Anne Seymour Movies
American character actress Anne Seymour was descended from an Irish theatrical family, active "on the boards" since the early 18th century. On stage from 1928, she went on to become one of the radio industry's busiest leading ladies, starring in such serials as The Story of Mary Marlin, Woman of America, Whispering Streets and (briefly, when actress Lucille Wall fell ill) Portia Faces Life. She appeared with equal frequency on television, accepting innumerable guest-star assignments and co-starring on the weekly series Empire (1962) and The Tim Conway Show (1970). Seymour's first film was the 1949 Oscar-winner All the King's Men, in which she played Lucy Stark, the politically convenient but cruelly neglected wife of Southern demagogue Willie Stark (Broderick Crawford). She went on to appear in such roles as Mrs. Tarbell in Pollyanna (1960) and Aunt Ev in The Miracle Worker (1962). Active up until her death in 1988, Anne Seymour's last film assignment was the small but pivotal role of the Minnesota newspaper editor who puts Kevin Costner on the trail of forgotten baseball player "Moonlight" Graham (Burt Lancaster) in Field of Dreams (1989). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
"If you build it, he will come." That's the ethereal message that inspires Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) to construct a baseball diamond in the middle of his cornfield. At first, "he" seems to be the ghost of disgraced ballplayer Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta), who materializes on the ballfield and plays a few games with the awestruck Ray. But as the weeks go by, Ray receives several other messages from a disembodied voice, one of which is "Ease his pain." He realizes that his ballfield has been divinely ordained to give a second chance to people who have sacrificed certain valuable aspects of their lives. One of these folks is Salingeresque writer Terence Mann (James Earl Jones), whom Ray kidnaps and takes to a ball game and then to his farm. Another is Doc Graham (Burt Lancaster), a beloved general practitioner who gave up a burgeoning baseball career in favor of medicine. The final "second-chancer" turns out to be much closer to Ray. That "magical" field in Dyersville, Iowa still draws thousands of baseball-happy tourists each year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, (more)
Paul Reubens's followup to the box-office hit Pee-Wee's Big Adventure is just as outrageous and cartoonish, though not as good. This time, child-man Pee-Wee runs a colorful farm, chock full of talking animals and outsized produce. On the morning after a tornado of Wizard of Oz dimensions, Pee-Wee awakens to discover that a travelling circus has been deposited in his back yard. Befriended by circus owner Kris Kristofferson, Pee-Wee takes an acrobatic job, hoping to impress lovely trapeze artist Valeria Golino--thereby incurring the jealous rage of his hometown sweetie Penelope Ann Miller. When the circus is faced with bankruptcy, Pee-Wee comes up with a brilliant idea: why not stage a three-ring spectacular celebrating the wonders of agriculture? A partial takeoff of such earlier sawdust-trail flicks as Martin and Lewis' Three Ring Circus and Disney's Toby Tyler, Big Top Pee-Wee is generally entertaining, but goes off in too many directions at once, leaving a lot of loose plot ends and underdeveloped characters. Also, Pee-Wee's overactive libido (at least in this film!) is not all that suitable for his younger fans. Even so, there are plenty of hilarious set-pieces. Big Top Pee-Wee was produced and cowritten by Paul Reubens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reubens, Kris Kristofferson, (more)
- 1986
Originally broadcast as an installment of ABC's Disney Sunday Movie anthology, The Leftovers marked the TV acting debut of singer John Denver. He is cast as Max Sinclair, the director f a foster-care facility for older orphans who, for various reasons, no one has ever adopted. Described themselves as "the leftovers", the six kids form a strong bond, refusing to be farmed out to separate families, even though orders have come down for Sinclair to vacate his facility within five weeks. Amidst the seriocomic intrigue, Max falls in love with widow Heather Drew (Cindy Williams), the facility's housekeeper--and an orphan herself. A few potential stars can be glimpsed among the supporting players, notably a pre-Urkel Jaleel White as wisecracking "leftover" Jake. The Leftovers debuted on November 16, 1986. ~Saw Film/TV Guide/Internet/Marrill/Expert ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This made-for-TV effort from horror director Wes Craven and Salem's Lot producer Richard Kobritz involves a case of cryogenic suspension gone horribly wrong. A wealthy industrialist (Michael Beck) arranges for his body to be kept on ice in a high-tech cryonic chamber with specialized instructions regarding his revival at a future date when medical science can restore him to life. Thanks to a computer malfunction, these instructions are not followed properly, and Beck emerges from the frozen crypt as an empty, soulless creature and a vessel of pure evil with an appetite for destruction. So evil, in fact, that his own mother (Beatrice Straight) decides he must be destroyed and sets out to do the deed herself. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
With the whimsical tagline "Jack Deth is back and he's never been here before," director Charles Band melds Blade Runner, The Terminator, and Jingle All the Way for this low-budget science fiction adventure. The story takes place in Angel City in the year 2247, when enforcer Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson) has just retired from the weekly grind after vanquishing villain Martin Whistler (Michael Stefani) and his roving cohorts, called "trancers." But Whistler and his trancers have gone back to Christmas 1985, with the insidious plan of exterminating the ruling council by killing off all the council members' ancestors. So Deth agrees to go back in time to get Whistler and the trancers all over again. To do so, he must transfer his memory into the body of one of his ancestors, who in this case has just had an erotic interlude with the perky and attractive Leena (Helen Hunt), who works as a Santa's elf at a shopping mall and gets to wear a skimpy, tight-fitting elf suit. Deth discovers that Whistler has taken over the body of the police inspector and has started transforming the Los Angeles population into trancers --including Santa Claus. With Leena's help, Deth sets out to even the score. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Thomerson, Helen Hunt, (more)
- 1983
- PG
This is the second sequel in the saga of an English aristocrat who was captured by the Sioux in 1825 and eventually became their leader. This version centers on Man Called Horse's warrior son Koda as he tries to keep avaricious European settlers and prospectors from overrunning their land and destroying their way of life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Harris, Michael Beck, (more)
- 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
- 1982
This drama is about a lonely young girl who fantasizes about adventures with Peter Pan and develops a friendship with a lonely old woman to escape her sadness. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Streetwise teenager Renie Lake (Karin Argoud) lands in juvenile hall charged with theft and drug dealing. Remanded to the custody of her father Russell (Lin McCarthy), Renie is ordered to move into the suburban home of Russell, his second wife Marlene (Bibi Besch), and her stepdaughter Gretchen (Kristina Sorenson). The embittered and resentful Renie refuses to warm up to her new family and surroundings until she is drawn out of her selfish (and self-pitying) shell via her friendship with a hearing-impaired fellow high-school student. This ABC Afterschool Special is based on a novel by Barbara Morgenroth. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Karin Argoud-Morrissey, Bibi Besch, (more)
- 1980
A gangster who was wrongfully executed for a killing is promised leniency from Satan if he returns to earth in the body of a lawman who is trying to stamp out evil. Trouble is, the dead man has a hard time being evil enough to get revenge. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Strauss, Richard Kiley, (more)
In a casting twist, this remake of Arthur Penn's The Miracle Worker casts Patty Duke, who won an Oscar for her work as Helen Keller in the original, as Annie Sullivan, the woman who taught the deaf and blind Keller sign language. (In Penn's original, Sullivan was portrayed by Anne Bancroft.) The story, however remains the same; through perseverance and a bit of luck, Sullivan teaches Keller first to dress herself, then the sign-language alphabet, then finally the means of communication. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Melissa Gilbert, Patty Duke, (more)
- 1979
Adapted from the once-notorious trilogy of novels by James T. Farrell, the three-part miniseres Studs Lonigan isn't quite as earthy and explicit as its source, but is lot more faithful to the original than the 1960 film version. Set in Chicago and covering the years from 1916 to 1931, this is the story of a brawling, braggadocio young Irish-American lad named Studs Lonigan (played as a child by Dan Shor, and as an adult by Harry Hamlin in his first major TV role). Despite his rough veneer, Studs is sensitive and concerned about his future, though he doesn't want to follow the values set forth by his tradition-bound parents (Charles Durning, Colleen Dewhurst). Hanging around with his childhood buddies, Studs gets into all sorts of scrapes and becomes involved with a number of women, notably the decent, demure Catherine (Diana Scarwid) and the lusty, libidinous Lucy (Lisa Pelikan). Though he grows in age and size, Studs has trouble maturing emotionally, surrounded by the pressures of a rough, prejudice-ridden neighborhood and the increasing hooliganism of his cronies. As the Depression crashes heavily upon the scene, Studs finds himself "trapped" in the very sort of middle-class quagmire that he'd always hoped to avoid. Earning an Emmy Award for art/set direction, the 6-hour Studs Lonigan originally aired March 7, 14 and 21, 1979, as part of NBC's Novels for Television anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
This film tells the story of a young artist who desperately wants to finish a painting of his grandfather for his first one-man show. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1977
Teenaged Kate (Melissa Sue Anderson) is deeply devoted to her younger sister, 11-year-old Joss (Katy Kurtzman). When Joss is killed in an accident, the grieving, embittered Kate begins to wonder if life has any meaning. The catalyst for Kate's ultimate consolation is the horse that was rented for Joss' birthday present -- and delivered after her death. The Emmy award-winning Very Good Friends is based on Constance Greene's novel Beat the Turtle Drum (also the title of the 30-minute videotape version of this ABC Afternoon Special). ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Melissa Sue Anderson, Katy Kurtzman, (more)
- 1976
In Randal Kleiser's telemovie Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway, Eve Plumb stars as Dawn, who leaves home at 15 for the glamour of L.A. Friendless, she is taken in by the smooth line of Swan (Bo Hopkins), who offers to be her protector. Before long, Dawn has become a streetwalker, with Swan taking a sizeable chunk of her earnings. She finds true friendship in the form of another runaway, male hustler Alex (Leigh McCloskey) -- whose own story would be delineated in a 1977 sequel, Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn. Having learned a lesson with its controversial airing of Born Innocent, NBC preceded the September 27, 1976, premiere of Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway with a "parental discretion" disclaimer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
The doctors and paramedics of Rampart are in a state of shock and sorrow when their beloved former head nurse Millie Eastman (Anne Seymour) tries to commit suicide. However, it looks as though Millie will find a new lease on life when she bonds with a troubled young paraplegic. The emergency roster includes a family suffering from carbon-monoxide poisoning, a man trapped under a truck full of combustible fuel, and a woman who has somehow become mummified in plastic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Marta Kristen, who once upon a time played Judy Robinson on TV's Lost in Space, joins former Dr. Kildare regular Kathy Kersh in The Gemini Affair. Though both look rather long in tooth, the ladies play a couple of young, star-struck lasses who yearn for fame and fortune. They decide that the shortest distance to their dreams is a straight line to Hollywood. You're way ahead of us: Marta and Kathy are in for several disillusionments and disappointments, mostly sexual in nature. Like the two stars, film veteran Anne Seymour seems to be slumming as she goes through the weary motions of The Gemini Affair. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marta Kristen, Kathy Kersh, (more)
- 1974
Newly paroled and working at a group home for convicts' children, ex-prisoner Carl Parkos (Paul Burke) receives word that his oldest son has been killed in a gang fight. It is up to Chief Ironside to prevent Parkos from exacting vengeance against the killer, not so much for Carl's sake as for the man's surviving son. Featured as one of the Parkos kids is juvenile actor Butch Patrick, late of The Munsters and Lidsville. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar guest stars as an accident victim who turns out to be too tall to be removed from his damaged car by the emergency team. In another incident, a fraternity pledge's life is jeopardized by a misfire party prank. And back at the station house, head nurse Dixie (Julie London) is forced to take a heavy workload due to budget cuts, while Dr. Early (Bobby Troup) suffers from a horrendous case of hiccups. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
While still grieving over the murder of her son, Joanna Portman (Kim Hunter) is visited by a young girl (Gretchen Corbett) claiming to her daughter Gail--who for several years has been presumed dead. Though Joanna is delighted by the girl's arrival, Ironside suspects that Gail's sudden reappearance is too good to be true. Sure enough, it turns out that there are sinister forces who are trying to kill off Joanna's entire family...and that the girl calling herself Gail may be at the center of the carnage! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Gilbert Wright's novel Madman's Chain had already been adapted to television by Alcoa/Goodyear Theatre by the time that Cry in the Wilderness premiered March 26, 1974. While the first version, titled Chain and the River, was a moderately suspenseful half hour, Cry in the Wilderness manages to keep viewers on the very edges of their seats for a full 74 minutes. George Kennedy stars as a farmer who is bitten by a rabid skunk. To protect his family from the madness that he is sure will overtake him, Kennedy has his wife Joanna Pettet chain him to a post in their barn. Left alone, Kennedy discovers that the dam has burst, and that his farm will soon be consumed by flood. The climactic deluge was largely (and superbly) created in the lab by special effects maestro Albert Whitlock. Cry in the Wilderness premiered March 26, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
A familiar film noir plotline is dusted off and gussied up in this episode. A former convict hires hit man Alex Tanner (Richard Jordan) to kill the attorney who sent the ex-con to prison--but then has second thoughts. Unfortunately, the elusive assassin has no intention of breaking the contract, and as a result Inspector Lew Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) finds himself embarking on yet another "race against time." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
The romantic difficulties faced by a homosexual forced to live and love in a heterosexual world are chronicled in this realistic, nonexploitational drama. The story centers on a young sculptor who has an affair with a much older professor. Unfortunately, the young man's lover accidentally slays the professor. This leads the sculptor to begin a passionate fling with a male model. Unfortunately, the model decides that he prefers women after all. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Rod Serling, a master of speculative scriptwriting, penned the screenplay of The Man. Set a few days into the future, the story contrives to kill off the President, the vice president, and virtually everyone in line of succession in a bizarre accident. This turn of events elevates African-American senator James Earl Jones directly into the Oval Office. Based on a novel by Irving Wallace, The Man was originally intended as TV movie, but released theatrically because most sponsors were afraid of its supposed controversial content. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Earl Jones, Martin Balsam, (more)
- 1972
Three of the Cartwright men-Joe, Hoss and Jamie-head to the town of Upright to sell a rundown saloon. They decide to hold onto the property when it develops that a fortune in gold might be hidden on the premises. The boys' insistence upon retaining the saloon messes up Ben's business deal with Miss Frost (Anne Seymour), a leading light of the Temperance movement. A pre-MASH Loretta Swit appears as Ellen Sue. Written by Joseph Bonaduce, "A Visit to Upright" originally aired on March 26, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
