Michael Paré Movies
Best remembered for playing Eddie in Eddie & the Cruisers (1983) and its sequel, Eddie & the Cruisers 2: Eddie Lives! (1989), Michael Pare makes his living appearing in B-movies and straight-to-video actioners. The Brooklyn-born Pare started out as a New York Culinary Institute-trained sous chef and then a model. He started acting at a friend's suggestion and studied under Uta Hagen and Marvin Nelson. His first break came from playing tough student Tony Villicana on the adventure/comedy series The Greatest American Hero (1981). This led to the leading role in the made-for-television film Crazy Times (1981). Following his work in Eddie & the Cruisers, Pare starred in The Philadelphia Experiment (1984). His shot for major movie stardom came from director Walter Hill, whose own career was taking off following the success of his Eddie Murphy vehicle 48 Hrs. (1982). Hill cast Pare in the lead of Streets of Fire (1984). The director had originally meant for it to be the first of an action trilogy starring Pare, but the film failed at the box office. Subsequently Pare became the star of numerous low- and medium-budget features and the occasional made-for-cable television movie. In 1987, he starred in the short-lived television series Houston Knights. He reappeared in a big-budget feature, Village of the Damned, in 1995, but despite it's fairly big-name cast, it was unsuccessful, and Pare returned to B-movies such as Raging Angels (1995) and Bad Moon (1996). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie GuideIn this socially conscious drama, set in 1955, three tough New York youths must learn to deal with a troubled world. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

- 1981
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Season one of the tongue-in-cheek fantasy adventure series The Greatest American Hero opens with the two-hour pilot episode, wherein high-school teacher Ralph Hinkley (William Katt) and FBI agent Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp) come into possession of a red "super suit" and a book of instructions, both gifts from visiting extraterrestrials. Unfortunately, the book is soon lost, so that neither Ralph nor Maxwell are aware of all of the suit's remarkable powers. All Ralph knows is that, whenever he dons the outfit, he is able to fly around with the greatest of ease, a talent that Maxwell harnesses to battle crime and criminals -- beginning with the prevention of a hostile rebellion in the U.S., spearheaded by the corrupt vice president. The only other people who know of Ralph's "secret identity" are his attorney girlfriend, Pam Davidson (Connie Sellecca), and a motley quartet of students from Ralph's remedial education class: Tony (Michael Paré), Rhonda (Faye Grant), Cyler (Jesse D. Goins), and Rodriguez (Don Cervantes). Throughout the first season, Branden Williams makes sporadic appearances as Kevin Hinkley, Ralph's son from a previous marriage. Halfway through season one, Ralph suddenly acquires a new last name. Suddenly, those around him are referring to Ralph as "Mr. Hanley," or sometimes merely "Mr. H." This hasty augmentation was brought about after a man named John Hinckley attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981. Aware of this alteration -- and all too aware of the clumsy attempts to redub and rewrite episodes that had already been filmed -- some viewers developed a resentment for The Greatest American Hero and turned away in droves. Small wonder, then, that by the time the series inaugurated its second season in the fall of 1981, the hero was known as Ralph Hinkley again. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Katt, Connie Sellecca, (more)

- 1982
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Season two of The Greatest American Hero finds the title character (played by William Katt) reverting to his original character name of Ralph Hinkley, after the March 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan by a loser named John Hinckley prompted the series' producers to hastily (and in many cases clumsily) rewrite and redub existing episodes so that the protagonist was known as "Ralph Hanley." The ratings for The Greatest American Hero steadily climbed throughout the year. The basic satirical premise remains the same: presented with a super-powered red suit by a group of space aliens, nerdy high-school teacher Ralph Hinkley reluctantly transforms into a flying superhero, fighting crime and criminals at the behest of overzealous FBI agent Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp). Hinkley is aided and abetted by his attorney girlfriend, Pam Davidson (Connie Sellecca), and by four somewhat raffish students from his remedial education class: Tony (Michael Paré), Rhonda (Faye Grant), Cyler (Jesse D. Goins), and Rodriguez (Don Cervantes). Unfortunately, Ralph had lost the book of instructions which came with his marvelous suit, so his flying skills remain wildly erratic, and he continues to be amazed at how many remarkable powers are within his grasp. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Katt, Connie Sellecca, (more)
In one of the oddest themes for a movie in any decade, Undercover is a slick film about women's underwear, as developed by an Australian designing firm run by Fred Burley (John Walton) in the 1920s. The story which is true in its basic outlines, begins with Libby McKenzie (Genevieve Picot) who leaves her small town for Sydney and hopefully, a better life. Libby ends up working for Burley's clothing design company where she meets all sorts of independent-minded characters, including her supervisor, the head designer Nina (Sandy Gore). Since the development of new underwear is a long stretch for a feature-length film, director (David Stevens) and writer (Miranda Downes) have Burley campaigning for Australians to buy home-made products, like his own, for instance. There is a certain disparity between the high standards in the opulent visual aesthetics of this film, and the fluctuating scenes that meander from melodrama to camp humor without finding a definitive voice. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Genevieve Picot, John Walton, (more)
In the early 1960's, Eddie Wilson (Michael Pare) and his band The Cruisers enjoyed a brief fling with success, but their career came to a halt when Eddie's badly damaged car was discovered in an accident on a bridge. However, Eddie's body was never found, and years later, a reissue of the group's only album sparks rumors that the mysterious Eddie might still be alive. Frank Ridgeway (Tom Berenger), Eddie's former piano player and lyricist, finds himself trailed by Maggie Foley (Ellen Barkin), a reporter trying to find out the truth about Eddie, as well as another former bandmate who wants Frank to join his revamped version of the Cruisers -- and is trying to track down the tapes for the Cruisers' unreleased second album. While not a box-office success on its original release, Eddie and the Cruisers developed a following after its showings on cable television and release on videotape; this led to the belated success of the film's soundtrack album, featuring a number of bombastic neo-Springsteen numbers by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. Beaver Brown saxophonist Michael "Tunes" Antunes plays Wendell, the Cruisers' sax player and Eddie's best friend (despite the fact that we never hear him speak). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Berenger, Michael Paré, (more)
More like a series of MTV sequences than a long-term narration, this super-thin story line focuses on a kidnapped singer (Diane Lane) and her ex-boyfriend (Michael Pare) who goes forth to save her through rainy streets, the roar of elevated subways, several alleys, and the usual warehouses. Each thrust of the story has rock music that follows along with the narration. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Paré, Diane Lane, (more)
This science fiction thriller was inspired by a mythical real-life event, the WWII era disappearance of an entire naval vessel during a radar-cloaking test. In 1943, David Herdeg Michael Pare and Jim Parker Bobby DiCicco are sailors stationed aboard a Virginia battleship. Their vessel is undergoing an experiment conducted by brilliant scientist Dr. Longstreeet (Eric Christmas), who is attempting to render Allied craft invisible to radar. The ship becomes briefly invisible, but the test is a disaster and most of the crew are horribly killed. However, two crewmen are missing. In 1984, Herdeg and Parker emerge in the Nevada desert, having somehow traveled through time. Longstreet, still trying to perfect the device after 40 years, is running another experiment that pulls the missing sailors into the present. Realizing what's occurred, Herdeg and Parker flee, fearing for their lives. Fugitives, they befriend a skeptical modern woman, Alison Hayes (Nancy Allen). An effect of time pulls Parker back into 1943, leading to a bizarre reunion between Herdeg, still trapped in the future, and Parker, now a senior citizen. The film was followed by a sequel nine years later. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Paré, Nancy Allen, (more)
Scott Youngblood (Michael Pare) is a vengeful marine who goes after the slimy crooks who murdered his sister Kim (Lynda Bridges) in this uneven action drama. Driven to a life of drugs and prostitution, Kim dies at the hands of the druglord's evil enforcer Silke (Eddie Avoth). With the help of his military-issue Colt 45 and the kind-hearted prostitute Virginia (Tawny Kitaen), Scott resigns his commission and plans his revenge on the gang. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Paré, Tawny Kitaen, (more)
In this sci-fi/western film set two hundred years from now, a bank robber, Grange is captured and sentenced to the penal colony on the mining planet Proxima Centauri 3 where he meets bounty-hunter Walker, and the Colonel, a retired policeman from LA who was considered the best of his kind. Grange is a dangerous lunatic and Walker and the Colonel must team up to keep him from escaping. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Farnsworth, Michael Paré, (more)
A hardened Chicago cop transfers to a Houston precinct where he is teams up with a relaxed cop causing problems between their differing work attitudes. ~ All Movie Guide
Patrick (Michael Pare) is a struggling screenwriter who takes a second job as a male prostitute in this light sex comedy. Angie (Maud Adams) sets Patrick up as a Hollywood joyboy with new clothes, a sports car, and a place to live. He is supposed to write by day and do right by his lonely clientele at night, but he develops writer's block. When Patrick decides to draw from his amorous experiences as inspiration for his next screenplay, the women conspire to prevent it. Eddie Velez plays Patrick's loyal sidekick Carlos. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Paré, Maud Adams, (more)
In this post-apocalyptic film, a lack of rain has made water the most valuable thing in existence, and when an evil gang led by Derek Abernathy (Adam Ant) threatens to take over the spring-fed community of Lost Wells, the peaceful residents must find the means to protect themselves and their resource. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Dern, Michael Paré, (more)
This sequel to the rock & roll mystery Eddie and the Cruisers explains many of the questions concerning the mysterious death of 1960s rocker Eddie Wilson, who with his Cruisers was celebrating the success of their first album when he got in a terrible car wreck, from which his body was never recovered. Also missing were the masters from the group's upcoming second album. This story begins 25-years later as Eddie Wilson is found living in Montreal under an assumed name. At this time, the masters from the second album are finally released and suddenly the whole continent is caught up in a resurgence of "Eddiemania." This inspires Wilson, who continues to use an alias, to form a new band and hit the road. Once again, his music is provided by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Paré, Marina Orsini, (more)
The complex cross-currents of conflicting loyalties among the inhabitants of Palermo, Sicily, come across vividly in this romantic thriller. Wealthy young Ruggero is the American son of an Italian mother. He returns to Sicily for his mother's funeral and looks in on the reformatory for wayward girls that his mother gave money to. One of the girls, Lucia (Jo Champa) manages to catch his eye, and soon he is involved in sorting out his own and the girl's loyalties with regard to her mobster connections and his law-abiding affinities. Evenutally a short-term romance takes place between the two of them amid a welter of legal complications, but Lucia understands that they are from different worlds, and will not hear of marriage. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jo Champa, Michael Paré, (more)
Businessman Chester Grant (Danny Aiello) will do anything it takes to get the sale, but finds himself getting older and must choose a successor. Instead of the logical man for the position (James Karen), Grant decides that he will invite two rival salesmen to dinner and then make a decision. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Aiello, Michael Paré, (more)
In the year 2038, multicosmic corporations are dominating the universe, subsuming planet after planet in search of valuable natural resources. An agent (Michael Pare) of the Galactic Mining Corporation is sent to a remote outpost as a safeguard against the ruthless attempts of the Pyrite company to take over the base. Moon 44 was shot in Germany and released directly to video, despite its rather high cost of $15 million. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Paré, Malcolm McDowell, (more)
Michael Pare and Mary Mara star in this thriller about two police detectives who fall into a passionate relationship as they investigate a murder among the wealthy and privileged. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Paré, Mary Mara, (more)
A police detective must rescue his ex-wife from a kidnapper who is hiding out in an uncompleted skyscraper in this action film also titled The Concrete War. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
After his twin brother is taken hostage in Beirut, a high school basketball coach (Michael Pare) heads to the Middle East to rescue him. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
In this exciting and violent crime drama, a drug dealer turned photojournalist returns to his old stomping grounds in L.A. and ends up entangled in a new drug scheme by his former pal. After stealing a fortune in drugs from a ruthless crime lord, the photographer must flee for his life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
In this futuristic film, the controlling corporations of the world gain and lose power by competing with one another in one-on-one death matches. However when fighter Falchion (Paul Coufos) refuses to compete, he must run from the wrath of the big businessmen and his spurned opponent. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
Anthony Michael Hall and Michael Pare star in this ridiculous rip-off of Top Gun and Rambo III. Hall plays Tom Slade, a Hollywood pretty-boy star who prepares for a film role by hanging around Air Force fighter pilot Paul Watkins (Michael Pare). Of course, Paul resents the Hollywood intrusion, but as the film unravels, he begins to respect Tom Slade. Paul begins by putting Tom through the wringer, and Tom manages to make it through the tough training regimen, but Paul gets his dander up when Tom makes a play for his girlfriend Major Goode (Deborah Maria Moore). Finally, Tom gets to ride in an F-16, and Paul puts on an aerial display that would rival the Blue Angels. Unfortunately, during the stunts the boys are shot down and end up in the Middle East where they are tortured by Bedouins. Tom and Paul have to combine their stunt tricks in order to escape the enemies clutches. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Paré, (more)
This implausible action film stars Michael Pare as a soldier who must rescue the CIA-director's daughter (Janis Lee) from a Turkish prison camp. In the process, Pare is temporarily blinded but uses his psychic abilities to defeat a group of Arab terrorists attempting to steal plutonium to blow up the world. Director Bob Misiorowski handles the action scenes fairly well, but the silly premise seems to have been patched together from several different scripts, none of them very good. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide


















