Richard Carr Movies
Screenwriter Richard Carr started his career as a teen when he became one of Edgar Bergen's joke writers. He next went to write for various radio shows and later penned Shoes and Soles, one of the first television broadcasts. He spent much of his career writing for television shows ranging from early westerns, through The Waltons during the 1970s. Carr has also written screenplays for four feature-films. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
In Americana, David Carradine's feature-film directorial debut, the director casts himself as a softspoken Vietnam vet whose aimless wanderings bring him to a dusty Kansas village. At the center of town is a once-resplendant merry-go-round, now derelict due to neglect and disrepair. Sensing that here lies his own redemption, Carradine obsessively sets about repairing the rusty carousel. Far from being grateful, the townsfolk think the very worst of Carradine, suspecting the stranger of harboring ulterior motives. By slowly winning his new neighbors' confidence, Carradine expedites the healing process necessary to leave the collective shame of Vietnam far, far behind. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Carradine, Barbara Hershey, (more)
- 1980
Nick (Mike Conners) is the owner of a luxury liner and casino which cruises its way to action and adventure for those on board. Lackluster direction by Don Chaffey is not aided by a cast including Gary Burghoff, Joseph Cotten, Lynda Day George, Bo Hopkins and Robert Loggia, who seem to all be slightly embarrassed to be in the film. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Hoping to woo and win a girl named Sally Ann Harper (played by Happy Days' Erin Moran), Ben (Eric Scott) recommends her to Jason (Jon Walmsley) as a band singer, and even suggests that she introduce Jason's latest song "Will You Be Mine" (actually written by Walmsley). The scheme backfires disastrously (and predictably!) when Sally falls in love with Jason instead. As the romantic rivalry between the two brothers intensifies, Grandpa (Will Geer) and John (Ralph Waite) likewise have trouble seeing eye-to-eye during a billiard competition. This episode was directed by series regular Richard Thomas (John-Boy). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Feeling unwanted by the rest of the family, Grandpa (Will Geer) and Grandma (Ellen Corby) move out of the Walton house and into the home of Grandpa's friend Henry Townsend (Dan Priest). When Henry is forced to take leave, the two elder Waltons are desperately lonely--but both are too stubborn and proud to admit the fact. Meanwhile, John (Ralph Waite) struggles to fill a huge lumber order with the dubious "help" of Grandpa's klutzy temporary replacement Easy Jackson (Britt Leach). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
John-Boy (Richard Thomas) catches his friend Yancy Tucker (Robert Donner) stealing chickens, but decides not to tell their sheriff. This may prove to be the wrong decision when chicken farmer Charlie Potter (Richard O'Brien) is shot--and Yancy is the only likely suspect. And speaking of thievery, Ben (Eric Scott) gets himself in hot water when he "borrows" one of John-Boy's old poems, "A Winter Mountain", to win a literary competition. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
The plot of this episode is sparked (no pun intended) by an overdue electric bill. In his efforts to raise the necessary funds, Grandpa Walton (Will Geer) becomes enmeshed in a situation that incurs the wrath of Grandma (Ellen Corby). This minor and rather silly misunderstanding escalates into a bitter quarrel--whereupon Grandpa and Grandma, too stubborn to admit their mistakes and reconcile their differences, may well be on the verge of a permanent split-up! This episode is based on a story by series regular Ellen Corby). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
The Over the Hill Gang Rides Again is a TV-movie sequel to 1969's ratings-grabbing The Over the Hill Gang, which told of a group of retired Texas Rangers rallying to save their small town from criminals. In the sequel, the gang --Walter Brennan, Edgar Buchanan, Andy Devine, and Chill Wills (Pat O'Brien, seen in the first film, is absent this time around) -- team up to rehabilitate Fred Astaire, cast against type as The Baltimore Kid, a one-time ranger who has become a town drunk. Astaire is restored to the job of marshal of Waco, while the other old-timers end up as his deputies. Harmless fun for an undiscerning audience, Over the Hill Gang Rides Again lacks the easygoing charm of the original film. Both Over the Hill Gang entries, by the way, were designed as pilots for an unsold weekly series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
- R
This violent western tale finds Macho (David Janssen) as a Union Army regular in a Confederate prison. He escapes by planting dynamite in the coffin of an executed officer, making his move when the coffin is being carried outside the gate. He returns to a small town where he waits for Duffy (Lee J. Cobb), who put Macho in jail years before. Newlyweds Alexandra (Jean Seberg) and David (Carradine) arrive in town, and David heads to the saloon. The drunken one armed Confederate Army veteran is killed by Macho when he becomes drunk and belligerent. Alexandra puts a price on Macho's head, hiring two killers to finish him off. Macho kills them both and rapes a beaten up Alexandra, who falls in love with her attacker. He also gets revenge of Duffy by stringing him up by the neck on the windmill in the town square. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Janssen, Jean Seberg, (more)
- 1969
- R
Jim Killian (Glenn Ford) is a reformed gunslinger who takes a job as a local preacher in Vinagaroon, Arizona. He arrives during a time of conflict between shepherds and cattlemen who are engaged in a bloody range war. When Coke Beck (David Carradine) hangs a local Indian, the victim's daughter Leloopa (Barbara Hershey) enlists the help of Killian. He tries to mediate the conflict in a meeting between the rival factions, but a member of the congregation exposes him as an ex-convict. He also enlists the help of the heart-of-gold saloon-operator Madge (Carolyn Jones). Killian and the townsfolk, women included, organize a march to the watering hole -- the center of the controversy. The cattlemen approach and draw their guns in what could be a potentially violent confrontation. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Ford, Carolyn Jones, (more)
- 1967
Based on an Edgar Wallace mystery, this puzzler centers on the attempts of a crook who goes to great lengths to steal another's fortune. It begins as an unjustly incarcerated heiress finishes a prison sentence. The crook wants to steal her father's money and so tries to convince the ailing tycoon that his own lover is really the rich man's daughter; the old fellow is not so easily gulled. In desperation, the crook kidnaps the real heiress in an attempt to force her to marry him. Fortunately for her, a Scotland Yard detective shows up to foil his plans. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maureen Swanson, Allan Cuthbertson, (more)
Don Siegel's only war film and unfortunately his only teaming with Steve McQueen, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision, it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. His character, Reese, is an embittered G.I. who has just been sent back to join his war-weary unit holding down a position opposite a pillbox on the Siegfried Line in Belgium. Recently demoted back to private from staff sergeant for drinking, he chafes under all authority, and is a pariah to fellow grunts, despite their awareness of his extraordinary courage in battle. A natural leader, he persuades his sergeant (Harry Guardino) to implement a plan he's formulated to keep the Germans at bay by making them believe that the small outfit is larger than it is. While this is temporarily effective, Reese knows that it's only a matter of time before the enemy discovers the truth, and takes it on his own authority to lead an attack on the well-defended pillbox, although his unit has been assigned only to hold their ground. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve McQueen, Bobby Darin, (more)
- 1962
After his pioneering independent film Shadows (1960), actor/writer/director John Cassavetes made his major studio directorial debut with this gritty, low-key drama about jazz musicians. Bobby Darin plays John "Ghost" Walefield, a pianist who scuffles from gig to gig with his band, trying to keep body and soul together without betraying his muse. Ghost's agent Benny (Everett Chambers) introduces him to Jess (Stella Stevens), a would-be singer who looks beautiful, even though her voice is fair at best. Ghost falls hard for her and agrees to put her in the band, though it's hard to say if he believes in her musical talent or just wants her companionship. Ghost and his band score a record deal thanks to Jess' presence, but after a humiliating fight in a pool hall and Ghost's discovery that Jess occasionally turns tricks to pay the rent, he puts his integrity up for sale, fires his band, and starts spending his time with a rich woman who likes to hang out with musicians -- and is willing to pay for the privilege. A number of real-life jazz greats appear onscreen and on the soundtrack, including Slim Gaillard, Benny Carter, and Shelly Manne; the role of Ghost was originally written for Montgomery Clift, who was forced to back out at the last minute, leading to Bobby Darin's casting. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bobby Darin, Stella Stevens, (more)
- 1959
When the Army pulls out of a frontier fort, Chief Running Horse (Paul Clarke) and his braves kill off the "leftovers" and move in. Unbeknownst to the Chief, there are three survivors still lurking about: Sgt. Baines (James Westerfield), Cpl. Daggott (Ted Otis) and Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly). After delivering a poignant speech lamenting the necessity of playing the hero so he can go on living as a coward, Bart tries the old "Beau Geste" strategy of fooling the Indians into thinking that the fort is still heavily guarded...but Running Horse may already be wise to his ruse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1956
The dramatic weight of Man From Del Rio rests securely on the broad shoulders of star Anthony Quinn. Cast as an indigent Mexican gunslinger, Quinn is asked by an old pal to clean up an outlaw-ridden western town. Knowing that his reputation is exaggerated, Quinn relies on braggadocio and bluff to keep the villains at bay. But when he is appointed town sheriff, it is "put up or shut up" time. Katy Jurado, who'd become "typed" as a western actress since High Noon, costars as Quinn's would-be lover. Man From Del Rio offers little that hasn't been seen before, but Anthony Quinn keeps things moving at a fast and exciting clip. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Katy Jurado, (more)
- 1956
Outraged over the infidelity of his girlfriend Goldie (Beverly Michaels), thuggish Sam Donleavy (George Mathews) decides to bump the dame off. Unfortunately, there is a more than somewhat stiff penalty for murder, thus Sam intends to provide himself with an airtight alibi -- and pays a huge price to a guy named Barney (George E. Stone), who specializes in such matters. The fly in the ointment on this occasion is Sam's old pal Al (Joe Downing), who happens to be a police lieutenant. "The Big Switch" is the first of several Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes to be based on a story by suspense specialist Cornell Woolrich. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
