Carl Ballantine

McHale’s Navy, Season One (1962) starring Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway, Joe Flynn

McHale’s Navy Season 1

by user
June 12, 2016April 8, 2021

Editorial Review of McHale’s Navy, Season One (1962) starring Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway, Joe Flynn—courtesy of Amazon.com

Something of a cross between M*A*S*H* (it’s set in wartime) and Sgt. Bilko (the emphasis in on ensemble acting, with a ringleader and his band of merry pranksters), McHale’s Navy isn’t on a level with those two immortal sit-coms. But this amiable show, debuting on DVD with all 36 black & white episodes from its first season (1962-63) on five discs, stands the test of time surprisingly well. Read More »McHale’s Navy Season 1

The Shakiest Gun in the West

by user
June 6, 2016May 11, 2022

The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) starring Don Knotts, Barbara Rhoades

In short, The Shakiest Gun in the West is a very funny Don Knotts movie. Set in the American Old West, Don plays the part of Jesse W. Haywood, a recent graduate from Dentistry school. He is going out west to make his fortune. His final exam in dentistry school is funny, as is his boarding the train out West. Along the way, his stagecoach is held up by two robbers (his reaction being very funny in itself). And one of the two robbers is a lovely woman, “Bad Penny” Cushing (Barbara Rhoades). But, she is soon arrested, and given an opportunity for a pardon in exchange for infiltrating a wagon train heading out west …. And to break up a ring of gun smugglers.