Lana Clarkson Movies
Though pretty television and B-movie actress Lana Clarkson would sadly gain more career attention in death than in life, she will forever be remembered by friends and fans alike for her winning sense of humor and down-to-earth friendliness. Born in Long Beach, CA, in 1962, Clarkson showed a penchant for entertaining early on by reciting stories and nursery rhymes to anyone willing to lend their attention to the outgoing young lass. After vocally declaring her independence by age five, Clarkson and her family would eventually settle in Cloverdale, CA, in the early '70s, where she would begin her lifelong love of horseback riding. A basketball player at Cloverdale High, the towering 16-year-old soon began to harbor modeling aspirations. After moving to Los Angeles in 1978, Clarkson's dreams would become realized as the striking young beauty stepped before the cameras of fashion photographers while simultaneously beginning a successful career in film and television. Appearing in such television hits as Happy Days and Fantasy Island (she could frequently be seen placing leis on guest stars at the beginning of the show), at age 18 Clarkson acquired her SAG card with a role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). Though roles in Scarface (1983) and Blind Date (1984) would follow soon after, it was Clarkson's appearance in such Roger Corman efforts as Deathstalker and Barbarian Queen that would truly endear the attractive young actress to legions of B-movie lovers. Living in the canals of Venice, CA, in her later years, Clarkson's winning sense of humor lead her to explore a career in standup comedy, and after breaking her wrists in a fall in 2001, the optimistic actress used her recovery time to focus her career. In early 2003, the world of film would lose an enduring and shining personality as Clarkson's life was abruptly ended with a bullet. She was 40. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Mickey Rourke once again climbs the slippery slope of the erotically extreme in this sequel to 1986's 9 1/2 Weeks. It's been several years since John (Mickey Rourke) parted company with Elizabeth (the character played by Kim Basinger in the original film, although she doesn't appear in this sequel), but he's still obsessed by their passionate encounters. In hopes of finding her, John flies to Paris, where he instead discovers Lea (Angie Everhart), a close friend of Elizabeth's who designs high fashion clothing, and her assistant Claire (Agathe de la Fontaine). Lea is strongly attracted to John, but John is not able to let go of his obsession with Elizabeth so easily; when Lea tells John that Elizabeth has remarried, John begins to responds to her advances and they indulge in a variety of erotic games. However, in time, John learns that Lea can't always be trusted, and he realizes that their affair is not destined to last very long. Another 9 1/2 Weeks was also screened under the title Love in Paris. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mickey Rourke, Agathe de la Fontaine, (more)
In this erotic police thriller, three beauteous vice cops go undercover as porno actresses to catch a killer. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lana Clarkson, Liat Goodson, (more)
- 1992
Although Sandpiper Air is up and running again, the trials and tribulations of sibling owners Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian (Steven Weber) are far from over. The latest crisis involves a tough guy who, mistaking Joe for Brian, breaks the wrong brother's nose. When Joe subsequently visits the doctor (Peter Brown), it is Brian who begins contemplating a nose job -- for himself. Featured in the supporting cast is perennial starlet Lana Clarkson, whose career -- and life -- would come to a tragic end in 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1990
Pregnant Christine (Markie Post) enlists Harry (Harry Anderson), Bull (Richard Moll) and Dan (John Larroquette) as her Lamaze-class coaches, only to realize that she might have been better off with Moe, Larry, and Curley. The bulk of this episode is devoted to a series of fantasy sequences, wherein each of the male coaches imagines the influence they will have on Markie's child. But their imaginings are trumped by a fourth fantasy, this one conjured up by Christine herself. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1990
- R
One of a few abortive attempts by B-movie legend Roger Corman to recapture the questionable glory of his 60s Edgar Allan Poe films as well as his 70s sexploitation romps, this is definitely the least entertaining of the lot. Taking massive liberties with Poe's tale, the plot involves lovely young Lenora (Nicole Eggert) being possessed by the ghost of her mother (Eggert again), who was tortured and crucified as a witch when Lenora was an infant. After a series of flashbacks, it is also revealed that Morella had intended to sacrifice her child as part of a Satanic ritual designed to give her eternal life. Lenora's creepy governess Mrs. Deveroux (Lana Clarkson) is revealed as Morella's partner in crime, as she conspires to make Lenora's possession complete -- just in time for her to collect a sizable trust on her 18th birthday. Conceived primarily as softcore exploitation, this makes Corman's earlier bastardizations of Poe's works seem positively inspired by comparison. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Starring:
- David McCallum, Nicole Eggert, (more)
- 1989
- R
It's Lana Clarkson again as Amathia, the Amazon Queen in this sequel film to Barbarian Queen. Here's she is betrayed by her nasty brother Ankaris (Alejandro Bracho) and is imprisoned and scheduled for the hangman's noose. Luckily for lovers of bountiful bosoms everywhere, she escapes and heads to the woods where she befriends another Amazon gal named Ziela (Rebecca Wood). Together they set out to regain Amathia's rightful rule and outbattle the heathen he-men who'd ousted her. There's plenty of violence and nudity in this second Barbarian Queen fiesta. ~ Rovi
- 1989
- PG
When a group of evil, power-hungry people take over a trio of kingdoms, it is up to a young magician to free his lands from their rule. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Carradine, Bobby Jacoby, (more)
The 1987 portmanteau comedy feature Amazon Women on the Moon lampoons several film genres in general and the 1954 sci-fi cheapie Cat Women of the Moon in particular. Other sketches in Amazon Women include an opening bit with Arsenio Hall; a vignette titled "Son of the Invisible Man" wherein a naked Ed Begley Jr. runs around in full view of the nonplussed supporting cast; the It's Alive parody "Hospital", which offers the spectacle of Michelle Pfeiffer giving birth to Mr. Potato Head; and a Siskel & Ebert takeoff, featuring Arche Hahn as a TV viewer whose entire life is given a "thumbs down." Directed by several hands, including Joe Dante, Carl Gottleib, Peter Horton, John Landis, and Robert K. Weiss, Amazon Women on the Moon also features a satire of the Kroger G. Babb school of "sex hygiene" exploitation cheapies, with syphilis victim Carrie Fisher being counseled by unctuous doctor Paul Bartel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rosanna Arquette, Ralph Bellamy, (more)
- 1985
- R
When Amazon queen Amathea's (Lana Clarkson) hubby-to-be is swiped by a marauding warlord (along with most of the other local men) and her lovely little sister Taramis (Dawn Dunlap) is raped, the vengeful Queen sets out with two other lady warriors to set things right. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Lana Clarkson, Dawn Dunlap, (more)
- 1985
Crooked promoter Sonny Monroe (Alex Rocco) is fixing boxing matches and using the prize money for his illegal drug-trafficking racket. When amateur boxer Billy Marquette (Daniel Faraldo) is ordered by Monroe to take a dive, Billy's family seeks out the A-Team for help. In a twinkling, B.A. (Mr. T.) has gone undercover as boxer "Volcano Johnson", with Hannibal (George Peppard) as his manager and Murdock (Dwight Schultz). Featured in the cast are veteran ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Sr. and ill-fated starlet Lana Clarkson. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
Night Court begins its third season as Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson) and his staff resign themselves to the death of caustic, chain-smoking courtroom matron Selma Hacker (actress Selma Diamond had passed away a few months after shooting wrapped on Season Two). Taking things hardest is bailiff Bull (Richard Moll), who goes out on a drunken bender--only to be hauled back into court with a batch of bibulous circus performers. This episode marks the first appearance of Florence Halop as Selma's equally cranky replacement Florence Kleiner; as a bonus, Markie Post joins the cast in the previously recurring role of public defender Christine Sullivan, replacing Ellen Foley as Billie Young. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
- R
Co-writer and director Nico Mastorakis filmed this unusual low-budget thriller in his native Athens, Greece. Timothy Bottoms stars as Jonathan Ratcliff, an American advertising executive who has lost his sight, although the specialist he consults, Dr. Steiger (Keir Dullea), feels that the cause is psychosomatic. Fitted with a camera-like sonar device that allows him to "see," even if in a non-traditional and rather limited way, Ratcliff takes a vacation in Greece. When he witnesses the murder of a woman with his seeing-eye electronic device, he becomes obsessed with tracking down the killer. Ratcliff's quarry turns out to be a taxi driver armed with a scalpel -- and good eyesight. Blind Date (1984) (alternately titled Deadly Seduction) is notable for early appearances by a trio of actresses who would go on to do bigger and better things: Kirstie Alley, Valeria Golino, and Marina Sirtis. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kirstie Alley, Joseph Bottoms, (more)
Al Pacino stars as Tony Montana, an exiled Cuban criminal who goes to work for Miami drug lord Robert Loggia. Montana rises to the top of Florida's crime chain, appropriating Loggia's cokehead mistress (Michelle Pfeiffer) in the process. Howard Hawks' "X Marks the Spot" motif in depicting the story line's many murders is dispensed with in the 1983 Scarface; instead, we are inundated with blood by the bucketful, especially in the now-infamous buzz saw scene. One carry-over from the original Scarface is Tony Montana's incestuous yearnings for his sister Gina (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). The screenplay for the 1983 Scarface was written by Oliver Stone. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, (more)
- 1983
- R
Richard Hill is Deathstalker in this sweat-drenched Sword-and-Sorcery romp. Armed with the Sword of Justice, which renders him invincible, Hill takes on main villain Victor Bo. Barbi Benton is the delectable damsel in distress, whose costume budget must have come to about 18 cents. This Argentine/U.S. production was released in Argentina as El Cazador De La Muerte. It must have developed a following, or why else would there have been a Deathstalker II, Deathstalker III, and Deathstalker IV? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Hill, Barbi Benton, (more)
- 1983
Hoping to stir up new business, George (Sherman Hemsley) holds a Miss Jefferson Cleaners contest. Alas, George is forced to give the award to the punk-rocker niece of his landlord, Whittendale (Jack Fletcher) -- or face immediate eviction. The girl in question is played by singer Julie Brown, a few years before attaining rock-video and cable-TV superstardom. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
Amy Heckerling's adaptation of Cameron Crowe's Fast Times at Ridgemont High is often considered one of the finest films of a disreputable genre (the teen sex comedy), and kick-started the careers of many future stars. The center of this ensemble film is Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stacy Hamilton. She is a young, innocent high-school student who, as the film opens, is asking for advice from her friend, the sexually outspoken Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates). Stacy takes a liking to nebbish Mark Ratner (Brian Backer), but he is too afraid to make a move even after Stacy all but throws herself at him. She eventually hooks up with Mark's more confident best friend, Mike Damone (Robert Romanus). When not concerning itself with these four characters, the film spends time with stoned surfer dude Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) and his ongoing feud with history teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston). The film includes brief appearances by such future stars as Nicolas Cage, Eric Stoltz, and Forest Whitaker. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, (more)
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