? and The Mysterians: Punk Rock's Chicano Pioneers

Although their heyday only lasted around two years, ? and The Mysterians remain famous to this day. Their song "96 Tears" reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 and has since become a rock standard, covered by everyone from Aretha Franklin to The Stranglers. What is more, they remain known as garage rock legends and punk rock pioneers.

The band that would become ? and The Mysterians was formed in 1962 by bass guitarist Larry Borjas, drummer Robert Martinez, and lead guitarist Bobby Balderama in Michigan. They were children of migrant farm workers who would go to Michigan each summer to pick the crops there and then go back to their homes in Texas. Many of the migrant farm workers would get jobs at General Motors in Saginaw, Michigan and settle there.

Initially, Larry Borjas, Robert Martinez, and Bobby Balderama were only a three-piece who played instrumentals such as those by Link Wray, The Ventures, and Duane Eddy. It was in 1964 that American rock music changed forever with the arrival of the British Invasion. The British groups were all self-contained, with the band not only performing songs, but writing them as well. And all of them emphasized vocals. They then decided they needed a singer. Robert Martinez then suggested his older brother Rudy Martinez, who was well-known as one of the best dancers around.

The band also decided they needed a name. They considered The Cadets and dressing in military-style outfits on stage. It was one day that Larry Borjas was watching the 1957 Japanese sci-fi movie The Mysterians on television. While the other band members were hesitant at first, they finally settled upon The Mysterians. Rudy Martinez would become ? after The Mysterians hired their first manager, David Torres. He had an idea that they could take up mysterious names, so that Bobby Balderama would be "X," Robert Martinez would be "Y," Larry Borjas would be "Z," and Rudy Martinez would be "?." Only one of the names would stick. Rudy Martinez would forever be ? or "Question Mark," and the band would become known as ? and The Mysterians.

? and The Mysterians would add one more member. The band hired a young, Bay City, Michigan keyboardist named Frank Rodriguez, whose work would prove to be pivotal on their hit "96 Tears." Unfortunately, both Larry Borjas and Robert Martinez were about to be drafted into the United States Army. The two of them decided to enlist to avoid being sent to Vietnam. What was left of ? and The Mysterians continued to practice. It was one day that Frank Rodriguez began playing an organ riff and ? began to singing along to it. Initially called "Too Many Teardrops," it became "96 Tears."

Eventually ? and The Mysterians went to a producer named Lilly Gonzales. She got them booked into a  recording studio and there they recorded "96 Tears" and "Midnight Hour." For the recording session Fernando Augilar of the band Rudy & The Reno bops filled in as the bassist. Frank Lugo was then hired as ? and The Mysterians' permanent bassist Pa-Go-Go Records and "Midnight Hour" was released as a single with "96 Tears" as its B-side on the independent Texas label Pa-Go-Go Records, which was owned in part by Lilly Gonzales's husband, Jose "Pato" Gonzales. Despite "Midnight Hour" being the A-side, ? was convinced that it was "96 Tears" that would be the hit and convinced the deejay at WSAM in Saginaw, Michigan to play "96 Tears."

"96 Tears" soon proved popular in Michigan, so much so that Pa-Go-Go Records could not keep up with the demand. ? and The Mysterians were signed by Cameo-Parkway. Cameo-Parkway released "96 Tears" nationwide and the song began a steady climb up the Billboard singles chart until it reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 29 1966. Although often cited as such, ? and The Mysterians were hardly one hit wonders. Their follow up to "96 Tears," "I Need Somebody," peaked at no. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their single "Can't Get Enough of You, Baby"went to no. 56. "Girl (You Captivate Me" peaked at no. 96.

? and The Mysterians would release two albums in the Sixties. Their debut album, 96 Tears, reached no. 66 on the Billboard album chart. Sadly, their second album, Action, did not prove to be a success on the charts. Much of their second album's failure may have had to do with the decline of the Cameo-Parkway Records. By 1967 the label was experiencing severe financial problems. In fact, ? and The Mysterians' single "Do Something to Me" was the very last single ever released on the label. Cameo-Parkway Records folded only a month after the single's release. "Do Something to Me" bubbled under the Billboard Hot 100 at no. 110, but would prove to be a minor hit for Tommy James & The Shondells the following year, going to no. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Following the collapse of Cameo-Parkway Records, ? and The Mysterians recorded for a succession of record labels: Capitol, Super-K, and Tangerine. The line-up of the band would also change over time. The band broke up in 1969, but reformed in the Seventies with a different line-up. The originals would re-unite. In the Nineties they re-recorded th songs on the album 96 Tears for a self-titled album and then re-recorded the songs on their album Action for the album More Action.

While ? and The Mysterians' recording success would be brief, the band would have a lasting impact. The band would influence garage bands to come, with many including "96 Tears" and even other ? and The Mysterians songs in their performances. As mentioned earlier, ? and The Mysterians are also continued pioneers of punk rock. Indeed, they were among the earliest bands to be described as "punk." What is the first known use of the term "punk rock" in the March 22 1970 issue of The Chicago Tribune in which The Fugs co-founder Ed Sanders described his first solo album's sound as "punk rock – redneck sentimentality." Creem used the terms "punk" and "punk rock" beginning in 1971. It was in May 1971 that music critic Dave Marsh described a performance by ? and The Mysterians in a club near Flint, Michigan as giving a "landmark exposition of punk rock." Some have even referred to "96 Tears" as "the first punk rock song."

In addition to pioneering punk rocks, ? and The Mysterians were also pioneers with regards to Mexican Americans in rock music. Ritchie Valens paved the way in the late Fifties.  There we also contemporary bands that included Chicano members. Sunny & The Sunglows had a no. 11  Billboard  hit with "Talk to Me, Talk to Me" in 1963. Sam the Sam of Sam the Sam and The Pharaohs was born Domingo Samudio. Like ? and The Mysterians, Cannibal and The Headhunters were composed entirely of Mexican Americans. They would have a hit with their version of "Land of a Thousand Dances," which reached no. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Alongside other Chicano artists of the Sixties, ? and The Mysterians paved the way for other Mexican American rock acts. Ultimately, ? and The Mysterians would have a lasting impact on rock music, particularly punk rock.

Making Change: The Most Significant Political Films of All Time on TCM Friday Nights from September 6 to November 1

Every Friday night from September 6 to November first on Turner Classic Movies is dedicated to the theme Making Change: The Most Significant Political Films of All Time. Ben Mankiewicz will talk with various politicians, journalists, movie critics, filmmakers, writers, and musicians exploring the historical context of each film and the message of each film, as well as their impact on society.

The films range from a  wide variety of genres, from war movies such as The Battle of Algiers (1966) to comedies such as The Great Dictator (1940) to documentaries such as Harlan County , U.S.A. (1976) to thrillers such as The Manchurian Candidate (1962). Turner Classic Movies is showing a number of truly great films, including Fail-Safe (1964), Battleship Potemkin (1925), Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), A Face in the Crowd (1957), Wag the Dog (1997), and Citizen Kane (1941). If I have only one complaint it's that some of my favourite movies are being shown really late at night (or early in the morning, if you prefer). As far as I am concerned, Salt of the Earth (1954), Battleship Potemkin (1925), Bicycle Thieves (1948), High and Low (1963), and The Manchurian Candidate (1962) are more deserving of being show in prime time than some of the movies that are.

Below are my picks for what to watch during Making Change: The Most Significant Political Films of All Time. Unless you are a night owl, you might have to set your DVR for some of them. All times are Central.

Friday, September 6:
9:15 PM All the King's Men (1949)
11:15 PM The Great Dictator (1940)

Saturday, September 7:
1:30 AM Fail-Safe (1964)
5:00 AM Salt of the Earth (1954)

Friday, September 13:
10:30 PM The Parallax View (1974)

Saturday, September 14:
3:30 AM Battle Potemkin (1925)

Friday, September 20:
7:00 PM Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
8:45 PM Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Saturday, September 21:
5:15 AM Bicycle Thieves (1948)

Friday, September 27:
7:00 PM Three Days of the Condor (1975)

Saturday, September 28:
2:45 AM Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Friday, October 4:
11:00 PM  I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

Saturday, October 5:
4.15 AM High and Low (1963)

Friday, October 11:
7:00 PM A Face in the Crowd (1957)
9:15 PM Wag the Dog (1997)

Saturday, October 12:
4:00 AM Z (1969)
6:15 AM Night and Fog (1956)

Friday, October 18:
10:30 PM Lincoln (2012

Saturday, October 19:
1:15 AM Malcolm X (1992)

Friday, October 25:
7:00 PM All the President's Men (1976)
9:30 PM Citizen Kane (1941)

Friday, November 1:
9:30 PM The Candidate (1972)
11:30 PM Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976)

Saturday, November 2:
1:15 AM The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
3:00 AM Weekend (1967)

Replacing IMDB

The Internet Movie Database, better known as IMDB, traces its origins back to 1990 on Usenet. The web version of IMDB began in 1993. Since then it has become a resource often used by movie fans, bloggers, writers, and historians. Unfortunately, IMDB's usefulness as a resource for information about film and television may have decreased this year, at least with regard to the filmographies of actors, directors, and so on. It was last month that IMDB entirely did away with the Full Text (Credits Only) version of their Name Pages (the pages listing the credits of individual actors, directors, writers, editors, and other creatives), leaving only the unpopular redesign of the Names Pages introduced in December 2022. To say many IMDB contributors were unhappy would be an understatement.

The problem with the New Name Page is that it is more difficult to use than the old Full Credits (Text Only) Name Page. To wit, on the old Full Credits (Text Only) Name Page, if an actor appeared on a television show, all of the episodes in which they appeared would be listed beneath the show's title. On the New Name Page, beneath the show's title, it simply gives the number of episodes in which they appeared. One has to click on the number of episodes in which they appeared to see the specific episodes, and even then one has to go season by season. Sadly, this is not the only way in which the New Name Page is much less user-friendly than the old Full Credits (Text Only) Page. Because the New Name Page is so difficult to use, I can only think that many IMDB users will be seeking alternatives when it comes to looking up the credits of actors, writers, directors, and other creatives (for now, at least, IMDB is still useful when it comes to looking up movie and TV show credits).

Of course, one alternative to IMDB is positively ancient: books. In fact, a good biography of an actor would be much more detailed than their IMDB profile would be. As much as other classic film buffs and I love books, they do present a few problems. The biggest problem is that books can be expensive and one cannot always depend on them being available at their local library or on Hoopla (a streaming platform that has E-books, audiobooks, movies, et. al. available). As much as many of us would love to read every classic movie or television book out there, the fact is that it simply isn't feasible for most of us. Now one can access some books on Google Books, but it can be hit or miss. There may be no preview for a particular book or, if there is a preview, the pages one may want to read may not be part of the preview.

Another alternative for filmographies is Wikipedia. I have used Wikipedia for my last few eulogies on this blog. Of course, Wikipedia also presents some problems. First, Wikipedia can be hit and miss with regard to filmographies. Sometimes Wikipedia will have only a partial filmography available for an actor. Other times it might list an actor's film work, but not their television work. Sometimes there might not be much in the way of a filmography at all. Now I know some people will point out that one should always double-check the information on Wikipedia, and I must admit that is true, but then that is also the case with IMDB.

Another alternative to IMDB is The Movie Database. It was launched in 2008 to collect movie posters and has since become a rival to IMDB. The Movie Datable is where social cataloging service Letterboxed gets its information on movies. The problem with The Movie Database is that its actor, director, writer, et. al. profiles suffer the same problem that IMDB's New Name Page suffers from. That is, when an actor has appeared on a television show, it simply lists the number of episodes in which the actor appeared. One has to click on it to see which episodes the actor was in. That having been said, unlike IMDB, once one has done that, one can see every single episode of a TV show on which an actor has appeared.

Yet another alternative to IMDB is TCM's Database. It's probably best known for its entries on movies, but it also has entries on individual actors. The problem with the TCM Database is that it concentrates primarily on movies (whether they were theatrical or TV movies doesn't matter and often does not list television shows. Even though Robert Conrad is best known as Jim West on The Wild Wild West, it isn't listed on his profile in TCM's database. My dearest Vanessa Marquez is best known for the movie Stand and Deliver (1988) and the TV show ER, but neither ER nor any of the other television shows on which she appeared are listed.

There are a few other alternatives to IMDB out there, but most of them are unsatisfactory. TV Guide has profiles for actors, directors, editors, and so on, but those profiles often have two problems. The first is that their credits are not shown in chronological order, For example, the first credit on Vanessa's TV Guide profile is Twenty Bucks (1993), which was the fourth feature film in which she appeared. The other problem is that TV Guide's profiles can be hit or miss. Vanessa's profile does not list Wiseguy or Culture Clash, even though she had a recurring role on the former and was a regular cast member on the latter. Rotten Tomatoes is not satisfactory either. Vanessa's profile on Rotten Tomatoes lists only her work on television and none of her feature films. That's right, it does not even list Stand and Deliver, the movie for which she was most famous.

While there are many alternatives to IMDB, many of them have at least a few problems and a few simply are not usable in research. It would seem film and television buffs' only hope is that IMDB comes to its senses and replaces the New Name Page with the old Full Credits (Text Only) Name Page or someone develops a new alternative to IMDB that includes all of an actor, director, writer, or other creative's credits in a format that displays all of the information in an easy to read format.

John Aprea Passes On

John Aprea, who appeared in such movies as The Godfather Part II and starred on the shows The Montefuscos and Matt Houston,died on August 5 at age 83.

John Aprea was born on March 4 1941 in Englewood, New Jersey. For a time his family lived in Italy and then returned to New Jersey. He graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey. He attended Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, majoring in business. He left college after its dean wouldn't let him switch his major to political science. While working various jobs, John Aprea decided to try acting. He moved to New York City and later Los Angeles to pursue his career.

John Aprea made his movie debut in a small part as a killer in Bullitt (1978). He made his television in a guest appearance on That Girl. He appeared in the movies The Grahopper (1970) and The Dark Side of Tomorrow (1970). He guest starred on Mannix. In the Seventies he appeared in the movies Sweet Kill (1972), The Seven-Ups (1973), Caged Heat (1974), The Godfather Part II (1974), The Stepford Wives (1975), Crazy Mama (1975), and The Idolmaker (1980). He starred on the short-lived sitcom The Montefuscos. He guest starred on the shows The F.B.I., Kate McShane, The Rookies, Wonder Woman, Mrs. Columbo, and A Man Called Sloane.

In the Eighties he appeared in the mini-series The Gangster Chronicles. He played the regular role of Lt. Vince Novelli on the show Matt Houston. He had recurring roles on Falcon's Crest, Knot's Landing, Full House, and the daytime soap opera Another World.  He guest starred on the shows The Powers of Matthew Star, Three's a Crowd, Mike Hammer, Hardcastle and McCormick, Simon & Simon, Street Hawk, Stingray, The A-Team, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Fall Guy, Private Eye,, Tales from the Darkside, Father Dowling Mysteries, and Night Court. He appeared in the movies Comeback (1982), The Act (1983), American Anthem (1986), Picasso Tiger (1988), and Savage Beach (1989).

In the Nineties John Aprea had another recurring role on Another World as well as the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. and appeared again in his recurring role on Full House. He guest starred on the shows The Hat Squad, Dark Justice, Melrose Place, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Silk Stalkings, Heaven Help Us, Renegade, Vengeance Unlimited, Pacific Blue, and The District. He appeared in the movies New Jack City (1991), Direct Hit (1994), Cyber Tracker (1994), To the Limit (1995), Sunset Park (1996), The Game (1997), My Brother Jack (1997), Deadly Ransom (1998), Dead Man on Campus (1998), and Brother (2000).

In the Naughts Mr. Aprea guest starred on the shows Philly, NYPD Blue, Cold Case (2009), and Lie to Me. He had a recurring role on the American telenovela American Heiress. He appeared in the movies The Streetsweeper (2002)  and The Manchurian Candidate (2004). In the Teens guest starred on the show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Decker,and Drive Share. He had a recurring role on Fuller House. He appeared in the movies Dirty People (2012), After You (2013), Snapshot (2014), Sharkskin (2015), Steve D (2016), Dark Image (2017), Lost Angelas (2019), and Space Junk (2019). In the 2020s he had a recurring role on the TV series The Bay and appeared in the movie Cold (2021).

John Aprea was a fine actor. He played his share of gangsters, including a young Salvatore Tesslo in The Godfather Part II and he played historical mobster and co-founder of Murder, Inc. Albert Anastasia in the mini-series The Gangster Chronicles. At the same time he could roles on the side of the law, such as Lt. Novelli on Matt Houston and Sheriff Jack North . Throughout his career he played a variety of roles, including a doctor in Bullitt, and the manager of rock star in the A-Team episode "There Goes the Neighborhood," He leaves behind a career of fine performances.

The Late Great Phil Donahue

Phil Donahue, the longtime host of The Phil Donahue Show, died yesterday, August 18 2024, at the age of 88 following a long illness.

Phil Donahue was born on December 21 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Our Lady of Angels Elementary School in Cleveland and then of St. Edward High School, an all-boys college preparatory Catholic private high school in Lakewood, Ohio.While still in college he he did early morning farm reports at WNDU-TV, in South Bend, Indiana, then an NBC affiliate owned by the University of Notre Dame. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with  a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

After graduating from college, Phil Donahue got a job as a production assistant at KYW in Cleveland. At KYW he also temporarily replaced the announcer when the announcer was on vacation. After working at KYW, he moved to Alburquerque, New Mexico where he worked a bank teller. He eventually moved to Adrian, Michigan where he was the news director at the radio station WABJ. From there he went to WHIO in Dayton, Ohio, where he was the morning anchor. Some of his interviews there would be picked up by The CBS Evening News.

It was in 1963 that he began hosting the talk show Conversation Piece on the radio station WHIO (AM). Among the things that made Conversation Piece unique at the time is that people could actually call into the stations and ask interviewees questions, including such famous people as Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, Ralph Nader, and Malcolm X.

The success of Conversation Piece would lead Phil Donahue to leave WHIO for WLWD in Dayton to host what was essentially a television version of his radio show, now titled The Phil Donahue Show. It debuted on November 7 1967. The Phil Donahue Show was filmed in front of a live audience, who would be allowed to ask questions of the guests on the show. Like Conversation Piece before it, people would call in ask questions of guests. The success of The Phil Donahue Show led to it entering national syndication in 1970. The Phil Donahue Show proved to be a success, inspiring many imitators. It ran for 29 years, the final episode airing on September 13 1996.

From 1979 to 1988 Phil Donahue was also a contributor to The Today Show on NBC. After The Phil Donahue Show ended, in 2002 he hosted the talk show Donahue on the cable channel MSNBC. Over the years he would be interviewed for several documentaries.

Phil Donahue also appeared as himself in several scripted televisions, including L.A.. Law, Blossom, The Bold and the Beautiful, Who's the Boss?, and Ellen. He was the voice of a caller to Frasier Crane's radio show on the sitcom Fraiser.

In May 1980 Phil Donahue married Marlo Thomas, who had been a guest on his show. The two of them hosted a podcast in 2021 titled Double Date with  Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue, on which they talked about success in marriage.

Phil Donahue was certainly a pioneer when it came to television talk shows, and the format of The Phil Donahue Show has been imitated over and over again through the years. Over the years The Phil Donahue Show addressed many controversial issues, including abortion, alcoholism, artificial insemination, homosexuality, pedophilia in the Catholic Church, and much more. What is more, The Phil Donahue Show, Phil Donahue never engaged in the high degree of sensationalism that many of his imitators would. The Phil Donahue Show revolutionized American television and inspired countless other talk shows. And while many of the talk shows that followed it were the bottom of the barrel in television, The Phil Donahue Show was always quality television.

The Lawless (1950)

The Lawless (1950) was a pioneering film. At a time when Mexican Americans were rarely seen in Hollywood movies, Mexican American characters played a central role in its plot. Furthermore, The Lawless addressed racism against Mexicans and Mexican Americans, a topic rarely addressed in films of the time.

The Lawless centred on former crusading reporter Larry Wilder (MacDonald Carey), who sought a quiet life in a small town as the editor of the Santa Marta, California newspaper The Union. Santa Maria, which advertises itself as "the Friendly Town" is white and largely middle class. Across the river is Sleepy Hollow, a shantytown where the local Mexican and Chicano fruit pickers (derisively called "fruit traps" by the local whites. When a fight at a dance breaks out between Chicano and white youths, Larry Wilder and Sunny Garcia (Gail Russell), whose family published the local Spanish language newspaper La Luz, find they must champion a young Mexican American, Paul Rodriguez (Lalo Ríos), who is accused of striking a white police officer.

The Lawless was based on the shot story "The Voice of Stephen Wilder" by Geoffrey Homes (Daniel Mainwaring). Daniel Mainwaring had also written Build My Gallows High, the novel upon which the classic film noir Out of the Past (1947), for which he wrote the screenplay, was based. Daniel Mainwaring had already written several screenplays prior to The Lawless besides Out of the Past, including Dangerous Passage (1949), Big Town (1946), and The Big Steal (1949). The film rights for "The Voice of Stephen Wilder" were bought by Pine-Thomas Productions, who had produced such low-budget movies for Paramount as They Made Me a Killer (1946) and Caged Fury (1948). Daniel Mainwaring would also write the screenplay for The Lawless. The Lawless would have several working titles, including The Big Showdown, Outrage, The Dividing Line, and The Voice of Stephen Wilder (the title of the original short story).

It was Daniel Mainwaring who convinced producers William H. Pine and William C. Thomas to hire Joseph Losey  Making The Lawless would not always be smooth. The Production Code Administration (PCA)  had objected to any references to the alleged rape of a girl in the screenplay and suggested removing the lines "What they holdin' back the doctor's report on what he done to her for?" and "and I thought of those hands mauling the lovely little body of Mildred Jensen." For the most part, the PCA found the screenplay acceptable, although Joseph Breen expressed concern stating in a letter to Paramount that the screenplay was a "...a damning portrayal of our American social system" due to its portrayal of racism on the part of a small California town and the sensationalism in which many of the journalists in the movie freely engaged. Paramount also expressed similar concerns, but  Paramount representative Luigi Lurasch did point out that the script specified the script never explicitly says Mildred was "raped," but instead "attacked."

As it was producers William H. Pine and William C. Thomas interfered with director Joseph Losey at every turn. He felt that he would have never been able to make The Lawless had it not been for screenwriter  Dan Mainwaring, who backed him up. As it was, Pine and Thomas were the ones who insisted on the alleged attack on the girl being in the screenplay, as well as a scene of police car bursting into flames. Joseph Losey also found star Gail Russell difficult to work with. By the time The Lawless was made, Miss Russell had been an alcoholic for many years. Paramount stated that Gail Russell was not allowed to drink, but Joseph Losey found he had to provide her with alcohol for her to remember her lines.

The Lawless was shot on location in Marysville and Grass Valley, California. Various local citizens appeared as extras in some scenes, including one scene involving an angry mob. The Lawless premiered in San Antonio, Texas, assisted by the League of United Latin American Citizens (also known as The LULACS). The Lawless received some positive reviews from some notable critics. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times liked the film, writing, "And although their drama, The Lawless, is no Fury or Intruder in the Dust, it is a startling account of mob violence in a northern California town." The Los Angeles Times also praised The Lawless, stating, "Geoffrey Homes, in one of the most cleverly balanced scripts yet written for a controversial theme, (all racial themes, unhappily, seem to be controversial), has found direction to match in Joseph Losey's dynamic use of camera and speech." Variety also gave the film a good review, commenting, "Racial tolerance gets a working over in The Lawless, but the producers don’t soapbox the message, using it, instead, as a peg on which to produce a hard-hitting drama, equipped with action and fast pace"

The Lawless was nominated for the BAFTA's United Nations Award, which in the words of BAFTA is "for the best Film embodying one or more of the principles of the United Nations Charter." Pine and Thomas also received an award from the Los Angeles Urban League for  "outstanding achievement in developing better racial understanding through the production of their film, The Lawless."

Beyond Daniel Mainwaring's script and Joseph Losey's direction, much of the success as The Lawless's success as a film is due to its cast. The Lawless is filled with actors that even casual film buffs today would recognize. Character actress Lee Patrick plays Jan Dawson, a reporter for a Stockton newspaper who seems either unconcerned or unaware of the effect her sensationalistic coverage of the events in Santa Maria is having. John Hoyt plays against type as Ed Ferguson, a Santa Maria businessman who is not only tolerant of, but sympathetic towards the Mexican Americans of Sleepy Hollow. Martha Hyer appears in a small role as Caroline Tyler, while Tab Hunter appears in his film debut as Frank O'Brien.

Today the casting of Gail Russell as Sunny Garcia would be considered politically incorrect, given she was not Mexican in descent or even a Latina. From the Silent Era well into the Seventies, it was not usual for white people to be cast as Latinos, East Asians, Arabs, and many other ethnicities. While Gail Russell gives a good performance as Sunny Garcia, many today (myself included) would prefer a Latina in the role. The Lawless can be given credit for the fact that the majority of Mexican American characters in the film are indeed played by Latinos. Among these are Maurice Jara, who would later play Dr. Guerra in Giant (1956). Mexican actor Felipe Turich, who played Paul Rodriguez's father, had a busy career during which he appeared in such films as Giant and One-Eyed Jacks (1961) and such TV shows as Peter Gunn and The High Chaparral.

Of course, at the centre of The Lawless is newcomer Lalo Ríos as Paul Rodriguez, the young Mexican American who finds himself persecuted after he unintentionally strikes a white cop. The Lawless marked the film debut of Lalo Ríos, who had never acted before. Lalo Ríos was part of a neighbourhood social club called "the HepKitties" in East Los Angeles. Writers Dan and Lilith James occasionally wrote skits for the HepKitties and took notice of Lalo Ríos. They introduced him to director Joseph Losey, who arranged for a screen test for Lalo Ríos, after which he was cast as Paul Rodriguez in The Lawless. Lalo Ríos receives a good deal of screen time in The Lawless. Indeed, the movie's plot would not take place without his character Paul Rodriguez. What is more, he delivers a sincere, believable performance in the role of the frightened teenager at the centre of controversy.

Sadly, The Lawless would not be a stepping stone to stardom for Lalo Ríos. After a few uncredited roles following The Lawless, he played his only lead role in the classic boxing film The Ring (1952), one of the earliest films to not only address racism against Chicanos, but to use the word "Chicano." Following The Ring Lalo Ríos would have smaller roles in such films as Prisoner of War (1954) and Touch of Evil (1958). In the late Fifties his career largely shifted to television, where he would have somewhat more substantial roles in guest appearances on such shows as The Untouchables and Laredo. Unable to make a living as an actor, Lalo Ríos worked as a construction worker when he wasn't acting. Following an accident that limited his mobility, acting jobs became harder to find. He died on March 7 1973 at the age of 46.

While the central character of The Lawless is white, the film is still a pioneering work with regards to portrayal of Mexican Americans on film. For one of the first times in the history of American movies, Mexican Americans are presented in a sympathetic, non-stereotypical manner. The film is also notable as one of the earliest portrayals of racism against Mexicans and Mexican Americans in a Hollywood film. The fact that it is set in a typical, North California town makes its message of racial tolerance all the more potent. As might be expected of a movie in which Mexican Americans play a central role and which address racism against Mexican Americans, it is also a movie in which many of the roles are played by Latinos. This set The Lawless apart from many films of the era, in which all of the Mexican Americans might be played by white people or people of yet other ethnicities. Of course, in the end The Lawless is also a taut story of racial tensions in a small town that can't help but keep the viewer enthralled.

The Late Great Peter Marshall

Peter Marshall, the long-time host of the classic game show Hollywood Squares, died on August 15 2024 at the age of 98.

Peter Marshall was born Ralph Pierre LaCock on March 30 1926 in Clarksburg, West Virginia. His older sister was Joan LaCock, who would gain fame as actress Joanne Dru. He was raised in Huntington, West Virginia by his grandmother. In 1940 he moved to New York City to be with his mother, who had moved to the city to support his sister Joan's modelling career. When he was 14 years old singer Al Jolsen got him a job at the Paramount Theatre as an usher. He was only 15 when he sang with the Bob Chester Band. He was under 18 when he got a job as an NBC page. As a page he assisted on the game show Truth or Consequences.

Peter Marshall moved to California in 1943 where he stayed in his sister Joanne Dru and her husband Dick Haymes's guest house. It was not long after he moved to California that the was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served as a disc jockey and as a programmer at a radio station in Naples, Italy. Following his service, he worked as a DJ and a singer in Florida. It was in 1949 that he met comedian Tommy Noonan, the half-brother of Mr. Marshall's sister Joanne Dru's then husband John Ireland. The two formed a comedy team and were soon playing clubs in the Los Angeles area. In New York they played sixteen weeks in the club La Martinique. 

It was as one half of Marshall and Noonan that Peter Marshall made his television debut on The Garry Moore Show in 1952. The comedy team appeared on the shows Tonight!, Stage Show, Of All Things, The George Gobel Show, The Big Party, The Red Rowe Show, and Toast of the Town. Marshall and Noonan also appeared in the movies The Return of Jesse James (1950), Holiday Rhythm (1950), FBI Girl (1951), and Starlift (1951). Peter Marshall guest starred on the shows The 20th Century Fox Hour, Men of Annapolis, Harbor Command,  and The Millionaire. He appeared in the movies The 49th Man (1953) and The Rookie (1959).

It was in 1966 that Peter Marshall became the host of Hollywood Squares.Between the daytime network version of the show and the syndicated nighttime version of the show, he would host it until 1981. In the Sixties he guest starred on The Lucy Show, and 77 Sunset Strip. He appeared in the movies Swingin' Along (1961), Settle contra la morte (1964), Ensign Pulver (1964), and Maryjane (1968). He appeared on Broadway in How to Make a Man and Skyscraper.

In the Seventies Peter Marshall continued to host Hollywood Squares. He guest starred on the shows The Good Life; Laugh-In; Love, American Style; Banacek; Lanigan's Rabbi; Big Hawaii; Lou Grant; and WKRP in Cincinnati; CHiPs; and The Love Boat. He appeared in the mini-series Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue.He appeared in the movies Rabbit Test (1979) and Americathon (1979).

In the Eighties Peter Marshall hosted the Miss World pageant and the game shows Fantasy, All Star Blitz, and Yahtzee. He guest starred on Fantasy Island, CHiPs, The Love Boat, Hotel, Automan, Jessie, and Sledge Hammer!. He appeared in the movie Annie (1982). He appeared on Broadway in La Cage aux Folles.

In the Nineties he hosted the game show The Reel to Reel Picture Show. He guest starred on In Living Color, MADtv, Burke's Law, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Parent 'Hood. He appeared in the movie Sista dansen (1993). In 2001 he appeared in the film Teddy Bear's Picnic. He was a guest host on Hollywood Squares.

In addition to his work in film and on television, Peter Marshall hosted a music program on the the Music of Your Life radio network with Debby Boone for 15 years.

Peter Marshall was a remarkable game show host. Not only was he friendly and charming, but he was the perfect straight man for the celebrities on the show. Peter Marshall was more than a game show host, as he did have an acting career. He had a gift for comedy, as seen in his guest appearances on Sledge Hammer, In Living Color and MADtv. He could also play drama, as seen in the movie The 49th Man and his guest appearances on 77 Sunset Strip and Banacek. He was also a gifted singer, a talent he got to display on various variety shows and talk shows. Peter Marshall may always be remembered as the host of Hollywood Squares, but he did much more.