Sumi Haru Movies
- 1979
Fast Friends is a lumpy satire set "backstage" at a talk show (imagine what the film would have been like had it been made in 1989 rather than '79). Most of the action centers around egotistical, near-lunatic talk host Dick Shawn. His frantic antics are counterpointed with the story of career woman Susan Heldfond, a divorcee who re-enters the workplace for the sake of her child. This made-for-TV film costars former critic's darling Carrie Snodgress and then-hot actress MacKenzie Phillips. But the real attraction in Fast Friends is the prescient appearance of tenth-billed David Letterman as "Matt Morgan", a brash comedian who has the temerity to upstage the preening Dick Shawn. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1969
Mark (Don Mitchell) comes to the aid of his old boxing coach Bakey Baker (James Gregory), now an impoverished derelict. Unjustly accsued of felonious assault, Baker is unable to afford a decent lawyer, and the authorities are callously prepared to hang the man solely on the basis of circumstantial evidence, refusing even to listen to his side of the story. Mark's frustration with the iniquities of the legal system reaches the crisis stage when he can't even persuade his liberal law-school instructor Maria Wakeman (Janet MacLachlan) to take up Bakey's cause. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Volcano is the reissue title of the muddled disaster flick Krakatoa: East of Java. The name change was reportedly put into effect after thousands of filmgoers noted publicly that Krakatoa is west of Java. As might be expected, the story takes place in 1883, when the long-dormant volcano at Krakatoa erupted with A-bomb force. Since everyone knows what's coming, the filmmakers try to stir up suspense with a gratuitous subplot involving ship's-captain Maximilian Schell and his mutinous crew (a similar plot device had been used in a previous dramatization of the Krakatoa incident, 1953's Fair Wind to Java). The climactic special effects are spectacular enough to make the script, and the all-star cast (including Diane Baker, Brian Keith, Rossano Brazzi, and Sal Mineo), seem utterly superfluous. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Maximilian Schell, Diane Baker, (more)
- 1971
While Elly May and Granny continue to campaign on behalf of the women's liberation movement, Jed and Jethro, who'd been complaining about the lack of womenfolk in the Clampett mansion, fall strangely silent. The reason? Unbeknownst to Granny, Jed has hired a trio of geisha girls to handle the housework. And as expected, both Jed and Jethro rather enjoy being waited on hand and foot. A true chauvinist's dream, "The Palace of Clampett-San" originally aired on February 9, 1971, long before "political correctness" had grabbed American television by the throat. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1971
In the continuation of a lengthy story arc, budding women's libbers Elly May and Granny have gone on strike against the Clampett males. While the two ladies confer with their sister protestors, Jed and Jethro have an awful time keeping up with the cooking and the cleaning. The boys finally hit upon a solution when Jed secretary hires a trio of subservient geisha girls. Former Petticoat Junction regular Charles Lane appears as Foster Phinney (which happened to be the name of The Beverly Hillbillies' assistant director). "The Teahouse of Jed Clampett" first aired on February 2, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Rating Systems
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