Tom Kindle Movies

Dead Silence begins with a spring-break spree and ends with a chain reaction of duplicity. Three inebriated college girls, driving along a lonely road, strike and kill a pedestrian. Rather than ruin their futures, the girls cover up their crime, vowing one another to silence. But months later, the body is discovered, and the ladies find that one among them is planning to incriminate the others. Originally networkcast as a Fox Night at the Movies, Dead Silence is distinguished by its second-generation star lineup: Martin Sheen's daughter Renee Estevez and Robert Mitchum's granddaughter Carrie play two of the coeds. The third is played by Lisanne Falk, who isn't related to Peter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on the true story that took place in Harlem during 1971, this made-for-TV crime drama centers on assistant district attorney Robert Tanenbaum's desperate search for a trio of cop killers. Tanenbaum (James Woods) is assisted by an equally determined detective (Yaphet Lau Kotto). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Nancy Marchand guest stars as the imperious mother of Diane's boyfriend Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer). Preparing to meet Mrs. Crane for the first time, Diane is understandably nervous and on her guard. Even so, she is hardly prepared for the moment in which the gimlet-eyed dowager threatens to kill Diane if she ever marries Frasier! (Fans of Kelsey Grammer's later series, please note: You won't see Frasier's dad [John Mahoney] in this episode.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The titular "kid" is a nanny goat, purchased by Klinger (Jamie Farr) in hopes of cornering the milk business in the 4077th. Instead, the goat eats the camp's payroll, leaving temporary paymaster Hawkeye (Alan Alda) in debt to the tune of $22,340. Elsewhere, Charles (David Ogden Stiers has problems of his own after getting his mitts on a rare vase. This was the final episode of M*A*S*H's 10th season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Going directly to the top, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) complains about the war in general and recent events at the 4077th in particular in a letter to President Harry Truman). Among Hawk's bones of contention is the capriciousness of Col. Ditka (Stefan Gierasch), who will provide the camp with a much-needed new water heater only on condition that the staffers participate to a "beautification" project. It is tough enough to clean up the grounds, but it is torture beyond belief to overhaul one's own personal hygiene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mary Beth Allen (Barbara Eden), the widow of a member of the long-defunct Eagle Rock Rebels motorcycle gang, supports herself by running a small campground. Unfortunately, the future of this enterprise is endangered by the arrival of several young punks who have been scaring off the customers and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Riding to the rescue are Mary Beth's old pals, the ex-members of the Rebels, who have gathered at the camp for their 25-year reunion. Along the way, Mary Beth falls in love with the Rebels' now middle-aged leader, Sonny (Don Murray). The fun to be had in this made-for-TV movie is seeing such sitcom stalwarts as M*A*S*H's Jamie Farr and Soap's Robert Mandan in black leather jackets astride their souped-up Harleys. Return of the Rebels made its CBS network bow on October 17, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As if in some way Billy Wilder sensed that Buddy Buddy would ultimately turn out to be his final feature film, Wilder lets loose scatter-shot stingers at a wide range of pop-culture targets -- from sex clinics, to 60 Minutes, to movie references, to disco, to Betamax video recorders. Based on Francis Veber and Edouard Molinaro's L'emmerdeur (known in the United States as A Pain in the A. . .), Buddy Buddy concerns the unlikely pairing of a gruff hitman and a suicidal klutz. Walter Matthau plays a professional killer going by the name of Trabucco, who is on his way to rub out gangster Rudy "Disco" Gambola (Fil Formicola), set to testify against the mob. As Trabucco heads off to a hotel across the street from the courthouse where he plans to set his hit, he runs into the depressed Victor Clooney (Jack Lemmon), who laments the fact that his wife has left him for the head of a weird Californian sex clinic. Trabucco keeps walking and sets up his rifle in a hotel room. He is disturbed by Victor trying to hang himself in the adjoining hotel room and tries to prevent him from killing himself by restraining him, but Victor breaks loose and climbs onto the ledge of the hotel window. To get Victor to come back in, he agrees to drive him to the clinic to see his wife. The two go to the clinic where Victor's wife Celia (Paula Prentiss) informs Victor that she is in love in the head of the clinic, quack Dr. Zuckerbrot (Klaus Kinski). When Victor finds out that Celia is filing for divorce, he heads back to the hotel to kill himself, with Celia and Dr. Zuckerbrot in pursuit. Arriving at the hotel, they plan to inject Victor with a sedative but stick Trabucco with the needle instead. Trabucco reveals to Victor his assignment to kill Rudy, and Victor tries to help him with the killing. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Underpublicized and underappreciated, the US ice hockey team heads for the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York. Driven a manner than can be described as merciless by coach Herb Brooks (Karl Malden), the team has learned how to swallow months of defeat and disappointment press on to success. The result: A stunning victory over the high-profile Russian and Finnish skating teams. Actual scenes from the Olympic finals are seamlessly blended with recreations of the event in this made-for-TV movie. Miracle on Ice costars Andrew Stevens as team captain Mike Eruzione. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Back in the mid-1970s, elaborately appointed vans were all the rage. This film was designed to exploit the craze and centers upon a particularly stupendous vehicle that is even equipped with solar-powered laser beams that the driver hero uses to stop some evil bikers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide