Leif Erickson

Leif Erickson

Born: October 27, 1911
Died: January 29, 1986
in Alameda, California, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Leif Erickson (born William Wycliffe Anderson) was an American stage, film, and television actor.

Erickson was born in Alameda, California, near San Francisco. He worked as a soloist in a band as vocalist and trombone player, performed in Max Reinhardt's productions, and then gained a small amount of stage experience in a comedy vaudeville act. Initially billed by Paramount Pictures as Glenn Erickson, he began his screen career as a leading man in Westerns.

Erickson enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. Rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer in the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit, he served as a military photographer, shooting film in combat zones, and as an instructor. He was shot down twice in the Pacific as well as receiving two Purple Hearts. Erickson was in the unit that filmed and photographed the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. Over four years service, he shot more than 200,000 feet of film for the Navy.

Erickson's first films were two 1933 band films with Betty Grable before starting a string of Buster Crabbe Western films based on Zane Grey novels. He would go on to appears in films such as The Snake Pit, Sorry, Wrong Number, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd, Invaders from Mars, On the Waterfront, A Gathering of Eagles, Roustabout, The Carpetbaggers and Mirage.

One of his more notable roles was as Deborah Kerr's macho husband in the stage and film versions of Tea and Sympathy. He appeared with Greta Garbo, as her brother in Conquest (1937). He played the role of Pete, the vindictive boat engineer, in the 1951 remake of the famed musical Show Boat. His final appearance in a feature film was in Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977).

Erickson appeared frequently on television; he was cast as Dr. Hillyer in "Consider Her Ways" (1964) and as Paul White in "The Monkey's Paw—A Retelling" (1965) on CBS's The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. However, he is probably best known for The High Chaparral, which aired on NBC from 1967 until 1971. He portrayed a rancher, Big John Cannon, determined to establish a cattle empire in the Arizona Territory while keeping peace with the Apache. Erickson guest-starred in several television series, including Rawhide, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Marcus Welby, M.D., Medical Center, Cannon, The Rifleman, The Rockford Files, and the 1977 series Hunter. His final role was in an episode of Fantasy Island in 1984.

Erickson was married to actress Frances Farmer from 1936 until 1942. The same day that his divorce from Farmer was finalized, June 12, 1942, he married actress Margaret Hayes. They divorced a month later. He married Ann Diamond in 1945. They had two children, William Leif Erickson (born 1946 - died 1971 in a car accident) and Susan Irene Erickson (born 1950).

Erickson died of cancer in Pensacola, Florida, on January 29, 1986, aged 74 CLR

Movies for Leif Erickson...

Title: Wild Times
Character: John Tyree
Released: January 24, 1980
Type: TV
Fictional Western adventure about dime novel hero-turned-Wild West show impresario Hugh Cardiff.
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Title: Hunter
Released: February 18, 1977
Type: TV
Global espionage with an American agent and his sexy partner.
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Twilight's Last Gleaming
Title: Twilight's Last Gleaming
Character: Ralph Whittaker - CIA Director
Released: February 9, 1977
Type: Movie
A renegade USAF general, Lawrence Dell, escapes from a military prison and takes over an ICBM silo near Montana and threatens to provoke World War 3 unless the President reveals details of a secret meeting held just after the start of the Vietnam War between Dell and the then President's most trusted advisors.
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Title: The Fantastic Journey
Character: Ben Wallace
Released: February 3, 1977
Type: TV
The Fantastic Journey was an American science fiction television series that was originally aired on NBC from February 3 through June 17, 1977.
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Winterhawk
Title: Winterhawk
Character: Guthrie
Released: November 5, 1975
Type: Movie
Smallpox plagues Chief Winterhawk's tribe. He seeks cure from the white men, who in turn, in fear of getting the smallpox, kill two of his companions. Winterhawk comes back to kidnap a girl and her brother from the white men's settlement, and thus begins the chase...
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Title: Medical Story
Released: September 4, 1975
Type: TV
Medical Story is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from September 4, 1975 until January 8, 1976.
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Abduction
Title: Abduction
Character: Prescott
Released: May 5, 1975
Type: Movie
The daughter of wealthy businessman is taken hostage by a gang of radical black revolutionaries. While she fears for her life at first, she gradually starts to become sympathetic to her kidnappers' cause, and begins to consider herself to be one of them.
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Force Five
Title: Force Five
Character: Cal Newkirk
Released: March 28, 1975
Type: Movie
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Title: The Rockford Files
Character: Carl Colton 'C.C.' Calloway
Released: September 13, 1974
Type: TV
Cranky but likable L.A. PI Jim Rockford pulls no punches (but takes plenty of them). An ex-con sent to the slammer for a crime he didn't commit, Rockford takes on cases others don't want, aided by his tough old man, his lawyer girlfriend and some shady associates from his past.
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Title: Harry O
Released: September 12, 1974
Type: TV
After being shot in the line of duty, Harry Orwell was forced to retire from the San Diego Police Department. To supplement his police pension, Harry runs a private detective agency out of his beach house... The series starred David Janssen and was executive produced by Jerry Thorpe.
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The Six Million Dollar Man: The Solid Gold Kidnapping
Title: The Six Million Dollar Man: The Solid Gold Kidnapping
Character: William Henry Cameron
Released: November 17, 1973
Type: Movie
A criminal organization known as OSO specializes in kidnapping high ranking U.S. representatives. Although Steve Austin has already thwarted one of their kidnappings, he is unable to stop them from grabbing William Henry Cameron right from under OSI's nose. OSO demands one million dollars in gold and Oscar Goldman takes the opportunity to try and lure them out into the open. Meanwhile, Steve accompanies Dr. Erica Bergner, who is testing a new method of brain transferal in order to find out where Cameron is being kept.
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Title: The Magician
Character: Nicholas Olson
Released: October 2, 1973
Type: TV
The Magician is an American television series that ran during the 1973–1974 season. It starred Bill Bixby as stage illusionist Anthony "Tony" Blake, a playboy philanthropist who used his skills to solve difficult crimes as needed. In the series pilot, the character was instead named Anthony Dorian. The name change was due to a conflict with the name of a real life stage magician.
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Title: The Evil Touch
Released: June 19, 1973
Type: TV
The Evil Touch is an Australian-produced television series, originally broadcast in Australia in 1973. It was an anthology series where each episode had a self-contained story and a new set of characters. Each episode feature a new cast of guest actors, although several guest stars appeared in more than one episode, playing different characters. Each story is a thriller or horror story of some variety, ranging from tales of the occult and the supernatural, science fiction horror stories, to more standard murder schemes and whodunits. Most stories feature a twist ending.
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Title: The Streets of San Francisco
Released: September 23, 1972
Type: TV
Two police officers, the older Lt. Stone and the young upstart Inspector Keller, investigate murders and other serious crimes in San Francisco. Stone would become a second father to Keller as he learned the rigors and procedures of detective work.
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The Daughters of Joshua Cabe
Title: The Daughters of Joshua Cabe
Character: Amos Wetherall
Released: September 13, 1972
Type: Movie
Due to a home-steading law, a fur trapper schemes to keep his land by hiring a hooker, a pickpocket and a thief to pose as his family.
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The Family Rico
Title: The Family Rico
Character: Mike Lamont
Released: September 13, 1972
Type: Movie
A Mafia chief is torn between his brother, who has defected from the family, and his loyalty to the organization.
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Title: The Rookies
Released: September 11, 1972
Type: TV
The Rookies is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1972 until 1976. It follows the exploits of three rookie police officers working in an unidentified city for the fictitious Southern California Police Department.
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The New Healers
Title: The New Healers
Character: Dr. Victor Briggs
Released: March 27, 1972
Type: Movie
The small town hospital staff is trying to gain the confidence of the local farmers and merchants.
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Title: The Sixth Sense
Released: January 15, 1972
Type: TV
The Sixth Sense is an American paranormal thriller television
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The Deadly Dream
Title: The Deadly Dream
Character: Dr. Harold Malcolm
Released: September 25, 1971
Type: Movie
A scientist keeps having dreams that he is marked for murder by a mysterious tribunal for something that he's not aware that he's done, and that his wife and his friends are part of the conspiracy. Soon he's not sure which is the dream and which is reality.
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Terror in the Sky
Title: Terror in the Sky
Character: Marty Treleavan
Released: September 17, 1971
Type: Movie
On a transcontinental flight, the flight crew suffer from food poisoning and become incapacitated. Now it's up to one of the passengers to safely land the plane.
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Title: Cannon
Released: September 14, 1971
Type: TV
Cannon is a CBS detective television series produced by Quinn Martin which aired from March 26, 1971 to March 3, 1976. The primary protagonist is the title character, private detective Frank Cannon, played by William Conrad. He also appeared on two episodes of Barnaby Jones. Cannon is the first Quinn Martin-produced series to be aired on a network other than ABC. A "revival" television film, The Return of Frank Cannon, was aired on November 1, 1980. In total, there were 124 episodes.
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Man and Boy
Title: Man and Boy
Character: Sheriff Mossman
Released: June 23, 1971
Type: Movie
At the beginning of the 19th century a man and his son settle in Arizona which used to be a frontier state and full of criminals at that time.
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Title: Night Gallery
Character: Charlie Wheatland
Released: December 16, 1970
Type: TV
Rod Serling narrates an anthology of fantasy, horror and sci-fi stories from a set resembling a macabre museum. A chilling work of art serves as the connective link between the stories.
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Title: Medical Center
Released: September 24, 1969
Type: TV
Medical Center is a medical drama series which aired on CBS from 1969 to 1976. It was produced by MGM Television.
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Title: The Mod Squad
Released: September 24, 1968
Type: TV
The Mod Squad was the enormously successful groundbreaking "hippie" undercover cop show that ran on ABC from September 24, 1968, until August 23, 1973. It starred Michael Cole as Pete Cochren, Peggy Lipton as Julie Barnes, Clarence Williams III as Linc Hayes, and Tige Andrews as Captain Adam Greer. The executive producers of the series were Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas. The iconic counter-culture police series earned six Emmy nominations, four Golden Globe nominations plus one win for Peggy Lipton, one Directors Guild of America award, and four Logies. In 1997 the episode "Mother of Sorrow" was ranked #95 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.
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Title: Mannix
Released: September 16, 1967
Type: TV
Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors. Mannix was the last series produced by Desilu Productions.
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Title: The High Chaparral
Character: Big John Cannon
Released: September 10, 1967
Type: TV
The High Chaparral is an American Western-themed television series starring Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell which aired on NBC from 1967 to 1971. The series, made by Xanadu Productions in association with NBC Productions, was created by David Dortort, who had previously created the hit Bonanza for the network. The theme song was also written and conducted by Bonanza scorer David Rose, who also scored the two-hour pilot.
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Title: Ironside
Released: March 28, 1967
Type: TV
When an assassin's bullet confines him to a wheelchair for life ending his career as Chief of Detectives, Robert T. Ironside becomes a consultant to the police department. Detective Sergeant Ed Brown and policewoman Eve Whitfield join with him to crack varied and fascinating cases. Ex-con Mark Sanger is employed by the chief as home help but eventually becomes a fully fledged member of the team also. Officer Whitfield leaves after 4 years service, and is replaced by Officer Fran Belding.
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Mirage
Title: Mirage
Character: The Major
Released: October 29, 1965
Type: Movie
In New York City, David Stillwell struggles to recover his memory before the people who are trying to kill him succeed. Who is he, who are they, and why is he surrounded by murder?
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I Saw What You Did
Title: I Saw What You Did
Character: Dave Mannering
Released: July 21, 1965
Type: Movie
Teenage friends Kit and Libby make prank phone calls for fun but then find themselves involved in a brutal double murder committed by one of their targets.
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Title: Branded
Released: January 24, 1965
Type: TV
Branded is an American Western series which aired on NBC from 1965 through 1966, sponsored by Procter & Gamble in its Sunday night 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time period, and starred Chuck Connors as Jason McCord, a United States Army Cavalry captain who had been drummed out of the service following an unjust accusation of cowardice.
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Roustabout
Title: Roustabout
Character: Joe Lean
Released: November 11, 1964
Type: Movie
After a singer loses his job at a coffee shop, he finds employment at a struggling carnival, but his attempted romance with a teenager leads to friction with her father.
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Title: Daniel Boone
Character: Bill Sedley
Released: September 24, 1964
Type: TV
Daniel Boone is an American action-adventure television series starring Fess Parker as Daniel Boone that aired from September 24, 1964 to September 10, 1970 on NBC for 165 episodes, and was made by 20th Century Fox Television. Ed Ames co-starred as Mingo, Boone's Cherokee friend, for the first four seasons of the series. Albert Salmi portrayed Boone's companion Yadkin in season one only. Dallas McKennon portrayed innkeeper Cincinnatus. Country Western singer-actor Jimmy Dean was a featured actor as Josh Clements during the 1968–1970 seasons. Actor and former NFL football player Rosey Grier made regular appearances as Gabe Cooper in the 1969 to 1970 season. The show was broadcast "in living color" beginning in fall 1965, the second season, and was shot entirely in California and Kanab, Utah.
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Title: Daniel Boone
Character: Aaron Burr
Released: September 24, 1964
Type: TV
Daniel Boone is an American action-adventure television series starring Fess Parker as Daniel Boone that aired from September 24, 1964 to September 10, 1970 on NBC for 165 episodes, and was made by 20th Century Fox Television. Ed Ames co-starred as Mingo, Boone's Cherokee friend, for the first four seasons of the series. Albert Salmi portrayed Boone's companion Yadkin in season one only. Dallas McKennon portrayed innkeeper Cincinnatus. Country Western singer-actor Jimmy Dean was a featured actor as Josh Clements during the 1968–1970 seasons. Actor and former NFL football player Rosey Grier made regular appearances as Gabe Cooper in the 1969 to 1970 season. The show was broadcast "in living color" beginning in fall 1965, the second season, and was shot entirely in California and Kanab, Utah.
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The Carpetbaggers
Title: The Carpetbaggers
Character: Jonas Cord Senior
Released: April 8, 1964
Type: Movie
When playboy Jonas inherits his father's industrial empire, he expands it by acquiring an aircraft factory and movie studio. His rise to power is ruthless. He marries and then quickly abandons sweet, bubbly Monica, turns his young, attractive stepmother Rina into a self-destructive actress and manages to disappoint even his closest friend, cowboy movie star Nevada. Is Jonas beyond redemption?
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Strait-Jacket
Title: Strait-Jacket
Character: Bill Cutler
Released: January 19, 1964
Type: Movie
After a twenty-year stay at an asylum for a double murder, a mother returns to her estranged daughter where suspicions arise about her behavior.
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Title: Kraft Suspense Theatre
Character: General
Released: October 10, 1963
Type: TV
Kraft Suspense Theatre is an American anthology series that was telecast from 1963 to 1965 on NBC. Sponsored by Kraft Foods, it was seen three weeks out of every four and was pre-empted for Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall specials once monthly. Como's production company, Roncom Films, also produced Kraft Suspense Theatre. Writer, editor, critic and radio playwright Anthony Boucher served as consultant on the series. Later syndicated under the title Crisis, it was one of the few suspense series telecast in color at the time. While most of NBC's shows were in color then, all-color network line-ups did not become the norm until the 1966-67 season.
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Title: Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Released: October 4, 1963
Type: TV
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre is an American anthology series, sponsored by Chrysler Corporation, which ran on NBC from 1963 through 1967. The show was hosted by Bob Hope, but it had a variety of formats, including musical, dramatic, and comedy.
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Title: The Great Adventure
Character: Abel Parrish
Released: September 27, 1963
Type: TV
The Great Adventure is a historical anthology series that appeared on CBS for the 1963-1964 television season. The series, narrated each week by Van Heflin, and featuring theme music by Richard Rodgers, presented a weekly one-hour dramatization of the lives of famous Americans and important historical events in American History.
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Title: The Great Adventure
Character: President Grover Cleveland
Released: September 27, 1963
Type: TV
The Great Adventure is a historical anthology series that appeared on CBS for the 1963-1964 television season. The series, narrated each week by Van Heflin, and featuring theme music by Richard Rodgers, presented a weekly one-hour dramatization of the lives of famous Americans and important historical events in American History.
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Title: Burke's Law
Character: Jason Hayes
Released: September 20, 1963
Type: TV
Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on CBS in the 1990s. The show starred Gene Barry as Amos Burke, millionaire captain of Los Angeles police homicide division, who was chauffeured around to solve crimes in his Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II.
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Title: Arrest and Trial
Released: September 15, 1963
Type: TV
Arrest and Trial is a 90-minute American crime/legal drama series that ran during the 1963-1964 season on ABC, airing Sundays from 8:30-10 p.m. Eastern.
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A Gathering of Eagles
Title: A Gathering of Eagles
Character: Gen. Hewitt
Released: June 21, 1963
Type: Movie
Rock Hudson plays an Air Force Colonel who has just been re-assigned as a cold war B-52 commander who must shape up his men to pass a grueling inspection that the previous commander had failed, and had been fired for. He is also recently married, and as a tough commanding officer doing whatever he has to do to shape his men up, his wife sees a side to him that she hadn't seen before.
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Title: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Character: Paul White
Released: September 20, 1962
Type: TV
A continuation of the anthology series “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, hosted by the master of suspense and featuring thrillers and mysteries.
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Title: The Virginian
Character: Peterson
Released: September 19, 1962
Type: TV
The Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming Territory of the 1890s is owned in sequence by Judge Henry Garth, the Grainger brothers, and Colonel Alan MacKenzie. It is the setting for a variety of stories, many more based on character and relationships than the usual western.
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Title: The Virginian
Character: Bill King
Released: September 19, 1962
Type: TV
The Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming Territory of the 1890s is owned in sequence by Judge Henry Garth, the Grainger brothers, and Colonel Alan MacKenzie. It is the setting for a variety of stories, many more based on character and relationships than the usual western.
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Title: The Virginian
Character: Charlie Ryan
Released: September 19, 1962
Type: TV
The Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming Territory of the 1890s is owned in sequence by Judge Henry Garth, the Grainger brothers, and Colonel Alan MacKenzie. It is the setting for a variety of stories, many more based on character and relationships than the usual western.
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Shootout at Big Sag
Title: Shootout at Big Sag
Character: Sam Barbee
Released: May 31, 1962
Type: Movie
A man has his eyes set on controlling the Big Sag territory in Montana and hopes to achieve his goal by forcing a newly-arrived family from Texas from their land. Hoping to convince the local saloonkeeper to help him, the man sends his daughter into town with instructions for his potential partner. A storm waylays the daughter during her trip to town and she is forced to stay at the home of her father's intended victims, leading to an interesting turn or two.
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Title: The New Breed
Character: Dr. Eric Thor
Released: October 3, 1961
Type: TV
The New Breed is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from October 3, 1961 to June 5, 1962, with thirty-six episodes.
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Title: The Rebel
Character: Dave Blaine
Released: October 4, 1959
Type: TV
The Rebel is a 76-episode American western television series starring Nick Adams that debuted on the ABC network from 1959 to 1961. The Rebel was one of the few Goodson-Todman Productions outside of their game show ventures. Beginning in December 2011, The Rebel reruns began to air Saturday mornings on Me-TV.
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Title: The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Character: Andrew Middleton
Released: September 21, 1959
Type: TV
The DuPont Show with June Allyson is an American anthology drama series which aired on CBS from September 21, 1959 to April 3, 1961 with rebroadcasts continuing until June 12, 1961. The series was hosted by actress June Allyson.
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Title: Bonanza
Character: Tom Caine
Released: September 12, 1959
Type: TV
The High-Sierra adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their ranch while helping the surrounding community.
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Title: Rawhide
Character: Frank Travis
Released: January 9, 1959
Type: TV
The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across the old west. Along the way they meet up with adventure and drama.
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Title: The Rifleman
Released: September 30, 1958
Type: TV
The Rifleman is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show was filmed in black-and-white, half-hour episodes. "The Rifleman" aired on ABC from September 30, 1958 to April 8, 1963 as a production of Four Star Television. It was one of the first prime time series to have a widowed parent raise a child.
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Once Upon a Horse...
Title: Once Upon a Horse...
Character: Granville "Granny" Dix
Released: September 1, 1958
Type: Movie
Two zany cowboys steal a herd of cattle only to discover it costs more to feed them than they are worth.
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Twilight for the Gods
Title: Twilight for the Gods
Character: Harry Hutton
Released: August 4, 1958
Type: Movie
An alcoholic captain sails a two-master through danger with a call girl and others on board.
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Kiss Them for Me
Title: Kiss Them for Me
Character: Eddie Turnbill
Released: December 10, 1957
Type: Movie
Three navy war heroes are booked on a morale-building "vacation" in San Francisco. Once they manage to elude their ulcerated public relations officer, the trio throw a wild party with plenty of pretty girls.
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The Vintage
Title: The Vintage
Character: Louis Morel
Released: May 8, 1957
Type: Movie
A young Italian fugitive and his older protective brother hide among the grape pickers at a vineyard in Provence.
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Istanbul
Title: Istanbul
Character: Charlie Boyle
Released: January 23, 1957
Type: Movie
A suspected diamond smuggler returns to Istanbul and finds the lady love he thought was dead...or does he?
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Title: Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Character: Jim Lewis
Released: October 5, 1956
Type: TV
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, sometimes simply called Zane Grey Theatre, is an American Western anthology series which ran on CBS from 1956 to 1961.
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Title: Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Character: Cash Wilson
Released: October 5, 1956
Type: TV
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, sometimes simply called Zane Grey Theatre, is an American Western anthology series which ran on CBS from 1956 to 1961.
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Tea and Sympathy
Title: Tea and Sympathy
Character: Bill Reynolds
Released: September 27, 1956
Type: Movie
At a high school reunion, a young man recalls his boarding school days, when the only person who seemed to sympathize with him was his housemaster's wife.
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The Fastest Gun Alive
Title: The Fastest Gun Alive
Character: Lou Glover
Released: July 12, 1956
Type: Movie
Whenever it becomes known how good he is with guns, ex-gunman George and his wife Dora have to flee the town, in fear of all the gunmen who might want to challenge him. Unfortunately he again spills his secret when he's drunk. All citizens swear to keep his secret and support him to give up his guns forever -- but a boy tells the story to a gang of wanted criminals. Their leader threatens to burn down the whole town, if he doesn't duel him.
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Star in the Dust
Title: Star in the Dust
Character: George Ballard
Released: June 13, 1956
Type: Movie
The sheriff of Gunlock is planning to hang Sam Hall, who shot three farmers found on cattle land, at sundown. At the casino, betting is 8 to 3 he won't make it. The cattlemen are set to rescue Sam; the farmers hope to lynch him before he can be rescued; and Hall schemes for escape with his girl Nellie. But Sheriff Jorden is most concerned with finding out who hired Hall: a leading suspect is the sheriff's future brother-in-law.
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Title: Matinee Theater
Released: October 31, 1955
Type: TV
Matinee Theater is an American anthology series that aired on NBC during the Golden Age of Television, from 1955 to 1958. The series, which ran daily in the afternoon, was frequently live. It was produced by Albert McCleery, Darrell Ross, George Cahan and Frank Price with executive producer George Lowther. McCleery had previously produced the live series Cameo Theatre which introduced to television the concept of theater-in-the-round, TV plays staged with minimal sets. Jim Buckley of the Pewter Plough Playhouse recalled: When Al McCleery got back to the States, he originated a most ambitious theatrical TV series for NBC called Matinee Theater: to televise five different stage plays per week live, airing around noon in order to promote color TV to the American housewife as she labored over her ironing. Al was the producer. He hired five directors and five art directors. Richard Bennett, one of our first early presidents of the Pewter Plough Corporation, was one of the directors and I was one of the art directors and, as soon as we were through televising one play, we had lunch and then met to plan next week’s show. That was over 50 years ago, and I’m trying to think; I believe the TV art director is his own set decorator —yes, of course! It had to be, since one of McCleery’s chief claims to favor with the producers was his elimination of the setting per se and simply decorating the scene with a minimum of props. It took a bit of ingenuity.
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Title: Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Character: Wayne Phillips
Released: October 2, 1955
Type: TV
A television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock featuring dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.
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Title: Gunsmoke
Character: Virgil Powell
Released: September 10, 1955
Type: TV
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television.
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Title: The Millionaire
Character: Brian Hendricks
Released: January 19, 1955
Type: TV
An anthology series that explored the ways sudden and unexpected wealth changed life for better or for worse. It told the stories of people who were given one million dollars from a benefactor who insisted they never know him, with one exception.
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Title: The Millionaire
Character: Norman Conover
Released: January 19, 1955
Type: TV
An anthology series that explored the ways sudden and unexpected wealth changed life for better or for worse. It told the stories of people who were given one million dollars from a benefactor who insisted they never know him, with one exception.
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Title: Climax!
Character: Robert Eunson
Released: October 7, 1954
Type: TV
Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
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Title: Climax!
Character: Richard Moore
Released: October 7, 1954
Type: TV
Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
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Title: Climax!
Character: Doug Randell
Released: October 7, 1954
Type: TV
Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
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Title: Climax!
Character: Richard Carmichael
Released: October 7, 1954
Type: TV
Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
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On the Waterfront
Title: On the Waterfront
Character: Glover
Released: June 22, 1954
Type: Movie
A dim-witted yet kind-hearted boxer, Terry Malloy, who failed to succeed unintentionally lures a man to his death after being tricked by a criminal called Johnny Friendly whose men pick of every man who has the courage to speak up to their crimes. As he works on the waterfronts that Friendly owns, he is sent to a church meeting run by a good preacher about how to deal with the problem and runs into the dead man’s sister. Slowly, he falls in love with her and begins to feel guilt about his crime.
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Title: Inner Sanctum
Released: January 9, 1954
Type: TV
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Paris Model
Title: Paris Model
Character: Edgar Blevins
Released: November 10, 1953
Type: Movie
A new dress plays a key role in the lives of four women who are not acquainted with each other.
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Captain Scarface
Title: Captain Scarface
Character: Sam
Released: October 15, 1953
Type: Movie
A group of communist spies plan to blow up an essential commercial artery, the Panama Canal. To this end, they have kidnapped a nuclear scientist and are traveling by steamship to the coast of South America. Luckily for western civilization, the hard-nosed ship's captain, played by Barton MacLane, has other ideas.
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Fort Algiers
Title: Fort Algiers
Character: Kalmani
Released: August 30, 1953
Type: Movie
In northwest Africa, a tribal leader tries to stir up a rebellion against the ruling powers.
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Invaders from Mars
Title: Invaders from Mars
Character: Mr. George MacLean
Released: April 22, 1953
Type: Movie
In the early hours of the night, young David Maclean sees a flying saucer land and disappear into the sand dunes just beyond his house. Slowly, all of the adults, including his once loving parents, begin to act strangely.
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A Perilous Journey
Title: A Perilous Journey
Character: Richards
Released: April 5, 1953
Type: Movie
A ship of women embarks on a voyage to California. Director R. G. Springsteen's 1953 adventure drama stars Vera Ralston, David Brian, Virginia Grey, Charles Winninger, Veda Ann Borg and Hope Emerson.
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Trouble Along the Way
Title: Trouble Along the Way
Character: Father Provincial aka Ed
Released: April 4, 1953
Type: Movie
Struggling to retain custody of his daughter following his divorce, football coach Steve Williams finds himself embroiled in a recruiting scandal at the tiny Catholic college he is trying to bring back to football respectability.
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Born to the Saddle
Title: Born to the Saddle
Character: Bob Marshall
Released: March 15, 1953
Type: Movie
A naïve, recently-orphaned young man discovers he's being used as a pawn in a crooked gambler's plan to rig a July 4 horserace. Western.
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Title: General Electric Theater
Character: Man
Released: February 1, 1953
Type: TV
General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations.
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Never Wave at a WAC
Title: Never Wave at a WAC
Character: Sgt. Norbert 'Noisy' Jackson
Released: January 28, 1953
Type: Movie
A divorced socialite decides to join the Army because she hopes it will enable her to see more of her boyfriend, a Colonel. She soon encounters many difficulties with the Army lifestyle. Moreover, her ex-husband is working as a consultant with the Army, and he uses his position to disrupt her romantic plans by making her join a group of WACs who are testing new equipment.
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Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd
Title: Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd
Character: Morgan
Released: December 27, 1952
Type: Movie
Two hapless waiters in a tavern on the Spanish Main play cupid between aristocratic Lady Jane and tavern co-worker Bruce Martindale, but the two bumpkins mix-up a love letter with Captain Kidd's treasure map of Skull Island, leading to them being kidnapped and taken off to the notorious pirate's island.
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My Wife's Best Friend
Title: My Wife's Best Friend
Character: Nicholas Reed
Released: October 9, 1952
Type: Movie
When a man confesses to his wife that he has been unfaithful, she imagines all the different ways that historical figures such as Cleopatra and Joan of Arc might handle the situation.
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Carbine Williams
Title: Carbine Williams
Character: Feder
Released: May 1, 1952
Type: Movie
David Marshall Williams is sent to a prison farm where he works in the tool shop and eventually develops the precursor of the famous M-1 Carbine automatic rifle used in World War II.
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With a Song in My Heart
Title: With a Song in My Heart
Character: General aboard plane
Released: April 3, 1952
Type: Movie
Jane Froman (Susan Hayward), an aspiring songstress, lands a job in radio with help from pianist Don Ross (David Wayne), whom she later marries. Jane's popularity soars, and she leaves on a European tour... but her plane crashes in Lisbon, and she is partially crippled. Unable to walk without crutches, Jane nevertheless goes on to entertain the Allied troops in World War II.
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Sailor Beware
Title: Sailor Beware
Character: Commander Lane
Released: February 8, 1952
Type: Movie
Meeting in a navy recruiting line, Al Crowthers and Melvin Jones become friends. Al has tried to enlist before, but was always rejected. He keeps trying so that he can impress women. Melvin, is allergic to women's cosmetics and his doctor prescribed ocean travel, so he decided to join the navy.
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The Cimarron Kid
Title: The Cimarron Kid
Character: Marshal John Sutton
Released: January 13, 1952
Type: Movie
Audie Murphy comes into his own as a Western star in this story. Wrongly accused by crooked railroad officials of aiding a train heist by his old friends the Daltons, he joins their gang and becomes an active participant in other robberies. Betrayed by a fellow gang member, Murphy becomes a fugitive in the end. Seeking refuge at the ranch of a reformed gang member, he hopes to flee with the man's daughter to South America, but he's captured in the end and led off to jail. The girl promises to wait.
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Reunion in Reno
Title: Reunion in Reno
Character: B. Frederick Linaker
Released: October 9, 1951
Type: Movie
A little girl enlists the aid of an attorney to obtain a divorce from her parents. Breezy B comedy was loosely remade as Irreconcilable Differences.
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Title: Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character: Dan
Released: October 5, 1951
Type: TV
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. The title was shortened to Schlitz Playhouse, beginning with the fall 1957 season.
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Title: Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character: Sam Sargent
Released: October 5, 1951
Type: TV
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. The title was shortened to Schlitz Playhouse, beginning with the fall 1957 season.
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The Tall Target
Title: The Tall Target
Character: Stranger
Released: August 17, 1951
Type: Movie
A detective tries to prevent the assassination of President-elect Abraham Lincoln during a train ride headed for Washington in 1861.
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Show Boat
Title: Show Boat
Character: Pete
Released: July 19, 1951
Type: Movie
A dashing Mississippi river gambler wins the affections of the daughter of the owner of the Show Boat.
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Fourteen Hours
Title: Fourteen Hours
Character: Bit Part (uncredited)
Released: April 1, 1951
Type: Movie
A young man, morally destroyed by his parents not loving him and by the fear of being not capable to make his girlfriend happy, rises on the ledge of a building with the intention of committing suicide. A policeman makes every effort to argue him out of it.
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Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration
Title: Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration
Character: Pilate
Released: March 25, 1951
Type: Movie
The story of the Crucifixion, set within the context of the Korean War.
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Dallas
Title: Dallas
Character: U.S. Marshal Martin Weatherby
Released: December 30, 1950
Type: Movie
After the Civil War, Confederate soldier Blayde Hollister travels to Dallas to avenge the savage murder of his family. Discovering his enemy is now an esteemed citizen, Hollister plots to expose the outlaw and his syndicate.
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Three Secrets
Title: Three Secrets
Character: Bill Chase
Released: October 20, 1950
Type: Movie
A five-year-old boy is the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash in the mountains of California. When the newspapers reveal the boy was adopted and that the crash occurred on his birthday, three women begin to ponder if it's the son each gave up for adoption. As the three await news of his rescue at a mountain cabin, they recall incidents from five years earlier and why they were forced to give up their son.
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The Showdown
Title: The Showdown
Character: Big Mart
Released: August 15, 1950
Type: Movie
Shadrach Jones, ex-Texas State Policeman, has the ruthless determination to find and kill the man who shot his brother in the back and stole the money with which he was to buy a ranch for the two of them. At the saloon-hotel run by Adelaide, Shadrach is convinced that one of the cowhands on the Captain McKellar cattle drive to Montana is his man. He takes the job of trail-herd boss to find the killer. McKellar preaches to Jones that he should forget revenge and let the law of retribution take care of the killer. Shadrach's hard driving of the men and his hunt for the killer makes him bitterly hated, and his retribution quest ends in a manner he did not anticipated.
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Stella
Title: Stella
Character: Fred Anderson Jr.
Released: July 20, 1950
Type: Movie
Screwball black comedy about a wacky family that forgets where they've buried a corpse.
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Mother Didn't Tell Me
Title: Mother Didn't Tell Me
Character: Dr. Bruce Gordon
Released: March 3, 1950
Type: Movie
Jane Morgan (Dorothy McGuire) marries handsome doctor William Wright (William Lundigan), despite warnings from a host of other doctor's wives that she will be neglected and lonely, thanks to his career. Based on the novel The Doctor Has Three Faces by Mary Bard and billed as a movie with "all the answers" for new wives, this dated little film follows Jane's struggles to adapt her life to better suit her husband's needs.
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The Lady Gambles
Title: The Lady Gambles
Character: Tony
Released: May 20, 1949
Type: Movie
When Joan Boothe accompanies husband-reporter David to Las Vegas, she begins gambling to pass the time while he is doing a story. Encouraged by the casino manager, she gets hooked on gambling, to the point where she "borrows" David's expense money to pursue her addiction. This finally breaks up their marriage, but David continues trying to help her.
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Johnny Stool Pigeon
Title: Johnny Stool Pigeon
Character: Pringle
Released: April 20, 1949
Type: Movie
A federal agent infiltrates a crime syndicate.
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Joan of Arc
Title: Joan of Arc
Character: Dunois, Bastard of Orleans
Released: December 22, 1948
Type: Movie
In the 15th Century, France is a defeated and ruined nation after the One Hundred Years War against England. The fourteen-year-old farm girl Joan of Arc claims to hear voices from Heaven asking her to lead God's Army against Orleans and crowning the weak Dauphin Charles VII as King of France. Joan gathers the people with her faith, forms an army, and conquers Orleans.
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Miss Tatlock's Millions
Title: Miss Tatlock's Millions
Character: Dr. Mason
Released: November 19, 1948
Type: Movie
After the accidental death of an idiot heir, a stunt man is hired to impersonate him while the family gathers to determine the dispersment of the estate of Miss Tatlock's millions.
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The Snake Pit
Title: The Snake Pit
Character: Gordon
Released: November 4, 1948
Type: Movie
Virginia Cunningham is confused upon finding herself in a mental hospital, with no memory of her arrival at the institution. Tormented by delusions and unable to even recognize her husband, Robert, she is treated by Dr. Mark Kik, who is determined to get to the root of her mental illness. As her treatment progresses, flashbacks depict events in Virginia's life that may have contributed to her instability.
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Sorry, Wrong Number
Title: Sorry, Wrong Number
Character: Fred Lord
Released: September 24, 1948
Type: Movie
Leona Stevenson is confined to bed and uses her telephone to keep in contact with the outside world. One day she overhears a murder plot on the telephone and is desperate to find out who is the intended victim.
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The Gay Intruders
Title: The Gay Intruders
Character: Dr. Harold Matson
Released: September 2, 1948
Type: Movie
Psychiatrists move in with bickering stage spouses and start bickering too.
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Title: Bambi Awards
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: January 1, 1948
Type: TV
The Bambi, often called the Bambi Award and stylised as BAMBI, is a German award presented annually by Hubert Burda Media to recognize excellence in international media and television to personalities in the media, arts, culture, sports, and other fields "with vision and creativity who affected and inspired the German public that year", both domestic and foreign. First held in 1948, it is the oldest media award in Germany. The trophy is named after Felix Salten's book Bambi, A Life in the Woods and its statuettes are in the shape of the novel's titular fawn character. They were originally made of porcelain until 1958, when the organizers switched to using gold, with the casting done by the art casting workshop of Ernst Strassacker in Süßen.
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The Gangster
Title: The Gangster
Character: Beaumont
Released: November 25, 1947
Type: Movie
Based on the novel Low Company. One of the most peculiar film noirs of the 1940s stars Barry Sullivan as a small-time hood who suffers a mental breakdown as his big plans begin to crumble. Beautiful Belita is the slumming society girlfriend who only fuels his paranoia.
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Blonde Savage
Title: Blonde Savage
Character: Steve Blake
Released: November 22, 1947
Type: Movie
An expedition into the deep jungle discovers a native tribe led by a tall Caucasian blonde woman.
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Arabian Nights
Title: Arabian Nights
Character: Kamar (as Leif Erikson)
Released: December 25, 1942
Type: Movie
Two half brothers battle each other for the power of the throne and the love of sensual, gorgeous dancing girl Scheherazade.
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Night Monster
Title: Night Monster
Character: Laurie
Released: October 20, 1942
Type: Movie
Kurt Ingston, a rich recluse, invites the doctors who left him a hopeless cripple to his desolate mansion in the swamps as one by one they meet horrible deaths.
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Pardon My Sarong
Title: Pardon My Sarong
Character: Whaba
Released: August 7, 1942
Type: Movie
A pair of bus drivers accidentally steal their own bus. With the company issuing a warrant for their arrest, they tag along with a playboy on a boat trip that finds them on a tropical island, where a jewel thief has sinister plans for them.
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Eagle Squadron
Title: Eagle Squadron
Character: Johnny M. Coe
Released: June 16, 1942
Type: Movie
An American joins the British Royal Air Force just before Pearl Harbor is attacked, and falls in love with a beautiful English girl.
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Are Husbands Necessary?
Title: Are Husbands Necessary?
Character: Bill Stone
Released: June 15, 1942
Type: Movie
George and Mary Elizabeth Cugat are about to celebrate their second wedding anniversary and dream of having a child. Although they live comfortably on George's earnings as a bank official, Liz's scatterbrained handling of their finances constantly puts them in jeopardy. Liz becomes jealous when George's former girl friend, Myra Ponsonby, comes for a visit with his party-loving friends Bill Stone, Cory Cartwright and Chuck, an artist, after which George spends the entire evening dancing at a nightclub with Myra.
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The Fleet's In
Title: The Fleet's In
Character: Jake
Released: January 24, 1942
Type: Movie
Shy sailor Casey Kirby suddenly becomes known as a sea wolf when his picture is taken with a famous actress. Things get complicated when bets are placed on his prowess with the ladies.
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H.M. Pulham, Esq.
Title: H.M. Pulham, Esq.
Character: Rodney 'Bo-Jo' Brown
Released: December 4, 1941
Type: Movie
A man who lived his life as he was told he should, not as he would have chosen to, is brought out of his shell by a beautiful young woman.
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The Blonde from Singapore
Title: The Blonde from Singapore
Character: Terry Prescott
Released: October 15, 1941
Type: Movie
Fortune hunter Mary Brooks, posing as a missionary's daughter, strives to beat a couple of pilots, Terry Prescott and "Waffles" Billings, (who have turned pearl divers in order to buy a plane and join the Royal Air Force), out of their pearls, while also beating off the advances of Prince Sali who wants to add her to his harem.
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Nothing But the Truth
Title: Nothing But the Truth
Character: Tommy Van Dusen
Released: October 10, 1941
Type: Movie
Gwen Saunders teams up with her uncle's employee, Steve Bennett, in an attempt to double her $10,000 investment in the family firm. If she can reach the $20,000 mark, her uncle, T.T. Ralston, will match the figure. Steve bets that if he can spend an entire day without telling a lie, Ralston and his business partners must double Gwen's money. Bennett then earns the enmity of everyone involved in his attempt to win the bet.
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Crisis
Title: Crisis
Character: Narrator (voice)
Released: March 13, 1939
Type: Movie
A documentary about the conquest of Czechoslovakia by the Nazis just prior to World War 2.
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One Third of a Nation
Title: One Third of a Nation
Character: Peter Cortlant
Released: February 10, 1939
Type: Movie
The negligent owner of a tenement slum becomes romantically involved with one of the building's residents.
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Ride a Crooked Mile
Title: Ride a Crooked Mile
Character: Johnny Simpkins
Released: December 9, 1938
Type: Movie
The son of a cattle-rustling Cossack immigrant must choose between following the straight path and helping his father escape from prison.
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The Big Broadcast of 1938
Title: The Big Broadcast of 1938
Character: Bob Hayes
Released: February 11, 1938
Type: Movie
The Bellows family causes comic confusion on an ocean liner, with time out for radio-style musical acts.
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Thrill of a Lifetime
Title: Thrill of a Lifetime
Character: Howard Nelson
Released: December 3, 1937
Type: Movie
"Howdy" Nelson believes there is no such think as real love and that romance can be cooked up between any eligible persons (of the opposite sex.) He is so imbued with the idea that he has established a summer camp for that reason,and has written a play on the subject. The Yacht Club Boys visit the camp, misrepresenting themselves as Broadway producers, and the talented guest of the camp put on Nelson's play...which all ends up with a lot of marriage mating; Judy and Skipper, Betty Jane and Stanley and...Gwen and "Howdy,' the guy who was positive there was no such thing as true love.
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Conquest
Title: Conquest
Character: Paul Lachinski
Released: October 22, 1937
Type: Movie
A Polish countess is dispatched by her country to become Napoleon Bonaparte's mistress at the urging of Polish leaders, who feel she might influence him to support Polish independence.
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Waikiki Wedding
Title: Waikiki Wedding
Character: Dr. Victor Quimby
Released: March 23, 1937
Type: Movie
Tony Marvin is a laid back but incredibly successful promoter and fair-haired boy for J. P. Todhunter's pineapple company located in beautiful Hawaii. He gets the company to sponsor a contest in which the winner gets a Hawaiian vacation and is obligated to write articles on the islands which, when published, will constitute a publicity coup for the company. Unfortunately, Georgia Smith, the winner, feels lonely and isolated in the Islands and wants to return to the States. With help from buddy Shad Buggle Tony tries to romantically divert Georgia without letting her know his true motivation.
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College Holiday
Title: College Holiday
Character: Dick Winters
Released: December 19, 1936
Type: Movie
College students rally to save a struggling hotel from closing. Comedy.
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Girl of the Ozarks
Title: Girl of the Ozarks
Character: Tom Bolton
Released: June 12, 1936
Type: Movie
A sweet little country girl has issues with school. Her mother is ill. The school threatens to send her to an orphanage.
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Desert Gold
Title: Desert Gold
Character: Glenn Kasedon
Released: March 26, 1936
Type: Movie
Chet Kasedon is after the Indians hidden gold mine but Chief Moya will not reveal it's location. He has also hired mining engineers Gale and Mortimer to locate the mine. When Gale sees Kasedon's cruelty to Moya, he switches sides.
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Drift Fence
Title: Drift Fence
Character: Curley Prentice
Released: February 14, 1936
Type: Movie
Although Larry "Buster" Crabbe earns top billing, the hero of Drift Fence is former Western star Tom Keene as Jim Travis, who, at a rodeo, meets city dweller Jim Traft, who has come west to erect a fence that will prevent Clay Jackson from continuing his cattle rustling business. A tough Western type, Travis suggests that he impersonate Traft and the building of the fence soon begins. But Travis is opposed by Slinger Dunn and his family, whose small ranch will suffer from the division of the land. A romance between Travis and Slinger's sister, Paula, paves the way for a meeting of the minds, however, and Slinger switches sides completely upon learning that Travis is a Texas Ranger in disguise.
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Nevada
Title: Nevada
Character: Bill Ide
Released: November 29, 1935
Type: Movie
A gambler wins a ranch in a round of poker, then joins his neighbors on a rustler-ridden cattle drive to Texas.
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Wanderer of the Wasteland
Title: Wanderer of the Wasteland
Character: Lawrence
Released: September 9, 1935
Type: Movie
Adam Larey becomes a fugitive from justice when he escapes after being blamed for a crime he did not commit. He wanders into the desert wastelands and joins an outlaw gang who prey on gold prospectors. Years later, he meets his wife and her gold-prospecting father as they have come there seeking their fortune, and not knowing the danger of the treacherous desert wastes, the poisoned-water holes and the outlaw bands of marauders who roam the desert in search of the gold found by others. He comes to their aid and, eventually, manges to clear his name of the false charge against him.