John Lansing Movies
- 2002
Based on characters created by Bob Gookin, the made-for-TV thriller The President's Man 2: A Line in the Sand casts Chuck Norris in a role not dissimilar to his title character on the long-running series Walker: Texas Ranger. Norris is seen as secret agent Joshua McCord, the right-hand man to the President of the United States (Robert Urich). The plot thickens when a band of terrorists breaks into a museum to retrieve hidden nuclear-bomb components from the statues therein. Apprised of the situation, the military attempts to abduct the charismatic leader of the terrorists, but to no avail. It is up to Joshua to infiltrate the terrorists' lair and disarm the bomb before an unnamed U.S. metropolis can be blown into oblivion. Along the way, Joshua's "techy" daughter Que (Jennifer Tung) falls in love with her dad's young assistant Deke Slater (Judson Mills). Directed by the star's son, Eric Norris, and co-produced by his other son, Aaron Norris, The President's Man: A Line in the Sand debuted January 20, 2002 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chuck Norris, Judson Mills, (more)
A drifter becomes both a bank robber and a hero in this crime thriller. Andrew McCarthy stars as Wade Corey, who hitches a ride on a freight train already occupied by Doyle Kennedy (Matt Dillon), a charming ex-con who convinces Wade to accompany him to his hometown. Once there, Wade realizes too late that Doyle is intent on robbing the local bank. After they are separated following the crime, Wade hides the money. Happening upon a drowning in progress, he saves a young girl who just happens to be the daughter of the state governor, and he becomes an unlikely hero. Finding work at a nearby farm, the meandering Wade becomes a hired hand, falls for the beautiful daughter (Leslie Hope) of his boss, and dreads the return of Doyle, who is sure to come looking for his money. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matt Dillon, Andrew McCarthy, (more)
- 1988
In this comedy, a widow who works as a newspaper columnist tries to marry off her four strong-willed daughters. The widow is assisted by a good friend. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Rick (Larry Manetti) is arrested for the murder of a hit man who had been hired to kill the missing Ice Pick (Elisha Cook Jr.). Though Magnum (Tom Selleck) would like to prove his friend's innocence, this may be an impossible task: Rick has already signed a full confession. The ending of this episode is curious indeed, suggesting that the producers were preparing to write "finis" to Magnum, P.I. at the close of the seventh season--a theory that would seem to be borne out even further by the NEXT episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
A jewelry store is robbed, one of the suspects is dead, and Hunter (Fred Dryer) is stuck without any clues. But there may be a break in the case: a beautiful model named Angie Chavina (Ada Maris), who was acquainted with the dead man, has boarded a train bound for San Diego. Hunter buys a ticket and catches up with Angie, ultimately falling in love with her--but is she merely an innocent bystander, or the "brains" behind the heist? Watch for Michael Dorn of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame as a highway patrolman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Laverne & Shirley wraps up its eight-season run with its 178th and final episode, in which Carmine (Eddie Mekka) decides to leave Burbank and seek showbiz fame in New York. With 100 dollars loaned to him by Laverne (Penny Marshall), Carmine arrives in the Big Apple and auditions for the upcoming musical "Hair." Although his prospects for success look bleak, at least our hero finds a new roommate and kindred spirit in the form of a funky African American actor named Rick (Ben Powers). This episode was clearly intended as the pilot for a spinoff series starring the multitalented Eddie Mekka, but such was not to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
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
- 1979
- R
In this drama, a good-hearted, courageous boy from a poor New York neighborhood tries to rally his neighborhood together to stop the terrifying reign of the neighborhood street gang, the Savage Warlocks. He succeeds and begins planning to move uptown to live with his lady love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joey Travolta, John Lansing, (more)
Returning from the original American Graffiti are Debbie Dunham, Steve Bolander, John Milner, Carol/Rainbow, Terry the Toad and Laurie Bolander (Candy Clark, Ron Howard, Paul LeMat, Mackenzie Phillips, Charles Martin Smith and Cindy Williams), but Richard Dreyfuss is missing and Harrison Ford shows up in a gag cameo. The sequel brings its principles into the more radical end of the 1960s, with Steve and Laurie, now married, on the fringes of the protest movement. Debbie and Carol have been lured into the flower-power milieu by rocker Newt (Scott Glenn). And John has parlayed his love of hot rods into a drag-racing career. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Candy Clark, Bo Hopkins, (more)
- 1978
In the conclusion of Laverne and Shirley's two-part Season Four opener (originally telecast as a single hour-long special), the gang is still in New York, there to visit Frank's mother (Penny Santon) and to attend an Italian-American festival. The fun and games resume when Frank enters a greased-pole contest in hopes of winning his mother a vacation to her native Italy. Meanwhile, Laverne (Penny Marshall) has a fling with a handsome "local" (John Lansing). Marc Sotkin, who cowrote this episode, appears as one of the contest judges. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Season Four of Laverne and Shirley gets under way with the first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single hour-long special). Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) bid a temporary farewell to Milwaukee so they can accompany Frank (Phil Foster) and Edna (Betty Garrett) on a bus trip to New York. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to attend a lavish Italian festival, and to spend time with Frank's old-world mother (Penny Santon). While Grandma DeFazio is happy to see Frank, she is even happier to see tag-along Squiggy (David L. Lander), who adores Grandma's home-cooked spaghetti. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
