Clyde Ware Movies

The third season of Airwolf continues to spotlight its title "character," a state-of-the-art helicopter with a full arsenal of high-tech weaponry and the capability to fly anywhere at the fastest possible speed without the necessity of refuel. Still in charge of Airwolf are maverick pilot String Hawke (Jan-Michael Vincent), his mechanic buddy Dom Santini (Ernest Borgnine), and spunky female pilot Caitlin O'Shaughnessy (Jean Bruce Scott). And, as before, the Airwolf team accepts various dangerous assignments -- ranging from rescue missions to thwarting government takeovers -- from Michael Archangel (Alex Cord), the mysterious, white-suited emissary from the Firm, the top secret organization for whom Airwolf was created. Naturally, the Firm would like Airwolf all to themselves, but the fiercely independent String continues to hold off turning the vehicle over to them until his brother, a MIA from the Vietnam War era, is located and rescued. Keeping a close eye on the Airwolf team's activities is another rep from the Firm, the bold and beautiful Marella (Deborah Pratt) -- formerly a series regular, now a recurring character. Canceled by CBS at the end of season three, Airwolf would return to the airwaves courtesy of cable's USA Network beginning in January of 1987 -- but not without several sweeping cast changes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season two of Airwolf finds the title "character" -- a high-tech helicopter equipped with remarkable sensing devices and a full complement of weaponry -- being used on behalf of the forces of good by maverick pilot String Hawke (Jan-Michael Vincent) and String's partner/best buddy Dom Santini (Ernest Borgnine). Though technically Airwolf belongs to the Firm, a top secret government agency, String refuses to turn over the vehicle until the Firm locates his brother, who has been missing since the Vietnam debacle. Dispatching String and Dom on their various missions is the Firm's mysterious, almost ethereal representative, Michael Archangel (Alex Cord). This season, the two heroes are assisted by Caitlin O'Shaughnessy (Jean Bruce Scott), a spunky female copter jockey, and also by their old "friend" from the Firm, the beautiful Marella (Deborah Pratt) -- who, though no longer a regular, continues to pop up on occasion. The three protagonists' adventures bring them in contact with corrupt sheriffs, megalomaniacs armed with stolen nuclear devices, Mexican crime lords, homicidal hijackers, Russian "moles," and modern day slave traders. And every so often, tantalizingly brief clues are provided as to the whereabouts of String's brother St. John Hawke. Airwolf remained off the radar so far as the Top Thirty Nielsen-rated programs were concerned throughout its second season, though it seldom failed to win its Saturday night time slot for CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Made for television, the pacifist philosophy of a Georgia preacher (Kenny Rogers) and his nephew are tested when the nephew's girlfriend is raped. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

Based on the best-selling novel by Anton Myrer, the three-part NBC miniseries The Last Convertible chronicles the lives of five former Harvard roommates, all of whom share the titular Packard automobile. Beginning with the quintet's graduation in 1944, the teleplay by Philip de Guere, Stephen McPherson, and Clyde Ware covers an eventful 30 years, during which time the male protagonists all take turns romancing resident heroine Chris Farris (Deborah Raffin). Perry King is top-billed as Russ Currier, with Bruce Boxleitner as George Virdon, Edward Albert as Ron Dalrymple, John Shea as Terry Garrigan, and Michael Nouri as Jean des Barres. An Emmy nomination was bestowed upon Pete Rugolo's musical score. Originally telecast from September 24 to 26, 1979, The Last Convertible was, incredibly, intended as the pilot for a weekly series, though one would assume that the story possibilities had been pretty much exhausted during the inaugural six hours. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This made-for-TV rural horror film from director Burt Kennedy benefits from a fine cast and a tense Clyde Ware screenplay. Samantha Eggar and Stacy Keach play motorists held prisoner by a family of seven sweet-faced young orphans and their savage guard dogs. The children only want a mother and father but are willing to kill anyone who rejects them. Jon Savage co-stars with Robby Benson, who sang the theme song. All the Kind Strangers was initially telecast November 12, 1974. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

Cindy Britton (Belinda Balaski), a teenaged girl from a small town, runs away from home. She ends up in the seedy Venice Beach district of Los Angeles, alone, hungry, and very frightened. Teaming up with a streetwise younger boy named Francis (Claudio Martinez), Cindy endeavors to survive her daunting new environment as best she can -- while the authorities conduct a frantic search for the girl. This Emmy-winning ABC Afterschool Special was filmed on location. ~ All Movie Guide

During America's Civil War, wealthy citizens on both sides routinely bought their way out of military service. However, people who avoided military service out of principle, then as now, were rare. History records that one such man was Ashby Gatrell of West Virginia, played here by Martin Sheen. Since West Virginia was a border state, its citizens enlisted on both sides of the conflict. Gatrell was reluctant to kill friends and relatives, as he would have had to do no matter which side he joined. Instead, he spent three years hiding in a cave, occasionally gleaning information about the progress of the war from comments made by passers-by. The whole movie is seen and told from his point of view, and other people are usually only glimpsed. This unusual film was directed by novelist-turned-filmmaker Clyde Ware, and features authentic music of the period and the region. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Beach parties abound in this youthful adventure that centers on two surfers-turned-detective as they look into the mysterious theft of a priceless Chinese scroll. Musical highlights include Little Richard singing "Scuba Party", and The Cascades with "There's a New World Opening for Me". The film is alternately titled Never Steal Anything Wet. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Former vaudeville headliner Rudolph Bitzner (Franchot Tone) has been washed up for years, reduced to running a cheap motel. As Rudolph dreams of making a spectacular comeback, his young fiancée, Rosie (Sharon Farrell), falls in love with a handsome TV writer named Cliff Allen (Roger Perry). Ultimately, Rudolph confronts Cliff and forces Rosie to choose between them -- or at least that's how it appears in the grim climax of this tale, in which we learn with startling suddenness why the old trouper was once billed as "Rudolph the Great." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide