R. G. Springsteen Movies

In this routine western, Captain Tom York (Howard Keel) tries to warn the residents of Deadwood of an impending Sioux Indian attack in the wake of the Custer massacre. The people mistake him for a deserter and pay no heed to Tom's warning. Local gunfighter Ep Wyatt (Scott Brady) convinces the locals that York should be taken seriously and combines forces with the Captain. The two fortify the town with a pair of Gatling guns that are later transported to help defend the cavalry under attack from Sioux warriors. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Johnny Reno (Dana Andrews) is a US Marshall who is bushwhacked by outlaws on his way to Stone Junction, Kansas. Joe Connors (Tom Drake) and his brother Ab (Dale Van Sickle) mistakenly believe the lawman is after them and fire on Reno, and Reno captures Joe after Ab is killed in the gun battle. The two face an angry mob in a town where local Sheriff Hodges (Lon Chaney, Jr.) is in cahoots with the corrupt Mayor Jess Yates (Lyle Bettger). Although Reno believes Joe may have killed an innocent Indian, he must protect the prisoner from the growing mob that threatens to lynch the man before his trial. Jane Russell plays Johnny's sweetheart Nona, owner of the local saloon. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

In this western, a gunfighter is hired to clean up the chaotic streets of Emporia, Wyoming. The gunfighter arrives and finds that his ex-lover is there and is married to the town preacher. Though the two are still attracted, they resist temptation. When he sees how violent the town really is, the gunman sends for help. As soon as his friend gets there, the two begin cleaning up the town. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Hoss Cartwright befriends philosophical drifter Will Smith (Lonny Chapman), a brilliant poet but a chronic alcoholic. Characteristically, Hoss tries to reform Will-only to discover that his new friend is not the rootless vagabond everyone thinks he is. Jorja Curtwright is cast as the obligatory "woman from the past," Lydia Evans (note that last name-it's an important plot point). Written by Donn Mullaly, "The Genius" was originally telecast on April 3, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

R.G. Armstrong guest-stars as Colonel Keith Jarell, Ben Cartwright's old comrade in arms. Arriving at the Ponderosa, Jarrell asks Ben to join him in his efforts to secure a lasting peace with the Paiute Indians. But the General is hiding his true agenda-one involving that deadly new weapon of destruction, the Gatling Gun. Written by William Douglas Lansford and S. S. Schweitzer, "The Last Mission" made its network TV bow on May 8, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Former My Three Sons regular Tim Considine guest-stars as Billy Penn, son of a family of humble pig farmers. Hoping to escape his humdrum life and his stern father Hank (Royal Dano), Billy impulsively joins a gang of rustlers. When Billy is caught stealing from the Cartwrights, Hoss decides to straighten the boy out-and to patch up the relationship between Billy and Hank. Written by Wally Geor, "The Reluctant Rebel" first aired on November 21, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Audie Murphy continued to make 1950s-style westerns into the 1960s. In Bullet for a Badman, Logan Keliher (Murphy) is framed for murder by onetime friend Sam Ward (Darren McGavin). Keliher escapes to mete out justice and to reclaim his former wife (Ruta Lee), whom Ward has married. The escapee gradually comes to realize that the true villain of the piece is not his ex-friend but instead his ex-wife. A Bullet for a Badman was shipped out to the lower halves of Universal's drive-in double bills for the 1963-64 season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this western adventure set in a Mexican border town, two prisoners Foster and Pickett (Audie Murphy and Charles Drake), who are chained to a stake, somehow escape with other prisoners. They are led by cruel outlaw Lavalle (Harold J. Stone) who steals $12,000 in securities. Later the two fugitives try to steal the securities from the gang-leader. Unfortunately, they are caught by Lavalle. He holds Foster hostage and sends Pickett to town to cash the securities. The fugitive gives the resulting loot to his ex-girlfriend Estelle (Kathleen Crowley), and returns with nothing. The enraged Lavalle then lets Foster go to get the money. He meets the newly wealthy dance-hall girl who explains that Pickett gave her the money to make up for his losing her life savings gambling. She then grudgingly hands Foster the money. But as he returns to the outlaw lair, he is unaware that Estelle pursues him. Unfortunately, Lavalle sees her, and in the ensuing scuffle Pickett dies trying to protect Foster and the girl. Later the two flee with the angry Lavalle in hot pursuit. In the end, fugitive Foster kills the gang leader. He and Estelle then settle down and lead a peaceful life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Released about five weeks before the Adolf Eichmann trial began in Jerusalem on April 11, 1961, this docudrama by director R.G. Springsteen was quickly dashed together to take advantage of the trial, and it shows. Overplaying Eichmann's venality and lacking any depth in characterization, the story unfolds in several large segments. Eichmann (played by Werner Klemperer), as head of Dept. IV, B4 or "Jewish affairs/evacuation affairs, personally ordered, or watched, or supervised the extermination of Jews in Germany and the nations under its occupying forces. These years are shown in the first part of the film; the second half deals with Eichmann's escape from an American POW camp, his four years under cover in Germany, aided by an association of Nazi SS members (ODESSA), his escape in 1950 to Argentina through Italy, and his capture on May 11, 1960. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

This routine and somewhat trite war movie develops slowly until a group of five nurses are captured by North Korean troops and quite clearly need to be rescued. At the head of the rescue task force is Lt. Frank Davis (Scott Brady). Frank has a special interest in freeing the women because one of them, Mary (Elaine Edwards) is more than just a pretty face in a uniform. Even though she is engaged to a Navy surgeon she is falling in love with the young lieutenant, and vice-versa. In the meantime, there is the little matter of the rescue itself. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Wanted: Dead or Alive was a western television series that first established Steve McQueen as a star. McQueen played Josh Randall, a bounty hunter who searched America for outlaws. In "Reunion for Revenge," Randall has to protect a man in his custody from two criminals seeking revenge. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Revolt in the Big House stars Gene Evans as a prison "lifer" who rules the roost in his particular cell block. With the help of such loose cannons as prison psycho Timothy Carey, Evans engineers a jailbreak. As the cons and the cops sweat through a standoff, it becomes clear that Evans doesn't care how many of his fellow prisoners die so long as he busts out. Conscience-stricken inmate Robert Blake saves his cell mates from the consequences of Evans' recklessness. Revolt in the Big House is excessive violent at times, but never so much as to become "Revolting in the Big House". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide