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matthewb-16
Reviews
Laramie: Widow in White (1961)
Sue England was a great guest star
Enjoyed the episode for the most part.
I've yet to sit down and watch it all the way through, so there's plot holes I don't follow - ex: Slim's friend, the undercover agent for the stage line... what happened to him after he and Slim talked in the cell?
As usual, Slim's a great friend who'll do everything he can to help, but it seems that he ended up with all the responsibility of finding out what was going on at the widow's ranch/relay station.
Know that Ben Johnson has played bad guys before (he was a really bad guy in a gunsmoke episode) but it still takes me aback...
On Sue England - never understood why she never "made it big" in Hollywood. Seen her in a lot of different genres of TV shows - Perry Mason, Hazel and so on.
She's been main characters for episodes with lots of dialogue to non speaking, "blink and you'll miss her" parts... just odd.
Maybe her real life was pleasant and took up a majority of her time and she acted when she felt like it - never wanted to be a big star. Don't know...
In this episode of Laramie, she was her usual likeable portrayal. Her character was one everyone liked and would try to help. Slim, the banker (think that's the character) and most of the town, even though her late husband was accused of robbery, it wasn't held against her and most felt bad about her likely losing the ranch - but the sheriff's "liking her" was way, way too much. He was obsessed - maybe to the point of being psychotic.
Bit of a spoiler -
Especially liked how Sue England played her character because at the end of the episode, her character was EVIL.
Wow... what a turn for the character.
Though Slim's dialogue on how he finally figured things out made sense afterwards, I didn't see it coming.
She was as vulnerable and sweet as could be - as she was throughout the episode prior to the reveal.
Her turn was all the way through - even physically. She was no longer pretty and sweet. Her face turned nasty and vicious like her true self.
Really seemed dire for Slim.
One of my favorite Slim focused episodes.
It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)
Not a long review...
Reading most of the previous reviews, seemed there are many, such as I, that enjoyed the movie for what it was. A feel good movie with some some people being out of place from their "usual" lives, some potential romance, but everyone in it trying to better themselves regardless of the circumstances.
For the life of me, I can't understand the barely 2 out of 4 star rating on the TCM listing for Time Warner/Spectrum - used to be 1 and a half stars...
Hopefully when viewers are looking for something to watch, they don't bypass this movie because of the rating and can enjoy the movie for many years as I have.
Showdown (1963)
To have a friend like that...
Enjoyed it for the most part but a few characters were aggravating (one due to the script, other due to their acting).
Drake's character...phew. That fella's the one "friend" some of us have, (or if lucky) HAD in our lives that's a guarantee trouble magnet. Of course, they somehow make sure you get involved... and always expect you to get them out of the trouble THEY always cause.
His character was such a PITA. Every opportunity he had to do the right thing, he chose poorly...until his last scene. Even then, it seemed he did it only to save the (hopeless) relationship with his girl.
Crowley's character... well it's the same one she's played in everything I've seen her in - besides one exception early in her career when she played a tomboy in a Lone Ranger episode.
PS - she's played the same character so much, she reminds me of being another Patricia Barry.
Who too have played the same character in everything I've seen - except for 2 roles - a B/C level crime drama (light noir?) set around Staten Island early in her career (she and her dialogue delivery seemed so natural and at ease) and an outstanding Gunsmoke episode - "The Cabin", where she did such a great job, it's a shame to never seen her give another performance even close to that quality...
Wonder if during the 50's and 60's, producers would say "I need an actress that'll "overact". If I can't get Crowley, call Barry!"
Back to the movie - Enjoyed it overall.
Many familiar actors of the TV western genre from that era.
2 did stand out for me
Charles Horvath - think his dialogue with Stone near the end was the most I've seen him deliver, let alone the deepest. Felt sympathy for him wanting to just let Murphy go and get away because he knew what was coming but resigned himself to it nonetheless.
Carol Thurston - though her screen time was short, she looked just as she did playing the hopelessly in love gypsy girlfriend of the wrongly convicted outlaw in the Lone Ranger.
Can't believe she was dead within 6 years of this film, while still in her 40's.
Felt bad for the Murphy character who had to make the right choices not only for himself but for everyone else. He looked so beaten and sick of it all by the end.
BTW, not sure if the movie would've been any better shown in color. Think the B&W helped the dark, hopeless mood set for the hero.
Also - sure would've wanted to see the sheriff's face when he realized Murphy risked his life to bring back the bond money to the town who treated him so poorly.