Dick Van Patten Movies
Even in his seventh decade, actor Dick Van Patten has retained the cherubic, chipmunk-cheeked countenance of his child-star days. Born into a family of actors, Van Patten was seven when he made his Broadway bow, playing Melvyn Douglas' son in Tapestry in Gray; that same year, he first stepped before a radio microphone. He would ultimately appear in 27 Broadway productions, including Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth. His co-star in this endeavor was Tallulah Bankhead, who declared that "Dickie" was the only child actor she could tolerate because he could read The Racing Form. In 1941, Van Patten and his younger sister Joyce made their joint film debut in Reg'lar Fellers, repeating their roles from the radio version of the same property. He would not again appear in a film until 1968's Charly, by which time he had played eldest son Nels Hansen in the pioneering TV sitcom Mama had made a smooth transition to adult parts in the role of Mister Roberts' Ensign Pulver, and had co-starred in such New York stage presentations as The Tender Trap, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? and Don't Drink the Water. An avid tennis player, Van Patten met producer/director Mel Brooks on the courts; their personal relationship blossomed into a professional one, with Van Patten playing Friar Tuck in Brooks' 1975 TV series When Things Were Rotten and appearing in several of Brooks' theatrical features. From 1977 through 1981, Van Patten starred as Tom Bradford on the TV "dramedy" Eight is Enough. His other series-TV assignments include The Partners (1971), The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1973-74 season) and WIOU (1990). In addition to his sibling relationship with Joyce Van Patten, Dick Van Patten is the half-brother Timothy Van Patten and the father of James and Vincent Van Patten--actors all. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2003
- PG13
- Add Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star to Queue Add Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star to top of Queue
In keeping with his background in television sitcoms, Sam Weisman directs the cameo-filled comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. Dickie Roberts (David Spade) was a child actor on the hit TV show "The Glimmer Gang" and remains remembered for a particular catch phrase. Now in his thirties, he finds work as a parking valet and spends time with other nominal child stars (enter cameos by Danny Bonaduce, Corey Feldman, and the like). Wanting to make a comeback, he manages to get an audition with director Rob Reiner. When the role requires him to be normal, he decides to hire a normal family in order to relive the childhood he missed out on. He ends up with sleazy salesman George Finney (Craig Bierko) and his loving wife, Grace (Mary McCormack). Dickie shares a room with their two kids: sunny daughter Sally (Jenna Boyd) and impressionable son Sam (Scott Tessa). Former child star Alyssa Milano appears as Dickie's girlfriend, Cyndi. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Spade, Mary McCormack, (more)
- 2002
Attractive widow Molly Bowser (Gail O'Grady) finds herself unable to get a job because of the jealous wives of her potential male employers. Determined to get money in a hurry by any means possible, Molly arranges for her sexy daughter Lily (Jennifer Morrison) to "accidentally" meet wealthy young Claude Stevens (Will Wallace). Unfortunately for Molly, her best-laid plans may all be for naught: Claude's dad has threatened to cut the boy off without a cent if he marries Lily. Filmed in 2002 under the title The Sure Hand of God, this modest comedy-drama didn't receive American play until it was telecast by cable's Lifetime channel on February 18, 2004, under the title Sinners Need Company. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gail O'Grady, James Eckhouse, (more)
- 2002
The media's tendency to favor youth and cosmetic perfection over experience and intelligence is the gist of this mildly trenchant TV movie. Mel Harris stars as Diana, a top TV news anchor who is summarily dumped from her lofty perch in favor of a younger and prettier journalist named Amber (Julianne Morris). Partly to get even, but mostly to prove something to herself, Diana undergoes plastic surgery, changes her name, and takes an entry-level job in a small TV market, intent upon building her stellar career all over again. Diana's saga is complemented by the story of her middle-aged newsperson colleague Michael (Perry King), who likewise faces competition from an up-and-coming pretty boy. It is somewhat ironic that one of the supporting characters in this film is played by Corey Donaldson, whose chief claim to fame was his participation in Survivor: Australia, one of many TV reality series in which the race is more often won by the good-looking than by the swift. Another Pretty Face debuted November 8, 2002, over the PAX network. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
One of several "Santa Goes to Jail" TV movies appearing during the Christmas season of 2002, The Santa Trap actually has roots going as far back as the 1909 D. W. Griffith one-reeler A Trap for Santa Claus. Transplanted from Connecticut to California, the Emerson family isn't too happy over the prospect of sweltering their way through the Yuletide season. In fact, Bill and Molly Emerson (Robert Hays, Shelley Long) are so displeased with their current plight that they tell their children that Santa Claus doesn't exist. Hoping to prove them wrong, the couple's precocious daughter Judy (Sierra Abel) sets up a Rube Goldberg-like trap in her living room--and sure enough, the little darling snares Santa himself (played by Dick Van Patten) a few hours into Christmas Eve. Naturally, Judy's parents assume that the jolly old elf is a burglar, and promptly have Santa arrested. Thus is set in motion a frantic comedy of errors involving the Emersons, the inept local constabulary, and a burned-out biker named Max (Stacy Keach) who hopes to break out of the slammer by impersonating St. Nick. The Santa Trap first aired December 13, 2002, over the PAX network. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stacy Keach, Shelley Long, (more)
Sibling rivalry reaches new heights when two brothers fall for the same girl in this family comedy. Mitch Dobson (Michal Suchanek) is an 11-year-old soccer fan who doesn't get along very well with his 16-year-old brother, Sean (Shad Hart). When Police Captain Stacy (Dick Van Patten) and his family moves in next door, Mitch immediately falls for his 16-year-old daughter, Gwen (Lindsey Brooke). Gwen, however, is a lot more interested in Sean, and when Sean and Gwen start dating, Mitch and his friends begin scheming to find a way to put an end to their budding romance. Big Brother Trouble also features Bo Hopkins and Mario Lopez. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bo Hopkins, Dick Van Patten, (more)
- 2000
A drug runner finds his life is in danger when he becomes hooked on his own merchandise in this drama. Paul (Josh Evans) is a young hoodlum who falls in with Mr. Ball (Michael Madsen), a crime kingpin marketing a new street drug that he tells Paul is "more addictive than air." With few prospects, Paul agrees to act as Mr. Ball's bagman to help deliver the "product," but he makes the mistake of trying the new drug and soon he's hooked. Paul fails to make his deliveries and later becomes implicated in the murder of his friend and fellow drug runner D (Sticky Fingaz); now he has both the law and Mr. Ball's enforcers on his trail, with only his girlfriend (Charis Michelsen), a fellow addict, on hand to help him. The Price of Air also features Dick Van Patten, Alexis Arquette, and Michelle Phillips; British electronic music star Goldie wrote the film's original score and also played a supporting role. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Josh Evans, Charis Michelsen, (more)
- 1998
Having left his home town in disgrace after a tragic accident, jaded land developer Blake Cameron (Lee Tergesen) returns to face his former friends and loved ones. But this is not a social call: Blake's bosses have purchased the most of property fronting Lake Paradise, a rancid body of water which has been "dead" for years, and Blake has arrived to find out why one of the locals has refused to sell. The sole holdout turns out to be Monica (Roma Downey), whose Heavenly assignment on this occasion is not only to revitalize Lake Paradise, but also restore Blake's faith in God. A long-suppressed secret concerning a 12-year-old named Jeremy (Nathan Lawrence) determines the story's outcome. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1996
- R
This actioner is set at a California high school and centers on the courage of misunderstood and ostracized newcomer from New York who proves himself a fearless and creative leader in the face of terrorism. Lenny hasn't been in the school long. Branded a troublemaker by teachers, bullied by jocks and ignored by the girls, his new West Coast life is a shambles until the terrorists, who have just robbed a nuclear plant, show up and take almost everyone hostage. Lenny is among the few who are not captured. It is he who rallies the other stragglers and begins luring the terrorists individually into the school where they are killed in clever and gory ways while outside the school the military and the police, led by Lenny's father, scramble and bicker uselessly amongst themselves. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Corey Haim, Alan Thicke, (more)
- 1996
As Boy Meets World enters its fourth season, Cory (Ben Savage) and Eric (Will Friedle) are on the last leg of their two-month summer roadtrip, and heading back to Philadelphia. But Eric, whose college plans have been shot down in flames, doesn't want the summer to end, and when the boys make a pit stop in a tiny community called Pottstown, he refuses to leave. And back at home, Cory and Eric's dad Alan (William Russ) has decided that, after 20 years in the grocery business, he needs to change the course of his life. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Romeo and Juliet gets updated -- and played for laughs -- in this romantic comedy set in the City Island section of the Bronx. Mike and Sadie Cappamezza (Joseph Bologna and Lainie Kazan) are a hard-working couple who have run a family-style Italian restaurant for years. The Cappamezzas' fiercest rivals have long been Count and Countess Malacici (Paul Sorvino and Barbara Carrera), who operate a pretentiously upscale Neapolitan eatery (and whose titled nobility seems to be in question). The Malacicis don't like the Cappamezzas any more than the Cappamezzas like them, and for years they've been trying to run each other out of business. So no one is pleased when Rosario Cappamezza (Nathaniel Marston), Mike and Sadie's son, and Gina Malacici (Angelina Jolie), the daughter of the Count and Countess, are cast in a student production of Romeo and Juliet -- and annoyance gives way to shock when Rosario and Gina fall in love offstage as well as on. The husband and wife team of Joseph Bologna and Renee Taylor co-wrote and co-directed this film; Taylor also appears in a small role as a psychic. While completed in 1994, Love Is All There Is didn't enjoy a theatrical release until 1996. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lainie Kazan, Joseph Bologna, (more)
- 1995
Paul Winfield makes his first series appearance as Special Agent Angel Sam. After completing an assignment in the town of Roxford, Tess (Della Reese) makes a return visit to help Dr. Joanne Glassberg (Talia Balsam) open an AIDs hospice. Unfortunately, Joanne is injured in a bombing masterminded by a group of white supremacists led by Tim Porter (Craig Wasson)--to whom Tess had previously been assigned as a Heavenly caseworker. So angry is Tess over her failure to "convert" Tim that Sam is forced to strip her of her powers and take charge of her next assignment: foiling a hate-mongering politician (John Schneider) who is actually Satan in disguise! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1994
- PG13
Director Jerry P. Jacobs made his feature debut with this martial arts action film starring Ted Jan Roberts as Ethan, a teen karate expert looking to uncover the truth surrounding the recent death of his older brother. Suspecting the involvement of a shady band of fellow martial artists, Ethan penetrates the group's inner circle in search of answers. Before all is said and done, Ethan will meet the leader of the team in a rousing one-on-one fight. A Dangerous Place also stars Corey Feldman and Dick Van Patten. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- 1993
- PG13
Mel Brooks directed and co-wrote this satiric comedy which lampoons a number of cinematic treatments of the legend of Sherwood Forest, including Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and The Adventures of Robin Hood. Robin Hood (Cary Elwes) comes home after fighting in the Crusades to learn that the noble King Richard (Patrick Stewart) is in exile and that the despotic King John (Richard Lewis) now rules England, with the help of the Sheriff of Rottingham (Roger Rees). Robin Hood assembles a band of fellow patriots to do battle with John and the Sheriff, including Asneeze (Isaac Hayes) and his son Ahchoo (Dave Chappelle), the blind watchman Blinkin (Mark Blankfield), Will Scarlet O'Hara (Matthew Porretta), and Rabbi Tuckman (Brooks). The Sheriff is eager to put Robin Hood out of business with the aid of criminal mastermind Don Giovanni (Dom DeLuise), but Robin soon has an ally in the royal palace when he falls for the lovely Maid Marian (Amy Yasbeck), whose minder Broomhilde (Megan Cavanagh) has uncooperatively outfitted Marian with a chastity belt. The cast also includes Tracy Ullman, Robert Ridgely, and Clive Revill. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, (more)
- 1992
- R
When a well-known music-video star turns up dead, it is up to her sister and an inexperienced police officer to track down the killer. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
A Caribbean vacationer is mauled by sharks. Soon after he arrives on the beach of Miami. New York is his next stop. Vera Vin Rouge, Cinnamon, Spice and Paprika make his acquaintance. Their friend Johnny Zero, however, takes an immediate dislike to this man. The action is scripted in a 24 hour period. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Marty Rackham, Priscilla Barnes, (more)
- 1989
In this mystery, based on a novel by L.A. Morse, retired L.A. detective Jake Spanner enlists the aide of a group of senior citizens to help him find an ex-mobster's daughter. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Mitchum, Ernest Borgnine, (more)
- 1989
Maggie (Joanna Kerns) frets over the wellbeing of son Mike (Kirk Cameron) when he agrees to work the night shift at convenience store. As for Mike, he finds the job pleasant enough--until he tumbles to the fact that his racist boss Nick (Dick Van Patten) displays a rather obvious preference for his white employees. The outcome of this episode hinges upon a "soda test", conducted by a disgruntled Mike to expose Nick's bigotry for all to see. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1989
Having racked up excellent ratings for the 1987 TV movie Eight is Enough: A Family Reunion, the producers concocted yet another "retro" film, 1989's An Eight is Enough Wedding. Dick Van Patten returns as Tom Bradford, who anxiously prepares for the wedding of his oldest son David (Grant Goodeve). While most of the original cast shows up for the nuptials, Tom's wife Abby is played by Sandy Faison. She replaces Family Reunion's Mary Frann, who in turn had replaced the original Abby, Betty Buckley. Dick Van Patten's real-life wife and son Pat and Jimmy also show up in supporting roles. Like Family Reunion, An Eight is Enough Wedding was telecast opposite the World Series (on October 15, 1989, to be exact); and like the earlier film, Wedding won its timeslot in the ratings. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1988
- G
- Add The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking to Queue Add The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking to top of Queue
Precocious Pippi Longstocking (Tami Erin) falls off her father's pirate ship and washes up in a small coastal town in Florida. She causes social worker Miss Bannister (Eileen Brennan) no end of trouble and influences two neighbor kids with her mischief-making and infectious attitude. Pippi uses her magic powers to beguile the locals but also to help save some orphans from a burning building. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tami Erin, Eileen Brennan, (more)
- 1988
14 Going on 30 starts out like Candida and ends up like Back to the Future. 14-year-old Danny O'Neill (Gabey Olds), carrying a torch for his teacher, Peggy Noble (Daphne Ashbrook), can only suffer in silence as Peggy plans to marry brutish gym instructor "Jackjaw" Kelton (Rick Rossovich). With the help of his nerdy pal Lloyd's (Adam Carl) experimental growth accelerator, Danny becomes an overnight adult (now played by Steve Eckholdt). While in his 30-year-old state, Danny intends to expose Jackjaw as the jerk he is-only to end up in hot water himself. Loretta Swit, Patrick Duffy, Alan Thicke and Dick Van Patten guest-star in this made-for-TV movie, originally presented in two parts (March 6 and 13, 1988) on the Disney Sunday Movie anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1988
"It's the craziest wedding of the year!" promised the ads for the TV movie Going to the Chapel. Well, maybe not the craziest, but certainly the silliest. The thinnish plot concerns the roadblocks standing in the way of the impending wedding of Scott Valentine and Michelle Greene. As a means to sustain audience interest, the producers populated the supporting cast with a veritable village full of top TV names: Cloris Leachman, John Ratzenberger, Max Wright, Dick Van Patten, Eileen Brennan and Barbara Billingsley. First shown October 9, 1988, Going to the Chapel died in the ratings opposite the blockbuster biopic Liberace: Behind the Music. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1987
Most of the original cast members of TV's Eight is Enough are on hand for the "retro" feature Eight is Enough: A Family Reunion. The single most conspicuous defector is Betty Buckley, who is here replaced by Mary Frann in the role of Abby Bradford. The premise: On the eve of his 50th birthday, Tom Bradford (Dick Van Patten) is in danger of losing his job as a journalist. He is offered moral support by his offspring, who have gathered together to celebrate Tom's half-century mark. Grant Goodeve, Willie Aames, Susan Richardson, Lani O'Grady, Adam Rich, Connie Needham, Dianne Kay and Laurie Walters portray the Bradford kids. The warm-and-fuzzy script is by Gwen Bagni-Dubov, who'd been churning out teleplays since the black-and-white era. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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