Paul Vincent Movies
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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Garner, Jonathan Pryce, (more)
- 1984
In this satirical look at what passes for "normal" in love and sports, debut director and co-scripter Christoph Böll (nephew of writer Heinrich Böll), has a sexually ambivalent young man, Wieland Dietrich (Wieland Samolak) decide to show the world he is "normal" like everyone else and so he considers dance classes -- maybe not an ideal choice for his goal. But after the prospective dancer spots a good-looking athlete in a track suit, dance pales, and running comes to the fore. In spite of his confusion about the right way to the finish line, the track coach (Gerhard Olschewski) accepts Wieland on the team because he is desperate for runners. After his initial, much-bumbled training, Wieland spots a female shot-putter at their first big meet and falls in love immediately -- a stimulus that zooms him down the track on all six cylinders and leads to instant celebrity. The woman (Renate Muhri) feels the same about Wieland -- with the same results. When the coach catches on to the secret of their stellar performances, he unconscionably manipulates them to keep them in top form. The inventive coach has to make sure his love-struck stars remain that way -- a challenge which makes him consider surreptitious hormonal treatments with wholly unexpected results. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wieland Samolak, Gerhard Olschewski, (more)
The ads for Arthur suggested that this was an obnoxious film about an obnoxious man, an eternally drunken millionaire indulging his every whim. Instead, Arthur (Dudley Moore) is a sweet, somewhat pathetic character whose millions have left him lonely and with no motivation in life. When the film opens, Arthur is on the threshold of an arranged marriage with simpering socialite Susan (Jill Eikenberry), whom he does not love. Everyone expects Arthur to behave himself, but nobody truly cares for his well-being, with the exception of father-figure butler Mr. Hobson (John Gielgud, who won an Oscar for his performance) and blue-collar shoplifter Linda (Liza Minnelli). Arthur would prefer to marry the lowly Linda, but his iron-willed grandmother (Geraldine Fitzgerald) threatens to pull the plug on his huge inheritance if he doesn't honor his position in life and go through with his marriage to Susan. A sequel, Arthur 2: On the Rocks, followed in 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, (more)
- 1972
- R
Nick Kleinholz is the adolescent plagued with the title character. Kept awake each night, poor Nick is worn to a frazzle. The fun really begins when the dreams begin manifesting themselves into reality. A workable concept, but hardly worthy of 97 minutes. Though unrated, My Brother Has Bad Dreams is not all fun and games. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
The werewolf (Alex Stevens) is captured and locked up in a jail cell. Edward (Louis Edmonds) camps out at the jailhouse, intending to find out the werewolf's true identity, while Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) secretly attempts to arrange the "prisoner"'s escape. And the disfigured Evan (Humbert Allen Astredo) steals the severed hand from Magda (Grayson Hall), offering to return it only if his face is restored to its former handsomeness. This episode originally aired on July 1, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1928
Emmett J. Flynn had directed everyone from William S. Hart to Laurel and Hardy by the time he wielded the megaphone for his first talkie, The Veiled Woman. The title character is Nanon (Lia Tora) who, in flashback, cautions a virginal young woman (Lupita Tovar) from trodding the primrose path in life. While working as a roulette girl in the gambling house owned by her lover Pierre (Paul Vincenti), Nanon accidentally kills a man and takes a run-out powder. Later on, Nanon marries a respectable socialite, only to lose her husband when he learns about her unsavory past. Her tale told, Nanon is unexpectedly reunited with Pierre, now making an honest living as a cab driver.The Veiled Woman was also filmed in French- and Spanish-language versions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Vincent
