Willie Aames Movies
American actor Willie Aames, born Albert William Upton, spent his youth working steadily on television and occasionally in low-budget foreign and domestic features. He first began making guest appearances on television in 1969. In 1975, he was cast in Irwin Allen's short-lived adventure series The Swiss Family Robinson. One of his co-stars was a young Helen Hunt. By this time, he had also appeared in a few television movies, including Unwed Father (1974). In 1977, Aames began a long stint in one of his best-known roles, that of rebellious teen Tommy Bradford in the popular domestic comedy/drama Eight Is Enough. With his mop of dark blonde hair, slim physique, and handsome face, Aames became a popular teen idol. In 1979, Aames made his feature-film debut in Scavenger Hunt. When Eight Is Enough was finally canceled in 1981, Aames went on to appear in a couple more films, including Zapped (1982), before returning to series television in the role for which he may be best remembered, as Scott Baio's irresponsible foil in the sitcom Charles in Charge (1984-1990). Through this period he continued to show up in movies. Through much of the '80s, Aames battled with cocaine and depression and became notorious in Hollywood for his erratic behavior. By the time Charles was canceled in 1990, he had cleaned up his act, become a born-again Christian, married for the second time, and in 1991, decided to move to Kansas City where he became a producer and director of videos and commercials. In the mid-'90s, he began starring as an evangelical superhero in the Bibleman series of youth-oriented musical videos. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1974
Applying for a credit card, Officer Jim Reed (Kent McCord) is astonished when he is turned down as a bad risk. It soon develops that this negative assassment is due to a computer error. But in trying to set things right, Reed finds himself a virtual prisoner in the darkest catacombs of police-department bureaucracy. Featured in the supporting cast is former child star Gigi Perreau)...and future child star Willie Aames. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Having racked up excellent ratings for the 1987 TV movie Eight is Enough: A Family Reunion, the producers concocted yet another "retro" film, 1989's An Eight is Enough Wedding. Dick Van Patten returns as Tom Bradford, who anxiously prepares for the wedding of his oldest son David (Grant Goodeve). While most of the original cast shows up for the nuptials, Tom's wife Abby is played by Sandy Faison. She replaces Family Reunion's Mary Frann, who in turn had replaced the original Abby, Betty Buckley. Dick Van Patten's real-life wife and son Pat and Jimmy also show up in supporting roles. Like Family Reunion, An Eight is Enough Wedding was telecast opposite the World Series (on October 15, 1989, to be exact); and like the earlier film, Wedding won its timeslot in the ratings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Spiritual superhero Bibleman (played by Willie Aames) battles the forces of discord in this installment of the Christian video series for children. Bibleman and his sidekick, Cypher (Brady Williams), lean that evil arch-enemy El Furioso has added a dangerous new weapon to his arsenal -- Gold Fury Dust, a substance which works people into a purposeless state of anger. As Bibleman tries to stop El Furioso from spreading the dust, he is stricken with a dose himself, and has to find a way to control his raging emotions for the good of others. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Christian superhero Bibleman must not only battle one of his many enemies, but his own ego in this action-packed adventure for children. Bibleman (Willie Aames) and his sidekick, Cypher (Brady Williams), are excited to learn that their adventures fighting bad guys and serving the Lord are being turned into a syndicated comic strip. However, Bibleman is soon lured into a battle with his latest nemesis, the Prince of Pride, who shoots Bibleman with his secret weapon -- a ray that causes the ego of its victim to expand at an alarming rate. Will Bibleman's Christian modesty save him or will he become a self-centered monster? Meanwhile, while the Prince of Pride zaps the artist behind the Bibleman comic strip, he begins to think he's too talented for the funnies, nearly killing the project before it can truly start. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Season one of Charles in Charge finds the title character, a 19-year-old college student, securing free room and board by agreeing to work as "male governess" in the New Brunswick home of Jill and Stan Pembroke (Julie Cobb, James Widdoes). With the help of his best friend Buddy (Willie Aames), Charles does his best -- which is very good indeed -- to keep the three Pembroke children on the straight and narrow. Of course, 14-year-old Lila (April Lerman) would rather be chasing every boy in her class, 12-year-old Douglas (Jonathan Ward) prefers to crack wise than to do his household chores, and 10-year-old Jason (Michael Pearlman) just wants to be left alone to do whatever he pleases. In the course of the season, the kids benefit mightily from the wisdom and common sense of Charles, just as he learns a lot about his role in life through his responsibilities as substitute daddy. During his off hours, Charles devotes himself to winning the heart of the toothsome Gwendolyn Pierce (Jennifer Runyon) a nice young lady who sees no reason to tie herself down to just one boy. Some interesting faces pop up among the guest performers this season, among them such stars in the making as Meg Ryan, Kathy Ireland, Christina Applegate, and Matthew Perry. Also, sitcom veteran Rue McClanahan makes a few memorable appearances as Stan Pembroke's mother. Though Charles in Charge enjoyed a sizeable fan following amongst Scott Baio enthusiasts, the series was far from a success, prompting CBS to cancel the property after a mere 22 episodes. Who could have guessed that Charles in Charge would pull a phoenix two and a half years later, re-emerging in off-network syndication and subsequently enjoying a healthy run of 104 additional episodes? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Baio, Julie Cobb, (more)
Two and half years after it was cancelled at the end of its first season on CBS, the youth-oriented sitcom Charles in Charge staged a spectacular revival in off-network syndication, returning to the air in most markets in January of 1987. Of the original CBS cast, only Scott Baio as 20-year-old college student Charles and Willie Aames as his best friend Buddy were carried over into the syndicated version. When last we saw Charles, he was working as "male governess" in the New Brunswick home of the Pembroke family, riding herd on the three Pembroke children, whose ages ranged from 10 to 14. In the first episode of the "new" Charles in Charge, Charles and Buddy return from a two-week camping trip only to discover that the Pembrokes (played by different actors than in the network series) have decided to move to Seattle, and to sell their home to the Powell family. Quickly ingratiating himself with Ellen Powell (Sondra Kerns) and her curmudgeonly father Walter (James Callahan), Charles manages to secure a new male-governess position, agreeing to watch over Ellen's three children while her husband, a Navy officer, is commanding a station in the South Seas. Fortunately for Charles, two of three kids are virtual carbon copies of the Pembroke children: oldest daughter Jamie (Nicole Eggert) is crazy about boys just as Lila Pembroke had been; and 12-year-old Adam (Alexander Polinsky) is very much the same carefree sprite as his "clone" Jason Pembroke. Only middle child Sarah (Josie Davis), a shy, mild-mannered girl, represents a contrast to her Pembroke counterpart, the wisecracking Douglas. Halfway through the season, Ellen Travolta makes her first appearance as Charles' free-spirited mother Lillian, whose personality clashes harshly with that of the staunch traditionalist Walter Powell. Though Lillian is supposed to make only a brief visit, she ends up moving to New Brunswick, and by the next season she'll be a full-fledged regular. Although the budget of the syndicated Charles in Charge was lower than that of the CBS version, the producers did not cut corners in their choice of talented and instantly recognizable guest performers. Among the actors showing up in the series' first 24 off-network offerings are Ben Stein, Betsy Palmer, Robert Costanzo, Michael Dorn, Kay Lenz, and Michelle Johnson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Baio, James Callahan, (more)
Having survived its freshman year in off-network syndication (following a desultory network run a few seasons earlier), Charles in Charge returns for a third season of 26 episodes, with Scott Baio returning as the title character, a 21-year-old college student who works as male governess to the three children of the Powell family. The season opens with two-parter in which Charles is reunited with Gwendolyn Pierce (Jennifer Runyon), the girl whom he had ardently pursued back during the series' brief tenure on CBS. In subsequent episodes, Charles' mother Lillian (Ellen Travolta), having left her hometown of Scranton far behind, takes over operation of Sid's Pizza Parlor, where the entire cast congregates on a regular basis; Charles proves his mettle by organizing a homecoming celebration for Commander Powell, the long-absent Naval officer husband of his boss Ellen Powell (Sondra Kerns) -- the Commander has not yet shown up on the series -- nor will he show up in this episode; and venerable character actor Dabbs Greer (he was the "older" Tom Hanks in the movie The Green Mile) guest-stars as the crusty seafaring father of Ellen's taciturn dad Walter (James Callahan). Other familiar actors making guest appearances this season include John Astin, Mindy Cohn, Jerry Van Dyke, Jack Riley, Vito Scotti, and a very young Mark-Paul Gosselaar. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Baio, James Callahan, (more)
- 1987
Charles in Charge begins its fourth season on the air -- and its third season in off-network syndication -- with the title character, a now-22-year-old college student, still earning his bread and board as male governess for the three Powell children: Jamie (Nicole Eggert), Sarah (Josie Davis), and Adam (Alexander Polinsky). Helping Charles perform his duties is his best friend Buddy (Willie Aames), while the Powell kids' mom Ellen (Sondra Kerns) and grandfather Walter (James Callahan) carefully watch over our hero to make sure he doesn't screw up (which he hasn't yet, at least not to any great extent!). A few changes are in store this season. First off, Charles' freewheeling mom Lillian (Ellen Travolta) purchases the cast's favorite hangout, Sid's Pizza Parlor, reconverting it into the '50s-themed Yesterday Café -- a move that does not assume full significance until the two-part episode "Charles Splits," in which a bump on the head transforms Charles into his favorite TV character, "the Fonz" from Happy Days. (Is it necessary to remind anyone that Scott Baio himself was a Happy Days alumnus?) Secondly, Justin Whelan is introduced in the role of Lillian's wise-guy nephew Anthony, who shakes things up in the Powell household for a handful of episodes. Thirdly, Charles meets the love of his life, Stephanie Curtis, played by none other than Erika Eleniak. And finally, we meet Commander Robert Powell (James O'Sullivan), long-absent husband of Charles' employer Ellen Powell, for the very first time. Guest stars this season range from veterans like Charles Nelson Reilly and Donny Most to comparative newcomers Kellie Martin and Tracey Gold. The most poignant guest appearances is that of Sally Struthers, playing a demure schoolteacher who turns out to be a fugitive '60s activist in the episode "Still at Large." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Baio, James Callahan, (more)
- 1988
Although Charles in Charge fulfilled its mission to produce 100 episodes for daily strip syndication by the end of its fourth season on the air (one season on network, three in off-net), the series remained popular with young viewers, and thus was green-lighted for a fifth and final season of 26 half-hour installments. Most of the familiar cast remains intact: Scott Baio as college student and "male governess" Charles; Willie Aames as Charles' best friend Buddy; James Callahan and Sondra Kerns as Charles' employers the Powells; Nicole Eggert, Josie Davis and Alexander Polinsky as the three Powell children; and Ellen Travolta as Charles' freewheeling mom Lillian. Among the newer additions to the cast is Marlyn Mason as Julia, the steady lady friend of the Powell kids' crabby grandfather Walter Powell (Callahan). Also, several stars in the making appear in guest roles, including Tiffani Amber-Thiessen, Samantha Fox, and Pamela Anderson. The season -- and the series -- ends as Charles is accepted to Princeton's graduate school, and Ellen Travolta essays a dual role as Lillian and her twin sister Sally, who runs a car wash populated by attractive young actors. One might suspect that the series' final episode, depicting life in that car wash, was designed as a spin-off TV vehicle for the talented Ms. Travolta (though no such vehicle ever materialized). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Baio, James Callahan, (more)
In this Italian adventure, the deadly drug manufacturing and export operation of a prominent South- American drug czar is discovered by an investigative TV news correspondent and her cameraman who went to the jungle to look into evidence that a notorious, corrupt colonel is still alive. While in the jungles, they encounter hostile natives and other typical dangers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lisa Blount, Leonard Mann, (more)
- 2003
- PG13
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In keeping with his background in television sitcoms, Sam Weisman directs the cameo-filled comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. Dickie Roberts (David Spade) was a child actor on the hit TV show "The Glimmer Gang" and remains remembered for a particular catch phrase. Now in his thirties, he finds work as a parking valet and spends time with other nominal child stars (enter cameos by Danny Bonaduce, Corey Feldman, and the like). Wanting to make a comeback, he manages to get an audition with director Rob Reiner. When the role requires him to be normal, he decides to hire a normal family in order to relive the childhood he missed out on. He ends up with sleazy salesman George Finney (Craig Bierko) and his loving wife, Grace (Mary McCormack). Dickie shares a room with their two kids: sunny daughter Sally (Jenna Boyd) and impressionable son Sam (Scott Tessa). Former child star Alyssa Milano appears as Dickie's girlfriend, Cyndi. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Spade, Mary McCormack, (more)
- 1977
In most respects, the extended-length pilot episode of Eight is Enough bears a close resemblance to the series that follows, with Sacramento columnist Tom Bradford (Dick Van Patten) presiding over a rambunctious but loving brood of eight independent-minded children. Also, the series wastes no time plunging the Bradford clan into a maelstrom of crises: oldest son David has a fight with his father and moves out of the house, youngest son Nicholas needs his tonsils removed, and daughter Elizabeth is arrested on a drug-possession charge! Appearing in the pilot are Mark Hamill as 23-year-old David Bradford, Kimberly Beck as 18-year-old Nancy Bradford and Chris English as 14-year-old Tommy Bradford. But by the time the series' first season "officially" began one week after its debut, Grant Goodeve had taken over as David, Dianne Kay as Nancy and Willie Aames as Tommy. The rest of the series' younger actors were carried over from the pilot, including Lani O'Grady as 21-year-old Mary, Laurie Walters as 20-year-old Joannie, Susan Richardson as 19-year-old Susan, Connie Needham as 15-year-old Elizabeth and Adam Rich as 8-year-old Nicholas. Also retained from the pilot is Diana Hyland as the Bradford children's mother Joan. Tragically, Hyland died on March 27, 1977, after filming only four episodes; her last appearances in the episodes "Pieces of Eight" and "Turnabout" were telecast posthumously. To explain her absence from the remainder of the season, the writers contrived to have Joan "away" from the family on an extended visit; the character would not be officially declared deceased until the opening episode of Season Two. Among those showing up in guest roles during the first season of Eight is Enough are Janis Paige as Tom's freewheeling sister Vivian, an "Auntie Mame" clone; Adrienne Barbeau as an older woman with whom David Bradford becomes briefly infatuated; and Charlene Tilton as Tommy's "dream girl" Wendy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Van Patten, Diana Hyland, (more)
- 1977
Acknowledging the death of series regular Diana Hyland during the previous season of Eight is Enough, Season Two opens with Sacramento columnist Tom Bradford (Dick Van Patten) being identified as a widower, whose wife Joan has been deceased for nearly one year. While this time passage makes it respectable for Tom to re-enter the dating scene, it does not explain the fact that his eight children have only aged a few months since last we saw them at the end of Season One! But Tom does not remain unattached for long. In the season's second episode, Betty Buckley joins the cast as Sandra Sue "Abby" Abbott, a widowed teacher hired to tutor Tom's son Tommy (Willie Aames) while the boy is healing from a sports injury (in the same episode, daughter Mary [Lani O'Grady] defiantly moves out of the Bradford home to set up housekeeping with her boyfriend, played by no less than Don Johnson). The subsequent romance between Tom and Abby leads swiftly to the altar, as they become man and wife in the two-hour episode "Children of the Room", originally telecast November 9, 1977 (which is the same day that they wed in the context of the episode!) The following week, the entire family honeymoons in Hawaii, where the younger Bradfords characteristically stir up as much trouble as possible. Later on, an emotional high point is reached when the children celebrate their first Christmas without their "real" mom. In other episodes, daughter Joannie (Laurie Walters) precipitates a crisis when she agrees to appear nude in a stage play; Mary despairs when she is rejected from medical school; Tom is strongarmed into writing a newspaper advice column as "Ms. Dinah"; Tommy (Willie Aames) resorts to cheating in order to pass his English class; and when Abby suffers a serious concussion, the kids keep her awake until the doctor comes by describing highlights from past episodes (yes, it's a "clip show"). The season finale "Who's on First" takes place during a community talent show, permitting Broadway veteran Betty Buckley to show off her spending singing voice (no, she doesn't sing her signature tune from "Cats", mainly because it hadn't been written yet). Guest stars during Season Two include Sylvia Sidney, Robin Williams, Will Geer, Danny Bonaduce, Stepfanie Kramer, and Dick Van Patten's own sons Jimmy and Timmy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Van Patten, Betty Buckley, (more)
- 1978
Season Three of Eight is Enough finds Abby Bradford (Betty Buckley) fully accepted as the second wife of Sacramento columnist Tom Bradford (Tom Bosley) by Tom's extremely judgemental brood of eight children, who now range in age from 10 to 25. Also, recurring actress Jennifer Darling has been promoted to "regular" status in the role of Tom's hardworking secretary Donna. The realm of "Higher Education" figures prominently in this season's episodes, as Mary Bradford (Lani O'Grady) contends with male chauvinism during her first year of medical school, Nancy Bradford (Dianne Kay) flunks out of college, Elizabeth Bradford (Connie Needham) tries to win a dance scholarship, and Susan Bradford (Susan Bradford) entertains the notion of training to be a policewoman. In other developments, Abby thinks she's pregnant, and later despairs when she learns her parents are divorcing; Nicholas Bradford (Adam Rich) has his first kiss, and also invites Vice President Mondale to have Thanksgiving dinner with the Bradfords (though the VP accepts, we never see him!); on a dark and stormy night, Nancy brings home a blind date (Larry Gilman who bears a frightening resemblance to Anthony Perkinsin Psycho); Nancy, Susan and their sister Joannie (Laurie Walters) defiantly move out their parents' house and into their own apartment; and in a foretaste of a plot development which will occur in the series' final season, Tommy Bradford (Willie Aames) offers to wed his pregnant girlfriend (played by a young Rosanna Arquette), even though he's not the father. The biggest news this season concerns oldest Bradford son David (Grant Goodeve), who falls in love with an attractive attorney named Janet (Joan Prather. By the time the season finale rolls around, David and Janet have embarked on a cross-country vacation to celebrate their engagement. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Van Patten, Betty Buckley, (more)
- 1979
As Season Four of Eight is Enough gets under way, David Bradford (Grant Goodeve), the oldest of Sacramento journalist Tom Bradford's (Dick Van Patten) eight children, is eagerly anticipating his marriage to his attorney fiancée Janet (Joan Prather). Romance also enters the life of David's sister Susan (Susan Richardson) when she falls for charming minor-league baseball player Merle "The Pearl" Stockwell (Brian Patrick Clarke). Thus it is that the wedding ceremony becomes a double header when Susan and Merle wed on the same day as David and Janet (conveniently just in time for the Fall ratings sweeps!). Elsewhere in the Bradford household, Tom's wife Abby (Betty Buckley) studies for a PhD in Education; daughter Joannie (Laurie Walters) lands a job at a local TV station, when she meets and falls in love with coworker Jeffrey Trout (Nicholas Pryor); 18-year-old Elizabeth (Connie Newton, previously billed as Connie Needham) enters college; David establishes his own construction business; second-youngest son Tommy (William Aames) organizes a band; Tom's freewheeling sister Vivian (Janis Paige) treats the family to a Hawaiian vacation (no, they don't meet the Brady Bunch); the kids and Abby help Tom come to grips with his 50th birthday; youngest son Nicholas (Adam Rich) "jinxes" the Bradfords by breaking a chain letter; and Susan finds out that she's pregnant--just after Merle has walked out on her. New to the series this season is Michael Goodrow as Tommy's new friend Ernie, who turns out to have a serious drinking problem. As Season Four draws to a close, Susan prepares for motherhood, and Tommy throws a graduation party that gets him into hot water with the local constabulary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Van Patten, Betty Buckley, (more)
- 1980
Getting a late start due to the 1980 Hollywood actors' strike, the fifth and final season of Eight is Enough makes up for lost time with a frantic 90-minute opening episode, in which Susan Bradford Stockwell (Susan Richardson), one of the eight children of journalist Tom Bradford (Dick Van Patten), delivers the family's first grandchild, named Sandra Sue in honor of Susan's stepmother (Betty Buckley)--who of course prefers the nickname "Abby" to her given name. While the arrival of Sandra Sue is a high point in the lives of Susan and her professional-ballplayer husband Merle (Brian Patrick Clarke, things aren't quite so jubilant later down the line when Merle suffers an injury that injures his career. This is the season that Ralph Macchio joins the cast as Abby's troubled nephew Jeremy, who takes a bit of time adjusting to his new surroundings when he is brought into the Bradford household after his father drops out of sight. Also new to the cast is John Louie as Melvin, the geekish best friend of youngest Bradford son Nicholas (Adam Rich). Major developments this season include the breakup of the marriage between oldest son David Bradford (Grant Goodeve and his wife Janet (Joan Prather), though the couple eventually considers patching things up. Also, Abby lands a job as guidance counselor in a tough inner-city school; daughter Elizabeth (Dianne Kay) moves in with her boyfriend; the Bradfords are forced to economize when Tom is laid off during a newspaper strike; daughter Nancy (Dianne Kay) finds that her chosen career as an actress and model is fraught with professional perils and pitfalls; son Tommy (Willie Aames) and his pal Ernie (Michael Goodrow) return from college with a new "sophisticated" outlook on life; and later on, Tommy proposes to girlfriend Ellen (Tara Nutter) when he learns she is pregnant. The series concludes with a tense battle over legal custody of Jeremy between the Bradfords and Jeremy's irresponsible dad (George Ralph Dicenzo). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Van Patten, Betty Buckley, (more)
- 1987
Most of the original cast members of TV's Eight is Enough are on hand for the "retro" feature Eight is Enough: A Family Reunion. The single most conspicuous defector is Betty Buckley, who is here replaced by Mary Frann in the role of Abby Bradford. The premise: On the eve of his 50th birthday, Tom Bradford (Dick Van Patten) is in danger of losing his job as a journalist. He is offered moral support by his offspring, who have gathered together to celebrate Tom's half-century mark. Grant Goodeve, Willie Aames, Susan Richardson, Lani O'Grady, Adam Rich, Connie Needham, Dianne Kay and Laurie Walters portray the Bradford kids. The warm-and-fuzzy script is by Gwen Bagni-Dubov, who'd been churning out teleplays since the black-and-white era. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Produced by Dan "Dark Shadows" Curtis, this TV adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic spine-chiller Frankenstein remains fairly faithful to its source. Robert Foxworth stars as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, who comes to grief when he "plays God" by creating a human being from spare body parts. The monster, played by Bo Svenson, is doomed from the start, not only by fate but by his inherited homicidal nature. Susan Strasberg and Heidi Vaughn co-star as the two unfortunate women in Dr. Frankenstein's life. Originally telecast in two parts on ABC's late-night Wide World of Mystery anthology, Frankenstein debuted January 16 and 17, 1973. It was later pared down to a traditional two-hour, single-part TV movie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Foxworth, Susan Strasberg, (more)
- 1985
- R
With shoddy production values and a plot that seems to be more of an excuse for violence than anything else, this underpar drama focuses on vigilante justice. While trying to cross the border into France, a Spanish truck driver's vehicle is burned by two angry French farmers, killing the driver's wife. Unable to win his case against the men in court, the angry driver vows to avenge the death of his wife by killing the farmers and their sleazy lawyer. It may have helped to know that European farmers were irate at this time about the dumping of their produce. But then, education was not an objective here. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margaux Hemingway
- 1977
Young Joseph Stokes (Caesar Ramirez), the son of a Sioux Indian father and a white mother, arrives in Walnut Grove to live with his maternal grandfather, Jeremy (George Murdock). Unfortunately, Jeremy is still bitter over the fact that his daughter married an Indian, and treats his grandson with contempt. Things get worse for Joseph when he is subjected to the bigoted taunts of his schoolmates -- but the boy's integrity and inner strength prevails and wins the day. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1982
- R
A "The Blue Lagoon" set in the Sahara Desert, this romantic adventure is set at the turn of century and chronicles the story of two beautiful teens who end up traveling alone from Bagdad to Damascus after their respective parents are killed by a the henchmen of a sheik who wants the girl for himself. During their travels the youths learn about life, love and the joys of sex. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Willie Aames, Phoebe Cates, (more)
- 1979
- PG
When millionaire Vincent Price dies, he leaves a riotous will which amounts to a scavenger hunt, the winner of which receives the entire willed fortune. So 15 potential heirs are sent on a zany quest where they must outrace and outsmart one another to inherit the big bucks. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Benjamin, James Coco, (more)
- 1975
Based on a true story, The Family Nobody Wanted was one of the better ABC Movie of the Week entries of the 1970s. James Olson plays a minister whose main concern is society's outcasts, particularly the youngsters. With the loving help and support of his wife (Shirley Jones), the reverend takes in 12 unwanted children of various colors and creeds. Though it's very hard to find suitable lodging for all these kids, the couple provides a loving environment for their ersatz family. Adapted by Suzanne Clauser from a book by Helen Doss (who is portrayed in the film by Shirley Jones), The Family Nobody Wanted was first telecast February 19, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
