DCSIMG
 
 

Diana Webster Movies

1971  
 
The all-purpose science fiction title Earth II was utilized in 1971 for this TV pilot film. Producer/writers Allan Balter and William Read Woodfield consulted both NASA and the Rockwell Corporation to guarantee a modicum of authenticity for their futuristic teleplay. The story takes place in "Earth II", a self-contained space station orbiting the earth which houses 2000 people. Gary Lockwood, star of 2001: A Space Odyssey, appears as the commander of the station (note to fans of "Alvin and the Chipmunks": Lockwood's character name is David Seville!) The anecdotal plot explores the everyday operations of Earth II and the various trials and tribulations of its denizens. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1972  
 
Working undercover, Sgt. Ed Brown (Don Galloway) infiltrates the gang responsible for the kidnapping of the daughter (Kay Lenz) of a famous movie actress (Barbara Rush). Curiously, in his efforts to secure the girl's release, Ed's boss Ironside (Raymond Burr) encounters a stunning lack of cooperation from both the victim's mother and her overbearing business manager (Richard Anderson). Meanwhile, Ed finds out that the kidnapping was an "inside job" and that the abductors have been given strict orders not to hurt the blindfolded girl--but one of the gang members (Kaz Garas) has other ideas. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1973  
 
John Walton (Ralph Waite) is accused of stealing some valuable silver goblets from wealthy neighbor Mrs. Claybourne (Diana Webster). Her evidence? Well, for starters, John is the only visitor that Mrs. Claybourne has had in weeks--and even more damning, he has suddenly and inexplicably come into a large sum of money. Too angry and proud to defend himself, John is on the verge of a lengthy jail term until the truth is revealed in a surprising fashion. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1978  
 
Dr. Steven Strange, the Marvel Comics magician/superhero created in 1963 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, made his long-awaited screen debut in this 1978 TV pilot film. Peter Hooten plays Strange, while Sir John Mills portrays the doctor's sorcerer shaman, "The Ancient One." The Ancient One (whose real name is Lindmer) allows Strange access to the "Hermedic Arts," which enables him to control the elements. In the pilot, Strange's origin is retraced, then the story segues into a titanic battle between Strange and Camelot-era villainess Morgan LeFay (Jessica Walter), who has come back to life in order to collect human souls. Stan Lee reportedly disowned the video version of Dr. Strange, perhaps because one of his beloved characters was "camped up" for TV consumption. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Peter HootenJohn Mills, (more)
 
1979  
 
Television film featuring the Marvel Comics hero doing battle with a mad industrialist who wields a neutron bomb. ~ Nicole Gagne, Rovi

 Read More

 
1980  
 
A Martinez guest stars as Antonio Carbo, a compassionate young physician on the threshold of a brilliant career. Unfortunately, Carbo is in danger of losing his license--and his future--when he is accused of mishandling a gunshot victim who died while being transported from an emergency clinic to a hospital. Investigating, Quincy (Jack Klugman) uncovers evidence that the victim was murdered after he was treated at the clinic; the challenge now is to figure out why it happened, and who was responsible. This is the final episode of Quincy, M.E.'s fifth season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

 
1981  
 
A full-length pilot which was turned into the series A Man Called Sloane, this movie concerns super-agent T.R. Sloane (Robert Logan, but played by Robert Conrad in the TV series) and his mission: to locate and return a powerful machine capable of turning the world into rubble. To complicate matters, the film was later titled T.R. Sloane. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

 Read More

 
1981  
 
Seeking a replacement for their housekeeper, Florence, who has taken a job at a plush hotel, George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) both interview applicants on their own -- without consulting each other. The "fun" begins when George brings home his choice, and Louise brings home hers. Roseanna Christiansen makes her first series appearance as Carmen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Sherman HemsleyIsabel Sanford, (more)
 
1984  
PG  
Add The Ice Pirates to Queue Add The Ice Pirates to top of Queue  
In this undistinguished parody of the sci fi genre, Robert Urich is Jason who leads a band of pirates in redistributing the wealth of the few to the coffers of the needy. He also joins up with Princess Karina Mary Crosby in searching for her father and a possible source of water in the next galaxy. Meant to be a campy romp through the sci fi genre, the film stops short of achieving a goal that should have been effortless. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Robert UrichMary Crosby, (more)
 
1989  
PG  
John G. Avildsen rehashes his shopworn formula for another go-round in The Karate Kid Part III. Going against the wishes of his mentor, Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita), Daniel (Ralph Macchio) will defend his karate title in an All-Valley Championship match arranged by his nemesis Kreese (Martin Kove), whose karate studio folded after his star student lost the championship to Daniel. Kreese's friend, Vietnam veteran and toxic waste dumper Terry (Thomas Ian Griffith), agrees to help his old pal regain the championship trophy. Daniel's rival Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan) is known as "the bad boy of karate," and Daniel feels he requires more training to vanquish him. But Mr. Miyagi refuses to help Daniel train for the tournament: "Karate to defend life and honor means something. To defend a plastic trophy means nothing." As a result, Daniel naïvely falls into the clutches of Terry, who takes him on as a karate student. But after Daniel finds himself trapped at the bottom of a cliff and Daniel's girlfriend, Jessica (Robyn Lively), has her life threatened, Mr. Miyagi realizes the bad guys have gone too far and agrees to coach Daniel for the tournament. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Ralph MacchioNoriyuki "Pat" Morita, (more)
 
1992  
 
An old "urban legend" stemming from an incident at the 1893 Paris Exposition is the inspiration for this episode. While visiting London, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) comes across a corpse in her hotel room. She summons the authorities, only to find that the corpse has disappeared--and subsequently, virtually everyone, including the police, adamantly insist that there never was a body, and that Jessica is merely imagining things. Ingredients essential to this intriguing yarn are a double espionage agent, a Scotland Yard detective, a slimy concierge, and a brazen "tart". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More