Captain Lou Albano Movies
Born Louis Vincent Albano, the wrestling star known as Captain Lou Albano began his career in the 1950s, making an immediate impact on the pro wrestling scene with his impressive stature and flair for showmanship. He would become a fixture of the WWF throughout the '60s and '70s and found crossover success in the 1980s, appearing in several music videos for iconic music star Cyndi Lauper, and starring in the live-action segments of the animated series The Super Mario Brothers Super Show. He remained active in the wrestling scene throughout the '90s and 2000s, making cameo appearances and accepting a place in the WWF Hall of Fame. Albano passed away in 2009, at the age of 76. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
John Ritter and Pam Dawber star as Roy and Helen Knable, a suburban American couple having marital problems. Roy has become a couch potato, and a resentful Helen wants him to ditch the remote. When the demonic Spike (Jeffrey Jones) offers Roy a deal on the ultimate satellite TV system, Roy doesn't realize that he's just signed away his soul. Roy and Helen are sucked into their own television, where they endure a gauntlet of Hellish television shows such as "Northern Overexposure" and "I Love Lucifer." When their kids Darryl (David Tom) and Diane (Heather McComb) realize that their parents are on the twisted television, they set out to rescue them. Stay Tuned contains several inspired delights, in particular an original cartoon short by Looney Tunes legend Chuck Jones. The film was the debut of writing team Tom S. Parker and Jim Jennewein, who would stay in the wacky comedy genre with a whopping four major releases in 1994. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Ritter, Pam Dawber, (more)
- 1990
- R
It seems like lately everyone is out to either raze or save the infamous Heartbreak Hotel. This way off-beat rock & roll farce chronicles that struggle. The club features such way-out acts as the Beat Legends, the Young Adults, Roomful of Blues, and NRBQ. The trouble begins when Robert Burgess, the estranged, ultra-conservative, ex-CIA agent father of the club's laid-back owner Jeff Burgess decides to run for president. Believing that his son's involvement in the club will be detrimental to his career, he decides to secretly hire terrorists to blow up the Heartbreak Hotel. The city also wants to destroy the nightspot because it keeps driving down property values in the area. The town fathers end up hiring the Scum of the Earth, a gang of motorcycle thugs, to do their dirty work. Meanwhile, inside the club, Jeff coolly refuses to deal with the terrorist leader. The terrorists soon have their own problems when their ace hit man commits himself to Jesus while waiting outside in the getaway car. While this goes on, a band of Beatles clones are taking drugs in the club cellar when the phone rings. They answer, and it is a holy call from the King himself. He warns them that the club is in grave danger. On video, the film is called It's a Complex World. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Welch, Margot Dionne, (more)
- 1987
- PG
Harry Similac (Dirk Benedict) is a music promoter who must scramble to stay out of debt in this slapstick comedy. He hits upon the idea of becoming a wrestling promoter and steals Rick Roberts (Roddy Piper) from his former manager Captain Lou Milano (Lou Albano). He books his rock band Kick at the match and creates a new phenomena that combines wrestling with rock n' roll. Charles Nelson Reilly, Billy Barty, and John Astin provide memorable comedy relief. Cameo appearances by wrestlers Ric Flair, Afa & Sika, Sheik Adnan Al Kaissy, Freddie Blassie, and Bruno Sammartino add further realism to this feature that recalls the rock-and-wrestling spectaculars of the early 1980s. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dirk Benedict, Tanya Roberts, (more)
The "wise guys" referred to in the title, Harry Valentini (Danny DeVito) and Moe Dickstein (Joe Piscopo), turn out to be not so wise after all in this crime-oriented comedy. Harry and Moe run the risk of certain death when they steal money from a Mafia don (Dan Hedaya) and then try to multiply their ill-gotten gains at the horse races. Naturally, they lose the bundle and the next thing they know they're running from hitmen and trying to come up with enough cash to pay back their debt. Wise Guys' blend of comedy and action represented something of a change of pace for director Brian DePalma, best known for his offbeat thrillers and Hitchcock homages. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny DeVito, Joe Piscopo, (more)
- 1986
This sports video features a collection of wrestling grudge matches. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1985
Or, as much "life and times" as can be crammed into 97 minutes. Mean in the ring, meaner as a manager, wrestling's most contentious character is the massive, bearded Mr. Albano. He is seen in combat (both verbal and physical) with likes of WWF luminaries Mr. Fuji and Mr. Salto. Ring announcer Gene Okerlund also puts in a little box-office duty. This video was made long before Lou Albano was "humanized" as the voiceover star of the Super Mario Bros. cartoon series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
From the business end of the wrestling world, this video gives you a look at various styles of management. ~ All Movie Guide
