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Morris Ankrum
Morris Ankrum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Morris Ankrum (born Morris Nussbaum, August 28, 1896 – September 2, 1964) was an American radio, television and film character actor. Before signing with Paramount Pictures in the 1930s, Nussbaum had already changed his last name to Ankrum. Upon signing with the studio, he chose to use the name "Stephen Mo... more

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Morris Ankrum (born Morris Nussbaum, August 28, 1896 – September 2, 1964) was an American radio, television and film character actor.

Before signing with Paramount Pictures in the 1930s, Nussbaum had already changed his last name to Ankrum. Upon signing with the studio, he chose to use the name "Stephen Morris" before changing it to Morris Ankrum in 1939.

Ankrum's stern visage and sharply defined features helped cast him in supporting roles as stalwart authority figures, including scientists, military men (particularly army officers), judges and even psychiatrists in more than 150 films, mostly B movies. One standout role was in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's production of Tennessee Johnson (1942), a biographical film about Andrew Johnson, the 17th U.S. president. As Sen. Jefferson Davis, Ankrum movingly addresses the United States Senate upon his resignation to lead the Confederate States of America as that republic's first—and only—president. Ankrum's film career was extensive and spanned 30 years. His credits were largely concentrated in the western and science-fiction genres.

Ankrum appeared in such westerns as Ride 'Em Cowboy in 1942, Vera Cruz opposite Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster, Apache (1954), and Cattle Queen of Montana with Barbara Stanwyck and Ronald Reagan.

In the sci-fi genre, he appeared in Rocketship X-M (1950), Flight to Mars (1951), as a Martian, Red Planet Mars (1952), playing the United States Secretary of Defense; the cult classic Invaders From Mars (1953), playing a United States Army officer; and as an Army general in Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956). In 1957 he played a psychiatrist in the cult sci-fi classic Kronos and had military-officer roles in Beginning of the End and The Giant Claw.

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Starred In [96]
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In a Lonely Place
(1950)
Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
An aspiring actress begins to suspect that her temperamental boyfriend is a murderer.
Runtime:
94 min
Director:
Nicholas Ray
Cast:
Humphrey Bogart, Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame, Frank Lovejoy, Carl Benton Reid
8.0
98%
N/A
More Information
The Postman Always Rings Twice
(1946)
Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
A married woman and a drifter fall in love, then plot to murder her husband.
Runtime:
113 min
Director:
Tay Garnett
Cast:
Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Leon Ames
7.5
89%
84
More Information
The Fountainhead
(1949)
Drama, Romance
An uncompromising, visionary architect struggles to maintain his integrity and individualism despite personal, professional and economic pressures to conform to popular standards.
Runtime:
114 min
Director:
King Vidor
Cast:
Gary Cooper, Patricia Neal, Raymond Massey, Kent Smith, Robert Douglas
7.1
83%
N/A
More Information
Vera Cruz
(1954)
Action, Romance, Western
After the American Civil War, mercenaries travel to Mexico to fight in their revolution for money. The former soldier and gentleman Benjamin Trane meets the gunman and killer Joe Erin and his men, and together they are hired by the Emperor Maximillian and the Marquis Henri de Labordere to escort the Countess Marie Duvarre to the harbor...
Runtime:
94 min
Director:
Robert Aldrich
Cast:
Gary Cooper, Burt Lancaster, Denise Darcel, Cesar Romero, Sara Montiel
7.1
81%
N/A
More Information
The Thin Man Goes Home
(1944)
Comedy, Mystery, Thriller
On a trip to visit his parents, detective Nick Charles gets mixed up in a murder investigation.
Runtime:
101 min
Director:
Richard Thorpe
Cast:
William Powell, Myrna Loy, Lucile Watson, Gloria DeHaven, Anne Revere
7.4
71%
N/A
More Information
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
(1956)
Action, Science Fiction
Test space rockets exploding at liftoff and increased reporting of UFO sightings culminate in a direct attempt by alien survivors of a dead, extra-galactic civilization to invade Earth from impervious flying saucers, using ray-weapons of mass destruction.
Runtime:
83 min
Director:
Fred F. Sears
Cast:
Hugh Marlowe, Joan Taylor, Donald Curtis, Morris Ankrum, John Zaremba
6.4
73%
N/A
More Information
Invaders from Mars
(1953)
Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
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.
Runtime:
78 min
Director:
William Cameron Menzies
Cast:
Helena Carter, Arthur Franz, Arthur Franz, Jimmy Hunt, Leif Erickson
6.3
82%
N/A
More Information
I Wake Up Screaming
(1941)
Crime, Drama, Thriller
A young promoter is accused of the murder of Vicky Lynn, a young actress he "discovered" as a waitress while out with ex-actor Robin Ray and gossip columnist Larry Evans.
Runtime:
82 min
Director:
H. Bruce Humberstone
Cast:
Betty Grable, Victor Mature, Carole Landis, Laird Cregar, William Gargan
7.2
86%
N/A
More Information
Song of the Thin Man
(1947)
Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Society sleuths Nick and Nora Charles investigate a murder in a jazz club.
Runtime:
86 min
Director:
Edward Buzzell
Cast:
William Powell, Myrna Loy, Keenan Wynn, Keenan Wynn, Dean Stockwell
7.0
80%
N/A
More Information
Lady in the Lake
(1946)
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Private detective Philip Marlowe is asked by a publishing executive, Adrienne Fromsett, to locate the wife of her boss, publisher Derace Kingsby. Earlier she had sent her husband a telegram saying she was heading to Mexico to marry Chris Lavery. However Kingsby had recently seen Lavery in the neighbouring Bay City. Marlowe pursues his ...
Runtime:
105 min
Director:
Robert Montgomery
Cast:
Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully
6.6
60%
N/A
More Information
Good News
(1947)
Comedy, Music, Romance
At fictitious Tait University in the Roaring '20s, co-ed and school librarian Connie Lane falls for football hero Tommy Marlowe. Unfortunately, he has his eye on gold-digging vamp Pat McClellan. Tommy's grades start to slip, which keeps him from playing in the big game. Connie eventually finds out Tommy really loves her and devises a p...
Runtime:
93 min
Director:
Charles Walters
Cast:
June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Patricia Marshall, Joan McCracken, Ray McDonald
7.9
N/A
N/A
More Information
Apache
(1954)
Action, Western
Following the surrender of Geronimo, Massai, the last Apache warrior is captured and scheduled for transportation to a Florida reservation. On the way he manages to escape and heads for his homeland to win back his girl and settle down to grow crops. His pursuers have other ideas though.
Runtime:
91 min
Director:
Robert Aldrich
Cast:
Burt Lancaster, Jean Peters, John McIntire, Charles Bronson, John Dehner
6.4
75%
N/A
More Information
Colorado Territory
(1949)
Crime, Drama, Romance, Western
In Colorado territory, outlaw Wes McQueen escapes jail to pull a railroad robbery but, upon meeting pretty settler Julie Ann, he wonders about going straight. Western remake of High Sierra with Joel McCrea taking over the Humphrey Bogart role.
Runtime:
94 min
Director:
Raoul Walsh
Cast:
Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo, Dorothy Malone, Henry Hull, John Archer
7.2
N/A
N/A
More Information
Undercurrent
(1946)
Drama, Thriller
After a rapid engagement, a dowdy daughter of a chemist weds an industrialist, knowing little of his family or past. He transforms her into an elegant society wife, but becomes enraged whenever she asks about Michael, his mysterious long-lost brother.
Runtime:
116 min
Director:
Vincente Minnelli
Cast:
Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Edmund Gwenn, Marjorie Main
6.6
N/A
N/A
More Information
The Damned Don't Cry
(1950)
Crime, Drama, Romance
Fed up with her small-town marriage, a woman goes after the big time and gets mixed up with the mob.
Runtime:
103 min
Director:
Vincent Sherman
Cast:
Joan Crawford, David Brian, Steve Cochran, Kent Smith, Hugh Sanders
7.2
N/A
N/A
More Information
Roxie Hart
(1942)
Comedy, Romance
A café in Chicago, 1942. On a rainy night, veteran reporter Homer Howard tells an increasing audience the story of Roxie Hart and the crime she was judged for in 1927.
Runtime:
72 min
Director:
William A. Wellman
Cast:
Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, George Montgomery, Lynne Overman, Nigel Bruce
7.1
89%
N/A
More Information
Silver Lode
(1954)
Action, Western
Dan Ballard, a respected citizen in the western town of Silver Lode, has his wedding interrupted by four men led by Ned McCarty, an old acquaintance who, as a US Marshal, arrests Ballard for the murder of his brother and the theft of $20,000. Ballard seeks to stall McCarty while tracking down evidence that will prove his innocence.
Runtime:
81 min
Director:
Allan Dwan
Cast:
John Payne, Lizabeth Scott, Dan Duryea, Dolores Moran, Emile Meyer
7.0
N/A
N/A
More Information
High Wall
(1947)
Crime, Drama
Steven Kenet, suffering from a recurring brain injury, appears to have strangled his wife. Having confessed, he's committed to an understaffed county asylum full of pathetic inmates. There, Dr. Ann Lorrison is initially skeptical about Kenet's story and reluctance to undergo treatment. But against her better judgement, she begins to do...
Runtime:
99 min
Director:
Curtis Bernhardt
Cast:
Robert Taylor, Audrey Totter, Herbert Marshall, Dorothy Patrick, H.B. Warner
6.9
N/A
N/A
More Information
Kronos
(1957)
Science Fiction
Scientists investigate a huge meteor that crashes into the ocean off Mexico, and encounter a skyscraper-tall, mobile machine which is designed to syphon energy from earth, including any energy directed at it in an effort to destroy it.
Runtime:
78 min
Director:
Kurt Neumann
Cast:
Jeff Morrow, Barbara Lawrence, John Emery, George O'Hanlon, Morris Ankrum
5.9
57%
N/A
More Information
Courage of Lassie
(1946)
Adventure, Drama, Family
Bill's separated from his litter, making friends with the wild creatures until he's found and adopted by young Kathie. An accident separates him from her, and he's drafted into K-9 duty in the trenches until battle fatigue takes its toll and he turns vicious. And even though he finds his way back home, he may be condemned as a killer.
Runtime:
92 min
Director:
Fred M. Wilcox
Cast:
Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Morgan, Tom Drake, Selena Royle, Harry Davenport
6.3
N/A
N/A
More Information
We Were Strangers
(1949)
Adventure, Drama, Romance
China Valdes joins the Cuban underground after her brother is killed by the chief of the secret police, Ariete. She meets and falls in love with American expatriate Tony Fenner. Tony develops a plan to tunnel under the city's cemetery to a plot owned by a high official, assassinate him, and blow up the whole Cuban hierarchy at the ensu...
Runtime:
106 min
Director:
John Huston
Cast:
Jennifer Jones, John Garfield, Gilbert Roland, Ramon Novarro, Pedro Armendáriz
6.7
70%
N/A
More Information
Borderline
(1950)
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Two undercover agents infiltrate a drug-smuggling ring in Mexico, thee find them selves falling in love with each other. Neither is aware of the other's identity As they decide to make a run for the border.
Runtime:
88 min
Director:
William A. Seiter
Cast:
Fred MacMurray, Claire Trevor, Raymond Burr, José Torvay, Morris Ankrum
6.1
N/A
N/A
More Information
Tomorrow Is Another Day
(1951)
Crime
A man who spent his formative years in prison for murder is released, and struggles to adjust to the outside world and escape his lurid past. He gets involved with a cheap dancehall girl, and when her protector is accidentally killed, they go on the lam together, getting jobs as farm labourers. But some fellow workers get wise to them.
Runtime:
90 min
Director:
Felix E. Feist
Cast:
Ruth Roman, Steve Cochran, Lurene Tuttle, Ray Teal, Morris Ankrum
7.1
N/A
N/A
More Information
Adventure
(1945)
Comedy, Drama, Romance
A rough and tumble man of the sea falls for a meek librarian.
Runtime:
135 min
Director:
Victor Fleming
Cast:
Clark Gable, Greer Garson, Joan Blondell, Thomas Mitchell, Tom Tully
6.1
N/A
N/A
More Information
Chain Lightning
(1950)
Action, Drama, War
Former World War II flying ace Matt Brennan takes a position as a test pilot for a commercial aircraft corporation and bumps into his old girlfriend, Jo Holloway, who now works as a receptionist for the company.
Runtime:
94 min
6.0
N/A
N/A
More Information
Chief Crazy Horse
(1955)
Western
When young Crazy Horse, of whom great things were predicted, wins his bride, rival Little Big Man goes to villainous traders with evidence of gold in the sacred Lakota burial ground. Of course, a new gold rush starts despite all treaties, and Crazy Horse becomes military leader of his people. Initial Indian victories lead to the inevit...
Runtime:
86 min
Director:
George Sherman
Cast:
Victor Mature, Suzan Ball, John Lund, Ray Danton, Keith Larsen
6.2
N/A
N/A
More Information
Rocketship X-M
(1950)
Science Fiction
Astronauts blast off to explore the moon on Rocketship X-M or "Rocketship eXploration Moon". A spacecraft malfunction and some fuel miscalculations cause them to end up landing on Mars. On Mars, evidence of a once powerful civilization is found. The scientists determined that an atomic war destroyed most of the Martians. Those that sur...
Runtime:
77 min
Director:
Kurt Neumann
Cast:
Lloyd Bridges, Osa Massen, John Emery, Noah Beery, Jr., Hugh O'Brian
4.9
N/A
N/A
More Information
The Heavenly Body
(1944)
Comedy, Romance
The beautiful wife of a tweedy astronomer becomes convinced that her astrologer's prediction of a new dream man in her life will come true.
Runtime:
95 min
Director:
Alexander Hall
Cast:
William Powell, Hedy Lamarr, James Craig, Fay Bainter, Henry O'Neill
6.2
N/A
N/A
More Information
From the Earth to the Moon
(1958)
Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Set just after the American civil war, businessman and inventor Victor Barbicane invents a new source of power called Power X. He plans to use it to power rockets, and to show its potential he plans to send a projectile to the moon. Joining him for the trip are his assistant Ben Sharpe, Barbicane's arch-rival Stuyvesant Nicholl, and Ni...
Runtime:
101 min
Director:
Byron Haskin
Cast:
Joseph Cotten, George Sanders, Debra Paget, Don Dubbins, Patric Knowles
5.1
43%
N/A
More Information
Drums Across the River
(1954)
Western
When whites hunger after the gold on Ute Indian land, a bigoted young man finds himself forced into a peacekeeping role.
Runtime:
78 min
Director:
Nathan H. Juran
Cast:
Audie Murphy, Walter Brennan, Lyle Bettger, Lisa Gaye, Hugh O'Brian
6.3
N/A
N/A
More Information
Tennessee's Partner
(1955)
Action, Drama, Western
A tough, womanizing high-stakes gambler known only as Tennessee has an uneasy relationship with Duchess, madam of a thinly-disguised bordello, and no other friends at all. But he's saved from murder by a lonesome cowpoke ('My friends call me Cowpoke'), in town to meet his fiancée Goldie on the steamboat. When she arrives, there's a mys...
Runtime:
87 min
Director:
Allan Dwan
Cast:
John Payne, Ronald Reagan, Rhonda Fleming, Coleen Gray, Anthony Caruso
6.6
N/A
N/A
More Information
Crashout
(1955)
Crime
Convict Van Duff engineers a large-scale prison break; the six survivors hide out in a forgotten mine working near the prison, then set out on a long, dangerous journey by foot, car, train and truck to retrieve Duff's bank loot. En route, as they touch the lives of "regular folks," each has his own rendezvous with destiny.
Runtime:
89 min
Director:
Lewis R. Foster
Cast:
William Bendix, Arthur Kennedy, Luther Adler, William Talman, Gene Evans
7.1
N/A
N/A
More Information
Desire Me
(1947)
Drama, Romance, War
A war widow falls in love with the man who informed her of her husband's death.
Runtime:
91 min
Director:
Jack Conway, George Cukor, Mervyn LeRoy, Victor Saville
Cast:
Greer Garson, Robert Mitchum, Richard Hart, Morris Ankrum, George Zucco
6.1
N/A
N/A
More Information
Taza, Son of Cochise
(1954)
Action, Drama, Western
Three years after the end of the Apache wars, peacemaking chief Cochise dies. His elder son Taza shares his ideas, but brother Naiche yearns for war...and for Taza's betrothed, Oona. Naiche loses no time in starting trouble which, thanks to a bigoted cavalry officer, ends with the proud Chiricahua Apaches on a reservation, where they a...
Runtime:
79 min
5.8
N/A
N/A
More Information
Cynthia
(1947)
Comedy, Drama
Sheltered by her conservative parents, a small-town teenager finally goes out on a date.
Runtime:
98 min
Director:
Robert Z. Leonard
Cast:
Elizabeth Taylor, George Murphy, S.Z. Sakall, Mary Astor, Gene Lockhart
6.3
N/A
N/A
More Information
Flight To Mars
(1951)
Science Fiction, Thriller
Four scientists and a newsman crash land on Mars and meet martians who act friendly.
Runtime:
72 min
Director:
Lesley Selander
Cast:
Marguerite Chapman, Cameron Mitchell, Arthur Franz, Virginia Huston, John Litel
5.2
N/A
N/A
More Information
Son of Ali Baba
(1952)
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
In ancient Persia the son of Ali Baba (of forty thieves fame), Kashma Baba is a military cadet by day and a party goer by night. He falls for a girl who he later finds is an escaped slave girl belonging to the wicked Caliph. They flee to his father's palace. But alas, there's more to her than meets the eye. Will the evil schemers succe...
Runtime:
75 min
Cast:
Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie, Susan Cabot, William Reynolds, Morris Ankrum
5.9
N/A
N/A
More Information
How to Make a Monster
(1958)
Horror, Science Fiction
When master monster make-up man Pete Dumond is fired by the new bosses of American International studios, he uses his creations to exact revenge.
Runtime:
73 min
Director:
Herbert L. Strock
Cast:
Robert H. Harris, Paul Brinegar, Gary Conway, Gary Clarke, Malcolm Atterbury
5.3
N/A
N/A
More Information
Zombies of Mora Tau
(1957)
Adventure, Fantasy, Horror
American tycoon George Harrison, his beautiful wife, Mona, and deep-sea diver Jeff Clark are off the coast of Africa hoping to salvage a fortune in diamonds at the bottom of the sea near the voodoo-haunted island of Mora Tau, and are joined by an English girl named Jan. The treasure is reported to be guarded by Zombies, walking dead-me...
Runtime:
70 min
Director:
Edward L. Cahn
Cast:
Gregg Palmer, Allison Hayes, Autumn Russell, Joel Ashley, Morris Ankrum
5.1
N/A
N/A
More Information
The Man Behind The Gun
(1953)
Western
This 1952 western stars Randolph Scott as an army investigator who poses as a schoolteacher while working undercover to expose a group of secessionists. Also starring Patrice Wymore, Roy Roberts, Alan Hale Jr., Lina Romay, Morris Ankrum, Dick Wesson and Philip Carey.
Runtime:
82 min
5.9
N/A
N/A