Dennis Patrick Movies

It's off to Africa for a former B-ball player who'd like to find a top-notch basketball recruit to help him become a successful coach. Kevin Bacon has the lead in this Paul Glaser-directed film. ~ All Movie Guide

Handsome young Washington attorney Louie Jeffries (Chris McDonald) has it all: a promising career, a beautiful wife, and a baby on the way. But after discovering a local judge is in cahoots with the Mob, Louie bites it in a car crash and finds himself in Heaven. Unsatisfied with the customer service he's receiving, Louie jumps the gun and gets himself reincarnated -- before being administered the magic injection that will remove his memories of his former life. For the next quarter-century, Louie's museum curator wife, Corinne (Cybill Shepherd), remains true to her husband's memory, ignoring the frustrated devotion of Louie's best friend, Philip Train (Ryan O'Neal). Meanwhile, Louie's soul grows up in the body of Alex Finch (Robert Downey Jr.), an aspiring journalist. Alex's memories of his life as Louie return after he becomes romantically involved with Miranda (Mary Stuart Masterson) -- the daughter he never got to meet. Soon, Alex/Louie is romancing his wife, spurning his daughter's advances, and frustrating Philip's attempts finally to woo Corinne. Written by Mystic Pizza scribes Perry and Randy Howze and directed by Emile Ardolino of Dirty Dancing fame, Chances Are didn't score as well at the box office as those earlier comedies. Its soundtrack, however, generated the hit Peter Cetera and Cher ballad "After All." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Upon returning to Vietnam years after the war, veteran Richard Hatch stumbles onto a drug-running operation overseen by some of his fellow ex-soldiers. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

The made-for-TV Advice to the Lovelorn stars Cloris Leachman as a "Dear Abby" type newspaper advice columnist. Walter Brooke costars as her editor, who discourages her efforts to follow up her advice in person. But follow she does, trying to untangle the problems of guest stars Melissa Sue Anderson, Lance Kerwin, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Donna Pescow. She even finds time for a romantic episode with special guest star Paul Burke. Intended as the pilot for a weekly series, the 2-hour Advice to the Lovelorn was telecast November 30, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While visiting his Native American foster son Chester (Eddie Garcia) at an Arizona Indian reservation, Quincy (Jack Klugman) notices that the boy is showing symptoms of bubonic plague, a devastating illness that has already taken the life of his best friend. Quickly, Quincy alerts the local authorities in hopes of staving off a statewide epidemic. Unfortunately, those authorities are more concerned with an upcoming golf tournament at an expensive new country club called Paradise Palms--and they're willing to go to any lengths to avoid sacrificing the tourist trade to a medical emergency. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Quincy (Jack Klugman) finds evidence of food poisoning while performing an autopsy on a construction worker who died in a fall just outside the town of Rosewood. Investigating further, Quincy determines that the victim was laid low by contaminated tomatoes, the byproduct of lethal pesticides which a local company has buried in steel drums--which are now apparently leaking. Once the crusading medical examiner sets his sights on forcing the company to assume responsibility for what threatens to be a wide-ranging health disaster, it is obvious that this episode was inspired by the Love Canal/Three Mile Island debacle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This made-for-TV espionage drama chronicles the adventures of Hawaiian secret agent Diamond Head, who begins impersonating a notorious gambler so he can get close to those who are planning to steal an extremely lethal chemical capable of wiping out all life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Archie is offered membership in a secretive "patriotic" organization. Only when it is too late does Archie realize that he's been "rushed" by the KKK, who have designated his own son-in-law, Mike, as their latest target for persecution. Dennis Patrick and Roger Bowen head the supporting cast as Gordie and Mitch, respectively. Written by Bob Schiller, Bob Weiskopf, Mort Lachman, and Milt Josefsberg, part one of "Archie and the Ku Klux Klan" originally aired on November 27, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It looks like the men of Squad 51 will have to pick up the tab for the annual Fireman's Picnic when their star pitcher breaks his arm just before a softball game with a rival squad. Back on the job, the Ramparts emergency team tries to determine the cause of an accident victim's inexplicable seizures, and to save a used-car dealer (Dennis Patrick) from being devoured by his dealership's mascot--a large and none too friendly tiger. Also, a man is trapped in his waterbed, and a stash of moonshine sparks a deadly fire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While delivering $10,000 in bail money to a client, Jim (James Garner) develops car trouble in the town of Great Blue Lake. Figuring that he hasn't much choice, Jim deposits the money in the safe of the local real estate firm that is developing the community. Unfortunately, the money turns up missing the next day--and even more unfortunately, Jim is unable to convince anyone that he ever had the cash in the first place. Coming to Jim''s rescue, Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.) quickly surmises that Great Blue Lake is at the center of a grand-scale swindle--and someone is willing to commit murder to keep the scam afloat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dennis Patrick guest stars as Scanlon, a slick-talking bunco artist who cons Archie into buying $2000 worth of aluminum siding. By the time Archie realizes he's been hoodwinked -- or at least, by the time he finally listens to reason -- the siding is already being hammered onto the outer walls of his brick house. Will Archie be able to wrest himself free of Scanlon's "iron-clad" contract? The answer comes from an unexpected source. Written by Ron Friedman, "Archie's Contract" first aired on December 7, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In one of his occasional undercover assignments, Kojak (Telly Savalas) poses as a chemist. It's all part of a plan to flush out a gang of crooks who have stolen a valuable shipment of morphine in order to sell it back to the rightful owners for an exorbitant price. Naturally, Kojak pretends to be corruptible enough to attract the crooks' attention--a dangerous game which could cost him his life at any moment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Several people in and around Rampart Hospital are felled by a potentially deadly virus--and the cause of it all may well be a woman with a pet monkey. Elsewhere, an injured man is stuck on a high scaffold; and a boy suffering from vertigo is trapped in a backyard treehouse. Featured in the cast are future That's Incredible cohost Cathy Lee Crosby, as well as Skye Aubrey, the daughter of TV and movie executive James Aubrey and actress Phyllis Thaxter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide