Stacy Keach Movies
A fine dramatic actor who never quite made it as a movie star and so settled with a highly successful career as a television leading man, Stacy Keach is best known for playing the title character in the television detective drama Mike Hammer (1984-1987). Though born with an irreparable harelip, Keach is a sturdy and handsome fellow who is often cast as policemen or other authority figures.Keach is the son of a British actor and drama coach, Stacy Keach Sr., and was born in Georgia but raised in Los Angeles. While attending the U.C. Berkeley, Keach became interested in drama. An agent told him that his harelip would make it impossible for Keach to get leading roles. Keach disbelieved him and went on to study drama at Yale. He then received a Fulbright scholarship to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. In New York, he essayed a number of Shakespearean roles and those of other classic plays. He also worked in more contemporary productions such as the off-Broadway McBird!, which won him his first Obie and a Vernon Rice Drama Desk Award. He again won these awards after he played Hamlet at the New York Shakespeare Festival. In 1969, Keach won a Tony nomination for his Broadway debut, portraying Buffalo Bill in Arthur Kopit's Indians. For his performance in The Kentucky Cycle, Keach earned a Drama League Outstanding Artist Award, the Helen Hayes Award for Best Actor, and a Drama Award nomination for Best Actor. Keach made his feature-film debut as an alcoholic wanderer in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968). Keach's movie career took off afterward and he appeared in several major movies in quick succession, including Brewster McCloud (1970) and The New Centurians (1972). In 1971, Keach made an award-winning short film, The Repeatery. Later, he also made a television version of Pirandello's complex Six Characters in Search of an Author. As a movie actor, Keach's heyday ended by the early '80s, after appearing in both American and international productions of widely varying quality; Keach then turned to television.
Mike Hammer was a very successful show, but production abruptly stopped when British customs officers at London's Heathrow Airport found Keach carrying a significant amount of cocaine. He spent several months imprisoned in England, but was released in 1986. Having kicked his drug habit, Keach repaired his damaged career and started showing up regularly in television miniseries such as The Blue and the Gray (1985).
Keach continues his stage work, often narrates documentaries, and occasionally appears in feature films such as Escape From L.A. (1995). Keach is a member of the Los Angeles Classic Theatre Work, the Yale Theater Circle, and the Players Club. In addition, he works on the Artistic Advisory Board for the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts, the Artists Committee for the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Helen Hayes Honorary Committee. In the '90s, Keach was named Honorary Chair for the Cleft Palate Foundation and in 1995 won the Celebrity Outreach Award for his charitable work. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 2000
- Add Savage Planet: Volcanic Killers to QueueAdd Savage Planet: Volcanic Killers to top of Queue
Volcanic eruptions continue to terrify people around the world. This video features footage of eruptions in West Africa, the Philippines, and New Zealand. It also discusses the potential eruption of America's Mount Rainier, which, it is expected, would be much worse than the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Recent steps have been taken to try and provide residents of threatened communities with a significant warning period so they can escape the ash and lava. Both survivors of volcano eruptions and volcanologists provide their unique insights during interviews. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- 2000
- Add Savage Planet: Storms of the Century to QueueAdd Savage Planet: Storms of the Century to top of Queue
This video presents film footage of some of the most ferocious storms of the 20th century. There are first-person accounts from survivors and expert analyses from meteorologists of the factors necessary to make such a killer storm. Included in the coverage is the Great Storm of 1953, which destroyed much of Northern Europe and sank the Princess Victoria ferry, drowning most of its passengers. There is also an account of the extra-tropical cyclone that devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States in 1993 and the struggle to save a large ship off the coast of Nova Scotia during a terrifying nor'easter. The viewer witnesses nature in its most violent state. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
This PBS program focuses on several areas of the world that have dangerous temperatures and accompanying weather conditions. Stevens Pass in Washington state is included as it was once the scene of a catastrophic avalanche in 1910 that caused a serious train wreck. France's Chamonix Valley is shown in footage due to the devastating avalanche that occurred there in 1999. At the other end of the weather spectrum is Death Valley, where surface and air temperatures soar so high that heat stroke and even death can occur if people venture into the area without taking proper precautions. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- 2000
- Add NOVA: Secrets of Lost Empires II - Medieval Siege to QueueAdd NOVA: Secrets of Lost Empires II - Medieval Siege to top of Queue
Discover the intrigue and fascinating experience of medieval battlefields 200 years before the cannon was invented. Nova Video Library: Secrets of Lost Empires II- Medieval Siege reminds us that the Middle Ages were a fascinating time period for war. Learn how medieval carpenters built the trebuchet -- a mechanized catapult capable of slinging boulders great distances toward enemy lines. Explore humongous stone fortresses, protected medieval castles, travel to Loch Ness, and uncover the history of the chaos of medieval battles. An exhilarating and educational program, this Nova program is not to be missed. ~ Laura Mahnken, All Movie Guide
Two brothers who've taken divergent paths in life are thrown into a crisis that forces both of them to examine their lives in this drama. John (David White) is a small-time criminal who, upon his release from prison, is met by his former partner, Rome (Eric Roberts). Rome wants John to join him in a counterfeiting scheme that could earn them $20 million. John is trying to go straight, but he needs to raise money for a real estate project he's trying to get off the ground, so he agrees, despite his misgivings. Rome trusts John with $50,000 in front money, but John double-crosses Rome and runs off with the cash; Rome is not at all amused and is determined to get revenge on John. On the run and with few options, John seeks out his estranged twin brother Jeremiah (also played by White), a novice minister who long believed his brother was dead. But John soon discovers that Rome has mistaken Jeremiah for John and has taken him hostage. Jeremiah tries to play along in hopes of saving his brother's life, while John tries to stay undercover by posing as Jeremiah -- and even tries to fool his brother's girlfriend Samantha (Cynthia Watros) into believing he's a man of the cloth. Produced by a Christian film production firm, Signal Hill Pictures, Mercy Streets also features Stacy Keach, Lawrence Taylor, and Robert Lasardo. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Roberts, David White, (more)
- 2000
Season two of the trenchant Fox network sitcom Titus begins as long-suffering garage mechanic Christopher Titus (played by comedian Christoper Titus) being forced to find a new girlfriend for his boozing, mean-spirited dad Ken (Stacy Keach) after scaring off the old man's current amour Nurse Kathy (Mary Lou Rosato). This grim little episode sets the tone for all that is to come throughout the season, as Christopher not only copes with his dysfunctional family but also his none-too-secure relationship with girlfriend Erin (Cynthia Watros) and the galloping neuroses of his best friend Tommy (David Shatraw). Also this season, Christopher barely survives a few more visits from his dangerously manic-depressive mother, with Frances Fisher taking over the role of Juanita Titus from the previous season's Christina Estabrook. Along the way, Titus and Erin become enagaged, but their intended union seems doomed from the outset, especially after the humiliating incidents occurring in "Episode 27" (no kidding, that's the title, even though it's really Episode 21). Later on, Christopher tries to expunge Erin from his life when he crawls into a bottle after losing his car shop; and still later, Erin endeavors to patch up the difference between Christopher and Ken by convincing each man that the other one is dying! But these episode pale into insignifance when compared to "Tommy'd Girlfriend No. 2", in which Christopher's buddy Tommy shows up arm and arm with the waitress with whom Christopher had slept after an argument with Erin during the previous season. Just before the Second Season finale, Christopher is rendered brain-dead after a serious drag-racing accident. Though he recovers from this brush with mortality (and a cerebral journey into "Neutral Space"), our hero is dealt another devastating blow at Season's End, when Erin calls off the engagement after Christopher's mom Juanita commits the unforgivable social faux pas of murdering her current husband at the wedding ceremony! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Titus, Stacy Keach, (more)
A pair of deadly super-storms is set to collide over a Rutland, MO, and the only hope for the people of the small town is the trust a father places in his son in this elemental thriller that's sure to make Twister look like a dust devil. No one believes 14-year-old amateur meteorologist Eric Dobbs (Jesse Eisenberg) when he tries to convince them that their town is set to be leveled by the colliding storm systems, not even the National Weather Service. With time running short and winds picking up, Eric's father, Tom (John Schneider), takes his son's warning to heart when a series of supercharged electrical bursts plunge the town into darkness. As the sky darkens and the storm clouds roll in, it's up to Eric and his father to save the citizens of Rutland it's too late. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Life at the Killington ski resort couldn't be better, at least until a group of sinister terrorists led by the morally-questionable Greig (Bruce Campbell) take its residents hostage with the threat of a stolen nuclear weapon. With disaster breathing down everyone's necks like a bad date, it's up to Ski Patrol expert Matt Foster (Sean Astin) to save the day -- not to mention the girl. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Astin, Bruce Campbell, (more)
- 1999
- R
- Add Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return to QueueAdd Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return to top of Queue
Fifteen years after the original Children of the Corn, John Franklin returns as Isaac, leader of the band of murderous children who has returned to bring the youthful followers back to the field. Also stars Nancy Allen and Stacy Keach. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Dolphins are well known for their intelligence and shrewdness, but oft ignored is their wilder, more aggressive side. This hour-long exploration of the world of dolphins exposes the viewer to both sides of the dolphin through the extensive use of underwater-camera footage. Dolphins are shown hydroplaning after fish through ten inches of water, ramming into one other in a quarrel over females, and escaping a group of hungry orcas in Alaska. There is also a ruthless scene in which a group of dolphins insidiously surround a school of sardines, providing further evidence of the dolphin's wilder side. Along with the incredible cleverness of dolphins, National Geographic: Dolphins -- The Wild Side illustrates, through a number of real-life examples, the violence and anger these sea creatures express in fighting for mates, hunting for food, and battling with rival dolphin species. ~ John Schietinger, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stacy Keach
This documentary takes a look at that which occupies the most space on earth -- the oceans, and the destructive conditions they can produce. The viewer observes as scientists try to discover the patterns that predict savage seas and the devastation they can cause. There is spectacular film footage of the cyclone that killed over a half a million people in Bangladesh; a horrifying mudslide in California; and a giant waterspout which destroyed buildings on Florida's shoreline. Icebergs and winter storms are shown with all their terrifying power. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
Spend some time in one of the most alien environments known to man as champion free divers plunge to dangerous ocean depths and professional deep-sea divers discuss the sensation of spending weeks underwater. From a pregnant lifeguard who survived a harrowing shark attack to the servicemen who spent five terrifying days trapped in shark-infested waters after suffering a harrowing torpedo attack, these are the kind of survival stories that will have viewers thinking twice before jumping into that wet suit for a leisurely summer dive. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
The PBS Savage Seas series combines eyewitness accounts, up-to-date scientific information and dramatic film footage to investigate and wonder at the power and mystery of the sea. Killer Waves, the premier episode of the series, takes viewers to the shark-infested waters off the coast of Maui, where windsurfers risk their lives to ride the world's largest breakers. Visit Cape Disappointment off the Pacific Coast, where sturdy ships are torn apart and ravaged by the surf. Experience China's Black Dragon, a terrifying tidal bore and meet the villagers who battle this force of nature everyday in order to survive. Then, witness the demise of the cruise ship Oceanos as it descends into the waters off the Wild Coast of South Africa. Actual footage of the ship's sinking depicts rescue efforts by entertainers after the crew has abandoned ship. Other videos in the series include, Rescue, The Deep, and Killer Storms. ~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide
This title from the four-part PBS series delves into the deeps of dangerous rescue missions in the mysterious ocean blue. Along with Savage Seas: Killer Storms, Savage Seas: Killer Waves, and Savage Seas: The Deep, narrator Stacy Keach takes viewers to the bottom of the sea and beyond. In this episode, the planning, facilitation, and process of water-based rescues are examined. Shocking and thrilling footage of a small fishing boat being crushed by an iceberg on the Bering Sea shows viewers how a sea rescue works, while the ill-fated Estonia ferry incident portrays the tragedies that can result even when specially trained rescue workers give their all. Not for the faint of heart, this hearty, seafaring video details the relief and tragedy that comes with the job of deep sea rescue operations. ~ Karen Solomon, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Charles A. Lindbergh became America's greatest hero in 1927, when he flew his small airplane "The Spirit Of St. Louis" from New York to Paris non-stop, becoming the first person in the world to fly solo around the world. However, despite his immediate worldwide fame, Lindbergh was an intensely private individual, and his great renown did not prevent his life from being marked by political controversy and personal tragedy. Lindbergh is a documentary that examines the complex story of his life, using vintage newsreel footage, rare photographs, and interviews with Lindbergh's friends and family. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1999
In life people pay hard-earned money for a chance at a thrill, some sort of wild ride that engages all the senses, makes the heart pump and overdrives the adrenaline. This thrill is the rollercoaster, and this documentary travels across America from one coast to the other displaying the various rides that generate fear, terror, white knuckles, and plenty of screams. This video takes a look at the first 100 years of America's rollercoasters, such as the Desperado with its 280-foot drop, the notorious Texas Giant, and the Raptor, considered the world's tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster. This tape is part of a three-volume set on the thrills of the roller coaster.
~ Forrest Spencer, All Movie Guide
~ Forrest Spencer, All Movie Guide
Kerry (Suzanne Davis) emerges from a dense forest in a daze, her clothes shredded and her memories of what happened only vague flashes of her high school friends, blood, and a vicious animal with yellow eyes and fangs. As her thoughts clear, she recalls the adventure all too accurately: Her teacher, Mr. Hill (Stacey Keach), took a van-load of her friends from the unfortunately named Sasquatch High School into the mountains, only to have them disappear one by one, their bodies later found ripped apart as if by some hungry animal. Even Sheriff Hammond (Billy Dee Williams) fell victim to the animal. But why was she spared? And how did she get away? Or is she out of the woods yet? And could her therapist (Dan Lauria) be right -- that the horror is all in her mind? ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
Stacy Keach (Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer) stars in the Neil Hollander directed action-thriller Sea Devils. This edge-of-your-seat suspenser pitts Sam Spencer (Antoine Stip), a Mafia fugitive on the lam, against the obstinate and difficult Captain Savienko (Keach). When Spencer hops Savienko's nuclear waste-filled vessel as a stowaway - without asking permission - it sets the stage for a violent conflict between the two hotheaded men. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Tony Kaye made his feature directorial debut with this dramatic exploration into the roots of race hatred in America. In a shocking opening scene, teen Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong) races to tell his older brother, neo-Nazi Derek (Edward Norton), about the young blacks breaking into his car in front of the house, whereupon Derek gets his gun and with no forethought shoots the youths in their tracks. Tried and convicted, Derek is sent away for three years in prison, where he acquires a different outlook as he contrasts white-power prisoners with black Lamont (Guy Torry), his prison laundry co-worker and eventual pal. Meanwhile, Danny, with a shaved head and a rebellious attitude, seems destined to follow in his big brother's footsteps. After Danny writes a favorable review of Hitler's Mein Kampf, black high-school principal Sweeney (Avery Brooks) puts Danny in his private "American History X" course and assigns him to do a paper about his older brother, who was a former student of Sweeney's. This serves to introduce flashbacks, with the film backtracking to illustrate Danny's account of Derek's life prior to the night of the shooting. Monochrome sequences of Derek leading a Venice, California gang are intercut with color footage of the mature Derek ending his past neo-Nazi associations and attempting to detour Danny away from the group led by white supremacist, Cameron (Stacy Keach), who once influenced Derek. Director Tony Kaye, with a background in TV commercials and music videos, filmed in L.A. beach communities. Rated R "for graphic brutal violence including rape, pervasive language, strong sexuality and nudity." ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, (more)
- 1998
The Artists of America series takes viewers into the personal world of some of the art community's most revered citizens. Ten programs delve into the life, philosophy, and works of the nation's greatest painters and sculptors. The two-part program Andrew Wyeth -- Self-Portrait -- Snow Hill provides an intimate biography of the contemporary painter whose landscapes and sensitive portraits generated international acclaim. Wyeth is best-known for his classic painting Christina's World, as well as The Patriot, Maiden Hair, and Distant Thunder. This authorized documentary recounts 60 years of the artist's career, fusing looks at Wyeth's paintings with family photos, home movies, and rare footage of the artist. Other programs in the series include Hibel's Russian Palette, Fritz Scholder: Painting the Paradox, Michael Earney: The Utilitarian Artist, Rita Blitt: Dancing Hands and "Flag", and others. ~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide
