George Blair Movies
While a staff producer at Republic Pictures in 1944, George Blair tried his hand at directing with the spoofish crime drama Silent Partner. Blair liked the experience and remained a Republic director until the studio shut down in 1959. While his B-pictures were breezy, enjoyable efforts, Blair tended to be ponderous when handed an A-assignment like Mickey Rooney's Twinkle in God's Eye (1955). Outside of Republic, Blair was the guiding hand behind such programmers as the Bowery Boys' Spook Chasers (1957) and the gimmicky melodrama The Hypnotic Eye (1960). George Blair also directed his share of episodic television, helming episodes of series ranging from Superman to Hogan's Heroes, as well as a brace of TV pilots for Indian actor Sabu. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1960
A curious "gimmick" movie in the William Castle tradition (though not itself a Castle project), screenings of this film featured a hokey but creative "Hypno-Magic" process allegedly designed to hypnotize the theater audience. The otherwise mundane psycho-thriller plot features Jacques Bergerac as stage mesmerist "The Great Desmond," whose act includes hypnotizing entire audiences into performing rather dull Simon-says maneuvers and such. The real trick, it turns out, involves Desmond's Svengali-like seduction of his more comely female patrons -- most of which end up horribly disfigured the next morning, the victims of apparent self-mutilation. Thanks to several scenes hinting at the obvious hatred Desmond's wife and assistant, Justine (Allison Hayes), harbors toward her husband's pretty subjects, there's not much of a mystery here. Nevertheless, the police are baffled, leading one victim's best friend to set herself up as bait and trap the guilty party -- whose secret is revealed in the "shocking" climax. The Hypno-Magic gimmick, though certainly ineffective, provides some of the film's more hilarious diversions, and thoroughly disarms any potential for suspense. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jacques Bergerac, Merry Anders, (more)
- 1960
The Cartwrights object to Todd McKaren's (Don Dubbins) plan to sell his family's land to ruthless miner Len Keith (Robert Simon), pointing out that the region's water supply will be polluted. McKaren's father Andy (Rhys Williams) likewise opposes the sale, if only to break up the romance between Todd and Keith's daughter Virginia (Merry Anders). Taking advantage of the situation, Keith tries to force the sale by stirring up bad blood between the the McKarens and the Cartwrights, beginning with planting diseased cattle among the Ponderosa livestock. First telecast April 9, 1960, "Bitter Water" was written by Harold Jack Bloom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1958
Eccentric inventor Professor Pepperwinkle (Phillips Tead) unveils his latest creation: a "forget gas", which wipes out people's memories for fifteen minutes at a time. Simultaneously, reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) place a bet with editor Perry White (John Hamilton) that they can come up with an expose of gangster boss Muggsy Maples (Herburt Vigran) without the help of Superman. Inevitably, the two reporters are kidnapped by Muggsy and tied up in the same room as a ticking time bomb--along with Perry White, fellow reporter Clark Kent (George Reeves), and dear old Pepperwinkle. With no other option, Clark reveals himself to be Superman and rescues his friends--and if you haven't already figured out how he is able to protect his secret identity, then you haven't read the first sentence of this synopsis! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Dabbs Greer essays a dual role in this episode as Texas philanthropist Mr. Pebbles and his criminal lookalike Dan Dobey. When Pebbles offers to donate one of his silver mines to the Metropolis Children's Camp Fund in the name of Superman (George Reeves), Dobey kidnaps Pebbles and takes his place, the better to get his mitts on the mine's riches himself. Somehow or other Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) likewise get themselves kidnapped, meaning that Superman's going to have to pull off a triple-header. And speaking of heads, there's a metal plate in Dobey's skull that will play an important role in the episode's climax. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Reporters Clark (George Reeves), Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) venture onto a Nevada atomic testing site in hopes of interviewing scientist Dr. Latislav (Raskin Ben-Ari), who has exiled himself from the rest of humanity after being exposed to radioactivity. Meanwhile, a pair of enemy spies are planning to kidnap Latislav and liquidate the reporters. Worse still: The Army has scheduled an atomic blast on the very site when Latislav, the spies and our heroes are squirreled away. Can Superman rescue everyone from annihilation before it is--shudder--too late? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Introduced in the previous episode "Divide and Conquer", Professor LaSerne (Everett Glass) returns in this episode to help Superman (George Reeves) sidestep a legal obstacle. It seems that wanted criminal Paul Barton (Bruce Wendell) has evaded arrest for past crimes by sealing himself in a huge, impenetrable concrete cube until the seven-year statute of limitations has expired. Ordinarily Superman would bust down the cube and nab Barton, but even he is unable to smash down its walls. Fortunately, LaSerne has a solution: Superman can "deconstruct" his molecule structure on the outside of the wall, then reassemble himself inside! There's only one problem: If Superman attempts to go through with his plan, Barton's henchman Jody Malone (Ben Welden) will murder reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) at the very same moment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
East Indian actor Sabu plays "himself" in this inexpensive Arabian nights farago. First we see him rescuing a abducted princess from thieves. Next we see him make like Aladdin when he recovers a magic ring. The twin plotlines are only tenuously connected, mainly because Sabu and the Magic Ring is comprised of two TV pilot films, filmed in color by the Superman production team. This is the sort of movie that only shows up on TV during baseball rain delays. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
When a city cafe owner buys himself a peaceful country manse to relax in, the Bowery Boys are quite excited. Unfortunately, they arrive to discover the house in a terrible stage of decay and so agree to help fix it up. No sooner do they begin repairs than they find a fortune hidden inside the house. The boys use the money to pay off the house. The makes the greedy real estate agent suspicious. Suspecting there is more money hidden around, the agent decides to convince the gang to sell back the house by making it seem as if it were haunted. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1957
After he accidentally foils a bank robbery, meek bookkeeper Frank Smullins (Carl Ritchie) is invited to join the staff of the "Daily Planet" as a criminologist. Jealous cub reporter Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson), frustrated by the ability of the novice Smullins to outscoop him, decides to go after the bank robbers himself. That's right, folks: Jimmy and Smullins both end up in the clutches of the outlaws, necessitating another last-minute rescue by Superman (George Reeves). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Season Five of The Adventures of Superman) begins as the title character (played by George Reeves) arrives in Paris to help actress Anna Constantine (Lilyan Chauvin) defect from an Iron Curtain country. It turns out, however, that Anna is the dupe of a smuggling ring which is attempting to escape Europe with a cache of valuable jewels--and before long, Superman has been duped as well. The main attraction of this episode is the presence of series regular Robert Shayne), normarly cast as Metropolis police inspector Bill Henderson, herein adopting an outraaaaaageous French accent in the role of Parisian police inspector Lona! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Phillips Tead makes his second appearance in the role of eccentric inventor Professor Pepperwinkle. This time, the old duffer has created a machine that converts human beings into electric energy so that they can be instantly telephoned to any location in the world. A gang of crooks steal the machine and use it to establish alibis for a series of crimes--and when reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) catch up with the crooks, the gang leader promptly "telephones" the duo to Alaska! Looks like another job for Superman (George Reeves)--or at least a competent telephone repairman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
A pair of turbaned Middle Eastern diplomats named Abdul (Ted Hecht) and Ali (Jack Reitzen)--the sort of comic-opera characters who finish each other's sentences--are convinced that reporter Lois Lane (Noel Neill) is the reincarnation of the legendary Princess Nephroditis of Baldad. Normally, Lois would be flattered by the attention, but unfortunately tradition dictates that the "Princess" be sealed up in a tomb in order to fulfill an ancient prophecy--and equally unfortunately, Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson) is also slated for the same treatment! This episode is a particular favorite of Superman buffs because of the unusually revealing outfits worn by series star Noel Neill--which of course have absolutely no effect on Superman (George Reeves), who is not called the "Man of Steel" for nothing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1956
In this entry in the long running Bowery Boys series, the boys begin working as free-lance photographers. Trouble ensues when they take a picture of a crime lord. They are in such a rush to get the picture back to the paper they work for that they accidently destroy the negative. To get another photo, one of the boys begins impersonating a Chicago gangster. He then sneaks his camera into a nightclub. While there he gets fake money from the crimelord, which he gives to the police as evidence. Thanks to his efforts, the boss and his gang are brought to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1956
Though Mickey Rooney is listed as coproducer of Jaguar, the star of the proceedings is East Indian actor Sabu, here cast as a young South American. Though raised in a civilized atmosphere, Juano (Sabu) cannot quite shake the savage instincts of his jungle-bred forefathers. When he is falsely accused of three murders, Juano is willing to believe that he committed the crimes thanks to the influence of a powerful narcotic. It turns out that our hero has been set up as a fall guy, but he goes through hell and back before he can prove his innocence. Jaguar was scripted by John Fenton Murray, who later specialized in such TV sitcomery as McHale's Navy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Aging Indian Chief Okatee (Ralph Moody) is in danger of being exiled by his tribe because of his inability to bring rain to his drought-stricken people. Superman (George Reeves) lends a helping hand by guiding Okatee through a grueling gauntlet--a test of strength and courage--that will enable him to maintain his power. And as for the rain? Well, fear not: Superman may have something up his sleeve to solve that problem as well. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Fired by editor Perry White (John Hamilton), disgraced reporter Clark Kent (George Reeves) joins a gang of diamond thieves. Unbeknownst to fellow reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson), Clark's criminal career is but a sham, a scheme cooked up between Kent and White to trap the real crooks and turn them over to the law. Even so, Clark is forced to prove his loyalty to the gang by "eliminating" Lois and Jimmy, binding the hapless duo to a chair which is then set afire! Isn't it about time for Clark to sneak into that closet and change into Superman? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
After rescuing a cat owned by eccentric Mrs. Peabody (Elizabeth Patterson), cub reporter Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson) is given a reward--of one million dollars! Much to the dismay of his friends Clark (George Reeves) and Lois (Noel Neill), Jimmy begins throwing away his money on useless creature comforts, including a butler named Herbert (Leonard Carey), who turns out to be in cahoots with con man Stacy Tracey (Richard Reeves). First attempting to defraud Jimmy, Stracy ends up locking the neophyte millionaire and Lois in a safe--whereupon the pair is forced to incinerate "Olsen's millions" in order to create smoke signals that will summon Superman to their rescue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Arriving in the western town of Dry Gulch to cover a rodeo, Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) attract the attention of brutish Gunner Flinch (Myron Healey). After forcing his attentions on Lois, Gunner orders Jimmy to leave town by sundown, or else he'll fill him full of lead--and to prove his gunslinging prowess, Flinch cold-bloodedly shoots down a local Mexican (Martin Garralaga). Before long, however, Clark Kent (George Reeves), aka Superman, has also shown up in town, and he's determined to expose Gunner Flinch as a fraudulent yellow-belly who's never killed anyone in his life! There's some truly hilarious dialogue in this one, especially during the scene in which Clark uses super-powers to win a poker game. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Lois (Noel Neill) writes a story about the discovery of an ancient necklace with alleged magic powers. It is said that whosoever wears the necklace will be protected from all harm. Gangster boss Jake Morrell (Lawrence Ryle) decides to kidnap Lois as part of a scheme to find out if necklace is all it is cracked up to be--but Morrell has reckoned without the intervention of Lois' fellow reporter Clark Kent (George Reeves), who happens to have an alternate identity as a flying superhero. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
A curio dealer named Mr. Willy (Phillips Tead) is enjoying a brisk business selling dozens of souvenir daggers that he claims have been bent out of shape by "man of steel" Superman (George Reeves). Of course, Superman's alter ego Clark Kent knows that the daggers are phony. Why, then, is someone willing to steal every one of the daggers that have been sold in Metropolis? Well, it seems that a con man named Jasper (Arthur Space) is hoping to dupe Superman into using his X-Ray vision to transform two of the worthless daggers into valuable radium! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Future TV western star Chuck Connors appears in this classic episode as a gangly hillbilly who happens to be named Sylvester J. Superman. Arriving in Metropolis to seek his fortune, the clueless Sylvester answers a classified ad for the "real" Superman (George Reeves), and before long has been hired by a woman named Marge (Marjorie Owens) to deliver a lemon meringue pie to her fiancé Steve (Richard Garland), stationed at a remote Air Force weather base in Alaska. Meanwhile, gangster Leftover Louie (who else but Ben Welden?) has wagered $25,000 that he can convince his schoolmate Marge to bake him a fresh lemon meringue pie, even though she can't stand the sight of him. Inevitably, these two plot strands are intertwined, as a hopelessly confused Steve welcomes the vacuous Sylvester, a gun-toting Louie, and the honest-to-goodness Superman into his tiny snowbound shack! "Flight to the North" may not be the best Superman episode of all time, but it's certainly the funniest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Twinkle in God's Eye, Mickey Rooney's second personal production for Republic Pictures, is at the very least an improvement upon the first (The Atomic Kid). More subdued than usual, Rooney stars as Rev. Macklin, a greenhorn clergyman who tries to spread the Good Word to a rowdy western town. Intending to rebuild a church recently destroyed by Indians, Macklin faces tough opposition from the local gambling hall owner (Hugh O'Brian), not to mention a trigger-happy outlaw (Don Barry). Using faith rather than fisticuffs, the reverend manages to win over his opposition, beginning with golden-hearted dance hall gal Laura (Colleen Gray). Though certain latter-day wiseguys have drubbed Mickey Rooney for this very mild western drama, Twinkle in God's Eye is more entertaining than its reputation would indicate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Rooney, Coleen Gray, (more)
- 1955
Cub reporter Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson) is mistaken for Prince Gregory of Burgonia (Chet Marshall), who has been targeted for assassination. Putting his life on the line, Jimmy agrees to impersonate Gregory, the better to bring the would-be killer out in the open. Once the not-so-well-hidden culprit is revealed, things look mighty bleak for our boy Jimmy--but never fear, Superman (Clark Kent) is dashing to the rescue. This was the final episode of The Adventures of Superman's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
Famous circus clown Rollo (Billy Wayne) is slated to appear on a charity telethon hosted by Clark Kent (George Reeves). Unfortunately, Rollo is waylaid by his crooked ex-partner Crackers (Peter Brocco), who dons a clown disguise in order to take Rollo's place and steal the donations. With Rollo aiming a concealed weapon at Clark in full view of the TV audience, how will Mr. Kent be able to transform himself into Superman and save the day? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
Young Frankie (Tyler McDuff) idolizes his uncle Duke (Roy Barcroft), a criminal who has been put behind bars thanks to Superman (George Reeves). Convincing Frankie that he was framed, Duke persuades the boy to cook up a scheme that will discredit not only Superman but also his reporter contact Clark Kent--unaware, of course, that Clark and Superman are one and the same. To this end, Frankie chums around with cub reporter Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson), hoping to turn Jimmy against Clark. But Jimmy is not easily fooled, and he decides to prove to Frankie that Duke is up to no good. Inevitably, both Jimmy and Frankie are kidnapped, leaving Superman to set things right yet once more! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
