Guerdon Trueblood Movies
In the world of the emperor penguin, a simple song can mean the difference between a lifetime of happiness and an eternity of loneliness. When a penguin named Mumble is born without the ability to sing the romantic song that will attract his soul mate, he'll have to resort to some fancy footwork by tap dancing his way into the heart of the one he loves. Directed by Babe mastermind George Miller, Happy Feet tells the tale of one penguin's quest for love, and features an all-star cast of vocal talent that includes Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman, Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, and Brittany Murphy. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, (more)
- 1992
Like its theatrical-feature precursor Not Without My Daughter, the made-for-TV Desperate Rescue is based on a true story, though it would appear that several liberties have been taken. Mariel Hemingway plays a young mother whose daughter Lindsay Haun is abducted by Andrew Masset, Mariel's Jordanian ex-husband. Masset takes the girl back to his native Jordan, beyond the reach of the US authorities. Denied aid and comfort by the American government, Mariel takes matters into her own hands, hiring ex-Delta Force commandos Clancy Brown, Jeff Kober and James Russo to muscle their way into Jordan and rescue Lindsay. Based on an article by David Halevy and Neil C. Livingstone, Desperate Rescue premiered January 18, 1993: its title at that time was Desperate Rescue: The Cathy Mahone Story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mariel Hemingway, Clancy Brown, (more)
An ocean-themed Florida amusement park comes under attack from an angry Great White shark in this third installment of the horror series. The film maintains only a loose relationship to the original Steven Spielberg hit, centering on Mike (Dennis Quaid) and Sean (John Putch), the sons of police chief Martin Brody (originally played by Roy Scheider). Mike works at Sea World, where a baby Great White shark has accidentially been let into the park. Soon, the baby's vicious and extremely powerful mother comes in search of her child. The film focuses most of its attention on the series of tense shark attacks that follow, as tourists run for their lives while the park workers struggle to destroy the sharp-toothed beast. The suspense sequences were made somewhat more memorable during the film's original release with 3-D photography, an attribute lost on video, thereby removing the most distinctive element of an otherwise run-of-the-mill sequel. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Quaid, Bess Armstrong, (more)
This made-for-TV thriller is yet another tale of swarming killer bees. A sub-par sequel to The Savage Bees, this time around, a scientist and his cohorts set out to protect some innocent school kids from the attacking insects. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Produced for the syndicated "Operation Prime Time" series, The Bastard is the first of John Jakes' "Kent Family Chronicles" (followed by The Rebels and The Seekers). Presented in two parts, the story begins in 1771, with 17-year-old French commoner Philippe Charboneau (Andrew Stevens) discovering that he is the illegitimate son of a British Duke. He goes on a long journey, girdling several countries, to claim his birthright, with his mother (Patricia Neal) along for the ride. Settling in America in 1772, our hero--now known as Phillip Kent--becomes involved with the American Revolution. The all-star cast includes Buddy Ebsen, Barry Sullivan, Harry Morgan, Lorne Greene, Donald Pleasence, Tom Bosley (as Ben Franklin), William Shatner (as Paul Revere) and William Daniels (as Samuel Adams). Distributed nationally beginning May 22, 1978, The Bastard was re-titled Kent Family Chronicles in the more conservative TV markets. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Death Flight was originally known as SST: Death Flight when it was first telecast February 25, 1977. Though fairly expensive so far as TV movies go, the film is brought down to earth by its standard B-flick plot. On its maiden flight, America's first supersonic transport runs into deadly danger high in the sky-and may never get to land. In true Airport fashion, the plane is populated with celebrities (at least by TV standards): Barbara Anderson, Bert Convy, Peter Graves, Lorne Greene, Tina Louise, George Maharis, Burgess Meredith, Doug McClure, Martin Milner, Robert Reed, Susan Strasberg, Billy Crystal, and even Regis Philbin. The film's working title was Death of the Maiden, but this was too close to Death and the Maiden, the 90-minute pilot episode of the 1973 Jimmy Stewart TV series Hawkins. Death Flight was later syndicated as SST: Disaster in the Sky. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Just prior to her Three's Company superstardom, Suzanne Somers played the lead in the made-for-TV meller It Happened at Lakewood Manor. Boiled down to basics, this is a rehash of Jaws, with ants (!) substituting for sharks (the film's video release title, in fact, was Ants). A summer resort full of special-guest-star tourists is besieged by battalions of killer ants. Robert Foxworth, Myrna Loy, Lynda Day George, Bernie Casey, Barry Van Dyke and Brian Dennehy are among those on the little critters' menu. First telecast December 2, 1977, It Happened at Lakewood Manor was subsequently retitled Panic at Lakewood Manor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
- R
Examine the title, and you know what you're in for. A vengeful ghost, sore at Tinseltown, descends upon various nasty agents and arrogant movie stars. Top-billed Christopher Lee tries his best to maintain his dignity in a brief appearance.. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lee, Larry Justin, (more)
After a plane crash, killer tarantulas escape from the cargo, threatening orange groves and scaring the crop out of the locals in this arachnorama. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1976
- R
A former lawman must return to his guns when his daughter is threatened in this dark-themed western. Zach Provo (James Coburn) was a notorious outlaw who was finally put behind bars by sheriff Sam Burgade (Charlton Heston), who also killed Provo's wife in the midst of a gun battle. Provo is determined to take his revenge on Burgade, and with the help of a handful of other gunmen, he makes a daring escape from jail and kidnaps Susan (Barbara Hershey), Burgade's daughter. Eager for a final showdown with the now-retired sheriff, Provo threatens Susan with multiple rape if Burgade will not face him in a gunfight, and Burgade is forced to take his guns out of mothballs and confront Provo for the sake of his daughter. The Last Hard Men also stars Michael Thomas Parks, Thalmus Rasulala, and Christopher Mitchum. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlton Heston, James Coburn, (more)
- 1976
Detective Mike Stone (Karl Malden) is none too thrilled when his daughter Jeannie (Darlene Carr) falls in love with charismatic but recklessly irresponsible motorcycle cop Larry Wilson (played by superstar-in-the-making Don Johnson). This plot device ultimately links up with a second storyline, involving a gang of criminals who use motorcycles to make their getaways. Future Little House on the Prairie regular Alonzo Dean Butler plays a minor role in this episode, which was originally scheduled to air on October 14, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Bill Bixby earned an Emmy nomination for his chilling yet pathetic performance as Eric Doyle, a mild-mannered loser who is fascinated by police procedure. Rejected when he tries to join the San Francisco police force, Doyle vows to prove his worth by turning vigilante. Donning an authentic-looking cop's uniform, Doyle sets about to methodically--and savagely--wipe out all criminals who have managed to slip through the fingers of the legal system. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Having already overrun most of South America, a swarm of vicious African killer bees prepares to descend upon the United States. Almost as if rehearsed, the tiny menaces converge on New Orleans during Mardi Gras. With revellers dropping left and right, thanks to the fatal stings of the bees, it is up to the local constabulary, represented by Sheriff McKew (Ben Johnson), and a team of scientists, commandeered by Dr. Mueller (Horst Buchholz), to end the deadly plague for good and all. As usual, however, it is such "civilians" as Jeff DuRand (Michael Parks) and Jeannie Devereaux (Gretchen Corbett) who are best equipped to ward off the buzzing scourges. An Emmy-award winner for Best Sound Mixing, The Savage Bees debuted November 22, 1976, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Several women have been strangled in the Bay Area--and the two chief suspects were spotted wearing uniforms of the U.S. Air Force. Going undercover as a USAF officer, Keller (Michael Douglas) tries to figure out which of the two suspects (Dennis Cole, Kaz Garas), both highly decorated colonels, is the guilty party...or if the actual culprit is someone else entirely. Most of this episode was filmed on location at Travis Air Force Base in California. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A gang of ruthless but inept kidnappers pull off a crime with startling and unexpected consequences in this tough, nervy thriller which has won a cult following. Candy Phillips (Susan Sennett) is a sixteen-year-old student at an exclusive private Catholic school who, while walking home from school, is suddenly dragged into a waiting van that quickly speeds away. Candy has been kidnapped by an unlikely team of criminals -- pretty but hard-edged Jessie (Tiffany Bolling), her psychopathic brother Alan (Brad David), and Eddy (Vincent Martorano), a misfit Army veteran who only wants to own his own bowling alley. Jessie and her cohorts have learned that Candy's father Avery Phillips (Ben Piazza) is the manager of an upscale jewelry store, and after burying Candy in a coffin-like box on the outskirts of the desert (with a pipe for ventilation), they send Avery a message informing him they'll release Candy in exchange for 500,000 dollars in jewels. However, come the next morning, Avery has failed to respond to their demands, and an attempt to coerce payment from him leads to the discovery he has no intention of rescuing Candy. The Candy Snatchers was the only directorial credit for television writer Guerdon Trueblood; his young son Christopher Trueblood (billed as Christophe) appears in the film as an autistic child who happens upon Candy and tries to help. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) investigate when a successful and universally admired politician dies in what appears to be an accident. As usual, Stone suspects foul play, and isn't afraid of ruffling a few feathers among the political elite to prove his point. The key to the solution of this case involves a complicated relationship among several prominent people with more than a few skeletons in their closets. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
The title characters in this episode are two pretty but avaricious young ladies, a flight attendant and a nurse, who specialize in using their sexual wiles to entrap unwary males and "take" them for all they've got. Evidently the girls have gone one step too far with one of their victims, who has broken into their apartment and murdered them both. Stone (Karl Malden and Keller (Michael Douglas) follow the trail of clues to the home of an outwardly respectable married couple, jewelry salesman Arthur Lavery (Harold Gould) and his wife Edna (Barbara Baxley). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
- R
This anti-war drama centers on four Vietnam veterans who are driving cross country to California. By the time they hit New Mexico, they are down to $69. They started out with over $9,000 between them. To get some quick cash, they rob a gas station. The irate owner begins shooting at them and they in turn show him that they are carrying a veritable ammunitions dump in their trunk. Donning their Green Beret uniforms, they get revenge upon the town and then begin waiting for the authorities to show up so they can have a showdown with them too. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1972
The family in "flight" is played by Rod Taylor, Dina Merrill and Kristoffer Tabori. While taking an airborne vacation to Mexico, the family crash-lands somewhere in the Baja peninsula. Having taken the vacation as a means to patch up a variety of differences, the family is forced to pull together to survive. At times, however, it looks like no one will return to tell the tale. Made for television, Family Flight debuted October 25, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Sidelined by a fractured wrist, Officer Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) pulls what he regards as "light duty", a night-desk shift with attractive policewoman Doris Mills (Beth Brickell). But things go from light to dark in a hurry when the two officers are confronted by a armed sniper who demands that his criminal brother be released from jail immediately. Luckily, Pete's regular partner Officer Jim Reed (Kent McCord) is on hand to help his comrades survive this terrifying ordeal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
"One Adam-12. One Adam 12". That's the call which summons Officers Reed (Kent McCord) and Malloy (Martin Milner) to a daunting array of tense situations in tonight's episode. The case load ranges from freeing an elderly couple from a wall safe, to pursuing a gang of robbers--a task that finds the two officers joining forces with an elite police helicopter squad. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Not only is Jim Reed (Kent McCord) a rookie cop, but he's also about to become a rookie father--and he is extremely nervous as his wife Jean (Mikki Jamison) is wheeled into the maternity ward. Meanwhile, Reed's bachelor partner Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) hopes to make time with Margaret (Margaret Mason), a new employee at the police station. Tonight's case load includes a somewhat befuddled matador who is flailing his cape and shouting "Ole!" in the middle of heavy traffic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In their efforts to arrest an injured burglary suspect, Officers Malloy (Martin Milner) and Reed (Kent McCord) encounter resistance in the form of a rampaging street gang. Elsewhere, the two cops are summoned to an apartment house, where the residents are up in arms over a rather unusual family "pet"--a full-grown lion. The guest cast includes Art Metrano, a comedian on the verge of stardom by virtue of his classic "bad magician" routine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) are among those involved in the search for the "Mulholland Mauler." This savage serial killer preys upon young women, and has been most active in a heavily wooded "lover's lane" district. The problem facing Jim and Pete is to locate the elusive killer while simultaneously mollifying a panicky public. Featured in this grim, methodical episode is veteran character actor Joe Higgins, who in the late 1960s rose to fame as a redneck Southern sheriff in a series of popular car commercials. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
CBS' first made-for-TV movie, Sole Survivor is a fantasy yarn founded on fact. In 1960, the ruins of an American bomber were found in the Libyan desert...but the remains of the crew were never located. In Guerdon Trueblood's teleplay, the ghosts of a bomber crew hang around their derelict plane, awaiting the day that their bones will be recovered and given a decent burial. The sole survivor, navigator Russell Hamner (Richard Basehart), has in the intervening 25 years become a general. He joins an investigation team that has come across the wreckage, while the ghosts plot to expose Hamner as a coward who deserted his post and left his crew mates to die. Sole Survivor premiered January 9, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
