Alan Manson Movies
A popular Broadway actor who was blacklisted following his refusal to answer questions at the HUAC hearings, actor and World War II veteran Alan Manson rebuilt his career following the McCarthy witch hunts, though he is best remembered for his stage roles in such Broadway hits as Funny Girl and Neil Simon's Broadway Bound. A Brooklyn, NY, native, Manson made his stage debut at 16 before hitting the bright lights of Broadway with his performance in Journey to Jerusalem at 21. Joining a touring wartime acting troupe during World War II, Manson and company attempted to keep morale high in such productions as Three Men and a Horse and Brother Rat. After being noticed by famed composer Irving Berlin, Manson made his film debut in the 1943 feature This Is the Army. Returning to the United States shortly following the end of the war, the now-established actor returned to the Broadway stage with roles in Call Me Mister and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Allegro. Summoned before the HUAC shortly before he was to take the lead in 1955's Blithe Spirit, the actor paid for his silence when he was blacklisted from television until the early '60s. Returning to the stage and screen in the early '70s following a few turbulent years, Manson would continue to make a name for himself with roles in made-for-television movies (Switch [1975] and Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After [1992]), theatrical feature films (Bang the Drum Slowly [1973], The Doors [1991]), and such notable television series as Three's Company, The Rockford Files, and Kojak. In March of 2002, Alan Manson died of natural causes in New York. He was 83. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide- 1996
Using computerized records, detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) try to determine time of death for a woman found murdered in an elevator. The next step is to identify the body and track down the perp. Assistant D.A.'s McCoy (Sam Waterston) and especially Ross (Carey Lowell) have difficulty pursuing the case in court thanks to an imperious and verbally abusive judge (Jerry Adler) -- leading to an extremely difficult decision for D.A. Schiff (Steven Hill). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
- R
This urban drama examines the diverse lives of the patrons of a fictional bar for the rich and famous, El Casbah. Among them are the playboy heir to a margarine fortune, Mickey Jelke, and Jack Cale, a handsome actor who has become a new client and works hard to ingratiate himself to others. Using the influence of a press agent and a pimp, Jack becomes friends with Mickey and his lover Pat Ward, a tough, worldly young woman. When Mickey is cut out of the family will, he suggests that Pat become a call girl so they can continue living in luxury. Suddenly Jack reveals his true identity; he has been working undercover for the politically ambitious New York City district attorney. The district attorney uses Jack's information to frame Mickey which gets him billed as the Big Apple's king of vice, and no one is very happy by the time the trial comes around. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Whaley, Peter Gallagher, (more)
Based on the play by Ivan Menchell, this drama concerns three friends, Doris (Olympia Dukakis), Lucille (Diane Ladd), and Esther (Ellen Burstyn). All three live in the same Jewish community in Pittsburgh, are in their mid-to-late 50s, and have become widows within the past few months. Once a week, they gather to visit their husbands' graves and meet at a deli afterward to talk about their lives. Doris remains fiercely devoted to her late husband and takes her responsibilities as a widow seriously. Lucille is eager to get her feet back in the waters of dating, partly as revenge against her late husband, who often cheated on her, and partly because she's very lonely by herself. Esther is also not used to being alone after 39 years of marriage, but she doesn't feel ready to start dating again, at least not until she meets Ben (Danny Aiello), a former cop turned cab driver who gradually but firmly eases his way into her life. Doris is appalled when she discovers that Esther is dating again and loudly protests that she's being disrespectful to her late husband, while Lucille is more than a bit jealous that Esther snagged a good man before she could. Jerry Orbach and Lee Richardson appear in a brief prologue sequence. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ellen Burstyn, Olympia Dukakis, (more)
- 1992
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Since two TV movies were inspired by the marriage of England's Prince Charles and Princess Diana, it is only logical that at least one made-for-TV feature would greet the decline and fall of that overexposed union. Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After, permitted the viewer the perverse delight of seeing Catherine Oxenberg, who'd previously played Diana in 1982's The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana, back again as the same (albeit older and wiser) character. Roger Rees costars as the redoubtable Charles, who despite his mile-wide character flaws comes off as relatively sympathetic. Other "royals" lurking about are Amanda Walker as Queen Elizabeth, David Quilter as Prince Philip, Benedict Taylor as Prince Andrew, and Tracy Brabin as "Fergie". Our favorite scene: Diana, dressed to the nines, sitting in the back of her luxurious limo and talking into her designer car phone, whining about how miserable her life is. Later retitled Charles and Diana: A Palace Divided, this gloriously trashy endeavor was first telecast December 13, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
A wealthy young bride is killed in what appears to be a mugging gone awry. The ensuing investigation reveals that the victim's husband was cheating on her. As it turns out, the solution to the case hinges on a valuable silver pin that was owned by the unfortunate woman. Nancy Marchand, best remembered as the aristocratic newspaper owner on Lou Grant and the mob matriarch on The Sopranos, is here seen as the imperious Mrs. Barbara Ryder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Val Kilmer delivers what was considered one of 1991's best performances as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's hallucinatory bio-pic of the seminal 1960s rock group The Doors. Stone cuts a jagged swath through Morrison's life, starting with a childhood memory where Morrison sees an elderly Indian dying by the roadside. It picks up with Morrison's arrival in California and his assimilation into the Venice Beach culture, followed by his film school days at UCLA; his introduction to his girlfriend Pamela Courson (Meg Ryan); his first encounters with Ray Manzarek (Kyle MacLachlan); and the origin of The Doors -- made up of Manzarek, Robby Kreiger (Frank Whaley), and John Densmore (Kevin Dillon). As the fame of The Doors grows, Morrison's obsession with death increases. The band grows weary of Morrison's missed recording sessions and no-shows at concerts. Morrison, meanwhile, sinks deeper into a drug-induced haze, having mystical sexual encounters with Patricia Kennealy (Kathleen Quinlan), an older rock journalist involved with sadomasochism and witchcraft. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan, (more)
- 1979
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
- 1979
Performing an autopsy on a teenage prostitute who has committed suicide, Quincy (Jack Klugman)characteristically takes a personal interest in the case. It seems that the victim had been killed after seeing "Uncle Harry" (Alan Manson), the man who led her into prostituation, persuading an even younger girl to appear in a pornographic film. Taking it upon himself to break up an insidious kiddie-porn ring, Quincy simultaneously tries to save a group of runaway kids from falling into the clutches of the "Uncle Harrys" of the world. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Quincy (Jack Klugman) is still work hand in glove with idealistic pre-med student Marty Herrera in his efforts to bring a shady, drug-pushing doctor named Mason Colella to justice. Hampering Quincy's efforts is the fact that young Herrera's method of "curing" college-age addicts is not only extreme, but illegal. Making matters worse, Colella is murdered--and Marty is arrested for the crime. Both parts of this episode originally aired in a single, two-hour timeslot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Shortly after placing a phone call to his childhood pal Jim Rockford (James Garner), reporter Eddie Hellinger (Frank McCarthy) is murdered. Within the next few days, Jim receives a lot of packages in the mail, presumably from the late Mr. Hellinger. As a result, a couple of hoodlums kidnap Jim and beat him senseless in a meat locker--and that's only for starters. At the bottom of all this skullduggery is a case of widespread union corruption, and a very ripe piece of cheese. Soap-opera diva Constance Towers appears as Sally, a journalist with some rather fascinating credentials. This episode marks the final series appearance of Noah Beery Jr. as Jim's dad Rocky. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour TV movie), Jim (James Garner) is frustrated in his efforts to protect blind psychologist Megan Dougherty (Kathryn Harrold) from a dangerous stalker--mainly because Megan refuses to violate doctor-patient confidentiality by revealing what she knows about her alleged tormentor. Also, Megan had diagnosed the man as non-violent, and she cannot admit to herself that she might be wrong. Unfortunately, the stalker has already demonstrated his willingness to kill anyone who can identify him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the first half of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour "TV movie"), Jim (James Garner) tries to save Dr. Megan Dougherty (Kathryn Harrold), a blind psychologist, from a mysterious stalker. There's a strong possibility that Megan's tormentor is one of her own patients, but she refuses to violate the patient-doctor confidentiality by providing Jim with any vital information. Thus, the detective is forced to piece the clues together himself and without his client's knowledge. Further complicating matters is the fact that Jim and Megan are falling in love. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Several people overhear a phoned-in murder threat aimed at prominent ecologist Kenneth Krug (Eric Braeden). The caller seems to be a hooker with whom Krug is having an affair--and after a bloody shoot-out, it appears as if the woman has carried out her threat, even though no body is found. Investigating, Kojak (Telly Savalas) begins to suspect that the elusive "hooker" does not exist, and that the murderer was actually Krug's scheming wife Carol (Susan Sullivan). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The Jeffersons' mild-mannered neighbor Harry Bentley (Paul Benedict) is being harassed by a bully in the parking garage. George (Sherman Hemsley) helpfully offers some macho-man advice to his beleaguered Harry -- who, upon following that advice, ends up in jail. Will all this intrigue prevent George's wife, Louise (Isabel Sanford), from taking a long-planned trip to California? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1976
Kojak (Telly Savalas) is one of several authority figures who dismiss the claims of Julie Winston (Brooke Adams), a young and friendless newcomer to the Big Apple, when she insists that she has been threatened by a "dead" man. According to Julie, her tormenter was a known felon who had previously been reported killed in a house fire. By the time the police realize that Julie was telling the truth, it is too late for the unfortunate girl--whereupon a guilt-stricken Kojak vows to avenge Julie's death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
- PG
This biographical picture explores the troubled life of blues singer and master guitarist Leadbelly, who developed his style and wrote many of his songs during his frequent stints in prison. Featured performances are "&Rock Island Line" and "&Goodnight Irene". ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roger E. Mosley, Paul Benjamin, (more)
- 1976
In the conclusion of a two-part story, J.J. (Jimmie Walker) has gone to work as a numbers runner in order to financially bail out his family. Although J.J. doesn't know at first that the gamblers to whom he is indebted are also trafficking in drugs and prostitution, he considers it wise to lie to his family, claiming that he's landed a job as an ad man. But J.J.'s mom, Florida (Esther Rolle), is fully aware of what her son has gotten himself into -- and when he refuses to quit his unsavory activities, Florida kicks him out of the apartment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
When a trio of thieves steal an apparently worthless antique, they trigger a violent war between two criminal factions. Investigating, the Angels come upon a widespread call-girl and smuggling operation, fronted by a computer dating service. Needless to say, it falls to Jill (Farrah Fawcett-Majors) to pose as a hooker in an effort to bring the villains out in the open. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Kate Jackson, (more)
- 1975
A pre-Rocky Sylvester Stallone is prominently featured in this episode as young detective Rick Daley, who accidentally shoots a boy while on duty. Daley claims that shots were being fired all around him at the time of the tragedy, and that he is innocent. Pressured by the higher-ups to protect Daley, Kojak (Telly Savalas) refuses to accept the young cop's story without positive proof--while certain members of the Internal Affairs division seem willing to throw Daley to the wolves whether he's guilty or not. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
- PG
In this crime comedy, a gullible private volunteers to become the subject of numerous military biological and chemical weaponry experiments. Later he becomes so messed up that he is forced into early retirement. He then decides to use some of the experimental gases to rob banks. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elliott Gould, Eddie Albert, (more)
- 1975
Bob is persuaded to appear on a TV interview show hosted by soft-spoken Ruth Corley (Jennifer Warren). But the moment the cameras are turning, Ruth transforms into a barracuda, aggressively attacking both Bob and his profession. Unnerved, Bob is trapped into revealing that he has been treating a prominent local politician -- and then the fur really begins a-flying. Also appearing are Alan Manson as Congressman Avery and Claudette Duffy as Sister Mary Catherine. Written by Bruce Kane, "Who Is Mr. X?" first aired on November 8, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1973
Manhattan South detective lieutenant Theo Kojak (Telly Savalas) wastes no time getting the series bearing his name under way in this premiere episode. After a failed armored-car robbery, the three desperate thieves--Jerry Talaba (Harvey Keitel), Jack Murzie (James J. Sloyan) and Mike Amazeen (Jude Farese)--grab six hostages and barricade themselves in a sporting goods store, amply stocked with surplus weaponry. Kojak has only two hours to formulate a plan to defuse the situation before the outlaws begin killing their captives, one by one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
When a call girl wearing a stolen diamond ring turns up murdered, Kojak (Telly Savalas) begins following the fragmentary clues, the path eventually leading to a gang of upstate bank burglars. At the same time, the gang is preparing a spectacular robbery in Kojak's former jurisdiction--and have set up plenty of diversions to keep the cops from nipping at their heels. This episode features a rare TV appearance by former film star Karen Morley, whose career was all but destroyed by the Hollywood Blacklist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
A roman a clef depicting the Wylie-Hoffert murders, this is the first of the made for TV movies introducing the Kojak character and was essentially the pilot for the long-running crime series. When a black ghetto youth is accused of two bizarre murders, Kojak takes it upon himself to find the real murderer. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
A guaranteed tear-jerker, Bang the Drum Slowly centers on professional baseball player Bruce Pearson (Robert DeNiro) and his team mate Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty), who supported Bruce to the bitter end after learning that the young catcher was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease and would soon die. When hayseed Pearson first joined the team, he and Wiggen, the team's red-hot pitcher were oil and water. The other team members were none to thrilled to have Pearson on their team. Wiggen changes his attitude when he learns of Pearson's illness, and when the other team members find out, they too become more helpful until the inevitably teary ending. Look for popular character actor Danny Aiello in his feature film debut. The story is based on a novel by screenwriter Mark Harris and was first filmed for television. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert De Niro, Michael Moriarty, (more)
