Robert Lively Movies

A young man unthinkingly throws himself into a world of political and sexual turmoil in John Schlesinger's adaptation of the novel by Ian McEwan. Leonard Markham (Campbell Scott) is a British communications and surveillance expert who is sent to Germany in the early 1950s, at the height of the Cold War. Leonard is put under the command of Bob Glass (Anthony Hopkins), an American agent who goes out of his way to show him around town. Leonard is woefully naive about most subjects not directly involving his job, and when Bob takes him to a typically decadent Berlin nightclub, he is astonished to discover that Maria (Isabella Rossellini), a beautiful and mysterious woman, announces that she's quite attracted to him. Soon Leonard is no longer a 24-year-old virgin, but (as one might expect) Maria's interest in him is not entirely a matter of physical attraction. Bob's secret project is a hidden tunnel beneath Berlin that allows his forces to tap into Russian telephone transmissions, which is Leonard's responsibility. But the Americans are also obtaining coded information that they aren't passing along to the British; while Leonard helps Bob, he's also finding out what Bob knows and passing it along to the British. However, Maria is also looking for certain information, and she sees the innocent and gullible Leonard as an easy way to get it. The Innocent was originally completed in 1993, but it was not shown in the United States until 1996, when it was given a brief theatrical release before appearing on home video. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Police detective Pat O'Day (Leon Ames) involves himself with a gang of slum kids led by Dutch Kuhn (Hally Chester) and Danny Dolan (Harris Berger). He tries to keep them from getting into trouble and to help out Danny, whose brother, Knuckles Dolan (Dave "Tex" O'Brien), is about to be executed for a murder allegedly committed as part of his involvement in a counterfeiting ring. O'Day knows Knuckles, having tried to keep him on the right side of the law, and knows that he couldn't have done the shooting, regardless of the circumstantial evidence, because Knuckles resolutely refused to carry a gun -- the real killer is the gang leader, Mileaway (Dennis Moore), a smooth-talker who earned his nickname through his knack for always being "a mile away" whenever a crime is committed by his gang. O'Day not only wants to catch Mileaway, but tries to keep the teenagers from falling in with the hood. When the detective starts to get too close, Mileaway sets him up for a brutality charge using crooked shop owner Schmidt, and gets O'Day busted back to uniformed patrolman. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

In his last film assignment, portly Walter Connolly fills the title role (in more ways than one) in The Great Victor Herbert. Very little of Herbert's life story is incorporated in the screenplay (a closing title actually apologizes for the film's paucity of cold hard facts); instead, the writers allow the famed composer's works to speak for themselves. In the tradition of one of his own operettas, Herbert spends most of his time patching up the shaky marriage between tenor John Ramsey (Allan Jones) and Louise Hall (Mary Martin). Many of Herbert's most famous compositions are well in evidence, including "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life", "March of the Toys" and "Kiss Me Again", the latter performed con brio by teenaged coloratura Susanna Foster. Evidently, the producers were able to secure the film rights for the Herbert songs, but not for the stage productions in which they appeared, which may explain such bizarre interpolations as having a song from Naughty Marietta, which takes place in New Orleans, performed before a wintry Alpine backdrop! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This murder mystery is set behind-the-scenes of a radio station. the trouble begins when a hated cad of a sponsor is found murdered during the climax of a live radio show. The sponsor had a reputation for using women. A clever radio engineer solves the mystery. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The rivalry between two columnists provides the basis of this drama. The most powerful of the two (patterned after columnist Walter Winchell) is notorious for presenting the most sensational murder trial suspects on his radio broadcasts and in his print columns; the arrogant fellow never hesitates to proclaim the guilt or innocence of the defendants. The other journalist is almost an unknown, and is quietly looking for ways to undermine his credibility. To see if she can dredge up some dirt on him, she begins working as his personal secretary. Together they begin investigating a case involving a socialite accused of killing her adulterous husband. The secretary/journalist lays her other scheme to rest when she and the columnist falling in love and marry. It is their dog that provides the key clue that finds the socialite innocent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The rollicking music of Gilbert and Sullivan is featured in this musical. It tells the story of a dance hall girl with a love of money. She will spend it every chance she gets as long as it is not hers. Trouble ensues when she sponges off a bookie during a date. To get revenge, he becomes her manager and forces her to join a Gilbert and Sullivan troupe. Any money she makes is to be his. Songs include: "The Mikado," "Patience," "Pirates of Penzance," and "Ruddigore." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The late "B"-picture historian Don Miller once referred to the "teenage sex" exploitationers of the 1930s as the "Enlighten Thy Daughter-type film." A remake of the 1917 picture of the same name, the 1934 version of Enlighten thy Daughter stars Herbert Rawlinson as Dr. Richard Stevenson, who for the edification of the audience relates the tale of two daughters. Ruth (Beth Barton), the offspring of Stevens' hypocritical brother (Russ Hicks), is neglected by her parents in matters of sex education; as consequence, she trods the primrose path, ending up pregnant, then dead. But Dr. Stevens' own daughter Alice (Claire Whitney), is told the facts of life early on, and as a result makes responsible romantic decisions in her later life. Enlighten thy Daughter was distributed on a States' Rights basis by -- who else? -- Exploitation Pictures Inc. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide