Jack Donner Movies

A crafty couple run the Christmas Day gauntlet by racing to visit their divorced parents' four separate households in this Vince Vaughn/Reese Witherspoon comedy that proves the holidays are no time for relaxing. Brad (Vaughn) and Kate (Witherspoon) have made something of an art form out of avoiding their families during the holidays, but this year their foolproof plan is about go bust -- big time. Stuck at the city airport after all departing flights are canceled, the couple is embarrassed to see their ruse exposed to the world by an overzealous television reporter. Now, Brad and Kate are left with precious little choice other than to swallow their pride and suffer the rounds. Along the way, they perform in a church nativity play at the behest of Kate's mother's (Mary Steenburgen) pushy pastor Phil (Dwight Yoakam), contend with Brad's gruff father, Howard (Robert Duvall), and bullying brothers, Dallas (Jon Favreau) and Denver (Tim McGraw) -- a pair of trained UFC fighters -- and pay a visit to Brad's spacy, New Age mother, Paula (Sissy Spacek), who recently made waves in the family circle by marrying her son's childhood friend. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Evil goddess Glory (Clare Kramer) finally knows that The Key she needs to unleash hell on earth has been incarnated as the Slayer's very own sister. Thus, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her gang are forced to flee Sunnydale in a desperate attempt to save Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) -- and the world -- from the apocalypse. Unfortunately, their unlikely escape vehicle -- a Winnebago -- proves vulnerable to attack by the Knights of Byzantium, ancient warriors who have sworn to destroy The Key before Glory can use it. Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) suffers grievous wounds, forcing the gang to take refuge in an abandoned gas station. Resident Wiccan Willow (Alyson Hannigan) erects a mystical barrier, but, thanks to the relentless knights, a stalemate ensues. The misguided but honorable Byzantine leader allows Buffy to send for medical assistance. She calls Ben (Charlie Weber), the handsome young doctor she's been flirting with for several episodes. Unbeknownst to the Scoobies, Ben is the unwilling human host for Glory's earthly manifestation. Once inside the barrier, Ben patches Giles up but then loses his constant battle with Glory for control of their shared body. The triumphant hell-goddess makes off with Dawn and slaughters the Knights of Byzantium, leaving Buffy a catatonic shell of her normal self. Originally broadcast May 8, 2001, on the WB network, "Spiral" marked episode 98 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

The Puppetmaster Andre Toulon (Greg Sestero) battles supernatural forces in order to rescue loved ones. ~ Rovi

Kojak (Telly Savalas) is startled to learn that his nephew Johnny (Michael Mullins) has turned to drugs--and even more so that the boy may have been an accomplice in the murder of a pusher. In order to get to the truth of the matter, Kojak must subject Johnny to a grueling interrogation--which may prove impossible unless the boy goes "cold turkey." In desperation, the detective turns to an ex-addict named Sonny (Neville Brand) to scare Johnny straight. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This time, the IMF takes on the challenge of staging an invasion from outer space. It is all part of a plan to derail the political ambitions of mob-connected publishing tycoon Edward Granger (Steve Forrest). Highlights include Phelps and Casey's pose as a pair of futuristic physicians. Written by Harold Livingston, "The Visitors" was originally telecast November 27, 1971; ironically, the episode was rerun during the same April week in 1972 that the Apollo 16 lunar expedition was launched. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the three-part Mission: Impossible adventure "The Falcon," Phelps manages to rescue Prince Stephan (Joseph Reale), who has been imprisoned to force a marriage between his fiancee Princess Francesca (Diane Baker) and royal usurper General Sabattini (John Vernon). Meanwhile, the IMF agents keep the rightful heir to the throne, King Nicolai (Noel Harrison), under wraps, while Paris poses as Nicolai in order to throw the King's potential assassins off the track. But will the agents, including the lovely Tracey (Lee Meriwether) be able to rescue themselves before Sabattini wises up? Written by Paul Playdon, Episode Three of "The Falcon" first aired on January 18, 1970, as the final chapter of the series' last multipart story. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In a change-of-pace Mission:Impossible episode, Jim Phelps makes a sentimental journey to his rural home town. Even here, however, Phelps finds himself waist-deep in a danger, as a series of unexplained murders terrorizes the community. Summoning the aid of his fellow IMF agents, Phelps conducts his own investigation of the killings, and comes to a disturbing conclusion: The murderer may well be an old and trusted boyhood friend. Among the guest stars is future MASH regular Loretta Swit, in a truly offbeat characterization. Written by Laurence Heath, "Homecoming" originally aired on October 10, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second half of the two-part Mission: Impossible adventure "The Bunker", the IMF team continue their efforts to rescue rocket scientist Erich Rojak (Milton Selzer) and his wife Anna (Lee Meriwether from the Enemy. Complicating matter is the fact that Rojak is being held in bunker some 300 feet beneath the ground, and the presence of Alexander Ventlos (Ray Baxter) a master of disuguise, who is determined to assassinate Rojak. One lengthy sequence finds Cinammon Carter impersonate Anna Rojak--a somewhat ironic plot device, in that actress Barbara Bain (Cinammon) would later be replaced on the series by Lee Meriwether. Written by Paul Playdon, Part Two of "The Bunker" was first broadcast on March 9, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A priceless collection of Inca gold treasures has disappeared, threatening the financial stability of Santales, a tiny Latin American republic. The IMF is assigned to retrieve the treasures from master thief Jack Cole (Dan O'Herlihy), a task made doubly difficult by the treacherous terrain of Santales and the presence of a traitor in the nation's government. Mark Lenard, best known as Spock's Vulcan father on Star Trek, appears as Colonel Cardoza. First telecast September 17, 1967, "Trek" was written by Laurence Heath. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Veteran movie tough guy Mark Stevens both starred and directed in Escape from Hell Island. He plays the skipper of a Florida merchant boat who smuggles in Cuban refugees as a sideline. When a woman is killed while escaping, Stevens loses his license. He then becomes involved with Linda Scott, wife of the violently jealous Jack Donner. Donner charters Stevens' boat, intending to murder him--but it's Donner who winds up in Davy Jones' locker. Escape from Hell Island was also released as (surprise!) Man in the Water. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this actioner, a charterboat captain in Key West gets into trouble when he smuggles a group of Cuban refugees into the States. He is on the way back from the island when he is fired on by Cuban gunboats. Someone is killed and he ends up losing his boat and license to US authorities. The captain then gets involved with a married woman. It is her husband that has him charter his sloop to Bermuda where he tries to kill him. Instead, the captain prevails and the husband is killed. He then returns to the new widow and picks up where he left off. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi