John Reilly
- 1998
In this sci-fi action story set in the not-so-distant future, American and Russian scientific teams have joined forces to man a space station that is still being constructed as it orbits the Earth. After a number of flaws in the station's computer system become evident, Amanda (Teri Ann Linn), a system's expert, is put on a shuttle to the station to troubleshoot the equipment. Joining her is Russian technician Federov (Frank Zagariono), but en route it is discovered that Federov is actually a member of a terrorist group; after taking Amanda hostage, Federov threatens to destroy the space station and use SDI weaponry against the world if his demands are not met. With time running out, maverick shuttle pilot J.J. Hendricks (Daniel Baldwin) may be the only person who can rescue Amanda and save the world from the Russian terrorists. Fallout also stars Scott Valentine and John Reilly. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Baldwin, Frank Zagarino, (more)
- 1986
- R
Michael Keaton plays a famous Chicago-based hockey player who befriends trouble-prone teenager Ajay Naidu (after Naidu's gang has tried to mug him!) He also extends the hand of friendship to Naidu's mother Maria Conchita Alonso, a friendship that blossoms into a physical relationship. Too self-centered to make a commitment to Alonso, Keaton tries to break things off, but Naidu won't let him go so easily. This seemingly frivolous situation is underscored by the more serious efforts of Alonso to make a better life for herself and her son. The comic and dramatic elements of Touch and Go never quite jell, but the winning performances of the three main characters help gloss over the film's unevenness. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Keaton, Maria Conchita Alonso, (more)
- 1985
- R
This undistinguished comedy about life in prison features caricatures of inmates and law enforcement officers, as well as prison guards, in attempts at slapstick action. After Duke Jarrett (Jeff Altman) is put into prison because he had sex with the wife of a government VIP, he discovers that life in the prison is out of control -- until a disciplinarian takes charge. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Altman, Dey Young, (more)
- 1983
The pilot for an unsold weekly series, Uncommon Valor stresses the courage and resourceful of a team of firefighters in Salt Lake City, Utah. Headed by dauntless batallion chief Tom Riordan (Mitchell Ryam), the unit tries to drench a raging conflagration at County General Hospital (a disaster enhanced by some pretty good special effects). They also have to battle the villain of the piece, discreetly described in the original network press release as a "deranged arsonist." A production of Sunn Classic Pictures, the made-for-TV Uncommon Valor originally aired January 22, 1983, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The humor in this Chevy Chase comedy lies solely in the eyes of the beholder. The comic plays Eddie Muntz, an arms dealer looking to make a big sale of war planes to a South American dictator. In order to do so, his girlfriend (Sigourney Weaver) has to sleep with the dictator and his friend (Gregory Hines) has to be convinced to do one more killing. Eddie's archenemy is Stryker (Vince Edwards) who wants to make that deal himself and will stop at nothing to obtain his ends. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chevy Chase, Sigourney Weaver, (more)
Ted Kotcheff continues his First Blood fervor with Uncommon Valor. Gene Hackman stars as Cal Rhodes, a former Marine Colonel who has been getting the run-around for ten years from the government concerning the disappearance of his son and his buddies - all Marines who enlisted years prior and served in Vietnam. Rhodes' son was last seen in Laos, where he was fighting in the war and captured as a POW. When word gets back to Rhodes that the men may still be alive and held in prison camps, but the government still has the men listed as missing in action, Rhodes decides to take matters into his own hands. Contacting an old friend, oil baron MacGregor (Robert Stack), Rhodes is granted financial backing to form his own incursion force. He assembles a crack team of men, puts them through an intensive period of training. and heads back with them into the Laotian jungles to search for the MIAs. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Hackman, Robert Stack, (more)
- 1983
Elizabeth Montgomery, the queen of the TV-movie "victims," plays a more take-charge role in Missing Pieces. Cast as a private detective, Montgomery has to deal with an unpleasant memory, a near-insoluble mystery, and a pursuing murderer. Drugs and political corruption are also part and parcel of this Chandleresque puzzler. In true noir fashioned, the story is narrated by Montgomery throughout. Based on a novel by Karl Alexander, Missing Pieces originally came together on May 14, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Ron Karabatsos, (more)
- 1982
In this carefree children's adventure, a grandfather and his grandson fulfill the former's life-long dream and embark upon a cross-country ballon flight. Back on the distant ground, the flyers are pursued by the boy's mother, the cops, the Feds, and others. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1981
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Quincy (Jack Klugman) races against time to locate and neutralize the mysterious neurological disease that has already claimed three lives on a luxury liner. Though some of the pasengers have managed to escape to shore, the ship is now quarantined and prohibited from docking at any port. Thus Quincy must not only stem the epidemic, but also track down those on dry land who may still be spreading it--and worse yet, his own girlfriend Janet (Diana Muldaur) is now gravely ill. Originally telecast over a two-week period, Slow Boat to Madness has since been syndicated as a single two-hour "TV movie." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
In the first episode of a two-part story, Quincy (Jack Klugman) and his lady friend Janet (Diana Muldaur) are enjoying a luxury cruise to Tahiti, when tragedy strikes. One man suddenly jumps overboard and drown, while another is murdered--and the murderer subsequently dies himself. It turns out that a mysterious but deadly illness is rapidly spreading throughout the cruiser...and unless Quincy is able to isolate the source of the disease, no one will ever set foot on shore again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
This true-life TV movie stars Glenda Jackson as Oscar-winning actress Patricia Neal and Anthony Page as her author husband Roald Dahl. In 1964, Neal is felled by a stroke, which endangers not only her life but the life of her unborn child. Both survive, but it looks as though Neal will never be able to speak coherently again. Dahl bullies, cajoles and caresses his wife into recovery; she rallies under this treatment and is finally able to resume her career and lead a normal life. The film does not touch upon the serious domestic problems which would lead to Neal and Dahl's later divorce, nor does it dwell on the "dark side" of the notoriously mercurial Mr. Dahl. Nonetheless, both Neal and Dahl felt that the book upon which Patricia Neal Story was based, (Barry Farrell's Pat and Ronald) was far too revelatory for their tastes. They severed their longtime friendship with author Farrell and never spoke to him again; nor did they have anything to say publicly about The Patricia Neal Story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In this WW II adventure, a team of female pilots perform dangerous missions on both sides of enemy lines. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1979
This made-for-TV effort stars Lindsay Wagner as Meg Laurel, an orphan who graduates Harvard Medical School and returns to treat the sick in her Appalachian hometown in the 1930s. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal attempt to recapture the screwball spark of What's Up, Doc? in the labored farce The Main Event. Streisand plays Hillary Kramer, a bankrupt perfume executive who discovers that one of her tax write-offs from more prosperous times was the ownership of prizefighter Kid Natural (Ryan O' Neal). Kid Natural is now a driving instructor who wants nothing to do with boxing, but Hillary is determined to resurrect the Kid's less-than-spectacular boxing career. She installs herself as the Kid's manager and tries to get him in shape to go the distance. Along the way, the two fall in love. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, (more)
- 1978
Earl Hamner Jr. of The Waltons fame cowrote the teleplay for Lassie: The New Beginning with Jack Miller. The venerable female collie is now owned by two orphan children (Shane Sinutko and Sally Boyden). She accompanies the kids on a hazardous journey from Arizona to Southern California in search of their only living kin. You won the bet--Lassie does rescue the children in the (ta da!) nick of time. John McIntyre and Jeanette Nolan costar in this 100-minute TV movie. Lassie: The New Beginning was first telecast in two parts on September 17 and 24, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Reilly, Lee Bryant, (more)
- 1978
No, the "three hungry wives" in this made-for-TV movie aren't in search of a square meal. It's sex they're after, though much is talked about and little is shown. The eponymous wives are played by Jessica Walter, Gretchen Corbett and Heather MacRae; their respective husbands are Richard Roat, Craig Stevens and John Reilly. When multimillionaire James Franciscus is murdered, we learn that each of the wives has had an affair with him. Produced by the folks at Penthouse magazine, Secrets of Three Hungry Wives debuted October 9, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
This Kojak episode is the second of two pilot films for Salathiel Harris, an unsold TV action series starring Rosey Grier as a two-fisted California bounty hunter. Just as in the first pilot "Bad Dude", Salathiel Harris has arrived in Manhattan in search of a particularly scabrous bail jumper. And just as before, Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) is determined to beat Harris to the punch and haul in the fugitive himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
- PG
Robert Redford plays Waldo Pepper, a former World War I pilot who exaggerates his accomplishments in order to impress the rabble. After a brief rivalry with air-show entrepreneur Axel Olsson (Bo Svenson), Pepper teams with Axel to barnstorm all over the Midwest; later, after a series of unexpected (and calamitous) events, Pepper gets a job as a movie stunt pilot. On the set, he meets the film's technical advisor: former German ace Ernst Kessler (Bo Brundin), a man whom Pepper has been claiming falsely to have fought during the war, thereby advancing his own reputation. He is as disillusioned with civilian life as Pepper is, and ignoring the entreaties of the film's director, stages a genuine dogfight (sans live ammo) with his old "opponent." The Great Waldo Pepper represented the third filmic collaboration between star Robert Redford and director George Roy Hill. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Redford, Bo Svenson, (more)
- 1966
Andy is elected to umpire that championship Little League game between Mayberry and Mount Pilot. Exercising fine impartiality, Andy calls his own son Opie out, then promptly gets it in the neck from everyone in town. Ultimately, Andy is redeemed by Howard Sprague's newspaper sports column, but camera-bug Helen discovers the story isn't quite over yet. This episode was cowritten by Sid Morse and Rance Howard, the father of series regular Ronny Howard. "The Ball Game" first aired on October 3, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Season Seven of The Andy Griffith Show commenced on September 12, 1966, with the episode titled "Opie's Girlfriend." Slated to entertain Helen's niece Cynthia (Mary Ann Durkin), Opie is sorely aggrieved that the girl turns out to be smarter than he is-and a better athlete to boot! Sensing that Cynthia is fond of Opie, Helen imparts a bit of womanly wisdom to the girl. "Opie's Girlfriend" was written by Budd Grossman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Child actor Billy Mumy makes a return visit to Bewitched, this time in the role of an eight-year-old Darrin Stephens. It all begins when a miffed Endora transforms the adult Darrin into a little boy. In this "reduced" state, Darrin attends a business meeting with Larry Tate's new client, a toy manufacturer -- and thus does the plot begin to thicken. Originally shown on November 18, 1965, "Junior Executive" was written by Bernard Slade. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, (more)
- 1965
Aspiring to a military career, Jethro announces his intention to enroll at West Point. Not wishing to risk the loss of the Clampett millions, Drysdale persuades Jethro to sign up at a military academy closer to home -- with the usual chaotic results. Ubiquitous character actor John Hoyt is cast as the forever flustered Colonel Hollis, while John Reilly appears as cadet Harry Hogan. "Military School" made its first network appearance on December 15, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
