Annette Ferra Movies
- 1975
In this fact-based made-for-TV tearjerker, the promising life of a talented teenage athlete is suddenly destroyed when he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Despite the bad news, the boy does all he can to fight the disease. His devoted mother supports him to the bitter, inevitable end. The story is based on the experiences of Doris Lund, the late Eric's mother. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Director James Ivory has disowned this Hollywood drama, inspired by the Fatty Arbuckle/Virginia Rappe case and based on a satirical poem by Joseph Moncure March, which was heavily cut by American International Pictures from two hours to 90 minutes. The story concerns Jolly Grimm (James Coco), whose career as a famous silent film comic is coming to an end with the advent of talking pictures. He plans a last hurrah by making one more silent film and invites a collection of Hollywood big shots to his mansion in hopes of convincing one of them to distribute the picture. His mistress, Queenie (Raquel Welch), encourages him, but it quickly becomes apparent the film is a bomb. As Jolly Grimm keeps drinking, his mood becomes less jolly and more grim, particularly when movie star Dale (Perry King) starts getting quite familiar with Queenie. Meanwhile, young starlet Nadine (Annette Ferra), after finding her sister in bed with a guest, seeks out Jolly for solace. When Jolly tries to comfort her by kissing her full on the mouth, a drunken party guest, thinking Jolly is trying to seduce the girl, begins to beat Jolly senseless. Dale halts the fracas, but when Jolly doesn't thank Dale properly for saving him from a shellacking, Dale retreats with Queenie to the boudoir. Jolly, already keyed up to a dangerous level, awaits their emergence from the bedroom with a gun in his hand. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Coco, Raquel Welch, (more)
This animated color feature finds a mother and her two young cubs eagerly waiting for Santa Claus to visit them in Yellowstone National Park. A kindly forest ranger who first told them about the jolly old elf is persuaded to impersonate Santa, and the young bears help him save the holiday. The film is aimed at a target audience of wide-eyed pre-schoolers. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hal Smith, Jean Vander Pyl, (more)
- 1963
A woman calling herself Vera (Nancy Kelly) displays a great deal of affection toward the baby son of her landlady, Louise Henderson (Gena Rowlands). Curiously, although the infant is named Lonnie, Vera insists upon referring to him as Michael. What seems innocent enough on the surface is quickly revealed to have a sinister subtext when it turns out that both Vera and Louise had delivered babies at the same time in the same maternity hospital -- but only one of the babies survived. This is one of the few anthology-series episodes of the 1960s to boast an all-female cast. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nancy Kelly, Gena Rowlands, (more)
