Conrad Janis Movies
A New York-based radio actor from childhood, Conrad Janis was 16 when he made his first Broadway appearance in Junior Miss. Janis went on to star in the 1945 film comedy Snafu then played supporting roles in such 20th Century-Fox productions as Margie (1946) and The Brasher Doubloon (1947, as a teenaged murderer). His subsequent Broadway credits include The Brass Ring (for which he won a Theatre World Award), Time Out for Ginger and Visit to a Small Planet. Premature baldness compelled him to switch from leading-man assignments to character roles. A veteran of some 350 TV appearances, Janis was seen on a regular weekly basis as Otto Palindrome on the 1978 sci-fi spoof Quark, and as Mindy McConnell's dad Fred on the Robin Williams sitcom Mork and Mindy. Dropped from M & M after the 1978-79 season when the producers decided to retool the program, Janis was rehired in 1980, this time at a much heftier salary. Though justifiably proud of his acting accomplishments, Janis reportedly is prouder still of his activities as a jazz musician, fronting such prestigious musical aggregations as The Tailgaters and the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band (this latter group served as the subject of a lively PBS documentary). In addition, Janis is the owner operator of a prominent avant-garde art gallery, and is in charge of his own production company, MiraCom. In 1994, Conrad Janis made his film directorial bow with The Feminine Touch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 2002
Realizing that he has made too many enemies to win the presidency of the condo board, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) contrives to have the more popular Martin (John Mahoney) run against him. The strategy is to get Martin elected so that Frasier can be the real power behind the throne -- but Frasier has forgotten that his dad can be just as contrary and intractable as he is. Meanwhile, Daphne (Jane Leeves) takes the first steps to becoming a U.S. citizen, and Roz (Peri Gilpin) misinterprets a "sexual signal." ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Conrad Janis, Marc Vann, (more)
- 2002
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Daphne's boorish brother Simon (Anthony LaPaglia) has finally left town, but her busybody mother Gertrude (Millicent Martin) is still very much in attendance. Gertrude won't leave until Simon returns, while Daphne (Jane Leeves) can't move in with Niles (David Hyde Pierce) as long as her mom is around. As this crisis reaches the boiling point, so does the ongoing war of wills between Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and his stubborn neighbor Cam (Brian Stokes Mitchell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Leave it to the Frasier gang to take a perfectly enjoyable holiday like Christmas and cast a pall of misery over the proceedings. Specifically, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), Daphne (Jane Leeves), Niles (David Hyde Pierce), and Roz (Peri Gilpin) show up separately at the offices of their favorite masseur (Albert Macklin), relating horrible recent Yuletide memories as they receive their respective rubdowns. Particularly amusing (at least for the viewer) are Niles' traumatic misadventures in a stalled elevator. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Originally planned as a silly vehicle for Chris Farley, in the hands of director Ben Stiller and star Jim Carrey, The Cable Guy became an opportunity for Carrey to flex some of his darker comedic muscles as stalker Chip Douglas. Matthew Broderick plays Steven, an average Joe who is forlorn over his recent breakup with girlfriend Robin (Leslie Mann). When he moves into a new apartment, Steven comes in contact with Chip, who shows up to hook up the cable. Before he knows it, and whether he likes it or not, Steven has a new best-friend in the obnoxious and clingy Chip. However, Steven soon learns that obnoxious is a walk in the park compared to Chip's behavior when Steven tells him he doesn't want to be his pal anymore. What's worse, no one -- including Robin or his family -- believes Steven when he accuses the seemingly harmless Chip of being a malevolent menace. George Segal and Jack Black also star along with Stiller, who plays twins loosely-based on the Menendez brothers. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Carrey, Matthew Broderick, (more)
- 1995
In this actioner a beautiful designer journalist uses her black-belt in karate to stop an assassin from continuing to kill presidential candidates. Journalist Jennifer Barron begins her fight while doing a story about the optimistic Senator Ashton and his running mate Kahn. They are both victims of the killer. When Barron's lover John gets killed in an amusement park, and someone begins stalking her in hopes of taking a computer disk that she may or may not possess, the chop-socky writer has no choice but to defend herself and bring them to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paige Turco
- 1994
The diminutive, loincloth-clad Bushman from the Kalihari Desert who starred in The Gods Must Be Crazy and in its sequel also appears in this Hong Kong comedy. In this story, N!xau (playing himself) has just finished saving a wealthy asian businesswoman from a lion, and has somehow become entangled in her luggage as it is being loaded onto her private jet, bound for Hong Kong. When he finally escapes from the jet's luggage compartment, he is in that ciy, and must use his incomparable tracking techniques, forged in the desert, to find the woman and get back home. Along the way, he foils some jewel thieves, and teaches the wealthy businesswoman that there's more to life than money and a high-consumption lifestyle. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- N!xau, Cecilia Yip, (more)
Comedian Billy Crystal made his directorial debut with this biography of fictional comedian Buddy Young Jr. (portrayed by Crystal himself), whose self-destructive tendencies prevent him from rising to top of the show business ladder during his five-decade career. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Crystal, David Paymer, (more)
- 1991
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) decides to retire her trusty typewriter and signs up for a computer course. While deep in study, she stumbles across a case of illegal computer hacking--which of course leads to murder. The victim this time out is one of the two men in charge of the computer school, while the suspects include the dead man's wife, his mistress, and the elusive hacker (or at least, the hacker was elusive until Jessica entered the scene!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
The story contained in this bizarre psychological drama/horror movie adds a new dimension to the term "dysfunctional family." It is set in a small town in New Mexico and is told through the eyes of "Sonny Boy," a horribly abused child who was raised by the brutal giant Slue, who rules Harmony with an iron fist and makes his money stealing and fencing televisions. Slue's "wife" and fellow gang member is the cross-dresser Pearl. They get Sonny Boy after their fellow gang-mate Weasel botches a car theft and kills the owners. He brings the car back and that's when they find the baby, whom Slue would have fed to the hogs had not Pearl begged him to let him raise the child. The kid might have been better off dead, for Slue constantly tortures the boy and even sets him afire one day. When not "toughening the boy up," Slue keeps him in a water tower and only feeds him live chickens to give him a craving for fresh blood. Seventeen years pass in this way. One day, Slue gets angry with the town mayor, loads Sonny in an ice cream truck and takes him to visit the town leader. Sonny Boy rushes in and bites the hapless mayor in the neck. From then on, Slue uses the poor teen to terrorize the town. One day, he leaves the boy briefly in a bar where Sonny meets seductive Sandy and is attracted to her. Had Slue not cut out his tongue, to keep Sonny from telling secrets to the police, he would have talked to the girl. Later Slue goes off on a business trip and Weasel and another take Sonny Boy out to kill a prospector for his gold. This is the final straw and the townsfolk finally retaliate. Sonny Boy survives the ensuing massacre and for the first time in his life is given a chance for normalcy and maybe even happiness. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Carradine, Paul L. Smith, (more)
- 1988
During a political fundraiser in San Francisco, a necklace is stolen (apparently) and a man murdered (positively!) The dead man was a powerful publisher with senatorial ambitions, whose body was found on the balcony of the hotel room occupied by Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury); the necklace belonged to the decedent's wife. Suspecting that the man accused of the crime--a professional jewel thief who'd hidden himself in Jessica's room--is not guilty, Jessica sets about to crack the case. Keith Michell makes his first series appearance as the delightfully larcenous Dennis Stanton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Garry Marshall directed this film which starts as a light comedy but moves into heavy-duty drama later on. David Basner (Tom Hanks in a good performance) works in an ad agency, where he enjoys bantering with his co-workers and meets a lot of women. He hasn't been especially close to his father (Jackie Gleason) and never thought about him much until his Dad is left devastated when his wife of 36 years walks out on him. He is soon faced with serious health problems as well. This propels the elder Basner on a downward slide that affects David and their relationship. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Jackie Gleason, (more)
The seventh cinema adaptation of the venerable stage farce Brewster's Millions stars Richard Pryor as Montgomery Brewster, a third-rate baseball player. Much to his amazement, Brewster discovers that he is related to deceased millionaire Rupert Horn (Hume Cronyn, who appears only in a videotaped "living will"). Even more amazing is the fact that Horn has left Brewster his entire $300 million fortune. The catch? Brewster must spend $30 million within 30 days, or he'll be left with nothing (in the earlier incarnations of Brewster's Millions, the hero was required to spend only a million, but this was, after all, the inflationary '80s). Aiding and abetting Brewster in his efforts to divest himself of his money are his catcher pal (John Candy) and an erstwhile lady friend (Lonette McKee), while his principal antagonist is a snotty attorney (Stephen Collins). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Pryor, John Candy, (more)
- 1984
Originally and imprudently titled The Whorehouse Sting, this fact-based, made-for-TV melodrama casts Beau Bridges as federal agent Frank Powell, who makes it his mission to bring slick but deadly racketeer Oliver Sully (Harold Gould) to justice. This undertaking requires Powell and his fellow government functionaries to set up a phony San Francisco brothel (total price tag: $450,000), thereby setting the stage for an intricate extortion "sting". Putting her life on the line along with Powell is professional call girl Kathy Dunne (Farrah Fawcett), who agrees to pose as the brothel's madam. Laced with moments of unexpected humor and capped by an unexpected denoument, The Red-Light Sting debuted April 5, 1984, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Jose Ferrer guest stars in this episode--but not for long!--as a famed hypnotist known as The Amazing Cagliostro. As a publicity stunt, Cagliostro shepherds a group of six journalists behind locked doors, then hypnotizes them en masse. The act comes to an abrupt conclusion when Cagliostro is stabbed to death in full view of the journalists--who, being hypnotized, can remember nothing about the crime! Jessica (Angela Lansbury) of course figures that at least one person in the room was sufficiently conscious to commit the murder, and she's determined to find out which one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
The Gossip Columnist is a rare one-part offering from Operation Prime Time, the TV-syndication service responsible for such miniseries as The Kent Family Chronicles. Fourth-billed Kim Cattrall plays the title character, journalist Dina Moran. Instructed by her boss (Dick Sargent) to take over the gossip column previously written by Hedda Hopper-clone Alma Llewellyn (Sylvia Sidney), Dina becomes a veritable Rona Barrett (why, one would think that scenarist Michael Gleason had purposely based the character on Barrett). In the course of 2 hours, our heroine makes and breaks several celebrities. Martha Raye plays a character not far removed from herself: a formerly big star hoping for a comeback. The cast includes such TV perennials as Robert Vaughn, Bobby Vinton, Bobby Sherman, Richard Deacon and Lyle Waggoner, along with such guest stars as Steve Allen, Jim Backus, Jack Carter, Allen Ludden, Jayne Meadows, Rip Taylor and Betty White. The Gossip Columnist first aired during the third week of March, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this mild sequel to the 1977 appearance of George Burns as God, the Heavenly Father shows up again, this time to talk to Tracy (Louanne), a young girl whose earthly father (David Birney) is in the advertising business. God's intention is to promote himself among the children first. Tracy comes up with a way to further awareness of the Supreme Being with posters and graffiti that say "Think God." She and her classmates set out on this campaign, but Tracy ends up facing a phalanx of psychiatrists for talking to an invisible God. Being who He is, God decides to finally make an appearance for the benefit of everyone. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Burns, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1980
In the first episode of a two-part story, Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) climb aboard the legendary Moosejaw Express in anticipation of a thrilling train ride from Wisconsin to Canada . It's thrilling, all right, but not in the way the girls had expected. No sooner has the journey began than a murder victim (Roger C. Carmel) stumbles into L&S's compartment and dies--but not before mumbling the fateful words "Beware the bald man"! This star-studded episode was originally scheduled to air on February 11, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) are still trying to solve a murder while hurtling towards Canada on the Moosejaw Express. The girls have been warned to "beware the bald man"--who has apparently already caught up with them and poisoned their food. Meanwhile, stowaways Lenny (Michael McKean) and Squiggy (David L. Lander) hope against hope to rescue the girls in the nick of time, but unfortunately they're a little tied up at the moment! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
From the time he was a high-school student in Lubbock, Texas until his tragic death at age 22 in 1959, Buddy Holly ignored the condemnation by townspeople and his conservative relatives and dedicated his life to the new music he became famous for performing: rock 'n roll. Gary Busey stars as Buddy Holly in this widely acclaimed big-screen biography and sings well enough on camera for the film's adapted musical score to win an Oscar. Among the classic songs by Buddy Holly and the Crickets which can be heard are: Oh Boy, That'll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, and Not Fade Away. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Busey, Don Stroud, (more)
- 1978
Shelley Winters) guest stars as Evelyn McNeil, widowed sister-in-law of Chief of Detectives Frank McNeil (Dan Frazer). An aficionado of the gambling houses, Evelyn finds herself in over her head with some particularly nasty mobsters. Banking on his lifelone friendship with Kojak (Telly Savalas), McNeil asks the detective to shield Evelyn from harm--but it may already be too late. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
New York's Roseland ballroom was in 1977 the traditional gathering place of senior citizens who wanted briefly to relive the good old days. Appropriately, the cast of Merchant/Ivory's Roseland includes a quartet of always-welcome showbiz veterans: Teresa Wright, Lou Jacobi, Helen Gallagher. The episodic storyline is unified by an unending flow of vintage hit songs, including "Slow Boat to China", "Stranger in Paradise" and "Rockin' Chair". The most effective vignette involves cleaning-lady Skala, whose minimum-wage job supports her weekly ballroom nostalgia-fests. The film was written by Merchant-Ivory perennial Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Teresa Wright, Lou Jacobi, (more)
- 1977
Again worried that George (Sherman Hemsley) is working too hard, Louise (Isabel Sanford) suggests that he take up a relaxing hobby. She soon regrets her suggestion when George signs up for flying lessons. Fortunately for all concerned, George makes a startling (and messy) discovery while airborne which causes him to realign his priorities. With this episode, The Jeffersons made its second third-season schedule change, moving from Wednesdays to Mondays opposite NBC's Little House on the Prairie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1976
- PG
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Melvin Frank's burlesque amalgam of McCabe and Mrs. Miller and Wagonmaster teams George Segal and Goldie Hawn as Charlie Malloy, a happy-go-lucky card shark, and Amanda Quaid, an ingratiating dance hall hooker, who want to go to Salt Lake City. Pursued by a gang of outlaws, Charlie and Amanda join up with a wagon train of Mormons who are also heading to Salt Lake City. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Segal, Goldie Hawn, (more)
- 1976
The fifth season of The Waltons gets under way as budding writer John-Boy Walton (Richard Thomas) prepares the first edition of his own newspaper, "The Blue Ridge Chronicle." The lead story concerns a car accident caused by the local mayor, whom John-Boy is convinced was drunk at the time. Worried about the mayor's reputation, the Walton family is dead set against John-Boy printing this story...and even more staunchly opposed to his "freedom of the press" policy when he covers a crime involving four teenagers--including his own brother Ben (Eric Scott). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
In a rare dramatic appearance, Desi Arnaz Jr. appears as B.J. Palmer, the lead singer of a popular rock group. When the group's avaricious manager David Breen (Conrad Janis) is bludgeoned to death, B.J. is convinced that he himself is the guilty party. After all, the troubled young singer suffers from congenital insanity--or at least, that is what he has been led to believe by certain other parties! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
