Marcia Strassman Movies
After commercial and soap opera experience, actress Marcia Strassman was cast in her first regular prime time role as Nurse Margie Cutler in M*A*S*H. Those of you who might have trouble recalling her contribution to that series will have no trouble at all remembering her next sitcom assignment as Julie Kotter, wife of high-school teacher Gabe Kaplan, on Welcome Back Kotter (1975-79). Understandably upset that her role was largely limited to lines like "How was your day, honey?" and "Then what happened?," Strassman made no secret of her dissatisfaction with Kotter, going so far as to publicly express the wish that she'd be fired. During Kotter's final season, Strassman ended up as the series' principal character when star Gabe Kaplan ankled the show over a dispute with producer James Komack. While Kaplan's star faded during the post-Kotter years, Strassman's TV appearances increased dramatically. She was seen as reporter Carol Younger on 1980's Goodtime Charley, as detective agency boss Alicia Rudd on 1989's Booker, as southern belle Bunny McClure on 1994's Sweet Justice, and as star or co-star of several made-for-TV movies. She also played Dr. Eve Sheridan in the pilot of the 1984 sitcom E/R, a role filled on the series proper by Mary McDonnell. Marcia Strassman's most memorable theatrical-film work was as hysterical housewife Diana Szalinski in the moneyspinning fantasies Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989) and Honey I Blew Up the Kid (1992). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In this family-fun type of film, two brothers who have apparently inherited their recently deceased father's inventor-type genes decide to finish their pop's robot invention, sell it for big bucks, and keep mom out of the poorhouse. They put together the metal man named Newman who somehow has absorbed the dead dad's spirit and can talk. The boys are wowed to find that Dad's back! But then the bad guys arrive (of course) in the form of an electronics company wanting in on the Newman-robot invention and by an abrupt gal reporter who wants the big scoop. Looming out in the troubled fringes too, are the dopes responsible for the kids' dad's demise. These kids are up to all of this and, along with the robot, they're out to rack up one for the 'good guys.' ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joshua Miller, Edan Gross, (more)
In Stakeout, cop Richard Dreyfuss fell in love with Madeline Stowe, the woman he and his partner Emilio Estevez were watching during a police stakeout. Stowe's back in Another Stakeout, but her part is fleeting and unbilled. On the other hand, we get plenty of Dreyfuss and Estevez, still both as cantankerous and obnoxious as ever. This time, our two heroes are in search of a Mafia witness who has disappeared after an attempt on her life. While holed up in a judge's mansion, staking out the apartment where the woman may or may not return, the pair are subject to the comic aggravation of DA's assistant Rosie O'Donnell, who's brought her "darling" little rotweiler along for company. Another Stakeout works a little harder for its laughs than its predecessor; the best scenes go to Ms. O'Donnell and to nonplussed supporting players Dennis Farina and Marcia Strassman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez, (more)
- 1980
This 3-hour TV adaptation of the 1932 Aldous Huxley novel is set 600 years in the future. In this "well- ordered" society, the citizens are required to take mind-controlling drugs, sex without love is compulsory, and test-tube babies are commonplace because of a ban on pregnancy. Keir Dullea heads the cast as Thomas Grahmbell, "director of hatcheries". Not everybody is satisfied with society's lack of humanity and feeling; the loudest dissidents are free-thinking poet Heimholtz Watson (Dick Anthony Williams) and brilliant oddball Bernard Marx (Bud Cort). An injection of new "old" ideas are brought in by "primitive" John Savage (Kristoffer Tabori), who lives on an Indian reservation which still honors 20th century values. Meanwhile, Linda Lysenko (Julie Cobb) becomes a natural mother--and in so doing becomes a criminal. In keeping with the style of the original book, the script's newly-minted characters are given names of pop-culture icons (Disney, Maoina, Stalina, and so on). Brave New World was first telecast March 7, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Dale Messick's inexplicably popular Brenda Starr has to be one of the lamest comic strips ever perpetrated on an unsuspecting public; thus, any filmed version of the strip had nowhere to go but up. Jill St. John stars in this feature-length TV pilot film as plucky girl reporter Brenda Starr. While searching for a Howard Hughesish recluse, Brenda ends up in the wilds of Brazil at the mercy of voodoo-practicing natives. Happily, both St. John and special guest villain Victor Buono recognize the material for what it is, and make no effort to take things seriously. Brenda Starr debuted on May 8, 1976; no series of any kind followed. Other cinemadaptations of Brenda Starr include a 1945 Columbia serial starring Joan Woodbury, and a much-delayed (though not long-awaited) theatrical feature of the 1990s starring Brooke Shields. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
- R
Kent (Kent Lane) is a college-dropout-turned-drifter who travels South from Big Sur down the California coastline. His worried father (Jack Albertson) tries to bridge the ever-widening generation gap with his son, but Kent is born to wander through his life with no apparent sense of direction, searching for something elusive and unknown. One woman commits suicide after Kent declines her invitation to stay. Michele Carey is Julie, the woman working for a carnival who almost gets our anti-hero to settle down. Soundtrack music is provided by Tim Buckley, Kim Weston (who has a bit part in the film), Judy Collins, Mickey Stevenson and Neil Young. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kent Lane, Michele Carey, (more)
- 1991
- PG
This fast-paced caper/chase comedy, shot on location in Utah and Colorado, chronicles the daring exploits of a bank robber and his teenage-criminal-mastermind son. Exciting stunts and special effects help make up for the rather lame story. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Corey Haim, Cynthia Rothrock, (more)
Director Henry Jaglom once again casts his quirky gaze on a common female obsession in this comedy drama. Holly (Victoria Foyt) owns a small and upscale boutique in Santa Monica, and has just learned that her accountant and significant other, Adam (Bruce Davison), has betrayed her -- even worse than cheating on her, he's run off with three month's worth of rent, and she has only a few days to raise the money or lose her space. With Mother's Day approaching, Holly is hoping for a big weekend to save the day, but she has other problems to contend with as she has to patch up a misunderstanding with her mother (Lee Grant), who offers to refer her to a loan shark, and her daughter (Mae Whitman). Meanwhile, with Adam out of the picture, Holly finds herself flirting with Miles (Rob Morrow), the long-suffering boyfriend of one of her customers. And in the midst of the buying frenzy, many of Holly's customers share their feelings about shopping and the role it plays in their lives. Leading lady Victoria Foyt co-authored the screenplay with director Jaglom (who is also her husband). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victoria Foyt, Rob Morrow, (more)
- 1987
TV Guide critic Judith Crist tersely dismissed Haunted by Her Past as a "spook story," but that's probably because the producers wouldn't preview it for her. Better than the usual Gothic TV-movie, the film casts soap-opera diva Susan Lucci as a 20th-century wife who is possessed by the spirit of an 18th-century murderess (Finola Hughes). At first playful and flirtatious, the woman turns deadly as the malevolent ghost seeps into every orifice of her brain and body. Obviously, trouble is in store for her unwitting husband (John James). Decked out with a lush musical score by Paul Chihara, Haunted by Her Past played to respectable ratings when it first aired on October 5, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In the sequel to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, a bumbling but brilliant scientist (Rick Moranis) accidentally makes his two-year-old son into a giant who becomes larger every time he comes in contact with electricity. Though he and his wife try to control their son, the child inevitably escapes and wreaks havoc, eventually terrorizing the streets of Las Vegas. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rick Moranis, Marcia Strassman, (more)
Erstwhile inventor Rick Moranis has been experimenting with an electro-magnetic shrinking machine. He leaves the device unattended in his attic; shortly afterward, it is accidentally activated. Alas, the demon machine is aimed at Moranis' children, as well as the son of neighbor Matt Frewer. The kids, shrunk to 1/4-inch height, are tossed into the trash bin by the unwitting Moranis. For the rest of the film, our teeny-tiny protagonists attempt to gain their parents' attention--and to survive the wilds of the backyard, where all sorts of dangers, from bumblebees to lawnmowers, threaten their well-being. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids features Marcia Strassman as Moranis' wife, and juvenile players Robert Oliveri, Kristine Sutherland, Thomas Brown, Jared Rushton and Amy O'Neill. The visual effects are the handiwork of such masters as Joe Johnston, Phil Tippett, and David Allen. When originally released to theatres, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids was double-billed with the "Roger Rabbit" cartoon Tummy Trouble; this is how it is presented on videotape as well. The film (the live-action one, that is) prompted a 1992 sequel, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, (more)
- 1967
Ironside (Raymond Burr) has trouble believing that Samantha Dain (Marcia Strassman), a famous folksinger who sent him a cheer-up note during his convalescence, has committed suicide by leaping from a tall building. Suspecting that Samantha was murdered, Ironside conducts his own investigation--and unearths a sordid tale of drug addiction, depression and despair. In a true "sign of the times" moment, one sequence takes place in a discotheque called "The Psychedelic Daffodil", clearly inspired by the popular LA nightspot The Daisy. Actor-librettist George Furth, who later who the book for the Broadway musical "Company", appears as Ray Harrison. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Made for television, Journey From Darkness is based on the true story of medical student David Hartman. Marc Singer plays David, a brilliant scholar who under normal circumstances would be accepted into medical school without a hitch. But David has been blind since birth, a fact that has been closing doors on him all his life. As the boy receives rejection after rejection, his family and girl friend (Kay Lenz) try to be supportive, but David's bitterness threatens to overwhelm him. The happy ending of Journey From Darkness does not diminish the dramatic punch of the scenes detailing David Hartman's pain and frustration. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
In order to get some much-needed R and R in Tokyo, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) pretends to be off his rocker. His scheme backfires when Frank Burns hauls in a no-nonsense psychiatrist (Stuart Margolin) to examine the "crazy" doctor. But Hawkeye double-crosses the double-crosser by arranging a cozy tête-à-tête between the psychiatrist and Frank's girlfriend Hot Lips (Loretta Swit). Originally scheduled to air on October 15, 1972, "Bananas, Crackers, and Nuts" (aka "After Me the Deluge") ultimately made its first TV appearance three weeks later, on November 5. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
The 4077th goes into full mardi gras mode when General Clayton (Herb Voland) unofficially announces that a cease-fire has been declared. The only person who refuses to join in the festivities is Trapper (Wayne Rogers), who suspects that the good news is based upon a highly unreliable source. Meanwhile, Klinger (Jamie Farr) goes on a giveaway spree, while Hawkeye (Alan Alda) tries to weasel out of several promises made to several nurses in the heat of passion. "Cease-Fire" originally aired on March 18, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Arlene Golonka guest-stars as army nurse Edwina "Eddie" Ferguson, known to one and all as a "walking disaster area." Nurse Eddie's clumsiness is so daunting that none of the men of the 4077th will dare to go on a date with her. The other nurses refuse to socialize with the men unless one of them steps forward to take Eddie out. Hawkeye is chosen for this death-defying assignment -- and even his patented resourcefulness is no match for Nurse Eddie's monumental maladroitness! "Edwina" originally aired on December 24, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Company clerk Radar (Gary Burghoff) goes into a deep blue funk when he receives a Dear John letter from his hometown sweetheart. To lift Radar's spirits, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Trapper (Wayne Rogers) try to set him up with another girl. Their selection is Louise (Kelly Jean Peters), a dreamy-eyed nurse who is "into" classical music and poetry. As the heroes prepare Radar for his date, Hot Lips (Loretta Swit), outraged that one of her nurses would be squired by a mere enlisted man, tries to sabotage the whole arrangement. "Love Story" first aired on January 7, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
There's weeping and wailing at the 4077th when Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit) orders the transfer of a sexy nurse upon whom both Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Trapper (Wayne Rogers) have designs. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) offers to bring the nurse back, provided that Trapper agrees to fight in an upcoming tournament, with Hawkeye as his trainer. Only one slight hitch: Trapper's opponent is a 260-pound behemoth with a record of 97 wins -- and at least three arrests! "Requiem for a Lightweight" first aired on October 1, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Hollywood comes to South Korea when General Clayton (Herb Voland) orders the members of the 4077th to appear in a filmed documentary. Disgusted by the intrusive moviemakers and the idiotic propaganda slogans he's being forced to recite, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) sabotages the epic and produces his own movie -- a zany Marx Brothers-style farce, with himself in the role of Yankee Doodle Doctor. Despite all the wackiness, there's a serious message lurking somewhere within Hawkeye's cinematic masterpiece. "Yankee Doodle Doctor" originally aired on October 22, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Marcia Strassman (Welcome Back, Kotter) guest stars as Karen Harmon, a military nurse whom Magnum had known in Vietnam. Now a full-fledged doctor, Karen has been accused of poisoning three of her patients. Naturally, Magnum is anxious to clear her name--but neither Karen nor her husband want him to get involved in the case. Watch for a young Christopher Penn, the son of "Heal Thyself" director Leo Penn, in a pivotal role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
While going through a manuscript from a prestigious author, junior book editor Erin Garman (Tracy Middendorf cannot help but notice similarities between the book's plot and her own life: It seems that, as a child, she was kidnapped, and still cannot recall the particulars of the situation. As Erin pursues the matter, she finds that the police have no intention of re-opening the case. Jessica (Angela Lansbury) comes to the girl's aid when the intrigues surrounding her long-ago abduction lead to suicide and murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In this family drama, a man whose wife has just left him is faced with caring for his children by himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Five students driving through the desert encounter the inescapable stench of death in director David Payne's retro-inspired slasher/monster/supernatural horror hybrid. The highway has been inexplicably closed, forcing five young travelers into a mysteriously abandoned travel oasis where they are soon confronted with disturbing visions of maimed travelers. Disturbed by the grisly series of visions and determined to escape the spooky motel and diner before whatever killed the previous customers returns, the frightened travelers soon meet a frantic stranger who claims to have recently lost his wife to a terrifying entity that seems to hover between life and death. As the night falls, a blind grad student with heightened senses proves the only hope for survival as the body count begins to rise and the smell of death becomes too suffocating to endure. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Devon Gummersall, Derek Richardson, (more)
- 1989
In this dark drama, a young couple is pursued by a lascivious extortionist. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Lucci, John James, (more)
- 1985
In this adventure a professor of anthropology and a reporter join forces to look into a strange occurrence with supernatural implications. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
