Adam Wade Movies

Inspired by a novel, the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence (Marla Gibbs), decides to be a "different woman" (with a different background and set of interests) to every potential sweetheart she comes across. One of the men who is treated to the "new" Florence is Greg Martin (Adam Wade), whom she meets at the Help Center. Alas, Martin happens to be a psychiatrist -- and also happens to be convinced that Florence is suffering from a multiple-personality disorder. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Willona's former boyfriend Frank (Adam Wade), a globetrotting contractor, comes back into her life with a marriage proposal. Though flattered, Willona (Ja'net DuBois) turns Frank down, worried that his constant moving about would disrupt the carefully cultivated stability of Willona's adopted daughter, Penny (Janet Jackson). Upon learning of this, Penny becomes convinced that she is ruining Willona's life -- and runs away from home. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Kojak (Telly Savalas) and his fellow detectives offer moral support to their police-officer colleague Richie Centorini (Joey Aresco), who is going through an unusually nasty divorce. The biggest thorn in Richie's side is his wife's sleazy attorney Everett Coughlin (played by future movie-studio executive David Ladd), who intends to take the hapless cop for every penny he has. When Centorini's private boat is torch--and a man killed in the process--suspicion falls upon Coughlin...and even worse, there's the possibility that Richie's ex-wife Sally (Shera Danese) may have been an accomplice. Future comedy star Joe Flaherty appears in a minor role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

"He sold his soul for rock-n-roll," read the tagline for Brian De Palma's satirical Phantom of the Opera for the '70s rock scene. After hearing Winslow Leach (William Finley) perform a song from his Faust rock opera, Phil Spector-ish impresario Swan (Paul Williams) decides that Winslow's opera would be the perfect debut attraction for his new rock palace, the Paradise. Swan steals the music and has Winslow imprisoned -- but not before Winslow meets aspiring songbird Phoenix (Jessica Harper). Jumping prison, Winslow breaks into Swan's Death Records factory to ruin the recordings, but a record press accident grossly disfigures him. Winslow then sneaks into the Paradise to sabotage Swan's show, disguising himself as the Phantom. Swan, however, cuts a deal with the Phantom to finish his cantata; he promises that Phoenix will sing it but then reneges, hiring prissy glam rocker Beef (Gerritt Graham). Determined to have Phoenix sing, the Phantom soon discovers just how far Swan will go to give the people what they want. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

Claudine (Diahann Carroll) is an impoverished African-American Harlem resident. Unmarried, Claudine supports herself and her six children by working as a maid--albeit secretly, so she can still qualify for welfare. Garbageman James Earl Jones falls in love with Claudine, and after strenuous effort manages to win the affections of her suspicious kids. Just when it seems as though there's a marriage in the offing, Jones runs off. Claudine's kids hunt him down and shame him into returning to their mother. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This sequel to Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) brings back Coffin Ed Johnson (Raymond St. Jacques) and Gravedigger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge), two freewheeling African-American police detectives working the beat in Harlem. Joe (Peter DeAnda) is a famous photographer who has mounted a crusade to drive drug dealers out of Harlem, but his intentions are hardly civic-minded; he hopes that by cutting out as much competition as possible, he can take over the business and corner the neighborhood's dope market. Caspar (Maxwell Glanville), one of Harlem's biggest dealers, is the only one who has figured out Joe's angle, and he carefully guards his territory. When a few local dealers begin turning up dead, Joe announces that the ghost of a powerful Harlem gangster, Charleston Blue, has returned to clean up the neighborhood; the small-time dope men are a suspicious lot, and many of them flee the city. But Coffin Ed and Gravedigger know that something fishy is going on, and they struggle to get the goods on Joe and Caspar, as well as solving the mystery of Charleston Blue. Like its predecessor, Come Back Charleston Blue was based on a novel by crime writer Chester Himes. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

This episode focuses on the LAPD's Special Weapons and Tactics unit, which had made a "guest" appearance in the previous Adam-12 installment "Log 43: Hostage". The S.W.A.T. team is called in to help Officers Malloy (Martin Milner) and Reed (Kent McCord) locate and neutralize a sniper, who is holed up on the roof of a theater. The inner workings of the team is detailed with clinical precision--and without giving away the entire ending, it can be noted that their methods are most effective. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi