Peter Fox Movies
A politically savvy 15-year-old learns the true nature of politics after accepting the position of youth campaign spokesman for a determined congressman in the feature directorial debut of 20-year-old actor-turned-director Luke Eberl. When Congressman Lawrence Connor (Steven Weber) speaks before an assembly of high-school students during his run for the Senate, the enthusiastic and well-informed response that he gets from 15-year-old student Owen (Alex D. Linz) results in an invitation to join the campaign as Connor's youth spokesman. Subsequently exploited in a tireless campaign that includes television commercials, posters, radio advertisements, and speaking engagements, Owen is prompted by his growing distaste for the cut-throat world of politics to reconsider his career or risk losing his innocence. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alex D. Linz, Steven Weber, (more)
- 1998
Dissatisfied with the way her life has turned out, Beth Sager (Molly Ringwald) would give anything for the proverbial Second Chance. Upon breaking a wishbone during Thanksgiving dinner, Beth finds her dreams coming true; she is whisked to a parallel world where the people are familiar but the circumstances aren't. Among other things, Beth's dull boyfriend Joe (George Newbern) is now in love with her office rival Alannah (Melora Walters), leaving our heroine free to renew her relationship with her former beau, a handsome international celebrity. Need it be added that Beth begins having second thoughts about her sudden rush of Good Fortune--and that maybe, just maybe, things weren't all that bad in her "real" world? Produced for the Lifetime cable network, Twice Upon a Time first aired on November 9, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ellen Crawford, Carolyn Fears, (more)
- 1990
Miracle Landing is a quickly but carefully made TV movie dramatizing an actual near-disaster in the air. The tale begins with Aloha Airline's Flight 737 making a routine trip between Hilo and Honolulu. As the plane reaches an altitude of 24,000 feet, the top portion of the fuselage suddenly strips off, depressurizing the cabin and exposing the passengers to flying debris and deadly winds. The film then concentrates on the cool professionalism of the flight attendants and 3-person crew, as they calm down the 89 passengers and bring the severely damaged plane for a safe landing. Miracle Landing is cut-and-dried for the most part, but isolated moments are impossible to forget--notably a shot of an anguished passenger with a shard of metal grotesquely fused to his face! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Written and directed by cinematographer Robert Chappell, the Indonesian actioner Java Burn stars William Penn Sullivan as Nicky Hogan, your basic stubble-chinned American expatriate. While shacking up with local prostitute Aileen (Ayu Azhari), Hogan answers the mysterious summons of American woman Samantha (Ava Lazar). The latter wants to compromise a high-ranking government official, with the help of Hogan and Aileen. When said official is murdered, Hogan becomes the target of seemingly every CIA agent and paid assassin in the Far East. The "maguffin" in Java Burn is a packet of secret documents: Who's got them, who wants them, and who can be trusted? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Penn Sullivan, Ava Lazar, (more)
- 1989
Purchasing an antique bureau at a furniture store rummage sale, Jessica finds an old, undelivered letter in one of the drawers. For reasons made clear in the episode, she turns the letter over to a local volunteer fireman (Jonathan Goldsmith)--who later perishes in a blaze that was deliberately set at the very same furniture store. Want to bet that the letter and the murder are somehow linked, and that Jessica will find that link before episode's end? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
In the final episode of Murder She Wrote's fourth season, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) volunteers as a speech writer for her old friend Kathleen Lane (Shirley Jones), whose wealthy husband Jackson (Eddie Albert) is bankrolling her political campaign. Not surprisingly, politics and scandal go hand in hand on this occasion, with rumors flying that Kathleen is carrying on a romance with her handsome campaign manager. When the manager is murdered, the tabloids have a field day--and Jessica has a not-so-high old time trying to prove that Kathleen was not the killer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
A young man accidentally involves his lover in an assassination, and must track her down to save her life. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ayu Azhari, Peter Bodzek, (more)
- 1988
As suggested by its title, this episode is a not-so-goodnatured spoof of the popular "whoddunnit" series Murder She Wrote. Hunter (Fred Dryer) is summoned to the home of his millionaire friend Clarence Hyland (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.), who has narrowly escaped an attempt on his life. Naturally, the house is filled to the brim with suspects, notably Hyland's covetous nieces and nephews. As Hunter tries to weed out the guilty party, he must also put up with the well-intentioned meddling of celebrated mystery writer--and self-styled sleuth--Jennifer Brasher (Marge Redmond. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
An adventure tale for movie buffs, Jake Speed deftly lifts scenes from detective films of the '40s through the '70s to bring an added dimension to its spoof of the detective and adventure genres. When a family gets word that their daughter has been kidnapped in Paris, her father comments that they should get "Jake Speed" to find her. However, Jake is a comic strip character, and the reaction is that he might as well ask for Batman. But lo-and-behold, the other daughter Margaret (Karen Kopins) gets a message to meet Speed (Wayne Crawford) and his author, Remo (Dennis Christopher), and the men tell her they must go to Africa, where her sister is being held. After a certain amount of trial and error, they eventually find the nation where she's being held -- which happens to be in the middle of a revolution. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wayne Crawford, Dennis Christopher, (more)
In this satirical sci-fi comedy, Samantha (Kelli Maroney) and Regina (Catherine Mary Stewart) are two sisters whose father was a hard-bitten Green Beret, but who've grown into typical Valley Girls. They end up spending the night in a steel-lined room just as a comet passes close to the earth, vaporizing the people in its wake. When Samantha and Regina emerge, they discover that they have the city to themselves, and they begin the shopping spree to end all shopping sprees. En route to the mall, they discover Hector (Robert Beltran), the only survivor they've found so far, and they argue over who gets the last boyfriend on Earth. However, the mall holds an unpleasant surprise -- a small army of zombified stockboys who the gals must battle using an arsenal they shoplifted along the way (while lamenting that "Daddy would have gotten us Uzis!" after a MAC-10 fails to fire). Meanwhile, a cadre of soldiers from a special military experiment have come out of hiding, but it seems that they need fresh blood to survive, and Samantha and Regina look like just the refreshment they need. Cult figure Mary Woronov also appears in a supporting role as a scientist. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Catherine Stewart, Kelli Maroney, (more)
- 1983
The orphans of St. Francis School for Boys are about to be evicted from their home by a crooked town commission. With their guardian, a priest (John Huston), the group must unite to save themselves and the home. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1983
In this syrupy drama, a terminally ill priest continues trying to keep his orphanage from closing. Fortunately, a rousing soccer game (featuring the legendary player Pele) saves the orphanage ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1980
This made-for-TV historical drama chronicles the personal and professional lives of Colonel Tibbets and the airmen who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The story is based on a book by Gordon Thomas and Max Gordon Witts and also looks at the ways in which the aftermath of the bombing affected their lives. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1980
The landmark 1978 courtroom prosecution which determined that a married man can by law be brought up on charges of raping his wife, was meticulously--and tastefully--detailed in this made-for-TV movie. Linda Hamilton stars as Oregon housewife Greta Rideout, who after years of abuse at the hands her husband John (Mickey Rourke) (it is the sort of marriage described by one observer as "usually [winding] up as suicide or homicide") finally takes him to court, accusing him of forcing her to have sex against her will. Among those involved in the case are feminist activists Helen (Conchata Ferrell) and Jean (Gail Strickland) and opposing attorneys Gary Gortmaker (Eugene Roche) and Charles Burt (Rip Torn). Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case originally aired October 30, 1980 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Hamilton, Mickey Rourke, (more)
- 1978
This final episode of The Waltons' sixth season marks the return of series regular Ellen Corby, appearing as Grandma Walton for the first time since suffering a stroke in 1977. Back at home after a long hospital stay, Grandma is still unable to speak and is very limited in her movements. She's also quite peeved over the fact that the family won't allow her to even try to recover on her own, and insists upon waiting on her hand and foot. Meanwhile, young Elizabeth Walton (Kami Cotler) discovers she has an admirer in the form of her shy, chubby classmate Clarence (Kenny Marquis). The episode's closing line is one of the truly classic moments in TV history. Ironically, "Grandma Comes Home" also represents the final appearance of Will Geer as Grandpa Walton; Geer died shortly after filming completed, in the summer of 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), John (Ralph Waite) reacts with anger when he discovers that Erin has taken a second job, caring for the children of a single man. Meanwhile, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) has returned home in hopes of reopening the Guthrie mine and revitalizing the local economy. But fate takes a hand in matters when John-Boy is trapped in a cave-in along with Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) and Ben (Eric Scott). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Richard Thomas briefly returns to the role of John-Boy Walton in this first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour installment). Upon hearing of the dire financial conditions in Jefferson County, John-Boy comes home with plans of reopening the old Guthrie coal mine. Elsewhere, John Walton (Ralph Waite) weighs the possibility of giving up the family business and going to work at a defense plant; and Erin ($Mary Elizabeth McDonough) hesitates to inform her family that she has taken a second job under "questionable" circumstances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
- PG
When a radio station's management announces that there's going to be an upswing in commercials on the air, with a strong emphasis on ads for the U.S. Army, the anti-establishment deejays form a united front against the "suits." With station manager Jeff Dugan's (Michael Brandon) unofficial approval, the other employees hijack the station, playing the kind of music they like before the authorities can arrive. Martin Mull appears in his feature-film debut as a zoned-out record spinner. In addition, the film includes live appearances by the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffett, Tom Petty, and REO Speedwagon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Brandon, Eileen Brennan, (more)
- 1978
The Baldwin sisters are visited by their young cousin Mary Frances Conover (Stacey Nelkin), who has been living in a convent. When Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) falls in love with Mary Frances, she is faced with a tough decision: whether to return the boy's affections, or to remain faithful to her lifelong dream of becoming become a nun. Meanwhile, Ben hires a likeable new lumberyard worker named Beau (Bruce French), who is harboring a disturbing secret. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In the first half of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), the Baldwin sisters are visited by two English youngsters, Tess and Pip Wrayburn (Sally Boyden, Jeff Cotler), who have been evacuated to the States in the wake of the London blitz. While spending Christmas with the Walton family, the Wrayburn kids prove to be standoffish and impossible to get along with, due to the likelihood that both of their parents have been killed in the bombing--a tragedy that has a devastating effect on Olivia (Michael Learned) as well. At the same time, Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough) has difficulty adjusting to the death of her friend G.W. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
When the Army holds maneuvers on Walton's Mountain, Olivia (Michael Learned) worries that the War is drawing ever closer to home. She decides to paint landscape portraits of several local landmarks, on the chance that they will be destroyed in the months to come--beginning with Drucilla's Pond, which may be irrevocably polluted by the Army's wasted ammunition rounds. The story takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious art patron purchases Olivia's paintings for a sizeable sum. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
With America's entry into WW2 still several months away, Mary Ellen's husband Curt (Tom Bower) is drafted in to the US Army Medical Corps, while Erin's erstwhile soldier boyfriend G.W. (David Doremus) returns on furlough. At the same time, Jason's rambunctious pal Yancy (Robert Donner) decides to enlist, pausing only long enough to wed his girlfriend Sissy (Cissy Wellman). The episode ends on a tragic note as one of the Mountain's three soldiers returns home in a coffin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), new mother Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) is in a state of panic after her baby son John Curtis Willard disappears. It turns out the infant has been kidnapped by a girl named Cassie (Beth Raines), who has not been in her right mind since the death of her own infant. Elsewhere, the Walton men conspire to keep Olivia (Michael Learned) from finding out that Jason (Jon Walmsley) has landed a piano-playing job in a seedy burlesque house! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The Waltons decide to hold a big celebration to commemorate the final payment on their mortgage and a lucrative new lumber contract. But in the midst of all the revelry, the family discovers that someone else is having a streak of very bad luck--namely, storekeeper Ike Godsey (Joe Conley), without whose help the Waltons' lumber business might never have gotten off the ground. Elsewhere, the Walton girls conspire with Corabeth Godsey (Ronnie Claire Edwards) and Maude Gormley (Merie Earle) to find a wife for Rev. Buchanan (Peter Fox). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
