Jackie Cooper Movies
American actor Jackie Cooper was in movies at the age of three; his father had abandoned the family when Jackie was two, forcing his mother to rely upon the boy's acting income to keep food on the table. Shortly after earning his first featured part in Fox Movietone Follies of 1929. Cooper was hired for producer Hal Roach's "Our Gang" two-reeler series, appearing in 15 shorts over the next two years. The "leading man" in many of these comedies, he was most effective in those scenes wherein he displayed a crush on his new teacher, the beauteous Miss Crabtree. On the strength of "Our Gang," Paramount Pictures signed Cooper for the title role in the feature film Skippy (1931), which earned the boy an Oscar nomination. A contract with MGM followed, and for the next five years Cooper was frequently co-starred with blustery character player Wallace Beery. Cooper outgrew his preteen cuteness by the late 1930s, and was forced to accept whatever work that came along, enjoying the occasional plum role in such films as The Return of Frank James (1940) and What a Life! (1941). His priorities rearranged by his wartime Naval service, Cooper returned to the states determined to stop being a mere "personality" and to truly learn to be an actor. This he did on Broadway and television, notably as the star of two popular TV sitcoms of the 1950s, The People's Choice and Hennessey. Cooper developed a taste for directing during this period (he would earn an Emmy for his directorial work on M*A*S*H in 1973), and also devoted much of his time in the 1960s to the production end of the business; in 1965 he was appointed vice-president in charge of production at Screen Gems, the TV subsidiary of Columbia Pictures. From the early 1970s onward, Cooper has juggled acting, producing and directing with equal aplomb. Modern audiences know Cooper best as the apoplectic Perry White in the Christopher Reeve Superman films. In 1981, Cooper surprised (and sometimes shocked) his fans with a warts-and-all autobiography, Please Don't Shoot My Dog. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1980
Bette Davis is White Mama in this custom-made TV movie. Ms. Davis plays a poverty-stricken widow who is too proud to go on welfare. Aware that she can receive a steady income if she takes in a foster child, Davis becomes surrogate mother to tough black teenager Ernest Harden Jr. The relationship is shaky at best in the beginning, but soon foster mother and foster "child" learn to love, respect and trust one another. Originally telecast March 3, 1980, White Mama garnered an Emmy nomination for Bette Davis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
This documentary looks at the city of Hollywood. Includes a look at promotional films, newsreels, and interviews with stars like John Wayne, Mae West, and the Marx Brothers. ~ All Movie Guide
No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. Bob Newhart is a marathon runner in this sprightly made-for-TV movie. A mild, middle-aged suburbanite with the requisite loving wife (Anita Gillette), Newhart is smitten by gorgeous female jogger Leigh Taylor-Young. "Accidentally" arranging to meet the object of his affections during subsequent jogging jaunts, Newhart ends up joining Leigh in entering the grueling New York Marathon. Though the film makes light of vicarious adultery, screenwriter Ron Friedman remains scrupulously within the bounds of good taste, as does Jackie Cooper's gentle direction. Marathon was first broadcast January 30, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The Rodeo Girl is 26-year-old Sammy Garrett (Katherine Ross). Despite opposition from the good-ole-boy network, Sammy is determined to succeed as a bronco buster. But her plans may be thwarted when Sammy becomes pregnant. Even if she doesn't lose the baby, it's likely that she'll lose the love of the baby's father (Bo Hopkins) if she continues her rough-and-tumble lifestyle. Inspired by real-life rodeo world champion Sue Pirtle, the made for TV Rodeo Girl first aired September 17, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Katharine Ross, Bo Hopkins, (more)
- 1978
We're not sure who the gentlemen are in this TV movie adaptation of Nora Ephron's Perfect Gentlemen, but there's no doubt as to the identity of the ladies. The plot revolves around three convict's wives. Sandy Dennis owns a bankrupt deli; Lisa Pelikan is pregnant and broke; and Lauren Bacall (in her TV movie debut) is the wealthy wife of an incarcerated labor leader, who has just learned that her husband was cheating on her. Teaming up, the three ladies plan to steal the million dollars that was supposed to secure the release of Bacall's errant hubby. Along for the ride is Lisa Pelikan's mother-in-law Ruth Gordon, a veteran safecracker. Perfect Gentlemen sags a bit a midpoint, but overall is good underhanded fun. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Richard Donner's big-budget blockbuster Superman: The Movie is an immensely entertaining recounting of the origin of the famous comic book character. Opening on Krypton (where Marlon Brando plays Superman's father), the film follows the Man of Steel (Christopher Reeve) as he's sent to Earth where he develops his alter-ego Clark Kent and is raised by a Midwestern family. In no time, the movie has run through his teenage years, and Clark gets a job at the Daily Planet, where he is a news reporter. It's there that he falls in love with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), who is already in love with Superman. But the love story is quickly sidetracked once the villainous Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) launches a diabolical plan to conquer the world and kill Superman. Superman: The Movie is filled with action, special effects and a surprising amount of humor. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, (more)
- 1978
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jim Rockford (James Garner) and rookie private eye Richie Brockelman (Dennis Dugan) continue to investigate the suspicious death of their mutual mentor Joe Tooley. When the trail of clues leads to crooked computer-company CEO Garth McGregor (Jackie Cooper), he uses his influence to frame the two detectives and force them to take it on the lam. Ingredients essential to the outcome of the story are an underground storage silo, a conspiracy involving a corrupt congressman, and a wild helicopter-chase finale. This final episode of The Rockford Files' fourth season served to introduce the character of Richie Brockelman, who was subsequently spun off into his own TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the first half of a two-part story, Jim (James Garner) investigates the mysterious death of his mentor Joe Tooley (Paul Fix) on the Ventura Freeway. Assisting Jim--in a manner of speaking--is greenhorn detective Richie Brockelman (Dennis Dugan), who likewise suspects that Tooley's demise was no accident. The evidence leads to a crooked city councilman and a sinister data-storage firm called the Credit Computer Centre. This episode and its followup served to introduce the character of Richie Brockelman, soon to be spun off into his own eponymously titled TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
This third entry in the made-for-TV Having Babies saga was first telecast March 3, 1978. Susan Sullivan heads the cast as Dr. Julie Farr, presiding over three impending births. In true soap-opera fashion, Dr. Farr cannot help but get involved in the lives of her troubled patients. Marnie Bridges (Jamie Smith Jackson) must not only cope with parenthood, but with a faithless husband (Michael Lembeck); Gloria Miles (Rue McClanahan), left alone with her two children, suddenly goes into labor miles from the hospital; and Leslie Wexler (Patty Duke Astin), Dr. Farr's best friend, must decide whether or not to postpone a crucial mastectomy to have her baby. Having Babies III became a weekly TV series on March 7, 1978, again starring Susan Sullivan. Shortly thereafter, the title was changed to Julie Farr, MD. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Life in the Pink is the syndication title of the pilot film for the TV series Operation Petticoat. Based on the 1959 movie of the same name, the series detailed the adventures of a jerry-built submarine in World War II. In the pilot, the sub's crew rescues five Army nurses from a remote Pacific isle. The ladies return the favor by virtually taking over the sub, eventually painting it pink. While this TV movie does not follow the film version scene for scene, it resurrects some of the earlier picture's best gags, including the torpedoing of a jeep. John Astin both directed this film and starred as the sub commander. Way down the cast list as a nurse was Jamie Lee Curtis, daughter of Tony Curtis, who costarred with Cary Grant in the original Operation Petticoat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Season Three of Quincy M.E. gets off to a running start when Quincy (Jack Klugman) is interrupted during a nocturnal romantic rendezvous by the sudden arrival of his old friend Carl Hopwood, an investigative reporter. It is obvious that Hopwood has been beaten and mutilated, but before Quincy can find out what has happened, his friend dies. Rushing the body to the police morgue, Quincy performs an autopsy without witnesses and personally records the vital lab data. The next morning, Quincy returns to the morgue to find that the body has disappeared...and with it all evidence that an autopsy ever occurred. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Melissa Astin (Barbara Babcock), the wife of Quincy's supervisor Dr. Robert Astin (John S. Ragin), stops her car to pick up a runaway boy named Joey (Shane Sinutko) --and shortly afterward is involved in a traffic accident. When Quincy (Jack Klugman) pays a visit to Melissa and Joey in the hospital, he checks the boy's injuries, only to conclude that several of the child's bruises are very old. Doing some detective work on his own, Quincy tries to prove that Joey is the product of a very abusive home...but his concern doesn't guarantee that the boy will be out of danger. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
While heading an anti-obscenity campaign aimed at notorious porno publisher Carlo Dicassa (John Saxon), a prominent priest is found dead in the bedroom of a prostitute (E.J. Peaker). The police are satisfied by the hooker's explanation that the priest died of a heart attack while she was "servicing him", and it looks like the dead man's reputation will be forever sullied. But medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman) finds a number of inconsistencies during his autopsy on the priest--and he becomes convinced that a frame-up and murder have occurred. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Jim (James Garner) is hired by antiques dealer Thomas Caine (William Daniels) to bid on a rare sculpted bird at an auction. Unfortunately, our hero "gets the bird" in more ways than one when, after purchasing the statue on Caine's behalf, he is attacked by hooligans and the artifact is broken. At this point, Jim would just as soon wash his hands of the whole affair, but in order to avoid paying for the busted bird, he agrees to attend another auction where a duplicate bird is on display. Complicating matters is the existence of a third bird--and of a clever and somewhat lethal art thief who is dogging Jim's trail every inch of the way. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
While Beth (Gretchen Corbett) is stuck in jail on a contempt-of-court charge, Jim agrees to do some leg work on behalf of Beth's client Arnold Bailey (Joseph Campanella), who has been accused of income-tax evasion. Unfortunately for both Jim and Beth, Bailey is connected with the Mob. . .and has been systematically stealing funds from the "organization". Tied in with all this chicanery is corrupt union official Fred Metcalf (Richard Venture), whose murder may well be a prologue for Jim's own demise. In a neat bit of casting, the head mobster in this episode is played by Frank Campanella, the brother of guest star Joseph Campanella. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
- PG
- Add The Pink Panther Strikes Again to QueueAdd The Pink Panther Strikes Again to top of Queue
Most Inspector Clouseau fans regard The Pink Panther Strikes Again as the best of the clumsy Parisian detective's "comeback" films of the 1970s. Driven insane by the stupidities of Clouseau (Peter Sellers), ex-inspector Dreyfuss (Herbert Lom) transforms into a master criminal. Kidnapping the inventor of a death ray, Dreyfuss threatens to use the demon device indiscriminately unless Clouseau is offered as a "sacrifice." A hunted man, Clouseau is forced to adopt one transparent (but hilarious) disguise after another. He is rescued from being incinerated by Dreyfuss when Soviet spy Olga (Leslie Ann Down) falls in love with him and strives to protect him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, (more)
- 1975
In this feature-length pilot film for a weekly Jack Webb-produced TV series, Jackie Cooper stars as Peter Campbell, a veteran news reporter whose career has been destroyed by booze. Hoping to redeem himself, Campbell signs on as the senior member of a mobile news team for TV station KONE in an unnamed (but very L.A.-looking) West Coast metropolis. Campbell's associates include news producer Maggie Spencer (Julie Gregg) and ace cameraman Doug McKnight (Mark Wheeler). Some of the team's first assignments are a search for the missing father of a sick child and tracking down a murderous arsonist. When this pilot aired over ABC on September 2, 1975, the proposed series' title was Mobile Two. For no discernible reason, the series itself was re-christened Mobile One, and as such was telecast from September 12 to December 29, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
This TV-movie update of the old H.G. Wells fantasy novel stars David McCallum as brilliant scientist Daniel Weston. He's so brilliant that he develops an invisibility serum, which he applies to himself. Two inconveniences: Weston must wear a special mask so that his wife (Kathleen Fee) can see him; and enemy agents, headed by traitorous scientist Alex Henteloff, would give their eye teeth for the serum. Much was made in the press releases of the "blue screen" process that created the illusion of invisibility; would that as much time have been expended on the ho-hum script. Despite its flaws, Invisible Man resulted in a weekly TV series, which ran from September 1975 to January 1976; its format was later refashioned for two more short-lived series, Gemini Man and The Man From Atlantis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
In this drama, a television reporter begins looking for the arsonist who has been forcing tiny salvage companies out of business by burning down their buildings. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1975
In this drama, a TV news team looks into three stories: the death of a peer, a boxer with heart problems, and a killer who has been kidnapping young women. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1975
The friends and family of young Aura Lee Benton (Melissa Greene) are shocked when the girl dies from a heroin overdose--especially since they know full well that Aura Lee never did drugs. Jim (James Garner) is hired by the dead girl's coworker Sara Butler (a pre-Bionic Woman Lindsay Wagner) to uncover the truth behind the tragedy. The detective methodically follows the trail of clues to a powerful senator (Robert Webber)--who promptly commits suicide, sending Jim right back to Square One! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Jim (James Garner) is hired by his former lover Claire Prescott (Linda Evans) to help pry her loose from a loan shark. But as often happens on The Rockford Files, Claire isn't telling Jim the whole truth. As the plot thickens, Claire continues to withhold vital information from the detective, nearly getting him killed in the process. The moment of truth finally arrives when a pair of murderous thugs kidnap Jim's dad Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.) , thereby setting up a most unusual "trade-off." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Though there's no love lost between Jim Rockford (James Garner) and fellow ex-con Moss Williams (Eddie Fontaine), Jim agrees to help Moss locate his missing girlfriend Maria Heller (Mary Frann). What Williams doesn't tell Jim is that he isn't interested in Maria but in the girl's pearl necklace--and that Edgar Burch (M. Emmet Walsh) the "insurance agent" who talked Jim into taking the case, is a phony. Stuart Margolin makes his first series appearance as Jim Rockford's troublesome former cellmate Angel Martin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Though at first he turns down the assignment, Jim (James Garner) agrees to help his former war buddy Mitch (Hector Elizondo), now a fashion photographer, to track down one of his models, Jennifer Ryburn (Pamela Hensley). Suspected of murder, Jennifer has been reported killed in a fiery car crash on the basis of her dental records, but Mitch is convinced that she is still alive. This turns out to be true--but by the time Jim catches up with Jennifer, Mitch himself has been bumped off! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
