CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US Legal Drama Series
Grand
Jury (Desilu/NTA) (1958-60) starring Lyle Bettger & Harold J. Stone
The Court of Last Resort
(1957-58)
Episode Guide
compiled by
The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
Rina Fox, Tom Alger
*
Current Copyright Owner of All 26 episodes:
Brian D. Timmons dba TeleFilm Vantage Productions
c/o The Court Of Last Resort
BDT /
POB123 /
Columbia, Ca 95310 U.S.A.
ArtisanDreamer@yahoo.com /
www.ArtisanDreamer.com
*
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
Source:
DVD Volume 1 -
Alpha Video ALP 5092D #1.5 #1.7 #1.10 #1.20
------------------------
THE COURT OF LAST RESORT
------------------------
Walden Production
in association with
Paisano Productions
CLNA: Brian D. Timmons (d.b.a. Telefilm Vantage Productions)
for
NBC (Fridays 8:00 pm EST)
(re-run on ABC 1959-60)
Created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Producers Elliott Lewis &
Jules Goldstone
US Legal Drama series 1957-58 26 episodes x 30 min bw
04Oct 1957 - 11Apr 1958 NBC Fri 8:00-8:30
Aug 1959 - Feb 1960 ABC Wed 8:00-8:30 (Repeats of season 1)
starring
Paul Birch as Erle Stanley Gardner
Lyle Bettger as Sam Larsen
with:
Charles Meredith as Dr. LeMoyne Snyder
Robert H. Harris as Raymond Schindler
Carleton Young as Harry Steeger
John Launer as Marshall Houts.
John Maxwell as Alex Gregory.
Robert Anderson as Park Street, Jr
Premise:
7 criminal law experts aid unjustly convicted defendants.
Background:
The following season Lyle Bettger returned, starring in the series Grand
Jury (Desilu/NTA) (1958-60) starring Lyle Bettger & Harold J. Stone
Paisano productions, also produced the original
Perry Mason
(1957-66) starring Raymond Burr
########### The Court of Last Resort #########
############### season 1957-58 ###############
##############################################
NBC Fridays 8:00pm Eastern
1.01 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE GORDON WALLACE CASE
04-Oct-1957 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Robert McQueeney .... Wallace
Barney Phillips ..... MacKenzie
Gary Vinson ......... Young Gordon Wallace
Amzie Strickland .... Marion
John Anderson ....... Phil
Lorna Thayer ........ Beth
Bill Lundmark ....... Trimble
Synopsis:
A 22-year-o1d New England murder is reenacted at a new hearing. [RF]
1.02 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE TOMAS MENDOZA CASE
11-Oct-1957 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Robert Blake ....... Tomas Mendoza
Alexander Campbell... Frederick Bixby
Robert H. Harris .... Raymond Schindler
Peggy Maley ......... Mrs. Brower
Joe Maross .......... Father Burke
Synopsis:
Young Tomas Mendoza asserts that he was miles away when the murder for
which he was convicted took place. [RF]
1.03 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE FORBES-CARROLL CASE
18-Oct-1957 NBC Fri (rerun 04Nov59)
Guest cast:
Michael Landon ...... Thomas Forbes
Carol Leigh ......... Susan Carol
Onslow Stevens ...... Puckett
Jack Kruschen ....... Morning
George Selk ......... Ron
Barry Kelley ........ Smallwood
Joyce Jameson ....... Eve
Synopsis:
A young couple, about to be executed for a brutal murder, protect their
innocence and appeal
to the governor for clemency. The governor calls
in the Court of Last Resort. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
A young man is convicted of a brutal murder and is given a second
chance to prove his innocence. [RF]
1.04 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE WESLEY FERGUSON CASE
25-Oct-1957 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Denver Pyle ......... Wesley Ferguson
Ken Patterson ....... Scott
Philip Bourneuf ..... Costi
Celia Lovsky ........ Mrs. Costi
Anne Seymour ........ Martha
Rosa Turich ......... Rita
Synopsis:
Trusty Wesley Ferguson uses his new privileges to prove his innocence
of murder. [RF]
1.05 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE GEORGE ZACCHO CASE
DVD Volume 1 -
Alpha Video ALP 5092D
01Nov57 NBC Fri
Directed by Reginald Le Borg
Guest cast:
Bob Knapp ........... Kowell
Renata Vanni ........ Anna
Irene Tedrow ........ Vera
Nico Minardos ....... Alex
Adonis de Milo ...... Godopolis
Lilyan Chauvin ...... Margarite
John Verros ......... Fisherman
Synopsis 1:
A fortune teller holds the answers to the murder of a mistreated wife who was
allegedly poisoned by her
cheating husband. Although convicted
of the killing, George Zaccho strongly maintains his innocence. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
Incongruity between method of murder and a convicted wife-killer's
character wins a new trial for a Greek fisherman. [RF]
1.06 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE KARL HOOFT CASE
08-Nov-1957 NBC Fri
directed by Tom Gries
Guest cast:
Karl Lukas ......... Karl Hooft
Gail Kobe .......... Anna Jablowska
Evelyn Scott ....... Helen
Raft Burns ......... Rabsky
Sara Taft .......... Mrs. Wayne
Gage Clarke ........ Roberts
Tom Greenway ....... Stanley
Synopsis:
A man who has served 16 years for arson has his case reopened. [RF]
1.07 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE CONRAD MURRAY CASE
DVD Volume 1 -
Alpha Video ALP 5092D
15Nov57 NBC Fri
directed by Reginald Le Borg
Guest cast:
Vaughn Taylor .......... Conrad Murray
Carl Benton Reid ....... Warden Barrett
Stafford Repp .......... Richard Phillips
Alexander Lockwood ..... Everett Miles
Jeanne Bates ........... Mrs. Phillips
Synopsis:
After serving many years in prison for a double murder, Murray has
through his own efforts become an expert electrical engineer. Using this
knowledge he improves the prison's electrical system, saving the
taxpayers a fortune. The Court of Last Resort champions Murray as a completely
rehabilitated criminal and is in favor of granting him the parole thus
far denied him. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
Conrad Murray is up for parole after 34 years as an exemplary prisoner. [RF]
1.08 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE DARLENE FITZGERALD CASE
22-Nov-1957 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Peggy McCay ......... Darlene Fitzgerald
Jean Carson ......... Myra North
Stacy Harris ........ Richard Wesson
Synopsis:
Convicted of killing a romantic rival by pushing her down a mine shaft,
Darlene Fitzgerald is sentenced to life imprisonment. She protestes her
innocence, and the Court of Last Resort investigates. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
Darlene Fitzgerald has spent three years in prison for murdering a
woman by throwing her down an elevator shaft. [RF]
1.09 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE JAMES DAWSON CASE
29-Nov-1957 NBC Fri
Directed by Peter Godfrey
Guest cast:
Don Dubbins ......... James Dawson
Alan Gifford ........ George Hallis
Robert Carricart .... Hallas
Robert H. Harris .... Raymond Schindler
Synopsis 1:
James Dawson begs the Court of Last Resort for help, he claims he was
set-up by his business partner. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
James Dawson needs all the help he can get: he's been convicted on
circumstantial evidence---of killing a gas-station attendant. [RF]
1.10 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE CLARENCE REDDING CASE
DVD Volume 1 -
Alpha Video ALP 5092D
06-Dec-1957 NBC Fri
Directed by Reginald Le Borg
Starring:
Lyle Bettger as Sam Larsen
Guest cast:
John Bleifer ........ Clarence Redding
Parley Baer ......... Constable Stokes
Robert Crawford ..... Tommy
Fred Kruger ......... George
Perry Ivins ......... Welling
Helen Andrews ....... Florence
Kay Stewart ......... Lucy
Joe Kearns .......... Harold
Synopsis 1:
The infamous "lipstick murderer" is a fiend who stalks and murders young girls.
When a drifter is accused of killing Annie Bingham, Investigator Sam Larsen
has just three weeks to find the real killer before Redding is executed.
Synopsis 2:
Last-minute evidence wins a stay of execution for a man convicted of
assaulting and murdering a 15-year-old girl. [RF]
1.11 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE JIM THOMPSON CASE
13-Dec-1957 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Henry Brandon ....... Jim Thompson
Wallace Ford ........ William Markham
Jaclynne Greene ..... Wauna
Norman Fredric ...... Redfern
Synopsis:
Indian chief Jim Thompson, convicted of killing his wife, appeals to
the court. [RF]
1.12 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE JOHN SMITH CASE
20-Dec-1957 NBC Fri
Directed by Reginald Le Borg
Guest cast:
Than Wyenn .......... John Smith
Jack Reitzen ........ Victor Raggio
Naomi Stevens ....... Martha
Roy Engel ........... Captain Briggs
Paul Fix ............ Warden Avery
Jack Reitzen ........ Raggio
Karl Swenson ........ Holstad
Olan Soule .......... Webster
Joe Mell ............ Grocer
Synopsis:
During his long imprisonment for the slaying of a grocer, John Smith
did not receive a single letter, have any visitors nor communicate with
the outside world. But he did continue to protest his innocence to the warden,
who gave Smith's story to investigator Sam Larsen of the Court
of Last Resort. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
John Smith has served 22 years in prison for killing a grocery-store
owner. Now suddenly his case is up for appeal. [RF]
1.13 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE WESTOVER CASE
03Jan58 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Stuart Whitman ....... Gene Westover
Robert Wilke ......... Frank Westover
Robert Burton ........ Officer Eldon Cox
Harry Landers ........ Dan Tucker
Fay Roope ............ Tackberry
Chris Alcaide ........ Enright
Clem Bevans .......... Proctor
Michael Hinn ......... Downer
Lee Roberts .......... Deputy
Synopsis:
Eyewitness testimony sent a father and son to prison for murder but an
uncertain arresting officer reopens the case. [RF]
1.14 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE ARNOLD McHUGH CASE
10-Jan-1958 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Les Tremayne ......... Arnold McHugh
Norman Twain ......... Dennis McHugh
Barbara Bestar ....... Sue
Paula Winslowe ....... Doris McHugh
Margo Woods .......... Frances Wynans
Maurice Manson ....... Ames
Jim Maloney .......... Pitt
Donald Lawton ........ Doubleday
Synopsis:
When a Broadway actress is found murdered in her apartment, suspicion
falls on a theatrical designer who was in love with her. The designer is tried
and
sentenced to life imprisonment. Later the Court of Last
Resort reopens the case. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
Public sentiment contributes to the quick conviction of a man accused
of killing his girl. [RF]
1.15 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE STEVE HRDLIKA CASE
24Jan58 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Charles Bronson ...... Steve Hrdilka
Norma Moore .......... Wilma Neal
Francis X. Bushman ... Priest
Richard Kelgh ........ Dr. Barlow
Herbert Lytton ....... Victim
Roy Barcroft ......... Dobson
Synopsis:
Photographs of a murder victim's eyes reveal that a convicted man
cannot be the killer. [RF]
1.16 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE PHILLIP HUSTON CASE
31Jan58 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Ross Martin .......... Phillip Huston
Richard Anderson ..... Harold Quinn
Harry Bartell ........ Dennis McComb
Paul Lambert ......... Michael Hoffman
Ken Lynch ............ Sherman Pickard
Francis J. McDonald .. Turk
Maurice Wells ........ Daly
Barbara Marshall ..... Alice
Warren Parker ........ Lutrell
Synopsis:
To avoid a new investigation, authorities offer a parole to a man
convicted of a shotgun murder. [RF]
1.17 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE PETER STEVENS CASE
07-Feb-1958 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Jim Oberlin ........... Peter Stevens
John Maxwell .......... Alex Gregory
Susan Whitney ......... Janet Craig
Eve McVeagh ........... Edith Elwell
Robert Ellenstein ..... Dr. Farrell
Edward Binns .......... Melvin Cressler
John Mylong ........... Joseph Stevens
Mary Jane Croft ....... Mrs. Craig
Synopsis 1:
The Court of Last Resort employs a lie detector in the case of a
mentally retarded youth accused of a strangling. The murder weapon was a
leather boot lace which matched a pair of boots found in the boy's
possession. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
Mentally disabled Peter Stevens is accused of strangling a young girl. [RF]
1.18 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE LESTER ARNOLD CASE
14-Feb-1958 NBC Fri
Starring:
Lyle Bettger (as Sam Larsen)
Charles Meredith (as Dr. LeMoyne Snyder)
Guest cast:
Thomas Peters ......... Lester Arnold
Jeanette Nolan ........ Mrs. Hadley
Marshall Thompson ..... Officer Bentley
Forrest Lewis ......... Rossen
Jon Silo .............. Attendant
Patric Clement ........ Dykstra
Peter Mamakos ......... Hallran
Synopsis 1:
Lester Arnold is convicted of the robbery and slaying of a
gas-station attendant. The arresting officer, doubting the statement
of an eyewitness appeals to the Court of Last Resort. [TA]
Synopsis 2:
Lester Arnold was convicted of killing a gas-station attendant. He
claims his only crime was accepting a ride from the real killer. [RF]
1.19 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE FRANK CLARK CASE
21Feb58 NBC Fri
directed by James Goldstone
Guest cast:
Dan Barton ............ Frank Clark
Harold Stone .......... Captain Cunningham
Virginia Vincent ...... Eleanor Stacey
Gene Roth ............. Peter Lucenic
Stanley Adams ......... Paul Farrell
Marian Seldes ......... Roberta Farrell
Joseph Granby ......... Mr. Mitchell
Bud Doty .............. Vaccaro
Synopsis:
An eyewitness identifies Frank Clark as a killer but Clark's sister is
steadfast in his defense. [RF]
1.20 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE JACOB LOVELESS CASE
DVD Volume 1 -
Alpha Video ALP 5092D
28Feb58 NBC Fri
directed by Peter Godfrey
Guest cast:
Barry Atwater ......... Jacob Loveless
Louise Lewis .......... Josephine Kruger
Onslow Stevens ........ Edward Kruger
Jan Brooks ............ Lois
Paul Newlan ........... Walker
Val Benedict .......... Frank
Don Dubbins
Fay Spain
Harry Dean Stanton
Synopsis 1:
An illiterate backwoods youth is sent to prison on charges that he was
guilty of bludgeoning two people to death along the roadside.
Twenty-two years later, members of a parole board appeal to the Court of Last
Resort to investigate the case once again. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
Members of a parole board appeal to the Court in the case of Jacob
Loveless, an illiterate convicted of bludgeoning two people to death. [RF]
1.21 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE JOE CREDO CASE
07Mar58 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Albert de Russo ....... Joe Credo
Phillip Pine .......... Frank Credo
Renata Vanni .......... Elvira Credo
Jo Wilder ............. Rita
Ann Morrison .......... Dora
Peter Brocco .......... Glover
George Ellis .......... Hall
Synopsis:
A flower peddler's son attempts to prove his father innocent of killing
a young girl. [RF]
1.22 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE STEPHEN LOWELL CASE
14Mar58 NBC Fri
Directed by Tom Gries
Guest cast:
Gary Moore ............ Stephen Lowell
Madlyn Rhue ........... Janice Lowell
Coulter Irwin ......... Carl Johnson
Jester Hairston ....... Seth
Peter Whitney ......... Kearne
Fay Baker ............. Mrs. Barclay
Willis Bouchey ........ Pickett
Synopsis:
Convicted of murdering a man in love with his wife, Stephen Lowell
(Gary Moore) tries to prove that the victim committed suicide. [RF]
1.23 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE MARY MORALES CASE
21-Mar-1958 NBC Fri (rerun 16Sep59)
directed by James Goldstone
Guest cast:
Marian Seldes ......... Mary Morales
Joe De Santis ......... Juan Morales
Robert E. Griffin ..... Prosecutor
Carl Bensen ........... John Stevens
John Cliff ............ Clint Whaley
John Zaremba .......... Judge
Walter Barnes ......... Fred
Perry Ivins
Fred Kruger
Synopsis 1:
A newspaper reporter asks the Court of Last Resort to investigate the
circumstances that led to the conviction of a young Mexican mother for
first-degree murder. The reporter feels that the woman was found guilty
because of prejudice against her rather than concrete evidence.
Synopsis 2:
A young Mexican mother fights desperately to prove the murder she
committed was accidental.
1.24 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE JOEL SHELDON CASE
28-Mar-1958 NBC Fri
Starring:
Lyle Bettger .......... Sam Larsen
Paul Birch ............ Erle Stanley Gardner
Charles Meredith ...... Dr. LeMoyne Snyder
Guest cast:
Malcolm Atterbury ..... Joel Sheldon
Dabbs Greer ........... Sheriff Cass Baker
Jean Inness ........... Jenny Sheldon
Bartlett Robinson ..... Rod Moore
Martha Wentworth ...... Mrs. Ritchie
Russell Simpson ....... Glovers
Synopsis:
Due to the testimony of a doctor, Joel Sheldon is sentenced to life in
prison for murder. Sheldon pleads that he shot the victim in
self-defense. Later the state's attorney general asks the Court of Last Resort
to investigate the case because the transcripts of the
trial seem incomplete. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
Larsen investigates the story of an Everglades trapper convicted of
killing an old enemy. [RF]
1.25 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE TODD-LOOMIS CASE
04-Apr-1958 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
Doug McClure .......... Tommy Loomis
Joel Grey ............. Floyd Todd
Alex Gerry ............ Basil Todd
Ned Glass ............. Marty McGuire
Irene Tedrow .......... Sarah
Bob Wehling ........... Sheriff
Jim Nusser ............ Judge
Barry Brooks .......... Clerk
Ralph Moody ........... John
Herman Rudin .......... Bartender
Synopsis:
Larsen can't find the motive for two college students convicted of
beating a man to death. [RF]
1.26 [--] Court of Last Resort: THE ALLEN CUTLER CASE
(final episode)
11-Apr-1958 NBC Fri
Guest cast:
David Opatoshu ........ Allen Cutler
Herschel Bernardi ..... Frank Kerlo
Virginia Gregg ........ Edith Cutler
Werner Klemperer ...... Malone
Synopsis:
Allen Cutler has 10 days to prove he did not commit murder. [RF]
-------------
Reruns
-------------
16Sep59 rerun of 1.23 "The Mary Morales Case" (first aired 21Mar58)
########### The Court of Last Resort #########
################# the end ##################
##############################################
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