Jo Ann Harris Movies

A failed effort to revive the big-budget movie musical, Newsies attempted to create toe-tapping, song-and-dance excitement out of the true story of an 1899 strike by newspaper boys against publishing magnate Joseph Pulitzer. The "newsies" band together to protest a pay cut by Pulitzer (Robert Duvall), organizing a union to protect their rights and ensure fair wages. They are helped along the way by Medda (Ann-Margret), a local dance-hall performer who befriends the boys and provides an opportunity for an additional song or two. Director Kenny Ortega had previously choreographed Dirty Dancing, and composer Alan Menken had provided the acclaimed scores for Beauty and the Beast and Little Shop of Horrors, but their work here failed to capture the spark of their popular successes. Unable to connect with older or younger viewers, Newsies gained a reputation as a major bomb that cut short an attempt to bring back the live-action musical, though in the intervening years it has gained a small but appreciative cult. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Not a police series as might be deduced from the title, M Station: Hawaii concentrated on the activities of a team of oceanic explorers. Jared Martin heads the team, working on behalf of the government. In this TV pilot film, M Station is hired to recover a sunken Russian submarine which may have been carrying Soviet secrets. The team finds that they have stiff competition in the form of KGB agents in disguise. Jack Lord, fresh from twelve years of Hawaii 5-0, produced and directed this film and appeared in a cameo role as a U.S. Admiral. Another 5-0 alumnus, Moe Keale, recreates his role as Tom "Truck" Kealoha. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the made-for-television film Wild, Wild West Revisited, the classic comedy/espionage/western television series is brought up to date with a story featuring government agents Jim West and Artemus Gordon leaving retirement to battle Miguelito Loveless, who is planning to conquer the earth by cloning world leaders. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

This delightfully bad made-for-TV movie throws together an assortment of television stalwarts and movie has-beens for what is essentially a horror version of The Love Boat. The plot involves a vacation cruise in the Gulf of Mexico, during which some of the passengers find an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus in an underwater cavern. Instead of "wasting time" explaining what Egyptian ruins are doing so far from Northern Africa, the writers decide to make things easy by making the coffin's occupant none other than the Devil himself. This stirs things up a bit for the hapless vacationers -- particularly for the fire-and-brimstone preacher (John Forsythe) who happens to be aboard. Cheap, campy, and topped off with a ridiculous ending, the film, at least, is not as boring as most TV movies of the sort. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

More ambitious and expensive than ABC's first "novel for television" miniseries QB VII, the eight-episode, 12-hour Rich Man, Poor Man was the one that truly put the genre on the map, its phenomenal success in the ratings making possible the even more spectacular Roots. Adapted from the mammoth novel by Irwin Shaw, the miniseries covers the years from WWII to the 1960s, detailing the vacillating fortunes of the immigrant Jordache brothers. "Rich Man" Rudy Jordache (Peter Strauss) is determined to use his hard-earned education -- and his inherent ruthlessness -- to carve out a business and political empire not unlike that enjoyed by Joseph P. Kennedy and his progeny. "Poor Man" Tom Jordache (Nick Nolte), a quick-fisted hothead, goes an entirely different route, first as a professional boxer, then as a functionary of the evil gangster chieftain Falconetti (William Smith). Naturally, both brothers become entangled in romance along the way, with Julie Prescott (Susan Blakely) ending up as Rudy's benighted spouse. Originally telecast on February 1, 2, 9, 16, 23, and March 1, 8, and 15 in 1976, Rich Man, Poor Man earned 20 Emmy nominations and led to a weekly sequel, Rich Man, Poor Man -- Book 2, in the fall of 1976 (this version necessitated a title change for the original, which was rebroadcast as Rich Man, Poor Man -- Book 1 in the spring of 1977). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This time Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) is on the trail of armed robbers Beau Parker (Andrew Prine and Cass Linden (Melissa Murphy), a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. Tagging along for the ride is Cass's baby-faced kid sister Mary Linden (Jo Ann Harris), who not only gets a thrill out of being an outlaw, but in her own way may be even more dangerous than her older sibling. Mary Ann is especially adept at taunting and tormenting her victims--and though she hasn't killed anyone yet, give her time! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) cover the length and breadth of the Bay Area to track down three escaped convicts. The escapees have embarked on a murder spree, wiping out anyone who gets in their way at the behest of the sadistic outlaw leader who kills for the thrill of it. The detectives' mission is made doubly difficult by a potential witness who refuses to get involved--and whose silence costs the lives of a helpless elderly couple. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This exploitative melodrama is set in northern Michigan where an exclusive private hunting club is located. There some of the country's richest, most powerful men come to relax and get closer to nature. Unfortunately, that means that they become engaged in debauchery and become brutal, amoral killers. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Answering a call from two park rangers, Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) conduct an A.P.B. search for a horse, stolen from a riding stable from alleged junkie. In turns out that the thief is a homesick Texan, who has gone to rather extreme measures to assuage his loneliness. Back on their home turf, Jim and Pete chase after a pair of vicious gunmen. This week's supporting cast includes a young Tim Matheson (The West Wing) and Peter Duryea, the son of veteran movie heavy Dan Duryea. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This exploitation film about the evils of marijuana finds art teacher Phil Blake (Fabian) discovering some of his students are smoking pot. Although he admits to the students he tried it himself in college, he is dumber than a bag of hammers about student drug use. Phil has eyes for fellow teacher Ellie (Diane McBain) until he discovers she is the main dealer, along with the star of the football team. Included in the cast is actress (Patty McCormick), all grown up since her appearance in Bad Seed, and Terri Garr, who makes a brief appearance as a student. This unintentionally laughable film, a feeble attempt to cash in on the sensationalism of marijuana use, was co-written by Richard Gautier and Peter Marshall of "Hollywood Squares" television fame. This film, along with similarly overblown 1930s anti-marijuana diatribes, cost the "straight" world a great deal of credibility at the time, and it became an instant "camp" classic. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi