Margarita Cordova Movies

Doctors' Private Lives was the 2-hour pilot film for the shortlived TV series of the same name. Ed Nelson and John Gavin star as, respectively, chief surgeon Dr. Michael Wise and cardiovascular unit chief Dr. Jeffrey Latimer. The drama arises from the ongoing clash of egos between these two medical giants. Nelson and Gavin were carried over to the series, as was Randolph Powell as Dr. Rick Calder. The guest cast includes Bettye Ackerman, who had ironically costarred in an earlier hospital series, Ben Casey (Ackerman was the wife of Sam "Dr. Zorba" Jaffee). Doctors' Private Lives premiered March 20, 1978; the series itself ran from April 5 to 28, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Buffy (Anissa Jones) befriends a deaf Puerto Rican girl named Juanita (Diana Holly), who is forbidden to attend school by her overprotective mother (Margarita Cordova). Hoping to help Juanita and put her mom on the right track, Bill (Brian Keith) seeks the advice of a children's doctor--who is also hearing-impaired. The role of Dr. Robinson is played by Audree Norton, in real life a member of the National Theater of the Deaf. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Freelance photojournalists Gurney (Carl Reindel) and Bowen (Paul Darby) are determined to do an expose of police brutality. To this end, they dog the trail of Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner), hoping to catch the two cops in the act of exceeding their authority--and even trying to provoke Jim and Pete into violence. This particular brand of "ambush journalism" has tragic consequences when Gurney and Bowen interfere in police procedure once too often. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This one-hour pilot episode for the popular ABC sitcom The Flying Nun introduces viewers to Sister Bertrille (Sally Field), formerly Elsie Ethrington, the newest arrival at Convent San Tanco in San Juan, Puerto Rico. One morning, a gust of wind blows the 90-pound nun into the air, where she stays aloft thanks to her large coronet. Unfortunately, once she's taken flight, Sr. Bertrille has little control over where she goes, and therein lies the comic dilemma that will dominate the next 80 episodes. On this occasion, however, Sr. Bertrille uses her aviation skills to convince local casino owner Carlos Ramirez (Alejandro Rey) to donate some of his property to the convent, and in the bargain, she helps Carlos collect a gambling debt. Originally telecast on September 7, 1967, the inaugural episode of The Flying Nun was written by Bernard Slade; it was later divided into two half-hour episodes for off-network syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Jason McCord (Chuck Connors) is again summoned to Washington by President Grant (William Bryant). This time, Jason is asked to infiltrate a group of insurrectionists who may or may not be plotting to assassinate the President and overthrow the government. John Carradine repeats his role as Jason's grandfather, General Josh McCord, in this story co-written by series star Chuck Connors--whose wife Kamala Devi also makes a guest appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Western bandit Kid Rio (Marlon Brando) is betrayed by his partner, Dad Longworth (Karl Malden). Escaping from prison, Rio learns that Longworth has become a wealthy and influential lawman. Rio thirsts for revenge, but bides his time, waiting for the right moment to strike. In the meantime, Rio spitefully seduces Longworth's adopted daughter, Louisa (Pina Pellicer). After killing a man in self-defense, Rio is publicly whipped by the powerful Longworth. When Rio's old gang accidentally kills a child during another holdup, Longworth has the perfect excuse to eliminate the troublesome Rio once and for all by hanging him. But that's not what happens at all. Stripped to its fundamentals, One-Eyed Jacks is a workable Western, worthy of perhaps 90 minutes' running time. But when Marlon Brando succeeded Stanley Kubrick in the director's chair, he allowed the film's 60-day shooting schedule to stretch into six months, and delivered a finished product running in excess of four hours. The current 141-minute version of One-Eyed Jacks isn't as ponderous as some critics have claimed, but it's still too much of a good thing. While Brando the director isn't precisely in the Kubrick class, Brando the actor delivers one of his finest and most focused performances (though he is upstaged throughout by Karl Malden). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide