Lillian Bronson Movies
Over her long career, Lillian Bronson played numerous small character roles in a wide variety of films. The New York City native made her screen debut in The Happy Land (1943) starring Don Ameche. After many film appearances, she branched out into television, working as a regular on shows like Kings Row, where she played Grandma from 1955 to 1956, and Date With the Angels between 1957 and 1958. Bronson also guest starred on numerous television shows, especially Westerns like The Rifleman, Have Gun Will Travel, and The Guns of Will Sonnett. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1975
In this pilot film for the NBC TV series Medical Story, idealistic young intern Dr. Steve Drucker (Beau Bridges) clashes with three of his superiors over whether a prominent actress should have a hysterectomy. The woman in question is played by Harriet Karr, who had undergone a similar experience in real life. In fact, Karr's ordeal was the inspiration for this film, which was produced and written by her husband, Abby Mann (who also partially adapted the script from an unrelated novel by Dr. Howard A. Oglin). Medical Story first aired on September 4, 1975; the series itself was broadcast weekly until January 8, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
The Squad 51 guys enter a contest for the best new firefighting invention. This new diversion, however, does not cause them to neglect their workload, which this week includes an obese homehowner stuck in his own ceiling, a comatose man suffering from an inexplicable ailment, and a case of radiation poisoning which threatens to spread throughout the city. This final episode of Emergency!'s third season was directed by series regular Kevin Tighe (Roy Desoto). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
The "O'Brien" of the title is Mrs. O'Brien (Lillian Bronson), the feisty old manager of the apartment building wherein resides Officer Pete Malloy (Martin Milner). Someone has stolen Mrs. O'Brien's purse, and she is determined that the police capture the thief--even if it means picketing the Rampart station, much to Pete's annoyance and embarrassment. This episode was originally scheduled to air on November 2, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Assigned to the Southwest Division, Officers Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) and Jim Reed (Kent McCord) nab a suspected peeping tom who turns out to be an innocent gas-meter reader. Elsewhere, the two cops extricate a furniture store owner who has become trapped in a doorway while repossessing a sofa, and try to mollify an extremely angry father. And there's a memorable incident involving a starving artist, an expired permit, and a questionable "masterpiece." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
A fast-spreading wildfire impedes the efforts of the Rampart emergency staff to save an elderly woman suffering from dehydration, a seriously injured looter, and one of their own firemen trapped under a fallen tree. Further complications ensue from an emergency birth procedure in which the mother can't be moved, and an "A.P.B." for a lost dog. Gary Crosby makes his first Emergency! guest appearance in the role of John Conway, while former Leave It to Beaver costar Tony Dow shows up on a motorcycle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Jeannot Szwarc, the director responsible for so many episodes (both good and bad) of the Night Gallery TV series, was the helmsman of The Devil's Daughter. This small-screen Rosemary's Baby clone stars Belinda Montgomery as a young woman targeted by a group of Satanists. It seems that Belinda's soul was purchased from the Devil when the girl was born, with payment due when she reaches the age of 21. Shelley Winters is at her overbearing best as the head of the cultists, while horror-flick vets Joseph Cotten and Jonathan Frid do their utmost to create the proper demonic atmosphere. Colin Higgins, who moved on to such prestige projects as Silver Streak and Foul Play, conjured up the script for The Devil's Daughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Belinda Montgomery, Shelley Winters, (more)
- 1971
Comedian Morey Amsterdam is uncharacteristically at a loss for jokes in the role of Jerry Mermaid, a printer whose press has been stolen. While investigating this theft, Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) have plenty of other matters to keep them busy. Among those warranting the two cops' attention is an elderly pensioner who refuses to vacate his condemned house, and a motorist who evinces some very peculiar behavior. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Among the assignments tackled by mobile officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) during today's shift is to stop a would-be suicide. Also, the duo goes after a gang of drag racers who've turned the streets of LA into their own personal racetrack, and a group of thieves who specialize in swiping radios. All this activity pales in comparison with Jim and Pete's most formidable task, to determined the veracity of a bomb threat--and ultimately, to locate the bomb. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Rhodes (Stephen Brooks) goes undercover as a seaman when a Latin-American diplomat is killed on board a merchant ship. It turns out that a group of insurgents are planning a mutiny, the better to deliver weapons to guerilla warriors in a South American republic. To make certain that the mission succeeds, the leader of the rebels (Alejandro Rey) is playing upon the fragile emotions of countrywoman Barbara Reyes Barbara Luna). Featured as the ship's captain is veteran actor Henry Wilcoxon, best known for his work in such Cecil B. DeMille productions as Cleopatra and The Crusades. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
A serial killer is on the loose in San Francisco, and five victims--all women--have already been claimed. Ironside (Raymond Burr) suspects that the most recent killing was not committed by the same maniac who bumped off the previous four victims, but by a different person who was using the murder spree to cover his tracks. The episode's climax finds youthful policewoman Eve Whitfield (Barbara Anderson) donning old-age makeup to flush out the villain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
The title of this episode refers to the Virginia town which serves as the home of the FBI Training Academy. One of Quantico's most promising trainees is Charlie Hunter (Michael Callan), who'd grown up in a slum neighborhood with his mentally unbalanced cousin Willard Smith (Robert Walker Jr.). Upon learning that Willard is planning to blow up the Supreme Court Building with a homemade bomb, Charlie is faced with a dilemma that could cost him his career--to say nothing of his life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
For a family picture, not to mention a story that later became the old-fashioned-values-affirming series The Waltons, Spencer's Mountain sure has a lot in it about sex. Henry Fonda gives an interesting portrayal in one of his more unusual roles, as Clay Spencer, the hard-drinkin', hard-livin', hard lovin', hard-cussin' patriarch of a fiercely independent Wyoming family living in the Grand Tetons. When he's not resisting the encroachment of organized religion on his daily life (he believes in God, but doesn't want others to tell him how to do that, or how to show respect to the Lord), he's busy trying to finish the house he promised his wife (Maureen O'Hara) to house their constantly growing brood, and trying to help his eldest son, Clayboy (James MacArthur) -- who's going to be the first Spencer to get past high school -- prepare for college and manhood, while temptation in the form of Claris Coleman (Mimsy Farmer) and Minnie-Cora Cook Kathy Bennett comes his way. There's also a good bit of human drama here, and some especially finely nuanced performances by Donald Crisp and Lillian Bronson, as Fonda's aging parents. Between their work, the CinemaScope photography, the gorgeous Wyoming locations, and a good basic story, this is a surprisingly engrossing comedy-drama of a kind that probably could not be made today, even with a top-name cast. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara, (more)
This moody and controversial drama takes place in Depression-era New Orleans. Dove (Laurence Harvey) has traveled by bus from Texas to find his wayward lover Hallie (Capucine). He meets young Kitty Twist (Jane Fonda) as the two get off in the crescent city. Teresina (Anne Baxter) gives him a job at her small cafe. In his free time, Dove searches for Hallie and finds her at work as a prostitute in the Doll's House. Dove implores Hallie to return to him but she refuses. When the lecherous lesbian madame Jo (Barbara Stanwyck) discovers Dove's intentions towards Hallie, she has him beaten to a bloody pulp by her hired goons. He is found by Kitty, now a happy hooker at the Doll House, and is taken back to the cafe where the compassionate Teresina heals his physical and emotional wounds. The film taken from the novel by Nelson Algren is much tamer than the original text. The title track, sung by Brook Benton, was nominated for an Academy Award. The "black-cat stalking" opening and closing sequences (by designer Saul Bass) is a perfect little "film-within-a-film." This footage, with its superb lighting, framing, panning, and editing, should be appreciated by anyone who wants to know more about the art of cinematography. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Harvey, Capucine, (more)
- 1961
It is time for the annual Mayberry Founders Day celebration, and the committee has decided to hold a beauty contest. Sheriff Andy is all for the idea-until he is appointed to judge the contest. Making matters worse, Andy's girlfriend Ellie is one of the contestants. How is the Sheriff going to get out of this predicament without hurting everyone's feelings-and messing up his own love life? The solution provided by scriptwriters Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart is in keeping with the warmth, humanity and insight that always set The Andy Griffith Show apart from its sitcom competitors. "The Beauty Contest" was originally telecast on January 23, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Real-life WW II hero Audie Murphy stars in this war drama that follows the exploits of a civilian who works closely with Filipino resistance fighters against the Japanese invaders. The man has come to the islands to find his new wife after they are separated during their honeymoon in Manila. She is alive but thinks that her hubby died under enemy fire. She then begins to fall in love with one of the underground leaders. Meanwhile, her husband and his buddy must fight the Japanese and the jungle until at last they find her. As soon as they are reunited, the guerrilla gracefully bows out, leaving the couple to head home and resume their lives. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Audie Murphy, Gary Crosby, (more)
- 1961
Heading towards Johnsonville, Paladin (Richard Boone) comes across a young woman named Kathy Rousseau (Pippa Scott), who is burying something along the road. That "something" turns out to be Kathy's fiancee, who was murdered by a jealous rival. The guilty party is ruthless town boss Leander Johnson (Werner Klemperer, minus his Hogan's Heroes German accent), who controls everything in Johnsonville including the local constabulary--meaning that justice for Kathy will have to be meted out by Paladin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Judson Curtis (Walter Sande) hopes to gain full control of the circus he co-owns with Jerry Franklin (Robert Clarke) by threatening to reveal that Franklin's wife Lisa (Chana Eden) is still legally married to circus clown Felix Heidemann (Douglas Henderson). Unfortunately for Curtis, he is shot to death during a clown act in full view of a huge audience. This is even more unfortunate for Heidemann, who is identified as the killer--and among the eyewitnesses is Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins), perennial nemesis of attorney Perry Mason (Raymond Burr). In the absence of series regular William Talman (DA Hamilton Burger), Kenneth Tobey appears as Deputy DA Alvin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
The only pleasure afforded the half-crazed residents of a ghost town called Bonanza is the faded portrait of a beautiful woman which hangs on the wall of the saloon. When the portrait turns up missing, the locals blame the only stranger in their midst--namely, Paladin (Richard Boone). Ultimately, and for no other reason than to save his own skin, Paladin agrees to seek out the missing lady. This episode represents are rare collaboration between master fantasists Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson, two of the most prolific contributors to the classic Rod Serling anthology The Twilight Zone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Paladin (Richard Boone) is hired by a mortally woman named Mrs. Kilmer (Lillian Bronson), who wants to learn the whereabouts of her long-long son before she dies. The trail of clues leads Paladin to Harper City, a town held in the grip of the wealthy--and psychotic--Fred Harper (Charles Aidman). Clearly, Harper knows something about Mrs. Kilmer's prodigal son, but he isn't telling...and Paladin is fully aware that the previous detective hired to locate the boy turned up dead. This is the final episode of Have Gun, Will Travel's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Behind his respectable veneer as owner of the posh Jockey Club, Dink Conway (David Brian) is actually in charge of all organized crime in St. Louis. Backed up by his top gun Whitey Deering (Leo Gordon), Conway forces all the other hoods in town to play ball with him--and systematically bumps off those with whom he can't see eye-to-eye. When a minor mobster pulls off a mail truck heist without permission, Conway has the man killed, then goes to great lengths to get his own grubby hands on the stolen loot. It is up to Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) to put an end to Conway's operation before every potential witness is rubbed out. This episode marks the last appearance of Jerry Paris as "Untouchable" Martin Flaherty, and the first appearance of Anthony George as new team member Cam Allison--who turns out to have a personal reason for putting Conway behind bars. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
In the eighth episode of Walt Disney's ten-part miniseries Elfego Baca, gunslinger-turned-lawyer Baca (Robert Loggia) has secured the legal rights of the Mustangers, a religious sect that has set up a homestead in the middle of cattle country. But though the Mustangers own their property fair and square, the local cattleman still regard the group with suspicion and contempt, putting pressure on local merchants not to sell to any of the sect's members. When Mustanger leader Shadrack O'Reilly (Brian Keith) is refused service at a feed store, he sparks off a huge brawl and ends up in jail -- which, of course, brings Elfego Baca back into the story. Featuring a young James Coburn in a supporting role, "Mustang Man, Mustang Maid" was originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
In the seventh episode of Walt Disney's ten-part miniseries, Elfego Baca, gunslinger-turned-lawyer Baca (Robert Loggia) comes to the defense of the Mustangers, a nomad-like religious sect. Determined to establish a permanent homestead on a land recently opened up by the government, the Mustanger face fierce opposition from the local cattlemen who worry that they will lose their own grazing land. Ever the champion of the underdog, Elfego Baca hopes to prevent the Mustangers from being driven out by violence -- a task made difficult by the sect's hotheaded leader, Shadrack O'Reilly (Brian Keith). A young James Coburn appears in a supporting role. "Move Along, Mustangers" was originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Sarah Werner (Osa Massen) begs Perry to locate her husband Hugo (Kurt Krueger), who ran off with all her money, leaving her alone and destitute. Perry's secretary Della suspects that Sarah isn't being entirely truthful, especially since the woman is wearing a very expensive perfume. As for Hugo--or as he is now calling himself, Hans Breel--he is currently involved in an elaborate scam involving a priceless gem called the Pundit Stone. When Hugo turns up murdered, Sarah is accused of the crime, whereupon Perry does some diligent digging into the facts (some of which are actually fallacies) to clear his client. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Beaver (Jerry Mathers) and Larry (Rusty Stevens) have convinced themselves that the old Cooper house is haunted, and that the elusive Mrs. Cooper (Lillian Bronson) is a witch. Thus, Beaver is chilled to the marrow when mom June (Barbara Billingsley) arranges for him to walk Mrs. Cooper's dog. Needless to say, the Beav is in for quite a surprise when he finally meets The Witch face to face...and her little dog, too! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rusty Stevens, Lillian Bronson, (more)
- 1958
The second season of Perry Mason begins when Perry (Raymond Burr) receives an unusual phone call from one George Hartley Beaumont (Ross Elliott). What makes it unusual is that Beaumont is dead--or at least he's supposed to be. Reported killed in a plane crash three years earler, Beaumont had actually missed the fatal flight, but decided to take advantage of his "demise" so his wife Laura (Jeanne Cooper) could collect his insurance, and so he could start life anew in Mexico with his girflriend Ruth (Joan Camden). Now he wants to come home and come clean--but before he can do so, someone stabs him to death. Now Perry takes it upon himself to clear Number One suspect Ruth of a murder charge. This is the first of several episodes in which Perry argues his case before a woman judge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
