Maxine Stuart Movies
From the '50s through the '80s, American actress Maxine Stuart played character parts ranging from maternal to hard-bitten. Among Stuart's many films were Winning (969), Fun with Dick and Jane (1977) and Coast to Coast (1980). Her TV soap opera assignments included The Edge of Night, as Grace O'Leary; The Young Marrieds (a briefie from 1964) as Mrs. Korman; and General Hospital, as Mrs. Baldwyn. Occasionally breaking into prime-time, Ms. Stuart was co-featured on Room for One More (1962) as the wife of "funny neighbor" Jack Albertson; on Slattery's People (1965), as secretary to politician Richard Crenna; and on Hail to the Chief (1985) as the swinging mother of American president Patty Duke. Twilight Zone addicts best remember Maxine Stuart for a role in which her face never appeared: the bandaged plastic-surgery patient in the 1960 episode "The Eye of the Beholder." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie GuideIn this melodrama, a fourteen-year-old son tries to keep his father, who is suffering a mid-life crisis, just lost his job and his wife, from killing himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Six recently divorced males gather 'round a restaurant table and talk about their past lives and their recently failed marriages while trying to piece their lives back together. This drama is somewhat interesting for presenting the topic of life after a divorce from a man's point of view. (And yes, Neil Sedaka sings the smash title song over the final credits - so don't change that dial!) Originally made for television, and broadcast on ABC in two parts - one on Wed., Sep. 5, 1979, and one on Friday, Sep. 7, 1979 -- this film was reissued on video about ten years later to capitalize on Billy Crystal's growing fame. When it arrived on home video, the picture received its first MPAA rating (R) and was edited down from its original running time of 150 minutes to 96 minutes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
This made-for-TV comedy postulates that, someday, members of carpools will be selected by computer. The four so anointed herein are Harvey Korman, Peter Scolari, T.K. Carter and Stephanie Faracy. Their lives go along in their usual luckless fashion until the quarter of mismatched "poolers" find themselves in possession of a million dollars that has fallen from an armored car. But ex-cop Ernest Borgnine has his eyes on the loot as well, and the chase is on. Basically a bargain-basement It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Carpool first aired October 5, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Comedy falls as flat as a blowout in this film by Joseph Sargent about a down-to-earth trucker (Robert Blake) and the rich and looney witch (Dyan Cannon) he is forced to take on a haul from New York to L.A. Madie (Cannon) is running away from her money-grubbing husband who is conniving to get the most inexpensive divorce he can. Charlie (Blake) the trucker is under pressure from a ruthless creditor and is in desperate need of cash. As the mismatched duo continues in a stressful journey across country, sparks fly but fail to ignite much of anything along the way. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dyan Cannon, Robert Blake, (more)
In this addiction melodrama, Joe Clay (Jack Lemmon), a promising adman, meet his future wife Kirsten (Lee Remick) at a party. Once married, the pressures of his business lead Joe to seek solace in liquor. Kirsten joins him in his nocturnal drinking sessions, and before long both are confirmed alcoholics. After several frightening episodes, Joe is able to shake the habit thanks to AA, but Kirsten finds it impossible to get through the day without liquor. The two split up, although Joe clings to the hope that someday he and Kirsten will be reunited, if for no reason other than the sake of their young daughter. J.P. Miller adapted the screenplay from his own 1958 Playhouse 90 television script. Though nominated in several categories, Days of Wine and Roses won only the Best Song Oscar for Henry Mancini's title tune. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick, (more)
Dick Harper (George Segal) and his wife Jane (Jane Fonda) have always lived way beyond their means. Just because Dick has just lost his high-paying job is no reason for Jane to stop spending like there's no tomorrow. To make ends meet, Jane takes up a new career: armed robbery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Segal, Jane Fonda, (more)
The story of "red light bandit" Caryl Chessman, previously dramatized in the 1955 film Cell 2455, Death Row (based on Chessman's own book), was adapted for television as Kill Me If You Can. In a radical departure from his usual duties as MASH's Hawkeye Pierce, Alan Alda plays Chessman, who in 1948 was found guilty of robbery, kidnapping and sexual assault. Under the laws of the era, Chessman was sentenced to die in the gas chamber. But by studying the law and publishing four books on his plight, the brilliant (albeit still repugnant) Chessman managed to forestall his execution for 12 years. Though no effort is made in the film to make the sociopathic Chessman any better than he was, John Gay's script comes out squarely in opposition of capital punishment. Kill Me If You Can first aired on September 25, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Alda, Talia Shire, (more)
An aspiring senator finds himself in deep trouble when he tangles with a sultry teenage girl gone bad in this campy drama. Ann-Margret stars as Jody, a tough customer who escapes from reform school by stabbing a matron and attempting to burn down the building and then takes refuge in a house owned by ambitious politician David Patton (John Forsythe). Despite the hellcat's ample charms, the would-be officeholder wants nothing to do with her and tries to drive her away. She responds by practically taking him hostage, with the help of a gang of delinquent friends. An unexpected act of violence causes more trouble, leading Jody to hijack David and force him to a drive a getaway car to Mexico. The stilted dialogue, over-the-top situations, and rampant sexual innuendo will prove particularly attractive to camp aficionados, who should be delighted by the presence of such recognizable figures as Ann-Margret and Forsythe in the central roles. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann-Margret, John Forsythe, (more)
Dr. Jack Hammond (Dudley Moore) is a noted heart surgeon whose personality is switched with his teenage son Chris (Kirk Cameron) in this uninspired comedy. The ingestion of a brain transference serum is the catalyst for the comic catastrophe and the confusion that follows. Sean Astin and Patrick O'Neal co-star with Margaret Colin and Catherine Hicks. A decent idea for a comedy that has since been done better in Brian Gilbert's 1988 comedy Vice Versa starring Fred Savage and Judge Reinhold. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dudley Moore, Kirk Cameron, (more)
In the life of sexually successful young high-school student Phil Fuller (Kristoffer Tabori) the episodes in this story enable him to gain increased maturity and understanding. Phil is attracted to his gym teacher's beautiful wife who has a phobia about growing old and who eventually takes him to her bed. The boy also has a girlfriend with a late period, so he gallantly arranges for an abortion for her. When they discover she is not actually pregnant, he finds out that his mother (Joyce Van Patten) is seeking an abortion. Though he and she were not on very good terms, he stands by her throughout the whole ordeal (not entirely by choice) and wins her friendship. The story is broadly based on a novel by James Leigh. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
The "FYI" staff is a bit wary when Corky (Faith Ford) arranges for her recently graduated sorority sister Amy (Maxine Stuart) to get a job as an intern on the show. Expecting to greet a youthful, Corky-like airhead, the staff is shocked to discover that Amy is well into her sixties. Now the concern is not whether Amy is smart enough for the job, but whether she can physically handle the strain--but the over-compensating staff barely gives the poor woman a chance to find out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
"Death by typewriter" is the coroner's verdict when the body of a man is found. Elsewhere, a naked female corpse, dumped in a junkyard, leads Simone (Jimmy Smits) and Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) on another far-from-merry chase, and still-wobbly Gina (Lourdes Benedicto) returns to work. Outside the precinct, Simone hires the mercurial Henry (Willie Garson) to paint the apartment building, leading to a confrontation with an angry tenant (Maxine Stuart); and Diane (Kim Delaney) begins her counselling sessions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Christmas may be a little late for Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel), who faces the wrath of Borough Commander Haverill (James Handy) -- until Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) unexpectedly come to the rescue. Elsewhere, the Yuletide season is rudely interrupted by the kidnapping of a wealthy young girl, and by Janice's (Amy Brenneman) ever-deepening involvement with the Mob. Things aren't quite so bleak for Martinez (Nicholas Turturro), who receives a very special gift. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Peter Caine (Douglas Dick), the dissolute son of prominent building engineer William Harper Craine (John Hoyt), is being blackmailed by Debra Bradford (Diana Millay), who claims that Peter was involved in a hit-and-run accident while drunk. This act of extortion is somehow tied in with the murder of building contractor Roger Quigley (James Westerfield), for which Peter's father is charged. Initially hired by a citizen's group to prevent the construction of an aqueduct named after William Harper Crane, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) ends up defending the man in court. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Devastated when her brand-new husband Albert Brooks) drops dead on their wedding night, Jewish American princess Judy Benjamin (Goldie Hawn) is receptive to the pitch delivered by a duplicitous recruiter for the Women's Army Corps. Quickly adivsed by topkick Captain Lewis (Eileen Brennan) that she should not look forward to the private room, fancy clothes and sauna bath that she'd been promised, Judy is forced to go through basic training like any other "grunt". This turns out to be a real growth experience for the pampered Private Benjamin, who for the first time in her life has to work for her privileges. A brief misadventure with a lascivious paratroop officer (Robert Webber) nearly sours Judy on army life, but she turns out to be a darned good soldier-and a woman with a highly developed sense of self-esteem, which enables her to weather a further disappointing romantic fling with French phsycian Henri Tremont (Armand Assante). Private Benjamin turned out to be one of Goldie Hawn's most profitable vehicles. The 1981-82 TV sitcom spinoff starred Lorna Patterson in Goldie's role, with Eileen Brennan repeating her film characterization of the long-suffering Captain Lewis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan, (more)
Frequent Quincy, M.E guest star Ina Balin makes a return appearance, this time in the role of Quincy's fellow medical examiner Dr. Lorraine Linderman. Afer several mistakes both minor and serious are made in Dr. Linderman's lab, Quincy (Jack Klugman) becomes convinced that Lorraine is an alcoholic. Despite a preponderance of symptoms, the woman remains in denial--and unless she faces up to her problem soon, the consequences may be fatal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Meek-and-mild longshoreman Pete Thornwall (Robert Walker Jr.) steps forward to take credit for the murder of much-despised loan shark Jake Hennafy (Roy Jenson). Although he is taken into custody, Pete basks in the knowledge that he has become a hero amongst his fellow dock workers, who rationalize that Hennafy was a man who needed killing. But Quincy threatens to burst Pete's bubble when he uncovers evidence that Hennafy died under entirely different circumstances--and that the real killer's motive had nothing to do with heroism. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

- 1970
- PG
- Add Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? to QueueAdd Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? to top of Queue
War Games is the streamlined reissue title for the satirical Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? The story is set in a sleepy Southern town, the site of a tranquil army base. Commanding officer Col. Flanders (Don Ameche), anxious to win the hearts and minds of the locals, invites the populace to an ice-breaking dance. When the festivities degenerate into a fistfight, right-wing militia leader Billy Joe Davis (Tom Ewell) declares war against the Army. The film's romantic subplot is carried by Tony Curtis as a love-'em-and-leave-'em sergeant and Suzanne Pleshette as a smarter-than-she-looks local gal. Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? was reworked as in 1984 as Tank. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Keith, Tony Curtis, (more)
Shirley O'Hara makes a return appearance as vague-minded receptionist Debbie. Hired by Jerry as a temp while Carol is on vacation, Debbie drives everyone to distraction with her incessant ineptitude. Bob would like to say something about the problem, but Debbie is just so darned nice. Also in the cast are Maxine Stuart as Mrs. Chaney and Paula Victor as Stella. Written by Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses, "Dr. Ryan's Express" first aired on October 26, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
Posing as a magazine writer, Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) dogs the trail of celebrated Parisian ballet dancer Danielle Chabrol (Claudine Longet), whom the Feds suspect of being a Communist spy. At present, Danielle is a guest at the Hawaiian estate of retired US diplomat Eric Reeverson (Michael Rennie). Her plan is to romance Reeverson and extract some top-secret information, which she will then relay to her Hawaiian contact James Kellogg (Russell Johnson)--who, conveniently, is Reeverson's next-door neighbor. But this scheme takes a deadly turn when Reeverson's son Glen (played by a young Harrison Ford) falls for Danielle himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When hitchhiker Frank Schroeder (a pre-Hawaii 5-0 Jack Lord) gallantly saves a young Mexican girl named Teresa (Pilar Seurat) from being sexually assaulted, she gratefully tags along with him on his Eastward journey. What Teresa doesn't know is that Frank is a triple murderer who for several days has been eluding a nationwide FBI dragnet. The girl is also blissfully unaware that her travelling companion is planning to pull off a million-dollar diamond heist--and to kill anyone who has the bad luck to get in his way. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) launches a search for the "inside man" who has masterminded a series of meticulously planned robberies in New York's diamond district. Piecing the clues together, Erskine concludes that at least one of the men who pulled off the most recent heist is a trained athlete--very likely a well-known circus performer. A terrific shootout at an airport baggage terminal caps this exciting episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Seriously injured in an explosion, Richard Kimble (David Janssen) awakens to find that he has lost all memory of his identity as a fugitive from justice. Hoping to help Kimble put the pieces back together are Dr. Towne (Ivan Dixon), an aloof neuropsychologist, and Margaret Ruskin (Betty Garrett), a warmhearted social worker. Using their patient's reference to a "one-armed man" as a clue to his identity, Towne and Margaret unwittingly contact Fred Johnson (Bill Raisch), the man who committed the murder for which Kimble has been charged. Now Kimble's own life is in danger --and he still doesn't know enough about himself to escape his fate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Using the alias "Jerry Shelton", Kimble (David Janssen) goes to work as lifeguard at the Nevada gambling resort run by a tough customer named Danny Polichek (Telly Savalas). While thus employed, Kimble catches the eye of Polichek's spoiled daughter Chris (Joanna Frank), who ever since her mother's death has gone out of her way to humiliate her father in public. Now Chris intends to raise some hell with the reluctant Kimble--knowing full well that Polichek has enough power and influence to slice the hapless lifeguard into tiny pieces. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A couple gets more than they bargained for when they buy an old seaside mansion, in this made-for-television movie. Ally Sheedy and William R. Moses star as a couple from San Francisco who decide to rekindle their love and life, by moving away to a small town and buying an inn. After a series of inexplicable events, they come to realize that the home is haunted by its past owner. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide

















