Wilford Brimley Movies
With varied rugged experiences ranging from blacksmith to horse trainer, portly, handlebar-mustached Wilford Brimley entered films in the 1960s as a cowboy stunt man. Save for a few billed appearances on TV cowboy series like Gunsmoke, Brimley worked primarily in supporting roles until finally achieving star status in the 1980s via his gruff, fatherly roles in such films as The Thing (1981), Hotel New Hampshire (1984), The Natural (1984) and Cocoon (1986). On television, Wilford Brimley starred in the 1980s family dramedy Our House. In addition to his film and television work, Brimley worked for a time as the commercial spokesperson for the Quaker Oats company. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The Rodeo Girl is 26-year-old Sammy Garrett (Katherine Ross). Despite opposition from the good-ole-boy network, Sammy is determined to succeed as a bronco buster. But her plans may be thwarted when Sammy becomes pregnant. Even if she doesn't lose the baby, it's likely that she'll lose the love of the baby's father (Bo Hopkins) if she continues her rough-and-tumble lifestyle. Inspired by real-life rodeo world champion Sue Pirtle, the made for TV Rodeo Girl first aired September 17, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Katharine Ross, Bo Hopkins, (more)
Fact-based drama starring Robert Redford as Henry Brubaker, the new inmate at a run-down Southern prison that's become notorious for corruption and violence. After he witnesses several instances of gross misconduct and defuses a tense confrontation with a crazed inmate (Morgan Freeman), Brubaker reveals to the guards and administrators that he's not a criminal at all, but the new warden, assigned by the governor to infiltrate the facility undercover. His identity confirmed, Brubaker takes office and sets about shaping up policies and procedures, despite resistance from, incredibly, even some of the more entitled convicts. With the help of the prison's chief trustee (Yaphet Kotto) and a compassionate ally (Jane Alexander), the warden effects some positive change, but powerful business interests line up against him when his ideas threaten their financial bottom line. A reform-minded, socially conscious, and politically liberal picture of the type usually associated with director Norman Jewison, this fact-based prison drama was the result of a troubled production that saw original director Bob Rafelson replaced with Cool Hand Luke (1967) and The Amityville Horror (1979) helmsman Stuart Rosenberg. Despite the backstage turmoil, Brubaker was an acclaimed release and an Oscar-nominated, career-finale triumph for co-screenwriter Arthur A. Ross, creator of Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954) and father of successful writer/director Gary Ross. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Redford, Yaphet Kotto, (more)
A cowboy-turned-huckster unexpectedly finds love as he tries to regain his self-respect in this romantic comedy drama. Sonny Steele (Robert Redford) is a one-time rodeo star whose career as a cowboy has ground to a halt. He makes a good living as a spokesman for Ranch Breakfast, a sugar-coated cereal for kids, but he's lost most of his self-respect in the process; his boss, corporate mogul Hunt Sears (John Saxon), considers him a property rather than a human being, and Sonny has developed a serious problem with alcohol. Sears' cereal company is negotiating a highly profitable merger with another firm and brings Sonny to Las Vegas for a publicity stunt, in which Sonny, wearing a garish cowboy outfit complete with blinking lights, will ride on-stage at Caesar's Palace aboard prize-winning thoroughbred stallion Rising Star. When Sonny discovers Sears' men have drugged the horse so that it will be able to walk on an injured leg, he's appalled, and he rides Rising Star off the stage at Caesar's and into the Nevada desert, looking for grazing land where he and the horse can heal their wounds. Sears is shocked to discover that Sonny has run off with a 12 million dollars, and he realizes that Sonny knows enough to make his firm look very bad in the press, potentially scotching the merger. Sears files charges against Sonny and posts a reward for Rising Star's safe return, though he implies that it wouldn't bother him if Sonny died in the rescue attempt. Hallie Martin (Jane Fonda), a television journalist covering Sonny's Vegas appearance, is convinced that something is fishy and manages to catch up with him in the desert; as Hallie tries to get Sonny to tell her his story, the has-been cowboy and the city-girl reporter fall in love. The Electric Horseman also stars Valerie Perrine and Willie Nelson; the country & western star made his screen debut in this film and has a very memorable line about tequila and trailer hitches. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, (more)
This gripping 1979 drama about the dangers of nuclear power carried an extra jolt when a real-life accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania occurred just weeks after the film opened. Kimberly Wells (Jane Fonda) is a TV reporter trying to advance from fluff pieces to harder news. Wells and cameraman Richard Adams (Michael Douglas, who also produced) are doing a story on energy when they happen to witness a near-meltdown at a local nuclear plant, averted only by quick-thinking engineer Jack Godell (Jack Lemmon). While Wells and Adams fruitlessly attempt to get the story on their station, Godell begins his own investigation and discovers that corporate greed and cost-trimming have led to potentially deadly faults in the plant's construction. He provides evidence of the faulty equipment, which could lead to another meltdown (the "China syndrome" of the title), to the station's soundman to deliver to Wells and Adams at a hearing on nuclear power. However, on the way to the hearing, the soundman is run off the road by evil henchmen, leading Godell to realize that his own life is threatened, possibly by his bosses at the plant. Driven to the edge of a breakdown, Godell takes over the plant's control room at gunpoint and demands to reveal his findings on TV. The plant's management, however, has other plans, and the facility itself is becoming dangerously unstable. Whether or not you agree with the film's clear anti-nuclear bias, its sobering message and riveting, realistic story and performances are still difficult to ignore. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, (more)
- 1979
In the made-for-television film Wild, Wild West Revisited, the classic comedy/espionage/western television series is brought up to date with a story featuring government agents Jim West and Artemus Gordon leaving retirement to battle Miguelito Loveless, who is planning to conquer the earth by cloning world leaders. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, (more)
- 1977
Jason (Jon Walmsley) falls in love with Vanessa (Lynda Purl), the sister of his brother-in-law Curt (Tom Bower). Unfortunately, Vanessa arrives on the mountain with considerable "baggage": she has deserted her husband to pursue a singing career. Blind to Vanessa's fickle, opportunistic nature, Jason begins neglecting his schoolwork to help her fulfill her ambitions. Meanwhile, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) tests out public reaction to his novel by publishing excerpts in the "Blue Ridge Chronicle." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
With America's entry into WW2 still several months away, Mary Ellen's husband Curt (Tom Bower) is drafted in to the US Army Medical Corps, while Erin's erstwhile soldier boyfriend G.W. (David Doremus) returns on furlough. At the same time, Jason's rambunctious pal Yancy (Robert Donner) decides to enlist, pausing only long enough to wed his girlfriend Sissy (Cissy Wellman). The episode ends on a tragic note as one of the Mountain's three soldiers returns home in a coffin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The Waltons decide to hold a big celebration to commemorate the final payment on their mortgage and a lucrative new lumber contract. But in the midst of all the revelry, the family discovers that someone else is having a streak of very bad luck--namely, storekeeper Ike Godsey (Joe Conley), without whose help the Waltons' lumber business might never have gotten off the ground. Elsewhere, the Walton girls conspire with Corabeth Godsey (Ronnie Claire Edwards) and Maude Gormley (Merie Earle) to find a wife for Rev. Buchanan (Peter Fox). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The sixth season of The Waltons) gets under way minus two longtime series regulars: Richard Thomas as John-Boy and Ellen Corby as Grandma Walton (though both actors would return during the season as guest stars). It is 1939, and as war clouds gather in Europe, a battle of a more spiritual nature is brewing on Walton's Mountain with the arrival of new minister Hank Buchanan (Peter Fox). Though many parishioners, notably Olivia Walton (Michael Learned), are turned off by Buchanan's unorthodox approach to his calling, John Walton (Ralph Waite) warms up to him immediately--if only because the Reverend is not the traditional "hell-fire and brimstome" type. Even more impressed by Buchanan is Olivia and John's daughter Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough), whose fascination with the newcomer soon develops into a crush! Meanwhile, Grandpa Walton (Will Geer) and grandson Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) try to kill the chicken hawk that has been systematically raiding the local coops. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
While driving through a particularly treacherous stretch of woods, Olivia (Michael Learned) and her two youngest children Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) and Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) are stranded by a flat tire. In their efforts to find their way home, the three Waltons end up getting lost. After briefly taking refuge in a cabin owned by a bootlegging family, they are driven even deeper into the bear-infested woods--and now, storm clouds are ominously gathering on the horizon. Without tipping off the climax of this episode, it can be noted that the "hero" turns out be the least expected candidate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Hoping to woo and win a girl named Sally Ann Harper (played by Happy Days' Erin Moran), Ben (Eric Scott) recommends her to Jason (Jon Walmsley) as a band singer, and even suggests that she introduce Jason's latest song "Will You Be Mine" (actually written by Walmsley). The scheme backfires disastrously (and predictably!) when Sally falls in love with Jason instead. As the romantic rivalry between the two brothers intensifies, Grandpa (Will Geer) and John (Ralph Waite) likewise have trouble seeing eye-to-eye during a billiard competition. This episode was directed by series regular Richard Thomas (John-Boy). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Olivia Walton's namesake Young Olivia (Deborah White) brings her city-bred husband Bob (Bruce Davison) to Walton's Mountain for their wedding. Realizing that Bob would neither understand nor appreciate the old mountain custom of the "shivaree", in which the local boys kidnap the groom on his wedding night, John-Boy calls off this traditional event. But John-Boy's prankish friends Ike (Joe Conley) and Yancy (Robert Donner) are determined to go through with the shivaree anyway--and as a result, Young Olivia's marriage is nearly over before it begins. Director Lee Philipsappears as a minister. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Poor John Walton (Ralph Waite) finds himself under attack from all sides in this episode. For starters, John's lumber business is threatened by a new and more efficient competitor. For another, Olivia (Michael Learned) is outraged that John has allowed their son Ben (Eric Scott) to leave home and strike out on his own. And as if this wasn't enough trouble, Ben ends up landing a job with the rival lumber firm--just as John is under pressure to deliver a huge shipment before a rapidly-approaching deadline! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Feeling sorry for travelling book salesman George Reed (Ben Piazza), Olivia (Michael Learned) makes a sizeable deposit on the "Five-Foot Shelf" collection, consisting of fifty "Harvard Classics." When he finds out that Reed has spent the money to buy his little girl a doll, John (Ralph Waite) is outraged and orders the peddler off Walton's Mountain, never to return. But this doesn't answer the episode's burning question: Will Olivia pony up a second deposit when those fifty books are delivered to the Walton doorstep? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
The Walton kids purchase a Ouija board from storekeeper Ike (Joe Conley), and immediately set about to contact the spirit world. Though Olivia (Michael Learned) and Grandma (Ellen Corby) regard this activity as diametrically opposed to their religious beliefs, the kids' friend Luke (Kristopher Marquis) hopes that the board will help him communicate with his deceased mother. Sure enough, an unseen force seems to be guiding the children's hands as they spell out an ominous message, warning Luke to cancel a planned train trip--and not long afterward, word arrives that the train has crashed! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
