Bill McLean Movies

A mild box-office hit for New World Pictures, this lightweight attempt at horror parody from Friday the 13th producer Sean S. Cunningham stars former Greatest American Hero William Katt as a best-selling pop-horror novelist (a la Stephen King) who suffers an insurmountable case of writer's block after separation from his soap-star wife (Kay Lenz) and the disappearance of their young son. Hoping to purge his personal demons by writing his Vietnam War memoirs, he moves into the massive mansion once occupied by his deceased aunt (who hanged herself in her bedroom), and finds himself surrounded by demons of a completely different kind. Katt takes the weirdness in stride, attempting to face down marauding monsters, interdimensional trap-doors and other supernatural horrors while concealing his predicament from the neighbors (except for a befuddled George Wendt, who tries gamely to play along with Katt's hare-brained monster-fighting schemes). Despite the filmmakers' admirable efforts to maintain the manic pace with multiple storylines, their attempt to bring all the plot elements together for the climactic payoff results in a jangled mess. Surprisingly entertaining when viewed as a live-action cartoon, but virtually impossible to take seriously as a horror film. Followed by three sequels. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Prolific voiceover actor Danny Cooksey appears in this episode as Terry Lee, a dewey-eyed orphan who is anxious to spring a stray basset hound from the local dog pound. The Dukes come to Terry's aid, little realizing that the hound is actually quite valuable, and in fact had previously been kidnapped from a high-class dog show run by John J. Hooper (Joe Dorsey). The plot thickens when the kidnappers mistake the Dukes' own dog Flash for the prize pooch! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A young racer attempts to win a dragstip competition where the outcome has already been fixed by the local mob, in this film alternately known as Hotrod and Rebel of the Road. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

Someone has been stealing food from the diner--and even worse, someone has also been making expensive long-distance calls to New Jersey on Mel's phone. Suspecting everyone, Mel (Vic Tayback) summons the staff to the storeroom for a showdown. What he gets instead is a close encounter of the worst kind when the door snaps shut and everyone is locked in! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Twice during the mid-1970s, Andy Griffith unsuccessfully attempted to launch a TV detective series titled Abel Marsh. The first pilot film was The Girl in the Empty Grave; the second was The Deadly Game. Griffith once again stars as resort-town sheriff Abel Marsh, this time wrestling with a sinister conspiracy involving a dangerous chemical spill. Lane Slate produced, directed and wrote the film, while Griffith's longtime manager Richard O. Linke functioned as executive producer. Deadly Game was first telecast December 3, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and his wife Jean go out on a dinner date with Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) and his girlfriend Judy (Aneta Corsaut). Unfortunately, this pleasureable outing nearly ends before it begins when the Reeds witness a holdup. Further messing up the evening is an incident involving three escaped bulls, to say nothing of a nasty bar fight. Taking over from Mikki Jamison as Jean Reed in this episode is Kristin Nelson--who happens to be the niece of the episode's director, former Ozzie and Harriet costar David Nelson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the market for a color television, Lamont (Demond Wilson) wants to purchase a new TV on credit, but Fred (Redd Foxx) intends to spend no more than 50 dollars on a used set. Luck of luck, Fred finds just such a bargain at Guy's Groovy Grab Bag. Alas, Fred has unwittingly purchased a stolen TV -- and it was stolen from his pal Grady (Whitman Mayo, in his first series appearance). This Sanford and Son episode was loosely based on "The Colour Problem," a 1970 episode of the series' prototype Steptoe and Son. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Parademic trainee Billy Hanks (Kip Niven) has everyone at Rampart on edge with his lack of experience--and his more injurious lack of self-confidence. Billy's inner strength ultimately comes to surface when he must rescue a man from an overturned ambulance. Among the other emergencies facing the Squad 51 staffers this week are an elderly professor (Ian Wolfe) who is trapped under a collapsing bookcase, a car fancier who is pinned under a pile of junked autos, an exploding chemistry set, and a practical joke that goes tragically haywire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dr. Brackett (Robert Fuller) is saddled with a hero-worshipping nurse, while paramedic John Gage (Randolph Mantooth) is similarly burdened with a "fireman groupie." The case load this week includes an elevator crash involving a heart-attrack victim, a hippie (played by Seymour Cassel od Minnie and Moscovitzfame ) who is seriously injured while on a recycling mission in a junkyward, and carbon monoxide poisoning at the local railyard. Curiously, though the role of Cynthia is played by guest actress Marilyn Hassett (The Other Side of the Mountain), the original TV Guide listings credit Patty Eltinge with the role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Upset that baby daughter Kathy Jo is taking up so much of Steve's time, Betty Jo (Linda Kaye Henning) insists that Steve (Mike Minor) take her on a second honeymoon. The couple returns to their own cottage, where they must not only put up with a lack of utilities but also the crafty duplicity of local realtor Mr. Haney (Pat Buttram in his familiar Green Acres) role. Worse still, the cottage is invaded by a pair of annoying newlyweds and a couple of bums named--now get this--Stanley and Oliver. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Remember the great New York City power blackout of November 9, 1965? Ever wonder what caused all the lights to go out? Well, according to this episode of Green Acres, the source of the power fizzle can be traced back to Hooterville, where, after months and months of waiting for his farm to be wired for electricity, Oliver Douglas (Eddie Albert) tries to do the job himself. The title of this episode refers to a sound effect that appears onscreen, Batman-style! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Opie finds a wallet containing $50-and if no one claims the wallet within a week, the money is his. But Opie can't wait that long, and begins spending his own allowance on "spec." The owner of the wallet finally shows up at the courthouse when Andy is out, leaving Opie to make a crucial decision-a decision that, alas, is misinterpreted by the conclusion-jumping Andy. Written by Ben Joelson and Art Baer, "Opie's Fortune" was originally telecast on November 16, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide