Bert Kramer Movies
This ambitious Disney movie uses a remarkable screenplay from Steven L. Bloom and Robert Rodat to tell a rollicking tale of America's transition from a close-to-the-land culture of mythic heroes to a corporate world of real estate tycoons. The strong theme about the decline of folk culture is expressed through a series of high octane adventures experienced by 12-year-old Daniel Hackett (Nick Stahl) at the dawn of the 20th century. Daniel's father, Jonas Hackett (Stephen Lang), runs a farm in a place called Paradise Valley, but his land is coveted by a greedy developer, J.P. Stiles (Scott Glenn). Daniel looks longingly at postcards of New York City while growing increasingly skeptical of his father's tales of legendary folk heroes. Then, through a series of incredible adventures, Daniel meets up with the legends that his father has spoken about -- cowboy Pecos Bill (Patrick Swayze), lumberjack Paul Bunyan (Oliver Platt), and finally, ex-slave and strongman John Henry (Roger Aaron Brown). Each of these heroes hooks up with Daniel and becomes involved in an increasingly bitter and boisterous fight against Stiles, whose plans to buy up land threaten the very strength of the folk heroes and the well-being of the common people. Pecos Bill has a horse named Widowmaker and can lasso a tornado. The giant Bunyan is accompanied by his famous blue ox, Babe. At one point, another legend, the cowgirl Calamity Jane (Catherine O'Hara), joins in the adventures. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Swayze, Oliver Platt, (more)
- 1992
- G
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Adventure is only limited by imagination in this exciting animated fantasy from The Goonies writer Chris Columbus. Warmly welcomed to the Kingdom of Slumberland by the king himself, young Nemo is christened heir to the throne and given a magical key that will open any door in the kingdom. Though Nemo is warned not to open the one door with the power to destroy Slumberland, temptation proves too strong and the king is kidnapped as a black cloud of nightmares washes over the formerly idyllic dreamscape. Now, if Nemo is to reverse his error and bring the king back alive, he must rally his friends and journey deep into Nightmare Land to face his ultimate fear. Will dreams ever return to Slumberland, or has Nemo's folly set into motion an irreversible, eternal echo of nightmares and chaos? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabriel Damon, René Auberjonois, (more)
- 1991
- G
Mr. "No Respect" Rodney Dangerfield appears as cartoon character "Rover Dangerfield" in this animated effort dreamed up by the irrepressible comedian. The cartoon dog has to leave his Las Vegas home and ends up on a small farm in nowheresville USA, where his big-city ways aren't always appreciated by a more genteel folk. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rodney Dangerfield, Susan Boyd, (more)
The made-for-TV Murder C.O.D. has a plot almost as complex and clever as its psychotic "protagonist." William Devane plays an adroit hitman who selects his victims before he's been hired to kill them. His modus operandi is to approach the person or persons who'd most benefit from the murder, then charge a $100,000 fee to go through with the plan. Patrick Duffy is the cop on the case, who periodically runs out of breath trying to keep up with the slippery Devane. While Duffy loses the acting sweepstakes to Devane, the viewer can be assured that Duffy's character in Murder C.O.D. will emerge triumphant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Under the influence of new girlfriend Stacy (Kari Michaelson), easygoing Joey (David Coulier) vows never again to let himself be bossed around by Jesse (John Stamos). Unfortunately, Joey's new-found assertiveness comes at precisely the wrong time as far as Jesse is concerned, causing a serious rift between the two. Meanwhile, amateur physicians DJ (Candace Cameron) and Michelle (played by the Olsen twins) perform emergency "surgery" when Steph's beloved teddy bear is torn asunder by family dog Comet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
- R
In a standard story of a band's rise to popularity broken by drugs and tragedy, the friendship of the band members is tested to the limits. Donnie (Scott McGinnis) has started a band and wants his friend Richie (Roger Wilson) to join and help them put together a winning sound. Richie overcomes his dislike of one of the group members, starts playing with them, and soon they are on the way to stardom. But their sleazy manager has been getting Donnie hooked on drugs, and when an overdose kills the young bandleader, Richie is devastated. His girlfriend Beth is there for him, but for the rest of the band, their grief takes on a violent edge as they begin to connive to avenge Donnie's death. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roger Wilson, Jill Schoelen, (more)
Sort of a triple-threat Bad Seed with a more overtly violent streak, this film tells the tale of trio of cherubic youngsters whose births all coincided with a solar eclipse, which somehow initiated a kind of time-release evil reaction that reaches its climax on the kids' tenth birthday, causing them to transform into miniature homicidal psychopaths. These darling little tykes then proceed to beat dad's brains out with a baseball bat, gun down their teacher, and otherwise beat, stab and strangle anyone who even looks cross-eyed at them. They also seem to be strangely fond of leering at naked teenage girls... or maybe that's just the director's favorite pastime. Produced in 1980, this proto-slasher opus was shelved for six years, then released to video to capitalize on the already-waning trend of Friday the 13th sequels and their hellish offspring. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Strasberg, José Ferrer, (more)
- 1979
When his sight is temporarily impaired in an accident, young Jordan (Ronnie Scribner) pretends to have been permanently blinded in order to keep his quarrelling parents from splitting up. At first disapproving of Jordan's charade, Laura Ingalls (Melissa Gilbert) decides to let him keep his secret, since he means no harm. Circumstances alter cases when Jordan endures a second concussion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1978
- R
John Travolta played his first romantic lead in this drama about an ill-fated May-September romance. Trisha (Lily Tomlin) is a wealthy middle-aged housewife living in Southern California. Trisha's life has become dull and uneventful, and her long-term marriage to Stu (Bert Kramer) has gone stale. One day, a handsome young drifter named Strip (Travolta), nearly 20 years her junior, happens along the beach near Trisha's house. He finds Trisha attractive, and he approaches her. Soon the two have fallen into an affair, but while Trisha enjoys Strip's company and thinks that he's handsome, it's obvious that he's more interested in her than she is in him. Moment by Moment was written and directed by Jane Wagner, Lily Tomlin's longtime companion and frequent writing partner. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lily Tomlin, John Travolta, (more)
- 1978
Joey and Redhawk was first presented as 5-part CBS Afternoon Playhouse in 1978. Joey (Chris Peterson) is a white, middle-class Ohio boy. Redhawk (Guillermo San Juan) is a Colorado Apache. Redhawk runs away from home after being taunted by punks; meanwhile, Joey is vacationing in Rockies with father. The fugitive Redhawk helps Joey and his dad when they're injured and leads them out of wilderness. After dealing with a Ben Gunn-style recluse and a Mountain Lion, all is well. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
TV personality Ruth Beetson-White (played by futureNewhart costar Mary Frann) is determined to frame Morry Hawthorne (Ken McMillan), the manager of boxer Jesus Hernandez (Rocky Echevarria), on a trumped-up federal charge. Since Jim (James Garner) owns a percentage of Hernandez, Hawthorne's plight is of special interest to him. It later develops that several of Jim's fellow investors have been scammed by Hawthorne, but this doesn't make Ruth right; in fact, her involvement in the case may make her dead wrong. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Police detective Dennis Becker (Joe Santos) is suspended after being framed on a heroin-possession charge. Since the drugs in question had been confiscated by the police, it would seem that somewhere in the Department is lurking a "dirty" cop determined to destroy Dennis. In his efforts to prove his friend's innocence, Jim (James Garner) matches wits with a third-rate nightclub comic (Jack Carter) who is acting as go-between for a notorious drug dealer. This is the first of two Rockford Files episodes in which James Garner is reunited with his former Maverick costar Jack Kelly, here cast as the villain of the piece. Also making guest appearances are future Hill Street Blues regular James B. Sikking as a zealous internal-affairs officer, and Bucklind Beery, son of series costar Noah Beery Jr., as a policeman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Kojak (Telly Savalas) and his colleagues are perplexed by a mad bomber who has been striking various targets on Manhattan island. Not only are clues virtually nonexistent, but the bomber doesn't seem to be following any sort of pattern. However, the audience knows something Kojak doesn't: the perpetrator is targeting people whom he regards as personal enemies because they have done harm to his friends. A pre-stardom Dabney Coleman appears in a significant supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Diana Ross plays the magnificent, tragic song stylist Billie Holiday, who while writhing in a strait jacket in a prison cell, awaiting sentencing on drug charges, reflects on her turbulent life. Raped in her youth by a drunk (Adolph Caesar), then compelled to work as a domestic in a Harlem whorehouse, Holliday is encouraged to try for a singing career by the bordello's pianist (Richard Pryor). She rises as high as it is possible to go in the white-dominated show business world of the 1930s, but can't handle the pressure and turns to narcotics. The film takes several liberties with the 44-year existence of "Lady Day." Among the Billie Holiday standards performed by Ross are "My Man," "I Cried for You," "Lover Man," "Them There Eyes," and the title song. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, (more)
- 1972
Hollywood comes to South Korea when General Clayton (Herb Voland) orders the members of the 4077th to appear in a filmed documentary. Disgusted by the intrusive moviemakers and the idiotic propaganda slogans he's being forced to recite, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) sabotages the epic and produces his own movie -- a zany Marx Brothers-style farce, with himself in the role of Yankee Doodle Doctor. Despite all the wackiness, there's a serious message lurking somewhere within Hawkeye's cinematic masterpiece. "Yankee Doodle Doctor" originally aired on October 22, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
In this drama, a Louisiana black man has brought his family to Los Angeles to fulfill his dream of opening his own bakery. For him, it was a great gamble as he had no credit, and little money. Still, he manages to get the bakery going. Unfortunately, the business is not able to sustain itself and the fellow is forced to close it down and take a sanitation job. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Andrew Duggan guest stars as Frank Connor, a small-town crusading journalist determined to the topple the criminal empire of racketeer Duke Bergan (Scott Marlowe). After an attempt is made on Conner's life, the FBI offers protection to the man while Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) searches for the proof necessary to put the bad guys behind bars. It all boils down to a single solitary clue: A uniquely shaped contact lens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
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
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Leonard Nimoy, (more)
- 1966
When hitchhiker Frank Schroeder (a pre-Hawaii 5-0 Jack Lord) gallantly saves a young Mexican girl named Teresa (Pilar Seurat) from being sexually assaulted, she gratefully tags along with him on his Eastward journey. What Teresa doesn't know is that Frank is a triple murderer who for several days has been eluding a nationwide FBI dragnet. The girl is also blissfully unaware that her travelling companion is planning to pull off a million-dollar diamond heist--and to kill anyone who has the bad luck to get in his way. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
