Jerry Gruskin Movies
- 1960
This two-part episode chronicles the life and career of Dutch-born Peter Hurkos, who has been authenticated by scientific experts as one of the world's few genuine psychics. Part One begins during WW2, as Hurkos (Albert Salmi) is fighting with the Resistance in Denmark. Falling from a rooftop, he lapses into a coma--and upon regaining consciousness, finds he has been endowed with the gift of prophecy. On a more disturbing note, he now has the ability to determine the good and evil in a person merely by touching him. Unable to cope with his psychic powers, Hurkos begins drinking heavily, then squanders his talents in the entertainment world...until a remarkable event turns his life around. For years, "The Peter Hurkos Story" was missing from the One Step Beyond syndication package. . .on orders from Hurkos himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
This two-part episode chronicles the life and career of Dutch-born Peter Hurkos, who has been authenticated by scientific experts as one of the world's few genuine psychics. In Part Two, Hurkos (Albert Salmi) arrives in the US after several aimless years in which he has squandered his talents as a sideshow entertainers. Though he undergoes extensive testing to verify his psychic powers, many people are still skeptical--until he uses his unique gifts to solve a murder. The real Peter Hurkos appears in the closing segment. The two parts of "The Peter Hurkos Story"were later combined and released as a theatrical feature in Europe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) investigate when landlady Selma Bruttig (Isabelle Dwan) reports the disappearance of two of her tenants, a man and his wife. She suspects murder, but there is no physical evidence of foul play. It takes a howling dog to lead the detectives to a garden wherein a horrifying secret is hidden. This episode was adapted from the Dragnet radio broadcast of March 9, 1954 (in which, surprisingly, we never learn the murderer's motive). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
The story you are about to see would probably be more at home on a contemporary "procedural" series like CSI or Bones. While playing in the hills just outside LA, two kids stumble upon a human skeleton. When it turns out the bones or those of a man who was killed 25 years earlier, Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) try to determine what happened to the poor fellow. Evidently, however, there are only two people in town who care about the outcome of the case: the dead man's former sweetheart--and the person who murdered him. This is one of a handful of black and white Dragnet episodes written especially for television, with no prior radio version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
The perpetrator this time around is a burglar who manages to escape capture by playing on the sympathies of his victims. Whenever he is caught in the act, the burglar sobbingly explains his actions by relating a story of a life of unrelenting hard luck. But Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) shed not a single tear when they finally catch up with the lachrymose criminal. Written especially for television, with no prior radio version, this episode was later adapted by Richard Deming as a chapter of a 1957 paperback Dragnet anthology, under the title "The Crybaby Case." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1949
Though she may have won an Oscar in 1948, Jane Wyman still had a Warner Bros. contract to fulfill, even if it meant appearing in frivolities like The Lady Takes a Sailor. It all begins when Jennifer (Wyman), the head of an oceanographic research institute, claims to have made a fascinating underwater discovery. It is suspected that she's made this claim so that her funding will be continued, so the money-men send Bill Craig (Dennis Morgan) to investigate. Disguised as a sailor, Bill accompanies Jennifer on her next expedition, just to see if her story was true. Jennifer falls in love with Bill, neglecting her work in the process. When Bill is revealed to be a fake, things look bleak--but not for long. Eve Arden has all the best lines as Jane Wyman's sarcastic best friend (the sort of role Wyman used to play in her blonde-ingenue days). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jane Wyman, Dennis Morgan, (more)
- 1948
A safecracker risks his own life to save an endangered child from an oncoming truck and finds his life changes forever in this drama. During the rapid rescue, the crook breaks his leg and while he heals, he is befriended by a good-hearted priest who guides him toward the straight and narrow. Now the former thief is determined to return all the loot to the bank, even if it means destroying everyone in his gang to do it. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don "Red" Barry, Dale Evans, (more)
- 1948
The beauteous blonde Wilde Twins -- Lynn and Lee -- star in the Republic musical programmer Campus Honeymoon. Richard Crane and Hal Hackett co-star as a pair of GIs who offer to pose as the sisters' husbands so as to qualify for a couple of bungalows in a Veterans' housing project. The relationship is supposed to be platonic, of course, but it doesn't remain that way for long. The laughs really begin to roll in when the ersatz honeymooners are obliged to produce their marriage licenses. Republic contractee Adele Mara contributes a zesty performance as a former WAC sergeant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynn Wilde, Lee Wilde, (more)
- 1947
Though already established as Roy Rogers' favorite leading lady (offscreen and on), Dale Evans was permitted a rare non-western appearance minus Rogers in the 1947 Republic mystery thriller The Trespasser. Evans is cast as nightclub singer Linda Coleman, the sister of newspaper-book reviewer Bruce Coleman (William Bakewell). Bruce is engaged in a clever fraud, peddling rare-book forgeries to collector/publisher Channing Bliss (Francis Pierlot). This bunco scheme is uncovered by aspiring girl reporter Stevie Carson (Janet Martin), with the grudging help of veteran newshound Danny Butler (Warren Douglas). With all this going on, ostensible star Dale Evans has little to do except sing one sultry musical number and look smashing in low-cut gowns -- and, oh yes, indulge in a bit of romance with Stevie's editor Bill Monroe (Douglas Fowley). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Betty Alexander, William Bakewell, (more)
- 1947
Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller) goes on one of his occasional pro-ecological kicks in Tarzan and the Huntress. This time, the Lord of the Jungle runs afoul of an animal-trapping exposition headed by titular huntress Tanya (Patricia Morison). Not wishing to see his jungle friends packed in crates and shipped off to zoos, Tarzan does everything he can to discourage Tanya from seeking out specimens in his territory. The plot then goes off on a different tangent, as Tanya's unscrupulous partner Weir (Barton MacLane) conspires with aspiring despot Prince Ozira (Ted Hecht) to knock off the Prince's benevolent uncle, King Faroud (Charles Trowbridge). Tarzan saves the day by summoning his elephant pals to trammel the villains, but not before his mate Jane (Brenda Joyce) and his adopted son Boy (Johnny Sheffield) are placed in the usual deadly peril. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnny Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce, (more)
