Tom Hubbard Movies

Feeble in the action department, this drama directed by Thor Brooks fizzles before the arsonist gets his due. John (Steve Brodie) is the leader of an arson squad and he does not realize that it is one of his men who is setting the disastrous fires around town. The duplicitous and secretly criminal member of the squad is a part of an arson ring that preys on the victims of the fires they set in order to get them to divvy up the insurance money. To assure cooperation, the arsonists use either blackmail or intimidation. In-between fires, John is intent on tracking down the arsonists. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

In this western, a sheriff attempts to exact his revenge against the desperadoes who cost him his job. The former lawman successfully gets rid of the bad hombres and clears his name. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this western set in the Mexican controlled part of California, a villainous cavalry officer is trying to force the owner of a hacienda to give him his land when a courageous settler comes to the rescue. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Extensive stock footage from 1949's Lust for Gold is used to flesh out the Columbia potboiler Secret of Treasure Mountain. The producers went so far as to hire one of the actors of the earlier film, William Prince, in order to match the old footage with the new. The plot is set in motion some 200 years ago, when a Spanish soldier buries a fortune in gold somewhere in Apache country. Angered at this invasion of their sacred land, the Indians place a curse upon the gold -- and, by extension, upon all those who will come into contact with the precious mineral in the future. The story proper begins in The Present, as a group of adventurers, many of them on the shady side (none shadier than villain Raymond Burr), embark upon a search for the gold. Sure enough, these modern-day prospectors fall victim to the curse one by one, usually as a result of their own greed or lust -- yes, lust, since shapely Valerie French and Susan Cummings are among the gold-seekers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hidden Guns is not so much a western as a suspense melodrama. Bruce Bennett plays Stragg, a mean-spirited cardsharp with friends in high places. Though he has ordered the killing of a rival, Stragg is able to escape prosecution by greasing a few local palms. It is up to heretofore ineffectual sheriff Young (Richard Arlen) to bring justice to his corrupt community. Aiding Young is his callow son Faron (Faron Young), who likewise is considered too wishy-washy to be effective--at least until the slam-bang climax. John Carradine steals the show as Stragg's saturnine hired gun. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this early disaster film, the tough-minded and strict Los Angeles Harbormaster must use his courage and wits when the communists announce they have planted an atomic bomb on a freighter. It will detonate in 12 hours. Now, the harbormaster must not only save the city, he must keep his actions mum to prevent mass hysteria. He quietly tows the vessel out to sea where it explodes. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

A U.S. Army cavalry officer (Dane Clark) leads westward-bound settlers through Indian territory. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi

Temporarily taking leave of the TV series The Lone Ranger because of a salary dispute, Clayton Moore found time to star in Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory. The film is as old-fashioned as its title, though that's not an altogether bad thing. Rewriting history somewhat, the story depicts Buffalo Bill (Moore) as an unstinting friend of the Indians. His mission this time around is to protect his Native American friends from evil, land-grabbing gold speculators. Several veteran Indian actors are spotlighted in Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory, including Rod Redwing, Chief Yowlachie and Chief Thundercloud. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Hoodlum is tailor-made for the roughneck talents of actor Lawrence Tierney. The film details the rise and fall of a habitual criminal, and the havoc he wreaks on the lives of his loved ones. Things really go downhill when the "hero" (Tierney) seduces and abandons his brother's sweetheart (Allene Roberts), whereupon the girl commits suicide. Lawrence Tierney's "reel" brother is played by his real brother Edward; presumably, Tierney's more famous sibling Scott Brady was occupied elsewhere. The best performance is delivered by Lisa Golm as the Hoodlum's long-suffering mother. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Without Reservations has to be the least typical John Wayne picture of the postwar era. Top billing is bestowed upon Claudette Colbert as Kit, a best-selling novelist heading westward to oversee the film version of her latest novel. Taking it upon herself to select the man who should portray the hero of her novel, Kit chooses war hero Rusty (John Wayne), whom she meets during her train trip to Hollywood. Unaware of Kit's true identity, Rusty and his pal Dink (Don DeFore) rail against the factual errors in her book. One thing leads to another, and before long Kit, Rusty and Dink have all been thrown off the train for annoying the other passengers. After a hectic stopover at a New Mexico farm, Kit reveals who she really is to Rusty and Dink, who are understandably put out. All is forgiven in the end, of course, with Kit and Rusty altar-bound at fadeout time. The Hollywood scenes feature such guest celebrities as Cary Grant, Louella Parsons and Jack Benny; and yes, that is an unbilled Raymond Burr as Claudette Colbert's dancing partner. Without Reservations was based on Jane Allen and May Livingston's novel Thanks, God, I'll Take it From Here (too bad they couldn't use that title!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi