Milton Krims Movies
Screenwriter Milton Krims is best remembered for penning one of the first movies about the Cold War, The Iron Curtain (1948). Prior to coming to film he had worked as an actor, a newspaper reporter, and an author of fiction. Krims got his start in Hollywood after Paramount bought the rights to his novel Dude Ranch. During the '30s Krims was signed to Warner Brothers and wrote screenplays for such films as Confessions of a Nazi Spy and We Are Not Alone (both 1939). Around the early to mid '60s, Krims became the film editor for Holiday and The Saturday Evening Post. He also wrote a few teleplays for such series as Perry Mason. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1965
Enrico Bacio (Anthony Caruso), tyrannical patriarch of a Sicilian-American clan, is convinced that a charming young scoundrel named Paulo Porro (Fabrizio Mioni) will literally be the death of him. It seems that there is a centuries-old vendetta between the Bacio and Porro families, and Bacio is terrified that Paulo intends to murder him. Sure enough, Enrico ends up dead--and Paulo is duped into being on the scene when the cops find the body. Hoping to save Paulo from the gas chamber, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) must first prove that a key piece of evidence is the handywork of the real murderer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In Volume 34 of a collection culled from the 1963-1965 science fiction anthology television series, an astronaut returns from Venus to find he can no longer stay warm in Earth's climate. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In Volume 46 of a collection culled from the 1963-1965 science fiction anthology television series, a group of travelers embark on a trip through space and are joined by a mysterious creature made of light. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In Volume 44 of a collection culled from the 1963-1965 science fiction anthology television series, an alien being comes to Earth to cut a deal with a scientist: if the human wills the spaceman all his emotions, the creature will give the professor the equations necessary to finish his invention. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Director Akos von Rathony, perhaps best known for his 1960 Mrs. Warren's Profession, guides a talented cast of American and German actors in this entertaining comedy that pokes fun at cultural morés on both sides of the Atlantic. Helmut (Michael Hinz) is an orphan with plenty of Yank friends, enough to make him desperate to get to the U.S. To that end, he nabs an Air Force uniform and the proper credentials and then makes a brave attempt to hop on an American military jet. In the meantime, Inge (Christine Kaufmann) has her own ideas about Helmut's future and they do not include any trip that takes him away from her. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christine Kaufmann, Michael Hinz, (more)
- 1962
The Secret Mark of D'Artagnan borrows a handful of the characters and little else from the works of Dumas. Like many Italian films of the early 1960s, this swashbuckler stars an American actor, George Nader, in hopes of broadening its market. Nader plays D'Artagnan along more mature lines than most actors; he's even something of a ladies' man, a fact which very nearly gets him killed on several occasions. Confounding D'Artagnan's efforts to work on behalf of Louis XIII is Magali Noel as a buxom Milady De Winter. The Secret Mark of D'Artagnan became an American TV standard in the late 1960s thanks to its sumptuous color photography. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
In this action drama, set during the Algerian War, 1961, a Foreign Legion captain must stage a daring raid to kidnap a rebel leader. They are successful, but then the helicopter that was to pick them up is shot down. The men are forced to do an overland trek with their prisoner. Many of them do not make it across the burning desert. Those that do are shocked to learn that in their absence the political situation changed. The leader they kidnapped is now a crucial figure in helping to get the French to leave Algiers. The captain is so angry, that he thinks about killing the leader, but then cools off. He thinks of all the suffering and death his troop endured to bring the leader to safety. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Future film superstar James Coburn appears as slimy entrepreneur Donald Fletcher, who purchases a highly respected publishing house and converts its output to slezy tabloids and nudie magazines. Unable to legally prevent Fletcher from inflicting further damage, editor Edmond Aitken (Philip Abbott), whose family once owned the publishing firm, may be driven to desperation. Ultimately, Fletcher is murdered--but it is Aitken's wife Alyce (Sara Shane), rather than her husband, who is charged with the crime because she was being blackmailed by Fletcher with nude photos taken during her modelling career. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) prepares to clear Alyce and ferret out the genuine culprit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Tom Wyatt (John Hudson) might have become rich by inventing a cure for a rare fish disease called gilled fever, but for the fact that his boss Jackson Hurley (Murvyn Vye) took credit for the invention. Thus, when Hurley is murdered, Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins) charges Wyatt with the crime. In his efforts to prove Wyatt's innocence, Perry (Raymond Burr) has a fascinating interview with the dead man's curvaceous secretary. Featured in the cast are such Hollywood favorites as Cecil Kellaway and May Wynn, the latter best known for playing a character named May Wynn (!) in The Caine Mutiny (1954). This episode is adapted from The Case of the Gold Digger's Purse, a novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Theatrical "angel" (and former gangster!) Frank Brooks (Stacy Harris) is charged with the murder of playwright Ernest Royce (Jerome Cowan), who has been killed in the same manner as the main character in one of his unproduced plays. It turns out that Royce has based his play on the real-life murder of underworld figure Rick Valponi back in 1947. In order to clear Brooks in court, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) must locate the "lost last act" of Royce's play, which may not only solve the present crime but also the one that occurred 22 years earlier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Singer Frankie Laine makes a rare acting appearance in this episode, which includes a truly offbeat characterizaton by musician-composer Bobby Troup). Laine is cast as comedian Danny Ross, whose long-awaited TV comeback is sabotaged by his duplicitous agent Charles Goff (Harry Jackson). Danny contemplates suicide, but is talked out of it by his longtime pal Freddie Green (Walter Burke). When Green is charged with Goff's murder, Danny asks Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) to defend his buddy, obliging the detective to take a crash course in "hip" jazz lingo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Perry (Raymond Burr) is startled late one evening to find a beautiful young woman (Joan Tabor) climbing into his office window. She identifies herself as Virginia Colfax, the secretary of Ed Garvin, and insists that she was escaping from Garvin's jealous wife. Investigating, Perry finds that Mr. Garvin actually has two wives, one of whom (K.T. Stevens) is subsequently murdered--and that Virginia Colfax isn't Virginia Colfax after all. Featured in the cast is Thomas B. Henry, who had been Raymond Burr's acting teacher at the Pasadena Playhouse. This episode is based on a 1949 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Wealthy widow Matilda Benson (Kathryn Givney) rules over her children like a dowager empress, threatening to cut them out of her will for the slightest infraction. Even so, the children can't help but get involved with crooked gambler Danny Barker (Robert Strauss), who ends up murdered after threatening to bring scandal upon the Benson family. It is Sylvia Benson (Patricia Cutts) whom the police arrest for the crime, and it is Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) who rushes to Sylvia's defense. This episode is based on a 1937 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner, which was previously adapted as the 1940 theatrical film Granny Get Your Gun--with Perry Mason written out of the story! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
The business partnership of Harry Bright (R.G. Armstrong) and Chuck Clark (William H. Wright)--and their lifelong friendship--comes to an abrupt end when Chuck marries the much-younger Margaret Roper (Nan Leslie). Harry regards Margaret as nothing but a cheap gold-digger, and is not too careful about telling everyone what he thinks of her. As a result, Harry is arrested when Margaret turns up murdered. Taking Harry's case, Perry (Raymond Burr) soon finds that there are quite a few people who like to have seen Margaret dead. Stafford Repp, aka "Chief O'Hara" on the 1960s version of Batman, appears in a small role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Though released by 20th Century-Fox, Mohawk was produced independently by Edward L. Alperson, who also doubled as the film's musical composer. Scott Brady stars as an 18th century Boston artist, sent to Mohawk Valley to paint landscapes and portraits of Native Americans. Brady is forced to pack up his easel when he becomes embroiled in a war between the Indians and avaricious land baron John Hoyt. The villain intends to play both ends against the middle, then claim what's left when the Mohawks and settlers wipe each other out. Brady not only defies Hoyt, but also battles near-psychotic Mohawk warrior Neville Brand. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Brady, Rita Gam, (more)
Another winning collaboration between producer Benedict Bogeaus and director Allan Dwan, Tennessee's Partner is the third film version of the same-named Bret Harte story. The plotline is motivated by the curious friendship between slick gambler Tennessee (John Payne) and gunslinging Cowpoke (Ronald Reagan). Setting up shop in California gold-rush town, Tennessee spends most of his time getting Cowpoke out of trouble--specifically female trouble. The two friends fall out when Tennessee tries to prevent Cowpoke from falling for bewitching gold-digger Goldie (Colleen Gray), but Cowpoke proves to be true-blue when Tennessee is framed on a false murder rap. Rhonda Fleming costars as The Duchess, proprietress of the gambling establishment where Tennessee makes his headquarters. The film's best moment belongs to Colleen Gray, as she deftly switches allegiance from one man to another at fadeout time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Payne, Ronald Reagan, (more)
- 1954
Errol Flynn's immediate followup to his 1953 swashbuckler Master of Ballantrae was Il Maestro di Don Giovanni--or, as it was known in America, Crossed Swords. Flynn plays a Don Juan-like adventurer named Renzo, who fights and romances his way through all sorts of Italian court intrigue. His principal foe is the wicked coucillor (Roldano Lupi) of the Duke of Sivona (Piero Tordi), who intends to oust the Duke and claim Sivona for himself. In between the usual sword duels, Renzo dallies with the Duke's buxom daughter (Gina Lollobrigida). Crossed Swords failed to make a dent in the US, a fact that Errol Flynn would attribute to United Artists' lack of interest in promoting the property. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Errol Flynn, Gina Lollobrigida, (more)
- 1952
- NR
This Korean War drama is essentially a vehicle for RKO's top male star Robert Mitchum. He plays war-weary "Colonel Steve," obliged to contend with the North Korean forces while keeping troublesome UN official Linda Day (Ann Blyth) at arm's length. Some authentic Korean combat footage is well-integrated into the story. For all its talk about jet planes, Reds and atomic energy, the film is at base a redressed WW II drama. Good supporting performances are provided Charles McGraw as a tough sergeant and William Talman as a jet pilot. Reportedly budgeted at over two million dollars, One Minute to Zero had trouble making back its cost, despite the box-office pull of Robert Mitchum. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Mitchum, Ann Blyth, (more)
Filmed entirely on location in Italy, Prince of Foxes is an adaptation of Samuel Shellabarger's popular novel. Set during the Renaissance, the film stars Tyrone Power as Orsini, a good-will ambassador for scheming, covetous Cesare Borgia (Orson Welles). Orsini is aware that he is being used to expand Borgia's political influence, but he does his best to serve his master. But when he visits a mountain province ruled by the kindly Duke Varano (Felix Aylmer), Orsini comes to realize that there is more to life than power and possessions. Turning against the Borgias, Orsini is subjected to torture and humiliation, but he escapes to spearhead a revolt against the despotic family. Power is quite good, but he can't help but be overshadowed by such scenery-chewers as Orson Welles, Katina Paxinou (as Orsini's mother) and Everett Sloane (as the toadying Belli). Wanda Hendrix is pretty but forgettable as Varano's young bride, who of course falls in love with the dashing Orsini. Because of contractual and budgetary restrictions, Prince of Foxes had to be filmed in black-and-white, which is a shame; if ever a film cried out for Technicolor, it is this one (20th Century-Fox soon rectified this artistic gaffe with its full-color, location-filmed The Black Rose [1950], which also starred Tyrone Power and Orson Welles). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tyrone Power, Orson Welles, (more)
- 1948
Another of 20th Century-Fox's "drawn from today's headlines" dramas of the late 1940s, Behind the Iron Curtain (a.k.a. The Iron Curtain) is based on the true-life defection of Soviet Embassy code specialist Igor Gouzenko. Portrayed by Dana Andrews, Gouzenko is brought to Canada under a cloud of secrecy by Russian "special agents", the better to help them in their espionage efforts. Despite the fact that he is far from Russia, Gouzenko is hounded by his suspicious superiors and denied the simplest basic rights. When Gouzenko realizes that his government will soon call him back to Russia to engage in the "class struggle," the code clerk decides to defect, stealing secret information and turning it over to the Canadian Ministry of Justice. At first, Gouzenko is ignored, but when his information is digested by the Canadian government, the authorities round up the Communist spy ring. Gouzenko and his family are put in protective custody by the Canadian government, while several of Gouzenko's Russian superiors are punished by the Communist higher-ups for allowing the clerk to slip through their hands. Filmed in a semi-documentary style, Behind the Iron Curtain is more matter-of-fact and less paranoic than other "Red scare" films of the period. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dana Andrews, Leslie Barrie, (more)
- 1940
As part of his new contract with Warner Bros., Edward G. Robinson agreed to appear in the gangster comedy Brother Orchid on the condition that the studio permit him to play the leading role in the lavish biopic A Dispatch from Reuters. Robinson is cast as Baron Paul Julius Reiter, who in 1833 inaugurates a "pigeon post" messenger service which is soon rendered obsolete by the invention of the telegraph. Eventually adapting to the new communications process, Reuters is able to extends his links to the major capitals of Europe, achieving success by scooping his competition with a transcription of a speech by Louis Napoleon. By 1858, Reuters has expanded his operation to the English-speaking countries, seriously over-extending himself financially. Ultimately, Reuters is rescued from bankruptcy in 1865 when he broadcasts on a worldwide basis the news of President Lincoln's assassination-even before the American ambassador in England has been informed of the tragedy. Throughout the highs and lows of his career, Reuters is encouraged by his loyal and loving wife Ida (Edna Best), who continually reminds him that he is a communicator and not a grandstander. Though not as entertaining and satisfying as Robinson's previous biographical film Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet, A Dispatch from Reuters' benefits immeasurably from the almost terrifying expertise of the Warners production staff and its stellar supporting cast (Eddie Albert, Gene Lockhart, Nigel Bruce, Otto Kruger et. al.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward G. Robinson, Edna Best, (more)
- 1940
The notoriously temperamental Miriam Hopkins is ideally cast as equally contentious theatrical prima donna Mrs. Leslie Carter in The Lady With Red Hair. As rapidly paced as any Warner Bros. gangster picture, the film charts Caroline Carter's rise to fame on Broadway through the auspices of impresario David Belasco (Claude Rains). The screenwriters take great pains to cast Carter in a sympathetic light, suggesting that she turned to the lucrative world of the theater to regain custody of her son (Johnnie Russell), won by her husband in their acrimonious 1889 divorce settlement. Though at first she meets with nothing but failure, our heroine perseveres, and by 1904 she is the idol of millions throughout the world. Along the way, she marries visionary producer Lou Payne (Richard Ainley), but by film's end she is reunited with her mentor Belasco. A young Cornel Wilde makes his screen debut as an aspiring actor in a boarding-house sequence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Miriam Hopkins, Claude Rains, (more)
- 1939
A violin-playing British doctor's life changes forever after he takes in a distraught Austrian ballerina who tries to kill herself after breaking her wrist. He hires the sad girl as a nanny for his bright son, whom he wants to keep away from his neurotic, overbearing wife. The trouble starts when the doctor and the nanny become genuinely attracted to each other. The wife learns of the nanny's former career and suicide attempt and orders her fired. This causes the doctor to take action on behalf of his son. This in turn causes a downward spiral into tragedy involving an accidental death. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Muni, Jane Bryan, (more)
- 1939
Bold for its time (just prior to World War II), Confessions of a Nazi Spy is an expose of a genuine Nazi espionage ring operating in the United States. Dedicated National Socialist Paul Lukas arrives in America to conduct Bund rallies and enlist German-Americans in the service of Hitler. His rabble-rousing speeches inspire a blue collar worker (Francis Lederer) to join a Bund, and then participate in spy activities. FBI agent Edward G. Robinson is assigned to investigate. Extracting a confession from the not-too-bright Lederer, Robinson traces the espionage activities to Lukas. The Nazi official's notoriety and his undesirability as a security risk compels the German secret police to kidnap Lukas and spirit him back to the Fatherland, presumably to face liquidation. The spy ring is rounded up, but Robinson realizes that this is only the beginning. Confessions of a Nazi Spy may seem dated today, but in 1939 it packed a real wallop, especially since most filmmakers of that era chose to ignore the Nazis lest they lose the valuable European market. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward G. Robinson, Francis Lederer, (more)
- 1938
The 1938 filmization of Myron Brinig's novel The Sisters stars Bette Davis, Jane Bryan and Anita Louise as Louise, Grace and Helen Elliot. The daughters of turn-of-the-century druggist Henry Travers and his wife Beulah Bondi, the Elliot girls all meet their future husbands at a 1904 ball in honor of President Teddy Roosevelt. Special emphasis is given the relationship between Louise and reckless, irresponsible newspaperman Frank Medlin (Errol Flynn). Feeling trapped by his marriage, Medlin turns to drink and philandering. When Frank eventually runs off to Singapore, Louise is too proud to hold her husband by informing him that she's pregnant. Caught up in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake (superbly conveyed with a single interior shot of a collapsing apartment), Louise wanders around dazedly until she finds shelter in an Oakland brothel (though it is not so specified). She loses her baby, but is consoled by her employer Ian Hunter, who falls in love with her. The original book ended with Louise giving up her unhappy marriage for a joyous relationship with her boss; the film ends with Louise being reunited with the suddenly sobered Frank (despite the protests of both Bette Davis and Errol Flynn). A prime example of Hollywood Soap Opera, The Sisters also yielded an amusing reel of outtakes, the best of which shows Bette Davis breaking up Errol Flynn by sighing "I've just had a baby in the ladies' room." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Errol Flynn, Bette Davis, (more)
