Warren Douglas Movies

While trying to land a lucrative lumber contract with the railroad, Ben Cartwright once again finds himself in competition with his old and hated rival, ruthless ranchowner Barney Fuller (Jay C. Flippen). Determined to prove that he is up to the challenge, Ben displays an uncharacteristic streak of recklessness-and in so doing, accidentally causes the death of a Ponderosa ranchhand. Others in the cast include Melora Conway as Martha, Ralph Moody as Gabe, and Raymond Guth as Watts. First broadcast on December 29, 1963, "The Prime of Life" was one of several Bonanza episodes written by former actor Warren Douglas. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Brilliant artist James Callahan (Phillip Abbott) is burdened with two heavy crosses: He is not only an alcoholic, but also a social pariah because of his marriage to Paiute woman Esther (Donna Martell). When Adam Cartwright tries to extricate Callahan from his drunken self-pity, his efforts are blocked by an Indian-hating rabble rouser named McDermott (Morgan Woodward). First seen on October 20, 1963, "The Toy Soldier" was written by Warren Douglas. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Dragoon Wells Massacre is a topnotch western from the Allied Artists factory. Barry Sullivan stars as wanted killer Link Ferris, who at the beginning of the film is arrested by marshal Bill Haney (Trevor Bardette). Dennis O'Keefe co-stars as Cavalry officer Matt Riordan, assigned to escort Ferris to prison through hostile Indian country. It comes to pass that hero and villain -- and their respective entourages -- are forced to rely upon each other to survive an Apache attack (led by western-flick veteran John War Eagle) at Dragoon Wells. Mona Freeman and Katy Jurado offer interesting performances within their stock heroine requirements, while Sebastian Cabot is sublimely cast as a shifty trader. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Ann Blyth plays famed "torch singer" Helen Morgan, from her humble beginnings as a carnival dancer to the height of her nightclub fame in the 1920s. Helen spends most of her spare time anguishing over the on-and-off affections of her boorish boyfriend (Paul Newman), who had discovered Helen during her carnival days and promoted her to stardom. By 1927, Helen is headlining in her own nightclub, with further fame and fortune greeting her when she is cast as Julie in the blockbusting Broadway hit Show Boat. But when she realizes that her erstwhile boyfriend has been using her as a "meal ticket", Helen turns to drink. Losing her fortune to Revenue agents and the Stock Market crash of 1929, Helen hits rock bottom, ending up in the Bellevue alcoholic ward. Her boyfriend suddenly has a change of heart and declares his love for Helen, arranging for a lavish testimonial in her honor, hosted by Walter Winchell. The film ends at this point, suggesting that Helen Morgan is on the road to lasting success and happiness (tragically not the case in real life). For reasons unknown, Ann Blyth, an excellent singer in her own right, was dubbed in The Helen Morgan Story by songstress Gogi Grant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this convoluted thriller a manipulative woman gets entangled in her own web of deceit. The story is set in Mexico, where an unlucky wanderer has come to fish. There he falls for a woman that he spied on the beach. She begs the drifter to murder her domineering husband. The man refuses, but does not leave her. Upon learning that he has been cuckolded, the enraged husband fakes his own death in the hopes of framing his wife for the murder. A sleazy detective clears her name officially, but then he begins blackmailing her. If she doesn't pay, he will reveal the affair she has been having. She stops that game by murdering the gumshoe. She is shocked to discover that her husband is still alive. Finally, the three characters meet upon the beach. There she shoots her husband. As he dies he shoots her back. She dies in her lover's arms. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Director Harold D. Schuster, heretofore more at home with "outdoor" fare, does a nice job with the film noir trappings of Finger Man. Frank Lovejoy plays the title character, a career criminal named Casey Martin. In exchange for immunity from prosecution, Martin agrees to help the Feds net a larger fish--namely, big-time mobster Dutch Becker (Forrest Tucker). Torn between the two men is good-time girl Gladys Baker (Peggie Castle). The moment she casts her lot with Martin, Gladys seals both her doom and Becker's. Finger Man is stolen hands-down by the saturnine Timothy Carey as Becker's wacko triggerman (reportedly, Carey was nearly punched out by Frank Lovejoy when the latter caught on he was being upstaged). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Vic Barron (Mark Stevens) is an ex-detective from San Francisco whose career is ruined and family is destroyed because of his dedication to his job. Three years before, he'd been close to breaking a gang with ties to some very powerful people. Then they tried to kill him by bombing his car; he was permanently disfigured, and his wife and child died in the blast, and then he was set up with planted money and sentenced to prison. Now he's out, and he's no longer a cop, but that won't stop him from finishing his last case or finding the man who planted the bomb. Neither his former friends on the force (who know he was innocent) nor the "persuasive" efforts of Roxey (Skip Homeier), a psychopathic strong-arm man, can get him to change his mind or his plans. Vic thinks he knows one of the men responsible, Tino Morelli (Douglas Kennedy), but it turns out that Morelli's been hiding out in Alaska, just as desperate in his desire not to be found as Vic has been to get revenge, and hiding from the same man. No sooner does the ex-cop come to appreciate this fact then he is set up for another fall -- this time for murder. But in the process, he finally figures out who was behind the destruction of his family; and he finds some things in life worth living for, if he can manage to stay alive to enjoy them. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

The psychological makeup of a dangerous gunman is probed in Jack Slade. Beginning with his childhood, Slade (Mark Stevens) is shown to be extremely unbalanced; in fact, he kills his first man at age 13. Growing up in the West, Slade comes to the conclusion that his gun is his only friend. At first, he is regarded as a hero because he does his killings on the side of the law; eventually, however, his homicidal tendencies overwhelm him, and he shoots without discretion or even reason. It is a tribute to actor Mark Stevens that he is able to make this character fascinating, rather than totally repellant. The only fault that can be found in Jack Slade is its length; the film would be twice as effective if shorn by 15 minutes or so. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A courageous Mountie and his trusty dog Chinook traverse the Northwest Territory, through blizzards and other travails in search of illegal trappers in this adventure. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Monogram's on-and-off "Northwest Mountie" series was on again with 1952's Northwest Territory. Ostensibly based on a James Oliver Curwood story, the film stars Kirby Grant as RCMP officer Rod Webb and Webb's dog Chinook as "himself." Left in charge of the grandson of a murdered prospector, Webb vows to bring in the killers. This he does, but not before encountering all sorts of perils in the Great North. The heroine is played by Gloria Saunders, an actress normally associated with such exotic roles as "The Dragon Lady" on the TV version of Terry and the Pirates. Star Kirby Grant would later achieve TV fame as the star of Sky King. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Republic's Secrets of Monte Carlo stars Warren Douglas as vacationing American businessman Bill Whitfield. In a twinkling, Whitfield finds himself in the middle of a search for an Arab potentate's missing jewels. In two twinklings, he is accused of stealing the gems. Susan Reeves (Lois Hall), the sister of detective Charles Reeves (Robin Hughes), comes to Whitfield's defense. Though inexpensively produced, Secrets of Monte Carlo is an effective suspenser, with Republic's back lot standing in admirably as Southern Europe. Another plus: a formidable array of villains, headed by the glamorous June Vincent. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi