Ann Doran Movies

This week, the A-Team shows up at the Mission of Peace, a historic Texas tourist attraction maintained by a group of feisty senior citizens. The oldsters are being forced off the Mission by a greedy rancher named Ashton (Ric Mancini), compelling the unofficial head of the seniors, a guy named Rudy (David White), to ask for the Team's assistance. The plot thickens when Rudy turns out to have a secret--and that the "legend" of the Mission of Peace may be just a lot of hot air. As for the Team's perennial nemesis Gen. Fullbright (Jack Ging), he takes an unexpected trip to Australia--by crate! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The made-for-TV Advice to the Lovelorn stars Cloris Leachman as a "Dear Abby" type newspaper advice columnist. Walter Brooke costars as her editor, who discourages her efforts to follow up her advice in person. But follow she does, trying to untangle the problems of guest stars Melissa Sue Anderson, Lance Kerwin, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Donna Pescow. She even finds time for a romantic episode with special guest star Paul Burke. Intended as the pilot for a weekly series, the 2-hour Advice to the Lovelorn was telecast November 30, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having already exhausted the dramatic possibilities of fire with The Towering Inferno, producer Irwin Allen turns to water in the made-for-TV Flood! The film is set in a small community, conveniently (for the purposes of the plot) located near a huge earthen dam. As the flood waters rise and the dam threatens to collapse, we are made privy to the individual reactions of such all-star victims-to-be as Robert Culp, Martin Milner, Richard Basehart, Cameron Mitchell, Barbara Hershey, Teresa Wright and Carol Lynley. As in Inferno, helicopter pilots come to the rescue. Most of the film was shot in Eugene, Oregon. Flood! first aired on November 24, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Walnut Grove's annual Founder's Day celebration brings a host of visitors to compete in a wide variety of contests. As the Ingalls' and the Olesons' jealously squares off elsewhere (Mrs. Olesen [Katherine MacGregor] is quite a sight at the three-legged race), elderly but proud logger Jim Tyler (Forrest Tucker) puts his heart and soul in the festivities' log-chopping competition. This was the final episode of Little House on the Prairie's first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on a true story, The Family Nobody Wanted was one of the better ABC Movie of the Week entries of the 1970s. James Olson plays a minister whose main concern is society's outcasts, particularly the youngsters. With the loving help and support of his wife (Shirley Jones), the reverend takes in 12 unwanted children of various colors and creeds. Though it's very hard to find suitable lodging for all these kids, the couple provides a loving environment for their ersatz family. Adapted by Suzanne Clauser from a book by Helen Doss (who is portrayed in the film by Shirley Jones), The Family Nobody Wanted was first telecast February 19, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A new subplot is born as Roy (Kevin Tighe) and John (Randolph Mantooth) purchase a 1932-vintage fire engine as a "fixer-upper." The emergency roster includes a runaway LSD victim who may or may not kill herself; a fireman who is trapped in a burning warehouse after falling through the roof; a politician suffering from a coronary; and a surprisingly resillient shooting victim. Featured in the supporting cast is future Hill St. Blues costar Michael Conrad, and famed Hollywood stuntwoman Regina Parton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) cover the length and breadth of the Bay Area to track down three escaped convicts. The escapees have embarked on a murder spree, wiping out anyone who gets in their way at the behest of the sadistic outlaw leader who kills for the thrill of it. The detectives' mission is made doubly difficult by a potential witness who refuses to get involved--and whose silence costs the lives of a helpless elderly couple. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Existing evidence suggests that an elusive and very prolific thief known as the Golden Gate Bandit is responsible for the murder of policeman Jack Campbell (Stuart Randall). But Ironside (Raymond Burr) suspects that someone else is using the thief's crime spree to cover up their own homicidal activities. Characters essential to the action are the cop's widow Gloria Campbell (Vera Miles) and a lifelong loser named Christopher (Brandon De Wilde, in one of his final TV appearances). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Endora's latest spell transforms Darrin into an indecisive clod. Once this bit has been squeezed dry, Endora endeavors to prove that Darrin is quite literally pig-headed. The results: Neighbor Gladys Kravitz is all shook up and another ad campaign is placed in jeopardy until Samantha can bring the situation under control. Herbert Edelman guest stars as a Colonel Sanders-ish fast food tycoon. Written by Ed Jurist, "This Little Piggy" was originally slated to air on February 18, 1971, but was seen instead on February 25. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In order to qualify for a top-secret assignment, Ironside (Raymond Burr) must first undergo an evaluation conducted by psychologist William Danner (Bradford Dillman). This involves a "stress test" to see how far Ironside can be pushed before he will break. Unfortunately, Danner has a hidden agenda which places Ironside in physical as well as emotional jeopardy--and worse still, it seems as if none of the Chief's assistants will be on hand to rescue him in the traditional nick of time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This week, Endora's spell transforms lookalike cousins Samantha and Serena into "two minds with but a single thought." In true Simon Says fashion, Sam begins mirroring Serena's words and actions, and vice versa. Will this confusing situation spell disaster for the ad firm of McMann and Tate -- and result in Larry firing Darrin for what must be the three-thousandth time? Written by Ed Jurist, "The Corsican Cousins" first aired on December 10, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Kirk Douglas has an extreme case of mid-life crisis in Elia Kazan's turgid melodrama (adapted from his best-selling novel). Douglas plays successful advertising executive Eddie Anderson, who cracks under the strain of the morning rush hour in Los Angeles and plows his sports car into a truck. Landing in a convalescent home, Eddie remains mute to everyone except his boss Finnegan (Charles Drake). In his recovery room, Eddie dreams about co-worker Gwen (Faye Dunaway), a sexy research assistant at his agency. Meanwhile, the psychiatrist Dr. Liebman (Harold Gould) talks to Eddie's wife, Florence (Deborah Kerr), who reveals that at one time Eddie and Gwen had an affair, but they broke it off. Unfortunately, after that escapade, Eddie's interest in sex vanished completely.

Then after the interview with Dr. Liebman, following a terrible nightmare, Eddie breaks out of his self-imposed silence and declares to Florence that he is tired of his unfulfilling life of "arrangements." Eddie returns to work, but the return is marked by Eddie insulting a major client, alienating his co-workers, and then taking off in a private plane in which he flies madly over the skies of L.A. His lawyer Arthur (Hume Cronyn) keeps Eddie from being thrown in jail and also talks Eddie into giving Florence the power of attorney. Eddie proceeds to travel to New York, where he runs into Gwen, who now has a child. Eddie is in New York to visit his senile father, Sam (Richard Boone), but when his family attempts to put Sam in a nursing home, Eddie takes him away with him to their old family estate on Long Island. Eddie calls up Gwen, and she travels to Long Island to resume their affair. Meanwhile, Eddie's loved ones search for Sam, and they are closing in on Eddie's Long Island sanctuary. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide