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kfo9494

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1847 reviews in total

Sure, this was not the best adaptation of Dickens' classic tale- but for a made-for-TV movie, this western theme story was not bad.

We all know the details of Charles Dickens work but in this version it takes place in a rural western 1800's town where Ebenezer Scrooge runs a saloon and cheats people out of money. And like in all the writings, Scrooge is a miserable miser that controls the money and people in the town. And as the story goes, Scrooge will meet up with three ghosts that will show him the way his life is heading. It will be up to Ebenezer to take the information and change his ways.

There are a few changes that differs from the usual tale but overall the theme of the story rings out very clear. Jack Palace does a nice job of playing the villain in this show and actually makes the movie much better with his performance. With the small budget for the film, there are a few rough spots during the production. However, these take nothing away from the story and the true spirit of the classic novel comes through in the end.

This movie can not compare to the larger budget films that most remember of 'A Christmas Carol'. But in the end, the film got it's point across and the viewer was entertained. That is why this film was made.

In this rather odd situation, a head-strong Danish man named Axel Norstaad is a proud owner of a furniture maker business that is well know for their hand-crafted items. The business and the name is worth much money in the markets and it is time for the long time bachelor, Axel, to retire. And it just so happens that he has meet a beautiful Beverly Hills woman, Edith Morrow, that he plans to settle plus open a children's hospital in the community.

Here is where it gets odd as Axel sells his business, with very little protection, to a the highest bidder Martin Somers. It just so happens that Martin Somers has a history with Edith Morrow and it appears they are in a scheme together to buy the company. Things get suspicious when Somer's check does not clear the bank and even more and when Somers plans on flooding the market with low cost furniture with the Norstaad name-- Axel becomes upset and threatens Somers. When Somers ends up dead the police arrest Axel and Perry is set to defend the gentlemen on the count of murder.

For me, things started getting confusing when the writer put so much suspicion on one character that it caused the entire situation to become irritating when another was arrested for the crime. Plus the fact that Perry was defending a client that was annoying and loud to the point of being 'bully-like' in nature does help the program. And when you cannot warm up to the client - it makes the entire program less than desirable.

This episode begins on a stormy night inside a cabin where a man has been beaten and a woman held by force. What is going on is that Mike Bradley is being forced to marry a girl that he has never seen. It is all a plot by a nearby landowner to get rid of Bradley and have the girl, Ann, run the ranch for him. After the shotgun marriage, they force Mike off the land telling him to never return.

Years later, Mike finds out that his small farm has now turned into one of the best farms in the area. He finds out that the ranch is run by Ann, the one that he was force to marry. Mike now returns to the farm to claim his right to the property and all the fruits of time.

Even though the show featured Phyllis Kirk and Steve Forrest, the action, other than the wedding scene, was played stiff and felt unrealistic. It did not help matters as we are suppose to believe that Ms Kirk, that was in her 40's, was trying to play a 23 year old girl. Ms Kirk was a nice looking woman but it was a reach to believe she was that young. Overall, the plot was lacking in many ways as the situation could have been much better. With the stiff action and slow pace, this episode was average at best.

In this repeated plot, Indian hatred raises its head as a cowboy shoots an Indian and believes he is right just because the person is an Indian. In comes Locke Gardner (Michael Rennie), a US Marshal, that is going to arrest the cowboy, Tod Mulvey, for the killing. But as with any episode with this kind of plot, there is potholes all through the show.

First the person that killed the Indian is the son of the Marshal's friend named Dan Mulvey. Dan had been shot with two Indian arrows a while back and has a limp and a dead arm. So there is not much lost for the Indian shooting. Also when the Marshal arrest Tod and brings him to the Sheriff's office, the townsfolk do not agree with the Marshal and sets the town against the US Marshal.

There is nothing wrong with the acting or casting in the episode, it is just that this plot has been played out in nearly every western book and film since the beginning of print. One lawman stands up against the entire town so that the rule of law can be followed-- nothing new in this show. It felt like a repeat on the first time viewing the show.

This episode begins in a higher class gambling house in Virginia City that is run by a hard-headed lady named Sal. A man, Jed Harper, is sitting at a table and has drawn a picture of Sal and calls her to his table. When Sal comes over she takes the drawing from Jed and tears it up. There is obviously a history between the two.

With Jed upset, he goes over to one of the card dealers and shows that she is cheating the players. One of the players, Conway, demands his money back. Sal plays high card with Conway for high-card and he again loses.

Later we learn that Jed and Sal use to have a relationship in New Orleans. In fact, they were to marry but Jed never showed up at the wedding with no explanation. Sal has been hurt ever since. But now we find out that Jed had been arrested for spying and was in a prison camp. Jed is there to smooth out their situation.

But when Jed shoots Conway while attempting to hold Sal at gun point, Sal decides to turn the table, She tells the police that Jed's story is false. She said she was never in the room. Jed is arrested.

There is just too much hate/love things going on in this episode between Jed and Sal. In one scene they cannot stand each other and in the next they are in each other arms. Carolyn Jones did a nice job in the episode and really came through as the hurt female that holds a grudge against the person she felt left her at the alter. However, the story was jumping around so much that the thirty minute format did not do the plot justice. A nice story that had to be done too quickly.

For the last show in season 4, the episode begins in a divorce proceeding between Jeff and Lola Bronson where the judge is going to rule on motions. Perry just happens to be in the spectator area as he is there representing the shareholders in an aviation company that Jeff seems to head. With the aviation company ready to fly a new prototype aircraft that could transform aircraft design, the shares of the company could make much money.

Anyway after what seemed to be a nasty proceeding, the aircraft is ready for flight. But during the test the pilot, Bill Ryder, has trouble with the plane and is forced to parachute to safety as the plane slams into the ground.

Later Lola Bronson gets word that Bill may have sabotaged the flight. She goes to confront him to make him confess. While holding a gun toward Bill a struggle happens and the gun fires. Bill falls to the floor. Jeff Bronson gets word, from a source, that Lola has killed Bill. Now Jeff goes to the house and cleans all evidence of Lola and also tries to make the scene into a robbery situation. It is no time before Jeff is pointed out as being at the house and charged with murder. Perry, with help from Paul, will have to fight through all the lies and falsehoods in this story to get to the truth of the matter.

This was not a unique story as the plot of shareholders has been played a few times in the series. What made it different was the players in the story. The concept of two people in a divorce situation made the show much more enjoyable as lies are told to protect each other when at the beginning of the episode they were at each other throat. Good watch.

After watching, I do not know where to begin on this film. These are suppose to be professional actors but from the way the people said their lines, it appeared to be more of an average middle school production of a play. Plus it did not stop there. The editing of the movie was all but poor. Close up shots were added with no adjustment for movement or placement of surrounding props. Even the sound, which in 1934 was getting more advance, was poor to the fact that at times it was hard to hear the actors and then it was if they were shouting. Dialog was embarrassing. And never so much as at the end of the climax when someone tells the hero "Thanks for saving my fortune" only to hear in short reply only the words "OK" and then silence.

The plot of this insignificant story was that a Texas Ranger, Bill 'The Shadow' Williams, was infiltrating a gang of thieves that was stealing cattle and taking land. Bill, played by Bill Code, manages to get inside the organization where he learns who is the brains of the business and then to place the criminals in prison. The story may sound like there was some interest but you would be incorrect.

Other notables things about the picture is they tried to have a comic sidekick named Polecat Pete. But Pete sounded more like a drunk vaudevillian actor trying to shout to the rear of a packed theater instead of someone the audience would enjoy. Plus a fight scene that is so surreal that even the most novice viewer will find the outcome difficult to comprehend.

This was filmed by a small and soon to be out-of-business production company. It was obvious that there were no re-takes or money for sets. It was fast pace and looked as though it was filmed out of sequence. Even using my "B" class Western scale of rating films - this is poor, very poor. And this reminds me of the last lines of the film where Bill Cody is embracing the female cast member. He says, "I did it." She replies, "You should did, Bill." as the film fades. --- I suddenly feel bad for Bill Cody.

For a "B" level western, this film was not too bad. The story was interesting, lots of action and also some rather funny lines which kept the value of the show going. Yes, the acting was poor and the leading man, Jack Hoxie, looked more in line for a Frankenstein picture that a hero of a western--by the end of the film it all seemed to come together for an enjoyable class B western show.

The concept of the story was that Hoxie character, Jack Blaine, had fallen for a beautiful woman. She lived in a nearby town and was having problems with another landowner that was claiming property that had been in her family for years. They had discovered oil on the property and now the two family are feuding about the land. Anyway, Jack along with his sidekicks, Skinny and Windy, are going to help the female in anyway possible. But they will have to get past her ornery Uncle, as he dislikes Blaine and nearly everyone in his path.

Classic B western as we have a hero, a lovely female, comic relief chums and a villain that leads to a situation of conflict. Sure it was not the best western made - but it was far from the worse. For the funny lines said mainly by Skinny, and the fact it was a class "B" made western, it was enjoyable enough to make for good time.

In this "B" western, Bill Cody plays a man named Denton that does what about all leading early western actors are known for, as he becomes the hero of the story by helping a youngster and thereby getting the girl at the end of all the activity.

It is a simple concept as the boy arrives by stagecoach in order to live with his father that has a nice ranch near town. Upon arriving, his father is shot by the villain, Larson, that then proceeds to take the ranch. Denton befriends the boy and vows to get the ranch back. And by some shadowy means, that will all be forgiving later, Denton begins his plan to give the boy back the ranch that his father wanted him to have.

As with most B class westerns, there is much suspicious acting going on throughout the film. At times the acting is so poor that it almost becomes comical. Bill Cody, that played in many of these types of shows, was as stiff as a board and looked like someone acting for the first time. I will give credit, as Andy Shuford, that played the boy, and Doris Hill, that played the lovely female part, did a nice job all around as they are the only ones that made the story bearable.

With full knowledge that this was a fast pace, and cheap western to produce- the movie gets a five just because of the story. It is called the "B" western scale.

The episode begins with Todd Owen, a local gunman, riding into town. On top of a nearby building someone tries to shoot Owen. Owen is able to get the best of the shooter, Amos Clegg, and has him dead to rights at gunpoint. Clegg then tries to draw and Owen shoots him when happens to enter Clegg in the back. The Sheriff of the town, who has been trying to convict Owen on any possible violation, now puts Owen on trial for murder. And with a town wanting to see Owen hang, it is going to be difficult to get six honest men on the jury.

Cob Oakley is reluctantly pick to be one of the jurors. After hearing the evidence, he finds some of the testimony strange. But with the other five men voting guilty, it is going to be Oakley that looks at the true facts and must convince the jury to let the notorious gunman off with an acquittal.---But that is not the end of this story. For Owen tries to escape the jail and takes the Sheriff hostage. Who is going to believe that Owen might just be innocent?

An entertaining story that kept the viewers on the edge of their seat the entire time. Robert Ryan was at his best in this production which had everyone watching right in the middle of the action. The only thing that struck me odd about the show was early when Owen rode into the town street and was shot at with a rifle. No one seemed to notice nor investigated the incident But when Owen fired his revolver, all of the sudden people fill the street to see what the shots were about. It did not take away from the episode but was rather unique to make the story work. Overall, a good watch.

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