Shecky Green Movies
Veteran nightclub comedian Shecky Greene is more of a storyteller than a dispenser of one-liners, and this fact might be the secret behind his durability. Greene started out in his home turf of Chicago in 1947; within six years, he was headlining in Las Vegas and making the first of thousands of TV appearances. Not entirely comfortable playing anyone other than "himself," he has nonetheless essayed character parts in such films as Tony Rome (1968), The Love Machine (1970), History of the World Part One (1981), and Splash (1984, as Mr. Buyrite). He also played wisecracking Private Braddock on the first (1962-63) season of the TV war drama Combat. Shecky Greene has been the recipient of many honors and industry awards for his stand-up work. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
While being interviewed on film by Paul (Paul Reiser), great-uncle Marty (Shecky Green) ruins the shot by dropping dead. Marty's garbled final words ("Hummus?" "Cow Moos?" "Hey Miss?") touches off yet another crisis in the Buchman family. Amidst a veritable smorgasbord of famous guest stars, episode director David Steinberg garners some of the biggest laughs in the role of a long-winded rabbi. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Face (Dirk Benedict) is given a trial membership at an exclusive country club, an honor that proves to be a mixed blessing when he finds out that Murdock (Dwight Schultz) is already a guest at the club--and that the A-Team's perennial nemesis Fullbright (Jack Ging) is a fully paid-up member. But that's not the worst of it; another member, crooked bank executive McKeever (Kevin McCarthy), is masterminding an elaborate counterfeiting scheme right on the club grounds. Ingredients vital to the action are a deadly golf game, an escape on a private jet, and a most unusual celebrity "roast." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
- R
Yet another teen romance and hijinks movie for the pre-pubescent, this film is set in the mid-1950s and involves two rival California high schools whose bands are in serious competition. Other than that plot device, there is a telephone hotline to teen love run by J.D. (Michael Winslow) and the usual collection of teenage gags and pranks. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Greg Bradford, Mary Beth Evans, (more)
"I'm in love with a mermaid!" read the opening line of Leonard Maltin's original review for Splash. And with the delightful Darryl Hannah in the lead, who could fault Maltin for his public declaration of ardor? The story begins in 1959, when a young boy is rescued from a watery grave by an adolescent mermaid. Twenty-five years later, the boy has grown up--and lo and behold, it's Tom Hanks. Meanwhile, the mermaid, likewise grown up, has surfaced in search of Hanks, her long-lost love. On dry land, the mermaid is able to walk about on legs; any contact with salt water, and she reverts to her half-fish form. Adopting the name of Madison from a New York street sign, the girl manages to win Hanks' heart. Alas, a secret government lab, populated by such smarmy types as Richard B. Shull and Eugene Levy, captures Madison for research purposes--and possible vivisection. Egged on by his brother John Candy, Hanks rescues his beloved, joining her in the ocean depths as a mer-man (mer-fellow? mer-guy?) A captivating confection from the peerless creative team of director Ron Howard and screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, Splash was a winner all the way--especially at the box office, where the $11 million film racked up a huge profit. Historical sidebar: Splash was the first release from Disney's Touchstone Pictures division. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, (more)
- 1983
Outraged when graft-happy Congressman Pike (Shecky Greene) announces plans to tear down Cowboy Bill's in order to construct a high-rise office building, Frank (Phil Foster) decides to run against Pike in an upcoming election. Unfortunately, Frank is easily trounced by his opponent during a TV debate--but in this case, "winning" and "losing" are interchangeable commodities. Originally slated as the final episode of Laverne & Shirley, "Councilman DeFazio" was ultimately moved up to the next-to-final slot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Like the 1960 theatrical feature of the same name, the made-for-TV Midnight Lace was inspired by Matilda Shouted Fire, a novel by Janet Green. Mary Crosby stars as Cathy Preston, the role originally essayed by Doris Day in the 1960 film, while Gary Frank steps into the old Rex Harrison role as Cathy's husband Brian, a recording executive. Though convinced that someone is trying to murder her, Cathy is unable to persuade anyone else of the danger she is in; even her beloved Brian insists that his wife is merely hallucinating. By the time it becomes obvious that Cathy has indeed been targeted for death, it is nearly too late, thanks to the clever machinations of the heretofore well-hidden instigator of the plot. Also in the cast is Celeste Holm as Cathy's wealthy aunt Sylvia, a part played by Myrna Loy in the earlier version. The TV adaptation of Midnight Lace debuted February 9, 1981, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
- R
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Mel Brooks produced, directed, wrote, and starred in this episodic comedy in the spirit of Monty Python and the 1957 studio travesty The Story of Mankind. The film is divided into five sequences that play like blue-toned Eddie Cantor vaudeville sketches -- "The Dawn of Man," "The Stone Age," The Spanish Inquisition," "The Bible," and "The Future." Also included is a Brooksian depiction of The Last Supper and a long-winded sequence about the French Revolution. The film starts with a 2001: A Space Odyssey parody, narrated by Orson Welles, in which a collection of ape-men learn to stand erect (in more ways than one). The Stone Age reveals the origins of both the first homo sapien and homosexual marriages. Brooks then appears in an Old Testament sequence as Moses, descending from Mount Sinai with three heavy stone tablets bearing the 15 Commandments; after he drops one of these tablets, the laws of God become 10 Commandments. The Roman period picks up with Brooks as Comicus, attempting to get a gig as a "stand-up philosopher" at Caesar's Palace. The Spanish Inquisition is a musical production number with monks torturing Jews to lively Broadway musical strains. The final French revolution section is a broad parody of The Man in the Iron Mask story. The film closes with coming attractions of "History of the World, Part II" that features a rousing Star Wars parody (anticipating Space Balls) called "Jews in Space" that includes a jaunty theme song. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Brooks, Dom DeLuise, (more)
- 1976
- PG
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This spoof makes fun of a certain famous German shepherd movie star from the 1920s. The mayhem begins when the head honcho of a financially struggling studio turns a lost dog into a legend. The story features a number of old stars making cameo appearances. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Dern, Madeline Kahn, (more)
- 1971
- R
Based on the novel The Love Machine, by Jacqueline Susann, this movie concerns the machinations, in the boardroom and in the bedroom, of a group of people--from the chairman of the board down--who are involved in network television. Through his own guile and the sponsorship of his mistress (Dyan Cannon), the wife of the chairman of the board, a lowly television newsman (John Phillip Law) becomes the head of the network in a very short time. He leaves behind very few friends on his climb to the top, however, and he will need some. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Phillip Law, Dyan Cannon, (more)
Frank Sinatra brings a sneering Rat Pack ethos to his first hard-boiled detective role in Tony Rome. Tony is an ex-cop who lives on a houseboat off Miami, accepting fees for private-eye work. His former partner, Ralph Turpin (Robert J. Wilke), asks Tony for help in locating Diana Pines (Sue Lyon), the daughter of rich construction magnate Rudolph Kosterman (Simon Oakland). Tony finds her unconscious and drunk in a sleazy motel room and returns her to her home. Rudolph decides to hire Tony in order to find out why his daughter is behaving so erratically. In the meantime, Diana's stepmother, Rita (Gena Rowlands), also offers Tony money to inform her first about whatever Tony finds out. He discovers that Diana has lost an expensive diamond pin, but before he can act upon the information, he is beaten up by two goons and nearly killed by Diana's crazy step-uncle. Tony then finds out that Turpin has been murdered. With help from sultry and sexy divorcée Ann Archer (Jill St. John), Tony discovers that Diana has been funneling large sums of money to her alcoholic mother, Lorna (Jeanne Cooper), with Rita's priceless jewelry being replaced by fakes. A collection of disagreeable human sludge all take their turns trying to get Tony and the information that he holds -- including his old pal Lieutenant Santini (Richard Conte). After a murder attempt on Rudolph's life, Tony uncovers a series of vile connections involving blackmail, deceit, and betrayal. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Sinatra, Jill St. John, (more)
- 1962
The first season of Combat! follows the exploits of King Company, a platoon of American GI's making their way through occupied Europe in the months just following D-day. In addition to series stars Vic Morrow (as Sgt. Chip Saunders) and Rick Jason (as Lt. Gil Hanley), the 32 hour-long episodes feature a pair of regulars unique to season one: Steven Rogers as medical aidman Doc Walton, and legendary nightclub comic Shecky Greene as wisecracking wheeler-dealer Pvt. Braddock. Highlights include the debut episode, written by prolific science-fiction specialist Richard Matheson under the pseudonym "Logan Swanson"; and the later episode "Hill 256", in which King Company's most reckless GI, Private Kirby (Jack Hogan) is brought up on charges of cowardice under fire. And of course the season yields an impressive crop of guest stars, including Jeffrey Hunter, Howard Duff, Keenan Wynn, Frank Gorshin, Robert Culp, and future Mary Tyler Moore regular Ted Knight. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1962
The most successful of network television's many WWII dramatic series of the '60s, Combat!, ran for five seasons on ABC -- or roughly one year longer than the war lasted! Set in the months following D-Day, the weekly, hour-long series focused on King Company, a platoon of American GIs battling their way through Southern Europe, encountering action, adventure, humor, heartbreak and dozens of guest stars along the way. Throughout the series' run, King Company was headed by gritty, taciturn Sgt. Chip Saunders (Vic Morrow) and his superior officer, cool and courageous Lt. Gil Hanley (Rick Jason). Though several soldiers were attached to the platoon from one season to the next, the most enduring of the supporting players were Pierre Jalbert as Paul "Caje" Lemay, Jack Hogan as "Wild Man" Kirby, and Dick Peabody as PFC Littlejohn. Some of the better episodes were directed by such Hollywood heavyweights as Robert Altman and Burt Kennedy. Filmed in glorious black-and-white during its first four seasons -- the better to accommodate newsreel footage of actual wartime battles -- Combat! switched to color for its fifth and final season on the air. ~ All Movie Guide
