Peter Riegert Movies
University of Buffalo graduate, former Bella Abzug campaign worker, and onetime schoolteacher Peter Riegert finessed an early flair for comedy into appearing with an improv troupe called the War Babies. This led to Riegert's Broadway bow in 1975, then to his being hired by the National Lampoon people for several projects, the first of which was Animal House (1978), in which the actor portrayed Donald "Boon" Schoenstein. He went on to play such roles as the feckless corporate-flunky good guy in Local Hero (1983) and the unhitched pickle vendor Amy Irving would never marry in a million years but does anyway in Crossing Delancey (1989). Usually bypassed by the gossip columnists (which he doesn't seem to mind at all), Riegert raised journalistic eyebrows when he was cast opposite his onetime lady friend Bette Midler in the 1993 TV version of Gypsy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 2003
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the release of the classic "raunch comedy" National Lampoon's Animal House, the Spike TV cable channel offered this behind-the-scenes special on the making of the film. Amidst a sea of anecdotes concerning the mercurial behavior of the film's star, John Belushi, the documentary offers a number of hitherto unknown factoids. Though filmmakers John Landis and Ivan Reitman, National Lampoon editors Matty Simmons and Chris Miller, and Animal House stars Tim Matheson, Peter Riegert, Karen Allen, and Bruce McGill are among the noteworthy interviewees, the real "star" of the documentary is the original film's script, which spoke more eloquently to its generation than many another more serious efforts of the era. Also featured are outtakes, alternate scenes, and clips from the dead-at-birth TV series spin-off, Delta House (which co-starred a very young Michelle Pfeiffer). The original telecast of Unseen + Untold: Animal House coincided with the DVD anniversary edition of the film, which contains even more bonus material. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Matheson, Peter Riegert, (more)
- 1992
Hugh Whitemore adapted Bruce Chatwin's novel for this tale of a New York antique dealer who travels to Prague to buy the porcelain collection of the late Baron Utz, only to become embroiled in the wreckage of the dead man's unusual life history after he discovers that the collection is missing. ~ Nicole Gagne, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Armin Mueller-Stahl, Brenda Fricker, (more)
- 1989
W. Eugene Smith: Photography Made Difficult is a unique documentary that reenacts the life of the revolutionary artist. Peter Reigert plays the Midwestern photographer whose images defined the times. Smith began taking pictures when he was a teenager. Though dissatisfied with his early work, he kept developing his talent. By the end of his career, he had worked for many important publications, including Newsweek, Life, and Collier's. Smith was in Okinawa on D-Day. He captured indelible images of the Great Depression, New York City, and the life of a country doctor. Photography Made Difficult stitches together newsreel footage, interviews, and dramatic retelling to weave a story of one of the best-known photographers in the world. ~ Sarah Ing, All Movie Guide
