Garick Hagon Movies

Neither fish nor fowl, this docudrama is an odd combination of ostensible statistics and dramatic fiction. Using the much-touted first Kinsey Report on sexual behavior as a resource, director Arch Oboler has strung together five different vignettes on the topics of premarital relations ("Honeymoon"), infidelity ("Homecoming"), divorce ("The Divorcee"), mid-life promiscuity in men ("Average Man"), and abortion ("Baby"). The setting is a seminar given by a college professor (Leo G. Carroll), and the vignettes are introduced as remembrances of people listening to the discussions in the seminar. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "The Mutants," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) catches up with Solonian rebel Ky (Garrick Hagan), who has been framed for murder by the dictatorial Marshal (Paul Whitsun-Jones) of the orbiting Earth Skybase. Realizing that it is Ky to whom he is to deliver a secret package from the Time Lords, the Doctor completes his mission -- thus setting in motion the evolutionary process that will free the planet Solos from the Marshal's iron grip. But this story is far from over, as the Doctor will learn in the remaining two installments. Written by Bob Baker and David Martin, "The Mutants, Episode 4" first aired on April 29, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the six-part story "The Mutants," the despotic Marshal (Paul Whitsun-Jones) of the orbiting Earth Skybase prepares to launch an invasion of the planet Solos. But thanks to the combined efforts of the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and resistance leader Ky (Garrick Hagan), the Marshal is too late to stop the evolutionary process that will enable the Solonions to declare their independence. And what an evolution it is: Even Darwin couldn't have done better. Written by Bob Baker and David Martin, "The Mutants, Episode 6" first aired on May 13, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story "The Mutants," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) arrive on the planet Solos, there to help the primitive inhabitants begin their crucial evolutionary process. This assignment is complicated by the dictatorial Marshal (Paul Whitsun-Jones) of the orbiting Earth Skybase, who fears that once the Solonians evolve, they will demand full independence. An obvious but entertaining jab at Western colonialism, "The Mutants, Episode 2" was written by Bob Baker and David Martin; the episode first aired on April 15, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This handsomely-mounted historical epic concerns the birth of the Islamic faith and the story of the prophet Mohammed -- who, in accordance with the tenants of Islam, is never seen or heard (any physical depiction of the prophet is considered a heinous sin within the faith). In Mecca in the 7th century, Mohammed is visited by a vision of the Angel Gabriel, who urges him to lead the people of Mecca to cast aside the 300 idols of Kaaba and instead worship the one true God. Speaking out against the corrupt political and military leaders who rule Mecca, Mohammed and his followers struggle to worship God as they see fit, which eventually leads them into exile in Medina. However, one day God gives Mohammed a message to return to Mecca and take up arms against their oppressors -- while recruiting as many followers as they can along the way. With the help of his uncle, a brave warrior named Hamza (Anthony Quinn), Mohammed and his followers return to Mecca to liberate the city in the name of God. The Message (originally screened in the U.S. as Mohammed, Messenger of God) proved to be highly controversial during its production and initial release. Unfounded rumors had it that Mohammed would not only be depicted in the film, but that he was to be played by Charlton Heston or Peter O'Toole. This resulted in angry protests by Muslim extremists, until director Moustapha Akkad hired a staff of respected Islamic clerics as technical advisors. The advisors butted heads with Akkad, and they quit the production, which led the Moroccan government to withdraw their permission to film in their country. In time, Akkad ended up shooting on location in Libya under the sponsorship of Muammar Qaddafi, which presented a whole new set of political and practical problems for the filmmakers. Finally, when the film was scheduled to premier in the U.S., another Muslim extremist group staged a siege against the Washington D.C. chapter of the B'nai B'rith under the mistaken belief that Anthony Quinn played Mohammed in the film, threatening to blow up the building and its inhabitants unless the film's opening was cancelled. The standoff was resolved without explosion or injuries, though the film's American box office prospects never recovered from the unfortunate controversy. The Message was shot in two versions, one in English and one in Arabic (entitled Al-Ris-Alah), with different actors taking over some of the roles due to language requirements. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

George Lucas' mythological popcorn movie is a two-hour roller-coaster ride that has passed into movie legend. The story, for the tiny number of people not familiar with it, concerns a farm boy named Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) who discovers that the used robot recently purchased by his family plays back a message from one Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), begging for help from Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke asks his father's friend Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness) about this, and he discovers that Ben and Obi-Wan are one and the same. Kenobi tells Luke of the battle of the rebels against the ruling Empire and the spiritual energy called "The Force." Soon Luke, Kenobi, and a mercenary named Han Solo (Harrison Ford) join forces to rescue Princess Leia from the Empire's mammoth warship, the Death Star, controlled by evil genius Darth Vader (David Prowse, with the voice of James Earl Jones). George Lucas has frequently cited the influence of several films on Star Wars, particularly Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress and Yojimbo and John Ford's The Searchers, as well as the original Flash Gordon serials. After Star Wars became a success, Lucas announced his intention to turn the film into a series, originally totalling nine films (later pared back to six). Consequently, most reissue prints now feature the title Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope, with The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) serving as Episodes Five and Six in the serial, and Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace (1999) going back to the myth's beginnings. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this sequel to the original miniseries, Lili (Phoebe Cates), having discovered the true identity of her mother, now begins looking for her father. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Richard Attenborough directed this dramatic story, based on actual events, about the friendship between two men struggling against apartheid in South Africa in the 1970s. Donald Woods (Kevin Kline) is a white liberal journalist in South Africa who begins to follow the activities of Stephen Biko (Denzel Washington), a courageous and outspoken black anti-apartheid activist. Woods and his wife Wendy (Penelope Wilton) get to know Biko, and they become friends, until Biko is brutally murdered at the hands of government troops in 1977 for his activities against the country's repression of the black majority population. Donald is shocked and appalled by Biko's murder and determined that the truth about Biko will become known to the world; eventually, Donald and Wendy Woods and their children must leave South Africa (and nearly everything they have) as they spread the word about Biko's life and death to ensure that he did not die in vain. Washington received an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Biko. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Originally shown on television in two parts, the second of which takes place after WWII. Surviving escapee Major John Dodge (Christopher Reeve) is sent back to Germany by Winston Churchill to capture the Gestapo officer who ordered the machine-gunning of 50 of the captured escapees, in direct defiance of the Geneva convention. Donald Pleasance, one of the "good guys" in the original, plays the Nazi villain in the new version. Filmed in Yugoslavia, Great Escape II: The Untold Story was originally telecast November 6 and 7, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Behind the black cowl, Gotham City superhero Batman is really millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton), who turned to crimefighting after his parents were brutally murdered before his eyes. The only person to share Wayne's secret is faithful butler Alfred (Michael Gough). The principal villain in Batman is The Joker (Jack Nicholson) who'd been mob torpedo Jack Napier before he was horribly disfigured in a vat of acid. The Joker's plan to destroy Batman and gain control of Gotham City is manifold. First he distributes a line of booby-trapped cosmetics, then he goes on a destruction spree in the Gotham Art Museum while the music of Prince blasts away in the background, and finally he orchestrates an all-out campaign to win the hearts and minds of the Gothamites, hoping to turn them against the Cowled One. Meanwhile, reporter Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) becomes the love of Batman's life-which of course plays right into the Joker's hands. Photographed by Roger Pratt, designed by Anton Furst, and scored by Tim Burton's favorite composer Danny Elfman, Batman was a monstrous box-office hit, making $100 million in the first ten days of release--$82,800,000 in North America alone. Incidentally, Billy Dee Williams' comparatively small role as DA Harvey Dent was originally designed to set up the sequel, wherein Dent was to convert into master criminal Two-Face; but by the time the producers got around to that character in 1995's Batman Forever, Two-Face was played by Tommy Lee Jones. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The success of The Abyss led to slew of deep-sea adventures in 1989, including this silly monster movie from the director of Pieces and Slugs. Jack Scalia stars as the head of a rescue mission sent to retrieve a nuclear sub sunken off the coast of Norway, only to be menaced by phony-looking monsters and a ruthless corporate stooge (Ray Wise) trying to get everybody killed. Full Metal Jacket's R. Lee Ermey co-stars as another hard-bitten militarist, this time a ship captain, and the film features numerous poorly-done gore scenes including an exploding head and torn-off limbs. Deborah Adair is noteworthy as Scalia's ex, but the direction is poor and the monsters are likely to produce more in the way of sneers than cheers. See also Leviathan and DeepStar Six. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

In the Dutch-produced animated feature Sebastian Star Bear: The First Mission, a bear from outer space has to come to Earth to save the planet's bears from a cruel, conniving circus master. Though a diverting story, much of the animation is a little crude and the momentum of the plot occasionally sags. Most of the illustrations in the film were made in China. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide