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
- 1964
Ever since he was a kid, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) has been a soft touch for his old neighborhood buddy Neil Schenk (Jack Carter). Neil's modus operandi is to show up unexpectedly, give Rob a gentle tap on the chin, and dole out small favors -- only to subtly suggest that Rob "return" those favors in a huge manner. This time around, the glad-handing Schenk expects Rob to bankroll an expensive project he has in mind. Can it be that, after all these years, Rob is finally going to say no, or is he going to be a patsy yet again? ~ 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)
- 1964
Signing up for a nighttime creative writing class, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) is unexpectedly lauded as a literary genius by her nerdy teacher Mr. Caldwell (Bernard Fox). Rob (Dick Van Dyke) suspects that Caldwell is playing up to Laura just to get an opportunity to show off his own writing efforts to a professional -- namely, Rob. Little does anyone suspect Caldwell's true ulterior motive -- to be alone and in a romantic embrace with the delectable Laura! This was the final episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show's third (and, arguably, funniest) season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bernard Fox, Cheerio Meredith, (more)
- 1964
When handsome bachelor Arthur Stanwycke (Anthony Eisley) moves next door to the Petries, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) is once again seized by the matchmaking urge. Unfortunately, she overplays her hand by inviting both Sally Rogers (Rose Marie) and Donna Palmer (Lyla Graham) to meet Arthur on the same night. Worried that Sally will once again be unlucky in love, Rob does everything he can to keep Arthur and Donna apart. It turns out, however, that there is already a woman in Arthur's life -- and what a woman! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Eisley, Lyla Graham, (more)
