Ted Lange Movies
For millions of Americans, the prime-time situation comedy The Love Boat will be forever inseparable from the image of Ted Lange, an actor cast for nine seasons as the genial Isaac the Bartender on the Pacific Princess luxury liner and trademarked by his iconic "two-finger drop" greeting. Yet Lange's portrayal of Isaac scarcely hinted at the actor's dexterity or dramatic range. In truth, this actor received classical dramatic training at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and would go on, after the Princess took its final voyage in September 1986, to establish himself as a revered creative force in regional theater.Lange initially broke into films with many portrayals in Hollywood programmers during the early '70s, including Trick Baby (1972), Blade (1972), and Black Belt Jones (1974), and landed a regular role in the one-season ethnic sitcom That's My Mama (1974), as a streetwise philosopher opposite Clifton Davis (Amen) and Theresa Merritt. The Love Boat, of course, brought Lange his most widespread recognition; nonetheless (as indicated), he hearkened back to his theatrical roots beginning in the late '80s and divided his time between writing, directing, and stage acting roles. His resumé as a scribe sports at least 17 original plays including Lemon Meringue Facade, Behind the Mask -- An Evening with Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Evil Legacy -- The Story of Lucretia Borgia, while he has appeared dramatically in productions including Hair and Taming of the Shrew and has directed plays ranging from Othello to the rock & roll musical Born a Unicorn. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 2009
Vincent Lee Alston stars as a black man who assumes guardianship of his white best friend's daughter in this somber indie drama about race, family, and doing what's right. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Lee Alston, Grace Bydalek, (more)
Larry Miller, Tara Reid, and Lea Thompson star in this rowdy party film about a high school senior who hatches a plan to throw the ultimate skip-day bash. Adam is determined to end his high school career with a bang, and what better way to do that than to throw a party in Principal Dickwalder's home? Principal Dickwalder is a strict disciplinarian, and when he overhears Adam and his friend discussing the details of their plan he comes down on them all with an iron fist. Now Adam's only hope for redemption is to throw the party himself, but Principal Dickwalder isn't about to let that happen either. Who will come out on top in this fierce battle of wills, the student with a terminal case of senioritis or the principal who forgot what it means to be a fun-loving teen? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Miller, Tara Reid, (more)
A Midwestern bar tender hungering for life in the fast lane enters a Hollywood King of the Bar contest in this fast-paced showbiz satire starring Jason Mewes and Paris Hilton. Owen Peadman (Mewes) is Minnesota's "Golden Boy" of bartending, but the Midwest has grown a little bland, and now Owen is looking make a name for himself in the thriving L.A. nightclub scene. When Owen gets word of a high profile bartender contest with a hearty cash prize, he sets his sights on Hollywood and prepares to knock the judges dead. Unfortunately for Owen things don't quite work out as planned, and after losing out to a well-known L.A. barman he is forced to seek the help of his flamboyant Uncle Earl. A fast-talking producer of a popular tabloid new program, Uncle Earl offers Owen a job and the pair soon set out to get the scoop on Hayden Field - the hottest young star around. Getting to Hayden isn't going to be easy though, and after hatching a plan to befriend Hayden's glamorous girlfriend Lisa Mancini (Hilton), the one-time drink slinger find out just how wild the west coast nightlife can truly get. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paris Hilton, Jason Mewes, (more)
- 1997
High schooler Shawn (Rider Strong) drops in on a college philosophy class and wins a debate with Professor Michaels (Julius Carry). His ego in high gear, Shawn begins thinking of himself as a college student--and in so doing neglects his high school duties to the point that he ends up suspended. And Dean Borak (Paul Gleason) wonders what Eric (Will Friedle) is up to when he creates his own fraternity, "Magnum Pi." Former Love Boat regulars Bernie Kopell and Ted Lange) appear as themselves in a surrealistic frat-party sequence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water again, along came the "retro" TV movie The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage. Four regulars of the original Love Boat series are back on board: Gavin McLeod ($Capt Stubbing), Bernie Kopell (Doc), Ted Lange (Isaac) and Jill Whelan (Vicki). Filmed on location in the Carribean, the plotline accommodates the usual quota of guest stars, in this cast Ted Shackleford, Shanna Reed, Joe Regalbuto, Tom Bosley, Julia Duffy, Steve Bond, and wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. The story concerns a gang of eccentric jewel thieves, who set about divesting the passengers of their valuables while said passengers are out frolicking on deck and on shore. The TV Guide had it right on the money when commenting that a film of this nature "defies criticism". Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage premiered February 12, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In this black-and-white, independently produced crime drama, Izzy (Jack Kruschen) is surprised one day shortly after the death of his business partner to discover that he had been using their gumball machine franchise as a cover for selling crack. Though he's a bit long in the tooth to be starting out in such a rough business, he teams up with a middle-aged black man with street smarts (Don Fullilove), and together they cope with the competition for this business he didn't know he had. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Kruschen, Donald Fullilove, (more)
- 1989
The made-for-TV It Nearly Wasn't Christmas stars Charles Durning as the one and only Santa Claus--a role for which Durning evidently required no padding. The plot would have us believe that Santa is on the verge of cancelling Christmas (didn't know he could do that). The reasons are the usual: the holiday has become too commercialized, and people have become too self-centered. Santa's faith in humanity is renewed by a little girl (Risa Schiffman), who hopes that the Holiday spirit will be instrumental in reuniting her estranged parents. It Nearly Wasn't Christmas was syndicated to local TV outlets during the week of December 16, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
There are several notable elements to this film production of Shakespeare's famous play. The first is director/producer Ted Lange's subdued and realistic performance in the lead role. The second is the effective performance by Hawthorn James as Iago, the troublemaking bad guy of the story, and the final element is the fact that Othello, Iago and Iago's wife Emilia are played by black actors, and that this is a rare phenomenon. This rarely screened production first surfaced at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival and was well received there. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ted Lange
- 1988
- R
After discovering they have photographed an actual murder taking place, a couple of Venice Beachies attempt to solve the crime in this mystery-comedy. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Hennessy, Scott King, (more)
When a pair of inept thieves, Todd (Will Egan) and Bo (Steve Donmeyer), break into the mansion of a famous Hollywood producer, their criminal activities are disturbed when a group of attractive young women mistakenly show up for an audition. Taking advantage of the situation, the crooks pose as movie makers in order to run the auditions for an X-rated film. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julia Nickson, Will Egan, (more)
- 1978
- PG
This lighthearted, tuneful and youth-oriented comedy is set in a record store and chronicles the zany exploits of its employees. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The same Ted Lange who spent several years in the innocuous role of the bartender in TV's The Love Boat was the screenwriter for the far-from-innocuous "black pride" effort Passing Through. Nathaniel Taylor plays African-American jazz musician Warmack, who is bedeviled by crooked, homicidal record executives. At the behest of his grandfather Papa Harris (Clarence Muse), Warmack seeks out inner strength by studying his family roots. Inspired by the example of his African forebears, Warmack successfully trounces the evil record moguls after they arrange the death of his best friend. Passing Through director Larry Clark took on the project as a means of completing his UCLA film degree. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathaniel Taylor, Clarence Muse, (more)
- 1977
This second of two pilot films for the Love Boat TV series was originally telecast on January 21, 1977. After the shakedown cruise, several of the actors playing the crew of the Pacific Princess were replaced. In Love Boat 2, Ted Lange, Bernie Kopell and Fred Grandy portray the roles they would be playing for several seasons thereafter, namely Isaac, Doc and Gopher, respectively. But instead of Gavin McLeod as the Captain and Lauren Tewes as the cruise director, Love Boat II offers us Quinn Redecker in the former part, and Diane Stilwell in the latter. {As with the first Love Boat, this second pilot fills its time with four separate sets of passengers, each in their own self-contained plotline. Hope Lange plays a wife who, fed up with philandering husband Robert Reed, takes up with tennis pro Lyle Waggoner. Divorcee Celeste Holm is reunited with old flame Craig Stevens. CPA Bert Convy (practically a "regular" of the subsequent series) pursues cruise director Diane Stillwell. And last but not least, shy psychiatrist Ken Berry falls for brash cruise entertainer Candice Azzara. The Love Boat series proper would commence in September of 1977, and sail on until late 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Quinn K. Redeker
Each week, passengers looking for romance board the beautiful Pacific Princess cruise ship as it sails to tropical and exotic lands. Captain Stubing, Julie, Gopher, Dr.Adam, and Isaac help them to get the most out of their trips and do their best to help them fall in love.
- Starring:
- Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, (more)
- 1977
The New Love Boat was the third pilot film for the long-running TV series. After several casting missteps in the two earlier films, the series' regular characters are herein solidified: Gavin McLeod as Capt. Stubing, Bernie Kopell as Doc, Fred Grandy as Gopher, Ted Lange as Isaac and Lauren Tewes as Julie. Guest stars include Georgia Engel as a stowaway, Gary Frank and Melanie Mayron as a pair of tremulous honeymooners, Stella Stevens and Pat Harrington as an eternally bickering married couple, and Audra Lindley and Phil Silvers as, respectively, an outspoken middle-aged lady and a woebegone widower. The New Love Boat was originally telecast May 5, 1977, while the Love Boat series ran from 1977 to 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gavin MacLeod
