Harry Basch Movies

World War III is an ambitious if unnecessarily protracted speculative TV movie. Set in a "future December," the film prophesies an American grain embargo levied on Russia. US President Rock Hudson is entreated by the Soviet higher-ups to drop the ban; meanwhile, a group of renegade Russian military officers begin sending expeditionary forces into Alaska. While the countdown to Doomsday begins, the film insists upon cutting back to several expendable romances in both the American and Soviet camps. Boris Sagal, the original director of World War III, was killed in a freak helicopter accident while on location. To make up for lost time, the production was moved to the soundstages of Zoetrope Studios and overseen by ultra-efficient TV director David Greene. Part Two finds novice American president Rock Hudson trying to effect an honorable peace with Soviet premiere Brian Keith. But insurgent military officers endeavoring to seize the Alaska Pipeline as a bargaining chip continue to escalate the hostilities. It develops that the fate of the world may rest in the hands of American colonel David Soul. Also appearing is Cathy Lee Crosby, endearingly miscast as an intelligence officer. A heart-stopping surprise twist brings World War III to a close. While the film has its moments of genuine suspense, one can't help but feel that World War III would have been better an hour or two shorter--or at least with a few of the subplot romances removed. Originally running four hours, World War III was telecast in two parts on January 31 and February 1, 1982.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast in a single two-hour timeslot), Quincy investigates when the son of TV kiddie host Brock Campbell (Michael Constantine), dies of a quaalude overdose. The grieving Campbell had no idea that his son was a junkie--nor could he have ever imagined that the boy's drugs had all been legeally prescribed by a shady doctor named Mason Colella (Charles Aidman). In his efforts to shut Colella and his drug-pushing cronies down, Quincy joins forces with Marty Herrera (A Martinez) a eager if somewhat reckless pre-med student who is determined to purge dangerous drugs from his college campus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A feisty, feminist intern uncovers a medical conspiracy in this icy thriller about mysterious goings-on at Boston Memorial Hospital. When her best friend and aerobics partner, Nancy Greenly (Lois Chiles), emerges in a vegetative state from a routine abortion, Dr. Susan Wheeler (Genevieve Bujold) does some digging and discovers an overabundance of anesthesia-induced comas among otherwise healthy young patients. The male authority figures who challenge Susan's technically illegal tampering with medical records include her boss, Dr. Harris (Richard Widmark); the chief anesthesiologist, Dr. George (Rip Torn); and even her boyfriend, Dr. Mark Bellows (Michael Douglas), who doesn't want Susan's shenanigans to get in the way of his shot at chief resident. As Susan continues her crusade, the paper trail leads to the Jefferson Institute, a mysterious, experimental facility in which vegetative patients are stored en masse, suspended from the ceiling by wires threaded through their long bones, in order to reduce the cost of long-term care. A shadowy assailant begins to stalk Susan just as she uncovers the link between the Jefferson Institute and the comas at Boston Memorial, setting the stage for climactic suspense scenes involving morgues, malpractice and endless institutional corridors. Writer/director Michael Crichton adapted his second feature film from Robin Cook's bestseller of the same name. Tom Selleck, who would star in Crichton's Runaway several years later, appears briefly in Coma as another victim of lethal anesthesia. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

A latter-day attempt to update the swordplay success of Errol Flynn movies, this film is part burlesque, part homage to old-fashioned pirate films. James Earl Jones and Robert Shaw play Nick Debrett and Ned Lynch, two pirates who save a noblewoman, Jane Barnet (Geneviève Bujold), and take her to Jamaica. They find that their friends have been taken captive by a ruthless dictator -- Peter Boyle plays the foppish villain Lord Durant with an over-the-top swagger. Debrett and Lynch set out to rescue their friends and overthrow the perverted tyrant. Beau Bridges plays Major Folly, a fancy-dressing Scarlet Pimpernel sort. A young Anjelica Huston has a minor part as a nameless woman. There is plenty of swordplay, blood, slapstick, and cleavage, all directed by James Goldstone in a frenzied fashion. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

Every time Lamont (Demond Wilson) and Fred (Redd Foxx) have an argument, Fred suffers another of his famous "heart attacks"; indeed, at one point he has six such attacks in the same day. Determined to call Fred's bluff, Lamont rushes him to the hospital for a coronary exam. To keep up the pretense, Fred switches his papers with those of another patient -- and very nearly ends up undergoing an embarrassing (and embarrassingly painful) operation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The John Gardner novel A Complete State of Death became this bloody crime flick that united frequent action genre collaborators Charles Bronson and director Michael Winner. Bronson stars as Detective Lieutenant Lou Torry, a grizzled undercover New York City cop who ruins his career when he is caught going violently overboard while apprehending a ghetto punk. As punishment, Torry is banished all the way to the L.A. Police Department, where he begins investigating a mysterious chain of events involving ex-soldiers that seem to be Mob related. It turns out that Don Alberto Vescari (Martin Balsam), an aging Mafia chieftain, is planning the use of mentally disturbed Vietnam vets as assassins in a campaign of murder. With one broad, gory stroke, Vescari schemes to wipe out his underworld enemies, retaliating for a massacre that wiped out a generation of Sicilian mobsters 40 years earlier. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

A small-town California sheriff attempts to uncover facts behind the killing of a pregnant woman by her Doberman pinscher. James Garner stars in this mystery with performances by June Allyson and Ann Rutherford among others. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

Jamie is a member of a boy's club which delights in forcing new members to undergo a grueling initiation process. Unfortunately, one of these hazings results in the death of a hapless teenager. Though the townsfolk blame Ted Hoag (Ronny Howard), a homeless youth, for the boy's death, Jamie and the other members demonstrate their inherent maturity by shouldering the responsibility themselves. Written by Douglas Day Stewart, "The Initiation" first aired on September 26, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Joe Don Baker stars as Mongo Nash, a professional gunman and the brother of mob boss Mike Nash (Charles Cioffi). At the behest of his brother, Mongo packs up his heat and prepares to bump off a rival gangster. Meanwhile, relentless police lieutenant Pete Tolstad (Telly Savalas) dogs Mongo's trail, determined to bring to justice all the crooks involved in the plot line. Partly filmed along the waterfront of San Pedro, CA, this made-for-TV thriller was based on a novel by E. Richard Johnson, who was then doing time on a robbery-murder charge at Minnesota State Prison. Mongo's Back in Town made its first CBS network appearance on December 10, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This routine western finds Gannon (Tony Franciosa) as a lone drifter on the Kansas plains. He never looks for any trouble because trouble always manages to find him. Gannon takes on a young Eastern dude named Jess (Michael Sarrazin) and teaches him the ropes of being a cowboy. The two end up in conflict with the widow Beth (Judy West) when she desires to erect a barbed wire fence to corral the cattle. The widow also wishes to corral Gannon before he is befriended by Mattie (Susan Oliver), the local hooker with a heart of gold. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Unable to recover valuable documents concerning America's missile system, the IMF must resort to a contingency plan. In order to convince enemy agents that the documents are worthless, Phelps and his cohorts work hand in glove with Susan Buchanan (Lee Grant), the wife of an American diplomat. Mrs. Buchanan's mission: To lure playboy-spy Roger Toland (Fernando Lamas) into a highly compromising situation. Originally broadcast on December 1, 1968, "The Diplomat" was written by Jerry Ludwig. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The chase is on in New Mexico for five dangerous escaped convicts, led by Earl Clayton (Charles Bronson). The deranged Clayton has already killed two law officers in cold blood, and isn't about to let anyone impede his escape--not even his fellow escapees. Ultimately, only Clayton and his young cohort Lambert Hayes (Tim McIntire) are left alive, but this is enough to wreak homicidal havoc in an isolated hunting lodge. Filmed on location in San Bernardino National Forest, this episode features future Star Trek regular James Doohan in a pivotal role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide