Rhonda Aldrich Movies
Documentarist Christopher Monger's Special Thanks to Roy London profiles famed acting coach London (1943-93), a man with resounding professional success (including a litany of former pupils who graduated to A-list Hollywood triumph) but a rocky and notoriously complicated personal life. In this program, Monger examines London through the eyes of many of the said pupils, including Jeff Goldblum, Hank Azaria, Garry Shandling, Geena Davis and Patrick Swayze. The title, of course, refers to the "special thanks" mention to fall in the end credits of many a feature film. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Compelled to do community service, Bud eagerly accepts a job at "Virgin Hotline", an emergency call-in service for girls on the verge of surrending their maidenhood. Needless to say, Bud would rather that the callers--er--consult him first before doing anything rash. Meanwhile, Al and Peg conduct a fruitless search for a good movie at the local video store, which apparently stocks nothing but garbage like Dutch (starring some guy named Ed O'Neill) and such X-rated goodies as Forrest Hump! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Brian (Steven Weber) begins neglecting Alex (Farrah Forke) in order to pal around with his old "wild man" buddy Danny (Charles Rocket). When the situation goes from bad to really bad, Alex makes a crucial -- and devastating -- decision. Meanwhile, Lowell (Thomas Haden Church) is set up for a big-time disillusionment at the hands of his boyhood idol, a former TV superhero (played by Robert Ridgely, who once supplied voices for the animated versions of Superman and Flash Gordon). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In the tradition of This Is Spinal Tap, producer/ director/ star Tim Robbins' Bob Roberts is a satire disguised as a documentary. Robbins plays the titular Roberts, a wealthy, well-connected young man running for a senatorial seat in Pennsylvania. On the surface, Roberts is an ingratiating glad-hander, a sincere believer in the restoration of such intangibles as national pride, family values, etc. But the longer Roberts is followed about by documentary filmmaker Brian Murray, the more we become aware that the candidate is a textbook case of cynicism and contempt. Only Giancarlo Esposito, a reporter for an underground newspaper, is willing to dig beneath Roberts' veneer--a habit that leads to the film's ironic conclusion. Several well-known actors make cameo appearances as TV commentators, notably Tim Robbins' longtime partner Susan Sarandon. Bob Roberts started out as a Tim Robbins-directed short subject for the TV series Saturday Night Live, then was expanded into a $4 million feature. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Robbins, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1992
Based on a true story, this is the case of Carolyn Warmus, a teacher from Westchester County who was convicted of the murder of her lover's wife. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Could Data be lying about the events that occured while the Enterprise crew was mysteriously rendered unconscious for 30 seconds? Captain Picard thinks so, and he wants to know why. Data won't answer his questions, but alludes to the possibility that he might be protecting the crew from something equally mysterious and horrible. Originally aired Feburary 16, 1991, "Clues" was cowritten by Bruce D. Arthurs and Joe Menonsky. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
- PG13
- Add Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael to QueueAdd Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael to top of Queue
In this film, the small town of Clyde, Ohio is buzzing with excitement when it is said that the famous Roxy Carmichael is leaving her luxurious Hollywood life to return to her old hometown. Her return causes upheaval in the lives of family-man Denton Webb (Jeff Daniels), her old boyfriend, and an angst-ridden teen, Dinky Bossetti (Winona Ryder), who is convinced that Roxy Carmichael is her natural mother. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Winona Ryder, Jeff Daniels, (more)
A beautiful woman discovers a new side of her personality in this erotic drama. Kansas-born Emily Reed (Carré Otis) is an intelligent but naive young woman who has made a name for herself as a lawyer and is hired to work with businesswoman Claudia Lirones (Jacqueline Bisset), who is putting the finishing touches on a major real estate deal. Claudia brings Emily with her as she jets off to Rio De Janeiro to wrap up the sale of a resort hotel to the Chinese. When Claudia is unexpectedly called away, Emily is left in the care of James Wheeler (Mickey Rourke), an expatriate American multi-millionaire with a truly remarkable tan who is in on Claudia's deal. The Carnivale is in full swing in Rio, and James seeks to broaden Emily's horizons by introducing her to the sensual pleasures lurking all around her; James and Emily soon become involved, which complicates matters when Claudia returns. One of Wild Orchid's love scenes between Mickey Rourke and Carré Otis had to be trimmed so that the film could gain an R rating for American release (the uncut version was later released on home video); a widely circulated rumor had it that Rourke and Otis, who were living together at the time, had actually had sex while the scene was filmed, though Otis later denied it. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Rourke, Jacqueline Bisset, (more)
When a bodacious doctor assists a married sex researcher in the lab, they begin an affair that she seems to grow obsessed with. Before long, the regretful man realizes that he has snagged a psychopathic nymph who would rather kill him than give him up to his wife. If not already apparent: there is a bit of sexual content in this suspense film. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marc Singer, Lisa Pescia, (more)
- 1989
Christine (Markie Post) becomes the object of ridicule for the Night Court staff when she begins dating a wealthy sexagenerian named Ted (played by soap-opera stalwart Peter Hansen). The staffers are convinced that Christine isn't really interested in the old man romantically, but instead regards him merely as a father figure. No one is more vocal on the subject that Harry (Harry Anderson)--who has a hard time hiding his jealousy for the fortunate Ted. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
After several weeks of reruns, Next Generation offered a first-run episode on July 1, 1989. In Manhunt, the Enterprise is assigned to transport a group of delegates to an important Federation conference. One of the delegates is Troi's mother Lwaxana, played by former Star Trek regular Majel Barrett. Ostensibly on a diplomatic mission, Lwaxana is actually in search of a new husband, and she decides that Captain Picard fits the bill. "Manhunt" was written by Terry Devereaux. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
Phillip Schuman's women-in-prison film is an account of a group of female prisoners who decide to organize a variety show. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1988
The Enterprise's Holodeck malfunctions, trapping Captain Picard in a recreation of 1941 San Francisco. In the tradition of the earlier Star Trek episode A Piece of the Action, Picard finds himself smack-dab in the middle of a film noir-style gangster melodrama, with familiar movie stereotypes abounding (two of them played by "cult" actors Lawrence Tierney and Dick Miller). As if this weren't enough, Picard is pestered by hostile aliens who demand that he give them their undivided attention. Nominated for a Best Cinematography Emmy Award, "The Big Goodbye" was written by Tracy Torme, and was first telecast January 16, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- PG
The sequel to Saturday the 14th, this horror-comedy traces the adventures of nice-guy teen Eddie Baxter (Jason Presson) as he saves the world from the brink of supernatural destruction. After moving into a decrepit, inherited mansion with his family -- a collection of oddballs who eat nothing but junk food yet cling to a Leave It to Beaver sense of normalcy -- Eddie is the only one to notice the mysterious mists that spill up from the basement and engender odd behavior in everyone but himself and lovable old Gramps (Ray Walston). The entire family, from Eddie's dad (Avery Schreiber) to his freeloading Aunt Alice (Rhonda Aldrich), soon begins conducting late-night chocolate-fudge sculpture classes in the kitchen. Chairs begin eating people, Aunt Alice spouts werewolf-style facial hair, and monsters begin issuing forth from a crack in the basement floor. Soon, a leggy blond vampire named Charlene (Pamela Stonebrook) has taken up residence in the Eddie's room; she tells the boy he's set to inherit the mantle of darkness from a fiend known as The Evil One (Leo V. Gordon) at the stroke of midnight on Saturday the 14th. As signs and portents proliferate, Eddie must decide whether to reject temptation or bask in his newfound powers. Help arrives unexpectedly in the form of Leonard Cavendish (Phil Leeds), Gramps' deceased best friend. Saturday the 14th Strikes Back co-star Avery Schreiber spent much of the '80s being distracted by the hearty crunch of Doritos snack chips in a long-running series of TV commercials. Audiences will remember Ray Walston from his role as Uncle Martin in the '60s TV show My Favorite Martian, while veteran comedy player Phil Leeds would go on to play tooth-obsessed Judge Happy Boyle on the '90s Fox comedy Ally McBeal. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Presson, Ray Walston, (more)
- 1986
This episode is the conclusion of a two-part "crossover" story, which began as "Novel Connection", an episode of Magnum PI. While in Hawaii to help one of her myriad of friends, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) crosses paths with freewheeling private detective Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) and Magnum's mysterious boss Jonathan Higgins (John Hillerman). Although he's reluctant to do so, Magnum accepts Jessica's help when he is accused of murdering a hit man whose target remains unknown--and then is tagged for a second murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
This routine small tots' animated feature is about a young girl named Rainbow Brite who brings color to the universe. She is forced to do battle with the henchmen of a wicked princess determined to plunge everything into a colorless darkness. Before the princess can carry out her plan, Rainbow joins up with the warrior Krys and some special horses to outsmart and outfight the anti-technicolor faction. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bettina, Patrick Fraley, (more)
- 1983
- R
As a sequel to the first Boogey Man, the horror of Boogey Man II lies in the script itself which adapts so much of the footage from its predecessor that this is really a half a movie in one. A fragment of the "possessed" mirror that caused the damage in the Boogey Man is brought to Los Angeles by the heroine Lacey (Suzanna Love) and takes over a hapless butler. He goes on a rampage, but then other appliances get into the spirit of the thing, as animated garden hoses, corkscrews, electric toothbrushes, and hedge trimmers wreak havoc with the "house appliance" horror genre. In-between the madness, Mickey Lombard (Ulli Lommel -- the director playing a director) lambasts Hollywood for pandering to commercialism -- a case of someone biting the hand that is not feeding him. For the record, the term "boogeymen" comes from the Bugi men of Indonesia, feared pirates of the high seas. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Suzanna Love, Shannah Hall, (more)
