Eliot Wald Movies
The man most frequently cited as the catalyst for Siskel and Ebert at the Movies, writer/producer Eliot Wald also made significant contributions to Saturday Night Live during the Eddie Murphy era. A Bronx native who graduated from the Bronx School of Science, Wald earned a degree in Clinical Psychology from Hofstra University. Later relocating to Chicago and finding work with The Chicago Seed and Radio Free Chicago, a stint as a music and movie critic at the Chicago Sun-Times inspired Wald to come up with Sneak Previews, a weekly television program focusing on film reviews and featuring critics Roger Ebert of the Sun-Timesand Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune. In addition to being a writer/producer for Saturday Night Live, Wald was also the co-producer and creator of the popular public television series Soundstage. His film work included screenplays for such features as See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), Down Periscope (1996), and a production and writing credit on the 1994 comedy Camp Nowhere. Wald met his wife Jane at a Hollywood premier by chance while living as neighbors in Chicago. He died of cancer in Los Angeles in July 2003 at the age of 57. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Vulgar, slapstick comedy abounds in this feature film debut for television sitcom star Kelsey Grammer. Almost everyone else thinks of Lieutenant Commander Tom Dodge is a class "A" goof who messes up every task he is assigned, but Adm. Dean Winslow thinks otherwise and decides to give Dodge one last chance by assigning him to helm an outmoded, diesel powered, rusty in a series of wargames. Dodge's sub is to be the enemy and must somehow outsmart their high tech opponents. Though ostensibly only games, Admiral Yancy Graham, who considers Dodge an embarrassment to the Navy, decides to do everything he can to scuttle Dodge and his ragtag crew's mission. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelsey Grammer, Lauren Holly, (more)
This light-hearted comedy depicts a typical summer camp, but with a special twist: this camp was designed by the campers themselves! "Mud" Himmel is a nerd. Once again he is faced with attending computer camp. His buddy Zack will be marching into go to military camp while Trish is acting happy about theater camp. That Gaby is going again to fat camp weighs heavily upon her mind. None of them are thrilled with their camp prospects and it is rebellious Mud who suggest that they create their own, secret camp. Enter Dennis Van Welker, their crazy high school drama instructor. He offers to join the conspiracy and act as their camp counselor. Just as it looks as if the four misfits are going to have a really great summer together, two dozen of their peers find out about the camp and decide to come along. For a time it's one big chaotic party. But as the kids act out their camp fantasies, they are gaining valuable insight into their lives. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Jackson, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
The third pairing of comic actors Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder was much less successful than their previous team-ups, Silver Streak(1976) and Stir Crazy (1980). Wilder plays Dave, the deaf proprietor of a newsstand and employer of blind gambler Wally (Pryor). When Wally's bookie is shot and killed at the stand, Dave and Wally are arrested for the crime. Since the deaf Dave had his back turned and didn't see the crime, while the blind Wally only heard it, the clues they have to offer the police are slim: Dave's glimpse of a shapely leg and Wally's whiff of a perfume called Shalimar. It turns out the dead man was in possession of a coin that he dropped into Dave's tip box, which Wally is now carrying. The coin contains a valuable microchip sought by crime baron Sutherland (Anthony Zerbe), for whom hired killer Eve (Joan Severance) and her British partner Kirgo (Kevin Spacey) are working. Posing as lawyers, Eve and Kirgo spring Dave and Wally from jail, leading to a series of misadventures as the coin changes hands and the two sensory-challenged pals attempt to learn who has framed them and why. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder, (more)
