Eric Sinclair Movies
- 1991
When the two-part Dynasty: The Reunion first aired, it rated a cover on TV Guide. The photo depicted Dynasty regulars Linda Evans (Krystal) and Joan Collins (Alexis) grinning at one another, while their true feelings were conveyed in comic-strip thought balloons reading "Hussy" and "Hag." This pretty much sums up the overall ambience of Dynasty: The Reunion. In part one, first telecast October 20, 1991, oil mogul Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) is released from prison. Hoping for a reunion with estranged wife Krystal -- and, incidentally, to recoup his financial empire -- Blake must now deal with a shady international consortium, headed by old nemesis Alexis. Part two, first telecast October 22, 1991, gets off to a good start with a desperate escape from the henchmen of an international consortium. The big money act, however, is the long-awaited catfight between Alexis and her longtime foe, goody two-shoes Krystal Carrington (Linda Evans). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
This is the only Moonlighting episode in which neither Cybill Shepherd nor Bruce Willis appear. Instead, the focus is on nerdish detective Bert Viola (Curtis Armstrong), who has gone into a deep blue funk over an imagined slight from Blue Moon secretary Agnes Dipesto (Allyce Beasley). In the course of a very long night in which Bert is required to guard an "experimental grapefruit", he dreams of his future with Agnes, in sequences inspired by Rudolph Valentino's silent "Shiek" pictures and the 1940s classic Casablanca (in which "As Time Goes By" is replaced by "Chopsticks"!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Scriptwriters Robert Malcolm Young, Sue Grafton and Stephen Humphrey transposed the Agatha Christie story Sparkling Cyanide from its veddy British locale to the plush environs of Pasadena for this 1983 TV-movie adaptation. Leading character Anthony Andrews is still a Briton, mingling with the rich and famous. Seeking glamour, Andrews finds only depravity and death as several of the glitterati drop dead due to poisoned champagne. The motives are the oldest and most reliable: avarice and jealousy. Sparkling Cyanide was filmed at the same time as Caribbean Mystery, another Christie adaptation utilizing the same producer, director and scenarists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Actor Robert Urich cannot find work in Hollywood and his marriage is falling apart in this fictitious comedy. Can he turn his life around? Richard Levinson and William Link teams up again for made-for-TV Take Your Best Shot. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1979
No sooner has Jim (James Garner) arrived in Newark than he is robbed of his watch, wallet, luggage, and return plane ticket. The culprits are a couple of minor-league crooks who hope to break into the Big Time through the auspices of Jim's friend, reformed mobster Beppy Conigliaro (Simon Oakland). Female impersonator Jim Bailey appears as himself in this sequel to the 5th season episode "he Jersey Bounce", with Greg Antonacci and Gene Davis making return appearances as Eugene Conigliaro and Mickey Long. Both this episode and its predecessor were written by David Chase, who later parlayed his fascination with New Jersey mobsters into the groundbreaking cable-TV series The Sopranos. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Donna Mills guest stars as Bernice Rawson, a small-time crook with big-time aspirations. Latching onto an ex-convict who wants to go straight, Bernice talks him into pulling off one last heist--a jewelry robbery that is all but guaranteed to bring down the full wrath of the FBI. In the original TV Guide listings, much was made of the fact that Donna Mills was playing a villainous role in stark contrast with her "good girl" characterization in Play Misty for Me; Knots' Landing, of course, was still several years in the future. ~ 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
- PG
- Add Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to QueueAdd Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to top of Queue
Opening with a silent "movie" of Butch Cassidy's Hole in the Wall Gang, George Roy Hill's comically elegiac Western chronicles the mostly true tale of the outlaws' last months. Witty pals Butch (Paul Newman) and Sundance (Robert Redford) join the Gang in successfully robbing yet another train with their trademark non-lethal style. After the pair rests at the home of Sundance's schoolmarm girlfriend, Etta (Katharine Ross), the Gang robs the same train, but this time, the railroad boss has hired the best trackers in the business to foil the crime. After being tailed over rocks and a river gorge by guys that they can barely identify save for a white hat, Butch and Sundance decide that maybe it's time to try their luck in Bolivia. Taking Etta with them, they live high on ill-gotten Bolivian gains, but Etta leaves after their white-hatted nemesis portentously arrives. Their luck running out, Butch and Sundance are soon holed up in a barn surrounded by scores of Bolivian soldiers who are waiting for the pair to make one last run for it. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Robert Redford, (more)
- 1965
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton -- then Hollywood's most bankable couple -- appeared onscreen together for the third time in this romantic drama shot on beautiful locations along the Big Sur region of the California coastline. Laura Edwards (Elizabeth Taylor) is a free-thinking artist and Bohemian who is raising a her teenage son, Danny (Morgan Mason), conceived out of wedlock, on her own. Laura has issues with conventional teaching methods, and prefers to educate Danny about both intellectual and ethical matters on her own. However, Danny has become something of a problem, and child welfare authorities demand that Danny either be sent to school or become a ward of the state. Rather than send Danny to public school, Laura arranges for him to attend a private academy run by Dr. Edward Hewitt (Richard Burton), an Episcopalian minister. Edward is at first shocked by Laura's embrace of free love and rejection of conventional moral codes, but as he gets to know her better, he finds himself increasingly attracted to her, despite the fact he has a wife, Claire (Eva Marie Saint), and two children. Before long, Edward's desire overpowers his scruples and he begins an affair with Laura. Wracked with guilt over his infidelity, Edward confesses his indiscretion to Claire, which proves to have severe and unexpected consequences. While saddled with poor reviews upon its initial release, The Sandpiper did win an Academy Award for Johnny Mandel's theme song, "The Shadow of Your Smile." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, (more)
The story of America's most notorious gangster mother is chronicled in this crime drama. The tale starts in Oklahoma during the Depression. It is she who encourages her sons to become criminals. So sage is her advice, that other infamous mobsters such as Dillinger, and Machine Gun Kelly come to her for advice. She and her outlaw progeny go on the lam until the police finally corner her in her richly appointed Florida hide-out. A bloody shoot-out ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1960
This poignant episode catalogues the many strange occurences and paranormal phenomena surrounding the death of President Abraham Lincoln in April of 1865. It is well documented that both Lincoln (here played by Barry Atwarter) and his wife Mary Todd (Jeanne Bates) both had premonitions of his violent death. What is less well known is that, throughout the country, thousands of other people bore witness to ominous signs and portents...a blood-red moon, the sounds of sobbing, eerie visions of a distant shore... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Wanting to cash in on the launching of Russia's Sputnik satellite, director Roger Corman hastily made this Earthlings vs evil aliens space opera. The trouble begins when an extraterrestrial warns humans that any attempt to send a man into orbit will result in the destruction of the planet. Despite his threats, the stubborn U.N. agrees that Mankind must not be stopped and so call in a prominent astro-scientist to begin preparations for the first manned space flight. Unfortunately, he is killed in an accident. Eventually another scientist is given the task. Just before the launch, the supposedly dead scientist (actually his alien-reanimated corpse) shows up with dire warnings. Even though it is suspected that the recently returned researcher is a zombie, he is allowed on the first flight. Once in the air, he tries all he can to sabotage the mission. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Cabot, Richard Devon, (more)
- 1957
While vacationing in Bear Valley, Perry (Raymond Burr) is pressed into service when wheelchair-bound water skiier Mark Cushing (Eric Sinclair). It seems that Belle Adrian (Sylvia Field) had sworn vengeance against Mark for assaulting her daughter Carla (played by a pre-I Dream of Jeannie Barbara Eden). The key evidence in the case turns out to be something as simple as a lipstick sample. Paul Fix makes the first of several appearances as William Hale, the small-town district attorney with whom Perry matches wits whenever outside the jurisdiction of his tradtional nemesis Hamilton Burger. This episode is based on a 1951 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
The Depression-New Deal subtext of the original 1936 My Man Godfrey was understandably dispensed with in this so-so 1957 remake. David Niven steps into the old William Powell role as hobo-turned-butler Godfrey, while June Allyson does her best in the Carole Lombard part as Irene Bullock, the spoiled, impulsive heiress who brings Godfrey into her zany household. The remake follows the original with reasonable fidelity so far as the basics are concerned, with Godfrey, a wealthy lawyer who dropped out of society after an unhappy romance, rescuing the screwball Bullock family from bankruptcy and self-destruction simply by applying a soupcon of common sense. The supporting cast is able, though not as "perfect" for their roles as their 1936 counterparts: the most interesting bit of casting is Jay Robinson, who rose to fame as Caligula in The Robe, as the parasitic "protégé" originally portrayed by Mischa Auer. In keeping with the custom of the times, My Man Godfrey is fitted out with an opening theme song, written by Peggy Lee and Sonny Burke, and performed by Sarah Vaughan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- June Allyson, David Niven, (more)
- 1951
Highly respected defense attorney Dwight Bradley Mason (Walter Pidgeon) is able to clear young Rudi Wallchek (Keefe Brasselle) of a murder rap. When it's all over, however, Rudi lets slip a careless comment which leads Mason to believe that his client was guilty after all. Using the evidence at hand, the attorney retraces his steps, only to discover that one of the town's leading citizens is a criminal mastermind. The solution to this ethical dilemma is straight out of the "postman always rings twice" school of crime fiction. Even after justice has been served, however, Mason's conscience dictates that everyone responsible for all previous legal miscarriages be punished -- including himself! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Pidgeon, Ann Harding, (more)
- 1950
Dorothy Patrick, the sweetheart of Republic Pictures' "B" unit, stars in Lonely Hearts Bandits. Patrick plays Louise Curtis, a petty crook who teams with mobster Tony Morelli (John Eldredge) to fleece the lonely. Victim number one is a lovelorn farmer, who is summarily robbed and murdered by Morelli. The second victim is a small-town widow Nancy Crane (Ann Doran). Passing themselves off as brother and sister, Louise and Tony intend to fleece Nancy for every penny she's got and to bump her off if she gets in the way. This time, however, Nancy's erstwhile fiancé Aaron Hart (Richard Travis) suspects that something is amiss. Hopefully, Hart's realization hasn't come too late. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Patrick, John Eldredge, (more)
Recreating his stage role, Jose Ferrer stars as Edmond Rostand's Cyrano, a 17th-century French cavalier, poet and swordsman whose prominent proboscis is the subject of many a duel. Cyrano is madly in love with the beautiful Roxanne (Mala Powers), but assumes that she'd never love him back due to his cathedral of a nose. Roxanne is also loved by the handsome Christian (William Prince), who unfortunately can't put two consecutive words together when it comes to pitching woo. Cyrano agrees to help Christian win Roxanne by feeding him the right words for his midnight courtships and love letters; in this way, Cyrano can vicariously express his own ardor for the fair lady. Years later, Cyrano's deception is revealed, and he dies happily in the arms of his beloved Roxanne, who realizes that she has really loved Cyrano all along--by way of Christian. Cyrano de Bergerac wasn't seen by many paying moviegoers upon its original showing, but its relative box-office failure resulted in an early release to television, where it has remained a perennial attraction for the past forty years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- José Ferrer, Mala Powers, (more)
- 1946
Edgar G. Ulmer's Club Havana is Grand Hotel, PRC style. The titular club is a popular nightspot where everyone who is anyone congregates. Six couples, none of whom are acquainted with the others, show up at Club Havana on one fateful evening, and the result is sheer murder-literally. Among the participants in the heavily plotted proceedings are suicidal socialite Rosalind (Margaret Lindsay), novice doctor Bill Porter (Tom Neal), callous playboy Johnny Norton (Don Douglas) and would-be philanderer Willy Kingston (Ernest Truex). Former Paramount leading lady Gertrude Michael delivers a poignant cameo as a worn-out powder room attendant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Neal, Margaret Lindsay, (more)
- 1945
In this drama, a hard-boiled juvenile court judge orders that a popular road house be raided because she knows it is a popular hangout for young punks. She is appalled when the cops bring her own daughter in with the rest of the rabble. The judge's daughter and her creepy boy friend manage to escape. Fortunately, the other youths are only too happy to snitch upon them. The whole situation forces the judge to consider the wisdom of putting her career before her home life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cora Sue Collins, Eric Sinclair, (more)
- 1945
The motivating factor of The Missing Corpse is a feud between rival newspapermen Kruger (J. Edward Bromberg) and McDonald (Paul Guilfoyle). While Kruger tries to play fair, McDonald, a mob-connected slimeball who uses his publication for blackmailing purposes, does not. Before long, McDonald is murdered and his corpse is deposited in the back of Kruger's car. With the help of his fast-talking chauffeur Hogan (Frank Jenks), Kruger tries to dispose of the body to avoid being implicated in the crime, but the body just won't stay missing (despite the film's title). The revelation of the actual killer will undoubtedly amuse fans of the Superman television series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- J. Edward Bromberg, Isabel Randolph, (more)
- 1944
In this melodrama, two young lovers secretly elope after the woman is involved in a hit-and-run accident. The young groom takes the rap and is thrown out of school. The bride's enraged father shoots the boy. At the trial the bride lies on the stand to save her dad. Things work out, and the young couple goes on a honeymoon. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jane Withers, Paul Kelly, (more)
