Night Slaves (1970)

In the made-for-television movie Night Slaves, James Franciscus plays Clay Howard, a middle class businessman who is involved in a car accident that leaves him with a metal plate holding his skull together. As bad as this is, he and his wife, Marjorie (played by Lee Grant) are having marriage trouble - unbeknownst to Clay, Marjorie and his friend Matt (Scott Marlowe) are having an affair and Marjorie is planning to leave Clay. But because of the accident, Marjorie accompanies Clay on an r-and-r road trip vacation, which lands them in what seems to be a relaxing little small tourist town. Little do they realize that some odd things have been going on in this town - the townspeople all seem to become zombies at night, congregating in town before being driven off in groups for some mysterious purpose. Everyone is affected, even Marjorie - everyone except Clay. In addition, a mysterious woman appears who seems to be involved with those responsible for the strange events - and Clay finds himself falling in love with her. Leslie Nielsen co-stars as the town's sheriff, and Andrew Prine appears as a local who seems to also be involved with the late night  conspiracy.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trial Run (1969)

Like Shadow Over Elveron, Trial Run was a made-for-TV film featuring an excellent cast, clever writing, and... Leslie Nielsen. Hal Erickson of Rovi says of it: "Trial Run is a slick, cynical tale of blind ambition. James Franciscus plays a young attorney who'll do anything to reach the top. To this end, Franciscus uses not only his employer Leslie Nielsen, but his faithful secretary Diane Baker, who has long sacrificed her own happiness for Franciscus' advancement. Our 'hero' finally comes acropper as a result of his torrid affair with Nielsen's wife Janice Rule. The ending of this one is a beaut, which is why we're not divulging any more details."

Shadow Over Elveron (1968)

James Franciscus plays Matthew Tregaskis, a young doctor attempting to start a medical practice in a town rife with corruption, secretive business deals, and official intimidation in the form of the local sheriff, played by Leslie Nielsen in a role that earned him hate mail after the movie was aired on NBC's "Tuesday Night at the Movies." Tregaskis tries to do business honestly despite the corruption, but when a murder trial involving local powers is about to end in a coverup, he is determined that justice will be done, despite threats from the crooked Sheriff.