Alan King Movies
Bitten by the performing bug at an early age, youngster Alan King sang for nickels and dimes in the Brooklyn subways. Born Irwin Alan Kniberg, King's first stage name was Earl Knight, of the itinerant musical aggregation Earl Knight and His Musical Knights. Abandoning music for stand-up comedy, he worked his way up the Catskills circuit and the burlesque wheels. His first big break came in 1949, when he headlined at New York's Paramount Theatre. Seven years later he opened for Judy Garland at the Palace, and subsequently accompanied Garland when she performed in London. Making his first film appearance in 1955, King provided side-of-the-mouth comedy relief in such films as Miracle in the Rain (1956) and The Helen Morgan Story (1957). Introduced to TV audiences by Ed Sullivan, King made innumerable appearances on the variety weeklies hosted by Sullivan, Garry Moore and Perry Como. A 1961 stand at his own weekly sitcom proved futile, though it resulted in a very funny pilot episode.By the early 1960s, King's act was a well-oiled mechanism: he could always be counted on to expound hilariously upon his childhood, his show business experiences, his misadventures in suburbia, and especially the trials and tribulations of married life ("Last year I took my wife on a trip around the world. This year she says 'Let's go someplace else.' "). While much of his earlier material might not pass muster in these more politically correct times, it always brought down the house--even in houses dominated by female spectators. Much of his stand-up material was incorporated in a brace of best-selling books, Anyone Who Owns His Own Home Deserves It and Help! I'm a Prisoner in a Chinese Bakery. Returning to films in the late 1960s, King was shown to particularly good advantage in three of director Sidney Lumet's projects: Bye Bye Braverman (1968) The Anderson Tapes (1971) and Just Tell Me What You Want (1980), in which he received top billing. He also shone in Memories of Me (1988) as "the king of the Hollywood extras," and Enemies: A Love Story (1989) as Rabbi Lembeck. In the mid-1960s, he launched another aspect of his career when he co-produced the hit Broadway comedy Impossible Years (1965). He has since served as executive or associate producer of such films as Lipstick (1976), Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981), Wolfen (1981) and Cat's Eye (1983). Alan King has also functioned in a production capacity on the TV series The Corner Bar (1972-73) and Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell (1975, as "executive in charge of comedy"), and was co-producer of the made-for-TV feature films Return to Earth (1974), How to Pick Up Girls (1978) and Reunion at Fairborough (1985). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A handful of New Yorkers with little in common cross one another's paths as they try to sort out their romantic and emotional troubles in this comedy drama from writer and director Eric Schaeffer. Sam Blue (Eric Schaeffer) is a single father who is raising a ten-year-old son, Rocky (Christopher Kovaleski), on his own. Rocky was conceived using an egg Sam purchased on the Internet; after being left at the altar by his fiancée, Sam isn't sure he can stand the pain of another romance, though Rocky wishes he could have a mom. Herb Schweitzer (Alan King) is an elderly man with a sour personality who has pledged to honor the memory of a deceased friend by walking from his apartment to a beach in Manhattan. However, the trip will cover many miles, and these days Herb can barely shuffle to the end of the block. Jody Buller (Jill Sobule) is an eccentric street musician who was given a pacemaker for her weak heart as a child. Jody is convinced this means a broken heart would be fatal, despite her doctor's efforts to convince her otherwise. Malissa Zubach (Elizabeth Reaser) is a young woman who dreams of traveling to other lands, but is stuck in a trailer home caring for her dying mother. Hoping to get a sense of the outside world, Malissa persuades pen pals across the globe to record audio tapes in public places so she can hear the places she wants to see. And John McCabe (Charles Parnell) is a man still struggling to come to terms with the collapse of his marriage, brought on by his own infidelity. Mind the Gap received its world premiere at the 2003 South by Southwest Film Festival, where it received the Special Jury Award for Narrative Feature. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan King, Elizabeth Reaser, (more)
Writer and director John Sayles returns with another multi-layered look at an American community, subtly exploring how race, class, economics, and both national and regional history come together to shape people's lives. Plantation Island is a community on the coast of Florida; the island was once a notorious hotbed of segregationists, with most of the African-American population centered in the neighborhood of Lincoln Beach, while Delrona Beach is primarily home to white residents. Marly Temple (Edie Falco) is the sixth generation of her family to live in Delrona Beach, where she helps run a motel and cafe owned by her elderly and ill-tempered father (Ralph Waite) and drama instructor mother (Jane Alexander). Marly's former husband, Steve (Richard Edson), is a scruffy ne'er do well who's a sucker for get-rich-quick scams, while her current boyfriend, Scotty (Marc Blucas), is struggling to make something of himself as a golf pro. Meanwhile, Desiree Perry (Angela Bassett) is an actress who is returning to Lincoln Beach for the first time since she was a teenager, hoping to introduce her new husband, Reggie (James McDaniel), to her mother, Eunice Stokes (Mary Alice). Desiree was the center of a minor local scandal when she became pregnant as a teenager and moved away. Eunice has never quite forgiven her, while Flash (Tom Wright), Desiree's high school boyfriend and the man responsible, hasn't seen her since. Eunice is looking after Terrell (Alex Lewis), a troubled youth recently found guilty of arson, and Desiree and Reggie soon find themselves bonding with the misguided youth. In time, Delrona Beach and Lincoln Beach are brought together by a common concern; Greg (Perry Lang) and Lester (Miguel Ferrer) are representatives from a nearby resort community looking to expand, with Plantation Island looking like their most likely target. As homeowners debate whether to sell or stay put, local government officials and the town's business community argue the merits and faults of the resort's expansion into Plantation Island. Meanwhile, Marly becomes romantically involved with Jack (Timothy Hutton), a landscape architect affiliated with the developers who seems to believe his work is doing more harm than good. Sunshine State also features Mary Steenburgen, Alan King, and Bill Cobbs. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edie Falco, Angela Bassett, (more)
A surprise box-office smash spawns this inevitably action-packed buddy comedy follow-up that reunites director Brett Ratner with stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. Chan is Chief Inspector Lee of the Royal Hong Kong Police, who travels back to China with his American colleague, Los Angeles detective James Carter (Tucker). The men intend to take some vacation time but are quickly pulled into the case of two murdered U.S. customs agents, who were investigating an illegal counterfeiting scam involving Ricky Tan (John Lone), one of the most powerful Triad gangsters in Asia and an old enemy of Lee's. Lee and Carter are soon embroiled in a dangerous mystery that also involves a sexy secret-service agent (Roselyn Sanchez), a billionaire hotel owner (Alan King), a dangerous femme fatale (Zhang Ziyi) and a finale set in a lavish Las Vegas casino. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, (more)
- 2001
PBS Home Video presents the third volume in the Alan King College of Comedy series. Attempting to induce laughter from viewers as well as offer some essential tips and lessons on breaking into and staying in the comedy business, the legendary Alan King presents this performance in front of an audience on the campus of the California Institute of Technology. Among his guests from the world of comedy are Bill Maher, Rita Rudner, Larry Gelbart, and Shecky Greene. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Once again, comedian Alan King explores the philosophy of standup comedy. Fellow comedians Carl Reiner, Kathy Najimy, Brad Garrett, Caroline Rhea, and George Wallace help King show the dos and don'ts of comedy. Tributes to great comedians and comic anecdotes are included. Released in 2000, this 60-minute program was shot at the California Institute of Technology. ~ Linda J. Shriver, All Movie Guide
- 1998
In the second part of Murphy Brown's series finale (originally telecast as the conclusion of a single 60-minute episode), Murphy undergoes surgery for a possible malignancy. While under the ether, Murphy conducts an interview with God (played by Alan King), which quickly (and typically) degenerates into a shouting match. Ultimately, however, God advises Murphy to give up her retirement plans and return to work--and once it turns out that she's cancer-free, Murphy follows His advice. The now-classic closing scene finds Murphy reunited with her favorite house-painter Eldin Bernecky (welcome back, Robert Pastorelli), who has come to her townhouse on a mysterious mission. Series producer Diane English pops up uncredited as a doctor...and say, isn't that George Clooney? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Comedian Alan King delves into the philosophy of standup comedy with friends Tim Conway, Buddy Hackett, and Paul Rodriquez aiding in this quest. Viewers get the opportunity to learn some dos and don'ts through humorous anecdotes, analysis, and some classic zingers. Comedy writer Judy Gold also appears. Shot at Harvard University's Memorial Sanders Theater in 1997, the program runs 60 minutes. ~ Linda J. Shriver, All Movie Guide
- 1995
This well-wrought made-for-TV comedy drama about a playboy divorced father who must take responsibility for his troubled daughter following his ex-wife's death is a great choice for those in need of warm-fuzzies and heart-tugging moments. With an inane but best-selling book, beaucoup bucks, a luxurious apartment and all the beautiful women he wants, pop psychologist Dr. Jason Fielder (Judge Reinhold) has been living the high life since his divorce. That all changes when his pre-pubescent daughter Sam (Stephi Lineberg) is forced upon him. Angry, alone and unable to deal with her grief, she proves a rebellious handful for Jason whose only solution is to try and buy her love with expensive gifts. In no time, both father and daughter have reached a seemingly insurmountable impasse. Fortunately, especially for Stephi, a winsome, wise guardian angel (Carol Kane) shows up to watch over her and help her reach out to her dad. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judge Reinhold, Stephi Lineburg, (more)
The inner-workings of a corrupt Las Vegas casino are exposed in Martin Scorsese's story of crime and punishment. The film chronicles the lives and times of three characters: "Ace" Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a bookmaking wizard; Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), a Mafia underboss and longtime best friend to Ace; and Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone, in a role she was born to play), a leggy ex-prostitute with a fondness for jewelry and a penchant for playing the field. Ace plays by the rules (albeit Vegas rules, which, as he reminds the audience in voiceover, would make him a criminal in any other state), while Nicky and Ginger lie, cheat, and steal their respective ways to the top. The film's first hour and a half details their rise to power, while the second half follows their downfall as the FBI, corrupt government officials, and angry mob bosses pick apart their Camelot piece by piece. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, (more)
The frightening underworld of neo-Nazism is the subject of this made-for-television drama. Oliver Platt stars as Yaron Svoray, an American journalist who goes to Germany to do a story on neo-Nazis. He gets mistakenly branded a sympathizer of the cause but uses his new status as a way to uncover secret information about the members and their leaders. The movie was based on the non-fiction book co-authored by Svoray called In Hitler's Shadow. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Oliver Platt, Arliss Howard, (more)
- 1993
A man who was about to blow the whistle on a widespread credit-card scam is murdered. It does not take long for the police to round up the killer, a Romanian immigrant named Leon Iliescu (Morgan Weisser). The D.A.'s office is confident of a conviction -- until the accused man's lawyer, Jonathan Shapiro (Alan King), declares that his client is "not guilty due to cultural insanity," a helpless victim of the ongoing violence in Romania. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- R
Night and the City is a remake of the 1950 Richard Widmark vehicle of the same name. Major changes: As played by Robert DeNiro, the Widmark character, one Harry Fabian, is no longer merely a two-bit tout but instead a two-bit lawyer; and the film is set in New York, as opposed to the London setting of the original. While embroiled in a lawsuit involving a boxer, Fabian becomes fascinated in the world of championship prizefights. Always susceptible to get-rich-quick schemes, Fabian tries to organize his own big boxing event, but to do that he needs the help of hardnosed promoter Alan King--and to get to King, Fabian uses the promoter's father, former boxer Jack Warden, to act as front man. Fabian scurries around lying and double-dealing in order to sell percentages of the upcoming bout, while King warns Fabian of the consequences should anything unfortunate happen to the ailing Warden. Disaster plagues Fabian as his boxers fail to pass their physicals, and Warden dies while setting up the big event. Pursued by King and his creditors, the terrified Fabian is urged by girlfriend Jessica Lange to get of town. Instead, Fabian decides to face up to his failings for the first time in his life, and stands his ground for the final, fatal confrontation. Like the earlier Widmark film, the 1992 Night and the City is based on a novel by Gerald Kersh. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert De Niro, Jessica Lange, (more)
- 1991
Shalom Sesame 10: Passover -- Jerusalem Jones and the Lost Afikoman is the tenth tape in the Muppets special edition series, Shalom Sesame, an educational journey through ancient and modern Israel. Kids meet old and new Muppet friends on Rechov Sumsum, the Israeli version of Sesame Street, including Grover, Cookie Monster, Moishe Oofnick the grouch, and Kippy ben Kipod, a large porcupine. In this episode, kids join Jerusalem Jones, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, and the Rechov Sumsum gang for a Passover adventure. There is a mystery to be solved, as the afikoman has disappeared. Without the afikoman, the seder cannot come to a conclusion. By jumping literally into the pages of the story of Passover, or the Haggadah, Jerusalem Jones and Kippi ben Kipod look for clues and learn something new. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Shalom Sesame: Chanukah is the sixth episode in the Muppets special edition series Shalom Sesame, an educational journey through ancient and modern Israel. Kids meet old and new Muppet friends on "Rechov Sumsum," the Israeli version of Sesame Street, including Grover, Cookie Monster, Moishe Oofnick the grouch, and Kippy ben Kipod, a large porcupine. In Shalom Sesame 6: Chanukah, the Muppets and Jeremy Miller celebrate the Festival of Lights and travel to ancient Modin, the land of the Maccabees. Alan King, Nell Carter, Joan Rivers, and Joshua Rifkind guest star. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
Brian De Palma's Hollywood sanitization of Tom Wolfe's scabrous satire stars Tom Hanks as Sherman McCoy, the "master of the universe," a shallow Wall Street investor who makes millions while enjoying the good life and the sexual favors of Maria Ruskin (Melanie Griffith), a Southern belle golddigger. Sherman and Maria are driving back to Maria's apartment from the airport when Maria takes a wrong turn on the expressway and the two find themselves in the South Bronx. She sees a black youth approaching Sherman's car and Maria, frightened, guns the engine, running over the teenager and killing him. The two drive away and decide not to report the accident to the police. Meanwhile, indigent alcoholic journalist Peter Fallow (Bruce Willis), anxious for a story to make good with his editor, comes upon the hit-and-run tale through local black community activist, Reverend Bacon (John Hancock). Bacon plans to use the hit-and-run case as a rallying point for the black community, while Fallow recognizes the press coverage inherent in prosecuting the callow Sherman. As Sherman is brought to his knees, the New York community fragments into different factions who use the case to suit their own cynical political purposes. Finally, Sherman is left without any allies to support him except for the sympathetic Judge White (Morgan Freeman) and the remorseful Fallow. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, (more)
Ron Silver stars as Herman, a Holocaust survivor who believes that his wife Tamara (Anjelica Huston) perished in the concentration camps. He marries fellow immigrant Yadwiga (Margaret Sophie Stein), whose family sheltered him from the Nazis, and resettles in the Coney Island area of New York. Not all that devoted to Yadwiga, Herman begins an affair with Masha (Lena Olin), who becomes pregnant by him. Reasoning that, since Yadwiga is a gentile, his marriage is not legal in the eyes of his religion, Herman marries Masha as well. The triangle metamorphoses into a quadrangle when Tamara, who was not killed after all, reappears. Olin and Huston were both nominated for Best Supporting Actress Academy Awards. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ron Silver, Anjelica Huston, (more)
Based on a true story, Bat 21 follows the harrowing adventures of Lt. Colonel Iceal Hambleton (Gene Hackman), whose plane is shot down over enemy territory while on reconnaissance behind enemy lines in Vietnam. Because Hambleton used to call the shots from behind a desk, he lacks combat survival experience and is forced to adapt while the enemy surrounds him on all sides. As the Air Force plans a risky rescue mission, he is befriended by pilot Bartholomew Clark (Danny Glover), who can't land to pick up Hambleton due to the enemy activity but keeps him company by radio. Hambleton's plight takes a turn for the worse once the brass decide to execute an intensive bombing mission in the area, whether or not they can rescue Hambleton. The colonel, meanwhile, confronted for the first time by the horrors of war, begins to reassess his role in the bloodshed. An overlooked film at the time of its release, Bat 21 is a smaller war picture that focuses on an ordinary man in an excruciating situation, and how it ultimately changes his life. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Hackman, Danny Glover, (more)
The bittersweet comedy Memories of Me stars Billy Crystal as Dr. Abbie Polin, a New York heart surgeon, long estranged from his father, Abe (Alan King). When the doctor suffers a mild heart attack, he tries to patch things up with his dad, hoping in this way to bring some equilibrium to his own life. This proves well-nigh impossible; Abe, the self-described "king of the Hollywood extras," is not only a play-actor in Tinseltown but in life itself, refusing to take on any real responsibilities, least of all the responsibility of parenthood. So far as Abe is concerned, his only "family" consists of his fellow extras. Though Abbie is extremely judgmental of his father, he himself is no prize in the commitment department, especially when dealing with his longtime lady friend (JoBeth Williams). Star/co-writer Crystal, co-star/co-producer King, and director Henry Winkler lay on the sentiment in thick, juicy slices toward the end. The final sequence in Memories of Me, a Felliniesque funeral, is very clever but somewhat out of synch with what has gone before. One of the film's highlights is a brief celebrity cameo by one of Alan King's "close personal friends." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Crystal, Alan King, (more)
- 1987
- R
In this film, an aspiring young actor moves to Los Angeles from his New York home, hoping to make it big in show business. Idolizing actor Robert De Niro, the young man must learn to cope with the rejection and despair he experiences in his career struggle. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Youngs, James Noble, (more)
Cat's Eye is an uneven, tepid trilogy of stories written by Stephen King connected by a cat which appears at the beginning of each story. The best story, and first episode, concerns chain-smoker Morrison (James Woods) who joins a stop-smoking group run by sadistic Dr. Monatti, played with great relish by Alan King. In the second episode, a gambler named Cressner (Kenneth McMillan) makes a bet with his wife's lover. In the third episode, a young girl (Drew Barrymore) is terrorized by a tiny troll. Although he wrote the screenplay, Stephen King was disappointed with the results and thought the interconnection of the stories using the cat clumsy and distracting. Directer Lewis Teague does an average job of directing the confusing and sometimes foolish script. However, James Woods' fine performance and the special effects by Jeff Jarvis make the film worth a view. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Drew Barrymore, James Woods, (more)
Saul (Dudley Moore), a married psychiatrist, becomes romantically obsessed with Chloe (Elizabeth McGovern), one of his patients. Chloe has already devastated one psychoanalyst, and although the venerable Freud himself (Alec Guinness) appears to counsel Saul in his worst moments, the man continues on his tormented way. In spite of notable names in the acting field, neither the subsidiary characters nor the story itself rise above the limited dialogue and plot. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dudley Moore, Elizabeth McGovern, (more)
- 1982
- R
Based on a true story, Endangered Species stars Robert Urich and JoBeth Williams. Urich plays vacationing ex-cop Ruben Castle, while Williams portrays Harriet Purdue, a small-town sheriff. Intrigued by Purdue's investigation of a rash of cattle mutilations, Castle begins following the evidence trail himself. What has been attributed to a religious cult or extraterrestrials by the locals turns out to be a covert operation conducted by a corrupt cartel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Urich, JoBeth Williams, (more)
