Fred Sadoff Movies
Over his 50-year-long career, Fred Sadoff worked steadily on stage, television, and in feature films as a supporting actor, director, and occasional producer. In addition, Sadoff co-founded the prestigious Actors Studio. Sadoff learned his craft in summer stock and first trod the Broadway boards in the original production of South Pacific in 1942. After remaining busy in New York, Sadoff had a stint assistant directing at the Shakespeare Memorial Theater in Stratford-on-Avon in 1958 (Sadoff was the first American to work there in that capacity) through the early '70s when he moved to the West Coast to get into television and film. Sadoff had already made his film debut with a small part in The Quiet American (1959), but did not become active in films until he settled into Southern California. Sadoff's subsequent film credits include Cinderella Liberty, Papillion (both 1973), and The Starmaker (1981). Sardoff's television work included guest appearances on episodes of Kung Fu, The Magician, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1987
Barbara Rush guest stars as Magnum's beloved Aunt Phoebe, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright known for her extremely vivid imagination. When Phoebe insists that she is being stalked by a murderer, Magnum (Tom Selleck) wonders if the old dear is suffering from the early stages of Alzheimers'. As it turns out, she is--but that doesn't necessarily mean that her life isn't in danger. As an added complication, Magnum must do all of his investigating on the sly: thanks to a bureaucratic oversight, his detective's license has expired. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
The infamous casting couch is the center point of this Hollywood behind-the-scenes drama that chronicles the exploits of a movie mogul and the actresses he turns into stars. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1981
A full-length pilot which was turned into the series A Man Called Sloane, this movie concerns super-agent T.R. Sloane (Robert Logan, but played by Robert Conrad in the TV series) and his mission: to locate and return a powerful machine capable of turning the world into rubble. To complicate matters, the film was later titled T.R. Sloane. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1979
- R
Six recently divorced males gather 'round a restaurant table and talk about their past lives and their recently failed marriages while trying to piece their lives back together. This drama is somewhat interesting for presenting the topic of life after a divorce from a man's point of view. (And yes, Neil Sedaka sings the smash title song over the final credits - so don't change that dial!) Originally made for television, and broadcast on ABC in two parts - one on Wed., Sep. 5, 1979, and one on Friday, Sep. 7, 1979 -- this film was reissued on video about ten years later to capitalize on Billy Crystal's growing fame. When it arrived on home video, the picture received its first MPAA rating (R) and was edited down from its original running time of 150 minutes to 96 minutes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1978
The second TV-movie to bear the title Betrayal stars Lesley Ann Warren and Rip Torn. Warren plays Julie Roy, a sensitive young woman seeking solace through therapy. Torn co-stars as Julie's psychiatrist Dr. Hartogs. It turns out that the far-from-ethical Hartogs has a hidden agenda: while pretending to minister to Julie's needs, he inveigles her into a sexual relationship. First telecast November 13, 1978, Betrayal was based on an actual case and adapted from a book co-written by the real-life Julie Roy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Several adult members of the same high-school graduating class have turned up dead, killed by an assailant who wields a zip gun and leaves the word "Monkey" scrawled at each crime scene. The viewer is soon apprised of the fact that the murderer is one Charley Belasco (Gary Lockwood), fresh out of prison after serving 20 years for a crime he'd committed to qualify for membership in a teenage gang. It is up to Stone (Mike Douglas) and Keller (Richard Hatch) to figure out where the vengeance-driven "Monkey" Belasco plans to strike next! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
First telecast May 16, 1977, Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn is the gender-switch follow-up to the 1976 TV movie Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway. While Dawn concentrated on the sordid descent of a young girl into crime and prostitution, Alexander devotes its time to the exploits of a teenaged boy (Leigh J. McCloskey), whose character was introduced in the earlier film. A former Oklahoma farm boy, Alexander takes to the streets of LA, where he becomes a hustler and gigolo. After falling in love with Dawn (Eve Plumb), Alexander strives to escape his dead-end world and begin life anew. Director John Erman uses moody overtones to capture the darkness and despair of Alexander's life. Erman, an accomplished director of television movies, also directed the highly-acclaimed, touching AIDS drama, An Early Frost. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
In the second of the feature-length Quincy, M.E. episodes produced for the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie anthology, medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman) performs an autopsy on Margo Bentley (Joanna Barnes), a novice writer who at the time of her death was working on a scandalous "roman a clef" about the Hollywood elite. Since the woman was suffering from cirrhosis, the police are quick to conclude that she died of alcoholism. But Quincy has a different diagnosis, one involving murder. While pursuing his own personal investigation, the feisty Quincy crosses the path of a fraudulent coroner--and ascertains a link between Margo's death and the murder of a New York literary agent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Bill Bixby earned an Emmy nomination for his chilling yet pathetic performance as Eric Doyle, a mild-mannered loser who is fascinated by police procedure. Rejected when he tries to join the San Francisco police force, Doyle vows to prove his worth by turning vigilante. Donning an authentic-looking cop's uniform, Doyle sets about to methodically--and savagely--wipe out all criminals who have managed to slip through the fingers of the legal system. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
In the conclusion of Streets of San Francisco's two-part Season Five opener, a band of urban revolutionaries continue to hold an entire jury hostage on a ship, threatening to kill them one by one unless the group's leaders are released from prison. The tension mounts as the first hostage is murdered and homicide inspector Steve Keller (Michael Douglas, in his final series appearance) is gunned down on the eve of his retirement from the force. Keller's partner Mike Stone (Karl Malden) must rely upon the daring and resourcefulness of SFPD newcomer Dan Robbins (Richard Hatch) to rescue the terrified prisoners. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
After two weeks' pre-emption due to the 1976 Winter Olympics, Streets of San Francisco returned to ABC's Thursday schedule with a typically perplaxing case for SFPD detectives Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas). Four judges have been murdered, and in each case an obsolete pamphlet on disbarrment proceedings is found near the body. Halfway through the story, the audience discovers that the culprit is the demented son of a disbarred lawyer, who intends to get even with the "bleeding hearts" who ruined his father--but how long will it be before the Law is able to end this bizarre vendetta. Jean Hagen, best remembered as the screechy-voiced movie queen in Singin' in the Rain, makes one of her final appearances in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
The two-part opener of Streets of San Francisco's fifth and final season marks a major transition, as SFPD homicide detective Mike Stone (Karl Malden) loses his longtime partner Steve Keller (Michael Douglas) and gains a new one, athletic young inspector Dan Robbins (Richard Hatch). But before Keller can leave the force to launch a teaching career, he and Stone are faced with the daunting task of rescuing a busload of jurors who have been kidnapped by a "family" of dangerously misguided revolutionaries, who demand the release of their imprisoned cohorts. This two-parter is clearly inspired by the Patty Hearst kidnapping, with former Partridge Family regular Susan Dey delivering a shockingly powerful performance. As a publicity ploy, the season opener features fourteen guest stars, including Marion Ross (then appearing regularly on Happy Days, Barry Sullivan, Dick Van Patten, Norman Fell and Doris Roberts--not to mention such stars-to-be as Anthony Geary and Ron Glass. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) is partnered with neurotic, pill-popping police officer Scotty (Michael Parks) during a frustratingly long drug stakeout. What Baretta doesn't know -- at least not at first -- is that Scotty is at the end of his financial rope, having been spent into the poorhouse by his selfish girlfriend. Can it be that Scotty is open for a bribe from the very perps he has been assigned to nab? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Dana Elcar, (more)
- 1975
Louise Hartman (Neva Patterson) suspects foul play when her son Billy Jo (Joey Aresco), a professional demolition-derby driver, dies in an "accidental" plunge off a cliff. What has really aroused Louise's suspicions is the fact that Billy Jo had recently purchase a $200,000 insurance policy, a "luxury" he could ill afford. Working on behalf of Louise, Jim (James Garner) checks up on Billy Jo's benificiary Jeannie Szymczyk (E.J. Peaker), who denies ever having met the dead man. Of course, this isn't exactly the truth--and Jim hasn't even scratched the surface of this case yet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
A mental hospital is the scene of several strange and unexplained deaths. Hoping to determine the reason for the carnage--and to flush out a possible murderer--Steve Keller (Mike Douglas) goes undercover as a mental patient, after police doctor Murchison (Fred Sadoff) administers a drug that will temporarily transform Keller into a raving lunatic! Once he's inside the asylum, the detective finds that it is next to impossible to get out...alive. Among the supporting players are two former TV-series regulars: December Bride's Frances Rafferty and Ben Casey's Bettye Ackerman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
The latest patient of ambitious psychiatrist Norman Jessup (William Smithers) is lifelong lawbreaker Charlie Blake (Dean Stockwell). In his efforts to advance himself, Dr. Jessup has no qualms about exploiting Blake's criminal past. These efforts prove to have their dangerous side when Jessup impedes a rape-murder investigation conducted by detectives Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
In this rare 90-minute episode of The Rockford Files, Jim (James Garner) is hired by wealthy Warren Jameson, who wants to know something of the background of his future son-in-law Mark Chalmers (Geoffrey Land). Before long, Jim has run afoul of police lieutenant Larry Pierson (Eddie Fontaine), who indicates that any digging into Chalmers' past might prove hazardous to one's health. Before he knows what's happening, Jim is beaten, kidnapped (twice!) and subject to harrassment from the Feds--and he still has no idea why. "This Case is Closed" is sometimes split into two separate episodes for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Light-years removed from his comic escapades on Three's Company, John Ritter delivers a topnotch dramatic performance as Kenny Soames, a delivery boy who moonlights as a burglar. Accidentally killing one of his victims, Kenny plots a big-time heist in order to earn enough money to finance his getaway from New York. Meanwhile, Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) follows the trail of clues which lead inexorably to the too-clever-by-half Mr. Soames. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
- PG
Based on a novel by Michael Crichton, Terminal Man is a sci-fi thriller about a scientist who decides to be the lab rat in an experimental surgery to control his violent tendencies. During the surgical procedure, a miniature computer is implanted in his head. Unfortunately, the mechanism malfunctions, and he becomes a vicious killer. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Segal
- 1973
This sci-fi film chronicles the exploits of an incredibly strong android that is totally devoid of emotion. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
The autobiography of Henri Charriere, one of the few people to successfully escape from the notorious French penal colony of Devil's Island, served as the basis for Papillon. Steve McQueen plays the pugnacious Charriere (known as "Papillon," or "butterfly," because of a prominent tatoo), incarcerated--wrongly, he claims--for murdering a pimp. He saves the life of fellow convict Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman), a counterfeiter who will later show his gratitude by helping Charriere in his many escape attempts, and by smuggling food to Charriere when the latter is put in solitary confinement. One breakout, which takes Charriere and Dega to a leper colony and then to a native encampment, is almost successful, but Charriere is betrayed (allegedly because he stopped for an act of kindness) and back the prisoners go to French Guiana. Years later, Dega is made a trustee and is content with his lot, but the ageing, white-haired Charriere cannot be held back. A tribute to the unquenchability of the human spirit, Papillon brought in an impressive $22 million at the box office. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, (more)
A "Cinderella Liberty" is Navy jargon for a pass that runs out at midnight. Sailor John Baggs, Jr. (James Caan) has such a pass, and intends to make the most of it while his ship is docked in Seattle. He "wins" prostitute Maggie (Marsha Mason) in a pool game, but backs off at a "wham-bam-thank you ma'am" when he finds out that Maggie has a son, an 11-year-old mulatto (Kirk Calloway) -- and that there's another baby on the way. John has so much empathy for Maggie's travails that he marries her. When she loses her baby, however, Maggie feels unable to resign herself to living with John, plagued by both guilt and an unwillingness to be tied down -- thus forcing John to fight for her. Darryl Ponicsan adapted his own novel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Stone (Karl Malden)and Keller (Michael Douglas) spring into action when a priest is killed in his Confessional. It turns out that the victim had attended the same seminary as three other priests who were murdered in similar fashion. To root out the killer, Stone goes undercover, donning the collar and robe of a Roman Catholic prelate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
This 1973 episode features Brenda Vaccaro, the then girlfriend of series costar Michael Douglas (Steve Keller), as rookie SFPD officer Sherry Tate. When her roommate, likewise a cop, is murdered while tracking down an elusive rapist, Sherry volunteers to act as bait for the killer. Even after Stone (Michael Douglas) orders her off the case, Sherry persists in her efforts to nail the murderer all by herself--with shocking results. Intriguingly, this episode was directed by Lawrence Dobkin, who had played a demented serial killer in the two-hour Streets of San Francisco pilot film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
This colorful, lively musical employs a combination of live action and animation to chronicle the great journey of Marco Polo to the mysterious Orient. Much of the story centers on Polo's relationship with the powerful Kublai Khan. Songs include: "By Damn," "Walls," "A Family Man," and "Spaghetti." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
