Mel Tormé Movies
"The velvet fog" was a professional singer at three, a radio personality at four, a published composer at 15, and a film actor at 18. Coming to Hollywood as a drummer in the Chico Marx Band, Mel Tormé made his film debut as a singing/dancing house servant in Higher and Higher (1943). While his celebrity status was assured with his oft-recorded ballad "The Christmas Song," Tormé remained a supporting actor throughout the 1940s in films like Junior Miss (1947) and Good News (1950). His dramatic ability was first tapped in the 1957 Playhouse 90 television drama, The Comedian, in which he played the jellyfish younger brother of dictatorial TV comic Mickey Rooney. Tormé then went on to play a villain in the inexpensive crime flick Girls Town (1957), before reverting to good guy and best friend assignments. Motion pictures have never really been Tormé's priority: he's been too busy writing songs, recording albums, and penning biographies of such contemporaries as Judy Garland and Buddy Rich. In the 1980s, Mel Tormé was a frequent guest star on the TV sitcom Night Court, an offshoot of the well-publicized fact that Tormé was the idol of that series star, Harry Anderson. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Judy Garland: Duets collects several television appearances by the singer in which she performs with fellow celebrities. The release includes collaborations with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Bobby Darin, and Lena Horne. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Judy Garland
- 1999
- Add Harold Arlen: Somewhere Over the Rainbow to Queue Add Harold Arlen: Somewhere Over the Rainbow to top of Queue
Songwriter Harold Arlen is the subject of this documentary. Arlen wrote several songs for famous artists, but remained in the shadows as singers such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett received the acclaim. Arlen's most popular song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", the noted song from the Wizard of Oz, is added to the title. Filmed performances by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Mel Torme, and many others are included as they sing songs penned by Arlen and take part in several interviews that make up the bulk of this film, but his life is also well documented. ~ Ed Atkinson, Rovi
- 1998
- Add Monterey Jazz Festival: Forty Legendary Years to Queue Add Monterey Jazz Festival: Forty Legendary Years to top of Queue
The world's longest running jazz celebration, The Monterey Jazz Festival has played host to some of the finest and best loved musicians in the history of the music, including Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk, Joe Williams, Dave Brubeck and Buddy Rich. This documentary video features rare concert footage of many of the greatest names in jazz, as well as vintage photographs and personal interviews with performers and behind-the-scenes figures who helped make Monterey a mecca for jazz players and fans. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 1995
The title of this episode refers to a character called The Jimmy who constantly refers to himself in the third-person in addition to making odd-looking athletic shoes. When Kramer attends a benefit for handicapped adults, fresh from getting Novocain at the dentist's office and decked out in a pair of The Jimmy's shoes, crooner Mel Torme mistakes him for one of the guests-of-honor. Meanwhile, Elaine inadvertently finds herself making a date with The Jimmy, George's sweating makes him look guilty at work, and Jerry suspects the copies of Penthouse magazine in his dentist's waiting room have affected the behavior of the doctor and his assistant. Bryan Cranston, later of FOX's Malcolm in the Middle, reprises the role of dentist Tim Whatley and "The Velvet Fog," Mel Torme, appears as himself. Originally airing March 16, 1995, "The Jimmy" was the 17th episode shot for the show's sixth season, despite being the 18th one shown. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- 1994
Buddy Rich: Jazz Legend is a colorful documentary that includes performances, interviews, and rare footage of this world-renowned drummer. Volume 1: 1917-1970 features performances with the Artie Shaw, Harry James, and Tommy Dorsey bands, as well as Rich in a drum duo with Gene Krupa. Mel Torme narrates this documentary that provides insight into the life, the music, and the virtuosity of this great drummer. Buddy's daughter, his musical associates, and Buddy Rich himself give commentary. ~ Madeline Cavalieri, Rovi
- 1994
Buddy Rich: Jazz Legend is a colorful documentary that includes performances, interviews, and rare footage of this world-renowned drummer. Part 2: 1970-1987 features highlights of Rich's career as he stars on The Johnny Carson Show, with the Muppets, and in other performances around the world. Mel Torme narrates this documentary that provides insight into the life, the music, and the virtuosity of this great drummer. Buddy's daughter, his musical associates and uddy Rich himself give commentary ~ Madeline Cavalieri, Rovi
The mock heavy-metal band Spinal Tap (actually comedians Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer) return to duty in this made-for-TV sequel to Rob Reiner's 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, filmed to promote the group's album Break Like the Wind. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
- Starring:
- Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, (more)
- 1992
In the first episode of the two-part Night Court series finale (originally networkcast as a single one-hour special), Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson) considers stepping down from the bench when he receives a number of lucrative (and rather offbeat) job offers. Meanwhile, Christine (Markie Post) seems resigned to losing the congressional election--but she may be in for a surprise. Also, Dan (John Larroquette) prepares to marry into money, while Bull (Richard Bull) makes the acquaintance of several "little people" who are truly out of this world! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1992
As prank, a "National Lampoon"-like humor magazine offers a man-of-the-year award to Mel Torme. Unfortunately, Harry (Harry Anderson doesn't know it's a prank, and is willing to go to impossible lengths to get his idol to accept the prize. Meanwhile, Dan (John Larroquette) has teamed up with the redoubtable Will (William Utay) to capture fugitives for a price. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
- PG13
- Add The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear to Queue Add The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear to top of Queue
Leslie Nielsen returns as the intrepid (and accident-prone) Lt. Frank Drebin in Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, "un film de David Zucker." This second feature film from the "Police Squad!" series finds Drebin as a guest at a White House dinner, receiving an award for shooting his 1,000th drug dealer, although he admits to shooting only 998 -- he ran over the last two in his car. ("Luckily, they turned out to be drug dealers"). Also at the White House dinner is energy czar Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer (Richard Griffiths), whom President George Bush (John Roarke) has chosen to start a new national energy policy. Since Meinheimer believes in promoting alternative energy resources, the evil leaders of the polluting energy industries (coal, oil, and nuclear power--or the lobby groups SMOKE, SPILL and KABOOM) are horrified at Bush's choice. Joining together with arch-villain Quentin Hapsburg (Robert Goulet), they plan to kidnap the real Meinheimer and substitute a fake Meinheimer in his place who will enact energy policy according to the dictates of the energy lobby. Drebin becomes deeply involved in the conspiracy when he runs into his ex-girl friend Jane (Priscilla Presley), who is not only Meinheimer's public relations director but also Hapsburg's current paramour. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, (more)
- 1991
Night Court's final Christmas episode finds Dan (John Larroquette) the unlikely counselor for a disillusioned department-store Santa (Hansford Rowe) who has taken him hostage. Meanwhile, Harry (Harry Anderson) has trouble shedding himself of Miss Hendley (Terri Hanauer), a lonely stranger whom he has befriended--and who turns out to be the proverbial Emotional Black Hole. Mel Torme (surprise!) makes a cameo appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
Night Court bows to 1990s sitcom tradition with this extended spoof (replete with black-and-white sequences) of the classic 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life. In the throes of despondency after being dumped by Margaret Turner, Harry (Harry Anderson) expresses the wish that he'd never been born. Enter Harry's idol Mel Torme, in the guise of his Guardian Angel, to show Harry what life in Night Court would have been like without him. Predictably, the scenario is nightmarish indeed, with smarmy prosecutor Dan (John Larroquette) promoted to crooked judge, court matron Roz (Marsha Warfield) languishing behind bars, and court bailiff Bull (Richard Moll) acting like a gutless toady. All this, plus a lively rendition of "Pick Yourself Up"! It should come as no surprise that this "very special episode" originally aired during the February sweeps. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1990
The Night Courters believe they has scored a coup when they arrange for Mel Torme to sing at Harry's 40th birthday party. Alas, as the big evening approaches, it looks like the Velvet Fog will be a no-show. And the fault lies with Harry (Harry Anderson) himself: honoring duty over adulation, the Judge has jailed his idol Mel for nonpayment of traffic tickets! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1989
On the day of the state assembly election, Dan (John Larroquette) comes face to face with his opponent Joan Hobson (Janet Zarish) for the first time. Before the returns are in, Dan and Joan have put their political differences aside for an evening of pulsating passion! Meanwhile, Harry (Harry Anderson) accidentally passes along a flu bug to his idol Mel Torme--causing the Velvet Fog to cancel the concert at which Harry was to have been his special guest. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This is one of the better Warner Brother's anthologies and features some of Daffy and Friends' greatest adventures that are linked by a horror theme that has Daffy trying to set up his own ghost exorcism service with Porky and Bugs. Among the older cartoon shorts presented is a new short, The Duxorcist. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1988
- Add The Snader Telescriptions: The Vocalists to Queue Add The Snader Telescriptions: The Vocalists to top of Queue
Four of the twentieth-century's most beloved singers are featured in this installment in the Jazz Legends series from Storyville Films. "I May Be Wrong" by Peggy Lee, "The Nearness of You" by Sarah Vaughn, "Imagination" by June Christy, and "April Showers" by Mel Torme are just a few of the numbers included in The Snader Telescriptions: The Vocalists. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- 1988
John Astin returns as Buddy, perennial mental-home habitue and self-proclaimed stepfather of Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson). Obliged to spend an inordinate amount of time keeping Buddy from being permanently committed by his condescending brother Phil (Alex Henteloff), Harry may well miss yet another opportunity to meet his idol Mel Torme, forcing an empathetic Dan (John Larroquette) to take drastic action. Also appearing is Shelley Berman as Al, a man suffering from self-imposed catatonia...not to mention a "noogie" fetish. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1987
Dan (John Larroquette) and Harry (Harry Anderson) both angle for the attentions of Christine's gorgeous friend Heather (Sela Ward). After carefully weighing the options, Heather decides to spend the weekend with Dan, sending Harry spiraling into a depression. But worse is still to come: It seems that Harry's idol Mel Torme prefers Dan's company as well! Jay Robinson,the unforgettable Caligula in The Robe, appears as Roland Jeffries. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
It had to happen: Harry's idol Mel Torme has shown up in the courtroom! Unfortunately, it looks as though Harry (Harry Anderson) will pass up the opportunity to meet the fabled Velvet Fog. It seems that he is bogged down with personal problems involving courtroom shoeshine boy Leon (Bumper Robinson), who has run away from his nerdy adoptive parents--and intends to move back in with Harry whether Social Services likes it or not. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
Arthur Hailey's novel Hotel had already served as the inspiration for a 1967 theatrical film when this TV pilot came along on September 21, 1983. Bette Davis stars as Laura Trent, the entrenched owner of the Hotel St. Gregory (moved from the novel's New Orleans to San Francisco, to allow for location filming at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel). In true Love Boat fashion, Ms. Trent and hotel manager Peter McDermott (James Brolin) oversee four separate plot strands. A hooker (Morgan Fairchild) is raped in the hotel by a bunch of preppies who'd hired her for "just talk". A neurotic aspiring singer (Erin Moran) tries to interrupt the act of the hotel's lounge entertainer Mel Torme (himself). A very-married lady (Shirley Jones) checks in to conduct an illicit affair. And a feisty young woman (Connie Sellecca, a regular on the subsequent series) shows up unhired as McDermott's assistant manager. The Hotel series ran from 1983 to 1988, during which time an ailing Bette Davis was replaced by Anne Baxter; in the early 1990s, reruns of the series popped up rather incongruously on cable's E! Entertainment Network. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1982
The made-for-television Pray TV was the subject for hot debate long before its February 1, 1982 debut. This even-handed exploration of the televangelism business stars Ned Beatty as the Reverend Freddy Stone, whose religious empire nets $3 million annually. John Ritter co-stars as Rev. Tom McPherson, a newly ordained clergyman who joins the Stone operation. As Ritter begins to question the religious ethics behind Stone's lucrative ministry, a subplot develops involving Reverend Gus Keffer (Richard Kiley), who in contrast to Stone must operate on a shoestring, minus the glittery trappings of TV, radio, and SRO revival meetings. Lane Slate's teleplay takes great pains to offend no one; whether this is good or bad is up to you. Pray TV bears no relation to the earlier theatrical-feature comedy of the same name. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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