Eugene Peterson Movies
- 1982
Chaim Sigerski (Martin Balsam), an Auschwitz survivor who runs a Holocaust museum, is convinced that his old friend Isaac (Than Wyenn) did not die in a traffic accident, but was instead deliberately murdered by a fugitive Nazi war criminal. Finding the authorities indifferent to his suspicions, Chaim turns to medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman) for help. As a result, Quincy ends up butting heads with Cornelius Sumner (Norman Lloyd), a wealthy and influential activist who denies that the Holocaust ever happened. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
- R
- Add The Postman Always Rings Twice to QueueAdd The Postman Always Rings Twice to top of Queue
Bob Rafelson's remake of 1946's The Postman Always Rings Twice, with a screenplay by the award-winning playwright David Mamet, stars Jack Nicholson as Frank Chambers, a depression-era drifter who ends up at a diner run by Nick Papadakis (John Colicos), who offers Frank a job. Frank takes him up on the offer, but quickly begins a torrid affair with Nick's wife Cora (Jessica Lange). The adulterous lovers soon hatch a plan to kill Nick and share in the insurance payout. The second big-screen adaptation of the James M. Cain novel, the film garnered a certain degree of notoriety for the explicit sex scenes between Lange and Nicholson. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Nicholson, Jessica Lange, (more)
As a once-famous fashion designer prepares to make her big comeback, a mysterious killer begins stalking the beautiful models who gather for the gala celebration in his made-for-television thriller starring Eleanor Parker, Clive Revill, and Jessica Walter. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Star Gregory Peck went into MacArthur disliking the title character that he was slated to play, but emerged from the experience with a deeper understanding and respect for this complex historical figure. The film is framed in flashback, with an octogenarian General
Douglas MacArthur (Peck) making his final address before his alma mater of West Point. We flash back to the fall of Corregidor in 1942, with MacArthur promising "I shall return" to the beleaguered (and eventually imprisoned) American and Filipino troops. The story follows MacArthur's subsequent victories in the South Pacific, occasionally pausing to show us the General's omnipresent sense of "showmanship" (e.g. his wading ashore on the beaches of the Philippines for the benefit of the newsreel cameras). The greater part of the film involves MacArthur's attempts to restore dignity to the defeated postwar Japan, and to keep the Russian Communists from overtaking the orient as they had Eastern Europe. MacArthur is eventually fired from his post by President Truman after the general defies orders during the Korean conflict. MacArthur was intended as Universal's "answer" to 20th Century-Fox's enormously successful Patton (1970), but box-office returns were disappointing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Douglas MacArthur (Peck) making his final address before his alma mater of West Point. We flash back to the fall of Corregidor in 1942, with MacArthur promising "I shall return" to the beleaguered (and eventually imprisoned) American and Filipino troops. The story follows MacArthur's subsequent victories in the South Pacific, occasionally pausing to show us the General's omnipresent sense of "showmanship" (e.g. his wading ashore on the beaches of the Philippines for the benefit of the newsreel cameras). The greater part of the film involves MacArthur's attempts to restore dignity to the defeated postwar Japan, and to keep the Russian Communists from overtaking the orient as they had Eastern Europe. MacArthur is eventually fired from his post by President Truman after the general defies orders during the Korean conflict. MacArthur was intended as Universal's "answer" to 20th Century-Fox's enormously successful Patton (1970), but box-office returns were disappointing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gregory Peck, Ed Flanders, (more)
- 1977
After witnessing a murder committed by notorious mob hitman Del Kane (Madison Arnold), Angel (Stuart Margolin) is placed in protective custody by the authorities. Much to the dismay and disgust of Jim Rockford (James Garner), Angel is set up in a luxurious hotel with unlimited room service. And much to the dismay and disgust of the cops, Angel's testimony is discredited and Kane goes free! Now it's up to Jim to save Angel from being bumped off himself. . .and he ever gets out of this mess alive, Angel hopes to write a book about his near-death experience. Future Simon & Simon star Gerald McRaney appears as a harried DA in this episode, which represents perhaps the only instance in TV history wherein a character is tied to a freeway trestle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Jim (James Garner) is asked by Angie Perris (Elayne Heilveil) to locate her brother, stockbroker Tom Perris (Eugene Peterson), who disappeared shortly after giving her the combination to his safe. Using that combination, Jim and Angie discover that her far-from-wealthy brother had somehow salted away nearly one million dollars. It so happens that the Feds are looking for Tom as well, and they're not in the mood to cooperate with Jim or provide him any helpful information as to what exactly is going on. The situation becomes even more vexing when Angie is kidnapped and Tom turns up dead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this Counterculture vs. Establishment romance, Frank Harmon (William Holden) is a middle-aged businessman, recently divorced and a bit bitter about the state of his life and the world in general. One morning, he discovers a pretty, hippie-esque girl who calls herself Breezy (Kay Lenz) asleep on his front porch. Frank asks her to leave and she politely follows suit; she forgets her guitar, however, and returns the next day to retrieve it. Breezy also asks Frank if he would be so kind as to let her take a bath; he agrees, and even lets her sleep at his house that night. A few days later, Breezy turns up at again at Frank's doorstep, with a cop in tow -- after being arrested for vagrancy, she told the police that she lived here with her uncle Frank. Frank plays along and, against his better judgment, agrees to let her stay with him. After spending some time together, Frank and Breezy begin opening up to each other, discussing their feelings on a variety of issues. A friendship grows between them that, in time, becomes a love affair, but Frank's friends find fault in his new romance, and he breaks it off -- a decision he comes to regret. This was the first film Clint Eastwood directed in which he did not star, something he would not do again until Bird in 1988. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Holden, Kay Lenz, (more)
- 1972
It looks like it's going to be a "Dark Christmas" for the family of Richard Ghormley (John Lupton), former employee of smuggler William Shrack (Eugene Peterson). Though innocent of any wrongdoing himself, Ghormley knows too much about Shrack's operation for his own good. Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) races against time to prevent Ghormley from being killed by professional hitman Stuart Tilden (Don Gordon)--who has already shot down several people who've have the misfortune to get in his way. Appearing as Tilden's erstwhile girlfriend is Sondra Locke, future leading lady (both onscreen and off) of Clint Eastwood. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Young singer John Davidson is cast, appropriately enough, as young singer Tory Hughes. When his contract is taken over by a Mob loan shark, Tory discovers to his chagrin that his whole life is being taken over as well. Indeed, Tory is expected to lure other unwitting victims into the shark's jaws--unless the FBI can put an end to the whole sordid mess. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
