Jerry Douglas Movies

The November 22, 1963, assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy shocked the nation and the world. The brisk investigation of that murder conducted under the guidance of Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren distressed many observers, even though subsequent careful investigations have been unable to find much fault with the conclusions his commission drew, the central one of which was that the assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, acted alone. Instead of satisfying the public, one result of the Warren Commission Report was that an unimaginable number of plausible conspiracy theories were bruited about, and these have supported a sizeable publishing mini-industry ever since. In making this movie, director Oliver Stone had his pick of supposed or real investigative flaws to draw from and has constructed what some reviewers felt was one of the most compelling (and controversial) political detective thrillers ever to emerge from American cinema. Long before filming was completed, Stone was fending off heated accusations of artistic and historical irresponsibility, and these only intensified after the film was released. In the story, New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) is convinced that there are some big flaws in the investigation of Oswald (Gary Oldman), and he sets out to recreate the events leading up to the assassination. Along the way, he stumbles across evidence that a great many people had reason to want to see the president killed, and he is convinced that some of them worked in concert to frame Oswald as the killer. Among the suspects are Lyndon Baines Johnson (the next president), the CIA, J. Edgar Hoover, and the Mafia. Over the course of gathering what he believes to be evidence of a conspiracy, Garrison unveils some of the grittier aspects of New Orleans society, focusing on the shady activities of local businessman Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones). Garrison's investigations culminate in his conducting a show trial that he knows he will lose and which he is sure will ruin his career in order to get his evidence into the public record where it can't be buried again. This movie won two of the many Academy Awards for which it was nominated: one for Best Photography (Robert Richardson) and the other for Editing (Joe Hutshing). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) teams up with her retired mentor, former police officer Andy Polanski (Claude Akins), to track down Frank Lassiter (Richard Lynch), the fugitive head of the neo-Nazi Aryan Legion. On the verge of finding out who provided inside information for an armored car robbery committed by Lassiter, Polanski is slapped with an obstruction-of-justice charge. This, coupled with Andy's profound loneliness, pushes the veteran cop off the deep end--and in the wake of the tragedy which ensues, McCall quits the force. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This fun, silly thriller written and directed by Michael Crichton manages to combine the dramatic murders of beautiful models, a secret conspiracy to use TV commercials for mind-control, and an unusual seeing-eye device which makes the wearer invisible. Plastic surgeon Larry Roberts (Albert Finney) becomes the prime suspect after two models on whom he operated are killed. Larry becomes suspicious because both of the women came into his office asking for very precise and seemingly unnecessary physical alterations. Agreeing to operate, because the women's jobs depended on the surgery, Larry must now clear his own name and save his life and career. With the aid of a friend and model Cindy (Susan Dey), Larry discovers and foils the plot led by corporation-head John Reston (James Coburn). Larry must then fight for his life against Reston's thugs who are equipped with the devices, called "Lookers." This is good, if silly fun and Albert Finney does his best with a somewhat implausible script. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide

Chuck Norris plays John T. Booker, a Vietnam vet who finds out that several of his army buddies lost their lives in a mission that was intended to fail. Seeking answers, Booker quits his school-teaching job and tracks down the surviving members of his unit. One by one, his old friends are being knocked off by sinister forces, orchestrated by a crooked, and legally untouchable, politician. Amidst a plethora of martial arts, gunfire and explosions, the film briefly pauses for a comic-relief scene involving over-aged bellboy Jim Backus. Good Guys Wear Black did so well at the box-office that it warranted a sequel, A Force of One (1979). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally made for television and based on true events from 1972, the story concerns an airline crash in the Everglades and the courageous adventures of the 73 survivors. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

While engaged in the illegal sale of plutonium secrets, lab technician Bigelow (Joby Baker) dies in a car crash. Conducting the autopsy, Quincy (Jack Klugman) determines that Bigelow's body contained a high level of radiation. Meanwhile, the police arrest Ray Sanchez (Ronald Joseph Godines) on a charge of manslaughter for causing Bigelow's death. Case closed? Not as far as Quincy is concerned--and in the course of his own investigation, he unearths a number of disturbing facts about the dead man and his cohorts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The title character in this episode is Melanie "Mel" Desmond (Leslie Ackerman), the lonely, alienated daughter of prominent clothing designer Julie Desmond (Dorothy Malone). When her mother's gambler lover is murdered, Mel startles everyone by confessing to the crime. In truth, however, the attention-hungry girl merely witnessed the killing--which of course makes her the real murderer's next target! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Police inspector Irene Elliott (Carol Rossen) is successful at her job, but less successful as a parent. As an act of rebellion, Irene's son Bob (Mark Wheeler) prowls around San Francisco, sticking up taxicabs just for kicks. But the "fun and games" are over for both Irene and Bob when, during one of the boy's holdups, an undercover cop is killed. This episode was written by Star Trek veteran D.C. Fontana. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

John Marley essays another of his patented "mob boss" characterizations in this episode as a bigwig named Tully. Unfortunately, Tully is saddled with a hotheaded son who insists upon attempting to kill a federal witness. To take the heat off themselves, the mob insists that Tully's kid turn himself in to the FBI--but the kid is disinclined to follow orders. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this made-for-TV pilot, a government agent must stop a rogue operative from releasing a lethal virus. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

The IMF heads to London with instructions to identify the head of an espionage ring, a mysterious figure known only as K. To flush out their quarry, the agents enlist the unwitting aid of the beautirful and aristocratic enemy agent Lady Cora Weston (Jane Merrow). Maneuvering Lady Cora into a romantic triangle, Phelps and Paris nearly scuttle the mission when one of the men falls genuinely in love with the woman. The magnificent John Williams also appears as the cuckolded Lord Williams. First seen on February 22, 1970, "Lover's Knot" was written by Laurence Heath. ~ 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

In Volume 13 of a collection culled from the 1963-1965 science fiction anthology television series, a prehistoric creature found encased in ice is thawed out to lead an army of cavemen. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide