Allison Argo Movies
- 2008
Certainly, few underwater species are as intriguing, or as individualistic, as the horseshoe crab (Polyphemus occidentalis). Scientists now regard this chelicerate arthropod, with its odd, heavily-armored appearance, as an evolutionary descendant of both arachnids and the prehistoric sea scorpion. Both career fishermen and physicians prize the horseshoe for its intrinsic worth - the former for its ubiquitousness as fishing bait, the latter for the unique chemical properties of its blood in medicinal usage - but those twin forms of exploitation have pushed the species to the very brink of extinction and dramatically reduced the numbers of horseshoe crab eggs, which in turn threatens the sanctity of a predatory shorebird called the Red Knot. The PBS-produced Crash - A Tale of Two Species (an episode of the Nature documentary series) investigates the symbiotic relationship between the Red Knot and the Horseshoe Crab, and discusses the prospective ways in which human intervention could alternately bolster or destroy that connection. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1986
This romantic made-for-TV movie chronicles episodes from the varied lives of visitors to the popular Mexican seaside resort. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Scalia, Linda Hamilton, (more)
- 1985
- PG
The Billy Graham Ministry is behind this pro-Christian propaganda film that centers on an emotional kayaking trip between a father and a son. The father has taken his boy into the deep Alaskan wilderness to tell him that he is divorcing the boy's mother, who is pregnant and waiting for them back home. While on the trip, the father and son get involved in a potentially fatal accident. Fortunately, an enigmatic mountain man appears to save them. Later he helps the troubled twosome find hope and salvation through God. Meanwhile, the wife, also finds a new life through old-time religion and happiness ensues all around. Billy Graham himself appears to deliver a special message. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wes Parker, Rita Walter, (more)
- 1983
In this drama, a college professor gets romantically involved with a student until he learns that she earns tuition working as a part-time hooker. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1980
High Ice is a made-for-television adventure thriller about an Army helicopter rescue team who has to race against time and the elements to save three mountain climbers who are stranded on a small, icy mountain ledge in Washington. Along the way, a lieutenant colonel and a forest ranger engage in a battle of wills, which only makes the rescue more difficult. High Ice has also been shown with the title Challenge of the High Ice. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1980
As made obvious by its title, this TV movie was an attempt to revive the once-popular private eye series Cannon, which ran from 1971 to 1976. Emerging from self-imposed retirement, corpulent gumshoe Frank Cannon (William Conrad) investigates the death of an old friend who formely worked for the CIA. Officially, the death has been ruled a suicide, but Cannon, as usual, has his doubts. Also mixed up in the intrigue is Cannon's former sweetheart and a Hughes-like millionaire. First telecast November 1, 1980 on CBS, The Return of Frank Cannon did not result in a weekly series, but William Conrad was able to find solace in his starring role on the subsequent weekly Nero Wolfe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Nick (Mike Conners) is the owner of a luxury liner and casino which cruises its way to action and adventure for those on board. Lackluster direction by Don Chaffey is not aided by a cast including Gary Burghoff, Joseph Cotten, Lynda Day George, Bo Hopkins and Robert Loggia, who seem to all be slightly embarrassed to be in the film. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- 1979
The Gift was a Christmas 1979 TV-movie offering based on the semi-autobiographical book written in 1973 by Pete Hammill. Gary Frank plays the Hammill counterpart, a Brooklyn-born sailor about to be shipped off to the Korean War. Frank decides to use his 3-day pass to discover if his girl friend really loves him, if he can communicate at last with his troublesome parents, and if he can get his own life together before being sent into battle.
Julie Harris plays Frank's mother, while Glenn Ford portrays Frank's pugnacious, one-legged Irish dad. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Julie Harris plays Frank's mother, while Glenn Ford portrays Frank's pugnacious, one-legged Irish dad. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
- R
Director Joan Micklin Silver's follow-up to her acclaimed debut, Hester Street, is a more ambitious film that manages to be both an entertaining comedy and a pointed look at the corrupting power of money on an idealistic enterprise. Writer Fred Barron's characters are all associated with a weekly alternative newspaper in Boston, modeled after the Phoenix. (Silver did once work on the Village Voice, but this enterprise is several rungs below that esteemed paper.) Harry (John Heard) is an ambitious reporter romantically involved with Abbie (Lindsay Crouse), the paper's star photographer. Michael (Stephen Collins) is a writer trying to work on a novel and stay faithful to his loving wife, Laura (Gwen Welles), while Max (Jeff Goldblum), the paper's rock critic, shamelessly uses his job to try to pick up women. Lynn (Jill Eikenberry), a typist who is the paper's mother-hen figure, is also its most principled employee. When a publishing mogul (Lane Smith) buys the paper and promises changes that will compromise its aggressive political stance in favor of more "lifestyle" articles, Lynn resigns, and it's clear to the group that their carefree days are behind them. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Heard, Lindsay Crouse, (more)
