Shannon Tweed Movies
The Standard Operating Procedure of those anonymous young lovelies chosen as Playboy's Playmate of the Month is to make an extremely brief flurry of au naturel movie appearances before rapidly fading into the sunset. Such was not the case of very blonde, very buxom Shannon Tweed. After being anointed Playmate of the Month and Playmate of the Year, the Canadian-born Tweed was able to sustain her film career for nearly two decades. Her come-hither looks, cascading blonde hair, and divine figure admittedly contributed to her durability, but her strongest suit was her genuine acting ability and willingness to poke fun at her image. The actress offered a comedy performance worthy of a Colbert or Lombard as the fetchingly undraped star of the Apocalypse Now spoof Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1990), while she was consistently superior to her material (and most of her co-stars, female and male) in the Night Eyes and Indecent Behavior films of the 1980s and 1990s. Somewhat more modestly garbed in her television appearances, Tweed has been a regular on the daytime soaper Days of Our Lives, the nighttime serial Falcon Crest (1981-1982 season only, as Diana Hunter), and the raunchy cable-TV sitcom First and Ten. In 1991, she starred as air-service proprietor Sally "Slick" Monroe on the diverting Canadian TV adventure weekly Fly By Night, which ran in rerun form on CBS until 1993. The sister of actress Tracy Tweed, Shannon Tweed has two children with Kiss musician Gene Simmons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1982
Dick Van Dyke is the Drop-Out Father in this lighthearted TV movie. A successful but unsatisfied insurance executive, Van Dyke decides one day to kick over the traces. As his wife (Mariette Hartley) and family listen in fascinated horror, our hero announces his plans to move from the suburbs to a Manhattan loft, there to "find himself." With the exception of his loyal youngest daughter, Van Dyke's family elects to stay put, permitting him to carve out a new life on his own. Peter Matz won an Emmy nomination for his sprightly musical score. Originally telecast September 17, 1982, Drop-Out Father was followed in 1988 by a made-for-TV sequel, innovatively titled Drop-Out Mother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Among the first original anthology series to be produced for cable television, The Hitchhiker was a collection of tales of the supernatural and bizarre. The title character, played during the first season by Nicholas Campbell and thereafter by Page Fletcher, was an unnamed drifter who wandered ubiquitously from story to story, sometimes briefly commiserated with the main characters, sometimes acting as a disinterested observer, but always ready with a few pithy and occasional chilling comments of the events which had transpired. Inasmuch as the series carried on pay cable and not "mainstream" commercial TV, the stories contained an abundance of nudity, profanity, and violence. Even so, in most of the half-hour playlets, Evil was severely punished (usually in an ironic "postman always rings twice" fashion) and Virtue more or less triumphed. After 39 episodes on HBO, the series moved to a basic-cable channel, USA, for 46 additional installments. While censorship was somewhat more stringent on USA, The Hitchhiker still managed to serve up rawer and meatier fare than was customary on over-the-air TV of the period. The series was first-run on HBO from November 23, 1983, to May 12, 1987, and on USA from January 4, 1989, to February 22, 1991. ~ All Movie Guide
When a banking executive tries to outsmart an enormous and seriously pesky rat, it is a case of a battle of wits between two unarmed opponents in this tedious rodent horror treatise on the multiple dangers of rats. Bert Hughes (Peter Weller) is home alone in his Manhattan apartment, trying to work out a major change in his trust company when a noisy rat starts scratching around his periphery, and he becomes obsessed with exterminating it. By the time Hughes is through, his whole apartment is nearly exterminated -- and his friends are keeping their distance due to his rat-mania. (In the middle of a business dinner he brings up the topic of rats served as "stringy chicken" in an Asian country.) Rats may be Of Unknown Origin, but more than their questionable hygiene and genealogy is needed to frighten viewers. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Weller, Jennifer Dale, (more)
The action in this run-of-the-mill teen comedy in not as much on the slopes as between the sheets, or on the way to the sheets, as Harkin (Patrick Houser) picks up a hitchhiker (Tracy N. Smith) heading to a Lake Tahoe ski resort. Once there, Harkin joins up with a party-loving group of skiers led by Dan (David Naughton), a New Yorker. When the mix of young men and women are not shaking down into couples, attention focuses on the competition with the world ski champ Rudi Garmischt (John Patrick Reger) -- eventually leading to a spectacular sequence of skiing artistry down the snowy slopes, a tour-de-force that rivals scenes from the Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Naughton, Patrick Houser, (more)
- 1984
This low-grade thriller centers around Frank Waite (Art Hindle), a sports-car salesman who is suddenly mean-tempered when his wife Lee (Shannon Tweed) becomes turned off by sex, and Anouk Van Derlin, the sex therapist they decide to see (Carole Laure). As Anouk starts to bring out the suppressed sexual fantasies of the couple, their sex life is much better -- but both Lee and Frank are not completely at ease with their new, unrestrained relationship. In the meantime, a series of stabbings occurs in the city that may or may not be related to a transvestite neighbor of the Waites. But as the murders continue, some of the victims turn out to be friends or acquaintances of the couple -- and the guessing game to identify the real killer begins. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Art Hindle, Carole Laure, (more)
- 1984
After seven years' service as the never-seen "balladeer" on The Dukes of Hazzard, country legend Waylon Jennings finally appears on-camera as himself, and also finds time to sing "Never Could Toe the Mark". Arriving in Hazzard County, Jennings intends to link up with his old pal Jesse Duke (Denver Pyle), and also hopes to utilize his travelling music-memorabilia museum as a charity exhibit. Meanwhile, Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) draws up plans to covertly "kidnap" the museum, thereby collecting not only a ransom but a huge insurance settlement! Featured in the cast is amply-endowed Playboy centerfold Shannon Tweed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
John Ritter stars in this made-for-television comedy as a lonely philanderer who falls in love with a one-night-stand (Connie Sellecca) who is about to marry another man. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1986
The fact-based NBC movie The High Price of Passion was adapted by Mel Frohman from the book by Russell M. Glitman. Set in and around Tufts University, this is a sad story of obsession and murder, focusing on middle-aged anatomy professor Williams Douglas (Richard Crenna) and greedy 21-year-old prostitute Robin Benedict (Karen Young). Hoping to literally buy Robin's love, Douglas showers her with money, ultimately squandering 67,000 dollars on the callous young woman. Not surprisingly, Robin plays Douglas for a sucker and laughs in his face, with tragic results. Told in flashback from the luckless Prof. Douglas' point of view, The High Price of Passion made its NBC debut on November 30, 1986 -- instantly stirring up a maelstrom of controversy when Tufts' board of directors strenuously objected to the film's suggestion that the University was located within shouting distance of Boston's red-light district. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Crenna, Karen Young, (more)
- 1987
- R
When porn-star Roxy Du Jour (Sally Kellerman) dies with her clothes off while filming her latest project, Saint Peter (Al Waxman) informs her she must do a good deed before she is allowed to pass through the gates of heaven. Roxy's ghost is sent back to Earth to be the patron saint of sex to Rudy (Patrick Dempsey), the dorky virginal teenager who longs for his first sexual encounter. Roxy gives Rudy several tips that only serve to further frustrate Rudy. He has his eye on The Love Goddess (Shannon Tweed) while turning down the continual advances of Wendy (Isabelle Mejias). Kellerman's performance is the only bright light in this insipid sex comedy. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Kellerman, Patrick Dempsey, (more)
- 1987
- R
An alcoholic Vietnam vet who has lost both his wife and his job as a cop while struggling to adjust to civilian life in southern California heads out for unintentionally hilarious revenge against the newly immigrated Vietnamese drug lord who slaughtered his best friend and his family in this campy "Rambo-esque" actioner. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Page Fletcher stars as the title character in this 1983-1988 made-for-cable suspense anthology. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1988
A group of women, rape victims all, establish an island community; once settled, they begin inviting their attackers to the island in order to exact revenge on them. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Merete Van Kamp, Robert Lipton, (more)
- 1989
In exchange for clearing Duell McCall's name, the cowboy's assistance is needed in locating the murderer of the sheriff's wife. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1989
- R
A former CIA agent (Robert Ginty) is released from prison to track down his terrorist rival (James Ryan), who has kidnapped the family of a Middle Eastern monarch. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Ginty, Shannon Tweed, (more)
A teenager puts his life in jeopardy when he tries to convince authorities that his high school's most unpopular teacher is a murderous Satanist who likes to torture and murder hookers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elliott Gould, Richard Roundtree, (more)
In this futuristic actioner set in the year 2020, guns have become so illegal that even cops cannot use them to stop criminals. But officer James Tucker is a maverick and carries with him an enormous homemade revolver, which he uses to blow away bad-guys and psychotic criminals. His newest assignment is to find the evil Steelmore, who uses drugs to turn his followers into nearly invincible and super-intelligent supermen. He obtains the drug through the pharmaceutical company he blackmails by regularly killing the lovers, wives and associates of high-ranking company executives. The trouble for Tucker really begins when higher-ups take away his gun. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Heavener, Erik Estrada, (more)
- 1989
- R
- Add Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death to QueueAdd Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death to top of Queue
Buxom Playboy foldout Shannon Tweed plays a sexy college professor assigned to investigate a sudden, disastrous avocado shortage; her predecessor, a Dr. Kurtz (Adrienne Barbeau) has never returned from the dreaded California Avocado Jungle. Accompanied by air-headed assistant Karen Mistal and macho guide Bill Maher (of Politically Incorrect fame), Tweed ventures into the deepest jungle, where the Piranha Women rule. Proof that this civilization is a matriarchy is the presence of a tribe of wimpy, domesticated men called the Donnahews, who chant names like Alan Alda and Fritz Mondale as their mantra. Fortunately, Tweed is armed with her N.O.W. membership card, so she is allowed safe passage. She finally catches up with Kurtz, who reveals that the avocado shortage is phony, designed by the government as an excuse to capture the Piranha women and transform them into Malibu housewives. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shannon Tweed, Adrienne Barbeau, (more)
In the Cold of the Night is an above-average erotic thriller, directed with superb visual style by Nico Mastorakis, but plagued by an uneven, derivative plot. Photographer Scott Bruin (Jeff Lester) is very successful but begins to have frightening visions of himself murdering a beautiful woman. When he meets the woman in those dreams, Kimberly (Adrienne Sachs), they begin a highly charged romance. When Scott becomes suspicious, he finds out information which leads to a "surprise" ending. In the Cold of the Night generated a great deal of controversy when it was originally released, and director Mastorakis had to cut the film to avoid an X rating. Despite the cuts and the weak plot, the extraordinary visual style of Mastorakis, and the haunting cinematography make In the Cold of the Night a treat for fans of erotic thrillers or anyone who appreciates technique and style in filmmaking. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- 1989
"The Bulls Mean Business' is the new subtitle for 1st & Ten as the raunchy HBO sitcom enters its fifth season. This refers to the fact that the members of the California Bulls football team now all have a financial stake in the franchise. As for sexy team owner Diane Barrows, she has flown the coop (actress Delta Burke left to devote all her time to her other starring sitcom Designing Women). Replacing Diane in the owner's box is the even sexier Kristy Fulbright, played by Shannon Tweed, the famous softcore movie diva. (Given this series' propensity for feminine nudity, it is somewhat disheartening to report that Ms. Tweed remains fully clothed throughout her tenure on the program!) Titles of the season's 14 episodes include "The Bulls Own Up," "The Inmates Buy the Asylum," "Caught in the Draft," "Down and Out in Bulls Stadium," "The Clock Runs Out," "The Dark Side," "Saturday Bloody Saturday," "Injustice for All," "Team Picture,"Out of the Past," "Final Bow," "Duty Calls," "The High and the Mighty," and "The Irreducible Bottom Line." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shannon Tweed, Reid Shelton, (more)
- 1989
Season six of the raunchy HBO football sitcom 1st & Ten is subtitled "Do it Again" -- meaning that the California Bulls are championship-bound again after a three-year dry spell. Sexy team owner Kristy Fulbright (Shannon Tweed) and foul-mouth coach Ernie Denardo (Reid Shelton) have placed their championship homes on their new star player, Vito Del Greco, alias Johnny Gunn -- played by a decidedly pre-Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Christopher Meloni. Episode titles this season include: "The Book According to Zagreb," "The Con," "False Start," "Mind Games," "Love and Marriage," "Clean and Sober," "Blood Money," "Vindication" "Gunn and Bullette," "Heaven Help Me," "Surprise Surprise," "All is Fair in Love and Football," "Earn This One for Ernie," and "Who Stole Johnny Gunn?". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shannon Tweed, Reid Shelton, (more)
- 1990
Having lost the Championship and two of their best players, John Manzak (John Matuszak) and Johnny Gunn (Christopher Meloni), the California Bulls bind their wounds, grit the teeth they have left, and hope for the best as the sexy, profane HBO football sitcom 1st & Ten begins its seventh and final season. The series' subtitle this year is "In Your Face!," and that pretty much sums up the attitude of the battered gridiron vets under the aegis of tough team coach Ernie Denardo (Reid Shelton) and buxom team owner Kristy Fulbright (Shannon Tweed). New to the team is receiver "Miracle Miles" Coolidge (Keith Amos), who just might have the right stuff to guide the Bulls to another Championship. Without giving anything away, we can observe here that "Miracle Miles" figures prominently in the season's best-remembered episode, involving a surprise cameo from a most unlikely guest star. Episode titles this season include "Opening Night," "Old Dogs, New Tricks," "She's Ba-ack," "Altared States," "Going in Style," "Don't Powderburst My Bubble," "The Squeeze," "Take My Wives Please, "Bull Day Afternoon," "Sex, Bulls, and Videotape," "Irma Za-Greb," "If I Didn't Play Football," "A Roast is a Roast," "Close Encounters of the Third Down," "Flashbacks," and "Championship Game." The director for all but one of the above-mentioned episodes was Peter Bonerz of The Bob Newhart Show fame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shannon Tweed, Reid Shelton, (more)
- 1991
- R
A police detective must rescue his ex-wife from a kidnapper who is hiding out in an uncompleted skyscraper in this action film also titled The Concrete War. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
In this low-budget, straight-to-video war drama, a Pentagon advisor working in a South American country suddenly finds his sympathies shifting toward the rebel cause when he realizes that some of the atrocities going on in the conflict-torn country are being perpetrated by his own countrymen in disguise. When he first finds out about the covert activities, he protests, but that only gets him tortured by his men. He then becomes a full-fledged renegade and begins secretly training a guerilla force to fight back. Poorly executed violence ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
