King Calder Movies

Stranded in the remote mountain town of Peaceful Valley, reporter Philip Redfield looks on in amazement as a dog and cat seemingly vanish into thin air. Apparently, Peaceful Valley houses some sort of deep dark secret -- which has naturally aroused Redfield's journalistic instincts. He may, however, have trouble filing his story -- the locals have made certain that he is unable to leave town, now or ever. This hour-long Twilight Zone installment also features future Star Trek regular James Doohan and child actress Susanne Cupito, who went on to adult prominence as Morgan Brittany. Written by Charles Beaumont, "Valley of the Shadow" first aired January 17, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The coroner rules that the wife of advertising executive Andrew Anderson (David Wayne) died in an accidental fall. But after receiving an anonymous letter, police detective Sgt. Cresse (William Conrad) becomes convinced that Anderson murdered his wife. Arranging an elaborate hoax, the relentless Cresse hopes to trap Anderson into breaking down and confessing -- but things don't quite work out that way. This episode was scripted by Richard Matheson, here billed pseudonymously as Logan Swanson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Desperate for attention, high-school student Susan Harper (Susan Harrison) fakes being attacked by a "masked man." Just as Susan hoped, the newspapers have a field day with Susan's story, but eventually they move on to other issues. But by this time, Susan has no intention of ever relinquishing the spotlight -- in fact, she will literally kill to keep her picture in the papers. (Incidentally, longtime Alfred Hitchcock fans will enjoy the "inside joke" pertaining to the name of Susan's school.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A young Robert Redford headlines this episode as burglar Charlie Pugh, who after a shoot-out with the cops is himself wounded. In excruciating pain, Charlie visits a doctor (Gage Clarke), who fills out a prescription for pain killers. Upon learning that he has killed a cop in the shoot-out, Charlie begins to worry that both the doctor and the pharmacist (Russell Collins) who fills the prescription will report him to the authorities. Charlie's anxiety leads to two more deaths -- but only one of them is the result of violence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mayor Henderson (Arthur Franz) is up for an appointment to the state crime commission, but he is danger of being sabotaged by his overambitious wife Mona (Patricia Huston), who has been purloining city plans and passing them along to crooked real estate agent Tom Stratton (Edward Platt). Now Stratton is blackmailing Mona, hoping to enrich himself at Henderson's expense. When Mona is murdered, however, Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins) bypasses both Henderson and Stratton and arrests Susan Connolly (played by future Oscar winner Louise Fletcher) for the crime. Thank heaven that Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is on hand to expose the real killer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The past and present collide with poignant results in this handsomely mounted Twilight Zone episode. Brian Aherne stars as aging Broadway matinee idol Booth Templeton, who is unable to give his full attention to his latest play because of his obsession with the past in general and his late wife Laura (Pippa Scott) in particular. Miraculously, Templeton is transported back to the 1920s for a reunion with his beloved Laura, which proves to be an eye-opener in more ways than one. Future film director Sydney Pollack is cast here as an abrasive stage director named Willis, a character whom scriptwriter E. Jack Neuman and director Buzz Kulik patterned after pioneer live-TV producer Fred Coe. "The Trouble with Templeton" was first telecast on December 9, 1960. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lumber tycoon Bill Fleming (Paul Douglas) knows that his wife, Laura (Dody Heath), is unfaithful, but he draws the line at killing Laura's love, Philip Baxter (Hugh Marlowe). However, Fleming changes his mind when a young acquaintance named Sandy (Robert Morse) cites an archaic but still viable law, which declares that Fleming cannot be prosecuted if he kills his rival in a duel. What Sandy doesn't tell Fleming is that this law has its own peculiar conditions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The third-season opener for Have Gun, Will Travel finds Paladin (Richard Boone) among several sinister-looking patrons of a remote frontier inn. Accosted by the father of an outlaw who he helped condemn to death, Paladin is told that he himself will soon be killed by a paid assassin. But which of the inn's guest is the hired killer? Finally narrowing down the candidates to four men, Paladin must take care not to kill the wrong person--and of course, to avoid being gunned down before he is able to identify his real enemy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The only reason for the existence of the colorful musical 3DMardi Gras3D is the star power of Pat Boone. The plot is set in motion when a group of Virginia Military Institute cadets organize a raffle: the "prize" is French movie star Michelle Marton (Christine Carere), queen of the New Orleans Mardi Gras. On his own, cadet Pat Newell (Pat Boone) meets and falls in love with Michelle, not knowing her true identity. The cause of True Romance is nearly compromised by the raffle and by Hollywood publicity hacks, but by film's end everything works out fine. The film is deftly stolen by supporting actress Sheree North, who also performs the film's best musical number, "That Man." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This episode is clearly inspired by the famous "Bridey Murphy" affair of the mid-'50s. During a party, Lucy Pryor (Phyllis Thaxter) allows herself to be hypnotized by Professor Miles Farham (Tom Helmore). While in a trance, she regresses to the year 1853 and assumes the personality of a Quaker woman named Dora Evans -- and then, just as Dora Evans had done over 100 years earlier, Lucy promptly murders her husband. During her subsequent trial, Lucy undergoes hypnosis a second time to prove that she had had no control over herself when committing the murder...and the results are astonishing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this suspenseful detective yarn, an insurance investigator finds himself unbearably bored by his routine life and decides to become a criminal. Following the robbery he engineers, he begins to investigate the theft himself. Unfortunately, he is trailed by a determined railroad cop, a dear friend who remains professional despite the mixed emotions he feels. The film is the feature debut of TV actor Jack Klugman. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

After The Rains Came (1939), this epic romantic melodrama was the second version of author Louis Bromfield's novel to get the deluxe, big-budget treatment from Twentieth Century Fox. Lana Turner stars as Lady Edwina Esketh, the spoiled and hedonistic wife of Lord Esketh (Michael Rennie), a British royal. Intending to purchase some horses, the Eskeths accept an invitation to the Indian city of Ranchipur by the Maharani (Eugene Leontovich). Once there, Edwina meets and unsuccessfully attempts to seduce Dr. Safti (Richard Burton), a handsome Hindu doctor and the Maharani's chosen heir. While in Ranchipur, Edwina also runs into an old acquaintance, Tom Ransome (Fred MacMurray), now the town drunk. As Edwina begins to realize that she's feeling real love for Safti, the doctor succumbs to her charms and a torrid affair begins, as a series of earthquakes and a devastating flood strike Ranchipur. The Rains of Ranchipur (1955) was Oscar nominated for Best Visual Effects. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide