Bob Sweeney Movies

TV star John Stamos makes a game transition to the big screen in Born to Ride. Stamos plays a motorcycle whiz, who in 1939 is assigned to motorize a US cavalry troop. His irreverence and slovenliness makes Stamos a pariah to his superior officer John Stockwell -- and just to complicate matters, both men are rivals for the affections of Teri Polo. All is forgiven during a desperate (and highly unlikely) mission to Spain, wherein Stamos uses his cycle skills to rescue a defecting Nazi scientist. As history, Born to Ride is a bust; as a vehicle for John Stamos, it has its points. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A teenager in the '50s moves to a new neighborhood and has to deal with all the problems that come with it in this lighthearted feature--complete with a rock 'n' roll soundtrack. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi

Inspired by the success of previous TV sitcom "reunion" films, Return to Mayberry debuted on April 13, 1986. Eleven of the original cast members of the classic Andy Griffith Show were reunited in this marvelous blast from the past. The plot finds former sheriff Andy Taylor (Griffith, of course), returning to Mayberry, North Carolina to visit his grown son Opie (Ron Howard, taking a break from his busy directorial career), who is now an expectant father. Andy's onetime deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts) is running for the sheriff's post, so Andy decides to stick around to help out. Barney thinks he's found an excellent publicity ploy when he discovers what seems to be a bigfoot-style monster roaming around the Carolina hills. Actually, he's the victim of a cruel hoax, compelling Andy once more to come to Barn's rescue. Also in the cast is George Lindsay as Goober, Jim Nabors as Gomer, Aneta Corsaut as Helen, Betty Lynn as Thelma Lou, and Howard Morris as Ernest T. Bass. Conspicuous by her absence was Frances "Aunt Bee" Bavier, who was too ill to make a comeback. The highest-rated TV movie of 1986, Return to Mayberry might have resulted in a series, but Andy Griffith decided to switch professional gears and star as an attorney in Matlock. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Somewhat belatedly entering the Machine Age, Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) fires Roscoe (James Best), purchases a robot named Bobbie Joe (played by Robert Shields of "Shields and Yarnell" fame) and pins a sheriff's badge on the clattering hunk of tin. Little does Boss know that the robot has been stolen from its inventor by a pair of crooks who intend to hold it for ransom. Things get even worse when the crooks change their plans and use Bobbie Joe to rob a bank--carefully pinning the blame on Roscoe and the Duke boys! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) oversteps his bounds once too often when he arranges for a new state highway to bypass three nearby counties. Outraged over being denied the opportunity to shake down passing drivers for ill-gotten gains, a trio of rival country bosses--Sharkey (Earl Montgomery), Hopkins (F. William Parker) and Bowman (William Bramley)--target Boss for extermination, forcing him to hide out on the Dukes' farm. The outcome of the story hinges on a covert tape recording, courtesy of Vance Duke (Christopher Mayer). Singer Mel Tillis, who'd previously shown up in character role in the episode "The Rustlers", herein appears as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A New York reporter investigates crime and corruption. ~ Rovi

In this thriller a federal officer acts upon his suspicion that the recent death of his predecessor was part of a conspiracy to kill a presidential candidate. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Hogan's newest "hero" is Freddy, a chimpanzee who wanders into camp after the nearby Hammelburg Zoo is bombed. Previously unable to smuggle radio components to the Underground, Hogan decides to use Freddy as his courier. The trick is to avoid arousing the suspicions of those two-legged primates Klink and Schultz. Written by Arthur Julian, "Monkey Business" made its original network appearance on March 23, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hogan faces the daunting task of arranging the mass escape of an entire American bomber crew. To this end, Hogan's men construct a huge snowman to camouflage the escape route -- and hope against hope that the weather doesn't change! Noam Pitlik, who played the double agent in the Hogan's Heroes pilot episode, is here cast as U.S.A.F. Captain Morgan. Written by Arthur Julian, "Everybody Loves a Snowman" first aired on December 9, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Paul Picerni guest stars as Jack Williams, an opportunistic -- and treacherous -- American POW. In exchange for his own freedom, Williams intends to give the Gestapo information on Hogan's underground activities. Hogan hatches a scheme to turn the tables on the turncoat. The episode's highlight is a brawl sequence -- a masterpiece of comic choreography. Written by Laurence Marks, "One in Every Crowd" originally aired on November 11, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hogan is assigned to provide safe conduct to downed Soviet pilot Igor Piotkin (Bob Hastings). Unfortunately, the fiercely patriotic and stubborn Piotkin refuses to flee to freedom by way of London. He insists upon heading directly to Russia -- and never mind that the homeward path is festooned with German troops. Written by Phil Sharp, "A Russian Is Coming" made its first network appearance on November 25, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hogan hopes to spring French spy Pierre (Theo Marcuse) from Stalag 13. To do this, he must get Klink temporarily out of the way. The next step in the plan -- convincing Col. Klink to allow Hogan to pose as the POW camp's German commandant! Larry D. Mann rounds out the guest cast as General Brenner. Written by Phil Sharp, "The Reluctant Target" originally aired on April 7, 1967, as the final episode of Hogan's Heroes' second season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In honor of Klink's birthday, Hogan plans a sabotage operation against some German war games being held near Stalag 13. The plan is contingent upon surreptitiously replacing the fake ammunition used in the games with real bullets. Larry Hovis (Sgt. Carter) is conspicuous by his absence in this episode, which does, however, feature periodic Hogan's Heroes guest star (and Jackie Gleason Show semi-regular) Frank Marth as Colonel Deutch. Written by Jack Elinson, "Praise the Führer and Pass the Ammunition" first aired on January 20, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi