Peter Cullen Movies
Popular action figure G.I. Joe was reinvented in animation form in this pilot for the daily syndicated cartoon series of the same name. In keeping with the new marketing strategy established by Hasbro Toys, "G.I. Joe" was no longer an individual, but instead a team of specially trained guerilla fighters, led by Clayton M. "Hawk" Abernathy. The villains of the piece were the members of Cobra, led by Cobra Commander and his Darth Vader-like lieutenant (and frequent rival), Destro. In their first adventure, the Joes were obliged to collect three rare elements vital to a weapon that would counter Cobra's deadly M.A.S.S. device, which allowed the bad guys to transfer matter anywhere at any time for their own evil purposes. Written by Ron Friedman, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was made available as either a two-hour animated special or as a five-part miniseries, bearing the individual episode titles "The Cobra Strikes," "Slave of the Cobra Master," "The Worms of Death," "Devil's Cauldron," and "The Stake in the Serpent's Heart." The miniseries version was originally shown on American television from September 12 through 16, 1983. It was followed in 1984 by another miniseries, G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra, and in 1985 by the daily syndicated G.I. Joe series proper. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Singing her way through life as life sings back at her, little orphaned Heidi (voice by Margery Gray) is bounced around from her aunt's house, to her grouchy grandfather's place, to a wealthy family in the big city, and never do the vocals subside nor does her spirit droop to anything lower than high "C," probably a fitting classification for this animated film from the Hanna-Barbera studio. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Sammy Davis, Jr., (more)
- 1975
This Canadian country & western variety series was a summer replacement for the similar (but far more elaborately mounted) The Tommy Hunter Show. Serving as host and lead performer was New Brunswick's own Tom Gallant. In addition to the usual collection of guest stars from both sides of the U.S./Canada border, the series boasted such regulars as the female singing group Blue Jane, vocalist Nancy White, and resident comedians Harvye Atkin and Peter Cullen, the latter a prolific cartoon voice-over artist. Down Home Country made the CBC scene during the summer months of 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Canadian filmmaker Gerald Potterton utilizes extensive footage from the Soviet adventure film Dr. Abolit in his Tiki Tiki. Abolit boards a rocket with two monkeys and blasts off into space, bent on rescuing a group of monkey kids from extraterrestrial bandits. Framing the live-action storyline are a few animated cartoon sequences involving the efforts of a producer to sell his concept to an apelike movie mogul. This device works as effectively here as it did thirty years earlier in W.C. Fields' Never Give a Sucker an Even Break. As a payoff, the studio boss is revealed to be King Kong, who sees a lot of potential in a story about heroic simians. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Produced on behalf of the National Film Board of Canada, Prologue is a story of the youth-rebellion movement of 1968. The film concentrates on Jesse (John Robb), who wanders the streets of Montreal selling underground newspapers. Despite the influence of his passive, drug-using roomie David (Gary Rader), Jesse insists upon pursuing the cause of political dissidence. Jesse heads for the fateful Chicago Democratic convention, while David moves to a commune with Jesse's girl friend Karen (Elaine Malus). Tired of trying to run away from controversy, Karen heads to Chicago for a reunion with Jesse, and a few philosophical discussions with "guest stars" Dick Gregory and Abbie Hoffman. Other members of the Intellectual Left making brief appearances in Prologue include Allen Ginsberg, Jean Genet, John Kenneth Galbraith, and William S. Burroughs. Director Robin Spry co-wrote the screenplay with Sherwood Forest (no, really). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Robb, Elaine Malus, (more)
