Dick Clark Movies
Once known as "America's oldest living teenager," emcee, occasional actor, television producer, commercial pitchman, restaurateur, and entrepreneur Dick Clark is one of Hollywood's powerhouses, but he is still most famous for hosting the longest-running series on the ABC television network, American Bandstand, which aired from 1957 to 1987 and then was resurrected for a year on the USA network in 1989. This show played an important role in promoting rock music and gave many important acts their first national exposure. Clark started out as a radio announcer. The first episodes of American Bandstand were broadcast from Philadelphia and were quite innovative. Each show featured popular artists who lip-synched their latest hits, interviews, autograph sessions, and lots of teen dancing. Though playing rock & roll music -- which was still regarded with trepidation and suspicion among conservatives -- the shows were reassuringly wholesome, an image in large part projected by the clean-cut, friendly, and honest-faced Clark himself. Through the years, the canny host secured the rights to each episode, many of which contain the only available clips of popular performers and one-hit wonders alike. Therefore, his collection provides a priceless archive to the history of rock music.Clark at one time was an aspiring actor and has appeared in a few feature films playing someone other than himself. He made his feature-film debut in 1960's Because They're Young. As an emcee, he has hosted game shows and has for many years been in charge of the annual ABC New Year's Eve telecast from Times Square in New York. He has also hosted numerous television compilation shows, often in the company of Ed McMahon with whom he also represents the Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes on television. As a producer, Clark's dick clark productions has been behind numerous series, television movies, game shows, specials, and compilations as well as television commercials and awards specials. As a restaurant owner, Clark has a small chain of Dick Clark's American Bandstand Grills, rock & roll-themed restaurants that are decorated with memorabilia from Clark's enormous personal collection. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 2002
- R
- Add Confessions of a Dangerous Mind to QueueAdd Confessions of a Dangerous Mind to top of Queue
Chuck Barris is best known to most Americans as the guy who used to host The Gong Show. He was also the creator and producer of The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, and a handful of other successful game shows in the 1960s and 1970s. But was he also a hired killer working with the CIA? That's the take-it-or-leave-it premise of Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, based on the memoir of the same name by Chuck Barris. Barris (Sam Rockwell) grows up dreaming of success in show biz and winning the hearts of beautiful women, but early on, he meets with plenty of resistance from both women and the television industry, despite writing the hit tune "Palisades Park" and scoring a job with Dick Clark on American Bandstand. The 1960s proves more fortunate for Barris; he meets the love of his life, Penny (Drew Barrymore), and sells ABC on the idea of The Dating Game. However, after the show has made him wealthy and successful, Barris is approached by the mysterious Jim Byrd (George Clooney), a CIA agent who wants to recruit Barris as a covert operative. Barris finds the notion of playing spy games intriguing and agrees, but soon discovers what Byrd and his partners really want is for Barris to assassinate uncooperative figures around the world. Soon, Barris finds that his life has been all but taken over by Byrd and another CIA agent, the mysterious and sexy Patricia (Julia Roberts). As he hops the globe, killing people in the name of American security (using his status as a Dating Game chaperone as a cover), Barris learns that the KGB has discovered his not-so-little secret and that his own life is in great danger. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind marked the directorial debut of actor George Clooney, working from a screenplay adapted by Charlie Kaufman from Barris' book. Dick Clark, Dating Game host Jim Lange, frequent Gong Show panelist Jaye P. Morgan, and Gene Gene Patton appear as themselves. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, (more)
Filmmaker, author, and political activist Michael Moore trains his satirical eye on America's obsession with guns and violence in his third feature-length documentary, which gets its title from a pair of loosely related incidents. On April 20, 1999, shortly before they began their infamous killing spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold attended their favorite class, a no-credit bowling course held at a bowling alley near the school, the same bowling alley which would become the scene of a robbery and triple homicide two years later. While pondering these events, Moore humorously considers the link between random violence and the game of ten pins; along the way, Moore calls on the Michigan Militia (and gets to know some of the models for their "Militia Babes" calendar); spends some time with James Nichols, brother of Oklahoma City bombing accomplice Terry Nichols; visits K-Mart's corporate offices with two teenagers injured in the Columbine massacre as they ask the retail chain to stop selling bullets for handguns; investigates the media's role in the American climate of fear and anger; compares crime statistics in the United States with those of Canada (which, despite higher unemployment and a larger number of guns per capita, manages to rack up a small fraction of the homicides committed in the United States), and questions actor and National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston regarding his appearance at a pro-gun rally held in Littleton a few days after the Columbine massacre, and a similar rally in Flint, MI, after a six-year-old boy killed a classmate with a gun he took from his uncle's house. Bowling for Columbine received its first public screening at the 2002 Ann Arbor Film Festival; the film's official premiere took place a few months later at the Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Moore, Charlton Heston, (more)
- 2002
Set in Philadelphia during the early '60s, the NBC drama series American Dreams concentrated on the Pryors, an Irish-Catholic family struggling to make sense of the great sociological changes being wrought upon the world -- and themselves. The first episode, ostensibly built around the determination of 15-year-old Meg Pryor (Brittany Snow) to appear on the locally produced TV dance show American Bandstand (whose host, Dick Clark, was one of American Dreams' executive producers), veered sharply into an entirely different direction with the announcement that President Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas, an event that would inexorably shape the future of the entire family. Other characters included family patriarch Jack Pryor (Tom Verica), the traditionalist owner of a TV sales shop; Jack's wife Helen (Gail O'Grady), an incipient feminist who had begun to realize that a whole new world existed outside of her home and family; son J.J. (Will Estes), whose plans to attend Notre Dame on a football scholarship were sidetracked by his blossoming radicalism; the two younger Pryor children, Will (Ethan Dampf) and Patty (Sarah Ramos); Meg's best friend Roxanne (Vanessa Lengies); and the family's African-American friends, Henry and Sam Walker (Jonathan Adams, Arlen Escarpeta). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this reteaming of actor Antonio Banderas and director Robert Rodriguez -- their first film together since the 1995 feature Desperado -- Banderas plays Gregorio; he and devoted partner Ingrid (Carla Gugino), comprise the greatest pair of secret agents working. Both are masters of disguise and have the ability to prevent wars, but eventually they want to settle down and begin raising a family. Nine years later, after retiring and giving up the lives of super-spies, Gregorio and Ingrid find themselves at the call of duty again when techno-genius Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming) and his insidious, ruthless sidekick Minion (Tony Shalhoub) have plans for world destruction. The only hope for Gregorio and Ingrid are their children, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni (Daryl Sabara), who are called upon to save their missing parents, eventually learning their former identities. The film also features Cheech Marin, Robert Patrick, and Danny Trejo. In the summer of 2001, five months after Spy Kids had become a major box office success, an expanded edition was released, featuring several minutes of footage not used in the film's original cuts (including special effects sequences that couldn't be completed within the film's original budget). ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, (more)
- 1999
On December 31, 1999, deadbeat pizza delivery boy Fry (voice of Billy West) gets accidentally cryogenically frozen until the year 3000. When he emerges, cyclops alien Leela (voice of Katey Sagal) is ordered to implant a chip in his hand for a life assignment. When he finds out that he's ordered to be a delivery boy again, he escapes. He is rightfully baffled by the future world and mistakes a suicide booth for a phone booth, where he meets the lovably debauched robot, Bender (voice of John DiMaggio). Fry and Bender go underground to the ruins of old New York, but Leela catches up with them. When Fry gives himself up, Leela decides to take out her life assignment chip and join them. They find Fry's only living relative, Professor Farnsworth (voice of Billy West), and get new jobs making deliveries with the Planet Express company in the Professor's space ship. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy West, Katey Sagal, (more)
- 1998
Murphy Brown returned from a four-month hiatus with this episode, originally telecast April 6, 1998. Now finished with chemotherapy, Murphy (Candice Bergen) hopes to celebrate her 50th birthday in grand style. Picking up on Murphy's high spirits, Frank (Joe Regalbuto) concocts a surprise party to end all surprise parties: A full-scale recreation of the classic TV dance party American Bandstand, replete with Dick Clark, Fabian, Chubby Checker and Lesley Gore. Also appearing is Sally Field as the 91th in a long line of Murphy's hired-and-fired secretaries (and as usual, Field's character has a minor character flaw--in her case, a VERY short-term memory!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Diana Ross hosts this four-hour TV special tracing the rise of Berry Gordy's Detroit-based Motown record label during the '60s. Clips were compiled from a variety of sources, including such TV shows as Teen Town, Where the Action Is and It's What's Happening Baby. The history covers the label's leading acts (Temptations, Supremes, Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Martha and the Vandellas, Mary Wells, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye) and explores the talents who created the Motown style -- songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland and Norman Whitfield, choreographer Cholly Atkins, finishing-school director Maxine Powell, arranger Maurice King, and the rhythm section (pianist Earl van Dyke, drummer Ben Benjamin, and bassist James Jamerson). With background on Gordy, the story moves forward into Motown's film/TV production, the solo career of Diana Ross, the Commodores, Teena Marie, Rick James, and many others. Interviews include Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Branford Marsalis, Clive Davis, Jesse Jackson, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, George Schlatter, Julian Bond, Diahann Carroll, RuPaul, and Rod Stewart. The special premiered as a two-parter (February 15th and 19th, 1998) on ABC. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, (more)
Combining familiar movie and TV images with rare, seldom-seen backstage footage, this PBS documentary traces the life and tragic early death of pop singer Bobby Darin. Born in 1936, Darin was a superstar before he was old enough to vote, parlaying such standards as "Mack the Knife," "Artificial Flowers," and his own zany composition "Splish Splash" into gold-record nirvana. He also enjoyed an impressive film career, highlighted by some astonishing dramatic performances in films like Pressure Point and Captain Newman, M.D., and ascended to Hollywood royalty with his "storybook" marriage to another teen idol, Sandra Dee (a union that, alas, was never quite as happy as it seemed). Never encumbered by lack of confidence and humility, Darin nonetheless battled a personal demon all his life; born with a weak heart, he was living on borrowed time, and was convinced that he would die young -- which, tragically, he did, in 1973. The film includes interviews with many of Darin's friends, co-workers, and intimates. Designed to be shown during PBS fundraisers, Bobby Darin: Beyond the Song first aired on December 7, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Country-western singer JoAnne Chadway (Molly Gross) is distraught when her mother Renee (Angie Dickinson)--and even more so since the disappearance occurred amidst bitter domestic strife with JoAnne's powerful attorney father Clay Chadway (Richard Crenna). When Clay inevitably becomes a suspect in Renee's possible murder, JoAnne embarks upon her own private investigation to ferret out the truth. What she discovers is horrifying--not so much because of what she now knows, but because of what she never knew before about her parents. "Inspired by actual events", the made-for-TV Deep Dark Secrets was first unveiled by CBS on April 15, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Though Drew (Drew Carey) is gratified that Bonnie (Caroline Rhea) wants to date him exclusively, he's confused by her unwillingness to be seen in public. Only after planning an intimate gourmet meal for two does Drew find out the reason for Bonnie's reticence: She happens to have a husband named Steve (Eric Roberts). Thus it is that Drew uses the meal he'd intended for Bonnie in a noble effort to mend her tattered marriage. Elsewhere: Can it be that Oswald (Diedrich Bader) has been "outed" by his opponent in a recent boxing match? And here's a better question: Why does this episode feature cameo appearances by Dick Clark, Flip Wilson, and "H.R. Pufnstuf"???? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
A highly entertaining retrospective of the famous basketball team. Harlem Globetrotters: 6 Decades of Magic, hosted by Louis Gossett Jr., showcases the multi-talented and athletic players that have been delighting audiences all over the world since 1927. Special profiles of famous players like Curly Neal and Meadowlark Lemon are included, as well as guest appearances and insights by Dick Clark and Cab Calloway.
~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Critics were somewhat amused when this made-for-TV movie first aired over CBS on February 21, 1996. They could understand why someone would want to make a biopic about notorious "Hollywood madam" Heidi Fleiss (here played by Tricia Leigh Fisher)--but of what possible dramatic value was a film about Heidi's father, California consulting pediatrician Paul Fleiss? Well, that question was sufficiently answered throughout the film's 90 minutes, told largely in flashback from the point of view of Dr. Fleiss, portrayed by Michael Gross. According to Karol Ann Hoeffner's teleplay, Fleiss was a good, caring, almost saintly family man, whose misguided liberal sympathies led him to excesses of self-indulgence when it came to raising his children. So far as as the spoiled and pampered Heidi is concerned, Dr. Fleiss doesn't believe in discouraging her on any issue, including sex--and this, coupled with the neurotic attitudes of Heidi's repressed, high-strung mother Elissa (Cindy Pickett) led the girl into her life's work, using sex for profit while remaining coolly detached from her work and using her associates and customers rather than ever allowing them to use her. That Heidi is clearly the villain of the piece is made obvious not only by actress Fisher's vitriolic performance, but also by the dramatic core of the story, in which Dr. Fleiss ends up being charged with fraud when Heidi pressures him into signing a highly suspicious bank loan application. The sweeping inaccuracies in The Good Doctor: The Paul Fleiss Story evidently didn't hurt its ratings, nor did the film lack viewers when it was subsequently rerun on cable TV under the title The Making of a Hollywood Madam. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In a special change-of-pace episode, Will Smith appears out of character to review the six-year history of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), using interviews, clips from past episodes, and hilarious outtakes and bloopers. Will wanders from one NBC dressing room to the air to discuss the show with costars James Avery, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana M. Ali and Joseph Marcell (Curiously, the youngest member of the cast, Ross Bagley is not interviewed; less curious is the consipicuous absence--except in a few isolated clips--of former regular Janet Hubert Whitten). Dick Clark also makes a cameo appearance in this episode, which was originally intended to prep audiences for Fresh Prince's series finale a few weeks later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
This made-for-television biography paints a moving portrait of the extraordinary life of Annette Funicello, a former Mouseketeer who grew up to be America's sweetheart and Queen of the Beach Blanket movies of the 1960s. The story not only covers her professional rise to stardom both as an actress and a recording star, but also provides a look into her private life, notably her romance with Paul Anka, her two marriages, and her life after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the late 1980s. Eva LaRue Callahan plays Funnicello. The subject herself also makes a cameo appearance along with former co-star Frankie Avalon. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eva La Rue, Annette Funicello, (more)
- 1994
Accompanied by the Banks family, Will (Will Smith) makes a return visit to his old South Philly neighborhood. Upon arrival, he is ribbed by his friends for his reputation as a "chicken". There is only one thing that will end this persecution: Will must challenge his childhood nemesis Omar (Jacques Apollo Bolton), whom he describes as the guy who's "spinning me around in the opening credits", to a final showdown. Dick Clark makes a guest appearance in this cliffhanger finale of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This documentary, part of the Investigative Reports cable television series on the A&E network, examines the glitzy and often controversial world of beauty pageants. From small-themed contests, to city or state contests, to national and even international contests, this episode, narrated by Investigative Reports host and producer Bill Kurtis, goes behind-the-scenes at what really happens before, during, and after the pageants. It examines how intense the competition has become, for both adult pageants and children's contests, and also explores the history of pageants and how pageants have changed through the years to conform to social standards. There is footage from the first Miss America contest and interviews with pageant regulars Dick Clark, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Regis Philbin. ~ Cecilia Cygnar, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Bill Maher hosts a 1993 and a 1995 episode of the irreverent and provocative Comedy Central round-table talk show. The episodes center on the questions: "Do rap music's violent lyrics incite violent behavior?"; "Will Americans get nostalgic about almost anything?"; and "Why do people join cults?" In the first episode, Maher leads guests Quentin Tarantino, Corbin Bernsen, Dick Clark, and Margaret Smith on an examination of rap music, America's cultural expansionism, and ill-considered nostalgia. The second episode also features Tarantino, this time mixing it up with Maher, Janeane Garofalo, Bonnie Hunt, and Robin Leach over cults, juries, and a Disney history park. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
Originally prepared for European release under the title Catchfire, Backtrack wasn't given a wide distribution until 1991, and then only to capitalize on the Oscar win of Silence of the Lambs star Jodie Foster. In Backtrack, Foster plays a youngish innocent who witnesses a mob hit. Professional assassin Dennis Hopper is contracted to silence Foster for keeps. Instead, he falls in love with her. Directed by star Hopper, Backtrack has some of the feel of his earlier, better Easy Rider: the cast is populated by such old Hopper chums as Dean Stockwell, Charlie Sheen, Joe Pesci, Bob Dylan, Vincent Price and Julie Adams; and, like Easy Rider, it looks as though the story was improvised during filming. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Hopper, Jodie Foster, (more)
- 1988
- Add Mamas & the Papas: Straight Shooters to QueueAdd Mamas & the Papas: Straight Shooters to top of Queue
John Phillips, Michelle Phillips, Denny Doherty and Mama Cass are featured in this retrospective of their work as The Mamas & The Papas. Features the music that made them famous, discussions with surviving group members and film clips. Dick Clark, Mick Fleetwood and Joe Cocker also appear. ~ All Movie Guide
