Robert Whitehead Movies

This four-hour cable miniseries adaptation of H. Rider Haggard's classic adventure novel King Solomon's Mines dispenses with much of the original story in favor of a standard Indiana Jones-esque melodrama, complete with claim-jumping villains, snarling Russian soldiers, an ancient and deadly curse, and a damsel perpetually in distress. As played by Patrick Swayze, Haggard's hero, celebrated British safari hunter Allan Quartermain, is a born-again conservationist who returns to his former trade only to raise enough money to retain custody of his beloved son. Quatermaine accepts the assignment given him by toothsome Elizabeth Maitland (Alison Doody), to head into darkest Africa in order to rescue Elizabeth's father (John Standing), who had disappeared while searching for the fabled lost gold mines of King Solomon. This time around, the mines harbor another elusive treasure: the mysterious Stone of Power, which functions in much the same manner as the Ark of the Covenant the Indiana Jones pictures. Along for the ride are Quatermain's trusted friend Sir Henry (Ian Roberts), and loyal African guide Umbopa (Sideda Onylulo), who has traditionally been the story's most likeable and admirable character in all previous film and TV adaptations of the novel. The main villain, largely spun from whole cloth for the purposes of the miniseries, is Quatermain's greedy ex-partner Gavin Hood (Bruce McNabb). Debuting June 6, 2004, the two-part King Solomon's Mines posted some of the Hallmark channel's best-ever ratings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

One man's dedication to "learning by doing" has dangerous consequences when he tries to land a TV role as a criminal in this drama set in South Africa. Sox Moraka (Tony Kgoroge) is a young actor from a comfortable, middle-class background who thinks he may have gotten his big break when he auditions for a television series, playing the roughneck leader of a township street gang . However, Sox flubs the audition, and the producers inform him he's just not convincing in the role. Eager to prove that he can play "street" if he wants to, Sox connects with Zama (Rapulana Seiphemo), a friend from childhood who is now a hard-core gang banger, and asks Zama to show him the ropes. While it soon becomes obvious to Zama and his partners Joe (Makhaola Ndebele) and Fly (Percy Matsemela) that Sox is out of his element on the streets, Sox is determined to prove himself -- so much so that he crosses the line from observer to active participant, putting himself in grave danger. Hijack Stories was shown at the 2000 Toronto Film Festival, where it opened the "Planet Africa" series. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Alan Paton's classic novel about two fathers coming to terms with personal loss and the emotional scars inflicted on South Africa during the era of apartheid was brought to the screen for a second time with this adaptation, the first major film produced in South Africa after Nelson Mandela's election ended mandatory white rule in that nation. Rev. Stephen Kumalo (James Earl Jones) is a minister from a poverty-stricken farming community who travels to Johannesburg for the first time in search of his son Absalom (Eric Miyeni), who moved to the city some time back and has gone missing. Kumalo regards the big city as a den of iniquity, and his low expectations are not betrayed; he is robbed and beaten shortly after he arrives, and when he visits his brother John (Charles S. Dutton), he discovers that Absalom has become a petty thief with a pregnant girlfriend, his sister Gertrude (Dambisa Kente) is a prostitute, and John has renounced his faith in God and advocates the violent overthrow of South Africa's white leadership. James Jarvis (Richard Harris) -- a wealthy white landowner from the same part of the country as Kumalo -- has also arrived in Johannesburg, also with sad personal business to attend to; his son, a well-liked activist for the rights of the city's black majority population, was killed during a robbery. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A kickboxer decides he would like to retire, but tragically, his wife is killed in an explosion which sends him back into the ring. Soon he is involved in an unnaturally violent and crooked tournament. After finding out who is responsible for his wife's death he is intent upon revenge. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

American Eagle deals with three Vietnam survivors, particularly one who carries a grudge against his war buddies after they stop him from a wanton killing of a Vietnamese civilian. The film delves into the post-Vietnam decades that finds two of the vets unable to leave the violent wartime behind them as they join mercenary efforts around the globe. Eventually one tries to change his ways but runs into a (U.S.) government that won't let him stop the killing. ~ All Movie Guide

Tim Shaw (Kevin McCarthy) is a retired army officer enjoying the life of a farmer on a ranch in South Africa. When a plane bound for Nairobi is hijacked by Arab terrorists, he calls on military veterans to intervene on behalf of the airborne hostages. Karen Black and Wings Hauser co-star in this routine action thriller. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Irregularly scheduled on NBC from 1954 through 1957, Producers' Showcase was a series of lavish, full-color 90 minute specials, bringing the best of Broadway to the 21 inch screen. On September 11, 1955, the series expanded to two hours to offer an elaborate "life from Hollywood" staging of Thornton Wilder's surrealistic comedy The Skin of Our Teeth. Though the action ostensibly takes place in New Jersey--first the city of Excelsior, then on the boardwalk of Atlantic City--the episodic plotline girdles the entire history of the world, with Mankind represented by the "ubermensch" Antrobus family. Surviving the Creation, the Ice Age, the seven deadly plagues, the Black Death and every other historical calamity, the unflappable and always fastidiously dressed George Antrobus (a rare acting performance by legendary Broadway director George Abbott) and his even-tempered wife (Helen Hayes) personify every man and woman who has weathered the most harrowing of storms "by the skin of their teeth." Acting as a combination Greek Chorus and Protean Player is the Antrobus' sexually uninhibited maid Sabina (Mary Martin, in a role created on Broadway by Tallulah Bankhead), whose duties range from wrangling baby mastodons to periodically replenishing the human race. Featured in the cast as Gladys is Heller Halliday, the daughter of costar Mary Martin. This lively adaptation of Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning play was originally staged in Paris as part of the American National Theater Academy's Salute to France program. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide