Joseph Bologna Movies
Joseph Bologna attended Brown University, where he majored in art history. After a hitch with the marines, Bologna was hired to produce and direct Manhattan-based TV commercials. In 1965, he married actress/writer Renee Taylor, who would collaborate with Bologna on such stage, screen, and TV projects as Lovers and Other Strangers, Made for Each Other, Woman of the Year, and the Emmy-winning Acts of Love and Other Comedies. Bologna and Taylor also created the 1973 TV series Calucci's Department, and co-directed the 1989 feature film Made for Each Other. On his own, Bologna has been a much-in-demand film actor since 1970. His most rewarding screen assignments have included the starring role of Dan Torrance in the 1976 disaster-flick spoof The Big Bus and Sid Caesar-like TV comic King Kaiser in the nostalgic My Favorite Year (1982). On television, Joseph Bologna played a cameo as Walter Winchell in the made-for-cable biopic Citizen Cohn (1992), and starred as Nick Foley on the 1987 TV "dramedy" Rags to Riches, which gave him a rare opportunity to sing from time to time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 2005
Jane Doe:'Til Death Do Us Part is one of several Hallmark Channel TV-movies starring Lea Thompson as suburban housewife and mom Kathy Davis (Lea Thompson), who unbeknownst to her family occasionally moonlights as an undercover special agent and "problem solver" for the NSA. This time around, Armand Nostrum (Tom Castranova), a notorious illegal arms dealer serving a life term in prison, apparently dies of heart failure just before he was to blow the whistle on the others in his operation. Kathy--code name "Jane Doe"--is brought into the case when Nostrum's body disappears from the prison hospital, despite the tightest of security measures. As she tries to figure out what has happened and why, the possibility arises that the "dead" man was anything but! This is the episode in which Kathy is finally permitted to tell her husband Jack (William R. Moses) of her covert activities--and in the bargain, our heroine honors us with a lengthy and very broad imitation of a "typical" Mafia princess! Jane Doe: 'Til Death Do Us Part first aired March 11, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A handful of men and women "of a certain age" pick up the pieces of their lives and look for new love after the loss of their mates in this comedy drama from writer-director Susan Seidelman. Jack (Len Cariou) married his high school sweetheart when they were still in their teens, and when she dies in her early sixties, he is emotionally devastated. Jack's friends and family insist he needs to start living again, and he begins attending a support group for bereaved senior citizens. Jack strikes up a friendship with fellow widower Harry (Joseph Bologna), who offers advice on making time with the ladies, something he's developed a strong interest in since his wife's passing. At their meetings, Jack makes the acquaintance of Sandy (Sally Kellerman), an attractive and intelligent woman who - via a number of obvious sexual advances - makes no secret of her attraction to Jack, though he isn't sure he's ready for a new relationship. Jack and Harry also cross paths with Sandy's friends Marilyn (Brenda Vaccaro), who recently lost her husband to an absent-minded driver with a cellular phone, and Lois (Dyan Cannon), who still flaunts her considerable sex appeal and is dating a younger man, Donald (Michael Nouri). Also screened as The Boynton Beach Bereavement Club, The Boynton Beach Club also stars Renee Taylor, Bologna's wife and frequent acting partner. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dyan Cannon, Brenda Vaccaro, (more)
- 1999
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In this live-action musical comedy, Baby Huey, the lovable seven foot tall duckling, is taken in by a caring little boy named Nick and his kind but surprised family. A sinister scientist and a mean Las Vegas producer want Baby Huey for themselves, but they don't know what a little boy, a caring community, and a baby bird that's bigger than all of them is capable of. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
If given the chance, would Batman have the hots for Lois Lane? Would Lex Luthor get along well with The Joker? And what, if anything, would be left for Robin to do? All these questions and more are answered in this conflation of two of the most venerable comic book legends, The Batman Superman Movie. Up to his old tricks, The Joker has stolen a priceless statue from the Gotham City museum. When Batman learns that the green figurine is made of Kryptonite, however, he knows this isn't your ordinary evil caper. The Caped Crusader sets off for Metropolis to tell the Man of Steel the news, and along the way, he falls for the beguiling beauty of Lois Lane. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly, (more)
- 1997
In this eccentric comedy, Jacob (Andy Velasquez) is a young man from Israel whose father has long regarded him as a test presented to him by God. Jacob's mind runs on a path all his own, and he has a mild handicap -- his feet stick out at right angles from his legs, giving him a very curious walk. Having little luck finding his place in the world at home, and depressed after his girlfriend leaves him, Jacob learns of a land of wonder and opportunity called Canada, and he soon relocates to Toronto. Jacob isn't in town long before he is befriended by a thief (Giancarlo Giannini) who shows him the ropes of life in the big city, when he's not busy knocking over ATMs. Jacob spends his days wondering the streets of Toronto and meets a woman named Selma (Joanna Pacula), who not only becomes his new girlfriend, but finds him work impersonating Charlie Chaplin in a street-theater act with a pig and a rock band. Omar Sharif makes a brief appearance as the author and philosopher Khalil Gibran, and Leonard Cohen plays a man who impersonates Leonard Cohen. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1994
The silly spirit of Revenge of the Nerds lives on in this made-for-television sequel. Curtis Armstrong returns as Booger, and this time around the nerds are gathering for his wedding to a wealthy upper-class girl. As the nerds plan a wild bachelor party, the girl's father is busy hiring an investigator to look into Booger's past and hopefully stop the wedding. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Arriving at Kennedy International Airport, a confused Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is kidnapped by the minions of respected philanthropist Maxwell Hagen (Ken Howard). After being released, Jessica complains to the authorities, who refuse to believe her story, or at least act as if they don't believe her. It turns out that Jessica was mistaken for another woman, a government "mole" who was fleeing for her life--and when that woman turns up murdered, Jessica is determined to bring the culprit to justice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In this drama, based on a true story, a New York educator has an affair with a manipulative peer and subsequently finds himself implicated in his wife's murder. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Penny, Jenny Robertson, (more)
Frank Pierson's made-for-cable adaptation of Nicholas VonHoffman's biography, Citizen Cohn stars James Woods as the controversial lawyer Roy Cohn. The film is structured as a series of flashbacks while Cohn lies in a New York hospital dying of AIDS. In the 1940s and early '50s, Cohn became one of the most powerful men in the country after becoming an important associate of Senator Joseph McCarthy (Joe Don Baker) and his Communist witch hunts. The film recounts those turbulent times and features portrayals of such real-life figures as J. Edgar Hoover (Pat Hingle), Dashiell Hammett (Frederic Forrest), Cardinal Spellman (Daniel Benzali), and Walter Winchell (Joseph Bologna). ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Woods, Joe Don Baker, (more)
- 1991
Dominick Dunne's best-seller An Inconvenient Woman had enough plots, subplots and peripheral characters to fill 10 TV movies; this adaptation manages to pack all the essentials into a mere four hours. Dunne's beloved American Aristocracy is put under the microscope in this rambling tale of scandal, murder and revenge. Part One introduces Los Angeles business mogul and political bigwig Jason Robards. After 23 years of marriage to haughty socialite Jill Eikenberry, Robards stumbles into an affair with low-born waitress Rebecca De Mornay. Stay tuned for Part Two, originally telecast one day after Part One in May of 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In Part One of the TV-movie adaptation of Dominick Dunne's An Inconvenient Woman, we saw how billionaire businessman Jason Robards compromised his marriage and reputation by falling for poverty-stricken waitress Rebecca DeMornay. In Part Two, Ms. DeMornay is confronted by Robards' outwardly understanding wife Jill Eikenberry. Distressed that her handpicked husband would choose so common a bedmate, Ms. Eikenberry quietly plots revenge. What follows is murder on the part of Robards, and blackmail on the part of one of the ladies. After its initial two-part network debut, An Inconvenient Woman was boiled down to one single 126-minute movie for syndication and videocassette. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Al (Ed O'Neill) nearly goes out of his mind when he is unable to identify a song that he heard on the radio and has been humming ever since. In the midst of his strenuous efforts to pinpoint the song's title, Al manages to find time to berate his daughter Kelly's latest boyfriend, Vinnie Verducci (played by a decidedly pre-Friends Matt LeBlanc. We're not about to give away the name of the song, but here's a hint: it was a big hit back in 1962 for r-and-b singer Arthur Alexander--and the title is NOT what everyone thinks it is! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Ed O'Neill (Al Bundy) is the only Married. . .With Children regular to appear in the series' 100th episode, which serves as the pilot for the spinoff series Top of the Heap. The focus is on Al Bundy's lifelong buddy Charlie Verducci (Joseph Bologna), Charlie's dimwitted son Vinnie (a pre-Friends Matt LeBlanc) and hot-to-trot Kathleen Morgan (Diana Bellamy). Plot complications include Charlie's efforts to land a wealthy bride for his son at a fundraiser, Vinnie's attempt to be champion boxer, and Al's revenge after losing his TV in a bet. Watch for future film favorite Renee Zellwegger in a minor role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
An Inconvenient Woman, an excellent television mini-series based on the novel by Dominick Dunne, which is loosely based on the Alfred Bloomingdale scandal, tells the story of the mistress of a famous man who he has murdered when she threatens his security. Jules Mendelson (Jason Robards) and his socialite wife Pauline (Jill Eikenberry) have a marriage of convenience that is threatened by the existence of Jules cast-off mistress Flo (Rebecca De Mornay) who knows too much and can cause them all too much trouble. So, Jules plans to have her eliminated. The fine cast all give good performances in their roles, and the subject matter, while potentially lurid and tasteless, is treated with sophistication and tact in this excellent adaptation of the best-selling novel. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Not so much a sequel to the John Sayles-scripted Alligator as a shoddy remake, this sophomoric low-budget effort plays like a bad TV movie about a swamp-dwelling alligator mutated to monstrous size by toxic waste, munching on the screaming residents of a lakefront community. The naughty polluter who caused this mutation is the property developer himself (Steve Railsback, playing such a cookie-cutter villain that he might as well have a "BAD GUY" sign around his neck). An embarrassed Joseph Bologna plays the cop investigating the mutilation murders; an equally-ashamed Dee Wallace Stone plays the scientist assisting him, who is conveniently married to him as well. In an attempt to remedy the situation, a big-game hunter (Richard Lynch) is called in to bag the beast. When his efforts fail, it's left to Bologna to pick up the pieces -- literally -- and take charge of the situation when the big reptile decides to take in the grand opening of the local amusement park. From a nonsensical script to cheesy special effects that make the beast look like a pool toy, this film shows none of the cynical charm and sly wit that made Alligator so enjoyable. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joseph Bologna, Woody Brown, (more)
- 1989
In this black comedy, a wealthy but flaky family tries to deal with their lives after their bizarre father suffers a fatal heart-attack on Thanksgiving and falls face first into the turkey. Now the family must somehow get their act together enough to pay bills and make funeral arrangements. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
In this crime drama, a NYPD detective looks into the deaths of several policewomen and discovers that she is to be the killer's next victim. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Actress Theda Blau is well on the wrong side of forty, but she's gamely pretending to be thirty. Though it's hard to believe, she nonetheless manages enough of the ancient siren's song to get a middle-aged producer of TV commercials to come back to her apartment with her. She gets him to stay by "accidentally" spilling water on him - but she's not trying to get him into bed. Her game is to get him to stick around long enough to read the screenplay she's written, and maybe (just maybe) decide that he's good for more than just making commercials. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renée Taylor, Joseph Bologna, (more)
- 1987
In this TV pilot, millionaire Nick Foley adopts six little orphan girls who prove to be much more of a challenge than he bargained for. This stars Joseph Bologna as Foley. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1987
A malevolent toy tycoon threatens the happiness of a teen android and his inventor. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1986
This drama is based on the true story of a housewife who becomes a helicopter pilot for the US Army after her husband suffers a massive coronary. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1985
This campy drama, set in the 1940s, was inspired by a hit song by Barry Manilow. It tells the tale of an aspiring songwriter, Lola, a showgirl, and the sleazy owner of the Copa. Tragedy ensues as the two men duel over Lola's love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
This attempt to remake the clever 1977 French farce Un Moment d'Egarement stars 50-film-a-year man Michael Caine as an executive named Matthew Hollis, who, together with friend Victor Lyons (Joseph Bologna), travels to Rio de Janeiro on business. Victor sets out on the town in search of a lambada partner, leaving Matthew to fend for himself against his friend's over-sexed teenage daughter (Michelle Johnson), who's come along for the ride. Soon, Matthew succumbs to her advances, despite his efforts to break off the affair, and finds himself a repeated statutory rapist, at least by American legal standards. The script plays out like an extended version of Three's Company, with lots of near-misses and dumb-dumb humor; critics aptly noticed Caine's apparent discomfort throughout the film. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Caine, Joseph Bologna, (more)
- 1984
This HBO TV special presents a live performance of the popular improvisational comedian who does some of his most popular improves from Saturday Night Live. He also does impressions of Frank Sinatra singing in a heavy-metal band, and a parody of Michael Jackson's Thriller in which the undead arising from the graves are all clones of Jerry Lewis' Nutty Professor. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1983
In this lightweight made-for-television domestic comedy, a beautiful divorcee, who got the house and the kids, finds herself allowing her husband and his ditzy young fiancee to stay with them after he gets into financial dire straits. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
