Jeff East Movies
American juvenile actor Jeff East started strong as Huckleberry Finn in the 1973 movie-musical adaptation of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Five years passed before East would again be seen in a film role of substance: the Young Clark Kent in Superman: The Movie (1978). He then began the TV-movie phase of his career as Joseph in the Biblical drama Mary and Joseph: A Story of Faith (1979). Jeff East was subsequently featured in such TV productions as The Day After (1983) and Dream West (1986), and every once in a while made a big-screen appearance in films like Pumpkinhead (1988). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1988
In this lively comedy, a womanizing actor dies and is granted a second chance at life on the condition that he remain faithful to only one woman. That's easier said than done, and once he's back on Earth he must choose between a virtuous lass and a shady lady. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Greenwood, Vanessa Angel, (more)
Academy Award nominee Paul Winfield stars alongside young Jeff East in this 1974 musical adaptation of Mark Twain's classic Huckleberry Finn. East plays the title character, a whip-smart lad who heads off on a journey down the mighty Mississippi along with his pal Jim (Winfield). The film also stars Harvey Korman and David Wayne. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
A bereaved farmer enlists the aid of a terrifying demon to help avenge his son's death in this stylish horror movie that contains a strong moral. It all begins as gentle widowed farmer/general store owner Ed's beloved 10-year-old son is involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident with an careless unknown motorcyclist. Ed nearly goes berserk with grief and to bring back his son heads to the cabin of a wise old witch to see if she can rejuvenate the youth. Unfortunately, it is beyond her considerable powers so Ed, now equally desperate for revenge, invokes the legendary Pumpkinhead, a terrifying demon with the power to make the biker pay. One by one, Pumpkinhead dispatches the terrified cyclist and his friends, leaving Ed to reconsider his rashness. He tries to call the demon back, but by then it is far too late.... The film is the directorial debut of Oscar-winning special effects wizard Stan Winston. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lance Henriksen, Jeff East, (more)
- 1986
A sprawling adaptation of the same-named novel by David Nevin, the three-part CBS miniseries Dream West starred Richard Chamberlain as colorful, controversial American explorer John Charles Fremont (1813-1890). The story detailed the visionary (and occasionally mercenary) Fremont's lifelong war against shortsided authority figures, beginning with his early skirmishes with the "brass" as an Army officer. In 1842, Fremont embarked upon his greatest adventure, heading an expedition to map the Oregon Trail -- the first step towards opening the entire North American continent to free and unimpeded exploration. His mission pitted Fremont against hostile Indians, the Mexican army, and the U.S. government itself. Along the way, he crossed paths with scores of historical figures, including Kit Carson, Jim Bridge, John Sutter, and President Abraham Lincoln. Alice Krige, Richard Chamberlain's vis-à-vis in the earlier Wallenberg: A Heroes' Story, co-starred as Jessie Benton, the headstrong senator's daughter who became Fremont's wife. Running seven hours in all (plus commercials), Dream West was originally telecast from April 13 to 15, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
- R
In this inane teen comedy, a rafting competition is going to determine whether four friends will graduate or not (an interesting amendment to college practices), and up against their team is a group of offensive rich kids. Meanwhile, a band of expelled military rafters is out to thwart the race as a whole. Bob (Tim Matheson) of the aspiring group of graduates, and Heather (Jennifer Runyon), a convert from the military rafting side, are a hot item, as are many other couples, since sex seems to be the only known activity carried out on land. A game of charades with a dog -- in order to locate a hostage -- is the funniest sequence in an otherwise routine story. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Matheson, Jennifer Runyon, (more)
A peaceful Midwestern city attempts to recover after it is destroyed by a nuclear missile strike in this powerful and deeply disturbing testament to the folly of pro-military hawks who believed that annihilation was a justifiable means of attaining power and control. The Day After originally aired on network television. At the end of the broadcast, many stations offered teams of counselors staffing 800 telephone numbers to help distraught viewers calm down. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Robards, Jr., JoBeth Williams, (more)
- 1982
Hawkeye (Alan Alda) receives a letter from Mildred Potter, the wife of the 4077's commanding officer Col. Potter (Harry Morgan). Sworn to secrecy, Hawk refuses to divulge the contents of the letter to Potter, despite intense pressure on the part of the curious Colonel. The next assignment on Hawkeye's agenda is to organize a surprise party for Potter--and we aren't about to tell anyone the reason, either. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
- R
Deadly Blessing, a disappointing effort from famed horror-film director Wes Craven, tells the story of a woman's fight against a religious cult which will not stop at murder. Martha (Maren Jensen) lives alone near a conservative, repressive religious cult led by Isaiah (Ernest Borgnine). Martha's husband was murdered under mysterious circumstances after he left the cult. Martha and her two visiting friends Vicky (Susan Buckner) and Lana (Sharon Stone) find themselves being pressured to live in the area and they begin having nightmares and accidents. Soon more murders begin, and the woman fear for their lives. Craven gets good performances from his cast and bases his plot on the interesting premise of persecution and retribution, but the unsatisfying and implausible ending ruins what suspense he has built. While on the whole, the film is a failure, it has outstanding cinematography by Robert Jessup and a beautiful score composed by James Horner. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maren Jensen, Susan Buckner, (more)
- 1979
The biblical story of Mary and Joseph's life before the birth of Christ is dramatized in this film. ~ All Movie Guide
Jeff East stars as writer Jack London in this fictional adventure account that takes place during the Alaskan gold rush. London and his partner Robin (Merritt Sloper) clash with the villain Soapy Smith (Rod Steiger), a former priest turned bad who is equally mean to dogs and humans. That's Lorne Greene behind the black moustache as constable Sam Steele, with Angie Dickenson as saloon-girl Belinda McNair. The feature fails to live up to the Northwoods adventure dramas made popular by author London. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff East, Rod Steiger, (more)
- 1979
This speculative made-for-TV drama examines the courtship and early marital life of Mary and Joseph before the birth of their remarkable son, Jesus. The film is also known as the Beginning Was Love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Blanche Baker, Jeff East, (more)
Notable as an early effort from renowned horror filmmaker Wes Craven, this made-for-TV occult thriller was loosely adapted from a novel by Lois Duncan. Star Linda Blair -- whose film career had taken a detour into TV-movie territory after her legendary bow in The Exorcist -- returns to the demon-possession genre as a teenager who can't seem to convince her parents that her visiting southern-belle cousin (Lee Purcell) is an evil witch. Purcell's diabolical meddling seems focused entirely on the innocent Blair, who loses both her prize horse and her boyfriend to the scheming sorceress before the rest of the family catches on. Though Craven's well-known extremism is curbed by the limitations of television, his talent at generating high-intensity suspense is still evident, making this a modestly entertaining horror item. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Richard Donner's big-budget blockbuster Superman: The Movie is an immensely entertaining recounting of the origin of the famous comic book character. Opening on Krypton (where Marlon Brando plays Superman's father), the film follows the Man of Steel (Christopher Reeve) as he's sent to Earth where he develops his alter-ego Clark Kent and is raised by a Midwestern family. In no time, the movie has run through his teenage years, and Clark gets a job at the Daily Planet, where he is a news reporter. It's there that he falls in love with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), who is already in love with Superman. But the love story is quickly sidetracked once the villainous Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) launches a diabolical plan to conquer the world and kill Superman. Superman: The Movie is filled with action, special effects and a surprising amount of humor. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, (more)
- 1977
A lost teenager and solitary murderer form an unusual friendship in this film. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1977
- PG
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A young man finds out that making friends with the Big Men On Campus is more difficult and dangerous than he ever imagined in this offbeat blend of drama and comedy. Craig Lewis (Jeff East) is a recent high school graduate who has won a track scholarship to a prestigious university. Craig's impressive time on the track attracts the attention of Rod (Brad David), the leader of the most exclusive fraternity on campus, and Craig and his new friend Barney (Charles Martin Smith) are invited to pledge the Delts. However, before Craig and Barney can join, they're put through a hazing ritual in which they're left in the middle of nowhere wearing just athletic supporters and told to find their way back to town. Barney has a serious accident making his way back to the house, and Craig is shocked to discover he's dead. When Rod and his muscle-bound lieutenant Phil (Jim Boelsen) discover Barney's body, they hide his remains in a freezer and tell Craig if he wants to keep himself and his friends out of jail, he'll have to impersonate Barney on campus for the time being. Also starring David Hayward, Kelly Moran and Sandra Vacey, The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse was originally released under the title The Hazing. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff East, Brad David, (more)
- 1976
A young boy tames and befriends a grey wolf and then must struggle to save the life of his friend when the locals mistakenly label the beast as a vicious killer. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1974
One of Mark Twain's best-loved stories becomes a screen musical in this family-friendly adaptation. Mischievous Huckleberry Finn (Jeff East) is a 15-year-old boy who has long had a difficult relationship with his often violent father. When Dad tried to kidnap him, Huck decides to run away from home, and heads out of town on a raft. Huck is soon joined by Jim (Paul Winfield), a runaway slave who is no more eager to see his master than Huck is to see his father. As the two friends make their way down the Mississippi, they're faced with a variety of challenges and adventures, including a run-in with a pair of shabby but dignified actors, The King (Harvey Korman) and The Duke (David Wayne). Produced in association with Reader's Digest magazine, which in 1973, scored a box-office hit with a musical version of Twain's Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn featured original songs by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, who also wrote the songs for a handful of Disney hits, including Mary Poppins. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff East, Paul Winfield, (more)
Mark Twain's classic tale is brought to the screen for the fourth time, this time with a tuneful score by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, who also wrote the screen adaptation. Johnny Whitaker stars as Tom Sawyer, with Jeff East in his first film role as Huck Finn. Jodie Foster is also on hand, playing the role of Becky Thatcher. This enjoyable family fare was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Art Direction, Best Song Score and Best Costume Design. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnny Whitaker, Celeste Holm, (more)
