W.K. Stratton Movies
Based very loosely on the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas, this direct-to-video Disney version of The Three Musketeers features Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy as janitors who become pawns in a scheme by Peg-leg Pete to take the throne away from Princess Minnie. The threesome works together in order to save the princess and the kingdom. The film features a half-dozen new songs, some of which are based on classical works by famous composers like Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wayne Allwine, Tony Anselmo, (more)
- 1986
Somewhere in the Deep South, young singer Matt Burns (Brian L. Green) has been arrested for the murder of local bully Ed Bonner (Jeffrey Osterhage), son of the town's most influential citizen (Stuart Whitman). Innocent bystanders to this developing drama are Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) and her friend and fellow writer Ames Caulfield (Craig Stevens), one of whose former students happened to be Matt's mother. At the request of Matt's girl friend (and the dead man's sister) Linda (Cindy Fisher), Jessica does her best to prove Matt's innocence--while an angry lynch mob begins to swarm around the town jail. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Given one last chance to capture the A-Team, Col. Lynch (William Lucking, in his final series appearance) makes a beeline to the Wild West show run by Captain Winnetka (Morgan Woodward). It seems that Winnetka's daughter Carrie (D..D. Howard) has lodged a complaint of being victimized by a gang of crooks passing themselves off as the A-Team. Naturally, the real Team can't stand imitations, and decide to thwart the crooks on their own, adopting disguises straight out of the Village People playbook: Hannibal (George Peppard) as a flashy sharpshooter, Face (Dirk Benedict) as a clown, and Murdock (Dwight Schultz)as an Indian. The climax involves another jerry-built weapon, this one shooting wads of taffy! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
The A-Team heads to the small town of Haleyville to aid female fire chief Annie Saunders (Stepfanie Kramer), whose job may be taken away from her by unscrupulous, mob-connected rival chief Roy Kelsey (Paul Gleason). In their efforts to help Annie and find out what Kelsey is REALLY up to, our heroes must avoid capture by Col. Briggs (Charles Napier), the latest in a long line of military antagonists. The best scenes involve "Little Squirt", a revolutionary fire-fighting apparatus (actually a glorified seltzer bottle!) created by the redoubtable Murdock (Dwight Schultz). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Frustrated by the lack of progress and apparent indifference of the authorities, Magnum (Tom Selleck) conducts his own investigation of the murder of his friend, a former surfing champ. While the leading suspects are a troubled Vietnam veteran (Wings Hauser) and a notorious (and notoriously elusive) drug pusher, Magnum comes to the conclusion that a third party is the true culprit. Appearing as Sgt. Jordan is Vic Morrow, onetime star of the popular TV war drama Combat, which also featured Magnum, P.I.'s casting director Jack Hogan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In the opening two-part episode of Magnum, P.I. (originally telecast as a single two-hour "TV movie"), Hawaii-based private detective and former Naval Intelligence officer Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) is already comfortably installed as head of security at the lavish estate of wealthy mystery writer Robin Masters, and well into his genially adversarial relationship with Jonathan Higgins (John Hillerman), the never-seen Masters' snobbish manservant. Despite his cushy surroundings, Magnum isn't averse to accepting "outside" assignments--nor is he immune to trouble being thrust upon him unexpectedly. That's what happens on this occasion, when Magnum's old Vietnam buddy Dan Cook (Allen Williams) turns up dead, with ten bags of cocaine in his stomach. Refusing to believe the offical report that Cook was involved in a drug-smuggling ring, Magnum conducts his own investigation, despite being warned off on several occasions by the authorities--and sure enough, he uncovers a frameup and a widespread conspiracy! Featured in the guest cast is ex-Playboy playmater Lillian Muller, here billed as "Yuliis Ruval." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In the conclusion of Magnum, P.I.'s two-part opening episode (originally telecast as a single two-hour "TV movie"), Magnum (Tom Selleck) and Alice Cook (Pamela Susan Shoop) literally put their lives on the line to prove that Alice's sister, Navy lieutenant Dan Cook, died a hero--contradicting the government's insistence that Cook was part of an international drug-smuggling ring. The trail of clues leads to crime lord Philipe Trusseau (Roger Loggia), with whom Magnum had previously crossed swords in Vietnam. As with most TV pilots, there are significant differences between "Don't Eat the Snow in Hawaii" and later Magnum, P.I. episodes. For example, Magnum's wartime buddy Rick (Larry Manetti is the owner of a nitery called "Café Americain" instead of his more familiar stamping grounds at the King Kamehameha club; also, the role of Moki the Bartender, later played by Rene Abillera, is here enacted by Branscombe Richard, while Jeff McKay, later seen on a semi-regular basis as Naval officer "Mac" MacReynolds, is cast on this occasion as "Ski" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
When Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.) wins a free trip to Hawaii, Jim (James Garner) tags along, only to cross the path of his former Army commander John "Howling Mad" Smith (Ken Swofford). Before Jim quite knows what has happened, Smith has gotten him involved in a CIA operation designed to break up a spy ring. Unfortunately, old "Howling Mad" has neglected to inform Jim of all the dangers inherent in this assignment, and as a result our hero is beaten, robbed, drugged and kidnapped--and that's all during the first half hour. Fortunately, through the sort of incredible coincidence that could only happen on network television, Jim's policeman pal Dennis Becker (Joe Santos) shows up in Hawaii just in time to lend a helping hand. This was the last Rockford Files episode to be filmed, though not the last to be telecast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
After calling her ex-boyfriend Jim (James Garner) for help, former model Carol is found dead. According the the police, Carol committed suicide, but another model, Alta Hatch (Erin Grey) suspects that the girl was murdered--and that the killer is the same person who bumped off yet another model. In hopes of finding a connection between the two deaths, Jim joins Alta in her investigation of the high-fashion industry, conducted on behalf of flamboyant celebrity designer Masters (Rene Auberjonois), who is acting rather suspiciously himself. In the process of uncovering the truth, Jim is--as usual--subjected to a surfeit of physical abuse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Starbuck (Dirk Benedict) is charged with the murder of rival Viper pilot Ortega (Frank Ashmore). With the full weight of evidence against him, Starbuck finds few that are willing to believe his protestations of innocence. One of those few, however, is his best friend Apollo (Richard Hatch), who doggedly sets about to prove that the authorities have arrested the wrong man--and in the process, Apollo uncovers an unusually vicious blackmail scheme. "Murder on the Rising Star" was later combined with the Battlestar Galactica episode "The Young Lords" and reissued as the two-hour "TV movie" Murder in Space. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, (more)
- 1978
While studying for his Lieutenant's exam, Dennis Becker (Joe Santos) is assigned to investigate the murder of the wife of Deputy Police Chief Towne (Byron Morrow). Knowing all too well that Dennis will never get his promotion--and more likely will face demotion--if anything goes wrong with his investigation, Jim (James Garner) surreptitiously tags along to provide assistance. But Jim's efforts may be all for naught when Dennis uncovers some embarrassing truths about the late Mrs. Towne's dalliances with various paroled convicts. A pre-stardom Ed Harris appears in a pivotal role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A serial dater afflicted with a lifelong curse of loneliness attempts to win the love of a clumsy but beautiful penguin expert in the one romantic comedy that proves true love never comes easy. As a ten-year-old boy, Charlie (Dane Cook), breaks the cardinal rule of spin-the-bottle by refusing to kiss a demented goth girl. Crushed by the disheartening snub and determined to ensure that Charlie never finds true love, the vengeful brooder places a hex on the cowardly rule breaker that follows him well into his adult life. Flash-forward 20 years, and Charlie is a successful dentist who just can't seem to maintain a stable relationship. Sure he's had his fair share of one-night stands, but these days Charlie is just looking to find a nice girl he can settle down with. One day, while attending an ex-girlfriend's wedding, Charlie realizes that every girl he has ever dated has proceeded to find true love with the very next man they've met. When word gets out that Charlie is something of a lucky charm for women looking to tie the knot, every women within a 100-mile radius comes calling for a one-night stand; and while taking a bevy of beauties to bed is fun for the time being, it doesn't take long for Charlie to realize just how empty sex can be without true love. Upon meeting hard-to-get aquatic bird specialist Cam (Jessica Alba), Charlie begins to suspect that he has found the woman of his dreams. Cam is the kind of woman whom Charlie would be happy to grow old with, but what will come of their relationship if Charlie and Cam sleep together? Now, in order to ensure that Cam doesn't end up with the next guy she meets, Charlie will finally attempt to break the curse that has plagued him since childhood. Perhaps with a little help from smooth-talking ladies' man and sympathetic best friend Stu (Dan Fogler), Charlie will finally be able to experience true happiness. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dane Cook, Jessica Alba, (more)
A suburban home has become physically animated by a vengeful human soul looking to stir up trouble from beyond the grave, and it's up to three adventurous kids from the neighborhood to do battle with the structural golem in this comically frightful tale, directed by Gil Kenan and featuring the voices of Steve Buscemi, Nick Cannon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Kevin James. DJ Harvard (voice of Mitchel Musso) lives directly across the street from a most unusual house. A malevolent entity that longs to feed on the energy of the living, the once peaceful house that looms ominously outside of DJ's bedroom window would like nothing more than the chance to feast on the children of the neighborhood. As Halloween begins to draw near and the children of the neighborhood prepare for another long night of trick-or-treating, it appears as if it may be the house that is in for the biggest treat of all. Now, with the adults turning a deaf ear to DJ's strange findings, it's up to the brave young boy and his faithful friends Chowder (voice of Sam Lerner) and Jenny (Spencer Locke) to break through the barrier of the supernatural and defeat the powers of darkness before the house grows too powerful to fight. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Buscemi, Nick Cannon, (more)
