Margaret Muse Movies
- 1990
In this thriller, a suburban housewife begins playing detective after she overhears a neighborhood conspiracy to kill someone on her baby's intercom. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Given the credibility of the story and the sincerity of the players, it is surprising to learn that the made-for-TV Do You Remember Love? is not based on a true story. Joanne Woodward stars as a brilliant college professor and poet, struck down in her prime by Alzheimer's disease. Her husband Richard Kiley tries to cope, but is ultimately disheartened by Woodward's degenerating condition. Even sadder is the fact that Woodward, in her cogent moments, is fully aware that she is losing her ability to function. Written by Vickie Patek, this potentially depressing drama has a logically conceived uplifting finale. Do You Remember Love? was first telecast May 21, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Lewis Teague directed this sly horror-comedy from a script by John Sayles, which plays off the old urban legend about the dangers of flushing one's pet alligator down the toilet. One such unlucky reptile is "Ramon," who survives in the subterranean cesspool by feeding on the steroid-saturated carcasses of dogs dumped there by chemical company researchers and eventually bulks up to the size of a Winnebago. When assorted sewage workers start disappearing into Ramon's massive maw, hard-boiled cop David Madison (Robert Forster), who has a history of unlucky partners, reveals a strong personal interest in the case. Deemed a jinx and a nutcase by his superiors, he's kicked off the force and must go underground (literally) to destroy the beast with the help of young reptile-expert Marion (Robin Riker). The witty screenplay is filled with clever references, eccentric characters and in-jokes aplenty (a style reflective of Joe Dante's Piranha and The Howling, both of which Sayles also scripted), which combines with decent effects and a good amount of suspense (particularly in the sewer scenes) to make this an entertaining romp overall. Highlights include Henry Silva's over-the-top performance as a misplaced big-game hunter who recruits urban "native guides" in his back-alley search for the elusive Ramon. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Forster, Robin Riker, (more)
- 1972
- PG
Loosely based on the life and work of cartoonist and essayist James Thurber, The War Between Men and Women stars Jack Lemmon as cartoonist Peter Wilson, who, while visiting an eye doctor for his failing vision, quite literally stumbles upon Terry Kozlenko (Barbara Harris), an attractive but somewhat volatile divorcee with three children. Peter has a well-documented antipathy for women, children, and dogs, so everyone he knows is rather surprised when he finds himself falling in love with Terry -- and she falls in love with him. Peter and Terry get married, but her affection for him is not shared by her kids, who still idolize their father Stephen (Jason Robards, a successful photojournalist; Terry's dog doesn't care for Peter, either. When Peter's eye condition worsens, leaving him nearly blind, he suggests to Terry that she should go back to Stephen for the sake of her children, only to learn that Stephen has been killed while on assignment. Peter is now the only father the children have, and he's forced to find a way to reach out to them. The War Between Men and Women's interpolation of Thurber's life and work, using both live-action and animation, was inspired by a respected but short-lived television series, My World and Welcome to It, in which William Windom starred as Thurber. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Lemmon, Barbara Harris, (more)
- 1971
A young Steven Spielberg helmed the made-for-TV Something Evil. Johnny Whitaker (Family Affair) is cast as Stevie Worden, an angelic child whose parents move into a foreboding Pennsylvania mansion. It isn't long before Stevie is possessed with the house's resident demonic spirit. In anticipation of The Exorcist and The Omen, the spirit within Stevie never lets anyone know when it's going to strike -- but everyone knows full well when it does. Spielberg evokes horror throughout by contrasting the most terrifying events with the plodding commonplace of day-to-day life. Something Evil was Spielberg's last TV-movie assignment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Fired up with patriotic fervor, Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) agrees to play Henry VIII in a movie made by shoestring producer Fred Wallace (Joe Flynn). Though Mr. French is certain that this will be a good experience, the film turns out to be an unscripted, underfunded disaster, and as a result French loses something far more precious than his time and effort: namely, his dignity. This is the final episode of Family Affair's third season, and the last episode to be telecast on CBS' Monday-night schedule. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
It's been a few weeks since Darrin demanded that Samantha stop using witchcraft, so now is as good a time as any for him to renew that demand. Petulantly, Sam agrees, just when everything goes wrong as Darrin tries to impress his new client, Dwight Sharpe (Arthur Julian). Watch for the great shot of Endora sitting on a cloud as she takes care of Tabitha. Written by Lila Garrett and Bernie Kahn, "To Twitch or Not to Twitch" originally aired on March 14, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, (more)
- 1966
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) has thrown his hat in the ring for the local city-councilman election. As part of his campaign, Rob is slated for a TV debate with his opponent, the deceptively nerdy Lincoln Goodheart (Wally Cox). As the telecast progresses, Goodheart proves that he is by far the better candidate -- so much so that Rob is all but prepared to vote for Goodheart himself! The ending of this episode indicates that the producers of The Dick Van Dyke Show were contemplating story possibilities for the series' next season -- even though star Van Dyke had already decided that there would be no next season! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wally Cox, Ann Morgan Guilbert, (more)
- 1966
No relation to the 1977 Barbra Streisand vehicle of the same name, the independent 1966 film For Pete's Sake top-bills none other than evangelist Billy Graham. This well-intentioned effort concerns a gas-station attendant (Robert Sampson), his wife (Pippa Scott) and son (Johnny Jensen). Barely eking out a living, the attendant must endure harassment from a local motorcycle gang. After attending a Billy Graham revival meeting, the attendant and his family decide to apply their new found religiosity in dealing with the nasty cyclists. A remarkably stellar cast -- including Sam Groom, Al Freeman Jr. and Terri Garr -- do their best to lend credibility to this farfetched fable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Hard-boiled, self-educated newspaper editor Clark Gable turns down an opportunity to lecture before a night-school journalism class, publicly ridiculing the notion that the art of news writing can be taught. Gable's publisher, sensing a good story, orders the recalcitrant editor to appear at the lecture. Upon entering the classroom, Gable overhears journalism teacher Doris Day, the daughter of a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, condemn Gable's attitude towards higher education. Intrigued by the lovely Day, Gable enrolls in her class under an assumed name. He quickly goes to the head of the class (after all, he's had more experience than all the other students combined), then begins a campaign to romance Day. But there's a fly in the ointment: Day's fiance Gig Young, who gives an Oscar-calibre performance as a smug know-all. Likewise stealing every scene she's in is Mamie Van Doren, playing an exotic dancer who's set her sights on Gable. Fay and Michael Kanin's sprightly screenplay for Teacher's Pet manages to steer clear of any and all potential cliches. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clark Gable, Doris Day, (more)
- 1957
Handsome young plumber Jack Staley (Lee Philips) supplements his income by blackmailing his female customers, threatening to tell their husbands of their "illicit" romances. But Staley's career as an extortionist comes to a formidable roadblock when he tries the same shakedown on Margot Brenner (Phyllis Thaxter). It turns out that Margot has a bit of a larcenous streak as well...and she's just a shade smarter than both Jack and her husband (played by Carl Betz). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
