Aneta Corsaut Movies

After a tense, bloody beginning, The Toolbox Murders takes a turn first into TV movie-style suspense and then stumbles towards an incredibly silly conclusion. Despite a sensational reputation amongst splatter fans (including Stephen King, who provides a promotional blurb for the video release's packaging) the only gore occurs within the first 30 minutes, as a ski-masked maniac cuts a bloody swath through an apartment complex. Four attractive young women are dispatched in harrowing style with a variety of power tools, indicating a killer taking extreme sadistic pleasure in his work. It's no surprise when the apartment owner (Cameron Mitchell) is revealed to be the monster, but his claims of putting the "dirty" women out of their misery quickly doesn't jive with what's been presented earlier. He murders in order to avenge the unrelated car accident death of his only daughter, and to this end, kidnaps a virginal 15- year-old girl to replace her. Unfortunately, his nephew is also fixated on the dead girl, and has his own obsessions. Director Dennis Donnelly did most of his work in TV, thus the preponderance of familiar television faces on display: his brother Timothy Donnelly from Emergency!, Wesley Eure from Saturday morning's Land of the Lost, and Pamelyn Ferdin, a '70s sitcom perennial with many guest shots including The Brady Bunch and The Odd Couple. The incongruity of these appearances, along with the clumsily expressed psychosis of the villains, destroys any sense of dread created at the outset of The Toolbox Murders, and as a result, the only enjoyment that can be obtained from the film is ultimately derisive. ~ Fred Beldin, Rovi

In the conclusion of Adam-12's two-part series finale, Officer Jim Reed has earned the Medal of Valor for putting his life on the line. Worried that Jim's luck is running out, his wife Jean (Kristin Nelson) urges him to give up his prowl-car duties and take the investigator's exam, which would assure him permanent desk duty. Meanwhile, Officer Pete Malloy (Martin Milner), slowly recovering from a serious wound, is none too happy with the prospect of losing his longtime partner Reed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Squad 51 guys enter a contest for the best new firefighting invention. This new diversion, however, does not cause them to neglect their workload, which this week includes an obese homehowner stuck in his own ceiling, a comatose man suffering from an inexplicable ailment, and a case of radiation poisoning which threatens to spread throughout the city. This final episode of Emergency!'s third season was directed by series regular Kevin Tighe (Roy Desoto). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

"Bad" Ronald (Scott Jacoby) has been in hiding in a secret room ever since going off the deep end and killing a teenaged girl who'd made fun of him. Ronald's mother (Kim Hunter) helps her son to remain hidden, even when the house in which he is sequestered is rented by a family. As luck would have it, three of the family members are nubile young girls--perfect targets for the lonely, and looney, Ronald. In the original John Holbrook Vance novel on which this TV-movie is based, Ronald abducts, repeatedly rapes and ultimately kills two women. The video version of Bad Ronald is heavily laundered, but no less terrifying. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Incredible but true: While attending college, Mayberry schoolteacher Helen Crump was arraigned on a felony charge! Andy tries to cover up this skeleton in the closet, but since it was he who dug up the story in the first place, he manages only to make things worse. To save her job, Helen has to tell all to the school board-and her explanation makes a lot more sense than anyone would have previously suspected. Written by Doug Tibbles, "Helen's Past" first aired on February 19, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Originally telecast March 11, 1968, this episode served to introduce future Mayberry RFD star Ken Berry in the role of widowed farmer Sam Jones (in fact, it was Berry's second appearance on The Andy Griffith Show, but the first to be shown). When town councilman Herb Bradshaw retires, Sam and Emmett Clark both run for Bradshaw's vacant seat. Old Emmett is a tough and not altogether scrupulous campaigner, but Sam has the advantage of youth and sincerity-and more importantly, he has Andy in his corner. Former musical-comedy star Gil Lamb appears as Lou. "Sam for Town Council" was written by Dick Bensfield and Perry Grant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

As indicated by its title, this episode of The Andy Griffith Show served as the pilot for the spinoff series Mayberry RFD. Ken Berry makes his first appearance as widowed Mayberry farmer Sam Jones (though the episode was shown out of production order, making it Berry's third appearance). When his old friend, Italian laborer Mario (Gabrielle Tinti), shows up in town, Sam generously hires Mario as a handyman-little realizing that the enterprising foreigner has brought his entire family along. Written by Bob Ross, "Mayberry RFD" was originally telecast on April 1, 1968, as the final first-run installment of The Andy Griffith Show. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The three-person Mayberry Church Finance Committee wonders how best to spend an unexpected $500 endowment. It all boils down to a decision whether to purchase new choir robes or invest in some much-needed exterior church repairs. Andy must cast the deciding vote, but it is Howard who thinks up the ultimate solution. First telecast on January 22, 1968, "The Church Benefactor" was written by Robert C. Dennis and Earl Barret. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Howard and Millie have decided to get married, and accordingly ask Andy and Helen to stand up at the wedding. All four Mayberryites purchase train tickets and head to Millie's home town of Wheeling, West Virginia. En route, however, the soon-to-be-bride and groom begin having second thoughts. Elizabeth Harrower and Steve Pendleton appear as Millie's mom and dad. Written by Joe Bonaduce, "Howard and Millie" was originally broadcast on November 27, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Aunt Bee anxiously looks forward to a visit from her cousin Bradford J. Taylor (Jack Albertson). Her head filled with thrilling stories of Bradford's big-business transactions and world travels (supplied, of course, by Bradford himself), Bee gathers together her friends and organizes a welcoming committee. Only Andy knows the painful truth: Bradford is a bum whose "travels" consist of riding the rails. First aired on December 4, 1967, "Aunt Bee's Cousin" was written by Dick Bensfield and Perry Grant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Howard Sprague is one frame away from bowling the first perfect game in Mayberry history-when suddenly the power fails and the bowling alley is thrown into darkness. Both bowling teams decide to continue the match the following evening. But can a nervous Howard repeat his magnificent performance of the previous night? Written by Dick Bensfield and Perry Grant, "Howard the Bowler" originally aired on September 18, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In Raleigh to go over a legal deposition with lawyer Leigh Vance, Andy is surpristed to discover that Leigh is an attractive young woman (Whitney Blake). He is also relieved that he doesn't have to make excuses to Helen, who is safely back in Mayberry. But after he and Ms. Vance participate in a legal conference at the lady lawyer's poolside, Andy wonders how he's going to explain his severe sunburn to the skeptical Helen. Written by Joseph Bonaduce, "Andy's Trip to Raleigh" first aired on October 2, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi