Shelley Duvall Movies
Wide-eyed, toothy, pencil-thin leading lady Shelley Duvall is the daughter of prominent Houston attorney Robert Duvall (not to be confused with Robert Duvall, the actor). While attending a party in 1970, Duvall was spotted by director Robert Altman, who cast her as a Superdome tour guide in his Texas-filmed Brewster McCloud (1970). She went on to play eccentric secondary roles in Altman's McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971) and Nashville (1975), and co-starred opposite another Altman "regular," Keith Carradine, in Thieves Like Us (1974). She earned the Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival for her portrayal of a garrulous, self-involved senior-citizen-center worker in 3 Women (1977), then wrapped up the Altman phase of her career as Olive Oyl (a role she was surely born to play) in Popeye (1980). Of her non-Altman film assignments, her best included Kubrick's The Shining (1980) -- in which she was cast against type as the only thoroughly normal person in the picture -- and Woody Allen's Annie Hall (1977); she was also perfection-plus as the protagonist in the made-for-PBS adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1976). From 1982 onward, Duvall cut down on her acting appearances, concentrating instead on her behind-the-scenes responsibilities as producer of such superlative Showtime Cable Network projects as Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre (1982-1987), Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales and Legends (1985-1988), and Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (1992). These and other star-studded, family oriented endeavors have been assembled by one or all of Duvall's three production companies: Amarillo Productions, Platypus Productions, and Think! Entertainment. Shelley Duvall has also functioned as executive producer of the 1989 TV remake of Dinner at Eight, and has served on the board of governors of the National Association of Cable Programming. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
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Stanley Kubrick was one of the most acclaimed and controversial filmmakers of his generation, but he was also an intensely private man who rarely gave interviews and produced most of his films under a shroud of secrecy, which tended to foster a great deal of rumor and speculation about his working methods. Jan Harlan, who worked as Kubrick's assistant and executive producer on several projects (and was also his brother-in-law), directed this documentary, which offers a rare in-depth look into Kubrick's career as a filmmaker, structured around interviews with a number of actors, writers, technicians, composers, friends, and family who speak on the record about his relentless perfectionism, his creative vision, his life both on and off the set, his relationships with actors, his unrealized projects, and his importance and influence as an artist. Among those who share their thoughts in Stanley Kubrick -- A Life In Pictures are actors Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Malcolm McDowell, Peter Ustinov, and Keir Dullea; writers Arthur C. Clarke and Michael Herr; special effects artist Douglas Trumbull; composers Wendy Carlos and Gyorgy Ligeti; filmmakers Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Paul Mazursky, and Sydney Pollack; and Kubrick's spouse Christiane Kubrick. Stanley Kubrick -- A Life In Pictures was originally produced as a television project, to be aired in three parts, though the project was shown in its entirety at the 2001 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, (more)
One of America's most respected and acclaimed directors, Robert Altman has brought such cinematic masterpieces as Nashville, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, and The Player to the silver screen. This video profile charts Altman's long and prolific career, featuring interviews with Glenn Close, Shelley Duvall, and Jack Lemmon. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
A woman discovers the downside of getting to know your neighbors in this suspense thriller. Jane Emelin (Juliette Lewis) is a young interior decorator who has inherited an apartment in New York City from a relative who has passed on. While she loves the building and the price is right, she discovers that the apartment below hers is rented out by a dangerous eccentric who soon makes her life a living hell. The 4th Floor also features William Hurt, Shelley Duvall, and Austin Pendleton. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Juliette Lewis, William Hurt, (more)
Best known for his Highlander series, Russell Mulcahy pays homage to the Hammer films of the 1960s with this all-star recreation of the Mummy story. Centuries ago, a sadistic prince named Talos was buried and his tomb was infinitely cursed so that no man would ever again suffer from his evil ways. But hundreds of years later, a group of archeologists break the seal of the tomb and are brutally massacred. The bandages of Talos are discovered years later by the head archeologist's daughter and brought back to London to be displayed in a museum. But the bandages go on a violent rampage. His evil threatens to spread around the world when the approaching alignment of the planets will raise the legendary Talos to a level of immortal power. The American detective in charge of the affair and the daughter of the archeologist race against time to defeat the malicious mummy. Russell Mulcahy has modern computer graphics techniques on his side in this remake of the classic Mummy monster story. At the same time, he has invited the legendary Christopher Lee to appear in the role of the ill-fated archeologist who discovers Talos. Shelley Duvall and Jason Scott Lee round out the main cast. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Scott Lee, Louise Lombard, (more)
For once, a kid from the science club really does impress someone with his latest experiment, though it hardly works out the way he planned in this horror opus with a darkly comic undertow. Frank Stein (Matthew Lawrence) is a brilliant but geeky teenage outcast who wishes he could hang out with the cool kids and has a furious crush on Macy (Christine Lakin), the prettiest girl at school. Socially inept Frank isn't especially popular with his classmates, but there's one student who fares even worse -- Karl (Ryan Reynolds), a goth kid who is a magnet to bullies. One day, a gang of jocks decide to beat up Karl for fun, but they go too far and accidentally kill him. Frank, seeing an opportunity, decides to prove just how bright he is by bringing Karl back to life. Frank's peers are indeed impressed by the reanimated Karl (whose presence allows them to avoid murder charges), and Macy starts showing an encouraging interest in Frank, but there's one little problem -- Frank replaced Karl's damaged brain with one from a psychotic multiple murderer, and soon gloomy Karl is displaying an uncharacteristic thirst for violence. Also released under the title Big Monster on Campus, Boltneck also stars Judge Reinhold and Shelley Duvall. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Lawrence, Justin Walker, (more)
Casper the Friendly Ghost and Wendy the Good Witch team up to fight an evil warlock. Shelly Duvall and Teri Garr star. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hilary Duff
- 1997
Tom Waits narrates this documentary about Manitoba filmmaker Guy Maddin (Tales from the Gimli Hospital, Careful, Archangel), seen directing Twilight of the Ice Nymphs. Stills, clips, and home movies are combined with talking-head interviews with friends, actors, and co-workers, tracing the troubled life he led as a youth in Winnipeg. Shown in 1997 at the Vancouver and Toronto film festivals. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Cox, Pascale Bussières, (more)
- 1997
Set in a blazing land where the sun ceaselessly shines, this dramatic fantasy examines love's darker aspects. After years of incarceration as a political prisoner, Peter Glahn (Nigel Whitney, who had his name removed from the credits because another actor redubbed his lines) finally returns to Mandragora via ship. During the voyage, he encounters the glamorous Julianna (Pascale Bussieres), and falls deeply in love. Before he can act upon it, the radiant beauty mysteriously disappears. Once home he goes to see his sister Amelia (Shelley Duval) on the family ostrich farm. Poor homely Amelia is pining for the love of snake-in-the-grass Dr. Solti (R.H. Thompson) who is busy controlling the lives of Juliana and Zephyr (Alice Krige), a fisherman's widow. Solti toys with these women, but he is actually in love with a statue of Venus, a magical sculpture that seems strangely drawn towards Zephyr. Continuing frustration causes Amelia's smouldering passion for Solti to erupt into a conflagration of grisly violence. A challenging film from idiosyncratic Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pascale Bussières, Nigel Whitmey, (more)
A lonely man receives some not entirely welcome attention from his children in this drama written by Horton Foote. John Webb (Hume Cronyn) is an aging farmer from Texas who recently lost his wife and is coming to terms with spending the rest of his days on his own. An oil company believes that there may be oil on John's property and is willing to pay him handsomely for drilling rights. However, John isn't certain he likes the idea, and he soon comes into conflict with his family, who thinks that John could be letting a fortune slip through his fingers. Produced for the Showtime premium cable network, Alone boasts a superb supporting cast, including James Earl Jones, Shelley Duvall, Chris Cooper, and Frederic Forrest. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hume Cronyn
This mild horror outing was made for younger audiences and centers on a young boy's attempts to prevent the evil spirit living within a voodoo doll from taking possession of his school teacher. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gregory Smith, Shelley Duvall, (more)
- 1995
It is the 62nd birthday of Martin Crane (John Mahoney), but no one is in a festive mood. A series of quarrels between Martin and Daphne (Jane Leeves) coupled with the latest round of sibling rivalry between Frasier (David Hyde Pierce) and Niles (David Hyde Pierce) threatens to put a damper on the evening. And just when it seems that nothing else can go wrong, Martin's birthday party is hit by a power outage that has plunged all Seattle into darkness. Using every vestige of professional skill that he can muster, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) tries to put a happy face on an extermely bleak situation. This was the final episode of Frasier's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
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This episode of Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories is narrated by Angela Lansbury. The story centers around Gloria, a hapless witch-in-training at Madame Pestilence's Academy of Young Goblins and Witches. While the other students don't seem to have a problem learning how to cast magic spells or riding on their flying brooms, Gloria just gets in trouble for smiling too much as she messes up trick after trick. When a storyteller teaches her about the wonderful Christmas holiday, Gloria becomes determined to become a Christmas witch. Her true test comes when she must stop the longstanding feud between the Pepperwills and the Valdoons. With her newfound Christmas friends, Gloria uses love and generosity to bring the peaceful spirit of Christmas to their planet. ~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Duvall's Emmy- and ACE award-winning animated bedtime stories, narrated by celebrities. Each tape contains two stories and are available individually. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1992
A wicked witch ruins a teen's plan to become king of the Spring Fling in this family-oriented fable from the "Wonderworks" series. The trouble begins when the witch turns Arlo, the most popular boy in school, and his buddy Gus into slimy green frogs. The two amphibians head for the local pond and are dismayed to discover that it is polluted. To stop its destruction, the two enlist the aide of Hannah, the school nerd. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Grimes, Shelley Duvall, (more)
Roseanne Arnold, her then-husband Tom Arnold and Shelley Duvall teamed up to produce the made-for-TV Backfield in Motion. Roseanne plays a widowed real-estate agent who lives with her teenaged son Johnny Galecki. Mother and son have moved to an upstate California town where high school football-and male chauvinism--reigns supreme. When Galecki joins the junior-varsity team, Roseanne, appalled by the subservient behavior of the town wives, organizes a "mothers vs. sons" football game. Tom Arnold costars as the school's vice-principal, who puts his standing in town on the line when he falls in love with Roseanne. Backfield in Motion was originally telecast November 13, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The animated Christmas story Jingle Bells concerns a poor family headed by a father who sacrifices something the rest of the family wanted to keep in order to buy everyone a present. Luckily, Santa saves the day. This film features the voices of Don Knotts, Shelley Long, and Jason Alexander. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1990
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This film, hosted by Shelley Duvall, is a spoof, loosely based on the exploits of Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon. The Spaniard laid claim to Florida in 1513, landing near St. Augustine. History has it that he was seeking the Fountain of Youth, a legend that he had learned from native peoples in the Caribbean. He never did find it, but a few years later he was made acquainted with an Indian arrow, which dealt him a mortal blow. The film features photography of the lands that Ponce de Leon conquered throughout the Caribbean, as well as of Florida. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1990
An all-star cast is included on this children's adventure that follows a search for Mother Goose by her son (Dan Gilroy) and Little Bo Peep (Shelley Duvall). ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1989
A reptile-collecting high schooler is shocked to discover that one of his many frogs is actually an enchanted prince looking for a fair maiden to free him. This delightful entry from the Wonderworks series, chronicles the teens attempts to help out his froggy friend. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1987
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The Lyons Group presents this retelling of Washington Irving's classic story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Part of Shelley Duvall's American Tall Tales series, American Tall Tales: Legend of Sleepy Hollow features Ed Begley Jr. as Ichobod Crane, the cowardly school teacher forced to face the infamous headless horseman. Released in 1987, the program is designed for young viewers and co-stars Beverly D'Angelo and Charles Durning. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 1986
- Add Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales and Legends: Darlin' Clementine to QueueAdd Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales and Legends: Darlin' Clementine to top of Queue
No relation to the similarly titled John Ford film, My Darlin' Clementine originated as a 47-minute TV special. Shelley Duvall (who also produced) plays the title character, the daughter of a miner (forty-niner) whose shoes are number nine. Ed Asner costars as Clementine's dad, while David Dukes is the moonstruck young man who loses Clementine to the briny deep. The tragic elements of the ballad (which of course was meant to be a spoof even back in the 19th century) are tempered by in-the-know comedy vignettes. My Darlin' Clementine was first telecast on the Showtime Cable service as part of the American Tall Tales and Legends anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shelley Duvall, David Dukes, (more)
