Dick Cavett Movies
The son of Nebraska schoolteachers, Dick Cavett excelled athletically and scholastically in high school, receiving a scholarship to Yale. Endowed with a deep, resonant voice (which emanated somewhat incongruously from a 5'7" frame), Cavett switched his major from English to Drama in his senior year, thereby winning an RCA scholarship. Upon arriving in New York, he tried and failed to get a job at RCA's broadcast subsidiary NBC, but managed to land a leading role (and a 100-dollar salary) in an Army Signal Corps film after which Cavett took a variety of odd jobs, ranging from store detective to label-typist for a Wall Street firm. While working as a copy boy at Time magazine, he impulsively wrote a two-page monologue for TV talk host Jack Paar, then passed his notes along to a bemused Paar at NBC's Radio City headquarters. Thus began Cavett's career as a comedy writer, not only for Paar but for his Tonight Show successor, Johnny Carson. Encouraged by such showbiz friends as Woody Allen and Groucho Marx, Cavett became a standup comedian. His success in this field led to an offer from ABC to host a daytime talk show in 1968. The following year, he was emceeing a nightly TV chatfest, in direct competition with his old boss Johnny Carson. Adopting a more erudite, intellectual tone that was the norm in late-night network television of the era, Cavett interviewed such luminaries as Orson Welles, Katharine Hepburn, Noël Coward, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, and Lillian Hellman. A darling of the critics and cognoscenti (not to mention the Emmy Awards committee), Cavett's ratings were low and he was canceled in 1974. Amidst several other projects, he went on to host a daily PBS interview series, which ran from 1977 to 1981, and helmed similar programs on the USA and CNBC cable services into the 1990s. Having never completely abandoned acting, he occasionally appeared in dramatic roles on TV and Broadway, served as a commercial spokesman for a variety of products, and was seen in a handful of films. Cast as "himself," he made fleeting appearances in Annie Hall (1977), Health (1979), Nightmare on Elm Street 3 (1987), and Forrest Gump (1994), and was afforded a rare character part as a snooty intellectual in Beetlejuice (1988). Since 1964, Dick Cavett has been married to actress Carrie Nye. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2007
After serving in the Navy during World War II, Sam Wagstaff came home to New York City and pursued a career in advertising, and through his work in the ad game he developed a keen interest in photography. Reflecting his own personal evolution as he came to accept his homosexuality, Wagstaff became an enthusiastic collector of art photography and gained a reputation as a curator, organizing a number of important museum shows of new photographers and becoming a friend and confidante of artists such as Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Richard Tuttle, and Tony Smith. In the early '70s, Wagstaff met a young photographer, Robert Mapplethorpe, who shared a loft with his best friend, a poet and aspiring musician named Patti Smith. Wagstaff and Mapplethorpe became first friends and then lovers, and as enthusiastic supporters of Smith's work they traveled between New York's upscale art community and the punk rock scene that was emerging on the Bowery. Passionate allies in art and life who explored the edges of human experience, Wagstaff and Mapplethorpe were partners for life, but their lives were cut short by AIDS -- the disease claimed Wagstaff in 1987, and Mapplethorpe in 1989. Black White + Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe is a documentary by filmmaker James Crump that explores the lives of two remarkable people, their circle of talented friends, and the community and times which surrounded them. Black White + Gray received its world premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joan Juliet Buck, Sam Wagstaff, (more)
- 2002
- Add Jimi Hendrix: The Dick Cavett Show to Queue Add Jimi Hendrix: The Dick Cavett Show to top of Queue
While he never fared as well in the ratings as Johnny Carson, talk show host Dick Cavett developed an enthusiastic following in the late '60s and early '70s for his witty and intelligent interviewing style, as well as his willingness to book guests who might not fit the framework of most traditional chat shows. One such guest was legendary guitarist and songwriter Jimi Hendrix, who appeared twice on Cavett's program. Jimi Hendrix: The Dick Cavett Show is a video which features -- in their entirety -- the two episodes of The Dick Cavett Show with Hendrix as guest. Hendrix talks about his life and his music, as well as performing several numbers, including "Machine Gun" and "Hear My Train A-Comin'." The video also includes another episode of the Cavett show taped the day after the conclusion of the legendary Woodstock Music and Art Fair; while Hendrix does not appear, his bandmates Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox were on hand to discuss their set at the legendary festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 2000
Leroy Anderson's career as a composer, arranger, and conductor is chronicled in this program featuring many of his hit songs. Back in 1952, this son of Swedish immigrant parents saw his instrumental tune "Blue Tango" shoot to the top of the record charts. He went on to create a number of great dance tunes, as well as many melodic, upbeat pieces. Anderson worked for the Boston Pops and did some work on movie and television projects. "Sleigh Ride," "Syncopated Clock," "Jazz Pizzicato," and "The Typewriter" are all included in this documentary. Anderson's most devoted fans may also recognize "Fiddle Faddle."
~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi
~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi
- 1990
This salute to the famous comedy team of the Marx Brothers is narrated by actor/director Gene Kelly. Shown are clips from many of their best-known films, including Duck Soup, Horse Feathers and Animal Crackers. Also shown are rare outtakes from their films and interviews with them, in addition to reminiscences and tributes by Dick Cavett, Robert Klein, David Steinberg and others. ~ Brian Gusse, Rovi
- 1989
"Hip" Catholic priest Sam Bottoms is asked by his monsignor to defend their faith on The Dick Cavett Show. While preparing for his appearance, however, Bottoms begins having doubts about his religious committment. Especially troublesome is his relationship with Renee Coleman, a brilliant student who doesn't believe in God. The Bottoms--Coleman story is paralleled with a series of flashbacks to the Stone Age (!), as caveman leader James Farkas tries to make sense of a mystical tree trunk. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Samuel Bottoms, Renee Coleman, (more)
- 1985
Travel to the site of Custer's last stand with this video as it is surveyed historically and archaeologically ~ Rovi
- 1983
Guest star Dick Cavett encourages Sam (Ted Danson) to write his autobiography. Though jealous that Cavett cannot recognize her own literary skills, Diane (Shelley Long) offers her services as Sam's ghost writer. Meanwhile, Norm (George Wendt) tries to extinguish an old flame (Walter Olkewicz) of his estranged wife Vera. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1981
Although the Actors Studio and Lee Strasberg have been famous for many decades in the U.S., this documentary is the first film to go into the studio and record sessions with actors, showing Strasberg in action. Aside from interviews with Strasberg, he is also seen responding to filmed performances of Eleonora Duse and other Hollywood giants of times gone by, and interacting with others as a mentor and friend. Even Strasberg's inspiration, Konstantin Stanislavsky himself, is shown talking about acting with two students toward the end of his life. Jane Fonda explains how she benefitted by Strasberg's instruction, and the results of his efforts are shown in clips of James Dean and Marlon Brando, two of his more famous students. By the time the final segment of the documentary has closed, viewers have a much better idea of why Lee Strasberg was so successful with hundreds of actors over the long span of his professional life. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lee Strasberg, Ellen Burstyn, (more)
After years of an oppressive dictatorship, a group of army officers in a tiny, vaguely delineated European country organize a coup. Colonel Narriman (David Hemmings) has bravely taken chances which could have resulted in his death, and he expects, once the coup is successful, to become the next leader of his country. Quietly biding his time, Colonel Zeller (Peter O'Toole) has played along with the revolutionaries but doesn't like their methods. In the end, he puts a monkey-wrench into their whole operation. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter O'Toole, David Hemmings, (more)
- 1976
This 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Dick Cavett and features musical guests Marshall Efron and Jimmy Cliff. ~ Skyler Miller, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dick Cavett, Marshall Erwin Efron, (more)
- 1976
This 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Dick Cavett and features musical guest Ry Cooder. ~ Skyler Miller, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dick Cavett, Ry Cooder, (more)
- 1972
The behind-the-scenes activities of the Rolling Stones on their 1972 American tour are the focus of this quasi-documentary film which has had limited showings due to a lawsuit brought by the band, doubtlessly on the advice of their lawyers. Thus, its official release date (if any) is open to question. While some concert footage is included, it mostly focuses on the backstage and offstage behavior (and misbehavior) of the band and its road crew. Despite the film's cinéma vérité tone, some of the events filmed are clearly staged by the groupies, road crew, and band just for the benefit of the cameras. For that reason, it is difficult to tell how accurate a depiction of the Stones' mid '70s on-tour behavior this is. Among the misbehaviors chronicled are hotel room trashings, and the airplane abduction of giggling, screaming and naked groupies for carnal purposes, as well as assorted drug scenes. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- The Rolling Stones, Marshall Chess, (more)
- 1968
Hosted by Dick Cavett, this series featured interviews with people from the world of art, show business, and public affairs. A provocative, amusing, and revealing show, it went through several permutations, beginning with a 90-minute-per-day, five-day-per-week run from March 1968 through January 1969, then running in prime time as a summer series from May 1969 through September 1969 (when episodes were one hour each), then running from December 1969 through December 1972 (when episodes reverted to the original 90-minute length). Guests included actors Fred Astaire, Charlton Heston, Jack Lemmon, and Anthony Quinn; musicians John Lennon and Yoko Ono; artist Salvador Dali; philosopher Paul Weiss; actor and comedian Groucho Marx; writer/director Woody Allen; and many, many others. The program, despite outstanding critical reviews, received consistently low Nielsen ratings, and for this reason, it eventually folded amid enormous controversy that included 15,000 letters being sent in protest to ABC and advertisements run on network affiliates pleading with viewers to "Save the Dick Cavett Show." Unfortunately, the efforts to save the show from cancellation failed, and the program ended its regular appearances with the December 29, 1972, episode. It aired irregularly, as part of ABC's Wide World of Entertainment, starting in January 1973, then left the network altogether in 1975. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Dick Cavett, Bobby Rosengarden, (more)
- 196z
A "Blast From the Past" of comedy featuring Dick Cavett and Johnny Carson. From 1953 Johnny plays "Aunt Blabby" and shows how to stuff a turkey and from 1967, Cavett interviews Harrison and McCann. ~ Rovi
A sad sack has to come to term with his own demons after a long run of bad luck in this downbeat comedy drama from writer and director Matt Mulhern. Duane Hopwood (David Schwimmer) lives and works in Atlantic City, where he's a pit boss on the night shift at one of the city's resort hotels, and has a wife, Linda (Janeane Garofalo), and two young daughters, Mary (Ramya Pratt) and Kate (Rachel Covey). Duane also has a drinking problem, and while Linda loves him very much, she's begin to wonder if he's still capable of living up to his responsibilities as a father. The final straw comes when Duane gets arrested for drunk driving while Kate is in the car with him; Linda files for divorce, and the court opts not to give Duane visitation rights. With Duane struggling to hold on to his family, he gets more bad news when he loses his job after he's caught giving money to an argumentative customer to shut him up. With only his friends from work to keep him company -- Anthony (Judah Friedlander), a maintenance man who wants to be a comedian, and Gina (Susan Lynch), a kind-hearted bartender -- Duane realizes he's come to a crossroads where he has to get his life back on track before he loses what little he still has left. Duane Hopwood also features supporting performances from Dick Cavett and Jerry Grayson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Schwimmer, Janeane Garofalo, (more)
This TV movie recounts the true-life story of a corporate takeover in the greed-driven 1980s. James Garner is F. Ross Johnson, CEO of RJR-Nabisco. Having just been burned by an expensive failure of a smokeless cigarette product, Johnson doesn't wish to incur the wrath of the stockholders. He begins drawing up plans to buy RJR-Nabisco outright so he'll have no one to answer to but himself. Unfortunately for Johnson, his company is also being coveted by sharkish "buyout king" Henry Kravis (Jonathan Pryce), who turns out to have $25 billion at his beck and call. Barbarians at the Gate was adapted by Larry Gelbart from the book by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar. Advertised as a "docucomedy", the film premiered March 20, 1993, over the HBO cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Garner, Jonathan Pryce, (more)
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