Lorna Patterson Movies
- 1989
Just before attending the funeral of an old friend, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) makes the acquaintance of young Rick Banner (Marc Singer), former college roommate of the dead woman's long-lost son Peter. When Rick hears a song written by Peter, the ball starts rolling for a onslaught of intrigue, ill will and murder predicated on the fact that the missing Peter will fall heir to millions should he ever make a return appearance. Jessica's fellow sleuth on this occasion is rumpled, clownish Chief Underwood (Lane Smith), who may remind some viewers of Peter Falk's Lieutenant Columbo (of course, both Columbo and Murder, She Wrote were created by the same writing team!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This made-for-TV effort concerns a con man who worms his way into the position of principal at the high school where his ex-girlfriend works. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1981
This TV movie stars Tony Randall as Sidney Shorr, a reclusive, middle-aged commercial artist. Sidney opens himself up a bit to an ebullient young actress (Lorna Patterson)--who shocks the shockable Mr. Shorr by becoming pregnant. If we haven't mentioned the fact that Sidney Shorr is gay, it's because the film itself never spells out the fact; his gayness is conveyed through subtle signs and suggestions. Nonetheless, when Sidney Shorr: A Girl's Best Friend became a weekly series titled Love Sidney, there was such an uproar from various pressure groups (of all persuasions) that Shorr's homosexuality was muted down to virtual oblivion. Tony Randall continued to play Sidney Shorr in Love Sidney, but the live-in actress was portrayed by Swoosie Kurtz rather than Lorna Patterson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This spoof of the Airport series of disaster movies relies on ridiculous sight gags, groan-inducing dialogue, and deadpan acting -- a comedy style that would be imitated for the next 20 years. Airplane! pulls out all the clichés as alcoholic pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays), who's developed a fear of flying due to wartime trauma, boards a jumbo jet in an attempt to woo back his stewardess girlfriend (Julie Hagerty). Food poisoning decimates the passengers and crew, leaving it up to Striker to land the plane, with the help of a glue-sniffing air traffic controller (Lloyd Bridges) and Striker's vengeful former captain (Robert Stack), who must both talk him down. Along the way, we meet a clutch of stock disaster movie passengers like the guitar-strumming nun, a sick little girl, a frightened old lady, and two African-American travelers whose "jive" has to be subtitled. Leslie Nielsen portrays the plane's doctor, launching a new phase of the actor's career that carried him through the next two decades in several similarly comedic roles. The trio of directors Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker, and David Zucker responsible for the film would eventually go on to solo careers, but not before making Top Secret! and Ruthless People. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, (more)
