Zachary A. Charles Movies
- 1995
During a torrential downpour, Ross (George Clooney) struggles to rescue 12-year-old Ben Larkin (Erik Von Detten), who is trapped in a flooded culvert. Realizing that the youngster is already suffering from hypothermia and may not survive his ordeal even if rescued, Ross orders on-the-spot intensive care treatment -- an action that will either make or break his career. Elsewhere, Harper Tracy (Christine Elise) experiences her own crisis involving the bickering parents of ten-year-old hit-and-run victim Molly Phillips (J. Madison Wright). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Originally telecast as a Thursday night special, this is the first episode of a two-part story. Attending her high school reunion, Helen (Crystal Bernard) comes face to face with Sara (Sheila Kelley), the cheerleader who used to make her life miserable. During the same reunion, Lowell has a strange encounter with his mentor, shop teacher Mr. Conley (Tom Hatten). But the "highlight" of the evening comes when Brian (Steven Weber) is reunited with his old flame Wendy (Lesley Boone), who has some surprising and disturbing news for both Brian and his brother Joe (Tim Daly). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Joe (Tim Daly) tries to come to grips with the news that he might be the father of Jason (Zachary Charles), the son of Joe's high school classmate Wendy (Lesley Boone) -- who, in turn, had been the girlfriend of Joe's brother Brian (Steven Weber). Overhearing this revelation, Roy (David Schramm) advises Joe to keep quiet and admit nothing -- but, to quote Hamlet, "conscience doth make cowards of us all." Meanwhile, Lowell (Thomas Haden Church) wonders if his life has taken the right direction after a momentous reunion with his former shop teacher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Fresh from his triumphant movie appearance in Blazing Saddles, Cleavon Little guest stars as James Travis Clark, the Waltons' new hired man. Upon learning that James is a prizefighter, Olivia (Michael Learned) and Grandma (Ellen Corby) strongly express their disapproval--until they find out that he plans to use the prize money from his upcoming bout to finance the building of a church for the local African American community. Unfortunately, it turns out that the fight is fixed, and James has no hope of winning. But though he's been counted out in the ring, James still may emerge a winner thanks to the help and support of his new friends on Walton's Mountain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Eleven years after scoring one of the biggest hits on the Broadway stage, Irving Berlin's musical comedy Annie Get Your Gun was brought to television in a lavish, live two-hour color presentation. Mary Martin, who ironically had been offered the role before Ethel Merman made it her own back in 1946, stars as sharpshooter Annie Oakley, the rag-tag backwoods gal who became the toast of two continents as the main attraction of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show. The libretto, by Herbert and Dorothy Fields, naturally takes many liberties with the facts, focusing on the tempestuous romance between the level-headed Annie and the arrogant, bombastic marksman Frank Butler (John Raitt). Most of the laughs are provided by the wheeling and dealing of Annie's PR man, Charlie Davenport (Donald Burr), and by another of Buffalo Bill's star performers, Indian medicine man Sitting Bull (Zachary Charles), who has become so "assimilated" by the trappings of showbiz that he can't even remember how to perform a simple scalping (needless to say, much of the humor involving Sitting Bull would considered politically incorrect today). The songs include such Berlin standards as "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly," "The Girl That I Marry," "They Say It's Wonderful," "Sun in the Morning," "Anything You Can Do," and, of course, "There's No Business Like Show Business." This production of Annie Get Your Gun currently exists in black-and-white kinescope form, but though pictorial quality is rough, the entertainment value is unquestionable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Martin, John Raitt, (more)
- 1952
Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair was Number Four in Universal's immensely successful "B"-picture series. It is giving away nothing to reveal that Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride once more assume the title roles. The plot is motivated by Ma's desire to send daughter Rosie (Lori Nelson) to college. To that end, she intends to win a big cash prize at the upcoming county fair. Meanwhile, Pa uses his half of the winnings (which no one, as yet, has really won!) to purchase a race horse. When Mafails to win the money, the Kettles are forced to rely on the horse to save the day during a sweepstakes race. Towards the end of Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair, a close-up of the racing statistics sheet is shown, revealing that one of the owners is "Quinn Martin"--a cute inside joke, inasmuch as Mr. Martin was a prolific scriptwriter and a friend of Ma and Pa Kettle producer Leonard Goldstein. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, (more)
- 1950
Gambling House is a low-key remake of the 1943 Cary Grant vehicle Mr. Lucky. Victor Mature stars as Marc Fury, a foreign-born gambler who is currently facing deportation. Always looking out for Number One, Fury seeks out a legal loophole so he can sidestep naturalization--and, incidentally, avoid paying his income tax. His civic responsibilities awakened by pretty social worker Lynn Warren (Terry Moore), Fury does an 180-degree turnaround, going so far as to shake down underworld kingpin Joe Farrow (William Bendix) for $50,000, which he promptly donates to a patriotic organization headed by Warren. A surprisingly melodramatic finale caps this easy-to-take yarn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victor Mature, Terry Moore, (more)
- 1950
A submarine commander is determined to use guided missiles on his sub in this war drama. To do so, he defies the edict of the navel bureaucracy and begins testing the prototypes. This results in personal injury and the death of a crewman. So guilty does the commander feel, that he begins to suffer a mental breakdown and becomes hysterically paralyzed. Fortunately, he recovers, sincerely apologizes to the Navy and is allowed to proceed with the testing. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Viveca Lindfors, Henry O'Neill, (more)
