Dave Shelley Movies
Andy Warhol was a phenomenon who warrants a lot of explaining: a completely colorless mega-star celebrity, and a kind of LaBrea Tarpit for a vivid and talented collection of oddballs in the New York scene. He fostered their continued degeneration into weird lifestyles and heavy drug use; and at the same time acted as their mentor, agent, and sponsor. One artist who came to be part of Warhol's "scene" was Jean Michel Basquiat, an antisocial street-bum who went from writing graffiti on alley walls to being the toast of New York City's art world. This film biography chronicles the progression of Basquiat (Jeffrey Wright) and his progression from living in cardboard boxes to penthouses, his romances, his drug use, and his death in 1988 at age 27. Along the way, he never stopped detesting the rich, including art agent Bruno Bischofberger (Dennis Hopper), and he never lost his naivete. Warhol (David Bowie) picks up some of the pieces as Basquiat lurches through the art scene. Cameo appearances by Tatum O'Neal and Courtney Love add spice to this interesting film. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeffrey Wright, Michael Wincott, (more)
- 1985
The Cup A' Joe is a small family diner owned by Patty Dutton (Lisa Denton) and her parents. Secretly in league with crooked land developers, big-time restauranteur Cactus Jack Slater (John Ashton) is pressuring the Duttons to sell him their diner, using tactics ranging from unfair to lethal. The A-Team comes to the rescue by briefly taking over the Cup A' Joe themselves, with Murdock becoming a "different"chef (with different accent!) for each order. The climax involves a hidden bomb and an 18-wheeler that has miraculously returned from the dead! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
An incompetent ER doctor (Michael Durrell) panics under pressure, causing the death of a heart attack victim. Though she knows what really happened, nurse Margaret Alldred (Margaret Ladd) is pressured by the doctor and her boss to help them cover up the details of the tragedy--intimating that she will be blacklisted from the medical profession if she doesn't cooperate. In desperation, Margaret turns to an old family friend for help and advice...an old family friend named Quincy (Jack Klugman). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
This episode was originally seen in most markets on a Saturday night, rather than the customary Sunday-evening Alice timeslot. The plot finds the irascible Mel (Vic Tayback) suddenly and inexplicably demonstrating warmth and affection towards Alice (Linda Lavin) and Tommy (Philip McKeon). Such is Mel's curious behavior that Alice suspects the worst when he invites her to have dinner with his "family". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jim (James Garner) infiltrates a sanitarium called Horizon's Crest to rescue T.T. Flowers (Strother Martin), who is being victimized by evil land developer Jack Muellard (Scott Brady). But though Muellard is temporarily stopped in his tracks, T.T. still isn't out of the woods yet--and in fact, the poor fellow may be "legally" murdered by a police SWAT team. This episode marks the spectacular demise of Jim Rockford's beloved Firebird 100! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
A carnival pitches its tents on Walton's Mountain, and everybody is delighted--everyone except Elizabeth (Kami Cotler), who is tormented by nightmares of being trapped on a runaway Ferris wheel. Apparently, Elizabeth's phobia can be traced back to something that happened when she got lost on the Mountain during the carnival's previous visit. . .and John-Boy (Richard Thomas) is determined to unlock his sister's memory of that mysterious occurrence. Meanwhile, the height-challenged Ben (Eric Scott) goes to great (and amusing) lengths to be just as tall as his brothers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Mel (Vic Tayback) thinks he has figured out the perfect way to get his waitresses to quit en masse. Hiring a brand new waiter, Mel proceeds to pay the man several times more than his veteran staffers are getting. As it turns out, the scheme works--and Mel lives to regret it. The role of Kenny is played by Bill Fiore, best known for his appearances opposite Chuck McCann ("Hiiii, guy!" "MOANA!") in a series of popular deodorant commercials. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Fresh from his triumphant movie appearance in Blazing Saddles, Cleavon Little guest stars as James Travis Clark, the Waltons' new hired man. Upon learning that James is a prizefighter, Olivia (Michael Learned) and Grandma (Ellen Corby) strongly express their disapproval--until they find out that he plans to use the prize money from his upcoming bout to finance the building of a church for the local African American community. Unfortunately, it turns out that the fight is fixed, and James has no hope of winning. But though he's been counted out in the ring, James still may emerge a winner thanks to the help and support of his new friends on Walton's Mountain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
