Donald Briggs Movies

Mary Fickett is cast as Erin O'Donnell, an Irish girl raised by the Sioux in Paiutes. Falling in love with Erin, Hoss Cartwright does his best to shield her from the bigotry of the townspeople. But Erin regards Hoss' efforts as futile, citing the tribal prophecy that she is "the wolf child, born to fight and die for the Indian.". Given the mortality rate of the Cartwright boys' sweethearts, it isn't hard to predict the outcome of this melancholy tale. Written by Sandy Summerhays, "Erin" was originally telecast on January 26, 1969, then rebroadcast by NBC on June 4, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Eluding the local authorities, Richard Kimble (David Janssen)--aka "Peter Broderick"--hops a freight car containing three other passengers: A hobo named Preacher (Royal Dano), a woman named Carol (Diana Hyland), and a little baby. Carol claims to be the infant's mother, and further insists that she is searching for her husband. But it soon turns out that the woman has been mentally unbalanced since becoming a widow--and that she has kidnapped the baby. Kimble's efforts to help Carol and return the baby to its parents are complicated by the child's precarious health...to say nothing of the treacherous Preacher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

There just isn't enough space in a single bathroom for the five members of the Carmichael-Bagley household, thus Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Viv (Vivian Vance) decide to install an extra shower. Neighbor Harry (Dick Martin) arranges for a plumber to do the job cheap, only to have the plumber quit in disgust over Lucy's constant meddling. Clearly, there is no other alternative for the girls than to finish the job themselves. This is the notorious episode in which Vivian Vance actually rescues Lucille Ball from drowning while the cameras are rolling! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Viv (Vivian Vance) suggests that she and Lucy (Lucille Ball) make a concerted effort to share the interests of their boy friends. As a result, Lucy accompanies her latest beau Bill King (Keith Andes) on an early-morning duck hunting excursion. Typically, she makes a mess of things, but redeems herself in a most unexpected fashion. This episode represents a reunion of sorts for Lucille Ball and Keith Andes, who had costarred in the 1961 Broadway musical "Wildcat!" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Though Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Viv (Vivian Vance) had promised each other that they would go out to entertain their respective boyfriends Harry (Dick Martin) and Eddie (Don Briggs), all four of them wind up in the girls' house at the same time. The boys have been promised a home-cooked meal, but their just isn't enough room in the kitchen for both Lucy and Viv. This incident inspires Lucy to expand their living quarters by building a rumpus room--a task for which she and Viv are spectacularly unqualified. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Viv (Vivian Vance) would like to go out on a date with a couple of eligible bachelors, but no one seems to be eligible at the moment. Impressed by the handsomeness of her son Jerry's math teacher Mr. Taylor (William Windom), Lucy's "borrows" the man's drivers license to find out if he's married. The trick now is to return the license without Taylor ever knowing that it was missing--and this requires Lucy to deck herself out in full fencing regalia! Comedian Dick Martin makes his first series appearance as Lucy's next-door neighbor, airline pilot Harry Conners. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Richard Dix is his usual strong, silent self in RKO Radio's Men Against the Sky. Dix plays a washed-up pilot who designs a revolutionary new plane. Realizing that he is persona non grata in the aviation industry due to his irresponsibility and alcoholism, Dix allows his sister Wendy Barrie to take credit for the "wonder" plane. Preliminary tests of the aircraft prove disastrous, but Dix establishes the viablity of his design by flying the plane himself, a spectacular act of self-sacrifice that has the salutary effect of restoring his tattered reputation. Among the aircraft seen in Men Against the Sky is the plane used by Howard Huges to establish a new transcontinental record when he flew from California to New Jersey in less than 7 1/2 hours. The film was scripted by Nathaniel West, better known for his trenchant Hollywood novel Day of the Locust. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Appointed resident assistant at the Byng State Hospital by his mentor Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore), young Doctor James Kildare (Lew Ayres) has every reason to celebrate. His euphoria, however, is short-lived: Kildare is forced to return to his hometown when his general-practitioner father (Samuel S. Hinds) collapses from overwork. At first, the townsfolk are suspicious of Kildare's "newfangled" medical methods. But when the young medico is able to diagnose the malady afflicting Leading Citizen George Winslow (George Lockhart), Kildare is wholeheartedly accepted by his new flock. But will Dr. Kildare stay home, or will he return to the Big City for new adventures? Hint: there were still four "Kildare" episodes to go before Lew Ayres left the series in 1942. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this crime drama, a government investigator looks into a counterfeiting ring that passes its fake bills through a gambling boat. During one evening, a murder occurs and the captain immediately sails the boat three miles off the coast where authorities have no jurisdiction. When the crew mutinies, the investigator takes over and gets his man. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Unexpected Father was designed as a showcase for Universal's infant "star" Baby Sandy (Sandy was a girl, but she played a boy here). Dancer Dennis O'Keefe resigns himself to being stuck with his late partner's baby, but when trying to adopt a child he faces a tough court custody battle. Lovely Shirley Ross is the other applicant, so figure out the ending yourself. The highlight in Unexpected Father is a tense process-screen sequence wherein Sandy toddles around a high skyscraper ledge. Mischa Auer, who'd played a comic doorman in the previous Baby Sandy film East Side of Heaven, repeats the role for Unexpected Father. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

James Stewart and Carole Lombard star in this comedy-drama about the struggles of a young married couple directed by John Cromwell. Stewart and Lombard play a recently married couple, Jane and John Mason. John works as an attorney for the law firm of skinflint Judge Doolittle (Charles Coburn). Doolittle calls John back to work immediately after the wedding ceremony, forcing the couple to abandon their honeymoon. But John is ready to do Doolittle's bidding, since he hopes to become a partner in the firm. Doolittle is openly disappointed at the marriage, hoping John would have instead married his daughter Eunice (Ruth Weston). Eunice eventually marries another lawyer in the firm, Carter (Donald Briggs). John and Jane try to make ends meet and invite Doolittle, Eunice, and Carter to dinner. The dinner turns into a disaster, climaxing with Doolittle informing John he has decided to make Carter a partner in the firm. Crushed, John and Jane work hard but to no avail, sinking deeper and deeper into debt. Jane has a baby, but when the child becomes seriously ill, the only way to save the baby is to have a special serum flown in through a blizzard from Salt Lake City. John needs $5000 to hire a pilot and get the medicine, and his only hope is to beg Judge Doolittle for the money. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Panama Lady is a cleaned-up remake of the 1932 Helen Twelvetrees vehicle Panama Flo. Lucille Ball essays the old Twelvetrees role as Lucy, a nightclub "hostess" stranded in Panama by her ex-lover Roy (Donald Briggs). Victimized by a shakedown orchestrated by Roy, oil rigger McTeague (Allan Lane) holds Lucy responsible. To avoid landing in jail, Lucy agrees to accompany McTeague to his oil camp as his housekeeper. Assuming she's been brought to this godforsaken spot for sexual purposes, Lucy eventually realizes that McTeague's intentions are honorable: All he wants is his money back, and he expects our heroine to work off the debt on her feet! Ultimately Lucy and McTeague fall in love, but not before the scurrilous Roy re-enters her life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this boxing drama, an ex-champ finds himself working as a doorman at a nightclub. His son aspires to a high caliber career on Wall Street; he is getting ready to marry a banker's daughter. When not working at the club, the boxer trains a welterweight with championship potential. Later the son gets caught embezzling funds. To help him pay it back the boxer asks that his trainee throw his next fight while he bets everything on the opponent. The young fighter refuses to take a dive and wins the fight. Fortunately, the ex-champ's assistant knew this and bet even more money on their protegee. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide