E.G. Marshall Movies
Actor E. G. Marshall started out on radio in his native Minnesota, then headed for New York and Broadway. After several years' solid stage service, Marshall began accepting small roles in such films as 13 Rue Madeline (1945) and Call Northside 777 (1947). A mainstay of television's so-called Golden Age, Marshall excelled in incisive, authoritative roles. Long before winning two Emmy awards for his portrayal of lawyer Lawrence Preston on TV's The Defenders (1961-65), Marshall was associated with fictional jurisprudence as the military prosecutor in The Caine Mutiny (1954) and as Juror #4 in Twelve Angry Men (1957).In contrast to his businesslike demeanor, Marshall is one of Hollywood's most notorious pranksters; he was never more impish than when he ad-libbed profanities and nonsequiturs while his lips were hidden by a surgical mask in the 1969-73 TV series The Bold Ones. The best of E.G. Marshall's work of the 1970s and 1980s includes the role of the straying husband in Woody Allen's Interiors (1977), the U.S. President in Superman II (1978) and General Eisenhower in the 1985 TV miniseries War and Remembrance. Continuing to flourish into the 1990s, Marshall was seen in the 1993 TV adaptation of Stephen King's The Tommyknockers, and was cast as Arthur Thurmond on the 1994 medical series Chicago Hope. Radio fans will remember E.G. Marshall as the unctuous host ("Pleasant dreeeaaammms") of the 1970s anthology The CBS Radio Mystery Theatre. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- PG13
- Add National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation to QueueAdd National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation to top of Queue
Chevy Chase, star of National Lampoon's Vacation and its sequel, is back as the paterfamilias of the Griswold family (including Beverly D'Angelo as his missus) to skewer the Yuletide season. Chevy mugs, trips, falls, mashes his fingers and stubs his toes as he prepares to invite numerous dysfunctional relatives to his household to celebrate Christmas. Amidst the more outrageous sight gags (including the electrocution of a cat as the Christmas tree is lit) the film betrays a sentimental streak, with old wounds healing and long-estranged relatives reuniting in the Griswold living room. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation was still capable of attracting an audience five years after its release: It was one of the top-rated seasonal TV specials of 1994, outrating even the first network telecast of It's a Wonderful Life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, (more)
- 1989
In this crime drama, based on the true story of Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer, from 1985, terrorists attempt to hijack a luxury cruise ship in the Mediterranean. The attempt resulted in the death of a handicapped passenger. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
This National Geographic documentary examines the life and world of the elephant, both Asian and African. The cameras follow several scientists as they observe elephants in their natural habitat, giving the viewer insight on how elephants communicate, what they eat, their mating practices, and herd politics. National Geographic: Elephants also investigates the conditions of domesticated elephants used as pack animals and circus entertainers. ~ Ed Atkinson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) takes a sentimental journey to the New Hampshire campus of her old alma mater. Alas, her favorite English professor Leon Walker (E.G. Marshall) is in no mood for a reunion: Discovered at the scene of a young girl's murder, Professor Walker has already confesses to the crime, claiming that he killed in self-defense. Jessica does not believe this confession any more than she believes the subsequent confession made by a young student with whom the dead woman had been involved. Among the guest stars this week is Dinah Shore, appearing as Jessica's onetime sorority sister Emily Dyers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Dr. Robert Ballard, the famous adventurer who discovered the Titanic, is profiled alongside other contemporary explorers in this National Geographic documentary. Deep-sea researcher Sylvia Earle, Egyptian archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass, star mountaineer Heidi Howkins, and a new generation of cartographers and dinosaur hunters all contemplate what it means to be a modern explorer, to push oneself beyond physical and mental boundaries and into the unknown. One spectacular sequence follows a group of men into the jungles of Tibet to find the "mythical" waterfall of Shangri-la. ~ Sarah Welsh, All Movie Guide
- 1988
This National Geographic documentary is a retrospective look at National Geographic's participation in and recording of the great discoveries that took place during the Society's first 100 years. Through short vignettes containing commentary and footage from the vaults, Robert E. Peary's trek to the North Pole, Sir Edmund Hillary's reaching the summit of Mt. Everest, and Jane Goodall's groundbreaking primate research are warmly remembered. ~ Ed Atkinson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
The two-part TV movie Emma: Queen of the South Seas stars the incredibly lovely Barbara Carrera. The film is based on the true story of Samoan princess Emma Coe. Part One takes place in the 1860s, as teenaged Emma (Rebekah Elmaloglou) dreams of an exotic life beyond the confines of her hated convent school. In part two, the grown-up Emma (Carrera), now ensconced in Samoa, valiantly defends her country against British colonization. Hal Holbrook and Thaao Penghlis play the most significant men in Emma's life. Syndicated to independent TV outlets, Emma: Queen of the South Seas was first telecast the week of April 23-29, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
La Gran Fiesta is set in 1942, when relations between the Continental United States and Puerto Rico were delicate at best. Casino de Puerto Rico, a lavish San Juan nightspot, is about to be turned over to a recreational center for US troops. To celebrate their last night as a "civilian" nighterie, the staff members of the Casino stage one final all-stops-out Grand Ball. Everyone is invited, even those "undesirables" who would normally be shut out of the black-tie establishment. The names of the film's stars will probably be unfamiliar to a non-Latino audience; most filmgoers, however, will quickly recognize Raul Julia and E.G. Marshall in their brief guest appearances. Though many American films and TV programs had previously been lensed in Puerto Rico, La Gran Fiesta was the first feature-length film to be produced by the Puerto Rican film industry itself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Lugo, Miguel Angel Suarez, (more)
- 1987
There were two rival TV dramatizations of the sensational murder case involving "monster Mom" Frances Schreuder. Stephanie Powers was the star of the two-part 1987 TV movie At Mother's Request. Part One details the events leading to the murder of Frances' multimillionaire father Franklin Bradshaw (E.G. Marshall). Though Frances' complicity was well known at the time of Part One's first telecast on January 4, 1987 (in fact, she was already serving a life sentence in the Utah State Prison), the case is treated like a whodunit.
Part Two demonstrates how Frances' teen-age son Marc (Doug McKeon) was coerced into committing the deed by his manipulative Mom. Though lacking depth, At Mother's Request is still a powerful re-enactment of what was once considered "The Crime of the Century" (O.J. hadn't happened yet). The second half of this two-part TV-movie debuted on January 6, 1987. For the record, Lee Remick starred in a like-vintage TV adaptation of the same story, Nutcracker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Part Two demonstrates how Frances' teen-age son Marc (Doug McKeon) was coerced into committing the deed by his manipulative Mom. Though lacking depth, At Mother's Request is still a powerful re-enactment of what was once considered "The Crime of the Century" (O.J. hadn't happened yet). The second half of this two-part TV-movie debuted on January 6, 1987. For the record, Lee Remick starred in a like-vintage TV adaptation of the same story, Nutcracker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In a well-wrought sex comedy with one foot in the feminist camp and another on a banana peel, Casey Meadows (Deborah Foreman in an excellent performance) defies social custom when she gets a job as a limo driver. The manager of the Brentwood Limousine Company, McBride (Howard Hesseman), and her co-workers give her both a hard time and some of the worst fares possible. She is eventually assigned to chauffeur an overworked executive (Sam Jones) who just broke up with his girlfriend. After drowning his sorrows in the back seat of the limo, the ingrate wakes up in Casey's bed the morning after, refusing to believe he had anything to do with her. Their antagonistic relationship is stressed all the more when she has to drive him on a vacation and the car breaks down. What Casey does not know is that she has not been given the complete scoop on her passenger. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Deborah Foreman, Sam Jones, (more)
- 1986
Under Siege was first telecast in February 1986, a time when the notion of foreign terrorists in America was still speculative fiction. A militant group sets off explosives at US Army bases, then branches out to such civilian targets as crowded shopping centers. FBI director Peter Strauss discovers that these outrages are possibly being orchestrated by Iranian extremists. Despite pressure to take retaliatory action, US President Hal Holbrook continues to preach moderation, until he can be certain of the true source of the attacks. Under Siege was cowritten by Bob Woodward, of All the President's Men fame. Little Rock, Arkansas substitutes for Washington DC in several scenes, including one startling sequence set in the Capitol Building. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A star-studded cast portrays political movers and shakers in this drama about politics and the media. Richard Gere is Pete St. John, a gilt-edged "image" advisor to the likes of powerful and often crooked politicians -- including a South American candidate for the top office in his country and, reluctantly, a conservative industrialist named Jerome Cade (J.T. Walsh). Cade is after a Senate seat vacated by Sam Hastings (E.G. Marshall), a liberal politician who fits in with the views that Pete once upheld. When things start to go wrong, it looks like Cade's gruff advisor Arnold Billings (Denzel Washington) might hold one of the keys to Pete's discovery of the truth about Cade -- and may be the reason why Hastings is leaving his job. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Gere, Julie Christie, (more)
- 1984
John F. Kennedy was the first truly telegenic president. In the crucial campaign debates he had with Richard Nixon, television audiences -- who saw Nixon's five-o'clock shadow and sweaty upper lip -- gave JFK the edge, while radio audiences who listened to the debates felt Nixon had won. This documentary of televised JFK news conferences shows the handsome president appearing intelligent, funny, and witty. The program is hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor E.G. Marshall, who starred in the television miniseries Kennedy, as well as in the prime time series The Defenders, and movies including Caine Mutiny and 12 Angry Men. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This video is part of a series on the history of America, designed for students from junior high school through college. American Diary: Winds of Change covers the years 1912-1916, just prior to America's involvement in World War I. It was a time of great optimism, industry, and inventiveness. America was the promised land to European immigrants who were making their presence known in whatever locality they settled, from New York City to America's heartland. But the winds of change had already started to blow the specter of the war in Europe on the American continent. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This video is a volume in a series that chronicles the American story from the 1890s until the mid-'30s. The series is intended for presentation to students from junior high school through college. In this segment, the Great War in Europe is shown in graphic detail. The loss of life was staggering. The United States alone suffered over 120,000 killed and 250,000 wounded. The nation would never be the same. The film contains archival film footage of the celebration in Times Square after Germany's surrender in 1918. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This video is part of a series that traces the history of America from the 1890s through the Depression Era. The films are intended for instruction of students between junior high school and college. This episode looks at the years following the end of World War I, which marked America's entrance into the world arena as a leader. The relief and reconstruction efforts in Europe were under the auspices of the United States, with President Herbert Hoover leading the way. In the United States, the nation turned its attentions once again to industry and technology. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This video is part of a series on American history from the 1890s through the mid-'30s. Developed as a teaching aid, it is meant for use with students from junior high school through college. This episode tells the story of the event that destroyed the American idea prosperity: the crash of the stock market in 1929. The program analyzes the ensuing events, as the country sank into the Great Depression. Recently discovered archival film footage illustrates the story of Wall Street and the stock market crash. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This video is part of a series that chronicles the history of the United States from the early '20s up until the Great Depression. The series was developed as a teaching tool for students ranging from junior high school through college. In this episode, the focus is the Roaring Twenties. It was the flapper era and the time of Prohibition and speakeasies. Technology continued to advance with the advent of commercial radio, and Charles Lindbergh's airplane flight across the Atlantic. The program includes archival film footage of young Franklin Roosevelt in his campaign for vice president, and of the World Series. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This video is part of a series that chronicles American history from the 1890s until the mid-'30s. The series was developed as a teaching aid, and is intended for students from junior high school through college. In this program, the topic is the Depression years, which saw the rise to power of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Archival film footage shows the disturbing events in Europe that portended more war. The program also includes vintage film clips of comedian Jack Benny and New York mayor Jimmy Walker, in an era that was not without its light moments. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This film is part of a series that chronicles life in America from the 1890s through the middle of the 20th century. It is a teaching tool, with an intended audience of students from junior high school through college. American Diary: New Beginnings (1895-1904) presents a look at the transitional time of the turn of the century. America was entering a new age with new conveniences such as electricity, modern transportation, moving pictures, and ice cream. The film looks at some heroes of the day, such as Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders in the Spanish American War, as well as Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This video is part of a series that traces American history from the 1890s through the mid-'30s. Developed as a teaching aid, the series is intended for use with students between junior high school and college age. In this episode, the topic is the specter of prejudice. The infamous trial of Sacco and Vinzetti is documented. The two were tried and convicted of armed robbery with almost no evidence and then they were sentenced to death. It was a time when prejudice against Italians was running high. The program also examines the activities of the Ku Klux Klan, as well as the beginnings of the civil rights movement. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This video is one volume in a series that chronicles the American story, in a format suitable for teaching students from junior high school through college. In this program, America's progress is interrupted by immersion in the war across the Atlantic. Under the helm of President Woodrow Wilson, the United States joins in the "War to End All Wars." There is a look at the increasing presence of the labor union movement, under the leadership of Samuel Gompers, as women and minority workers became less willing to put up with poor conditions and wages, and demanded fair treatment under the law. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This video is part of a series, intended for students from junior high school through college, which presents a survey of American history. This episode looks at the dynamic times from 1903-1912, when America's shores were reached by European immigrants, seeking a better life in the New World. But working conditions were often deplorable. It was a time of labor unrest, as workers struggled for better wages, hours, and circumstances. The genius of American immigrant creativity was expressing itself with a plethora of inventions. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This video is part of a series that surveys the course of American history from the 1890s through the middle of the 20th century. The intended audience is the student population, from junior high school through college. In this volume, the subject is the war years of 1917-1918. Idealism ran high in America, and many volunteered to serve in the "War to End All Wars." The bitter reality of the brutality of the war changed America from a land of naïveté to a more sobered country. The worldwide flu epidemic, which killed more people than the war, was also a major factor in the darkening of the American mood. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
