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- 1968
The weekend has arrived, and Bill (Brian Keith) looks forward to a long-planned a hunting trip, while Cissy (Kathy Garver) is set to go out on a date and Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) are anxious to build a snowman. But when a raging blizzard strands Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) in Long Island, Bill is stuck with taking care of the kids--who in turn are stuck in the apartment. The result: No hunting, no date, a messy "indoor" snowman and a busted TV! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
While posing as a hard-hat to ferret out a thief at one of his construction sites, Bill (Brian Keith) befriends fellow worker Scott Norvell (Ray Baxter), whose hobby is raising tropical fish. In a well-meaning effort to promote family togetherness, Scott relays his fascination with exotic fish to Buffy (Anissa Jones), Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) and Cissy (Kathy Garver), but the scheme backfires when the kids' little finny friends begin multiplying at an alarming rate. This episode reunites three actors from the 1966 film hit The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming: Brian Keith, Johnnie Whitaker and Ray Baxter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Surprisingly, Buffy (Anissa Jones) accepts the news that she needs to have her tonsils removed calmly and in stride. Not so surprisingly, Bill (Brian Keith) and Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) look forward to Buffy's hospital stay with fear and loathing. Nor does it get any better for the Family Affair parental units when the doctor announces that Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) likewise needs a tonsilectomy! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Theorizing that an apartment in downtown Manhattan is no place to raise three children, Bill (Brian Keith) decides to purchase a big house in the suburbs. Upon visiting their prospective new home, Cissy (Kathy Garver), Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) express an abundance of pleasure and satisfaction. This, however, is merely an expert job of acting: The kids would rather stay in New York, but they play along with Bill because they think a suburban life is what HE really wants! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Bill (Brian Keith) takes the kids back to Terre Haute for a family reunion. The youngsters have a wonderful time visiting old haunts and renewing old friendships--especially Cissy (Kathy Garver), who reconnects with her erstwhile former beau Harvey (Jim Henaghan). And as usual, Aunt Fran (Louise Latham) angles to have the children remain in Indiana with her permanently, and this time it looks like they may be open to the suggestion. As it turns out, however, not every memory in Terre Haute is a happy one, particularly those which remind the children that they will never see their parents again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Keye Luke guest stars as Grandfather Chang, a venerable Chinese gentleman whose interest in life is renewed by his friendship with twins Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker). Unofficially "adopted" by Mr. Chang, the kids reciprocate by adopting Chinese behavior and customs--or at least they make a noble effort. This episode boasts a stellar cast of Asian character actors, notably Keye Luke and Benson Fong, who'd previously appeared in the "Charlie Chan" films as Lee and Tommy Chan respectively, and who would later essay recurring roles on the existential TV western Kung Fu. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Ann Sothern guests as Florence Cahill, a former flame of Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot). Now widowed, Florence dreams of opening a gourmet restaurant--and she persuades French that being a restauranteur is something that he has always wanted as well. The question: Will French opt to leave the service of longtime employer Bill Davis (Brian Keith)? And if so, will the kids ever warm up to French's replacement, the strict, severe Mr. Smyser (Laurie Main). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Bill's current girlfriend Eileen Moran (Pippa Scott) is worried that Bill (Brian Keith) is not spending enough time with the kids. Acting on Eileen's advice, Bill gives up his professional globetrotting to remain at home permanently. Trouble is, the youngsters are so accustomed to Bill's occasional absences that their own well-ordered lifestyles are thrown into disarray! This is the final episode of Family Affair's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
In the premiere episode of Family Affair's third season, Buffy (Anissa Jones) believes it is high time that she have her own house key, just like her "sophisticated" seven-year-old friend Lana. But as things develop, Lana is dissatisfied with being a latch-key kid, left to fend for herself by her social-butterfly mother (Eve Brent). Expressing a desire for a more stable homelife, Lana spends the weekend with Buffy and her family--with unexpected complications that only Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) can uncomplicate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Cissy (Kathy Garver) has been assigned to babysit the twins while Uncle Bill (Brian Keith) is in Hong Kong on business and Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) is likewise occupied elsewhere. But when Cissy has a chance to go to a concert, she prevails upon her friend Sharon (Sherry Alberoni) to look after the kids. This sets off a chain reaction of hilarious havoc: Sharon comes down with the measles, Sharon's mother (Doris Singleton) assumes the babysitting duties before she too must leave, and the twins end up in the care of Sharon's father (Walter Sande). and his poker-playing buddies. Somehow this messes straightens itself out in a roundabout fashion that also solves Bill's problems with a nagging toothache! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Expressing dismay over the twins' obsession with violent TV shows, not to mention the bad influence exerted by Cissy's new friend Gwen (Susan Abbott), Bill (Brian Keith) decides it is time to take drastic action. Thus, Bill goes to extreme lengths to show Cissy (Kathy Garver), Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) the value of making one's own choices in life. This project culminates in a memorable buying-and-selling experience for the youngest members of the Davis clan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
While on business in Rome, Bill (Brian Keith) enters into a passionate romance with a local girl named Luciana (Brioni Farrell). When rumors of marriage reach the Davis household in New York, the kids glumly conclude that they will once again be farmed out to other relatives. Sensing the youngsters' dismay, Mr. French prepares to make the supreme sacrifice: If Bill and Luciana are wed, he will quit his job in order to take care of the children himself! Happily, things work out for the best...at least for most of the above-mentioned characters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Family Affair takes a serious turn in this episode featuring future Brady Bunch costar Eve Plumb as Eve Bowers, a seriously ill classmate of six-year-old Buffy (Anissa Jones). In her typically naïve, well-meaning fashion, Buffy falsely raises Eve's hopes by claiming that her Uncle Bill (Brian Keith) will be able to find a doctor who can cure the girl. Ultimately resigned to the sad truth, Bill arranges for Eve to have the best "Early Christmas" party ever...knowing full well that she will probably not make it until Christmas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Impressionable Cissy (Kathy Garver) is smitten by Karl Krug (Mark DeVries), a young bon vivant who happens to be the scion of an old and very wealthy Viennese family. When Karl proposes, Cissy accepts--but Bill refuses to give his consent. Will Cissy defy her Uncle and elope, or will she figure out (as the audience already has!) that there is a big, big difference between real love and youthful infatuation? Annette Cabot,the daughter of series regular Sebastian Cabot, appears in a small role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Former light heavyweight boxing champ Archie Moore appears as Ruby, an old friend of Bill Davis (Brian Keith). On Ruby's advice, Bill bundles Jody off to a summer camp. In his letters home, Jody sounds as if he finds camp life just swell--but the truth is that he's only pretending to enjoy it to spare Bill's feelings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
June Lockhart guest stars as Miss Evans, Jody's new subsitute teacher. Developing a crush on Miss Evans, Jody is heartsick when she is transferred to another job. Hoping to find out why Jody is so attached to the "sub", Bill arranges to meet Miss Evans--and discovers that she bears a striking resemblance to Jody's late mother. Joan Vohs, here seen as Jody's regular teacher Miss Cummings, previously showed up during Season Two as Miss Scofield, the teacher of Jody's older sister Cissy (Kathy Garver). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
After much intense negotiation, Bill (Brian Keith) agrees to let the twins' new friend Oliver spend three days in the Davis apartment. What the kids have failed to tell Bill is that Oliver is a huge, slobbering, unhousebroken dog. Not only is having such a pet against apartment-house regulations, but Oliver also develops an intense dislike for Bill, which is manifested in wholesale destruction! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Thanks to a mishap on the ski slopes, Bill (Brian Keith) comes home with a broken leg. This galvanizes the children into doing everything they can to "help out" our convalescing hero. Unfortunately, Cissy (Kathy Garver) proves to be somewhat inept as a secretary, while Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) aren't much more successful in their attempts at helpfulness. And worse is still to come when Bill's girlfriend Michelle (Nancy Kovack) shows up to lend a hand--and demonstrates even more incompetence than the kids! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) befriend an oddball classmate named Albertine (Alycia Gardner). The girl's demeanor is remarkable to say the least: she is aloof, arrogant and aristocratic beyond her years, a self-proclaimed master of several languages, and a whiz at the chess board (she even beats Mr. French [Sebastian Cabot]!) In addition, Alycia can't stop spinning fascinating tales about her father, a globetrotting adventurer. Only when Bill (Brian Keith) meets Alycia's mother does he learn some sobering truths about the girl, leading to one of the series' most poignant endings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Kaye Stevens guest-stars as nightclub singer Julie Madden, another of Bill's many lady friends. As a favor to Bill, Julie agrees to give singing lessons to Buffy, who hopes to join her school glee club. Alas, poor, tone-deaf Buffy has what could be described as "Van Gogh's ear for music". Kaye Stevens sings "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You", while series regular Johnnie Whitaker (Jody) performs "Every Boy Should Be President", a fascinating preview of Whitaker's song renditions on his later series Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Kate (Bea Benaderet) is given an opportunity to sell the Shady Rest at a huge profit. At first, Kate's daughters are in favor of this move, but the neighbors aren't. Eventually the girls change their minds and join the neighbors in putting pressure on Kate to stay in Hooterville. This episode was originally scheduled for March 14, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) has come up with a new scheme to put the Hooterville Cannonball out of commission. This time Homer arranges for bumbling Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) to be appointed General Manager of the Cannonball line. Not unexpectedly, it is only a matter of time before Joe screws up royally--but will his ineptitute be enough to derail the Cannonball for keeps? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Hooterville becomes a hotbed of activity when promoter Syd Sparks (Peter Leeds) stages a talent contest at the Shady Rest. Bowled over by the singing skills of Billie Jo (Meredith MacRae) and Steve (Mike Minor), Sparks invites the couple to try their luck in the Big Apple. But Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) doesn't want to lose his niece, and does everything he can to shoot down her rising star. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Richard Bull, who later played the long-suffering Nels Oleson on Little House on the Prairie, is here cast as Mr. Lewis, the pompous landlord of the apartment building where the Davis family resides. When Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) bring home a stray mutt, Lewis insists that they remove the dog forthwith, pointing to a clause in the lease that allows only "pedigreed" pets. And in a related development, Cissy (Kathy Garver) is invited to join an exclusive club--but first she must cut of all contact with a less affluent friend (Terry Burnham). By episode's end, everyone's pretentions are punctured--spectacularly so thanks to the twins' doggie pal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
An old plotline from the "Little Rascals" films of the 1930s is given a fresh coat of paint in this episode. Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) become friends with Stanley Winters, a physically challenged youngster. It now falls to Bill (Brian Keith) to convince Stanley's overprotective mother Estelle (Sally Forrest) to allow the boy to at least try leading a normal life despite his handicap. Featured in the cast is Gary Dubin, who later showed up as the troublesome Punky Lazaar on The Partridge Family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
