Kenneth Mars Movies
Over-the-top comic actor Kenneth Mars made an unbearably funny screen debut as the ex-Nazi playwright responsible for the smash miss "Springtime for Hitler" in Mel Brooks' The Producers (1968). He was just as exaggerated, though not quite as amusing, as the one-armed police inspector in Brooks' Young Frankenstein (1974). Mars seemingly never held anything back, a trait that was prized by his admirers but caused discomfort among his detractors: reviewing the actor's performance in Peter Bogdanovich's What's Up Doc? (1972), Jay Cocks noted, "As a pompous middle-European intellectual, Kenneth Mars mugs and drools in a manner that Jerry Lewis might find excessive." Still, Mars nearly always delivered the laughs -- especially on TV, where he was a regular on such programs as He and She and The Carol Burnett Show. Another of his screen appearances was as a remonstrative rabbi in Woody Allen's Radio Days (1986). Kenneth Mars has also provided voices for dozens of TV cartoon shows, wherein he has sometimes been subject to the indignity of having his name spelled Len Mars in the credits. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
- Add The Land Before Time: The Great Longneck Migration to QueueAdd The Land Before Time: The Great Longneck Migration to top of Queue
Littlefoot the Dinosaur sets out on a spectacular journey and makes a very unexpected discovery in this, the tenth film in the Land Before Time series. Youthful brontosaurus Littlefoot (voice of Alec Medlock) has a vivid dream in which he imagines travelling to a far-away land where there are many of his kind, and when he tells the story to his grandparents (voices of Kenneth Mars and Mariam Flynn), they take it as a sign to set out and find this mysterious place. After days of travel, Littlefoot and his family do, indeed, discover a new world where longneck dinosaurs are plentiful, including one they never expected to see -- Bron (voice of Kiefer Sutherland), Littlefoot's father, who went missing before he was born. While Littlefoot is thrilled to be reunited with his father, now he must choose if he should stay with Bron, or the grandparents who have cared for him for years. The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration also features the voice talents of James Garner and Bernadette Peters; Olivia Newton-John sings the theme song. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2001
- Add The Land Before Time: The Big Freeze to QueueAdd The Land Before Time: The Big Freeze to top of Queue
The seventh sequel to Don Bluth's The Land Before Time is subtitled The Big Freeze. In this direct-to-video entry in the series, Littlefoot and friend sing new songs while experiencing an adventure involving a snowstorm. Fans of the other films in this warm-hearted family series can expect more of the same from this new entry. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Guillaume, Kenneth Mars, (more)
- 2000
This Yuletide-season TV movie reverses the standard "three girls on the make" formula of many an old 20th Century Fox movie, of which How to Marry a Millionaire is a choice example. This time out, a trio of enterprising young men decide to go on the prowl for rich wives, after first consulting a nonplussed department-store Santa with their intentions. The plan, as hatched by the impoverished heroes, Tom (John Stamos), Jason (Shermar Moore), and Mark (Joshua Malina), is as follows: They will pose as hot-shot Hollywood movie producers, the better to entice attractive and wealthy young women to invest in their newest "production" -- and hopefully, to entrap said women into matrimony. As so often happens in stories of this nature, however, love ultimately triumphs over money. A bit too top-heavy with racy double entendres and potentially unsavory situations, the film is redeemed somewhat by the presence of Dabney Coleman and Rhea Perlman, cast as an older couple named -- believe it or not -- John and Jackie Kennedy. How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale made its first Fox Network appearance on December 20, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Stamos, Joshua Malina, (more)
- 2000
Based on "The Dead Zone," a magazine article by Malcolm Gladwell, the made-for-TV Runaway Virus pits a team of dedicated scientists against a deadly virus. A particularly nasty form of influenza, which leaves its victims with bloody noses and blackened feet before their inexorable demise, has spread to Los Angeles, courtesy of an illegal alien. Although the scientists work as a team to prevent a horrendous epidemic, there is ample time for individual heroics, much of these manifested in the actions of reclusive vaccine specialist Jenny Blanchard (Paige Turco) and Center for Disease Control doctor Daniel Rothman (Jason Beghe). Runaway Virus debuted January 29, 2000, on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paige Turco, Jason Beghe, (more)
- 1997
With his parents still encamped in his house, Drew (Drew Carey) moves in with Lewis (Ryan Stiles) and Oswald (Diedrich Bader). Appalled by the boys' wretched living conditions, Drew joins them in their ongoing battle against their landlord (Kenneth Mars). As a result, all three are evicted, and wind up sleeping on Kate's (Christa Miller) floor. Only after several days of suffering does Drew discover that his "impoverished" parents could have moved out at any time because of his mom's special rainy-day fund--which consists mainly of Microsoft stock shares! Meanwhile, Suzie (Angela Dohrmann) returns to Winfred-Louder, hoping to charm her way into the heart (and bedroom) of new boss Mr. Wick (Craig Ferguson). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
With this episode, Alexondra Lee becomes a series regular in the role of Callie Martel, the flamboyant roommate of college freshman Bailey Salinger (Scott Wolf). Though Bailey has sworn to be faithful to girlfriend Sarah (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Callie proves to be a temptation too strong to resist. Ultimately, a guilt-ridden Bailey makes a fool of himself at Sarah's Halloween party, whereupon he drowns his sorrows in beer (a grim portent of things to come). Elsewhere, Bailey's older brother Charlie, still bitter over the departure of his ex-fiancee Kirsten, is in no mood to deal with bleeding-heart activist Grace Wilcox (Tamara Taylor in her first series appearance), who all but demands that he tithe a goodly portion of the restaurant's profits to her new program for the homeless. But while he says no to Grace, Charlie says "yes" to his late father's old friend Earl Garraty (Kenneth Mars), who is in dire need of a job. Back at the Salinger household, Claudia (Lacey Chabert) is so convinced that her family is "cursed" that she calls in an exorcist; and Julia (Neve Campbell) spitefully tries to break up her ex-beau Justin's new romance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
The Philosopher's Stone, which is said to have the power to turn base metals into gold, is located by Dr. Quest, only to be stolen by Quest's duplicitous partner. The villain then kidnaps Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji, intending to use their Purity of Heart to activate the precious Stone. Those celebrated conjurers Faust and Merlin make "cameo" appearances in "The Alchemist," which was first telecast in the United States on September 10, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- J.D. Roth, George Segal, (more)
- 1994
Following up a series of strange sensor readings, Odo and Dax are drawn to an unknown planet. Here they are taken prisoner by a Yaderan colony, where several inhabitants have disappeared without explanation. As Odo and Dax endeavor to solve the mystery (and to plan their escape), back at DS9, Kira becomes more closely acquainted with Vedek Bareil (Philip Anglim. Written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, "Shadowplay" made its U.S. television bow on February 19, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The voices of Carol Channing, John Hurt, Jodi Benson and Gilbert Gottfried help bring this wonderful Hans Christian Andersen story to life. Barry Manilow contributed heavily to the film's music. Children still seem to enjoy this story about a young girl who was the size of a human thumb. She was kidnapped by a toad, just when she hoped to continue her life with Cornelius the Fairy Prince. This is a good "family film" with few, if any, parts that might be considered questionable for children. Kids are likely to enjoy how Gilbert Gottfried does the voice of a strange beetle and how Carol Channing breathes life into Ms. Fieldmouse. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jodi Benson, Carol Channing, (more)
In this animated children's film from Amblin Entertainment, a group of four dinosaurs, including a tyrannosaurus rex, a triceratops, a hadrosaur, and a pterodactyl, are brought forward in time to New York City to entertain and befriend the children. However, when the dinosaurs are threatened by an evil circus owner, it is up to their young friends to save the day. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Goodman, Blaze Berdahl, (more)
- 1992
In the conclusion of A Different World's two-part Season Six opener, Whitley (Jasmine Guy and Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) continue to recall their chaotic honeymoon in riot-torn Los Angeles. At the same time, the couple's friends react to the violence (inspired by the infamous Rodney King verdict) in a variety of ways: Col. Taylor (Glynn Turman) is disillusioned over the fact that race relations haven't progressed much since the Watts riots, Lena (Jada Pinkett) places all the blame on the white population, and Freddie (Cree Summer) attempts to be level-headed--a difficult feat, inasmuch as she is being hit on by Ron (Darryl M. Bell) while his girlfriend Kim (Charnele Brown) fumes. Appearing in cameo roles are sitcom diva Roseanne and her then-husband Tom Arnold. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Two men attempt to protect a living dinosaur embryo from a villainous coveter. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1990
I'll Take Romance has nothing to do with the old Grace Moore musical film of the same name. Rather, this 1990 TV movie is about a publicity contest. Dressed in Joan Crawford Chic, Linda Evans plays a Seattle TV meteorologist, assigned to host a contest to find the most romantic man in Puget Sound. Evans' boyfriend Tom Skerritt stews on the sidelines as she wends her way through the studdish contestants. Since Skerritt plays a judge, is there a remote possibility that I'll Take Romance will have a crucial courtroom scene somewhere along the line? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Evans, Tom Skerritt, (more)
The second feature-length revival of the Get Smart television series (1965-1970) of blessed memory, Get Smart Again reunited Don Adams as bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart and Barbara Feldon as his wife, sultry "fellow" agent 99. Smart coerces 99 to drop her public-sector job and join him in thwarting the evil machinations of their old nemesis Siegfried (Bernie Kopell). Other alumni from the original TV series include Dick Gautier as Hymie the Robot, Robert Karvelas (Don Adams' cousin) as Larrabee, King Moody as Starker and Dave Ketchum as the ubiquitous Agent 13. A few concessions have been made to the passage of time (Smart's fabled shoe-phone now has "call waiting"), but the film scores highest on its nostalgic appeal, encapsulated by such catch-phrases as "Sorry about that", "Would you believe?" and "Missed it by that much." Get Smart, Again was first telecast February 26 (would you believe February 27?), 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Adams, Barbara Feldon, (more)
Disney's The Little Mermaid was the first in a series of blockbusters that restored the venerable firm's reputation as the world's premiere animated-feature factory. The title character is a precocious teenager named Ariel, the daughter of Triton, king of the Sea. Against her dad's wishes, Ariel journeys beyond her own world to the surface, where she falls in love with Prince Eric, a handsome human. Foolishly, the little mermaid enters into an agreement with evil sea witch Ursula in order to become human herself. The wistfully melancholy ending of the original Hans Christian Andersen story is dispensed with in favor of a joyously happy ending-but not before a spectacular climactic confrontation between Ursula and Triton. The obligatory Disney comic relief is handled by such freshly minted characters as Sebastian the Crab, who, courtesy of voiceover artist Samuel E. Wright, sings the film's Oscar-winning "Under the Sea." Other voices are provided by Broadway star Jodi Benson (as Ariel) and such Hollywood reliables as Buddy Hackett, Pat Carroll, Kenneth Mars, and Rene Auberjonois. The enormous box-office take of The Little Mermaid made possible such future Disney cartoon ventures as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, (more)
- 1985
This sci-fi outing is the pilot for a short-lived television series and chronicles the adventures of a gang of unusually talented teens. One uses his mind to control others, another is a wizard at cryogenics, while the other two can manipulate electrical energy and make things change sizes. This time, they team up to keep the government from using a deadly neutron cannon. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1985
The self-aggrandizing world of Madison Avenue advertising is the subject of this clichéd, sexist satire that features a cynical ad executive (Loretta Swit) and her minions who choose three regular Joes to represent the Norbecker Beer company in a new ad campaign. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Loretta Swit, Rip Torn, (more)
- 1985
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is among those in attendance at a literary awards convention when murder strikes. The victim is a novelist who had showed up toting a rather volatile unpublished manuscript. Although Jessica is not among the suspects, one of her close friends is under suspicion, obliging her to do her trademarked surreptitious snooping. Unfortunately, this is a particularly difficult case, inasmuch as virtually everyone else at the convention had a motive for murder--and the clues are not only plentiful, but wildly contradictory! Ron Masak, later seen on Murder She Wrote in the semi-regular role of Sheriff Mort Metzger, is here cast as Lieutenant Meyer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Samantha Eggar guest stars as psychic Laura Bennett, who has been experiencing eerie visions of her own murder. Though skeptical about Laura's ability to foretell the future, Magnum agrees to provide protection to the woman, while simultaneously attempting to collect his fee from a shifty previous client (Kenneth Mars). Need we add that both of Magnum's seemingly unconnected missions are inextricably linked together by episode's end? Meanwhile, Higgins (John Hillerman) becomes more insufferable than usual as he tries to put together a fundraising variety show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
This pseudo-documentary on the life of President John F. Kennedy stars Robert Hogan as the President, James F. Kelly as Robert Kennedy, and Kenneth Mars as Lyndon Johnson, and includes some actual documentary footage intercut with the major dramatic events in Kennedy's Presidential career. Because the depictions of the Kennedys are not as strong as the real-life brothers, the actual footage and the factual accounting of well-known events are more convincing than the fictionalized time inventing private conversations in the Oval Office or elsewhere. Robert Guillaume as Martin Luther King, Jr. in the segment on the Cuban missile crisis presents a dignified and noble portrayal of the slain religious leader, and his performance stands out against the more mediocre portrayal of the private personae of the assassinated Kennedys. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hogan, James F. Kelly, (more)
- 1982
In this domestic drama, a the marriage of a suburban couple crumbles on the eve of their 15th anniversary. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Mel (Vic Tayback) must undergo minor surgery for a deviated septum. While at the hospital, Mel wonders if it might be worth it to have a full-scale nose job--an idea which gives pause not only to the doctor (Kenneth Mars), but also to Mel's waitresses. And by the way, take a close look at that old picture of Mel's "father". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Rick (Larry Manetti) falls in love with Sara Clifford (Judith Chapman), whom he meets while walking along the beach--and who abruptly disappears just as she and Rick are getting acquainted. Investigating, Magnum (Tom Selleck) is informed by Higgins (John Hillerman) that Sara Clifford committed suicide way back in 1946--and that practically everyone in Hawaii is familiar with the story of this tragedy. Is Rick's dream girl a ghost--or an impostor? The answers lies with a female novelist who happens to share a common bond with the unfortunate "Woman on the Beach." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
An angel helps a struggling basketball team and especially one player who wishes to regain his former glory in order to earn the respect of his 9-year-old son. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1979
The "before" version of Patty Duke is obese and slovenly. Emerging from a "fat farm," the "after" version of Patty Duke discovers that her husband (Bradford Dillman) has been playing the field while she's been trying to shed her excess poundage. Duke then takes up with a handsome artist (Art Hindle), who gives her new incentive to lose weight, even though he's made it clear that her physical appearance isn't all that important to him. His jealousy aroused, Duke's hubby tries to win her back, but she soon learns that he hasn't really changed a bit. The made-for-TV Before and After was initially broadcast October 5, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patty Duke, Bradford Dillman, (more)
