Richard Sanders Movies
- 1994
Carolyn Chute's fascinatingly complex novel Beans of Egypt, Maine was softened and simplified for this 1994 film treatment. Martha Plimpton plays Earlene Pomerleau, who resides in the Maine backwoods community of Egypt. Earlene is swept off her feet by her studdish, irresponsible neighbor Beal Bean (Patrick McGaw), the youngest member of the much-despised Bean family. She lives to regret her sexual impulsiveness, while Beal is forcefully reminded of the importance of family loyalty. Co-produced by PBS' American Playhouse, the film is a toned-down version of the rough-hewn Chute original, ending so abruptly that it seems as though someone tore out the last five script pages just before shooting started. Beans of Egypt, Maine has been released to video as Forbidden Choices. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martha Plimpton, Kelly Lynch, (more)
- 1992
- R
Set in a poisonous, ruined and anarchic 21st-century world ruled by amoral mutants, this "Road Warrioresque" adventure centers on the attempts of a motley band of travelers to cross the desiccated badlands in hopes of finding a mythical city where civilization and order make life peaceful and safe. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Ironside, Vanity, (more)
- 1989
In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single one-hour installment), city accountant Clark Andrews (Richard Sanders) continues his gimlet-eyed audit of the expenses incurred by the Night Court staff. Meanwhile, Judge Harry (Harry Anderson) and his colleagues are being held hostage by a professional clown named Beepo (played by frequent series guest star Jack Riley). As the title indicates, this entry consists largely of clips from earlier episodes, passed off as "flashbacks." Highlights include a lengthy excerpt from the 1987 episode "Christine's Friend", with Sela Ward in the title role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
In the first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single one-hour installment), city accountant Clark Andrews (Richard Sanders) shows up to audit the Night Court's expenses--and to deliver ominous threats to the staff should his findings prove to be too bizarre for explanation. As indicated by its title, the bulk of this episode consists of "flashbacks" to earlier episodes, allowing the staffers to quarrel among themselves over the validity of their expenditures. Highlights include an extended excerpt from the 1987 episode "ho Was That Mashed Man?", featuring future Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
No matter how hard he tries, Mike (Kirk Cameron) can score no better than a C- in his psychology class. Figuring that his own psychiatric credentials might be of some use, Jason (Alan Thicke) helps Mike on a makeup exam--even going so far as to "improve" his son's answers before the paper is turned in. Imagine Jason's chagrin when Mike ends up with even a lower grade than before! Can it be that the fault lies not with Mike but with his intractable psych professor Dr. Rosenfeld (Richard Sanders)? (Trivia note: Despite its title, this is actually the 89th episode of Growing Pains). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason must prove that the man whose murder conviction he upheld when he was an Appellate Court judge is really innocent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Though they agreed not to exchange gifts for their 16th wedding anniversary, Al (Ed O'Neill) and Peg (Katey Sagal) have characteristically lied to one another. Comes the big day, however, and it looks like Al has forgotten. Actually, Al wanted to buy Peg a present, only to find that his credit card was maxed out -- and wonder or wonders, it's not his fault this time. This is the episode in which the Bundys reveal that "their song" is Edwin Starr's "War." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is appointed foreman of the jury in an apparently "open and shut" murder trial. The accused claims that he killed the victim in self-defense, when said victim found the accused in bed with his wife. Half of the jury is for conviction, half for acquittal; as for Jessica, she is convinced that there is more to the case than meets the eye. Indeed, she believes that more than one murder is in play here--and as usual, she's right! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Jason (Alan Thicke) has made elaborate plans for his 17th wedding anniversary, including an entire day without the kids! Unfortunately, Maggie (Joanna Kerns) is called away on an assignment to Washington DC, and it looks like she won't be back in time for the celebration. And as if that wasn't irritating enough, Jason also has problems with the household plumbing. This episode was originally slated to air on February 11, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
The duplicitous owner (James Coco) of a popular theme park engages Jessica (Angela Lansbury) to design a "house of horror". Shortly, thereafter, the owner is murdered in his underground office--an "impossible" crime, inasmuch as the office was securely locked from the inside. Inasmuch as the wife of investigating detective Lt. Donovan (James Stephens) is Jessica's niece Carol , it is perhaps a "given" that our heroine will take a hand in solving the murder. Incidentally, the two Donovan children are played by a very young Joaquin Phoenix (here billed as "Leaf") and his sister Summer Phoenix. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A satiric romantic comedy, Martha Coolidge's Valley Girl is a testimony to the short-lived Southern California '80s craze. Julie (Deborah Foreman) is a good-natured teenager following a swarm of pastel pink valley girls, who utter "gag me" at every opportunity. To her friends' dismay , Julie breaks up with her egotistical boyfriend, Tommy (Michael Bowen), while shopping at the mall. All the valley kids go to a party that night, and Tommy immediately tries to bed one of Julie's friends. Randy (Nicolas Cage), a bad boy from Hollywood, shows up and crashes the party. Open-minded Julie flirts with him before he is literally thrown out, presumably just for looking different. Smitten with Julie, Randy sneaks back into the party to talk to her again. Julie drags a whimpering valley friend with her to spend the night cruising with Randy in Hollywood. After an extended courtship, Randy is in love with Julie, and she must choose between him and Tommy, who wants her back. Her friends refuse to accept Randy, who makes many exaggerated attempts to win back her love. Finally, after she has a heartfelt talk with her dad (Frederic Forrest), love triumphs at the prom. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, (more)
- 1983
In this comedy, a clumsy newspaper reporter visits her uncle's lab, accidently spills chemicals on herself, and finds herself invisible. She then uses her opaque state to get the scoop on a major art heist. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Accepting a dinner date with her former high-school heartthrob Rob (Dennis Holahan), Alice (Linda Lavin) is taken aback to discover that the man is now blind. This doesn't bother Rob, whose other senses (including the sense of touch!) are in excellent working order, but Alice turns into a textbook example of silly self-consciousness. Appearing as a waiter is standup comedian Joey D'Auria, soon to gain worldwide cable-TV fame as the titular star of "Superstation" WGN's daily kid's show Bozo's Circus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Two giants of American TV comedy--Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar--were teamed for the first (and thus far last) time in Found Money. Forced into early retirement, bank executive Max Shepherd (Van Dyke) befriends bank guard Sam Green (Caesar) who likewise has been given the sack. Since both men have been cheated of their pensions, Max and Sam plot an intricate revenge. They will use their combined "inside" know-how to rob the bank, then cleanse themselves of perfidy by redistributing the wealth to the needy. Originally telecast December 19, 1983, Found Money was directed by former Dick Van Dyke contributor Bill Persky; it was co-written by actor Richard Sanders, of WKRP in Cincinnati fame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In this drama, union organizers, desperate to control the lumber and mining empire of a wealthy family, resort to sabotage. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Maxwell Smart, the infamous Agent 86 from the '60s television sitcom Get Smart makes his feature-film debut in this goofy espionage spoof. This time, Smart and his cohorts must stop enemy spies from detonating a bomb that would destroy all the world's clothing. On television, the film was renamed The Return of Maxwell Smart. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Adams, Sylvia Kristel, (more)
- 1979
Randall Ferryman (Fred Stuthman), millionaire owner of a successful chain of funeral parlors, decides to advertise on WKRP. Hoping to capture the "young and swinging" demographic, Ferryman encourages the staff to develop a series of singing commercials for his establishments--which they do, using retreaded jingles from the moribund Morrison Tires Account. But both Andy (Gary Sandy) and Mr. Carlson (Gordon Jump) have qualms about promoting death in so flippant a fashion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
The first "new" ABC network TV movie of the 1979-80 season, this one was advertised under the slightly more lurid title Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker. Filmed in quasidocumentary fashion, the story chronicles the melancholy tale of rebellious, 17-year-old Trish Thurston (Katy Kurtzman), who, in defiance of her parents' wishes, hangs out with a group of teenagers who enjoyed thumbing rides for kicks. Trish's fascination with the wild, unpredictable side of life leads to a disastrous rendezvous with a crazed killer. Diary of a Hitchhiker originally aired on September 21, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The Wooden Gun takes place in Tel Aviv in the early 1950s. In a clear-eyed fashion that would have been impossible in a film made by "outsiders", the plot details the conflict between native-born Israelis and the newly arrived European refugees. The various fears and prejudices of the adults are passed along to their children, upon whom director Hans Moshenson concentrates. Largely comprised of nonprofessionals, the teenaged protagonists and antagonists are remarkable in their sincerity and conviction. Filmed in Hebrew, The Wooden Gun is available in an English-subtitled version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judith Sole, Leo Yung, (more)
Producer/director Mel Stuart, who'd previously worked with David L. Wolper on the historical-recreation series Appointment with Destiny, applies the same docudrama techniques to the feature length Ruby and Oswald. Framed in the form of a documentary, the film recounts the days just prior to the Kennedy assassination, then traces the events leading to the fatal confrontation between Jack Ruby and Lee Harvey Oswald. There is a smattering of "conspiracy" speculation, but the script generally sticks to the known facts. The dramatized recreations are interspersed with actual footage of the dark days in November, including JFK's funeral. Made for TV, Ruby and Oswald has been rereleased as Four Days in Dallas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Based on the book by Bob Thomas, this made-for-television comedy/drama profiles the careers of the famous comic duo, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello starring Harvey Korman and Buddy Hackett. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Also known as Behind the Lines, Keefer was a bargain-counter Casablanca geared to fans of TV's Cannon. William Conrad stars in this busted pilot as the proprietor of a Lisbon bar during World War II. As we've all learned from Hollywood movies, Lisbon is a veritable hotbed of wartime intrigue, meaning that Keefer is also active in the local branch of the OSS. His job: Destroy a German radar base. Keefer looked and sounded a lot like the mid-1950s TV series Foreign Intrigue, which likewise was inspired by Casablanca. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Debuting September 18, 1978 on CBS, WKRP in Cincinnati was a weekly, half-hour "ensemble" sitcom largely set in the offices of a Major-Market radio station. Languishing at the bottom of the ratings chart with its moribund "beautiful music" format, WKRP was given a major shot in the arm with the arrival of ambitious new program director Andy Travis (Gary Sandy), who tossed out all the old Lawrence Welk records and installed an ultrahip Top-40 rock format. As WKRP's ratings rose slowly but steadily, Andy and the other staffers did their best to keep the momentum flowing despite an unprepossessing lineup of sponsors (ranging from nursing homes to funeral parlors) and the formidable opposition of WKRP's wealthy, imperious owner, Mrs. Lillian Carlson (played by Sylvia Sidney in the pilot episode, and thereafter by Carol Bruce). The other regulars included station manager Arthur "The Big Guy" Carlson (Gordon Jump), a well-meaning but ineffectual oaf who kept his job only because he was the owner's son; WKRP's sales manager Herb Tarlek (Frank Bonner), whose boorish behavior was rivaled only by his garish wardrobe; prissy, uptight and incredibly naïve newscaster Les Nessman (Richard Sanders), whose mission in life was to win the coveted Buckeye Newshawk Award; Dr. Johnny Fever, aka Johnny Caravella (Howard Hesseman), the station's mercurial, all-but-burned-out morning DJ; Venus Flytrap, aka Gordon Sims (Tim Reid), the funky, low-key nighttime platter-spinner; and Ms. Bailey Quarters (Jan Smithers, Andy's ebullient young assistant and traffic-and-billing expert, a classic example of "still waters run deep." Ultimately emerging as the true star of the series was Loni Anderson as WKRP's blonde, curvaceous receptionist Jennifer Marlowe, who though she refused to type or take dictation was the station's most efficient and level-headed employee, forever running interference for her bosses and coming up with last-minute solutions to otherwise insoluable problems (appropriately, Jennifer was the station's highest-paid staffer). One of the series' many running gags found Jennifer forever fending off the advances of the libidinous (and very married) Herb Tarlek, while simultaneously dating a never-ending parade of elderly millionaires. Created by Hugh Wilson, who drew extensively from his own professional experiences at various local radio stations (notably in the classic first-season episode "Turkeys Away"), WKRP in Cincinnati almost instantly built up a loyal critical and fan following, though thanks to CBS's haphazard scheduling practices it never truly clicked in the ratings. Nevertheless, the series lasted four seasons, ending its network run on September 20, 1982, and later yielding a moderately successful first-run syndicated spinoff (with a largely different cast), The New WKRP in Cincinnati (1991-1993). The catchy opening-theme music for the original WKRP was written by Tom Wells and Hugh Wilson, and performed by Steve Carlisle, while the closing-credits rock tune was composed and peformed by Jim Ellis.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman, (more)
The made-for-TV Good Against Evil might not have existed had not The Exorcist shown the way three years earlier. Dack Rambo and Elyssa Davalos star as sweethearts Andy Stuart and Jessica Gordon. The course of true love is messed up when Satan claims Jessica as his own personal property. Desperately, Andy turns to a pair of priests, Fathers Kemschler (Dan O'Herlihy) and Wheatley (John Harkins), for spiritual guidance, not to mention a bit of brute force in purging poor Jessica of her demons. Jimmy Sangster's screenplay doesn't miss a trick, nor does the spooky direction by Paul Wendkos. When first telecast on May 22, 1977, Good Against Evil ran 72 minutes; syndicated prints have been expanded to 97 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
