Gerald Saunderson Peters Movies
- 1982
- R
- Add Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again to QueueAdd Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again to top of Queue
Robert Louis Stevenson's novel is satirized in this comedy about a scientist (Mark Blankfield) who is hopelessly addicted to his latest invention, a strange white powder. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Blankfield, Bess Armstrong, (more)
Star Gregory Peck went into MacArthur disliking the title character that he was slated to play, but emerged from the experience with a deeper understanding and respect for this complex historical figure. The film is framed in flashback, with an octogenarian General
Douglas MacArthur (Peck) making his final address before his alma mater of West Point. We flash back to the fall of Corregidor in 1942, with MacArthur promising "I shall return" to the beleaguered (and eventually imprisoned) American and Filipino troops. The story follows MacArthur's subsequent victories in the South Pacific, occasionally pausing to show us the General's omnipresent sense of "showmanship" (e.g. his wading ashore on the beaches of the Philippines for the benefit of the newsreel cameras). The greater part of the film involves MacArthur's attempts to restore dignity to the defeated postwar Japan, and to keep the Russian Communists from overtaking the orient as they had Eastern Europe. MacArthur is eventually fired from his post by President Truman after the general defies orders during the Korean conflict. MacArthur was intended as Universal's "answer" to 20th Century-Fox's enormously successful Patton (1970), but box-office returns were disappointing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Douglas MacArthur (Peck) making his final address before his alma mater of West Point. We flash back to the fall of Corregidor in 1942, with MacArthur promising "I shall return" to the beleaguered (and eventually imprisoned) American and Filipino troops. The story follows MacArthur's subsequent victories in the South Pacific, occasionally pausing to show us the General's omnipresent sense of "showmanship" (e.g. his wading ashore on the beaches of the Philippines for the benefit of the newsreel cameras). The greater part of the film involves MacArthur's attempts to restore dignity to the defeated postwar Japan, and to keep the Russian Communists from overtaking the orient as they had Eastern Europe. MacArthur is eventually fired from his post by President Truman after the general defies orders during the Korean conflict. MacArthur was intended as Universal's "answer" to 20th Century-Fox's enormously successful Patton (1970), but box-office returns were disappointing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gregory Peck, Ed Flanders, (more)
- 1976
Jim (James Garner) is hired by antiques dealer Thomas Caine (William Daniels) to bid on a rare sculpted bird at an auction. Unfortunately, our hero "gets the bird" in more ways than one when, after purchasing the statue on Caine's behalf, he is attacked by hooligans and the artifact is broken. At this point, Jim would just as soon wash his hands of the whole affair, but in order to avoid paying for the busted bird, he agrees to attend another auction where a duplicate bird is on display. Complicating matters is the existence of a third bird--and of a clever and somewhat lethal art thief who is dogging Jim's trail every inch of the way. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
In a daring daylight robbery, two criminals steal $20,000,000 in Wall Street securities, killing a man as they escape. Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) determines that the best way to bring the thieve out in the open is to dangle an attractively baited hook. The highlight of this episode is Kojak's bravura impersonation of a billionaire Greek tycoon (not named Onassis, but the hints are there). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Charles Bronson re-teams with director Michael Winner -- sandwiched between their first pairing in the underrated Chato's Land and their seminal collaboration in Death Wish -- in this Lewis John Carlino-scripted actioner. Bronson plays Arthur Bishop, a "mechanic" or hired killer, famed for his efficient and unfeeling contract executions. The young and eager Steve McKenna (Jan-Michael Vincent) teams up with him, hoping that Bishop will teach him the bounty-hunting business. Imparting words of wisdom to Steve like, "Murder is only killing without a license and everybody kills -- the Army, the police," the two undergo a series of adventures as Bishop shows Steve the ropes. Between action scenes, Bronson's wife Jill Ireland makes an appearance as a sexy hooker. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Bronson, Keenan Wynn, (more)
- 1972
Ironside (Raymond Burr) and Ed (Don Galloway) head to London (courtesy of the Universal back lot), there to attend an international police convention. No sooner has he arrived than Ed witnesses the assassination of the British police official--and is subsequently targeted for death himself. To solve the murder and keep his assistant from harm, Ironside works side by side with his old friend and colleague, Superintendant Faber (Lloyd Bochner)...but gradually grows suspicious of Faber's mercurial and oftimes obstructive behavior. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
- PG
The stars of the witty TV series I Spy were reunited for this downbeat crime thriller, which takes a much darker and more violent look at the lives of two detectives for hire. Al Hickey (Bill Cosby) and Frank Boggs (Robert Culp) are a pair of private eyes who are approached by an attorney to find his girlfriend, who has gone missing. Their investigation leads them to a large sum of money from a Pittsburgh bank robbery. It seems that the woman in question has married the leader of a leftist radical group, which is now trying to find a buyer for the tainted money. An attempt to recover both the money and the girl goes awry when Hickey and Boggs infiltrate a meeting with the radicals; the girl slips away and takes the burgled cash with her. Adding to the disaster, the meeting tips off the identity of the detectives to mobsters dealing with the radicals, and the gangsters execute Hickey's wife in an effort to keep him away from their activities. Hickey and Boggs also features Rosalind Cash, Michael Moriarity, Vincent Gardenia, Isabel Sanford, and James Woods. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Cosby, Robert Culp, (more)
- 1970
Returning to Fiji for the first time since WW2, Ironside is anxious to be reunited with a wartime friend. Upon his arrival, however, Ironside is informed that his friend has left for San Francisco to meet him. Suspecting foul play, Ironside summons Mark and Ed to the islands--only to mysteriously vanish himself. Central to the mystery is a well-coordinated scheme to steal gold from the US government. Featured in the cast are two 1960s TV icons: Alan Napier, aka "Alfred the Butler" on Batman; and Bernard Fox, whose many sitcom roles included Dr. Bombay on Bewitched and Malcolm Merriwether on The Andy Griffth Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
