and the last episode to be telecast on CBS' Monday-night schedule. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Every sitcom of the late 1960s had at least one "hippie" episode, and Family Affair was no exception. Encountering several flower children in Greenwich Village, Cissy wants to be a part of their alternative lifestyle--at least on weekends. Naturally, Uncle Bill is nervous, but he needn't worry: Cissy ultimately realizes that she'd rather tune out and drop in rather than turn on. And, oh wow, look at that supporting cast--including M*A*S*H's "Klinger" as a far-out freak! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In an incredible turn of events, the very proper and above-board Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) has become involved in a rather nasty scandal. Someone has been sending poison-pen letters to the nonplussed butler, linking his name with that of a young English lady. Playing detective, Bill (Brian Keith) tries to determine the source of the nasty letters--and both he and Mr. French are in for quite a surprise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Broadway star Eddie Hodges (The Music Man) guests in this episode as British pop idol Chris Higgins. Sweeping Cissy (Kathy Garver) off her feet, Chris goes so far as to write a song about her. Naturally, Cissy is convinced that Chris has fallen in love with her--little realizing that she is on the verge of succumbing to the worldly singer's standard makeout technique. Eddie Hodges sings his own composition "She's on My Mind", and also "Cissy My Love", cowritten by Hodges and series regular Kathy Garver. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Everyone in the Davis household (and the general vicinity) is astonished when an attractive young secretary named Emily (Leslie Parrish) sets her cap for the dignified--and much older--Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot). At first mildly annoyed by Emily's attentions, Mr. French soon becomes interested, and quite flattered. Eventually he has convinced himself that he has fallen in love with Emily...and thus the stage is set for another bittersweet episode denoument. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
After seeing one school friend after another getting married, 18-year-old Cissy (Kathy Garver) begins fretting that she'll end up an old maid. So far as she is concerned, there's only one way to avoid this ignominous fate: Cissy and her boyfriend Gregg (Gregg Fedderson) must announce their engagement immediately, whether Gregg wants to or not! Featured in the cast is Page Forsythe, daughter of future Dynasty star John Forsythe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
