Howard K. Smith Movies

This is an ABC News biographical documentary which covers the political life of Anwar Sadat and his efforts to gain peace in the Middle East. Chronicled through ABC News footage, this tape follows Sadat from the Camp David Summit with Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter through his unconscionable murder by Arab zealots. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide

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

The inspiration for the made-for-TV movie was an actual event which occurred in June of 1973. A crew of four sinks in a minisub off the Florida coast. As half the nation (apprised of the disaster by TV and radio) holds its breath, a daring rescue mission is organized. Lee J. Cobb and Martin Balsam are among the rescuers. Paul Michael Glaser, Joshua Bryant, Cliff Potts and Roger Kern are the helpless rescuees. Trapped Beneath the Sea was telecast fifteen months after the real-life crisis was resolved. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Most Inspector Clouseau fans regard The Pink Panther Strikes Again as the best of the clumsy Parisian detective's "comeback" films of the 1970s. Driven insane by the stupidities of Clouseau (Peter Sellers), ex-inspector Dreyfuss (Herbert Lom) transforms into a master criminal. Kidnapping the inventor of a death ray, Dreyfuss threatens to use the demon device indiscriminately unless Clouseau is offered as a "sacrifice." A hunted man, Clouseau is forced to adopt one transparent (but hilarious) disguise after another. He is rescued from being incinerated by Dreyfuss when Soviet spy Olga (Leslie Ann Down) falls in love with him and strives to protect him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Director George A. Romero's epic sequel to his legendary Night of the Living Dead has firmly established itself as the equal of its ground-breaking predecessor. Though shot in 1978 -- ten years after the first films' release -- Dawn's story begins as if the events in Night had happened only a few months before: after shambling armies of the recently-dead take over every major city -- seeking warm human flesh for food -- the U.S. government imposes a state of martial law, sending in special National Guard units to attack and destroy zombie infestation where they find it. Two members of one such unit, Peter (Ken Foree) and Roger (Scott Reiniger) have been tasked to overthrow a nest of zombies in a Pittsburgh housing project (one of the film's most explicitly gory scenes). When the job turns ugly and Peter is forced to terminate his own berserk, racist commanding officer, the pair decide to split the outfit with the help of his friend Stephen (David Emge), a traffic pilot for WGON-TV, and the station's floor manager, Stephen's girlfriend Frances (Gaylen Ross). Together they steal the station's helicopter and head for less-populated areas, but after some narrow scrapes with flesh-hungry redneck ghouls in the country outside Harrisburg, they opt for a more secure hideout. Eventually they find the perfect solution: a massive, sprawling shopping mall. After the lengthy process of purging the building of zombies is complete, the four secure themselves snugly in the miniature city, consigned to live out their lives in a dull but cushy consumer's paradise... but the arrival of a menacing gang of nomadic bikers proves that this is not to be. With their survival instincts weakened by a mallful of toys and trinkets, the crew are again forced to face grim reality as they face both living and undead foes in a final battle. Romero's excellent, multi-layered story combines high-adventure heroics, three-dimensional characters and explicit gore (by the always masterful Tom Savini, who plays a small role as a leering biker) to excellent effect. The subtext comparing the glassy-eyed behavior patterns of the ghouls to those of American consumers is clear, but not overdone: "It's some kind of instinct," Stephen comments, observing the zombies' attraction to the mall; "This was an important place in their lives." Despite the glimmer of hope offered by the film's closing scene, the outlook for humankind is grim. Perhaps it is Frannie who best expresses Dawn's outlook for humanity: "We're not gonna make it, are we?" Several versions of this film are available on video, including a faster-paced European version edited by overseas distributor Dario Argento and a "Director's Cut" with a great deal of exposition restored (though Romero is quoted as having preferred the unrated cut released initially to U.S. theaters). The shooting script also contains a more downbeat ending, which was never filmed. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

This ten-part series reviews many of the important and exciting events that occurred during the 20th century. Each volume features interviews with various newsmakers, their friends and colleagues, archival footage, and information culled from historical records. Noted journalist Howard K. Smith hosts each episode that covers an entire decade. This volume reviews the 1950s when Americans fought in the Korean War, Russia sent Sputnik into outer space, and rock & roll began stirring the souls of young people. Other covered topics include Fidel Castro's activities, the dreaded McCarthy hearings that sought to rid America of suspected communist sympathizers, and the appearance of Playboy magazine. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide

This ten-part series reviews many of the important and exciting events that occurred during the 20th century. Each volume features interviews with various newsmakers, their friends and colleagues, archival footage, and information culled from historical records. Noted journalist Howard K. Smith hosts each episode that covers an entire decade. This volume reviews the 1930s and examines how Americans got back on their feet after the Great Depression, coped with World War II's outbreak in Europe, and responded to Orson Welles' frightening radio drama The War of the Worlds. Other covered topics include new ways to fly and the Hindenburg tragedy. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide

This ten-part series reviews many of the important and exciting events that occurred during the 20th century. Each volume features interviews with various newsmakers, their friends and colleagues, archival footage, and information culled from historical records. Noted journalist Howard K. Smith hosts each episode that covers an entire decade. This volume looks at the years between 1910 and 1920 when World War I unfolded, and examines how it affected veterans. Other covered topics include the sinking of the Titanic, Einstein's newest discoveries, and Russia's own breed of communism. Feminist Gloria Steinem reflects on the women's movement that gained important momentum during this decade, and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger shares his thoughts about the era's major political events. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide

This ten-part series reviews many of the most important and exciting events that occurred during the 20th century. Each volume features interviews with various newsmakers, their friends and colleagues, archival footage, and information culled from historical records. Noted journalist Howard K. Smith hosts each episode that covers an entire decade. This first volume looks at the early 1900s and the large-scale production of cars, the Wright brothers' achievements, Thomas Edison's discoveries, and China's Boxer Rebellion. Other covered topics include the St. Petersburg Square Massacre, and the increasing fascination with the ragtime blues. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide

This ten-part series reviews many of the important and exciting events that occurred during the 20th century. Each volume features interviews with newsmakers, their friends and colleagues, archival footage, and information culled from historical records. Noted journalist Howard K. Smith hosts each episode that covers an entire decade. This volume looks at the 1980s when President Ronald Reagan set the political agenda, America invaded Panama and Grenada, the Iran-Contra scandal unfolded, and the Challenger space shuttle exploded in full view of millions on television. Other covered topics include the IMF Treaty and the slow but devastating appearance of the AIDS virus. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide