Hank Searls Movies
- 1978
Another of the many Arthur Hailey literary properties which were transformed into TV miniseries in the 1970s, the five-part, ten-hour Wheels took place in Detroit sometime in the late 1960s. Rock Hudson starred as Adam Trenton, executive in charge of project development at the fictional auto-manufacturing firm of National Motors. Ambitious and ruthless, Adam let nothing stand in the way of his development and production of a new, youth-marketed car known as the Hawk. Meanwhile, Adam's bored and neglected wife Erica (Lee Remick, who earned an Emmy nomination for her performance) drifted into an extramarital affair and a brief "career" as a shoplifter. Eventually, Adam himself acquired a mistress, who in turn fell in love with Adam's son Kirk (James Carrol Jordan). As if things couldn't get any seamier, Kirk's brother Greg (Howard McGillin) was plagued by a blackmailer, while crooked car dealer Smokey Stevenson (played by miniseries stalwart Anthony Franciosa) cooked up a sinister deal that threatened to destroy National Motors. Originally telecast from May 7 to 15, 1978 on NBC, Arthur Hailey's Wheels posted such disappointing ratings that, when it was later rebroadcast, the property was whittled down from ten hours to four -- with episodes three and four summarily dropped from the proceedings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rock Hudson, Lee Remick, (more)
- 1968
- NR
Improvisational director Robert Altman hadn't yet found his cinematic "voice" when he helmed the conformist, stick-to-the-script Countdown. James Caan is top-billed as a scientist who is chosen over astronaut Robert Duvall for the upcoming NASA moon shot. In their haste to beat the Russians to the moon, the NASA folks have tried to sidestep several safety measures, but doctor Charles Aidman sees to it that every possible precaution is taken. When Caan makes it to the lunar surface, he stumbles upon gruesome evidence that the Russians had sent up a secret expedition themselves--and had fatally ignored all those extra security precautions which he's been subject to. Ted Knight, who received some of his best pre-Mary Tyler Moore roles in Altman's TV work, co-stars in Countdown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Caan, Joanna Moore, (more)
- 1963
In the first episode of a two-part story, Richard Kimble (David Janssen), alias Jeff Cooper, arrives in Santa Barbara. Here the fugitive gives serious consideration to giving up his flight from the law--and his search for the one-armed man who murdered his wife--when he falls in love with Karen Christian (Susan Oliver), the niece of Norwegian sailmaker Lars Christian (Will Kuluva). This arouses the jealousy of Karen's neurotic half-brother Eric (a young Robert Duvall), who begins plotting Kimble's demise. Meanwhile, Lt. Gerard, still in relentless pursuit of Kimble, has shown up in nearby Los Angeles. (Trivia note: Gerard's wife, played by Rachel Ames, is identified as "Ann"; in later episode, she will be played by Barbara Rush, byt which time her name will have inexplicably changed to "Marie"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
In the conclusion of a two-part strory, the death of Lars Christian has drawn his niece Karen even closer to fugitive Richard Kimble (David Janssen). At the same time, Karen's spiteful half-brother Eric (Robert Duvall) has let slip Kimble's whereabouts to his relentless pursuer Lt. Gerard (Barry Morse). In an act of desperation, Kimble and Karen plan to escape by boat in a stormy sea--and in the ensuing tempest, Gerard ironically finds his life in Kimble's hands. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
A navy jet piloted by Captain Dale Heath (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) and carrying a junior officer (Troy Donahue), making a quick hop across country on leave, has already taken off when Heath realizes that both his radio and his navigation equipment have malfunctioned. They might be on the right course, but he can't tell if they're at the right altitude -- 500 feet too high or too low would put him in the path of a plane headed in the opposite direction -- and he can't get through to ground control to get a fix or to request clearance to a new course, or to send out a mayday call. Heath is quietly terrified at the prospect of what may happen, not just for the obvious reason but also because he's experienced this situation once before and saved himself at the cost of the other plane and its pilot. Meanwhile, flying in the opposite direction on the same course is a commercial airliner piloted by Dana Andrews and carrying a full load of passengers, each with their own worries. Much of the first 85 minutes of this thriller is devoted to the passengers and crew of the airliner struggling with their personal problems, never knowing the danger they're in, while Heath (and the audience) grow increasingly tense trying to solve his problem and prevent a tragedy. In the end, his best efforts are to no avail, and he faces the choice of saving his plane and dooming the airliner, or sacrificing himself and his passengers. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming, (more)
