Jack Kruschen Movies

In this feature-length continuation of the popular husband-and-wife television detective series, the fabulously wealthy and impossibly attractive Jonathan (Robert Wagner) and Jennifer (Stephanie Powers) Hart travel to the town of Kingman's Ferry to mourn the death of Jennifer's mentor. Suspecting foul play, the duo launch an investigation that reveals that burg's idyllic appearance masks a seething underbelly of deception. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

This made-for-cable version of Arthur Miller's play The American Clock was adapted for television by Frank Galati. Inspired partly by Studs Terkel's oral history Hard Times, and partly by Miller's own recollections, the film is set at the beginning of the Depression. When the stock market crashes, the well-to-do Baumler family (John Rubinstein, Mary McDonnell, Loren Dean) loses everything. The Baumlers are forced to move from their plush penthouse apartment to the less-attractive Brooklyn digs of Mrs. Baumler's sister (Joanna Miles). Twelve-year-old Lee Baumler (Dean), the Arthur Miller counterpart, hits the road to find out how others are coping with the Long National Nightmare. The alternately depressing and uplifting storyline moves along briskly to a surprisingly abrupt climax. Kelly Preston, David Strathairn, Eddie Bracken, Darren McGavin, and Estelle Parson co-star in The American Clock, which premiered over the TNT Cable Network on August 23, 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jessica (Angela Lansbury) comes to the aid of Ellen Woer (Dee Wallace Stone), whom she'd previously helped to beat a murder rap. In the interim, Ellen has become owner of a diner, in which three patrons died of arsenic poisoning. While Jessica labors to find out what really happened, several disgruntled "locals", convinced that Ellen had actually been guilty of murder the first time around, aren't about to let her slip through the fingers of the law a second time--and no one is more vituperative (or profane) than the town's chief hothead, Edge Potter (Don Swayze). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Season Four of Full House gets off to a running start when the Greek grandparents of Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos) descend upon the Tanner household on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple's rather bizarre customs and traditions set the household on its ear; and at the same time, the various cousins brought along for the ride stir up a few romantic complications--leading to a surprise at the end involving Jesse and Becky (Lisa Loughlin). Though they normally share the role of little Michelle Tanner, twins Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen make a rare joint appearance in this episode when Michelle meets her lookalike cousin Melina. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The original 1946 Dark Mirror starred Olivia de Havilland as twin sisters, one of whom has committed a murder. Since each twin can provide an alibi for the other, a rumpled detective (Thomas Mitchell) and a handsome shrink (Lew Ayres) are compelled to get to the truth through patience and not a little sneakiness. Dark Mirror was remade as a TV movie in 1984, this time with Jane Seymour in the "leads" and Vincent Gardenia as the detective. Seymour has a field day alternating between the good and bad twin; would that the audience was having as much fun. There really isn't any point to this dour remake, except perhaps to honor a contractual commitment to Jane Seymour, whose playing is so ripe that we secretly hope both twins will get the chair. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A high-school guidance counselor is about to retire and decides to finance his golden years with a plot to steal $50 million, and he enlists the help of two elderly people. ~ John Bush, Rovi

Mel (Vic Tayback) is none too happy when his mom Carrie (Martha Raye) takes over the kitchen and starts turning out her famous chicken pies. An argument inevitably arises, ending when Mel kicks Carrie out of the diner. This proves to be a major blunder when Carrie goes to work for Mel's chief rival Benny Conway (Jack Kruschen)--and syphons off Mel's profits in the process. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this version of the Mark Twain classic, Huck dodges the drudgery of an eastern boys school by faking his own drowning. Unfortunately, his good friend Jim is blamed for his apparent earthly exit. So the two of them set off rafting the Mississippi in search of adventure. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

In this comedy, a hotel becomes a chaotic place during the 1938 filming of The Wizard of Oz, when it is inundated with groups of midgets, secret agents, and Nazi and Japanese spies. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

The classic O. Henry yarn "The Gift of the Magi" is given the Alice treatment in this Christmas episode. With the Holidays approaching, everybody at Mel's Diner wants to buy everyone else an expensive present. Unfortunately, there isn't enough money to go around, resulting in some surprising sacrifices and a not-so-surprising (but still touching) denoument. (This episode was made long, long before every sitcom on earth was celebrating Christmas with a rehashing of It's a Wonderful Life!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi