Allen Joseph Movies

Director/animator Ralph Bakshi turns his attention to 1950s Brooklyn in Hey Good Lookin', which looks at greasers hanging out (and making out) on street corners, hot girls, and gang rumbles, all set in a decaying urban landscape. The main action concerns Vinnie (voice of Richard Romanus), the leader of an Italian gang called The Stompers, who values, in equal measure, the perfection of his hairstyle and scoring with girls. His bosom buddy, Crazy (David Proval), more than lives up to his moniker, and his impulsiveness leads to many conflicts, including fights with other gangs -- a real problem because Vinnie is nowhere near as tough as he pretends to be. Things become even more complicated when he finds himself falling hard for Rozzie (Tina Bowman), whose father keeps her on a pretty short leash. Things come to a head in a deadly shoot-out, which may have serious consequences for the three main characters. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

Joan Micklin Silver's writing and direction are at the heart of this wistful recollection of a romance, based on Ann Beattie's novel Chilly Scenes of Winter. The film concerns Charles (John Heard), who recalls his love affair with Laura (Mary Beth Hurt). It has been a year since Laura has left him and returned to her husband Ox (Mark Metcalf) and stepdaughter Rebecca. But Charles thinks about her all the time and even has imaginary conversations with her. Charles met Laura in the filing room at Utah's Department of Development in Salt Lake City, and it was love at first sight. Laura was married but had moved out of her house six weeks before. Charles musters up the courage to ask her out, and soon after they are living together. Living with Charles, Laura has never been happier. But she feels she doesn't deserve her happiness, since she has walked out on a family who had done nothing wrong to her. She can't understand why Charles loves her so much, "You have this exalted view of me, and I hate it. If you think I'm that great then there must be something wrong with you." So Laura decides to move back in with Ox. As Charles muses, Laura is more comfortable with "someone who loves you too little over someone who loves you too much." Charles becomes obsessed with winning her back from her family, watching her pick up her daughter from school, driving past her house, and becoming friendly with her flirtatious fellow worker Betty (Nora Heflin) in order to find out more about Laura. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Filmed intermittently over the course of a five-year period, David Lynch's radical feature debut stars Jack Nance as Henry Spencer, a man living in an unnamed industrial wasteland. Upon learning that a past romance has resulted in an impending pregnancy, Henry agrees to wed mother-to-be Mary (Charlotte Stewart) and moves her into his tiny, squalid flat. Their baby is born hideously mutated, a strange, reptilian creature whose piercing cries never cease. Mary soon flees in horror and disgust, leaving Henry to fall prey to the seduction of the girl across the hall (Judith Anna Roberts). An intensely visceral nightmare, Eraserhead marches to the beat of its own slow, surreal rhythm: Henry's world is a cancerous dreamscape, a place where sins manifest themselves as bizarre creatures and worlds exist within worlds. Interpreting the film along the lines of Lynch's claims that it's the product of his own fears of fatherhood may make Eraserhead easier to digest on a narrative level, if need be. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

Hero worship takes a sinister turn when emotionally disturbed cab driver Lawson (James Sutorius becomes obsessed with his idol, a controversial nighttime radio talk host. Convinced that the radio personality is speaking directly to him, Lawson vows to become the man's faithful lieutenant, eliminating the "enemies" of society in a violent fashion. Kojak (Telly Savalas) must somehow catch up with the demented cabbie before he strikes again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Ironside (Raymond Burr) has degenerated from a respected law enforcement officer to a seedy skid-row bum, apparently because 10-year-old murder witness Jerry Abbott (Lee H. Montgomery) was killed while in the Chief's protective custody. What even Ironside's loyal assistants are unaware of is that little Jerry is still alive, and that the Chief is only posing as a derelict to flush out the murderer. The situation reaches the crisis stage when two attempts are made on Ironside's alive--and the Chief can't summon the aid of his associates without blowing his cover. This episode features two original songs by David and Marty Paich: "Street Song", peformed by Carol Carmichael; and "Way Up Here", sung by Marty Paich. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The seventh and final season of Mission:Impossible commenced on September 16, 1972 with the episode titled "Break!" In his second series appearance, guest star Carl Betz is cast as Syndicate gambling boss Dutch Krebs, who has just finished murdering a federal undercover agent. The IMF must recover the wristwatch camera that the dead agent was carrying, and to do this Jim Phelps poses as a pool hustler, engaging Krebs in a high-stakes game which had been meticulously rigged by fellow IMF agent Barney. Though series regular Lynda Day George receives billing as agent Lisa Casey in this and subsequent episodes, she spent most of the 1972-73 season on maternity leave. Her IMF replacement in "Break!" and elsewhere is paroled convict Mimi Davis, played by former Ironside regular Barbara Anderson. Thus, in this episode the viewer is treated to the ritual of the Impossible Mission Force's recruiting process for the first and only time. "Break!" was written by Sam Roeca and James L. Henderson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lonely vampire Count Yorga and his bloodthirsty cohorts begin living in a ramshackle mansion located near an orphanage. This slightly fang-in-cheek horror film chronicles what happens when the Count falls in love with a toothsome young woman and tries to make her his bride. Fortunately for her, her boy friend has other ideas. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The "amateur" in this Mission:Impossible adventure is greedy Iron Curtain nightclub owner Eric Schilling (Anthony Zerbe). Having come into possession of one of the pieces of a new secret weapon, Eric endangers the IMF's effort to smuggle the weapon--and resistance leader Father Bernard (Peter Brocco)--out of the country. To put Schilling out of the way, the IMF agents again resort to elaborate disguises, with Dana Lambert posing as a singer in the villain's seedy cabaret (as good an excuse as any to show off Lesley Ann Warren's musical talents). First broadcast November 14, 1970, "The Amateur" was written by Ed Adamson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mickey Rooney guest stars as Charlie Paris, a former standup comedian and Syndicate bookie who has "gone straight" and is running the Yonkers laundromat where Richard Kimble (David Janssen) is presently employed. Unfortunately, some gamblers who knew Charlie back in his mob days have come to town to get even for his testifying against him. Though nervous about this turn of events, Charlie is confident that no matter what happens he can count on the undying devotion of his girlfriend Paula (Nita Talbot)--who at this very moment is planning to double-cross Charlie for a hefty sum. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mercenary anarchist Imry Rogosh (Fritz Weaver) has concocted a scheme to kill off most of the population of Los Angeles. With only 36 hours at their disposal, the IMF must "break" the unbreakable Rogosh to uncover his plans. Their strategy hinges upon convincing Rogosh that he has been imprisoned in his own country--two years after his arrival in L.A. Originally telecast on October 1, 1966, "Operation Rogosh" was written by Jerome Ross. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Housekeeper Nellie Conway (Joan Lovejoy) tells Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) that she thinks her boss Newton Bain (Harry Townes) is planning to kill his invalid wife Elizabeth (Shirley Mitchell). Investigating the situation, Perry finds that Mary may not be playing with a full deck. Later on, Elizabeth is indeed murdered--but it is Mary Douglas (Nancy Gates) who is charged with the crime. Comedian Jerry Van Dyke plays a rare dramatic role in this episode, which is based on Erle Stanley Gardner's 1951 "Perry Mason" novel The Case of the Fiery Fingers (previously filmed under its original title during Season One). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mob boss Big Jahnchek (Peter Whitney) escapes Federal custody and makes a beeline for his brother Gregory (R. G. Armstrong), who has managed to bury his connection to Big Steve by changing his name to John Gregory and establishing a successful fleet of tuna boats. Motivating Big Steve's getaway is the fact that the $100,000 trust fund of Helen Gregory (Susan Seaforth), whom each brother has at one time or another claimed as his own daughter, is being mismanaged by crooked Franz Moray (Steven Geray). When Moray is murdered, Gregory is charged with the crime, and a disturbing Jahnchek family secret is in danger of being exposed. It is up to Perry Mason to clear Gregory in court and to provide a happy ending for those who truly deserve one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide