John "Red" Fox Movies

Comedy's Dirtiest Dozen presents snippets of the x-rated acts of a dozen stand-up comedians, filmed live on an evening in 1988 at New York's Minetta Lane Theater. Tim Allen and Chris Rock have since gone on to fame and fortune in TV and movies, and Jackie the Jokeman Martling is a member of radio star Howard Stern's troupe. The other performers, including Ben Creed, Thea Vidale, and John Fox, are likely to be unfamiliar to all but a handful of viewers. The film's producers maintain that these performers are legends on the regional comedy club circuit, but that the "adult" content of their material keeps them off cable comedy and talk shows. Based on what we see of their routines, it's obvious why. Not only is the humor almost entirely about sex, much of it seems intentionally calculated to offend. It should be reported that the audience eats it up. The film only has an 88 minute running time, so the comics rotate on and off stage at a rapid clip. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Made for television, this little gem was based on a novel by Patrick Anderson. The title character, the sister of a government courier, barely has time to acquaint herself with the audience before she is murdered - leading us to wonder who did it, and if it is, in fact, true that the dead woman was a Soviet spy. Beau Bridges, Karen Grassle, Susan Blanchard, Larry Hagman, Don Porter and Gail Strickland are among those present. The President's Mistress was "World Premiered" on February 10, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The police are continually frustrated in their efforts to catch an elusive burglar. They know the criminal's identity, and they're aware that he steals only when he needs to pay his gambling debts, but they've yet to catch him red-handed. The Angels are commissioned to "tap out" the miscreant and force him into another burglary. (Entrapment? Well, not exactly....) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Charles B. Griffith, author of Little Shop of Horrors, was the writer/director of the low-budget Eat My Dust!. Ron Howard heads the cast as Hoover Niebold, the hell-raising son of rural sheriff Harry Niebold (Warren Kemmerling). The sheriff is forced to chase after his own son when Hoover and his girlfriend Darlene (Christopher Norris) steal a racing car and zoom off to parts unknown. Joining the pursuit is the car's owner, professional racer Big Bubba Jones (Dave Madden). Watch for Ron Howard's dad Rance and brother Clint in supporting parts, and also for Paul Bartel in a bit role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The plot of this episode is sparked (no pun intended) by an overdue electric bill. In his efforts to raise the necessary funds, Grandpa Walton (Will Geer) becomes enmeshed in a situation that incurs the wrath of Grandma (Ellen Corby). This minor and rather silly misunderstanding escalates into a bitter quarrel--whereupon Grandpa and Grandma, too stubborn to admit their mistakes and reconcile their differences, may well be on the verge of a permanent split-up! This episode is based on a story by series regular Ellen Corby). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The fourteenth and final season of Bonanza began on September 12, 1972 with a special two-hour episode. As originally written by series star Michael Landon (who also directed), "Forever" was supposed to have focused on the ill-starred marriage between Hoss Cartwright (Dan Blocker) and Alice Harper (Bonnie Bedelia). The tragic death of Dan Blocker forced Landon to rewrite the story as vehicle for his own character, Joe Cartwright-and the result was one of the series' most heartbreakingly poignant episodes, not so much because of what was seen on camera, but because of the emotional baggage brought to the set by surviving Bonanza regulars Landon and Lorne Greene (Ben Cartwright). In the final version of "Forever," the happiness of the union between Joe and Alice is clouded by the fact that the girl is pregnant by another man-and by the criminal activities of her ne'er-do-well brother John Harper (Andy Robinson). Exquisitely photographed on location in the High Sierras, the episode was enhanced by David Rose's haunting musical score, elements of which were later heard in Landon's subsequent starring series Little House on the Prairie and Highway to Heaven. This episode also marked the return of Rose's original Bonanza main theme, after a two-season absence. The ending of "Forever", in which both Joe and Ben quietly weep over their respective losses, is guaranteed to move even the most jaded viewer to tears. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A US Army Colonel (Cesar Romero) and his wife (Barbara Hale) relate their stories about the all black 10th cavalry unit formed after the Civil War. Eli (Robert Do'Qui) is one the new recruits being trained by two veteran troopers (Rafer Johnson & Isaac Fields). Julie (Janee Michelle) is the young beauty who tries to tame Eli's wild romantic heart. Eli befriends a local Indian chief (Robert Dix), but is unable to save him and the tribe from military cruelties. Lincoln Kilpatrick and Isabel Sandford also appear in this period film that is the directorial debut for John Cardos. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Adapted from William Faulkner's final novel, The Reivers top-bills Steve McQueen, but the major character is feisty 11-year-old Lucius McCaslin, played by Mitch Vogel. Growing up in Mississippi in the early 1900s, Lucius finds himself (through a hectic series of circumstances) in a bordello, where he is nearly killed trying to defend the "fast lady" (Sharon Farrell) who has befriended him. He has been brought to the house of ill repute by ne'er-do-well farm hand Boon Hoggenbeck (Steve McQueen), with whom he has been tooling about the countryside in a vintage automobile, together with his very distant African-American relative Ned (Rupert Crosse). This adventure segues into the next, as the three man combine their resources to train a broken-down racehorse. Meanwhile, Vogel's grandfather (Will Geer), who owns the fancy automobile that the "reivers" hope to win back, threatens to reappear at any moment to tan Lucius's bottom. Not exactly as wholesome as a Disney film, The Reivers is nonetheless acceptable family entertainment, with Steve McQueen delivering one of his best and most laid-back performances. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) head to a discount store to buy low cost fur for Mrs. Mooney. Before any legal transaction can get under way, Lucy is approached by a fence named Harry Barton (guest star Buddy Hackett) who talks her into buying a mink stole at a bargain price. Alas, the stole turns out to be "hot", and Lucy and Mooney are promptly arrested--and in their efforts to track down Barton and get back their money, the hapless duo are re-arrested, re-re-arrested, and re-re-re-arrested! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this musical, New York gangsters head South in search of that magical Nashville sound. Unfortunately, they misunderstand the directions given to them by a friendly gas station attendant and wind up in Atlanta instead. Songs include: "A Dollar Ain't a Dollar Anymore," "I Can't See Me Without You," "It's a Mean Ol' World," "Anywhere USA," "Alone with You," "One Bum Town," "7-11," and "The Gold Guitar." ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Season two of the hallucinogenic hayseed comedy Green Acres begins as the citizens of Hooterville face the loss of their entire corn crop to the dreaded bing bug. At least, that's what's supposed to be the central plotline of this episode. In truth, a lot more time is devoted to a WWII flashback, explaining how former fighter pilot Oliver Douglas (Eddie Albert) first met his sexy Hungarian wife Lisa (Eva Gabor). (No, it isn't what you think: she had to rescue him from the Nazis!) Eventually, the two plot strands merge as Oliver, newly inducted to the Hooterville Veteran's Organization, again takes to the air to bomb the bings out of existence. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hurriedly assembled to capitalize on the Paramount feature of the same name, Magna Pictures' Harlow was shot in less than two weeks, utilizing a glorified TV-kinescope process called Electronovision. Carol Lynley is physically an excellent choice to play 1930s Hollywood "platinum blonde" Jean Harlow, though she has little of Harlow's casual charisma. Pushed into a movie career by Mama Jean (Ginger Rogers) in order to support her dysfunctional family, Jean rises from 2-reel comedies to big-budget features in the space of a year. Though one of the highest-priced stars at MGM, Jean's fortune is rapidly depleted by her high-living (and, it is hinted, incestuous) stepfather Marino Bello (Barry Sullivan). Seeking happiness and security, Jean marries producer Paul Bern (Hurd Hatfield), only to have him commit suicide due to his impotence. Just when her misery is about to be ended by her marriage to movie star William Mansfield (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.)--a thinly disguised William Powell, who refused to allow his name or likeness to be used--Jean dies of uremia at the age of 26. If you can get past those miserable Laurel & Hardy imitators at the beginning of Harlow, you might be able to survive the rest of the picture, which gives a whole new meaning to the word "cheap." Watch for boxing champ Sonny Liston in a one-scene bit. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi