Stack Pierce Movies
Black supporting actor, onscreen from 1972. ~ All Movie Guide- 1992
An angry widow dons her ninja gear and takes off for revenge against the gangster who killed her husband in this lively martial arts actioner that revels in its deliberately, deliciously awful tongue-in-cheek dialog that takes a sharp poke at the genre. While the black widow kicks and chops her way to vengeance against the evil villain "White Powder's" gang, police officers Lee Ann Jackson and Lester McQueen stalk her while simultaneously trying to clean up the other trash that litters the streets of their city. In the explosive final conclusion, White Powder meets Mr. Big in the ubiquitous empty warehouse to finalize a major drug deal. Unbeknownst to either of them, the ninja-girl got there first and planted a little surprise for them. In the end, the two crooks get their just desserts, the cops get demoted, and the widow flees to Mexico. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1975
A Cry for Help (working title: End of the Line) stars Robert Culp as an acerbic, Don Imus-like radio talk show host. When one of his callers, an anxious young woman, threatens to kill herself, Culp laughs it off. Later, however, he realizes that the girl wasn't kidding, and mounts a frantic effort-with the help of his loyal audience-to locate the would-be suicide. Richard Levinson and William Link's script stretches the tension level to the snapping point, and you'll love every minute of it. Made for television, A Cry for Help originally aired February 12, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Bill Duke directs this quirky film adaptation of Chester Himes' crime novel -- a heavily plotted gangster tale with a sweet love story hidden underneath. The film begins in Natchez, Mississippi in 1956. During a police shoot-out with the mob leader Slim's (Badja Djola) gang, Slim's moll Imabelle (Robin Givens) takes off with a cadre of stolen gold. As a result, Imabelle is chased by Slim's mob from Mississippi to New York. By the time she reaches Harlem, she is broke and has to figure out a way to ditch the trunk full of gold. She finds herself at the annual Undertaker's Ball, where she sees the big and dumb Jackson (Forest Whitaker), a bumbling undertaker's assistant. She spots Jackson as a mark that she can use as a cover and latches onto him immediately. She moves in with him to hide out, but Imabelle becomes taken with his innocence. For his part, Jackson falls head over heels in love with her. But the Mississippi mob catches up with her and takes her away. Jackson calls in his street-wise brother Goldy (Gregory Hines) to help him rescue Imabelle. Jackson fears that Imabelle has been kidnapped. But Goldy knows better -- he still agrees to help him but Goldy wants the gold for himself. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Forest Whitaker, Gregory Hines, (more)
- 1980
Filmed on location at Alcatraz Island, this two-part "whole story" actually concentrates on a handful of the denizens behind the cold grey walls of "The Rock". Michael Beck plays the real-life Clarence Carnes, an Oklahoma Choctaw Indian said to be the youngest man ever incarcerated in the notorious maximum security prison. Serving a 99-year sentence for a gas station holdup and murder, Carnes makes periodic attempts to escape, the final attempt being the most violent. Many of the subordinate characters are fictional (as are most of the details concerning Carnes' escape efforts); the one exception is Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz", here portrayed by Art Carney as a gentle, kindly philosopher. Telly Savalas, a costar of the Burt Lancaster vehicle Birdman of Alcatraz, also guest starred in the 1980 film. Originally titled Alcatraz and Clarence Carnes, this made-for-TV movie wavers between gritty realism and "I'm bustin' outta here!" artifice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Beck, Telly Savalas, (more)
- 1978
Comic actor Bob Dishyappears in this episode as a pharmacist who has made it his mission in life to protest against artificial food additives. The pharmacist takes his crusade to Mel's diner--where he announces his intention to dramatize his stand by committing suicide! The curious changes in the décor of Mel's Diner which are unique to this episode suggest that it was taped very early in Season Two, but held back for several months. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
In this carefree children's adventure, a grandfather and his grandson fulfill the former's life-long dream and embark upon a cross-country ballon flight. Back on the distant ground, the flyers are pursued by the boy's mother, the cops, the Feds, and others. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1990
1940s movie star Alexis Smith guest stars as Professor Alice Anne Volkman, the revered business-school mentor of Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley). Much to Rebecca's dismay, Prof. Volkman has more than business on her mind when she is attracted to Sam (Ted Danson). Meanwhile, it's Norm (George Wendt) to the rescue when Carla (Rhea Perlman) is audited by the IRS. Future Drew Carey Show regular Diedrich Bader appears as a waiter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
This is a remake of The Asphalt Jungle with an all black cast. In it a paroled convict plans to steal $3 million work of jewels, sell them, and use the bread to start a bank to back black businesses. He is assisted by two pals, his half-brother, and a preacher who also works as a thief. The operation is ultimately backed by a man who cheats on his wheelchair-bound wife with a sexy woman. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Cornbread (Keith Wilkes) is an African-American youth who strives to escape his ghetto surroundings. He does so by becoming a high school basketball star--and the idol of the other youngsters in his community. On the verge of starting college on a scholarship, Cornbread is mistakenly killed by a police officer. Keith Wilkes, who plays the title role, was in real life an all-American at UCLA. Cornbread, Earl and Me, which was based upon Ronald Fair's novel Hog Butcher, marked the big screen debut of Laurence Fishburne. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Moses Gunn, Rosalind Cash, (more)
- 1974
John (Randolph Mantooth) would like to date a new nurse named Daisy (Britt Lind), but it looks like he'll have to wait in line. Among the evening's emergency patients is a refrigerator repairman who ends up frozen to an ice-house floor, an elderly hobbyist (John Carradine) who has glued himself to a model ship, and a man trapped in a theater fire. The guest cast this week includes TV-sitcom veterans Steve Franken ("Chatsworth Osborne" on Dobie Gillis) and Ann Morgan Guilbert ("Millie Helper" on The Dick Van Dyke Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
James Gregory guest stars as Neal Brackett, the father of Rampart's chief surgeon Kelly Brackett, who checks into the hosptial to be treated for phlebitis. It's a tense situation, to be sure--but not quite as tense as the one facing the emergency squad as they try to rescue a man from a power transformer which has crashed into his bedroom, and another man whose fireplace has exploded. And in a lesser crisis, the squad helps an elderly magician (Tony Giorgio) extricate himself from a malfunctioning trunk. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
- R
In this African adventure, a soldier-of-fortune and his followers hack through the jungle in search of a millionaire' daughter who was kidnapped by a tribe as an offering for their hungry crocodile gods. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Adapted from the novel by Pete Hamill, Flesh and Blood stars Tom Berenger as Bobby Fallon, a street punk who develops into a topnotch boxer while in prison. Upon his release, Bobby is taken under the wing of manager John Cassavetes. Outwardly tough and unmovable, Bobby is tortured with memories of his miserable childhood, which included an incestuous episode with his mother (Suzanne Pleshette). This two-part TV movie concludes with a heavyweight championship bout, bankrolled by Bobby's long-estranged father (Mitchell Ryan). Photographed with Rocky-like intensity by Vilmos Zsigismond, Flesh and Blood first aired on October 14 and 16, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Chuck Norris plays John T. Booker, a Vietnam vet who finds out that several of his army buddies lost their lives in a mission that was intended to fail. Seeking answers, Booker quits his school-teaching job and tracks down the surviving members of his unit. One by one, his old friends are being knocked off by sinister forces, orchestrated by a crooked, and legally untouchable, politician. Amidst a plethora of martial arts, gunfire and explosions, the film briefly pauses for a comic-relief scene involving over-aged bellboy Jim Backus. Good Guys Wear Black did so well at the box-office that it warranted a sequel, A Force of One (1979). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chuck Norris, Anne Archer, (more)
- 1979
Florida (Esther Rolle) is naturally nervous on the night before her bus-company physical. Unfortunately, this is one of those "typical" evenings in the Evans household when everything goes wrong -- culminating in Florida's son Michael (Ralph Carter) being tossed into jail. Originally slated to air on June 27, 1979, this episode was bumped up two weeks to July 11. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A man who fights his way to success learns the people who helped him may be his biggest enemies in this action drama. B.J. Hammer (Fred Williamson) is a dock worker who used to box in the Golden Gloves and still knows how to handle himself in a fight; when he gets into a brawl at work, he's seen in action by an associate of Davis (Bernie Hamilton), a flashy businessman who manages boxers. Davis thinks Hammer has potential, and offers him a contract. Soon Hammer is training with Professor (Mel Stewart, an experienced boxing coach, and begins romancing Lois (Vonetta McGee), one of Davis's secretaries. After easily winning several fights, Hammer's career is on the rise and he seems poised to become a championship contender. But Davis isn't just interested in boxing; he's an underworld kingpin who also traffics in drugs and prostitutes, and often uses washed-up fighters as pawns in his criminal games. Hammer soon learns just how Davis operates when his manager orders him to take a dive in an upcoming fight, and when Hammer refuses, both he and Lois could face deadly retribution. Also starring William Smith and D'Urville Martin, Hammer was a major box-office success that established Fred Williamson as one of the major stars of the 1970s blaxploitation boom; the film also included an original score from soul music legend Solomon Burke. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Private Investigator Dean Thomas was just looking for a little fun when he attended an erotic pajama party for the contestants of "Search for Delilah," though business would soon take precedence over pleasure when the number one pick for the lucrative modeling contract was found floating face down in a lavish swimming pool. While most folks seem to think it was a simple case of suicide, the model's best friend and professional rival is willing to pay the detective anything she can if he can disprove that theory. Now, as Dean begins to unravel a deadly fashion mystery, he starts to realize just how dangerous haute couture culture can really be. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shannon Tweed, Christian Noble, (more)
- 1984
- R
The remote stiff acting of the policemen and detectives in this police action film, combined with the emphasis on gore and blood, leaves a large blank space between the two extremes of boring or violent. Lt. James Long (martial arts expert Leo Fong) is on the trail of some gunrunners who have stolen weapons from the National Armory in L.A. and are selling them to the highest local bidders. The chief gun honcho (Cameron Mitchell) is a crazed killer who is obsessed with torturing and then murdering women. Just by coincidence, Lt. Long's wife was brutally raped and murdered and he is out to avenge her death at all costs. Actual policemen and members of the coroner's office portray themselves in this film, at least guaranteeing an audience of family and friends. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leo T. Fong, Richard Roundtree, (more)
- 1986
- R
This is a dull, by-the-book actioner whose only merit is a good performance by actress Akosua Busia, later nominated for an Academy Award for her work in The Color Purple. When Karen, the daughter of a well-heeled businessman (Troy Donahue) has been swallowed up by a religious cult, her father hires ex-cop Joe Wong (Leo Fong) to bring her back safe and sound. Before tackling this assignment, Wong spends a lot of time in a Darwinian process of natural selection, weeding out the tough guys who will go in with him to rescue Karen. Their chief nemesis is blind cult leader Yarakunda (Cameron Mitchell) and his sharp assistant Karma (Akosua Busia). ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leo T. Fong, Akosua Busia, (more)
- 1972
Although he is locked up in prison on a tax-evasion charge, Syndicate boss Sam Dexter (Dane Clark) is still running his criminal operation with the outside assistance of his silent partner, a shadowy figure known only as The General. The IMF must determine the identity of the General, and also prove that Dexter murdered his mistress --- and to do that, another of the Force's celebrated prison breakouts is called for. Barbara Anderson again appears as on-and-off IMF agent Mimi Davis, who as an ex-thief is no stranger to life behind bars. First telecast on November 11, 1972, "Hit" was written by Douglas Weir. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Greg Morris, (more)
- 1988
- PG
David Wayne (Patrick Dollaghan) is a night watchman who years to be an author in this comedy which derives its title from Murphy's Law - - "whatever can go wrong, will." David loses two jobs in quick succession, then gets the good news that he's sold a story. Good quickly turns to bad when he uses his royalty to purchase a van, which is stolen in less than an hour. Despite adversity, David soldiers on in this episodic British comedy, even finding a bit of romance with a lady cop. One of the film's comic highlights involves David's scheme to revenge the coke addict boyfriend of his little sister but substituting a granular epoxy glue for the drug. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Dollaghan, Stack Pierce, (more)
- 1974
- PG
LAPD Officer Newman has not gotten the reputation of a straight arrow by avoiding conflict when fighting for right. In this police drama, his honesty is put to the test when he and his partner discover a international drug ring involving some of the department's highest ranking officers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1972
- R
A trio of toothsome psychiatric nurses tangle with a psycho killer and other travails in this third entry in Roger Corman's Nurses cycle of sex comedies. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Feeling sorry for Harry (Harry Anderson) on his birthday, Billie (Ellen Foley) invites him up to her apartment for a drink. Almost immediately, this cozy tete-a-tete is interrupted by nerdish burglar Nick Wilson (Oliver Clark). The rest of the episode details the drawbacks of togetherness, as an embarrassed Harry and a disgruntled Billie struggle to free themselves from the ropes which bind them face-to-face! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
