Lawrence J. Cohen Movies

Ryuhei Kitamura, director of The Midnight Meat Train, delivers this twisting tale of terror concerning a missing heiress, a gang of vicious bandits, and a vacationing couple who aren't what they seem. In the wake of a bloodbath that left 14 students dead, wealthy heiress Emma (Adelaide Clemens) has vanished without a trace. A few months later, a young couple (Luke Evans and Laura Ramsey) cross paths with the ruthless Hoag (Lee Tergesen) and his band of thieves, who run them off of the road in a violent robbery attempt. When Hoag and his crew learn that the mysterious couple has taken Emma hostage, they assume they'll be collecting a handsome reward. Little do they realize they've just gotten in deep over their heads, and as the body count spikes, the real fight for survival begins. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

John Candy plays Jack Gable, a soap-opera writer who finds himself trapped inside his own television program with a magic typewriter in this toothless comedy. Jack finds himself embroiled in protecting his beloved Laura (Emma Samms), an actress who plays Rachel Hedison in Jack's show -- "Beyond Our Dreams" -- from having her character being killed off by the program's producers, the Sherwoods (Jerry Orbach, Renee Taylor). Laura has recently broken off with her co-star and lover Dennis (David Rasche) and is heading off for a weekend with Jack. As Jack unloads Laura's luggage, he conks himself on the head and knocks himself out. He awakens in a town bearing a name similar to the town in his soap opera. Dennis is on hand, but as his character in the show -- Dr. Paul Kirkland. Jack realizes that he has found himself in an alternative world made up of his soap opera world -- particularly apparent when he is recognized as Jack Gates, "the Wolf of Wall Street." Jack then meets Laura, who, in this soap opera world, is actually Janet Dubois, the daughter of a late biochemist who invented a pill that allows anyone to eat whatever they want and not gain any weight. The unscrupulous Hedison family (Raymond Burr, Charles Rocket, Dylan Baker) want to steal the formula for the pill and make a fortune for their pharmaceutical company. Jack then discovers that he can exit and re-enter the show at will and can alter the narrative of the show however he wants by typing up new plot points on his typewriter. In order to save Laura's character from the Sherwoods, Jack re-writes the show to save Janet by having his own character come to her rescue at the last minute. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Two French peasants are mistaken for a pair of aristocratic nobles in this historical situation comedy. Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland play the dual roles. Happy to be taken for nobles, the pair soon runs to escape the guillotine in the wake of the French Revolution's blood purge of the upper class and royalty. Hugh Griffith play Louis XVI, with Billie Whitelaw as the amorous Marie Antoinette. The pair are chased by the evil Duke d'Escargot (Victor Spinetti). Orson Welles appears at the beginning and the end of the film as the narrator. Wilder and Sutherland encounter a variety of comical situations in their dual roles of peasants and blue-blooded eccentrics. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Hoping to succeed where his predecessor Barney had failed, Deputy Warren Ferguson tries to reform town drunk Otis Campbell. Reasoning that Otis needs a hobby, Warren channels the old tosspot into mosaic art. As it turns out, however, Otis does his best artwork when he's three sheets to the wind! This episode was scripted by stalwart Andy Griffith Show contributors Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen. "Otis the Artist" originally aired on January 3, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When all his efforts to reform town drunk Otis Campbell fail, Barney orders Otis to do all his future drinking in Mount Pilot. Before long, however, Barney and Andy realize that they miss old Otis. Utilizing Barney's "psychological therapy" ploy, Andy tries to lure everyone's favorite tosspot back to Mayberry. Written by Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen, "The Rehabilitation of Otis" made its network TV bow on January 18, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Aunt Bee becomes quite the celebrity when she wins an abundance of prizes on the TV game show Win or Lose. As her fame grows, so does her ego-at least until the IRS shows up to burst her bubble. "Aunt Bee on TV" was filmed before the series' three-episode "Hollywood arc" ("Off to Hollywood", "Taylors in Hollywood" and "The Hollywood Party"), but telecast afterward, on November 15, 1965. The episode was written by Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Andy Griffith Show's three-episode "Hollywood arc" came to a close on November 8, 1965 with the episode titled "The Hollywood Party." Having arrived in Tinseltown to witness the filming of his life story, Andy ends up paying a visit to sexy starlet Darlene Mason (Ruta Lee). It's all quite innocent, of course-but try telling that to Helen when she sees a full-page newspaper picture of Andy and Darlene apparently sharing a tender moment. Sid Melton appears as Darlene's press agent Pat Michaels. "The Hollywood Party" was written by Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Darrin and Endora are arguing again, this time over how Samantha should celebrate Halloween. Unable to win her argument in a fair fashion, Endora gets even with Darrin by slowly transforming him into a werewolf. Naturally, this causes no end of confusion for Darrin's boss, Larry Tate, and their new client, Jack Rogers (Jack Collins). Written by Lawrence J. Cohen and Fred Freeman, "Trick or Treat" appropriately aired on October 28, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

After five years, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) is down to the last few chapters of his novel. He'd like to dash off the finale in a hurry and get the manuscript to the publishers, but a steady stream of distractions prevent him from doing so. However, it just may be that Rob really doesn't want to finish the novel; the harder he tries to cast himself in the role of Serious Author, the more obvious it becomes that he is best suited to turning out comedy routines. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Maurice Evans makes his first series appearance as Samantha's father, powerful warlock Maurice. Paying a surprise visit to Sam, Maurice is delighted that his daughter has gotten married. But he is somewhat less than delighted to learn that his new son-in-law is a mere mortal. Such is the extent of Maurice's rage that even the outspoken Endora is at a loss for words, but only temporarily. Written by Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen, "Just One Happy Family" was originally broadcast on November 19, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A convenient radio broadcast introduces each of the seven castaways by name in the debut episode of Gilligan's Island. Once it is firmly established who is on the island and how they got there, the Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.) and Gilligan (Bob Denver) set sail on their hand-built raft, hoping to locate someone who will rescue them. After a treacherous voyage, the two mariners end up back on the same island whence they came--where the other castaways mistake the Skipper and Gilligan for invading Marubi Headhunters! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hans Conried has the honor of being Gilligan's Island's first guest star in the role of "Wrongway" Feldman, a fabled aviator who disappeared while flying around the world in 1931. Turns out that, for the past 33 years, Feldman has been living on the same island where the castaways currently reside. When Gilligan (Bob Denver) rediscovers "Wrongway", hope for a speedy rescue arises amongst the seven stranded souls--but alas, Feldman intends to remain a solo flyer on his trip back to civilization. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi