Robert Tessier Movies
Burly, shaved-headed character actor Robert Tessier made his film debut in The Glory Stompers (1967). His largeness coupled with his tendency to scowl relegated Tessier to playing villains. He most frequently appeared in B-action movies. Tessier died of cancer in 1990. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
In this futuristic film, law and order are things of the past as cops are driven off of the crime-infested streets. It is up to a group of vigilantes to set things straight. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Carradine, Robert Tessier, (more)
- 1989
- R
In this actioner, an L.A. cop speeds off to get revenge upon the dirty drug-dealing dogs who killed his partner. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Matuszak, Ronny Cox, (more)
In this comedy, a wealthy teen convinces a burglar to kidnap him so he can get his family's wayward attention. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Young, Martin Sheen, (more)
- 1988
- R
In this action thriller, a CIA agent heads out for personalized revenge against the South American drug lords who murdered his family. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wings Hauser, Robert Tessier, (more)
- 1985
The A-Team goes on a fishing trip, partly for recreation, partly to hide out from the minions of their relentless pursuer Col. Decker (Lance LeGault). Unfortunately, the vacation is interrupted by the arrival of four desperate bank robbers, who have taken ranger Roy Sherman (Ken Swofford) and his daughter Jenny (Kristen Meadows) hostage. The challenge facing the Team is to thwart the villains before Decker can catch up to them. This is the final episode of The A-Team's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Betsy Russell takes over as part-time prostitute Molly Stewart in this disappointing sequel to the surprisingly good Angel (1984). Old pals Rory Calhoun and Susan Tyrrell are along for the search for the killer of the cop who saved Molly's life in the first film, joined by street magician Johnny Glitter (Barry Pearl). More brutal and hard-edged than the original, this installment is just another violent action movie, despite some slick camerawork and a fast pace. One peculiar touch is the frequent use of Bronski Beat's savage dance hit "Why?" which, although it has appropriately exciting music, it concerns gay-bashing and has no relation whatsoever to the storyline. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Betsy Russell, Rory Calhoun, (more)
- 1984
Never released theatrically, this deflated actioner features the late Vince Edwards as Frank Lane, a drug boss hiding behind a dummy contracting business. Lane has come up with a scheme to secretly ship narcotics by using a touring country-music band as the unknowing transporters. He has two goons who help him out, but they are up against the wily Charles Dale (Richard Jaeckel and undercover Kelly (Julie Hill), the DEA agents out to bring down Lane's operation. Several chase scenes and country music songs later, Dale and Lane arrive at a climactic face-off. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Jaeckel, Tony Dale, (more)
- 1984
Magnum's latest client is a little Vietnamese street kid named Tran Quoc Jones (Ronald Harrah III). An illegal alien, the boy has come to Hawaii in search of his missing dad, an American G.I. Can it be that Magnum's friend T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) is the man Tran Quoc seeks? And why has pompous politician Dick Hasley (Rick Lenz) chosen to exploit the child's plight as a means of publicizing his campaign? The answers, of course, are not immediately forthcoming--in fact, it will require a murder for the truth to be revealed! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
- R
A cross between a skin flick and a futuristic fantasy, this unfunny parody is set on a remote Pacific Island where the insidious Dr. Sin Do (Angus Scrimm) whose life began long ago under the name of Li Chuk, has made a pact with Satan that gives him power over the weather. Now he is tracking down the lost "Eye of the Avatar," created by the extinct race of Lemurians before their civilization disappeared -- that jewel, when combined with Sin Do's own special jewel, will endow him with indomitable power. Sent to combat the evil "doctor" are some comely female warriors (Melanie Vincz, Raven de la Croix and others) whose bodies get more screen time than the dialogue itself -- an indication of where the main interest lies. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Melanie Vincz, Raven de la Croix, (more)
- 1983
This week the A-Team shows up in New York, where they champion the cause of a group of Delancy Street shopkeepers who are being terrorized by a vicious protection racket. The team quickly discerns that the man behind the racket is a flamboyant nightclub owner, which of course obligates our heroes to adopt some equally flamboyant disguises. Originally scheduled to air on March 22, 1983, this episode is capped by one of the best-choreographed fight scenes in A-Team history. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
The A-Team shows up in rural California, where ruthless landowner Chuck Easterland (Stuart Whitman) is trying to drive Penhall Produce Farms out of business. Championing the cause of Joe Penhall (Robert Sampson) and his daughter Ellen (Devon Ericson), the team volunteers their services to deliver the farm's crop of watermelons to market. Unfortunately, they're blocked every inch of the way by Easterlands hired goons--and melons are a mighty perishable commodity. This is the episode in which the precious car owned by reporter Amy Allen (Melinda Culea) is reduced to a pile of scrap iron. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This is an unusual entry in the knights-in-armor genre. Set in medieval England, the film follows the exploits of a young swordsman, Talon (Lee Horsley). Working as a mercenary knight, Talon possesses a unique three-bladed sword which fires its two extra blades when he touches a button. By chance, Talon learns that he is a prince who has forgotten his royal heritage. Using his sword and his wiles, he attempts to regain control of his kingdom, which has been taken over by a sadistic tyrannical knight and an evil sorcerer. In doing so, he can save a princess who has been taken hostage by the usurpers. Comedy is interspersed with gory and licentious drama throughout the film, which was directed and written by Albert Pyun. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kathleen Beller, Simon MacCorkindale, (more)
- 1982
- R
Double Exposure is a dull, predictable mystery thriller with a fine cast but hampered by a poor script and bad direction and production. A photographer (Michael Callan) begins to have a series of nightmares concerning bloody, gruesome murders. When those murders become reality, he is the prime suspect and must find the real killer. The cast including Joanna Pettet, James Stacy, Cleavon Little, Sally Kirkland and Seymour Cassel, makes the most of their underwritten and poorly developed characters, but producer/director/writer William Byron Hillman substitutes nudity and lurid, gory special effects for both plot and character. Viewers looking for an interesting thriller based on the same premise might enjoy The Eyes of Laura Mars, and not waste their time with this plodding rip-off. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
Burt Reynolds and director Hal Needham team up for the fourth time, this time bringing an all-star cast of characters on a cross-country car race in the vein of 1976 release The Gumball Rally. The police are the least of the Cannonballers' worries as they push the pedal to the metal in a race from Connecticut to California. Reynolds stars as J.J. McClure, a speed-loving racer disguised as an ambulance driver to outsmart the police. He is paired up with Dom Deluise, who plays his dimwitted sidekick Victor and who, on occasion, dons the suit of Captain Chaos. Rat Packers Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. join the lineup as Ferrari-driving priests, while martial arts expert Jackie Chan takes on one of his first U.S. film roles driving a souped-up Subaru. Among the many other stars are Roger Moore doing a parody of his 007 character, complete with secret devices and weapons, Farrah Fawcett as Pamela, a woman McClure and Chaos pick up, and Jamie Farr as a deranged Islamic sheik. Jack Elam joins the cast as a crazed proctologist along for McClure's ambulance ride, and Needham makes a cameo as a patient. ~ Rachel Koetje, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, (more)
- 1980
Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) champion the cause of runaway heiress Suzy Holmes (Susan Walden), who has stowed away in the boys' car to avoid the hired minions of her nasty millionaire father C.J. Holmes (Robert Alda). Hoping to elope with her boyfriend Fred Andrews (Edward Edwards), Suzy persuades the Dukes to help deliver her fiance across the county line--in effect asking our heroes to break their parole and risk arrest. Mr. Holmes strikes back at the Dukes by kidnapping Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle), while Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) also gets into the game, hoping that by returning Suzy to her daddy he'll be rewarded with one of the famous Holmes oil wells. This episode marks the final appearance of Daisy Duke's (Catherine Bach) famous yellow car--and the introduction of her even more famous white jeep "Dixie". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
- PG
This action drama based around a construction site was a star vehicle for television actor Lee Majors between his two series gigs on The Six Million Dollar Man (1974-78) and The Fall Guy (1981-86). Majors stars as Mike Catton, a former well-regarded construction site foreman who became afraid of heights following a serious accident. When his friend Big Lew (George Kennedy) is killed while trying to rush the completion of an office skyscraper in an effort to beat a greedy bank's threatened foreclosure, Mike goes to work for Big Lew's daughter Cass (Jennifer O'Neill), recruiting a team of top workers to finish the job. Steel (1980) became an infamous picture due to the death of stunt man A.J. Bakunis, who died during the film's production trying to regain his former world's record for the longest stunt fall. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lee Majors, Jennifer O'Neill, (more)
- 1979
This made-for-TV espionage thriller was approximately fourteen years too late for TV's "spy cycle". Dale Robinette plays a Bondlike secret agent, while Ralph Bellamy is the "M" counterpart. Robinette is assigned to solve the mystery of several UFO sightings in Utah. The instigator turns out to be an eco-villain (Patrick MacNee), who threatens to destroy the ozone layer unless he's paid one billion dollars within 48 hours. When Billion Dollar Threat failed to yield a weekly TV series, its producers revamped the project--and the result was the equally unsuccessful Once Upon a Spy (80). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The presence of Paul Lynde, in a small role, reveals more about the quality and tone of this film than the three top names. A farce with plenty of slapstick, it offers Kirk Douglas as a road agent dealing with a naive hero (a young Arnold Schwarzenegger) who is seemingly out of western serials in the '40s and a beautiful, sexy saloon girl (Ann-Margret). The silly jokes are the point, not the plot, though Needham includes some impressive stunts. Some of the most notable draw blatantly on Warner Brothers roadrunner and Daffy Duck cartoons; notably, the film came from Columbia, not Warner. The film's attempt at satire is too heavy-handed to have bite. ~ Bill Wu, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Ann-Margret, (more)
Following the blockbuster success of Smokey and the Bandit, Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and director Hal Needham reunited to make the very similar Hooper, an action-laced comedy about a Hollywood stunt man who enters a dangerous rivalry with a younger stunt man. Hooper (Reynolds) and the younger stunt man (Jan-Michael Vincent) compete in a series of increasingly complex stunts in order to earn the title of "the greatest stunt man alive." Hooper is lightweight, mindless fun that doesn't have much story, but it is a stronger film than Smokey and the Bandit, largely because the characters are somewhat stronger. Everyone involved looks like they're having fun; the good-humor translates on screen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Jan-Michael Vincent, (more)
- 1978
- PG
Italian schlock-master Luigi Cozzi (billed as Lewis Coates here) directed this low-budget Star Wars rip-off in 1978, right when the sci-fi craze was hitting audiences on a world-wide scale. The story begins familiarly enough, with a huge spaceship tracking through an extremely colorful space scene while under attack by some kind of unknown and deadly force resembling a lava lamp. Being no match for the '60s acid-flashback rays, they manage to jettison a few escape pods just before being blown to kingdom come. Fast forward now to the other end of the galaxy, where we find the best smugglers in town -- gorgeous Stella Star (Caroline Munro) and space-pimp Akton (Marjoe Gortner) -- outrunning a band of cops on their tail. Eventually, they're caught, taken into custody, and sentenced to intense Labor Camps, where Stella is forced to wear a skimpy Barbarella-like outfit by the extreme, merciless guards. A break-out ensues, and in the intense laser shoot-out, Stella manages to escape, only to be captured again by the semi-green-skinned Thor (Robert Tessier) and his annoying southern-drawled robot, Elle (voiced by genre veteran Hamilton Camp). Brought in front of the Emperor of the Galaxy (Christopher Plummer) and reunited with Akton, the sexy duo find themselves suddenly in charge of finding Prince Simon (David Hasselhoff). Thus begins the heroes' amazing adventure through space and time as they search for Hasselhoff and end up fighting Amazons, Cavemen, and the Evil Count Zarth Arn (Joe Spinell) along the way. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marjoe Gortner, Caroline Munro, (more)
The longest (26-1/2 hours), most expensive ($25 million) and most complicated (four directors, five producers, five cinematographers, almost 100 speaking parts, several hundred extras) project made for television up to that time, Centennial was shown in two- and three-hour installments over a period of four months. An adaptation of James Michener's best-selling novel, it told the story of the settling of the American West by looking at the founding of the fictional town of Centennial, Colorado, from the settling of the area in the late 18th century to the present. Emmy-nominated for film editing and art direction, it boasts of sterling performances from Richard Chamberlain as frontiersman Alexander McKeag, Robert Conrad as the French-Canadian trapper Pasquinel, and a surprisingly powerful performance from former football star Alex Karras as compassionate but iron-willed immigrant farmer Hans Brumbaugh. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- 1977
James Fenimore Cooper's frequently filmed 1826 novel The Last of the Mohicans was given the TV-movie treatment late in 1977. Steve Forrest stars as frontier-scout Hawkeye, with Ned Romero and Don Shanks as, respectively, his Indian companions Chingachgook and Uncas. At the height of the French and Indian war in Canada, Hawkeye and friends agree to escort a small group of British settlers-including Alice and Cora Munro (Jane Actman and Michele Marsh), daughters of the Fort William Henry commander, through unfriendly territory. Their hopes for a safe trip are thwarted by the treacherous Magua (Robert Tessier), who has cast his lot with the French. This fourth film version of the Cooper novel was originally telecast November 23, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Peter Benchley, who wrote Jaws, also wrote The Deep. Scuba divers David Sanders and Gail Berke (Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset), assisted by Romer Treece (Robert Shaw), discover a sunken treasure off the Bermuda coast. They also find a stash of narcotics. David and Gail spend the rest of the picture avoiding bad guys who stashed the drugs and want the treasure as well. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Shaw, Jacqueline Bisset, (more)
- 1977
Claude Lelouch's Another Man, Another Chance is set in 1870. Fleeing from the Franco-Prussian war, Jeanne (Genevieve Bujold) and boyfriend Francis (Francis Huster) escape to the American west. Their course does not run smooth, and soon Jeanne is left alone to care for her baby. Meanwhile, American veterinaran Jimmy (James Caan), an absolute stranger to Bujold, endures his share of woes, not least of which is the rape and murder of his wife by desperadoes. Inevitably, Caan and Bujold meet and fall in love. Having already suffered the death of Huster, Jeanne tries to dissuade Jimmy from his single-minded pursuit of his wife's murderers. This character conflict determines the outcome of the film's final scenes. Another Man, Another Chance was distributed in the US by United Artists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Caan, Geneviève Bujold, (more)
