Thomas Carr Movies
The son of actress Mary Carr and actor William Carr, Thomas Carr made his film debut as an infant at Philadelphia's Selig Studios. Working in various production capacities throughout the late '20s and early '30s, Carr found time to play small parts in such films as Wings (1927), The Dawn Patrol (1930), and Hell's Angels (1937). After making his last on-camera appearance in the 1937 Three Mesquiteers Western Range Defenders, he was engaged as dialogue director at Republic Studios. It was at Republic that Carr was given his first opportunity to direct a film, opening up a career vista that would sustain him professionally for well over 20 years. Most closely associated with Westerns, Carr also proved adept at contemporary dramas like 1957's Dino. An early arrival on the filmed TV scene, Carr piloted episodes of such series as Superman, Richard Diamond, and Rawhide. His contributions to the popular Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok weekly included the creation of the comic-relief character Jingles, who of course was played by Andy Devine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1967
When wealthy landowner John Sullivan, Sr. Arch Johnson and his airplane pilot are reported missing in Brazil, Sullivan's three sons (Martin Milner, Linden Chiles, and Don Quine) begin to search for the missing men in the wilds of the Amazon jungle. They battle headhunters, jungle animals, and sinister revolutionary forces trying to topple the government. The film is a Universal pilot for a proposed television series that never materialized, and it is apparent why the series never took off after watching the forgettable feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Milner, Linden Chiles, (more)
- 1961
Bonanza marked the beginning of its third season by moving from Saturdays at 7:30 PM EST to its now-legendary Sunday 9 PM berth, where it would remain for the next eleven years. Telecast September 24, 1961, the inaugural third-season episode, "The Smiler", was written by Lewis Reed. Defending the honor of widow Mrs. McClure (Catherine McLeod), Hoss Cartwright accidently kills town bully Arthur Bolling (Hy Terman). Shortly thereafter, Arthur's brother Clarence (Herschel Bernardi) arrives in town with smiling assurances that he forgives Hoss. In truth, however, the insidious Clarence has mapped out an intricate plan of revenge, beginning with subtly coercing Mrs. Clure to change her testimony at Hoss' court hearing. Also in the cast of "The Smiler" are Scatman Crothers as Jud and Bill Zuckert as Gilbert. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1961
The Cartwrights rescue 11-year-old Gabrielle Wickham (Diane Mountford), a blind orphan girl whom they find wandering aimlessly in the snow. Gabrielle is hoping against hope to locate her grandfather, Zachariah Wickham (John Abbott). Alas, Zachariah turns out to be a contentious hermit who hates people in general and relatives in particular. Also appearing is Kevin Hagen as Everett. Written by Anthony Lawrence, "Gabrielle" originally aired December 24, 1961, as Bonanza's Christmas present to its many fans. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1959
A troubled saddletramp with a penchant for drinking away his pain inherits a ranch from the man who may have been his father. This western follows the young rider's attempts to reform. His efforts are ultimately challenged when his old rivals come to town. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Audie Murphy, Terry Moore, (more)
- 1958
In this opening episode of the sixth and final season of The Adventures of Superman), reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) are assigned to cover the opening of a museum exhibit. Alas, within minutes the two newshounds are kidnapped by a trio of elderly men in armor, members of the Society for the Preservation of Knighthood and Dragons. It turns out that most of the members of this organization are harmless save for "Sir Arthur" (Marshall Bradford), who intends to bump off his fellow knights in order to collect on a tontine-like insurance policy. Disguising himself as one of the knights, Superman--armor and all--flies to the rescue of Lois and Jimmy, but this time even he may not be able to save the day. This was the series' first episode to debut on the ABC network, rather than in syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
In this western, the battle between ranchers and farmers provides the background for a battle between two disparate brothers. One is the outlaw gangleader of the Blue Chip gang; the other is a hard-bitten lawman. The outlaw is only too happy to witness the land conflicts as he plans on stealing the lands of the dead on both sides. Fortunately, his good brother causes him to change his bad-guy ways, side with the farmers and go straight. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Stevens, Forrest Tucker, (more)
- 1958
Among the best of the many Western series cluttering the TV landscape in the '50s, CBS' weekly, half-hour Wanted: Dead or Alive was introduced in pilot form as an episode of another Western, Trackdown, on March 7, 1958. Officially launching its run on September 6, 1958, Wanted, like Trackdown, dealt with the exploits of a professional bounty hunter, whose job it was to capture wanted criminals and deliver them to the authorities -- alive if possible, but dead if necessary. Steve McQueen, formerly a journeyman actor best known for his leading role in the drive-in horror epic The Blob, was catapulted to stardom in the role of taciturn bounty hunter Josh Randall. Though not bound to honor the edicts of the law, Josh adhered to a personal code of honor, like many other loner cowboy heroes of the era. He also toted a specially designed weapon which he affectionately referred to as his "Mare's Laig" -- a .30-.40 gauge sawed-off carbine which could be used as either a pistol or a rifle. During most of the series' first two seasons, Steve McQueen was the only regular. Beginning with the 57th episode in the spring of 1960, and continuing until episode number 68, Wright King was added to the cast as Josh's sometime partner, deputy sheriff Jason Nichols. Lasting 94 episodes, Wanted: Dead or Alive closed out its CBS run on March 29, 1961. Twenty-six years later, a modernized feature-film version of Wanted: Dead or Alive was released, with Rutger Hauer as Josh's great-grandson Nick Randall. (But where did he pick up that German accent?) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Joel McCrea essays the title role in this moody little western. McCrea is a Union officer wounded in battle, who joins up with a wagon train heading westward. He is ostracized by those passengers who'd fought on the Confederate side, though leading lady Virginia Mayo welcomes his presence. McCrea redeems himself in the eyes of the ex-Confederate homesteaders when he acts as mediator in a range dispute with a land baron (Barry Kelly)--who happens to be McCrea's own half brother. Tall Stranger is based on a novel by the prolific Louis L'Amour. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo, (more)
- 1957
Adapted from his own TV play by Reginald Rose, Dino stars Sal Mineo (who also appeared in the TV version) in the title role. Sent to reform school for his complicity in a gang killing, Dino is released in the custody of kindly settlement worker Sheridan (Brian Keith). Despite the efforts by Sheridan and parole officer Mandel (Frank Faylen) to set the boy on the right path, sullen Dino intends to rejoin his old gang at the first opportunity. Only when he realizes that his younger brother Tony (Pat DeSimone) is in danger of becoming an irredeemable juvenile delinquent does Dino gets wise to himself. It also helps when he falls in love with Shirley (Susan Kohner), a "plain-Jane" girl he meets at Sheridan's settlement house. Rarely seen today, Dino is one of the better "j.d." films of its era. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sal Mineo, Brian Keith, (more)
- 1956
The fate of wealthy Jamie Dawn (Marilyn Simms) hangs in the balance as she stands trial for murder. Defense attorney Random (Richard Carlson), who also happens to be Jamie's lover, knows that if he can sway three jurors to vote not guilty, he can win the case. Thus, Random endeavors to bribe the three most likely candidates: Czechoslovakian refugee Karek (Eduard Franz), who needs the money to finance his son's escape from Eastern Europe; ex-actress Lorrie (June Havoc), who has for years been trying to bankroll a comeback; and Tom (Ricardo Montalban), whose marriage to Sue (Laraine Day) may disintegrate if he doesn't come up with some money in a hurry. The outcome of the film is something of a letdown, given its engaging premise. Also starring in Three for Jamie Dawn is Regis Toomey, with whom director Thomas Carr would be reunited on the TV series Richard Diamond. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laraine Day, Ricardo Montalban, (more)
- 1955
This suspense film revolves around the crime of child abduction. The parents of the missing child undertake a feverish search for their son. The police are contacted, and a ransom letter is received. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1954
This TV special was designed to encourage youngsters to begin collecting defense savings stamps. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Reeves
- 1954
The Fortyniners stars Wild Bill Elliot as California-based federal agent Sam Nelson. While others pan for gold, Sam searches high and low for the murderers of a fellow "fed". The trail leads to smooth-talking gambler Alf Billings (played by Henry Morgan, who went on to TV fame as Harry Morgan), but Nelson doesn't immediately make an arrest, choosing instead to play his cards close to the vest and to allow Billings to tip his hand. After six reels of cat-and-mouse, the film explodes in a veritable orgy of gunplay. Virginia Grey costars in a poignant cameo as the wife of one of the fugitive killers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William "Wild Bill" Elliott, Virginia Grey, (more)
- 1954
Sterling Holloway returns as eccentric scientist Uncle Oscar, who while trying to cook up a formula for flavored stamp glue ends up with a powerful explosive. Rather than write down the entire formula, Uncle Oscar teaches vital segments of the formula to his talking parakeet Schuyler. A pair of foreign spies steal Schuyler and substitute a lookalike, then kidnap Oscar and his niece Nancy (Allene Roberts) in order to steal the explosive. This looks like a job for Superman (George Reeves)--but it may also prove to be his undoing, inasmuch as the loquacious Schuyler is savvy to Superman's "Clark Kent" guise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
Cub reporter Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson) is lured to a sinister-looking house, where he is confronted by all manner of paranormal phenomena, seemingly orchestrated by a mysterious Lady in Black. But when Jimmy reports his experiences to fellow reporter Clark Kent (George Reeves), he is unable to prove anything. Before long, Clark--or rather, his alter ego Superman--has figured out that someone is trying to discredit Jimmy, the better to cover up a widespread smuggling operation. Virginia Christine, better known to TV addicts as kindly coffee-commercial spokeswoman Mrs. Olson, offers a rather surprising characterization in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
After a troubled, seemingly sleepless night, Perry White (John Hamilton) arrives at work at the offices of the Metropolis Daily Planet, only to find that -- as part of a civic program that he himself approved -- his job, like that of the mayor, chief of police, and every other important figure in Metropolis, has been given over for one day to the most junior male employee on the staff, part of what is called "Boys' Day." As a result, cub reporter Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson) is now editor-in-chief of the newspaper, and vows to make an impact in his one day on the job by breaking the Legs Lemmy case -- seven years earlier, Legs Lemmy (Herb Vigran) pulled off a major armored car robbery, but the police were never able to find enough evidence to arrest him, and the statute of limitations for prosecuting the crime is set to run out in 24 hours. Olsen prints a front-page story about having new evidence in the case, which shakes up the mobster enough so that he and his two henchmen arrive at the Planet offices and take Olsen and Lois Lane (Noel Neill) hostage. Clark Kent (George Reeves) and Perry White discover what is happening in White's office, but are helpless to do anything about it, for fear of Lois and Jimmy getting hurt -- even Superman breaking in might cause the hoods to open fire. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1954
This final episode of The Adventures of Superman's second season begins as a little blind girl named Ann Carson (Judy Ann Nugent) sends a heart-tugging message to the "Daily Planet." Responding to the message, reporter Clark Kent (George Reeves) goes into "Superman" mode to help the girl. In short order, Superman manages to reunite Ann's estranged parents (Kay Morley, James Brown), enables a jittery doctor (Raymond Greenleaf) to perform the operation that will restore the girl's sight, and, per the episode's title, takes the wide-eyed youngster on a flight around the world (or at least around a studio process screen!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
Evil Dr. Barnack (Lawrence Ryle) is determined to get his hands on an ancient Egyptian sapphire that is encased in a sacred box--even though the sapphire carries a "curse" which renders anyone who tries to open the box in a permanent comatose state. Ultimately, reporter Lois Lane (Noel Neill) is stricken down by the curse, which turns out to be manifested in a poisoned needle. The one hope for Lois' recovery is a special medicinal herb that can only be found beneath the Great Pyramid of Egypt--and guess who is the only person capable of lifting the pyramid to find the herb? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
The staff of the "Daily Planet" investigates when the scavenger ship commandeered by Captain McBain (Peter Whitney) returns from a treasure hunt with a cache of low-value pirate doubloons. It turns out that McBain is actually pulling off a scam, converting stolen jewelry into phony coins. Alas, the demented modern-day buccaneer imprisons Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson), then forces Clark (George Reeves) to walk the plank--thereby setting up a perversely amusing situation whereby Clark reappears as Superman in order to "save" himself from drowning! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
Neither a B nor an A picture, Bitter Creek is a solid western programmer, offering an excellent, unglamorized performance by Wild Bill Elliot. Though officially prohibited to do so by the Production Code, the film is motivated by revenge. Elliot arrives in Bitter Creek seeking retribution for the murders of his brothers. He suspects that powerful rancher Carleton Young is responsible, but has no proof. In the course of events, Elliot behaves with the same cold-blooded ruthlessness as the villains, with no concessions made to the kids in the audience: this, of course, results in a far more powerful film than usual. Beverly Garland is well cast as the vacillating heroine who believes in Young's innocence until it's almost too late. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William "Wild Bill" Elliott, Carleton Young, (more)
- 1954
The third of four Wayne Morris B-westerns for Allied Artists, Desperado casts Morris as fugitive gunman Sam Garrett. The early reels are devoted to Tall Cameron (James Lydon) and Ray Novac (Rayford Barnes), who run afoul of the post-Civil War Texas State Police, as represented by sadistic Captain Thornton (Nestor Paiva). Escaping Thornton's wrath, Tall and Ray meet Garrett, who becomes Tall's friend and advisor when Ray proves to be a louse. Seeking revenge, Ray kills Thornton and frames Tall for the crime. Sympathetic sheriff Jim Langley (Dabbs Greer) joins forces with "friendly enemy" Garrett to clear Tall and mete out just desserts to Ray. Beverly Garland costars as a more resourceful heroine than one usually finds in westerns of this nature. Though hamstrung by a low budget, Desperado is an intellingently written, well-paced endeavor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wayne Morris, Jimmy Lydon, (more)
- 1953
Wayne Morris plays a Texas ranger who goes undercover to trap a criminal gang. Posing as a wanted killer, Morris is able to move freely amongst the town riffraff, unencumbered by the innocent ingenue (mainly because there is no innocent ingenue). The marshal learns that the brains behind the gang is a group of supposed respectable businessmen. Star of Texas was directed with verve by Thomas Carr, best known to modern viewers for his long association with the Superman TV series (Jack Larson, Superman's Jimmy Olsen, shows up in a supporting role). The film was one of a quartet of Wayne Morris vehicles produced in 1953-54 by Allied Artists, representing the last-ever Hollywood "B" western series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wayne Morris, Paul Fix, (more)
- 1953
Eccentric "Daily Planet" stringer Horatio Hinkle (Lucien Littlefield) invents a robot named Hero, which he uses to break up a jewel robbery. The disgruntled thieves decide to kidnap the robot and force Hinkle to reprogram it to help them commit their next few crimes. This, of course, is a contingency that Superman (George Reeves) hopes to prevent--but he may be too late to do so. Future Gilligan's Island costar Russell Johnson is rather surprisingly cast as the leader of the criminal gang. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
