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
- 1972
- PG
A charismatic long-haired vampire finds himself becoming a guru for a gang of Southern California flower children in this hippie-dippy horror movie. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
The Poseidon, an ocean liner larger than the Queens Elizabeth and Mary combined, is charting its course on New Year's Eve. Just after midnight, Captain Harrison (Leslie Nielsen) spots the mother of all tidal waves. It is the last thing that Harrison and practically everyone else onboard sees before drowning -- the Poseidon is turned upside down, with only a handful of survivors. The ten lucky ones -- including Mike Rogo (Ernest Borgnine), Linda Rogo (Stella Stevens), Acres (Roddy McDowall), Belle Rosen (Shelley Winters), and Manny Rosen (Jack Albertson) -- led by no-nonsense minister Frank Scott (Gene Hackman), desperately attempt to climb from the top of the ship (now submerged) to the bottom (now "the top"). The film's theme song, "The Morning After," sung by Maureen McGovern, earned an Oscar. In addition, The Poseidon Adventure received the Special Achievement Award for Special Effects; L.B. Abbott and A.D. Flowers were the recipients. A sequel, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, came out in 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, (more)
- 1972
Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) match wits with Amory Gilliam, a wealthy but demented executive who "molds" his women into his own special image of perfection--then murders them if they fail to live up to his standards, or dare to walk out on him. Gilliam's latest girlfirend is Toni Craig (Stefanie Powers), who he has "re-invented" as Kim Ahern. Racing against time, the detectives hope to save Toni/Kim from meeting the same grisly fate as her unfortunate predecessors. (Ironically, Edward Mulhare played a far more benign "Pygmalion" of women as Henry Higgins during the original Broadway run of "My Fair Lady"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Photographer Christopher George is mistaken for an assassination target by paid killers. Since the actual victim-to-be is now safe, George cannot count on the protection of the authorities, so he takes it on the lam. He is sheltered by former girlfriend Judy Carne, who is kidnapped and threatened with death for her troubles. George decides to take matters in his own hands when it becomes impossible for him to separate the good guys from the bad. Made for television, Dead Men Tell No Tales would dearly love to be a Hitchcock film; it falls short of this goal, but is diverting fun all the same. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Escaping from federal prison, David Starret makes a beeline to Albany, New York, where he kidnaps his son Cliff (Michael Kearney) from the boy's foster parents. Upon discovering that Cliff is suffering from leukemia, Starret dedicates himself to acquiring the necessary medical attention for his son--even if he has to commit murder to do it. Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) tracks Starret all the way to Texas for a tension-packed showdown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The Quiet American was the first major American-financed film to touch upon the powder-keg situation in Vietnam (still referred to as Indochina in 1958). Audie Murphy plays an enigmatic American who comes to Saigon, ostensibly on an economic mission. He meets an embittered journalist (Michael Redgrave) who is living with an Indochinese girl (Giorgia Moll). The American falls for the girl and promises to marry her. In retaliation, the reporter tells the communists that the American GI's economist stance is a cover, and that he is actually selling munitions to non-communist troops. Graham Greene had intended his novel The Quiet American to be an attack against American influence in Southeast Asia. Producer/director/adapter Joseph L. Mankiewicz would have none of that, so he changed the ending into a pro-Yankee tract -- thereby killing any impact the film might have had. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Audie Murphy, Michael Redgrave, (more)
- 1953
- G
- Add King Lear to Queue
One of the first important distinctions to be made about this version of King Lear is that it is not the same version directed by Peter Brook in 1971. Brook was responsible for the staging of this 1953 version, but it was Andrew McCullough who put it to film. Orson Welles portrays the titular character, one of the most memorable and important characters from the Shakespearean canon. The story begins with the famous request Lear makes of his daughters: to express how much they love him. In exchange, Lear will divide his land and power amongst them based on the extent of their answers. Cordelia (Natasha Parry), the youngest and the one whom Lear loves the most, answers very modestly -- yet honestly --and incurs the wrath of Lear, who not only withholds his gift to her, but banishes her as well. Lear divides his lands and power between the two older daughters, Goneril (Beatrice Straight) and Regan (Margaret Phillips), who intend to take swift and complete control of their father's power almost instantaneously. Lear is reduced to an angry, bitter man who realizes too late what has happened. After a series of indignities are inflicted upon him by his daughters, he retreats into a storm, vowing revenge. This film is an above-average adaptation with a very capable cast and a well-staged presentation. The subplot of Gloucester and his sons has been removed, however, presumably in interests of time conservation, but it doesn't seriously hinder the story. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Orson Welles, Natasha Parry, (more)
