Robert Ridgely Movies
American actor Robert Ridgely's first television job was the part of Kimbro in the 1962 wartime drama The Gallant Men. He later played a Ted Baxter-ish anchor man on Domestic Life (1984), and was earlier featured as an unctuous talent-show emcee in Jonathan Demme's Melvin and Howard (1979). Ridgely showed up in a brace of Mel Brooks films during the early '90s, including Life Stinks (1991) and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), and was featured in Michael Keaton's Multiplicity and Tom Hanks' That Thing You Do! Although he was always busy in front of the cameras, the actor was best-known as one of show business' most prolific and versatile voice-over artists. Ridgely's extensive TV-cartoon resumé included the title roles in Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All (1979), Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle (1980), and Thundarr the Barbarian (1982) Ridgely made his final film appearances in Boogie Nights and Fire Down Below (both 1997). He died of cancer in 1997 at the age of 65. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1994
Brian (Steven Weber) begins neglecting Alex (Farrah Forke) in order to pal around with his old "wild man" buddy Danny (Charles Rocket). When the situation goes from bad to really bad, Alex makes a crucial -- and devastating -- decision. Meanwhile, Lowell (Thomas Haden Church) is set up for a big-time disillusionment at the hands of his boyhood idol, a former TV superhero (played by Robert Ridgely, who once supplied voices for the animated versions of Superman and Flash Gordon). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
In this "crossover" episode, Florence Stanley appears as Judge Margaret W. Wilbur, a character she'd introduced on the concurrently-produced NBC sitcom My Two Dads. In her capacity as temporary replacement for Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson), Judge Wilbur immediately makes an impression by jailing Dan (John Larroquette) for contempt. All this, however, is incidental to the main plot, in which Bull (Richard Moll) hopes to raise money for a boy's home by appearing as a contestant on the popular game show "What Am I?" First, however, he must undergo hypnosis to get over his fear of being on live television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
In the conclusion of a two-part story, McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) faces the possibility of permanent paralysis as she undergoes surgery to remove a bullet from her spine. Meanwhile, Hunter (Fred Dryer) heads to Mexico, there to settle accounts with notorious pimp Big Jack Hemmings (Robert Ridgely), whom he holds responsible for McCall's plight. When Big Jack turns up murdered, Hunter is arrested--and as the story winds down, the detective must place his life in the hands of his old enemy, gonzo defense attorney Mike Snow (Martin E. Brooks). This final episode of Hunter's third season was directed by series costar Stepfanie Kramer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
In the first episode of a two-part story, McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) and an informant are gunned down during a police investigation of a prostitution ring operating out of RV's on the Los Angeles Freeway. Working on available evidence, Hunter (Fred Dryer) becomes convinced that a notorious pimp named Big Jack Hemmings ordered the hit. As McCall hovers between life and death, Hunter heads to Mexico in search of Big Jack--and it seems a certainty that only one of the two men will come back alive! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
This animated version of DeBeaumont's classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast throws in a dash of Cinderella. The kind, virtuous, generous Beauty lives in a mansion with her five spoiled-rotten sisters. Of her avaricious siblings, only Beauty can adjust when her father loses all his money and they must live in reduced circumstances. And only Beauty has the courage to sacrifice her future to live with the hideous Beast in order to save her father's life. Produced by Ruby-Spears, this half-hour version of Beauty and the Beast originally aired November 25, 1983, on CBS as a "Kenner Family Classics" Thanksgiving special. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Janet Waldo
- 1982
This for Remembrance, the autobiography of popular singer Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002), was the source for this made-for-TV biopic. Played herein by Sondra Locke, the Kentucky-born Clooney begins her career as one-half of a musical act with her sister Betty (Penelope Milford), performing at the election rallies of her politician uncle (John Karlen). Achieving radio popularity in Cincinnati, Ohio, Rosemary goes on to enjoy nationwide fame in the 1950s with such hit recordings as "Come On A' My House", "Tenderly" and "Hey There". Though her success in movies is negligible (White Christmas notwithstanding), she makes a huge impact on television, hosting several of her own weekly series. All the while, however, Rosemary's private life is in turmoil, due in great part to a tempestuous marriage to actor-director Jose Ferrer (played by, of all people, Tony Orlando). After the assassination of her great friend Robert Kennedy in 1968, Rosemary suffers a nervous breakdown, and it is many years before she is able to make a triumphant comeback on the concert trail. Rosemary Clooney herself serves as the singing voice of Sondra Locke, and also dubs in the tunes performed by the actress playing sister Betty. Had Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story aired on CBS a decade or so after its original telecast on December 18, 1982, mention might have been made of the subsequent success of Clooney's actor son Miguel Ferrer and her TV-star nephew George Clooney; there might even have been a re-enactment of Rosemary's third marriage, capriciously staged at a White Castle restaurant in Cincinnati. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
To overcome his shyness, hardware store clerk Christopher Walken gets involved with his local community theatre group. Proving himself a powerful stage presence, Walken is cast as Stanley Kowalski in the group's upcoming production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Still, he remains as bashful as ever offstage-at least until he meets his "Stella", phone-company employe Susan Sarandon. Touchingly adapted from a story by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., the 60-minute Who Am I This Time? was originally an installment of PBS' American Playhouse anthology. It made its debut on February 2, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Bob advises both Emily and his patients never to store up their anger, but to "vent" when venting is necessary. Unfortunately, Bob's theory doesn't work too well with Emily at home. Nor is it effective with the garage mechanic who blackens Bob's eye. Also in the cast are voice-over specialist Bob Ridgely as Marvin and Marsha Kramer as the receptionist. Written by Sy Rosen, "Shrinking Violence" was originally telecast on March 12, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1977
This rather complex animated adventure concerns the quest of a toy wind-up mouse and his son to become self-winding.The two accidentally fall off a shelf, and are thrown out with the garbage. Then, they must escape from an evil rat who imprisons them. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Bob panics when he discovers that he's gained eight pounds since his last birthday. Having seen the light, Bob immediately goes on a crash diet. When this ploy inevitably fails, Jerry arranges for Bob to attend a reducing class run by a sixtysomething health freak named Olga (Lilyan Chauvin). Featured in the cast are Bruce Kirby as Dr. Klein, Samantha Harper as Nurse Burke, and voice-over specialist Bob Ridgely and future Barney Miller regular Ron Glass as the elevator repairmen. Written by Bill Idelson and Harvey Miller, "Fit, Fat and Forty-One" first aired on November 24, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1972
Fugitive Confederate officer Cody Ransom (Jon Cypher) is finally willing to surrender to the Union forces-but only if the Cartwright men act as intermediaries. Unfortunately, by-the-book Northern officer Major Donahue (Hurd Hatfield) insists upon handling the capture all by himself-and he is prepared to resort to violence to get his way. Suzanne Pleshette appears as Rose, a war-weary Southerner desperately trying to put her life back together, while 10-year-old Jodie Foster is seen as Bluebird. Originally shown on March 19, 1972, "A Place to Hide" was written by William D. Gordon and Ward Hawkins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1971
Rip Torn guest-stars as Will Hewitt, a former soldier who was blinded in the last battle of the Civil War. Determined to solve the murder of his brother, Hewitt is given a helping hand by Ben Cartwright's adopted son Jamie. The teleplay by John Hawkins and Robert Pirosh is capped by a truly surprising denoument. Also in the cast are Don Knight as Clayton, Loretta Leversee as Laurie, Charles Maxwell as Keeley, and James Chandler as McKey. "Blind Hunch" first aired on November 21, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1970
Oscar winner Strother Martin is cast as Joad Bruder, the father of jailed stagecoach robber Randy Bruder (Anthony Colti). Aware that Joad is holding the Ponderosa money that was stolen by Randy, Joe and Hoss hatch another of their hare-brained schemes to retrieve the loot. Heading to Pineville, the Cartwright boy pose as two members of Randy's gang-a ruse that threatens to burn and crash when the wife of one of the gang members shows up unexpectedly. Originally shown on December 13, 1970, "The Impostors" was written by Robert Vincent Wright. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Based on the novel Death on the Turnpike by William P. McGivern, Robert Altman's Nightmare in Chicago was expanded for theatrical release after it originally aired on NBC in 1964 on an episode of Kraft Suspense Theater. Filmed on-location in Chicago, this suspense thriller follows the story of a serial killer known as "Georgie Porgie." The Chicago turnpike is threatened over a three-day period as the police try to catch him by blocking the whole area. Starring Charles McGraw, Ted Knight, and Robert Ridgely. Original musical score by John Williams. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Poor Ben Cartwright is unable to get any peace and quiet on the Ponderosa, thanks to his uncommonly noisy offspring and their friends. In desperate need of a few hours' sleep, he checks into the Virginia City hotel. Not unexpectedly, comic chaos ensues, much of it caused by a bickering husband and wife (Abigail Shelton, Robert Ridgely) and a man-chasing widow (Jean Willes. Scriptwriters Frank Cleaver and Jeffrey Fleece were responsible for this non-stop laugh riot. "A Good Night's Rest" originally aired on April 11, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1964
A full year before the debut of Warner Bros.' TV series The FBI, a pilot of sorts was filmed under the title FBI Code 98. Jack Kelly heads the cast of this Dragnet-style docudrama, wherein the action is underlined by William Woodson's stentorian off-camera narration. The main plot concerns a disgruntled mad bomber, who uses his heightened knowledge of electronics to stay one step ahead of detection. The all-Warner-contractee cast includes Maverick's Kelly, Ray Danton, Andrew Duggan, Philip Carey, William Reynolds (later a regular on The FBI), Peggy McCay and Merry Anders. Originally intended as a TV special, FBI Code 98 was released theatrically instead. The film was produced by Stanley Niss, the author of the book on which the screenplay was based. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Kelly, Ray Danton, (more)
- 1962
Before settling into the semi-regular role of Adam Cartwright's fiancée Laura Dayton during the 1963-64 season, Kathie Browne appeared as two different characters in two earlier Bonanza episodes. In "The Tall Stranger," Browne was cast as Margie Owens, the daughter of the town banker (Russell Owens). Though Hoss is in love with Margie, he loses out to charming, globetrotting Mark Connors (Sean McClory). Desirous of traveling to faraway lands, Margie agrees to marry Connors -- who ultimately deserts her, leaving her alone, destitute, and very pregnant. Written by Ward Hawkins, "The Tall Stranger" first aired January 7, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1961
Claude Akins guest-stars as the titular Sam Hill, a blacksmith of extraordinary strength. Pressured to give up the land on which his mother is buried, Sam discovers that he has been sold out by his own father, an irresponsible drunkard-and that the new owner of the property is a self-styled dictator with a private army. Ford Rainey, Edgar Buchanan and ubiquitous voiceover specialist Robert Ridgely also appear in this episode, one of several directed by Robert Altman. Written by series producer David Dortort, "Sam Hill" originally aired June 3, 1961, as the final episode of Bonanza's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1961
Jack Kelly plays a dual role in this episode, as frontier gambler Bart Maverick and his exact lookalike, vicious outlaw Red Claxton. Mistaken for Claxton, who has been systematically stealing army payrolls, Bart is arrested and thrown in the stockade. Sentenced to hang, our hero must somehow break out of jail to prove his innocence. Appearing as ingenue Caprice Rambeau is a young Dawn Wells, three years before her starmaking turn as Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Ben Cartwright's former sweetheart Lydia (Maggie Hayes), now the wealthy and widowed Lady Lydia Chadwick, returns to Virginia City. Upon her arrival, she makes a beeline to the Ponderosa, hoping to rekindle her romance with Ben. When he resists her charms, Lady Lydia vows to ruin him financially so he'll be forced to accept her love and support (shades of Dürrenmat's The Visit!) Others in the cast include John Alderson as Montague and Dan Sheridan as Kelly. Written by William Cox and William Powell (not the film star of the same name), "The Countess" first aired November 19, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
While set within the milieu of the Los Angeles adult film industry, Boogie Nights is less a film about pornography than the serio-comic story of a group of misfits, losers, and lost souls who are embraced by Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), a director who makes "adult films, exotic motion pictures." In 1977, while hanging out at a disco, Jack spots Eddie (Mark Wahlberg), the new busboy at the club, and tells him he's convinced "there's something wonderful inside those jeans waiting to get out." Jack knows his business well and his expert eye has not betrayed him; Eddie is a pornographer's dream -- good looking, remarkably endowed, and willing and able to do as many takes as might be needed. The product of a woefully dysfunctional upbringing, Eddie is not terribly bright but is very ambitious and eager to prove he has a "special something" to share with the world. Eddie changes his name to Dirk Diggler and quickly becomes the biggest star in hardcore. Working alongside "Dirk" in Jack's films are Amber Waves (Julianne Moore), a porn actress who applies her misplaced maternal instincts to anyone who needs nurturing; Rollergirl (Heather Graham), a cheerful but blank-faced high school drop-out who never removes her roller skates; Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly), a none-too-bright actor, aspiring magician, and failing songwriter; Buck (Don Cheadle), a black actor fascinated with cowboy iconography who wants to open a stereo shop; Scotty J (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a stocky and awkward soundman infatuated with Dirk; Little Bill (William H. Macy), Jack's assistant director, who has trouble dealing with his wife's brazen infidelity; and Colonel James (Robert Ridgely), Jack's backer, who has a weakness for young girls. In the brief, late-'70s moment when porn was chic and sex films seemed poised to break into the mainstream, Dirk becomes a star and Jack a respected name. But a few years later, drugs and pride have taken their toll on Dirk and many of his friends, while the advent of the VCR radically changes the adult movie business; Jack goes from being a "filmmaker" to manufacturing and wholesaling videocassettes, a wealthy but emotionally broken man. In his second film, wunderkind director Paul Thomas Anderson juggled a broad range of characters in a manner reminiscent of Robert Altman's ensemble films, making Boogie Nights a sad but funny story of a makeshift family of damaged people and what happens before and after their brief moment in the sun. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, (more)
Caroline and Lloyd (Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey) are a married couple constantly at each other's throats, masters at crafting acid-tongued barbs at the other's expense. Indeed, they are so obsessed with belittling each other that they never stop -- not even at gunpoint. Such is the premise of the acerbic comedy The Ref, which shows what happens when this quarrelsome duo is taken hostage. The gunman is Gus (Denis Leary), a thief on the run from the police, who kidnaps the couple as an insurance policy, planning to use their home as a hideout. But their incessant bickering proves more than Gus bargained for, forcing him -- for the sake of his own sanity -- into the unenviable role of peacemaker. To make things even worse for Gus, he discovers that he has taken the couple hostage the night of their big Christmas party, and the guests are already on the way. Not wanting to leave Lloyd and Caroline unattended, Gus opts to attend the party, pretending to be the couple's marriage counselor. This naturally leads to a series of comic confusions, as the hostage crisis and marital tensions head towards their inevitable conclusion. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Denis Leary, Judy Davis, (more)
Detroit cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) has seemingly smoothed out his differences with his Beverly Hills superior Bogomil (Ronny Cox), but there's trouble ahead for both men, not to mention two other holdovers from the first Cop film, officers Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Taggart (John Ashton). The "untouchable" heavy this time out is masterminding a series of violent robberies, committed by leather-freak hoods Dean Stockwell and Brigitte Nielsen. Unaccumstomed to this nastiness, Bogomil entreats street-smart Foley to help find the miscreants. But mean-spirited chief of police Lutz (Allen Garfield) will brook no interference from outsiders-especially the profanely insouciant Mr. Foley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, (more)
A wildly inventive and entertaining comic nightmare from former Roger Corman prodigy Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs), this screwball odyssey is a ride to remember. Jeff Daniels plays clean-cut New York bond trader Charlie Driggs, who accepts a ride home from a strange but attractive lower-class woman named Lulu (Melanie Griffith). The sexy Louise Brooks lookalike doesn't take him home, but shanghais him for a bizarre roadtrip to Virginia that includes kinky bondage sex, destruction of property, and robbery. Things get stranger when Lulu tells Charlie that her real name is Audrey and takes him home to meet her mother, asking him to pose as her husband. The charade continues until her high-school reunion, where the roadtrip (and the entire film) takes a sharp U-turn into psycho-thriller territory. Audrey's dangerously psychotic ex-con husband, Ray Sinclair (Ray Liotta), shows up. What had been a liberating fling for Charlie turns into a bloody and vicious battle for survival. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Daniels, Melanie Griffith, (more)
- 1984
- R
Comprised of classic teen movie elements scattered like croutons over a salad, this undistinguished high school drama involves several inconsequential stories at once, set in a seven-day period before the beginning of school. Tom Drake (Christopher Penn, Sean's brother) is a high-school wrestler who loves Eileen (Jenny Wright), but she is more than just a little dubious about their relationship. Since her lecherous boss (Rick Moranis) will not leave her alone, men are at a low ebb in her life. Bill Conrad (Eric Stoltz) is a friend of Tom's who has already graduated and who asks him to share his apartment for awhile to help him out financially. Bill then decides to split with his girlfriend Anita (Lea Thompson), who is suddenly too young for his new status as a high-school grad. Miffed at his rejection, Anita starts a liaison with David Curtiss (Hart Bochner), without knowing that David is married and a father. Other than Bill's 15-year-old brother Jim (Ilan Mitchell-Smith), who follows a Vietnam vet around in adulation, the entire focus of the film is on teen love relationships played by twentysomethings from the vantage point of tensomethings, more or less. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Eric Stoltz, (more)
