Andrew Parks Movies
- 2007
Aesthetically and thematically, director Larry Blamire's outrageous camp-fest Trail of the Screaming Forehead resuscitates and satirizes bottom-of-the-barrel 1950s sci-fi movies such as X the Unknown and The Creeping Terror. Blamire's tale revolves around the scientific discovery that foreheads (and not brains) house human intelligence. In a misguided attempt to prove this axiom, scientist Dr. Sheila Bexter (Fay Masterson) injects a serum called "Foreheadazine" into the cranium of her colleague, Dr. Phillip Latham (Andrew Parks) -- whose head rapidly balloons to the size of a watermelon. Meanwhile, a spaceship packed with "furrowed brows" crash-lands on Earth, and the brows promptly attach themselves to every human in sight. To complicate matters, dozens of locals also get wind of the scientists' project and decide to investigate; before long, the entire seaside community is swarming with addicts of the Foreheadazine drug, a problem that doubles in size when two liquor-happy sailors arrive in town with a boatload of frozen human bodies. Blamire re-creates the visual look of '50s sci-fi films such as The Blob by shooting in shockingly bright rotogravure colors -- a photographic process he dubbed "Crainioscope." Stop-motion demigod Ray Harryhausen -- who reportedly inspired this work thanks to such classics as Jason and the Argonauts and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad -- is listed as "presenter," and his influence can be seen via the special effects of the ballooning heads. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Howe, Dan Conroy, (more)
- 2001
Immediately after the events of "Through the Looking Glass," princess Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) learns that although the head and body of the Host (Andy Hallett) have been separated, he won't actually die until his body is desecrated. With help from Loren's quite animated noggin and the Groosalugg (Mark Lutz), she manages to rescue the rest of the Host's body from the defilement chamber and have it smuggled -- unharmed -- back to the Deathwok Clan. Meanwhile, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) and Gunn (J. August Richards) get involved in the battle between the warriors of the repressive Covenant of Trombli and some human rebels. Elsewhere, Fred (Amy Acker) and Angel (David Boreanaz) survive an attack from the Covenant's warriors and reconnect with Wes, Gunn, and the rebels. Wes now firmly in charge, he plans a stealth attack on the Covenant despite his certainty that some of his men will die -- and the knowledge that Angel will have to revert to his uncontrollable demon form to battle the Groosalugg (Mark Lutz). Back at the castle, a smitten Cordy learns from Groo that when they consummate their passion, her visions will pass into his half-demon body. Committed to her sacred task, she reluctantly refuses to "cum-shuk," then suffers a vision of Groo battling a monster, unaware that it's actually Angel he'll fight. The rebels attack, Groo and Angel duke it out non-fatally, and Angel gains control of his demon half. In the end, the Covenant is overthrown, democracy is established in Pylea, and Cordy bids her otherworldly lover goodbye. Thanks to the combined intellectual firepower of Wes and Fred, the team (including a fully restored Loren) returns to earth -- where Willow (Alyson Hannigan) informs them of Buffy's death. Originally broadcast May 22, 2001, on the WB network, "There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb" marked season two, episode 22 of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2001
With Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) apparently in power (see "Over the Rainbow"), Angel (David Boreanaz), the Host (Andy Hallett), and the others are set free. The Deathwok Clan Mother, aka Loren's mom (Tom McCleister), expresses her hatred and shame over her wayward offspring, but cousin Landokmar (Brody Hutzler) bonds with fellow warrior Angel, even asking him to officiate at a feast. The party turns out to be the execution of kidnapped refugee slave Fred (Amy Acker). Angel refuses to participate, and they escape into the wilderness. When marauders attack, Angel transforms into a savage demon and inflicts serious injuries on both the attackers and Gunn (J. August Richards). Wesley (Alexis Denisof) surmises that on Pylea, the human and demon halves of a vampire are out of balance. Nevertheless, with Fred's help, Angel eventually transforms back to normal and retreats with the girl to her cave hideaway. Meanwhile, back at the palace, princess Cordy gets uppity and soon learns that she's merely the tool of the powerful Covenant of Trombli, a band of manipulative demon priests with ties to Wolfram & Hart. She is told she must "cumshuk," or mate, with a fearsome warrior known as the Groosalugg (Mark Lutz), but he turns out to be a handsome, earnest, and human-looking hunk. Despite her relief at Groo's appearance, Cordy gets another nasty shock from the Covenant; they remind her who's in charge by delivering the Host's head to her on a platter. Originally broadcast May 15, 2001, on the WB network, "Through the Looking Glass" marked season two, episode 21 of the supernatural comedy drama. This four-part saga continues in "There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Mad scientists, bug-eyed monsters, alien invaders, and black-clad women who perform interpretive dances battle for center stage in this parody of '50s sci-fi flicks. Dr. Paul Armstrong (Larry Blamire) is a scientist studying alien rock formations that have crashed to Earth. When Armstrong and his wife Betty (Fay Masterson) learn that a cache of Atmospherium, a radioactive mineral found in meteorites, has been found in the desert, he sets out to find it, but he has competition -- Dr. Fleming (Brian Howe), a rival scientist who plans to use the high-powered substance to bring a cave-dwelling creature back to life. Meanwhile, Lattis (Susan McConnell) and Kro-Bar (Andrew Parks) are aliens from the planet Marva who have crash-landed on Earth and need Atomspherium to get their spacecraft back in the air. Hoping to foil the plans of Dr. Armstrong, and aware of the arrival of the aliens, Fleming steals a "Transmutaron" from Kro-bar that allows him to create Animala (Jennifer Blaire), a sultry neo-beatnik who will crash the Armstrong's cocktail party and sow the seeds of marital discord between Paul and Betty, making it easier for Fleming to recover the valuable rock formations. Larry Blamire also served as writer and director for The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Blamire, Fay Masterson, (more)
- 1996
Jay Leno makes a brief uncredited appearance in this first episode of a two-part story , in which the homicide unit "celebrates" the new year by going after a serial sniper who strikes every eight hours. Having already claimed nine victims, the elusive killer taunts the cops by leaving behind cryptic clues based on the old game hangman. While investigating the case, Bayliss (Kyle Secor) is hampered by back pains, leading to a potentially dangerous dependency on medication. And Barnfather (Clayton LeBouef), frustrated by the lack of progress in tracking down the sniper, takes out his frustrations on Russert (Isabella Hoffman), leading to a momentous showdown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1994
Real-life father and son Lloyd and Beau Bridges star in the tense modern melodrama Secret Sins of the Father. Nebraska farmer Louis Thielman (Lloyd) is charged with murder of his wife. Making the charge is Louis's son Tom (Beau), the town sheriff. Though the evidence points to Louis, there are those who believe that Tom is pursuing a vendetta rather than justice. For starters, Louis has been carrying on an affair with Lisa Carson, Tom's ex-lover. Despite the film's docudrama approach, this one isn't based on a true story. Beau Bridges doubled as director for this made-for-TV drama, which debuted January 9, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lloyd Bridges, Beau Bridges, (more)
- 1991
- PG
In this Navy spoof, a mismatched bunch of sailors are sent to sea as the incompetent crew of the U. S. S. Substandard, a faulty, unfinished submarine. Little does the crew of the Substandard know that the government doesn't intend for them to make it back to shore, as they encounter all kinds of crazy problems. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1987
During a non-stop flight to London, a valuable necklace is stolen and the courier hired to guard the necklace is poisoned. One of the passengers is Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), who of course offers her services to Scotland Yard as they try to retrieve the gems and catch the killer. Among the main characters in this melodrama are a famous actress, a taciturn former police officer, and a furtive-looking tourist couple. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
- R
When uptight FBI agent Joe Jennings (Beau Bridges) is forced to team up with reluctant local officer Benny Avalon (Bubba Smith), the two must learn to overcome their differences and work together to break up a drug smuggling operation. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Beau Bridges, Bubba Smith, (more)
- 1985
Pamela Crane (Belinda Montgomery), the recenty widowed niece of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), goes on a relaxing ocean cruise in hopes of overcoming her husband's sudden death. This, however, proves impossible, as Pamela is systematically terrorized by the appearance of several personal artifacts which only her late husband could have known about. Can it be that Pamela's husband is still alive? That's the question Jessica hopes to answer as she unofficially takes over investigation of the case. (Incidentally, the full character name of Jessica's niece is Pamela MacGill Crane--and by a curious coincidence, the mother of star Angela Lansbury was character actress Moyna MacGill). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
The Kid From Nowhere is built around the talents of Ricky Wittman, a remarkable young actor afflicted with Down's Syndrome who appeared in several TV programs during the early 1980s. Judy Farrell's script traces the efforts of a California mother (Susan Saint James) to curb the sudden energy outbursts of her retarded son. The boy is entered in a school athletic program, attaining confidence and achievement through his participation the Special Olympics. Director Beau Bridges has a supporting role as the boy's coach. Kid From Nowhere offers no easy solutions, but it does point out the importance of stressing self-value when dealing with children of special needs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
After a near-death experience, Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) becomes obsessed with his own mortality. This leads to an uncharateristic spell of introspection for the otherwise bombastic Charles. As for the other doctors, they have their hands full wrestling with a massive new-duty assignment. "The Life You Save" was the final episode of M*A*S*H's ninth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Lieutenant Kojak (Telly Savalas) investigates the death of police chemist Harry Sentman (Whit Bissell), seemingly in a hit-and-run accident, and becomes convinced it was murder. He finds a connection between the victim and the case of Joey Fiorello (Anthony Ponzini), a police detective serving a prison term for allegedly stealing the evidence in a drug case; and Aaron Fisk (Tige Andrews), a respectable businessman, and Fisk's son Max (Stephen Macht). The Fisks never crossed paths with the detective in his work, but the lieutenant discovers a very personal reason they have for wanting to destroy the officer. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1976
- PG
W.C. Fields and Me is the film version of the Fields biography written by the comedian's former mistress Carlotta Monti. W. C. Fields was a great comedian in vaudeville and early talking films, who was noted for his ability to say the most hilariously cutting and mean things in a cheery, bright tone of voice. He had amazing skills in the manipulation of objects, from pieces of paper to crooked cue sticks. Rod Steiger plays Fields, while Valerie Perrine portrays Ms. Monti. Jack Cassidy is also on hand as Fields' close friend and drinking crony John Barrymore. The film is not above sacrificing facts for a good story, notably in its recreation of Fields' celebrated "dentist" routine which. W. C. Fields and Me depicts the great juggler/comedian as a straightforwardly mean-spirited man, whereas he is generally believed to have been more complex than that. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rod Steiger, Valerie Perrine, (more)
- 1975
Attack on Terror: The FBI Versus the Ku Klux Klan is a fact-based, two-part TV movie. The film is a dramatization of the murders of three civil rights workers in Mississippi in 1964. The FBI, personified herein by southern operative Wayne Rogers, is brought in to investigate the trio's disappearance. Upon the discovery of the bodies on August 2, 1964, the feds follow a trail of (admittedly skimpy) evidence which leads to the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, headed by the virulent Glen Tuttle (Rip Torn). The first part of Attack on Terror was originally telecast February 20, 1975. The film was based on the book by Don Whitehead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ned Beatty, John Beck, (more)
- 1974
- PG
In this scenic drama, a young man spends his vacation hiking across seven European countries. Along the way he falls in love with a fellow traveler, a Norwegian girl. The affair is more than a summer fling, and at the journey's end, he must decide whether to remain with her or go back home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Ed Nelson plays the episode's title character, aerospace engineer Walter Swenson. Fired from his job and in desperate need of money, Swenson decides to hack into the "impenetrable" electronically-controlled vault which stores his former employer's most valuable secrets. Though it is certain that many F.B.I. fans were able to catch up with this episode when it entered rerun syndication, when "The Engineer" first aired on October 29, 1972 most viewers were tuned to another channel, watching the network TV debut of Yellow Submarine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
- R
This film is based on the James Simon Kunen book about student unrest on the Columbia University campus. Simon (Bruce Davison) joins the campus protest movement to socialize with the various hippie girls. When a violent police assault breaks up the protest, Simon's thoughts quickly turn from female infatuation to more important social causes. He becomes active in protests against the Vietnam War, police brutality, student's rights and the draft. He is branded a Communist and becomes part of the great worldwide social revolution of his times. Music from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Thunderclap Newman, Richard Strauss and John Lennon accurately reflect the turbulent times in which the film was released. Bud Cort, James Coco, and Kim Darby star in this uneven political drama. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Davison, Kim Darby, (more)
