Luke Andreas Movies

Never released in the theaters, this film consists of a series of short skits and parodies of television and the movies, and stars Richard Belzer, Martin Mull, and Harry Shearer. The film's 1981 production date explains the presence of Joan Hackett, who died in 1983. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

John Ritter stars in this made-for-television comedy as a lonely philanderer who falls in love with a one-night-stand (Connie Sellecca) who is about to marry another man. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

He just happened to be home when the outgoing mayor was calling around to make judicial appointments. . .and that's how Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson) became New York City's youngest--and wackiest--judge. In this debut episode of Night Court, Harry settles down to work in a nocturnal appellate court frequented by such eccentrics as hard-drinking, womanizing ADA Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), bald, taciturn bailiff "Bull" Shannon (Richard Moll), chain-smoking, sarcastic matron Selma (Selma Diamond), and wide-eyed, bubbly court clerk Lana (Karen Austin). Harry makes his mark the first night on the job when he flips a coin to decide whether or not a woman (Peggy McCay) who tried to shoot her husband should be released or go to the slammer--then incites a riot when he orders the woman, her husband, and their lawyer to go out to dinner together! Featured in this inaugural episode are Rita Taggart in the recurring role of impulsive hooker Carla B. and Gail Strickland as legal-aid lawyer Sheila Gardiner, a character that would be replaced in the very next episode (and for the rest of Season One) by Paula Kelly as Liz Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

It's The African Queen meets Richard Pryor in this schmaltzy and salty attempt by Pryor to appeal to the family crowd. Pryor plays Joe Braxton, an inept burglar whose parole officer Donald (Robert Christian) wants to help out. Knowing that Joe is an excellent mechanic, he refers him to Vivian Perry (Cicely Tyson), the director of a school for emotionally disturbed children. The school is about to close for lack of funds, and Vivian wants to flee Philadelphia with eight of her charges and get to a farm in Washington State where the children can grow up in the fresh air and away from the urban environment. Joe is enlisted to drive the bus, which continually breaks down en route, permitting Joe plenty of time to interact with the kids -- taking them fishing, teaching them strip poker, and convincing a Vietnamese girl not to sell her body. The prim and proper Vivian holds up her nose at the vulgar and sloppy Joe, so it is inevitable that at journey's end the two will find true romance. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Adapted from Dennis Potter's landmark British TV miniseries and relocated to the United States during the Depression, Pennies from Heaven dramatizes how popular songs both shaped and reflected the thoughts of people living through economic (and emotional) hardship. Arthur Parker (Steve Martin) is a sheet music salesman who believes that he can spot a hit a mile away and wants to open his own store. But he can't get a bank loan and his wife Joan (Jessica Harper), who has savings left to her by her father, refuses to give him the money. Also, while Arthur has a fierce sexual appetite, Joan generally refuses his advances. While on the road, Arthur meets Eileen (Bernadette Peters), a shy schoolteacher as desperate for affection as Arthur is hungry for sex. They begin an affair, which leads to tragedy for both. Punctuating the drama of Pennies from Heaven are elaborate musical numbers in which the characters lip-synch to popular songs of the day, which at once lift their hopes and reflect their fears. Arthur's buoyant tap number to "My Baby Said Yes" and Eileen's saucy rendition of "Love is Good for Anything That Ails You" are reflections of their needs for money and love, and their pas de deux on "Let's Face the Music and Dance" is at once an escape and an acknowledgement of their hopelessness. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A teen comedy that does not quite rise to the level of that age group, this uninspired story features Ron Liebman as the Major, a sadistic instructor at a military school. Ralph Macchio (before his 1984 hit, Karate Kid) and other teens of every stripe suffer through the indignities heaped on them by the Major and do their best with the sexual, ethnic, and racial stereotypes that the script gives them to handle. Robert Downey directs, Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses wrote the screenplay. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Bette Midler stars as Rose in this somber drama loosely based on the life of the late Janis Joplin. She plays an ill-fated singer who succumbs to the pressures of performing by indulging in drugs and alcohol. Her sweetheart Dyer (Frederic Forrest) is the former chauffeur who naively tries to save her from self destruction, while her British manager Rudge (Alan Bates) is ultimately blamed for not preventing her inevitable fall. The story mirrors any one of a number of popular singers who have fallen victim to the excess of success. Midler and Forrest were nominated for Oscars for their performances, with Best Editing laurels given to Timothy O'Meara and Robert Wolf. The Rose was a box office smash and was the plum role that elevated Midler to star status in the eyes of the public and Hollywood. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

The time is 1964, and the Beatles, already a hugely popular group, are about to go on the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time, an appearance that launched them into a worldwide phenomenon. Already, girls are fainting during their concerts from sheer excitement at being in the same theater with them. Pam Mitchell (Nancy Allen) is happy enough to be getting married but wants to bed one of the "Fab Four" before she does. Grace Corrigan (Theresa Saldana), a dedicated fan, is certain that if she can get some exclusive photos of the Beatles, her career as a photographer will be secured. And then there are two people who feel that the future of civilization as we know it depends on their efforts to ruin the Beatles' appearance on Ed Sullivan's show. In this madcap comedy, when these people (and others besides) descend on the New York hotel the Beatles are staying in, things begin hopping. This comedy was Robert Zemeckis' first feature. A protégé of Stephen Spielberg, he went on to direct Forrest Gump, Back to the Future, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? among other popular features. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jim (James Garner) tries to protect Patsy Fossler (Leslie Charleson) from her mob-connected boyfriend Michael Kelly (Jon Cypher) by stashing the girl with his friend Wes (Lou Frizzell). Unfortunately, Patsy's hiding place is revealed by Lianne Sweeney (Joyce Van Patten), a "cop groupie" who has been pestering both Jim and his police-detective friend Dennis Becker (Joe Santos) throughout the story. Now Jim must somehow rescue Patsy and thwart both Kelly and the mobsters without tipping off the loose-tongued Lianne. Despite all indications to the contrary at the end of this episode, we haven't seen the last of the episode's primary villains Anthony Boy (George Loros) and Syl (Luke Andreas). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

While in the middle of delicate negotations to ransom the fabled Borland Diamond from a gang of thieves, Jim is pestered by the Wronko family, an annoying pack of tourists from Peru, Indiana who have parked their RV next to Jim's trailer. The Wronkos end up in the thick of things when one of the thieves stashes the diamond in Jim's barbecue grill. Unaware of the danger they're bringing upon themselves, the tourists steal the grill and high-tail it to California--with both hero and villain hot on their trail! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi