Patrick Cranshaw Movies
- 1977
Alice (Linda Lavin), Tommy (Philip McKeon) and the gang from Mel's Diner pile into a tractor-trailer and head off to pay a Christmas visit to Alice's cousin. Unfortunately, the revellers literally stalled in their tracks by a blinding snowstorm somewhere in Colorado. Alice may have always dreamed of a White Christmas, but this one bids fair to be a nightmare! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Alice sees an episode of 60 Minutes about a famous mobster who dropped out of sight three decades ago. Shortly thereafter, an oldster named Gino (Michael V. Gazzo) makes another of his regular drop-ins at the diner. Taking a closer look at the elderly Gino than she ever has before, Alice is convinced that the old man and the missing mobster are one and the same. This episode was originally slated to air on October 30, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Alice (Linda Lavin) manages to land an extra job as a nightclub singer. Unfortunately, our heroine's foray into moonlighting takes its toll on her day job at Mel's Diner. Before long, the other staffers must cover for Alice, who can barely stay awake long enough to walk across the floor. Legendary "joke machine" and Dick Van Dyke Show regular Morey Amsterdam appears as Herman in this episode, in which star Linda Lavin sings "But Not For Me". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
It's Saturday night and they ain't got nobody--"they" being Alice (Linda Lavin), Flo (Polly Holliday) and Vera (Beth Howland). In desperation, the ladies decides to try out a new singles bar in the neighborhood. It's a most eventful evening, climaxing as all three girls fall for the same guy. Victoria Carroll), later to join the cast as Mel's girlfriend Marie, appears in an unbilled bit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Is Fred (Redd Foxx) telling the truth when he fails to recognize Carol (Spo-De-Odee), a woman who claims she knew him 40 years ago? For once, the redoubtable Mr. Sanford is telling the truth -- he is drawing a complete blank when it comes to Carol. When recognition finally dawns, however, Fred is forced to confront his long-ago "involvement" in a criminal activity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, (more)
- 1976
Alice (Linda Lavin) has every reason to assume that she is the beneficiary of her late husband's insurance policy. So imagine her surprise--and outrage--upon discovering that the policy is in the name of another woman. The first airing of this episode, on October 6, 1976, occurred only in the Mountain and Pacific time zones: the rest of the country had to make do with a presidential debate between a couple of guys named Ford and Carter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Landing a singing gig in a somewhat shady nightclub, Alice (Linda Lavin) is unaware that most of the other ladies on the premises are engaged in another--er--profession. However, she soon learns what's what when she and two "working girls" (Liberty Williams, Caren Kaye) are hauled off to jail by the vice squad! Though she could be freed by simply paying her fine, Alice refuses to go anywhere until her name and reputation are cleared. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
The staff of Mel's Diner is on pins and needles when an influential food critic (Victor Buono) accepts Alice's invitation to sample the diner's bill of fare. Realizing that the critic is a man of exotic tastes, Mel (Vic Tayback) knocks himself out to dish up a batch of chili that his guest will never forget. Unfortunately, a pall is cast over the evening when the critic has the effrontery to drop dead of food poisoning! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This appallingly bad sci-fi film about an invisible bank-robber (Douglas Kennedy) was shot back-to-back with Beyond the Time Barrier on the grounds of the Texas State Fair in Dallas. The usual cackling and crime is included, most of which was done better in The Invisible Man. Marguerite Chapman is the film's one bright spot as Kennedy's lowlife girlfriend, but the rest of the characters are annoying and unsympathetic. Unpleasant, downbeat, and badly produced, it is hard to see the appeal of this one, even for genre completists. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
