Val Avery Movies
Avery was a versatile American character actor onscreen from 1956, beginning with The Harder They Fall. ~ All Movie Guide
New York hit man Eric O'Byrne (Matthew Modine) is sent to Miami to murder movie stunt coordinator Lance Huston (James Caan) in retaliation for an on-set accident that killed a powerful capo's nephew, who also was a drug smuggler working on a large deal with eccentric kingpin Draven (Cuba Gooding Jr.). Eric works his way into Lance's world by starting a relationship with Lance's daughter, Clarissa (Joey Lauren Adams), a sensitive pediatrician, and before long he becomes a stuntman working for Lance. But the godfather becomes anxious to have Lance killed, and Eric finds that when the time comes to pull the trigger, love and loyalty complicate the hit. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Chase, Joey Lauren Adams, (more)
- 1996
A "deadbeat dad" is found murdered in a hotel room. The suspects include the victim's embittered father-in-law Max Schaffer (Val Avery) and two women in the dead man's life. Ultimately the prosecution of the case boils down to jury sympathy for a long-suffering and arguably justified perpetrator -- not to mention a terminal leukemia patient. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Bigotry and values are questioned when a Black West Point cadet is singled out and harassed by fellow cadets and senior officers. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1992
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Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story is a made-for-cable adaptation of James Neff's Mobbed Up, a real-life account about Teamster president Jackie Presser. Brian Dennehy plays Presser, who was Jimmy Hoffa's successor as president of the Teamsters. Like Hoffa, Presser was caught between the Mafia, the FBI, and his own ambitions, and the film follows his rise to power, as well as all the trials and tribulations that arose while he was president of the Teamsters. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Jeff Daniels, (more)
- 1991
Season Two of Law & Order begins on a shockingly tragic note, as Detective Sergeant Max Greevey is shot down and killed in front of his own home (former regular George Dzundza had already departed the series when this scene was filmed). In his grief, Greevey's partner Logan (Chris Noth) vows to track the murderer to the ends of the earth -- a promise complicated by his difficulty in adjusting to new partner Phil Cerreta (Paul Sorvino). Ultimately overstepping his bounds, Logan may ironically prevent the D.A.'s office from successfully prosecuting the killer. In addition to introducing Paul Sorvino to the cast, this episode also represents the first appearance of Catherine McCormack in the recurring role of police psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Olivet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Sammy Davis Jr. guest stars as Benny Shaffer, veteran trainer of up-and-coming boxer Sonny Ruiz (Scott Colomby). When Ruiz's manager and doctor are murdered, both Shaffer and the boxer fall under suspicion. With the help of police detective Hunter (Fred Dryer), Shaffer hopes to prove that the real culprit is a big-time promoter. Famed restauranteur Nicky Blair) appears as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
This episode focuses on Blue Moon employees Bert Viola (Curtis Armstrong) and Agnes Dipesto (Allyce Beasley). Bert wants to attend a Viola family reunion, but Agnes has been sequestered with the jury for the murder trial of one John Gibson--and of course, Agnes is the sole holdout who believes in Gibson's innocence. Out of desperation, Bert decides that the only way to get Agnes out of the jury room is to solve the murder himself! In a dream sequence, the Moonlighting regulars are recast as the principals in John Gibson's alleged crime. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This three-hour TV movie stars Sophia Loren as New Yorker Marianna Miraldo. Hurt and angered by her son's cocaine addiction, Marianna discovers that a close friend also has ties with the drug scene. After several of her imprisoned friend's associates try to contact him through her, the DEA persuades Marianna to aid them in an undercover operation headed by cop Bobby Jay (Billy Dee Williams). Despite the "don't get involved" admonitions of her husband (Hector Elizondo), Marianna agrees to cooperate with the DEA, if only for the sake of her son. This fact-based film, which first aired September 24, 1986, concludes with the feds closing in on a $3.5 billion cocaine ring. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sophia Loren, Billy Dee Williams, (more)
- 1981
This episode may well have been inspired by the 1979 Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in Cincinnati, which claimed the lives of 165 persons. Insurance investigator Aaron Zacharian (Val Avery) suspects that the "accidental" fire which killed nightclub owner Lou Chesler (Borah Silver) was no accident. Zacharian believes that Chesler was murdered by his wife Elizabeth (Darleen Carr)--who may in fact be a "black widow" who specializes in knocking off husbands for their insurance. Complicating matters is the fact that medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman) has fallen in love with the bewitching Elizabeth. This episode may well have been inspired by the 1979 Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in Cincinnati, which claimed the lives of 165 persons. Insurance investigator Aaron Zacharian (Val Avery) suspects that the "accidental" fire which killed nightclub owner Lou Chesler (Borah Silver) was no accident. Zacharian believes that Chesler was murdered by his wife Elizabeth (Darleen Carr)--who may in fact be a "black widow" who specializes in knocking off husbands for their insurance. Complicating matters is the fact that medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman) has fallen in love with the bewitching Elizabeth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Director Silvio Narizzano totes out a Sunday morning public affairs programming style in this it-could-happen-to-you drama about a popular high-school student who finds that he has what some consider a disability. Paul Carafotes plays a high-school student who loves to play football and music. But when the school doctor determines that he is partially deaf, he is barred from the football team. In order to hide his disappointment, the high schooler changes his outlook to one of disinterest, and he rapidly falls in with a tough gang that is making trouble around the high school. Demi Moore appears in a small supporting role in this film -- her first film role. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Carafotes, Victor French, (more)
- 1978
Quincy (Jack Klugman) and Sam (Robert Ito) are abducted by the minions of mob boss Vince DiNardi (John Vernon), who makes an offer that our hero can't refuse. DiNaldi has been poisoned, and the doctors have given him only 24 hours to live. With Sam's life being used as a bargaining chip, Quincy is ordered to find out who has administered the fatal dose to DiNaldi, so that the doomed Mafioso can exact a final vengeance. This is the last episode of Quincy, M.E.'s third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
After a four-episode tryout as a component of the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie anthology, Quincy, M.E. launched its regular weekly run with this episode, originally telecast as a two-hour special but since re-edited for syndication as two one-hour installments. In Part One, we find LA County medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman) attending a pathologists' convention at Lake Tahoe in the company of his girlfriend Lee (Lynette Mettey) and his pal Danny (Val Bisoglio). No sooner has Quincy arrived than a mysterious illness begins spreading through a Lake Tahoe casino, claiming several lives. Asked to investigate this apparent epidemic, Quincy runs up against resistance from the anxious casino manager (Van Johnson), who is worried that news of the medical disaster will destroy his business. (Incidentally, this episode appeared not long after a medical crisis caused panic at an American Legion convention, thereby earning the designation "Legionnaire's Disease".) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In the conclusion of Quincy, M.E.'s two-part Season Two opener (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), Quincy (Jack Klugman) continues to look for the source of a mysterious epidemic that has caused several deaths at a pathologist's convention in a Lake Tahoe casino. The casino's customers and employees have now been quarantined, and panic has started to spread. This places Quincy in the unenviable position of preventing a riot--to say nothing of halting the epidemic before it expands into the rest of Nevada. Also, there's a strong possibility that the rampaging illness was far from "natural", and that there's a criminal conspiracy afoot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
A doctor is murdered, and the chief suspect is a grieving young father who held the victim responsible for his son's death. Placed in custody, the perpetrator escapes, embarking upon a seemingly senseless murder spree. In his efforts to nab the rampaging killer, undercover detective Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) tries to figure out his quarry's motives -- and his next move. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
- 1974
In a disturbing turn of events, Lt. Theo Kojak (Telly Savalas) appears to be on the take, living extravagantly, spending lavishly and gambling heavily. Only a handful of intimates are aware that Kojak's "corruption" is actually part of a scheme to trap a heroin dealer who has repeatedly eluded the authorities. Complicating (and possibly compromising) this carefully calculated sting is the vengeful widow of a murdered mob courier, played by future Jaws costar Lorraine Gary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Charles Cioffi and George DiCenzo are cast as brothers Vic and Dave, co-owners of a struggling trucking firm. Hoping for a quick financial turnover, the brothers make a deal with the Mob, offering to hijack their competitors' trucks for a share of the loot. Unfortunately, the Mob has a lengthy history of not playing fair. Curiously, though frequent F.B.I guest star Anthony Eisley is usually cast as Special Agent Chet Randolph, he is herein billed as "Agent Wright." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Based primarily on the "Silver John" tales of Manly Wade Wellman, this enthusiastically silly low-budgeter tells the story of young John (Hedge Capers), a balladeer who returns home to find that his Grandpappy (Denver Pyle) -- also named John -- has decided to do battle with the Devil by playing a special tune (penned by Hoyt Axton, no less!) on a silver-stringed guitar. Unwisely, the elder John chose silver dollars to make his strings, realizing too late that modern-day dollar coins contain no silver at all (due, of course, to an evil government conspiracy), and his soul is lost. The younger John decides to follow the old man's path -- only not quite as stupidly -- and creates his own silver strings (this time genuine). In his travels, he encounters an undertaker who made a deal with a witch (Susan Strasberg) in exchange for gold; an evil gatekeeper named O.J. and his "Big Ugly Bird" (depicted via stop-motion animation); and a cotton plantation run by a voodoo overlord. He eventually reaches Washington, D.C., presumably to do battle with the ultimate evil: the Army Corps of Engineers. Sticking to the essence of the Appalachian ghost stories on which Wellman's stories were based, director John Newland (erstwhile host of One Step Beyond) conjures some delightfully bizarre images despite the painfully low budget, but one wonders exactly where he was going with this. This film is also known as Who Fears the Devil. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Cult director Larry Cohen (It's Alive) directed this violent blaxploitation film. Nasty racist John McKinney cripples a black shoeshine boy, who grows up to be Tommy Gibbs (Fred Williamson), the Godfather of Harlem. The crimelord now has his tormentor McKinney (Art Lund) in his pocket, based on the cop's mob ties. Tommy's traitorous girlfriend Helen (Gloria Hendry) hands over the evidence, and McKinney moves in for the kill. But he may have underestimated the violent Tommy, who makes him shine his shoes in blackface while singing "Mammy." Rick Baker provided makeup effects, and James Brown did the music for this bloody oddity, followed the same year by Hell Up in Harlem. Cohen and Williamson got together 23 years later for an interesting (if unsuccessful) attempt at reviving the genre, Original Gangstas. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Ironside (Raymond Burr) heads to a farming community at the request of Vickie Dunhill (Kathy Cannon), the 18-year-old fiancee of wealthy middle-aged rancher Aaron Clark (Steve Forrest). It seems that a murder has occurred, and that the local citizens, resentful over the fact that Clark has "stolen" the delectable Vickie from her flock of young male admirers, are anxious to pin the blame on him. Though he tries to prove the rancher's innocence, Ironside is hampered by the fact that he and Clark have hated each other since their Navy days! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Bloodsport began life under the less alluring title Poetry in Motion. Gary Busey and Ben Johnson star as, respectively, a high-school football quarterback and his "winning is the only thing" father. The more his dad pushes him, the less Busey truly wants to be an athlete. The inter-family hostility comes to a head during an excitingly filmed climactic gridiron battle. Made for TV, Bloodsport was initially telecast on December 5, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Johnson, Gary Busey, (more)
- 1972
A valued member of a powerful crime ring, John Prentiss (Michael Callan) decides to go into business for himself when he falls in love with Ellen Conway (Katherine Justice). Prentiss' former associates aren't keen on this, so they take out a contract on his life. It is up to Inspector Erskine to keep Prentiss alive long enough to be placed behind bars--and what about Ellen? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
An African American youth must deal with both many physical tests and the racism of his peers as he works to become a full-fledged fire fighter in this drama that was originally made as a television pilot. As he is the only black man in an all white unit, things are difficult, especially after he learns that the man he replaced was killed in a fire set by a black arsonist. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1972
After two and a half seasons in its familiar Saturday-evening network berth, Mission:Impossible moved to Fridays on December 22, 1972, with the episode titled "The Puppet." Roddy McDowall guest stars as Leo Ostro, the acting Syndicate boss during the convalescence of his injured brother Paul. To prove his own mettle, the egotistical Leo plans a $100,000,000 crime--but refuses to divulge any further details. It is up to the IMF to learn the nature and location of the crime and to put both Ostros out of business. Directed by veteran Hollywood hand Lewis Allen, "The Puppet" was written by Leigh Vance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1972
Ironside star Raymond Burr makes his TV directorial debut in this episode, in which Chief Ironside comes to the aid of a troubled Federal judge and the judge's son. Slated to preside over a well-publicized fraud case, Judge Van Buren (William Windom) is approached by "certain parties" and told to either withdraw from the case or impose a lighter sentence than the defendant deserves. To make certain that Van Buren follows orders, the villains murder a young actress (Angel Tompkins)--then pin the blame on the judge's reckless son Larry (Rick Lenz). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
