Don Medford Movies

One of the most famous of the pre-East of Eden TV appearances by the immortal James Dean, this 30-minute adaptation of Sherwood Anderson's short story "I'm a Fool" originally aired live as the November 14, 1954 episode of the CBS anthology General Electric Theater. Narrated by Eddie Albert, this is an extended flashback, wherein a young country boy (Dean), working in a menial job in a middle-sized midwestern town, falls in love with that town's prettiest gal, Lucy (Natalie Wood). Aware that Lucy is already being courted by the wealthier youths in the vicinity, the boy tries to impress the girl by pretending to be something he's not. Only when it is too late does he realize that he would have been far, far better off simply being "himself" (it gives away nothing to reveal that Eddie Albert and James Dean essentially play the same character). Worth noting is the play's impressionistic staging, using fragmentary sets and minimal props, and the remarkable chemistry between James Dean and Natalie Wood, even before they were paired in Rebel without a Cause. On November 18, 1956, nearly a year after Dean's untimely death, a kinescope of "I'm a Fool" was rebroadcast on General Electric Theatre by popular request (at least according to host Ronald Reagan); it is this rerun version that is currently available on home video. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In a fleabitten Western town, gunslingers Dell Delaney (Gene Barry) and Red Hillman (Darren McGavin) challenge each other to a shootout. Local cook Maggie Flynn (Ellen Corby) does everything she can to talk the two cowpokes out of their challenge, but they are determined to slap leather the moment a clock on Maggie's mantle strikes the hour. Clearly, what Maggie needs to prevent bloodshed is something spectacular -- for example, a "Sign from God." And that is precisely what Maggie gets. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Written by Rod Serling, this episode represented the joint Twilight Zone debut of actor Jack Klugman (who went on to star in three additional episodes) and director Don Medford. Klugman stars as trumpet player Joey Crown, who, regarding his life as empty and futile, tries to kill himself. Instead, he is briefly hurtled into Limbo, where he learns a number of valuable lessons from a mysterious musician named Gabe (played by Twilight Zone "regular" John Anderson). Originally telecast May 20, 1960, "A Passage for Trumpet" was the first of four Twilight Zone episodes introduced by the "big-eye" opening logo. Also: watch for a brief "inside joke" when Joey Crown passes by a construction company named for series producer Buck Houghton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After stealing a million dollars from the burning ocean liner "Morro Castle", Cuban thief Valentine Ferrar is pursued by by both Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) and underworld "judge" Foley (Richard Devon). Seeking a means of escape without detective, Ferrar answers a classified ad from widow Lucy Wagnall (Joan Blondell), who is seeking a driver for her annual cross-country trip to celebrate her wedding anniversary. Things take a macabre, Hitchcock-like turn when Mrs. Wagnall reveals that she has plans of her own for the unwitting Ferrar--leading to a fateful rendezvous between the duplicitous widow and the sinister Foley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Making a rare TV appearance after falling victim to the 1950s Hollywood Blacklist, Larry Parks guest stars as minor hoodlum George "Blackie" Dallas, a character obviously inspired by real-life outlaw "Machine Gun" Kelly. Egged on by his ambitious wife Lily (Norma Crane), Dallas kidnaps millionaire Thomas Randall (Dabbs Greer) and holds him for ransom. Though he is unable to save Randall's life, Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) still holds out hope that he can bring Blackie and Lily to justice--and to do this, he exploits the couple's personal problems with their young daughter Arlene (Judy Strangis). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This sledgehammer attack on Cuban dictator Fidel Castro stars Peter Falk as bearded banana-republic revolutionary Ramos Clemente. Upon taking control of the government, Clemente summons forth the man he has deposed, General DeCruz (Will Kuluva). Gloating, Clemente asks DeCruz if he has anything to say before he is executed. With a sly smile, DeCruz directs Clemente's attention to a huge mirror in the presidential palace, informing Clemente that the mirror will reveal the faces of those who will ultimately destroy him. He's right, of course, and any viewer who can't see the ending coming a mile away deserves to be drummed out of the living room in disgrace. Written by Rod Serling, "The Mirror" was originally telecast October 26, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

First telecast September 22, 1964, as the opening episode of The Man From U.N.C.L.E., "The Vulcan Affair" is actually the heavily retooled pilot episode for Solo, the series' working title. Hoping to foil an assassination plot against African leader Ashumen (William Marshall), UNCLE agent Napoleon Solo targets the supposed brains behind the scheme, an international industrialist named Andrew Vulcan (Fritz Weaver), head of a cartel in cahoots with sinister counterespionage organization THRUSH. Solo enlists the aid of Vulcan's former girlfriend, a "typical" American housewife named Elaine May Donaldson (Patricia Crowley). It turns out that the assassination scheme is a lot more complex than originally assumed -- and that the real target may not be Ashumen at all. Also in the cast is Ivan Dixon as the black leader's trusted aide Soumarin. Written by series producer Sam Rolfe, "The Vulcan Affair" was filmed in color, but telecast in black-and-white to conform with the rest of the Man From U.N.C.L.E. installments produced for the series' first season. In 1966, this episode was released theatrically by MGM as To Trap a Spy, its 60-minute running time expanded to 92 minutes with footage from another episode, "The Four Steps Affair." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Telly Savalas makes a return guest appearance to The Fugitive, this time in the role of Victor Leonetti. Having always held Dr. Richard Kimble (David Janssen) responsible for the death of his child, Leonetti takes vindictive delight in recognizing the fugitive Kimble posing as hospital orderly "Harry Reynolds." When Kimble is wounded in a shootout and placed in the hospital emergency ward, Leonetti is certain that at last he has his old "enemy" just where he wants him...until... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This film is essentially the original pilot for the popular 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. It was expanded to 92 minutes and shot in color for theatrical release. Robert Vaughn plays the master spy and adept action hero Napoleon Solo. He works for a shadowy supra-governmental enforcement agency called U.N.C.L.E. His partner is the suave Russian secret agent Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum). In this pilot, a sinister organization called W.A.S.P. assassinates the president of an African republic and his assistants. Solo is enlisted to stop W.A.S.P.'s plans to take over the country and turn it into a dictatorship. The plot and action proceed at lightning speed against the backdrop of a brewing Cold War superpower confrontation. Through a series of mishaps, a housewife, Elaine May Donaldson (Pat Crowley) is dragged into the fight and helps Solo thwart the coup attempt. Also released as a film in 1966 was another expanded episode from the TV series, The Spy with My Face. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

Receiving a tip from a reliable source in St. Louis, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) dispatches his agents to arrest Harry Castle (John Milford) for passing over $500,000 in forged checks. Before long, however, Erskine begins to suspect that Castle is innocent--even though the tip was provided by an old friend of the Inspector. Meanwhile, the relationship between Erskine and his girlfriend Joanna (Lee Meriwether) reaches another impasse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When a wealthy man is found shot to death on a luxury liner, the ship's captain places Roger York (Skip Young), the victim's millionaire stepson, under arrest. But despite his suspicious behavior, is York the guilty party--and indeed, has a murder actually been committed? Investigating the case, FBI agent Rhodes (Stephen Brooks) must also confront a few of his own personal demons. Douglas Henderson appears in this episode as Special Agent Bryan Durant, a role later taken over on a recurring basis by Dean Harens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The FBI swoops down when saboteur Maury Maddock (Mark Richman) attempts to blow up a Government warehouse full of supplies headed for Vietnam. Complicating the Feds' efforts is the curious behavior of Maury's fiercely loyal Japanese-born wife Akiko (Miiko Taka), who is totally unaware of her husband's criminal activities. Jason Evers appears as Special Agent Allen Bennett, a role later played on a recurring basis by Lew Brown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Using the alias Stephen Fitzgerald, con artist Andrew Cook (James Daly) has married the widow of a bank owner, embezzled the bank funds, and murdered his wife--a pattern he has followed for years in several other cities. Now the homicidal Cook has targeted wealthy Amy Hunter (Margaret Leighton) as his next victim, with both Amy's life and a million-dollar "prize" at stake. Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) must figure out the reason behind Fitzgerald's modus operandi in order to stop him before he can steal--and kill--again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide