Garry Marshall Movies
The career of producer/director Garry Marshall has been marked by many peaks, the highest of which include such classic television sitcoms as The Odd Couple (1970-1975), Happy Days (1974-1984), and Mork and Mindy (1978-1982), and the phenomenally popular feature film Pretty Woman (1990). A Brooklyn native, Marshall (born Gary Marsciarelli) is the son of an industrial filmmaker and a dance instructor. His sister, Penny Marshall, is a comic actress and noted film director. Marshall majored in journalism at Northwestern University and subsequently served a stint in the army before becoming a reporter for the New York Daily News. He was also a jazz drummer in a band before becoming a television comedy scriptwriter for such artists as Joey Bishop and Phil Foster and the writer for Jack Parr on The Tonight Show.Marshall moved to Los Angeles in 1961, but he didn't make it big until he teamed up with writer Jerry Belson. Together, they penned numerous episodes for several sitcoms, notably The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Lucy Show. In 1970, Marshall produced The Odd Couple, which starred Jack Klugman and Tony Randall and was based on a popular Neil Simon play and movie. He reached his apex as a television producer during the '70s, with such hits as Laverne and Shirley (1976-1983) (a Happy Days spin-off starring sister Penny) and Mork and Mindy. In addition to his producing and television directorial efforts, Marshall occasionally appeared as a supporting actor.
In features, Marshall co-produced and co-wrote (with Belson) his first film, How Sweet It Is!, in 1968. A year later, the two produced and penned The Grasshopper. Marshall made his directorial feature film debut in 1982 with Young Doctors in Love, a comic look at daytime serials. As a film director, Marshall's output has received uneven critical reviews. Films such as the Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell vehicle Overboard and the Bette Midler/Barbara Hershey melodrama Beaches (1988) had good box-office business, but were considered of average quality. 1990's Pretty Woman was Marshall's first big movie hit. Following its tremendous success, he tried his hand at a serious drama with Frankie and Johnny (1991) starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. Since then, Marshall's films have tended more toward sentimental and straight dramas such as The Twilight of the Golds (1997) and The Other Sister (1999). Marshall returned to comedy -- and to his teaming of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere -- in 1999 with Runaway Bride.
In addition to his work behind the camera, Marshall has occasionally appeared as an actor in films and television shows alike. During the mid-'90s, many TV audiences came to recognize him for playing Candice Bergen's ratings-crazy boss, Stan Lansing, on Murphy Brown. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1996
With Miller Redfield's "Q" ratings in the toilet, Murphy (Candice Bergen) at last sees a chance to get rid of her hated co-anchor. Her plan involves handing Miller (Christopher Rich) over to her incompetent former agent Steve (Chris Elliott), knowing that Steve will try to use the "underdog" plan to get Miller a raise--a plan that always failed spectacularly for Murphy. Miracle of miracles, the scheme works--but it still manages to backfire on our conniving heroine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In case there's any doubt, this episode is a sly takeoff of the notorious 60 Minutes debacle later dramatized in the 1999 film The Insider. Contentious ex-"FYI" anchorman Stuart Best (Wallace Shawn) returns to his former stamping grounds as a Man on a Mission. A former lobbyist for the tobacco industry, Best has "seen the light" and intends to blow the whistle on Big Tobacco. Murphy (Candice Bergen) is eager to tackle the story on the air, but the network backs down in the face of a huge lawsuit. Ultimately, it is Jim (Charles Kimbrough) who attempts to carry Best's anti-tobacco message to the public--with shocking results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Murphy (Candice Bergen) is certain that obnoxious Andrew Lansing (Paul Reubens) is trying to come on to her when she is barraged with candy, flowers and other assorted gifts from a "mysterious" admirer. Not surprisingly, Murphy goes to great pains to convince Andrew that he is not and never will be the man in her life. Ultimately, Murphy is "rescued" by gallant Frank (Joe Regalbuto), but not before both colleagues are slammed with a jaw-dropping surprise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
In a spoof of a famous David Brinkley moment, Murphy (Candice Bergen) makes a disparaging remark about President Clinton while she thinks she's off the air--but she's not. Fired by network president Lansing (Garry Marshall) when she refuses to apologize, Murphy hardly knows what to expect when she is summoned to a special meeting at the White House. Astonishingly, the Clinton administration wants to offer Murphy a job--leaving her to ponder her future as Murphy Brown closes out its ninth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Many people wish they could go back to high school, knowing what they know as an adult; Josie Geller gets the chance to do just that in the comedy Never Been Kissed. Josie (played by Drew Barrymore) is a 25-year-old copy editor at a newspaper in Chicago. But it's her youthful looks as much as her journalistic skills that finally win her a writing assignment: she's ordered to enroll in high school posing as a teenager for a story on the state of America's youth. Trouble is, Josie was a hopeless nerd in high school (called "Josie Grossie" by her classmates); she had no idea of how to fit in with the cool kids, and she's hardly gotten any better at it in the seven years since graduation. While Josie makes fast friends with a bookish girl named Aldys (Leelee Sobieski), and also takes notice of her good-looking English teacher Mr. Coulson (Michael Vartan), she realizes for the sake of her story she has to infiltrate the cool girls' clique, which will be impossible without someone to give her a crash course in hipness. Josie's brother Rob (David Arquette), obviously the more style-conscious sibling, offers to sign up for the same school to act as the cool-guy friend she'll need to fit in, but just when Josie starts making headway (and starts enjoying high school for a change), her editor changes the focus of the story -- he now wants a feature on improper relations between teachers and students, which will not be good for her deepening friendship with Mr. Coulson. Never Been Kissed also features supporting performances from John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon and Jordan Ladd (the latter in a much more wholesome vehicle than her last cinematic visit to cinematic teen-town, Gregg Araki's Nowhere). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Drew Barrymore, David Arquette, (more)
Garry Marshall directed this film which starts as a light comedy but moves into heavy-duty drama later on. David Basner (Tom Hanks in a good performance) works in an ad agency, where he enjoys bantering with his co-workers and meets a lot of women. He hasn't been especially close to his father (Jackie Gleason) and never thought about him much until his Dad is left devastated when his wife of 36 years walks out on him. He is soon faced with serious health problems as well. This propels the elder Basner on a downward slide that affects David and their relationship. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Jackie Gleason, (more)
- 2007
Oscar-winning Hollywood visionary Steven Spielberg teams with reality television pioneer Mark Burnett for an unscripted series in which undiscovered filmmakers compete for the opportunity to win a development deal at DreamWorks -- the production company behind such major box-office hits as Dreamgirls and War of the Worlds. Each week the contestants are provided with the best resources that the film industry has to offer, provided with a limited budget, and given the assignment of completing various types of film projects. After completion, each film is screened in a one-hour episode and critiqued by three judges: director Garry Marshall, actress and screenwriter Carrie Fisher, and a special guest judge, such as Brett Ratner, Michael Bay, and D.J. Caruso. Though the professional critiques allow the contestants an opportunity to gain a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses as filmmakers, the final outcome of the competition rests in the hands of the viewing audience -- who are given the opportunity to vote for their favorite film each week. The results of the vote are announced during the next week's episode, and the filmmaker(s) behind the feature with the fewest votes are sent home. In the end, the one director left standing is granted a one-million-dollar development deal at DreamWorks, which could allow the filmmaker the opportunity to realize his or her dream of becoming a major Hollywood director. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Some cast and crew from NBC's highly acclaimed, little-seen series Freaks and Geeks reunite for this teen comedy that also marks the first starring role for Tom Hanks' son, Colin. The younger Hanks plays Shaun Brumder, a high schooler eager to propel himself out of the land of surf bums and ranch homes to which the film's title refers. He's had his sights set on Stanford ever since he read the works of professor Marcus Skinner (Kevin Kline), and his transcript is stellar enough to gain him admission. Shaun is understandably furious, then, when he receives a rejection letter in the mail; after some detective work on his part, he realizes that his flaky counselor (Lily Tomlin) mistakenly sent the university the wrong papers. It's up to him to get to Stanford within 24 hours to set the record straight -- literally -- and he enlists the help of his slacker brother Lance (Jack Black) to do so. Orange County co-stars Catharine O'Hara and John Lithgow as Shaun and Lance's slightly unhinged parents; the film was directed by Jake Kasdan and written by Mike White, both of whom contributed to several episodes of Freaks and Geeks. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Hanks, Jack Black, (more)
This screwball comedy casts real-life couple Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn in a film that finds the latter returning to her roots in a role reminiscent of Private Benjamin (1980). Hawn stars as Joanna Stayton, a snooty heiress who summons carpenter Dean Proffitt (Russell) to her lavish yacht, where she wants an expanded closet constructed that will house her valuable wardrobe. When Dean fails to build the closet out of cedar, Joanna haughtily dismisses him without payment. Later, Joanna falls overboard and is struck by another boat, causing amnesia. Seeing her story on the news, Dean constructs an elaborate scheme to pretend that Joanna is his wife Annie. Soon, the former rich snob is cleaning Dean's home and babysitting his four rambunctious boys. Although at first she's a disaster, "Annie" grows into her role and begins to love being a mom and middle-class wife. When her real husband Grant (Edward Herrmann) comes looking for her, however, her memory is jogged, and she must decide between a life of privileged ease and a life of happy housework. Overboard was the feature film debut of writer Leslie Dixon, the granddaughter of famed photographer Dorothea Lange. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, (more)
Self-involved corporate raider Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) has recently split up with his girlfriend. Seeking directions to the Beverly Hills Hotel, he makes the acquaintance of free-spirited hooker Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) and decides to put her on a 3,000-dollar retainer as his "date." He Cinderellarizes her by bankrolling a full wardrobe and cosmetic makeover. Of course, the setup will be strictly platonic. A disarming modern-day fairy tale, Pretty Woman was the picture that made Julia Roberts a superstar. As charming as she is in her "giggling" sequences, Roberts' best scene is her triumphant return to a posh Rodeo Drive shop where she'd been previously snubbed. Keeping Pretty Woman afloat throughout is the buoyant direction of Garry Marshall and the always welcome presence of Marshall's stock company of actors, including Hector Elizondo as a stuffy but golden-hearted concierge. Pretty Woman began its life as a much darker story of prostitutes and homicidal drug dealers, but more box-office-savvy heads ultimately prevailed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, (more)
Walt Disney Pictures resurrects one of their time-honored franchises with Race to Witch Mountain, a family-oriented sci-fi adventure that tells the story of two alien visitors (AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig) whose search for their spacecraft gets them caught up in an adventure with a cab driver (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) and a UFO specialist (Carla Gugino). As the group races toward the mysterious mountain in the Nevada desert that has mystified scientists and paranormal researchers for years, the government, gangsters, and an extraterrestrial bounty hunter attempt to prevent them from reaching their intended destination. Should the two planetary travelers fail in recovering their ship, an alien invasion will be launched against the entire planet. The original 1975 picture Escape to Witch Mountain was followed by the sequel Return From Witch Mountain, as well as a 1995 made-for-TV remake. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, (more)
Directed by Garry Marshall, Raising Helen revolves around Helen Harris (Kate Hudson), whose successful fashion career and decadent Manhattan lifestyle are plenty in terms of keeping her occupied and content. Helen's days as a socialite are brought to a swift end, however, when she is informed not only of the death of her sister and brother-in-law, but of the decision to leave their three children in her care. Being one of New York's hippest matters little to 15-year-old Audrey (Hayden Panettiere), ten-year-old Henry (Spencer Breslin), and five-year-old Sarah (Abigail Breslin), who would much rather have their parents back. Convinced she can raise the kids and maintain her already fast-paced schedule, Helen quickly finds herself burnt out and disheartened by her older sister's (Joan Cusack) lack of faith. Despite her already hectic schedule, however, Helen finds the time to develop a genuine affection for her new dependents, as well as an equally genuine attraction to Pastor Don Parker (John Corbett), the kids' school principal and local pastor. Eventually, Helen realizes she can't balance the two lives, and is faced with a difficult decision: Does she live her old dreams or take a chance on a new one? ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kate Hudson, John Corbett, (more)
In 1990, Pretty Woman turned Julia Roberts into a star and gave Richard Gere's career a much-needed boost; for 1999, Roberts and Gere reunited with director Garry Marshall for the romantic comedy Runaway Bride. Roberts plays Maggie, who has left so many prospective husbands at the altar that she has gained notoriety as "the Runaway Bride," and a reporter (played by Richard Gere) is assigned to write a story about her. He tracks her down to a small town in Maryland where she's spending time with her family and preparing to give marriage another try. However, the more time she spends with the persistent reporter, the more second thoughts she has about her fiancé (Christopher Meloni). Hector Elizondo, another Pretty Woman alumnus, appears in the supporting cast alongside Joan Cusack, Paul Dooley, and Rita Wilson. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, (more)
In the comedic farce Soapdish, the behind-the-scenes lives of several soap opera actors are just as melodramatic as those of their television counterparts. Sally Field stars as Celeste Talbert, the star of a declining TV show. To make matters worse, Talbert's career is thrown into turmoil when her rival, Montana Moorehead (Cathy Moriarty), tries to persuade producer David Barnes (Robert Downey Jr.) to write Talbert off the show. Smitten by Moorehead, Barnes comes up with a scheme to get Talbert off the show by hiring her niece Lori (Elisabeth Shue) and then Jeffrey (Kevin Kline), an old flame and cast member who was written out of the show 20 years prior. Soon, mayhem rules on the set as the cast and crew tangle, culminating in a special episode, broadcast live. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Field, Kevin Kline, (more)
- 1997
- R
Set in a nursing home, this drama is the brainchild of writer and director Duane B. Clark, the son of television legend Dick Clark. Zachary Throne stars as Dean Carter, an aspiring musical composer who is shocked when his own father fires him from a gig writing the score of a period motion picture. Dumped by his girlfriend at about the same time, Dean drowns his sorrows at a pub and decides on a complete change of career. He takes a job working in a financially struggling nursing home, where he befriends a cynical nurse, Anna (Christine Cavanugh). Dean also meets a depressed elderly resident, Mr. Williams (Bill Cobbs), who is terrified of an upcoming surgery that may leave him paralyzed. After Williams attempts to kill himself and Dean intervenes, the two men become friendly, and Dean eventually realizes that Williams is none other than the legendary saxophone player Eddie "Coffee Cup" Williams. Through his dedication to helping Williams regain his musical abilities, Dean rediscovers his own love of music. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zachary Throne, Bill Cobbs, (more)
- 1964
In the first episode of a two-part story, the staff of "The Alan Brady Show" is invited to put on a performance for the men in the state penitentiary. The convict arranging the show is Lyle Delp (Don Rickles), who turns out to be an old friend of Rob (Dick Van Dyke) and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore). In flashback, Rob recalls how he and a pregnant Laura first met Lyle when the hapless habitual criminal tried to hold them up at gunpoint (or rather, "comb-point") in a stalled elevator. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Alan Brady (Carl Reiner) has signed on to star in the first comedy ever written by celebrated playwright Harper Worthington Yates (Strother Martin). During out-of-town tryouts, a nervous Alan decides that the play needs a lot more laughs, so he begs Rob (Dick Van Dyke) to join him for some last-minute rewriting. There's only one problem: no one is supposed to know what Rob is doing, so Alan has to improvise an elaborate -- and very hectic -- charade to "explain" Rob's sudden appearance. Listen for the audience's reaction to the line about famous play-doctor Dave Murrows, an obvious reference to real-life dramatist (and celebrated theatrical "fixer-upper") Abe Burrows. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carl Reiner, Strother Martin, (more)
- 1966
Rob (Dick Van Dyke) is supposed to watch a TV special in order to talent-scout for his boss Alan Brady -- and of course, Alan is certain to ask Rob what he thought of the show. At the same time, our hero is slated to attend a cousin's wedding in Albany. Sure enough, the TV set in Rob's hotel room conks out, forcing him to scramble around to locate another set in a hurry -- which gets him mixed up in a '60s rehash of an old French bedroom farce! This episode was originally slated to air on January 12, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom D'Andrea, Johnny Haymer, (more)
- 1965
Once again, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) flashes back to his Army days, specifically to that brief period in which he was known "Pitter-Patter" Petrie, middleweight boxing champion of Special Services. Thanks to the manipulations of his pal Sol Pomerantz (Allan Melvin), a reluctant Rob is scheduled for a bout with the motor pool's best pugilist, Boom Boom Bailey (Paul Stader) -- and since everyone, including his commanding officer, has wagered on the match's outcome, there's no way Rob can weasel out. And as for Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) -- well, to quote Rob, she's "no Lilli Palmer." Future sitcom producer Garry Marshall appears as the referee. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Allan Melvin, Ed Peck, (more)
- 1965
After he, Buddy (Morey Amsterdam), and Sally (Rose Marie) have labored for hours on this week's "Alan Brady Show" script, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) proceeds to lose the only copy of the script at Grand Central Station. Fortunately, the precious manuscript is recovered by a seedy bum (Gene Baylos); unfortunately, the bum demands a 2,500-dollar ransom for the script's safe return! It's a toss-up as to which moment in this episode is the funniest: Rob's encounter with haughty hobo Hilyard Decker (Tiny Brauer), or the superb climactic scene with legendary standup comic Gene Baylos. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
How did Rob (Dick Van Dyke) end up in jail, charged with gambling and attempted assault? An inquiring mind -- namely, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) -- wants the whole story. In flashback, Rob recalls his efforts to stave off boredom and loneliness while Laura was out of town. On an impulse, he looked up an old Army buddy, who happened to have a job at a seedy burlesque house...and the rest, as they say, is history. The moral: Rob would have been better off watching Citizen Kane on "The Late Movie." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Stuart, Arthur Batanides, (more)
- 1965
Normally, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) would be proud of the fact that their son, Ritchie (Larry Mathews), knows better than to strike a girl. However, the problem is a girl is striking Ritchie -- in fact, little Priscilla Darwell (Tracy Stratford) considers the day wasted when she doesn't beat Ritchie to a pulp! This crisis leads to a zany encounter with Priscilla's parents (Bernard Fox, Doris Singleton), and the ultimate revelation of the motive behind the girl's unladylike pugnaciousness. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bernard Fox, Doris Singleton, (more)
- 1966
Left alone in the house when Rob (Dick Van Dyke), Ritchie (Larry Mathews), and Jerry Helper (Jerry Paris) go off on a fishing trip, the normally sensible Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) gets an unexpected case of the jitters. It helps matters not at all when a nervous Millie (Ann Morgan Guilbert) shows up, making references to the Hitchcock film Psycho and mistaking tomato juice for blood. Before the night is over, the two terrified ladies become convinced that the house is about to be invaded by (at the very least) an axe murderer -- and wait till you see who the "villain" is! This episode was originally slated to air on March 16, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Paris, Ann Morgan Guilbert, (more)
- 1965
In another flashback to his Army days, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) recalls how his marriage to Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) was very nearly canceled. It seems that there was a charity raffle, with Laura as first prize. The winner of the raffle is a handsome corporal named Clark Rice (Van Williams), with whom Laura is not entirely unacquainted. (Continuity note: Allan Melvin shows up in his usual recurring role of Sol Pomerantz -- only here he's identified as Sam Pomerantz.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Van Williams, Allan Melvin, (more)
