Edie McClurg Movies
Short, pleasantly plump, and endowed with an endearingly piercing voice, American actress Edie McClurg has been a favorite supporting performer since her 1976 film debut in Carrie. Much of her TV work has been as a comedy sketch performer, notably on Tony Orlando and Dawn (1976), The David Letterman Show (a 1980 daytimer), The Big Show (1980) and No Soap, Radio (1982). Ms. McClurg has also played many a nosy neighbor/in-law/secretary on such TV sitcoms as Harper Valley PTA (1982), Small Wonder (1985) and The Hogan Family (1988). McClurg received larger roles in the TV series The Kallikaks (1977), in which she was the wife of series star David Huddleston, and in the feature film Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), wherein she portrayed the villainess (the ads showed McClurg burning horror-show hostess Elvira at the stake; bully for her). That Edie McClurg is capable of subtler dramatic roles was proven by the TV movie Bill: On His Own, in which she was touchingly convincing as a mentally retarded group-home resident. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Eating Raoul was celebrated at the time of its release as the perfect marriage between mainstream moviemaking and the so-called "underground" cinema. Cult-film icons Mary Woronov and Paul Bartel (both of whom directed) play a married couple who decide to cash in on the sexual perversions of others. Posing as a hooker, Woronov lures the "johns" in and indulges their every kinky whim, whereupon Bartel kills the unwary client, steals the valuables, and sells the corpse for dog food. Though they see nothing wrong in what they're doing, they react in prudish disgust at the sexual preferences of their victims. Eventually, Raoul (Robert Beltran), the fellow who transports the corpses to the dog food concern, proves expendable--and extremely edible. Eating Raoul features a high-powered comic supporting cast, among them Buck Henry, Ed Begley Jr., Richard Paul, Hamilton Camp, and Edie McClurg. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Bartel, Mary Woronov, (more)
- 1982
In the conclusion of a two-part story, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley), still posing as a mystery novelist, endeavors to solve the apparent murder of Edgar Thornton (David Downing) during a luxury cruise. The other passengers, all genuine mystery writers, put the clues together and point their fingers at the person they regard as the culprit. But amateur sleuth George manages to trump them all -- and that's only the first of several surprises. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1982
In the first episode of a two-part story, Louise (Isabel Sanford) books George (Sherman Hemsley), Florence (Marla Gibbs), and herself on a murder-mystery cruise ship. To get a discount, George pretends to be a mystery novelist, just like the rest of the passengers. This pose may well prove to be his undoing when a genuine murder apparently occurs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1982
Mel's mom Carrie (Martha Raye) has had so much success with her special chicken pies that she plans to publish a cookbook. This would be okay with Mel (Vic Tayback) except for one detail: Carrie also plans to publish his secret chili recipe! Clearly, drastic legal measures are called for to keep Carrie from spilling the (chili) beans. This episode was directed by Linda Day, of Soap and Married. . .With Children fame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In an unfunny, scattered sequel to their successful Up in Smoke, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong reprise their roles as carefree men who do inhale. But this time around Cheech is out of a job and trying to dodge his bilious neighbor while chasing the lovely Donna (Evelyn Guerrero) with anything but honorable intentions. Meanwhile, Cheech's cousin Red (also Cheech Marin) and Chong go tooling around Hollywood in a luxury sports car looking for adventure. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, (more)
- 1979
Finally booted out of his house by his fed-up wife Lucille (Edie McClurg), Herb (Frank Bonner) moves in with Johnny (Howard Hesseman), immediately transforming the tiny apartment into his own peculiar idea of a swingin' bachelor pad. Back at WKRP, the staffers brace themselves for the "new", unattached Herb--especially Jennifer, who worries about her safety at the hands of the ever-libidinous advertising director. As a means of self-preservation, Jennifer persuades her friends to try to bring Herb and Lucille back together...fast! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In the first episode of a two-part story, Johnny (Howard Hesseman) is poised to leave WKRP and Cincinnati for a better-paying job in California--and never mind that during his last gig in the Golden State, he managed to get fired for saying "booger" on the air. Hoping to get Johnny to change his mind, Mr. Carlson (Gordon Jump) concocts a clever (?) scheme to be deployed during the deejay's farewell party. Edie McClurg makes her first series appearance as Lucille, the long-suffering wife of boorish sales manager Herb Tarlek (Frank Bonner). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
- R
The Big One finally hits California and as it slides into the waiting Pacific a television news team with anchor people Walter Concrete and Barbara Halters is there to record the resulting chaos and help themselves to whatever is left. This satire features performers from such noted comedy troupes as the Ace Trucking Company, FireSign Theater and Second City. The Tubes provide the music. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Philip Proctor, Peter Bergman, (more)
This classic horror movie based on Stephen King's first novel stars Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, a shy, diffident teenager who is the butt of practical jokes at her small-town high school. Her blind panic at her first menstruation, a result of ignorance and religious guilt drummed into her by her fanatical mother, Margaret (Piper Laurie), only causes her classmates' vicious cruelty to escalate, despite the attentions of her overly solicitous gym teacher (Betty Buckley). Finally, when the venomous Chris Hargenson (Nancy Allen) engineers a reprehensible prank at the school prom, Carrie lashes out in a horrifying display of her heretofore minor telekinetic powers. Many films had featured school bullies, but Carrie was one of the first to focus on the special brand of cruelty unique to teenage girls. Carrie's world is presented as a snake pit, where the well-to-do female students all have fangs -- even the reticent Sue Snell (Amy Irving) -- and all the males are blind pawns, sexually twisted around the fingers of Chris and her evil cronies. The talented supporting cast includes John Travolta, P.J. Soles, and William Katt. One of the genre's true classics, the film was followed by a sequel in 1999, as well as by a famously unsuccessful Broadway musical adaptation that starred Betty Buckley, the movie's gym teacher, as Margaret White. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, (more)
