Elaine Giftos Movies
- 1998
A lawsuit involving a love triangle arouses Georgia's suspicions about Ally's feelings for Billy, leading to a confrontation---and a strange proposal from Georgia. ~ TV Guide, Rovi
- Starring:
- Calista Flockhart, Courtney Thorne-Smith, (more)
- 1987
- R
Though a young sci-fi writer suffers from a bad case of writer's block, he does not seem to have a problem finding someone to date; he is involved with his landlady and her daughter. This low-budget comedy is the feature debut of writer and director, Gary Walkow. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Villard, Susan Dey, (more)
- 1985
Celebrated Broadway musical star Vivian Blaine is cast as--what else?--a celebrated Broadway musical star, named Rita Bristol. Headling a new production costarring her daughter Patti (Lorna Luft) and produced by her son Barry (Gregg Henry), Rita is among those expressing concern when an aspiring actress is seriously wounded by an apparent mugger. Likewise on the scene is Jessica (Angela Lansbury), who suspects that the mugging is a set-up job--and who ends up going into her sleuth act when a murder occurs. Also on the call-sheet in this episode are a couple of show-biz newcomers named Milton Berle and Robert Morse. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
- R
The original "honor student by day, hooker by night" melodrama, Angel stars Donna Wilkes in the title role. During the daylight hours, the 15-year-old Angel is known as Molly, a model prep school student. Devoid of parents, Molly must find some way to keep up the cash flow, so she hits the Hollywood mean streets as a prostitute. While we thankfully don't see Angel "in action", as it were, the film makes up in violence what it lacks in raw sex. Psycho John Diehl is on the loose murdering prostitutes; detective Cliff Gorman tries to stem the murder spree, but soon the hooker ranks are sorely diminished, leaving Angel the next likely target. With the help of such friends as ex-cowboy star Rory Calhoun and transvestite Dick Shawn, Angel manages to avoid becoming a statistic. We're not giving anything away here: after all, there was a 1986 sequel, Avenging Angel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cliff Gorman, Susan Tyrrell, (more)
- 1982
Loretta Swit was still appearing on a weekly basis in MASH when she starred in the made-for-TV Games Mother Never Taught You. She plays Laura Bentells, the first female executive in a traditionally "good ole boy" office. Refusing to be patronized or disregarded, Laura quickly learns the ropes of corporate gamesmanship. Sam Waterston and Eileen Heckart co-star as, respectively, Laura's husband and mother. And that's an uncredited Madlyn Rhue as the wife of skirt-chasing executive David Spielberg. Based on the "from the front lines" book by Betty Lehan Harrigan, Games Mother Never Taught You first aired November 27, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Loretta Swit, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1982
Magnum (Tom Selleck) is assigned as bodyguard to Carrie Reardon (Kim Richards), a young rising tennis star whose arrogance far outweighs her talent. One of Carrie's many enemies has been making death threats, and seems eager and willing to carry them out as soon as possible. Making the job particularly difficult is that the chief suspect is Carrie's main competitor, tennis pro Ginger Leah Grant (Elaine Giftos)--who happens to be Magnum's former girlfriend. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1981
The two-part TV movie Through the Magic Pyramid stars Chris Barnes as a contemporary youngster who is whisked back to the days of King Tut. Neither the Egyptian ruler nor his minions are any match for the Yankee resourcefulness of Master Barnes, as he wriggles in and out of various misadventures. Among the people who cross Chris' path in Days Gone By are Hans Conried, Vic Tayback, Gino Conforti, and (as Nefertiti) Elaine Giftos. Ron Howard executive-produced and directed, while Ron's dad Rance Howard coproduced and wrote the script. Through the Magic Pyramid was originally offered in two one-hour helpings, which first aired December 6 and 13, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1981
- PG
The directorial debut of actor and stand-up comedian David Steinberg concerns a single man who decides that he wants to be a dad -- without the complication of a wife. Burt Reynolds stars as Buddy Evans, the manager of Madison Square Garden. A longtime lothario, Buddy has always been very content as a bachelor, but he has begun to feel lately that he'd like to experience fatherhood. His yearnings receive plenty of fuel from his best friends Larry (Norman Fell) and Kurt (Paul Dooley), and from his parental-mentor relationship with a young boy, Tad (Peter Billingsley). So Buddy decides to seek out a woman who will bear his baby for a price, with no strings attached. He finds Maggie Harden (Beverly D'Angelo), a beautiful young music student working as a waitress and yearning for the financial resources to study in Paris. She agrees to serve as Buddy's temporary companion, but as the months pass and her pregnancy progresses, Maggie begins to fall in love with Buddy, who doesn't return her affections -- at first. Steinberg would go on to have greater success as a television sitcom director, calling the shots for several episodes of hit series in the '80s amd '90s. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Beverly D'Angelo, (more)
- 1979
An autopsy X-ray reveals that the corpse of a murdered courier contained a sack of diamonds worth $2,000,000, hidden within a pacemaker. Under pressure from a team of U.S. Customs officials, Quincy (Jack Klugman) agrees to go undercove in hopes of flushing out a dangerous gang of international jewel smugglers. This explains why Quincy shows up at a Las Vegas beauty contest ("Miss Coroner", no less), offering to sell the diamonds to a notorious gangster...and acting very, very nervous about the whole thing. The climax of this episode bears a striking resemblance to the film noir classic D.O.A. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1979
- R
Six recently divorced males gather 'round a restaurant table and talk about their past lives and their recently failed marriages while trying to piece their lives back together. This drama is somewhat interesting for presenting the topic of life after a divorce from a man's point of view. (And yes, Neil Sedaka sings the smash title song over the final credits - so don't change that dial!) Originally made for television, and broadcast on ABC in two parts - one on Wed., Sep. 5, 1979, and one on Friday, Sep. 7, 1979 -- this film was reissued on video about ten years later to capitalize on Billy Crystal's growing fame. When it arrived on home video, the picture received its first MPAA rating (R) and was edited down from its original running time of 150 minutes to 96 minutes. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1975
Most TV movies about obscene phone callers concentrate on the reactions of the victims--and the subsequent dangers they're exposed to. The Secret Night Caller takes a different tack, telling its story from the point of view of the caller. What makes the film doubly disturbing is that the dirty-mouthed phoner is played by Brady Bunch star and TV icon Robert Reed. Reed portrays an IRS agent (and seemingly contented family man) who is overtaken by his compulsion to phone strangers and whisper profanities. Even worse, Reed's access to tax-office records enables him to ring up people all over the country. The drama concentrates on Reed's mounting realization that he has to stop himself before someone else does. Though seedy and manipulative at times, The Secret Night Caller is elevated by the multifaceted performance of Robert Reed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
Crackle of Death is a hybrid feature film comprised of two episodes from the 1974 TV series Night Stalker. Series regulars Darren McGavin and Simon Oakland head the cast, playing, respectively, reporter Carl Kolchak and editor Tony Vincenzo. It was Kolchak's weekly habit on the series to run across an example of supernatural phenomena, then to try to convince the disbelieving Vincenzo to run the story. The two Night Stalker episodes represented herein are "The Energy Eater", in which a new hospital is bedevilled by a creature that thrives on electrical energy, and "Fire Fall", in which a famed pianist is troubled by his evil alter ego. Guest stars in the 94-minute Crackle of Death include Philip Carey, William Smith, Elaine Giftos. Directors for the individual components were Alex Grasshoff and Don Weis. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
How will Keith (David Cassidy) wriggle out of taking two girls out on the same night? Well, he could follow the advice of his sister Laurie (Susan Dey) and tell both girls the truth about the situation--or he could use the old "I've got a terrible cold" routine on one of the ladies. So guess which option he chooses? The role of Johanna is played by one Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor, who, using her married name Cheryl Ladd, went on to fame and fortune as one of "Charlie's Angels." Songs: "Oh No, Not My Baby" and "A Little Bit of Lovin'". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
William Windom does his best "Colonel Sanders" imitation as Uncle Erwin Tully, the flamboyant owner of a chain of chicken restaurants. Hiring the Partridges to appear in one of his TV commercials, Uncle Erwin insists that the family dress up in chicken costumes--much to the dismay of both the family and Tully's business advisers, who can't bring themselves to tell him that his new ad campaign has all the earmarks of a disaster. Yes, folks, it's Shirley Partridge (Shirley Jones) to the rescue again! Song: "A Friend and a Lover". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
Feeling they have been a bit too rough on Reuben (Dave Madden) lately, the Partridges vow to be extra nice to him from now on. Unaccustomed to such positive treatment, Reuben jumps to the conclusion that the family is merely feeling sorry for him--and that he is doomed to die! A subsequent birthday party attended by Reuben's mother Clara (played by "Wicked Witch" Margaret Hamilton) and girlfriend Bonnie (Elaine Giftos) only further persuades him that he's not long for this world--and it is up to his level-headed mom to snap Reuben out of his self-pitying funk. Songs: "I Wouldn't Put Nothing Over on You", "I've Got Your Love All Over Me", "Just Lovin' You". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
In this made-for-TV movie, honest wrestling promoter Frank Bass (Ed Asner) must struggle to foil the efforts of some lowlife wrestlers who are attempting to profit from a fixed fight. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- 1972
In this crossover episode with Adam-12's "sister" series Emergency!, mobile officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) join forces with doctors of Rampart Hospital and the paramedics of Emergency Squad 51. Their most urgent assignment consists of locating two runaways: a dangerously diabetic 8-year-old boy (Kirby Furlong) and a suicidal teenage drug addict (Diane Sherry. In addition to guest appearances by Emergency! regulars Robert Fuller, Julie London, Bobby Troup, Kevin Tighe and Randolph Mantooth, this episode features Elaine Giftos as Malloy's latest girlfriend Kathy, and future Days of Our Lives leading lady Dierdre Hall as a nurse. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1972
Originally scheduled to air on December 10, 1971, this is the only episode to spotlight the youngest Partridge kids Chris (Brian Forster) and Tracy (Suzanne Crough). After receiving a severe tongue-lashing from mom Shirley (Shirley Jones), the two youngsters pack up and run away from home. . .all the way to the apartment of band manager Reuben (Dave Madden). In addition to lousing up a romantic rendezvous between Reuben and his stewardess girlfriend Bonnie (Elaine Giftos), the kids partake in the time-honored sitcom routine of giving a sheepdog a bubble-bath! Song: "I Would Have Loved You Anyway". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1972
- R
- Add Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, But Were Afraid to Ask to Queue Add Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, But Were Afraid to Ask to top of Queue
Woody Allen's in-name-only adaptation of the once notorious sexual reference guide by Dr. David Reuben contains seven episodes based on "helpful" questions answered in the book. In "Do Aphrodisiacs Work?", Allen appears as a court jester who uses a love potion to spark the erotic interests of the Queen (Lynn Redgrave). "What Is Sodomy?" stars Gene Wilder as a doctor who throws away his marriage, career, and position in the community when he falls madly in love with an Armenian sheep named Daisy. "Why Do Some Women Have Trouble Reaching Orgasm?" is a parody of stylish Italian films of the '60s in which a slick playboy (Woody Allen) discovers his wife (Louise Lasser) can climax only when they make love in public places. In "Are Transvestites Homosexuals?," Sam (Lou Jacobi) has his little secret revealed at a most inopportune moment. "What Are Sex Researchers Actually Accomplishing?" features John Carradine in a great parody of his mad-scientist roles as Dr. Bernardo, whose research into human sexuality has led to a fearsome mutation -- a 50-foot tall female breast! "What Are Sexual Perversions?" takes us to a broadcast of the popular game show What's My Perversion?, in which Jack Barry leads a panel of celebrities (including Regis Philbin and Robert Q. Lewis) in guessing the erotic obsessions of their guests. And "What Happens During Ejaculation?" takes the audience inside the body of a man in the throes of passion; The Brain (Tony Randall) guides the body's functions, with the help of his assistant (Burt Reynolds), while Allen plays a nervous sperm cell not sure if he can make the big jump. While the quality of the episodes is uneven, the best rank with the funniest moments of Allen's career, especially Gene Wilder's touching romance with the sheep ("I think we can make this work, Daisy") and the final sequence inside the male body ("What if he's only masturbating? I'll end up on the ceiling somewhere!"). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Woody Allen, John Carradine, (more)
- 1972
Returning from a Mexican vacation, Bob discovers that Jerry has decided to marry his gorgeous oral hygienist, Cynthia Fremont (Elaine Giftos), whom he has known for all of nine days. Love being blind, Jerry is oblivious to the fact that Cynthia is pushy and domineering. Though Bob tries to remain aloof, he realizes that Jerry is on the verge of making the biggest mistake of his life. Written by Martin Cohan, "Anything Happen While I Was Gone?" first aired on November 25, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1972
Several years before achieving stardom in the TV miniseries Rich Man--Poor Man, Peter Strauss is cast in this episode as temporarily paroled convict Bobby Jepson. Ordered to find a job during a 36-hour-pass or return to prison, Jepson runs headlong into a stone wall of prejudice and hostility, with only Detective Stone (Karl Malden) willing to give the man a break. But even Stone's compassion is sorely tested when Jepson is accused of murder--and the evidence seems air-tight and irrefutable. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1971
This episode reunites Ironside star Raymond Burr with his former Perry Mason costar Barbara Hale. Chief Ironside (Burr) comes to the aid of Marsha Connell (Hale) when she is implicated in the murder of a member of an improvisational comedy group. The killing takes place during a stage performance, so naturally all the actors--and everyone in the theater, for that matter--fall under suspicion. The episode's highlight is the bravura performance of Roddy McDowell as a washed-up child actor attempting a comeback as an improv comic. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1970
- R
The first in producer Roger Corman's quintet of "Nurse" movies, this exploitation outing, made on a meager $120,000 budget, chronicles the romantic and professional travails of a group of nurses. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Elaine Giftos, Karen Carlson, (more)
- 1970
Having accumulated $67,000 from a gold strike, prospector Chris Keller (Christopher Connelly) finds himself the target of virtually every confidence trickster in the country. To save himself and his cash, Chris hides out at the Ponderosa, only to be lured into the open by lovely Charity McGill (Elaine Giftos). By an amazing coincidence, sweet Charity needs $65,000 to pay for her dear father's medical expenses. The Cartwrights are certain that Charity is yet another con artist-but is she? Ralph Waite of The Waltons fame appears in the supporting role of Hoby. Written by Preston Wood, "The Lady and the Mark" first aired February 1, 1970, then was chosen by NBC for an encore presentation in June of 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1970
They used to say "don't trust anyone over 30," but there's no one over 30 left to distrust in this loosely plotted satirical comedy directed by Roger Corman. During the opening ceremonies for a chemical and biological weapons facility in Alaska, an experimental gas is accidentally released which has an unusual effect -- it rapidly advances the aging process of those over 25, while those under 25 are left untouched. Soon, the world's elders are dead, with the planet left to the youth. Wisecracking hippy Coel (Robert Corff) and his girlfriend, Cilla (Elaine Giftos), discover that rookie cops and conservative frat rats have taken over their hometown of Dallas, TX, so they hit the road in his vintage Ford Edsel in search of a friendly commune in New Mexico. Along the way, they pair up with music-obsessed Marissa and her radical boyfriend, Carlos (Ben Vereen), and as they look for their new home, they encounter Hell's Angels-turned-country club members, a neo-fascist football team, a pack of painfully shy would-be sexual predators, rock star and self-proclaimed "godhead" A.M. Radio (Country Joe McDonald), and Edgar Allen Poe (Bruce Karcher), who roams the highways on his motorcycle. Gas-S-S-S! (aka Gas-s-s-s...or, It May Become Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It) proved to be the last of Roger Corman's many projects for American International Pictures; according to Corman, AIP subjected the film to severe prerelease cutting without his consent, and the interference was one of the factors that inspired him to start his own company, New World Pictures. The film also provided early supporting roles for Bud Cort and Talia Shire, the latter billed as Tally Coppola; psychedelic rock band Country Joe & the Fish appear in a concert sequence and provide the film's musical score. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Corff, Elaine Giftos, (more)
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