Heath Jobes Movies
- 1992
A rookie detective's investigation of a particularly brutal murder takes a personal turn for her when her lover turns out to the their main suspect. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jaclyn Smith, John Spencer, (more)
- 1990
This is the series' fourth and final "Day in the Life" episode, in which the Night Court staff must process a huge number of cases before a predetermined deadline. On this occasion, the staffers must try a record 242 cases before midnight as workmen attempt to repair a hole in the courtroom ceiling. Judge Harry (Harry Anderson) is especially anxious to rush through one particular case, this one involving a nice young man (Andrew Hill Newman) who hopes to save his girlfriend (Eileen Seeley) from a forced marriage to a "pre-lab preppie" (Jonathan Emerson). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- R
John McNaughton's flawed but interesting follow-up to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer languished in distribution limbo for years before its brief theatrical run and subsequent video release. It presents a completely different breed of killer: an alien criminal who is exiled to life on Earth in human form. As if that weren't punishment enough, the creature's human guise is susceptible to frequent head-eruptions, creating the constant need for replacement heads. This leads to a grim and violent series of episodes in which the creature pops the tops of various citizens, ranging from a kindly, homeless eccentric (Antonio Fargas) to a lascivious doctor (Tony Amendola)... at one point, he even "borrows" the head of a dog! Following the trail of discarded heads are two cops (Rae Dawn Chong and Don Gordon), who eventually begin to suspect they're not dealing with the M.O. of the average serial killer. A few creative plot twists (particularly at the conclusion), grim atmosphere and generally good performances enliven this one-note material, which nevertheless fails to measure up to the harrowing, character-driven horror of McNaughton's acclaimed debut feature. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rae Dawn Chong, Don Gordon, (more)
- 1979
This relates the true account of the young Latino comedian who quickly found fame but could not quite pull his life together, and who died a tragic death in 1977. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Kojak (Telly Savalas) goes on a manhunt for "The Grim Reaper", a serial killer who preys upon merchants whom he feels have stiffed him financially. Six such murders occur before a hostile graffiti artist named Roger Villers (Ken Sylk) confesses to the crimes. Refusing to believe that Villers is actually guilty, Kojak decides to use the man as bait to trap the real murderer. "Out of the Shadows" was originally scheduled as the opening episode of Kojak's fourth season, but was moved back several weeks in favor of "Birthday Party". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
The initials in the episode's title stand for "Grand Theft Auto", and that particular crime is what occupies the time of Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner). Several older automobiles have been stolen over a short period of time, and the two cops figure that the solution to this crime wave may be found in a local scrap-metal yard which caters to foreign customers. Featured in the cast is veteran movie heavy Leo Gordon, who also scripted this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
The station's TV will never be the same after John (Randolph Mantooth) and Chet (Tim Donnelly) try their hand at "repairing" the set. Back on the job, the squad comes to the aid of a man who has glued his eyelids shut, and another man trapped in a burning storm drain. Also, Dr. Brackett (Robert Fuller) suffers a toxic reaction while treating a man who has been bitten by a catfish; and John and Roy (Kevin Tighe) find themselves in the middle of a mudslide. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
After the Rampart emergency team subdues a wild bear on a movie set, film star Vic Webster (played by Batman's Adam West) invites the firemen, paramedics and doctors to a lavish Hollywood party. But the crew barely has time to soak in all the glamour when another, more serious crisis occurs. Back at the hospital, Dr. Brackett (Robert Fuller) focuses his energies on a trichinosis victim. And in the field, a man threatens to blow himself up during a shootout with the cops. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
While searching for the missing husband of Janet Carr (Corinne Michaels), Jim (James Garner) finds the man's corpse in a motel room. Though the investigating police officers Furlong (Warren Kemmerling) and Larsen (Mills Watson) insist that all existing evidence points to suicide, Jim has very good reason to believe that the unfortunate Mr. Carr was murdered. As it turns out, both Janet and the police are hiding important information from Jim--and by the time he has figured this out, another murder has taken place. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
- NC17
After nearly a decade as one of America's most successful independent filmmakers, legendary sexploitation auteur Russ Meyer first reached out for the brass ring of major studio success with this frantic cult favorite, once described by Meyer and screenwriter Roger Ebert as "the first exploitation-horror-camp-musical." Kelly McNamara (Dolly Read), Casey Anderson (Cynthia Myers), and Petronella Danforth (Marcia McBroom) are the three members of an all-girl rock band called "the Kelly Affair" who pull up stakes for Hollywood in search of stardom; they're accompanied by their manager, Harris Allsworth (David Gurian), who also happens to be Kelly's boyfriend. Kelly has an aunt in Hollywood, fashion mogul Susan Lake (Phyllis Davis), who takes Kelly under her wing and informs her she's entitled to a share of a recent family inheritance, much to the chagrin of Susan's lawyer, the shifty Porter Hall (Duncan McLeod). Susan arranges for Kelly and her bandmates to attend a wild party thrown by Ronnie "Z-Man" Barzell (John La Zar), a flamboyant and very successful record producer; Z-Man renames the band "the Carrie Nations," signs them to a record deal, and they're one of the biggest acts in America practically overnight. However, Harris is pushed out of the picture as the band's manager by Z-Man, and as Kelly's boyfriend by actor and gigolo Lance Rocke (Michael Blodgett), sending Harris into a deep depression even after he becomes the new boy-toy of adult film star Ashley St. Ives (Edy Williams). Meanwhile, Petronella finds love with law student Emerson Thorne (Harrison Page) until her head is turned by heavyweight boxing champion Randy Black (Jim Iglehart), and Casey explores her sexual boundaries with Roxanne (Erica Gavin), a beautiful lesbian designer. This nonstop train of decadence, drugs, and betrayal finally comes off the rails during a drug-fueled orgy at Z-Man's mansion, which erupts into violence when the rock mogul's darkest secret is revealed. Featuring one-hit wonders the Strawberry Alarm Clock, supporting performances by Meyer regulars Charles Napier and Haji, and a bit part from future blaxploitation icon Pam Grier, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls proved to be Meyer's biggest box-office success, though after his next film (The Seven Minutes) bombed at the box office, he returned to independent production in 1973. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, (more)
- 1969
At large in the Bay Area is an elusive maniac who has assaulted several different women--all blondes, all single and living alone, all approximately 25 years old. There was one other thing that the victims had in common: all of them had met their assailant through a computer dating service. In order to bring the criminal out in the open, Eve (Barbara Anderson) signs up for the service and sets herself up as bait. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
