Michael Elias Movies

In this made-for-television movie, the pressure of having an alcoholic mother and a needy pregnant best friend proves too much for a caring young teen. As a result she begins losing her grip on everything. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Jazz great Billy Strayhorn wrote the song which gives this film its title, "Lush Life". This film will be an especial treat to afficianados of jazz in all its forms. The story concerns the efforts of session musician Al Gorky (Jeff Goldblum) to arrange a once-in-a-lifetime jam session for his frequent recording partner, Buddy Chester (Forest Whitaker). The kicker is that Chester is dying of a brain tumor, and while he wants this session, he doesn't want anybody who's being invited to know. For a long time now, Al has been sliding, slacking off in his musical and his personal life. His wife Janis (Kathy Baker) thinks its about time he won free of the lure of the hipster lifestyle of the '60s, and gave up the dope and easy women. Chester has one final gift to give his friend: he won't allow Al to play in the super-session he's asked him to arrange unless he can sharpen up his playing. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Fred Segal (Richard Anconina) is a commercial director whose marriage is headed for disaster in this light romantic comedy drama. He decides he wants to play music and takes flute lessons from the beautiful Isabelle (Anemone). The experience wakens feelings of romance in Fred he thought were long-since dead, and soon he must chose between his wife and his musical teacher. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Self-made wealthy guy Rodney Dangerfield decides he needs a better education--and also to spend some time away from his cheating new wife. Dangerfield joins his son Keith Gordon at college. Dad hopes to gain his son's respect (isn't that always Dangerfield's motivation?), while son tries to fit in with his snobbish and brutish fellow students. English professor Sally Kellerman forms a strong bond with Dangerfield, encouraging both father and son to stick out their first year despite all odds. The finale involves some slapstick at the swimming pool diving board, and the obligatory commencement address delivered by Dangerfield, who proves that he can crack jokes without tugging at his tie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this comedy, a group of randy young interns turn City Hospital upside down with their romantic liaisons and their blunders. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Carl Reiner directs Steve Martin (who co-wrote the script with Carl Gottlieb) in this gag-laden comedy about an idiotic white man, raised by a poor family of black sharecroppers, who doesn't realize he's not black. Navin R. Johnson (Steve Martin) is told the horrible truth when he finds himself instinctively tapping his feet to an easy listening tune on the radio, instead of a low-down blues. His mother (Mabel King) tells him he's white and Navin takes to the road (in a World War II bomber helmet and goggles) to start a new life in St. Louis. A filling station owner, Harry Hartounian (Jackie Mason), give Navin his first break, hiring him to pump gas. One day at the station, Navin has a brainstorm, concocting an invention called "The Opti-grab," a combination handle and nose-brace for eyeglasses. But Navin runs into trouble when a crazed killer (M. Emmet Walsh) picks out his name at random from the telephone book and tries to kill him. Navin escapes to a traveling carnival, where he wrangles a job as the "guess-your-weight" man. At the carnival, he discovers his sexual nature, thanks to stunt rider and S&M enthusiast Patty Bernstein (Catlin Adams). But Navin meets the beautiful Marie (Bernadette Peters) and he quickly falls in love. In the meantime, the "Opti-grab" has taken off and soon Navin is a millionaire. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Tired of being chained to his desk, newsroom boss Lou Grant (Ed Asner) is eager to go back to reporting. Without consulting the research department, Lou assembles a sensational exposé of a "corrupt" local civic leader. There's only one problem: The civic leader is anything but corrupt. Sheree North makes her second and final appearance as Lou's saloon-singer girlfriend Charlene Maguire; also making an "appearance" via a wall photograph is Grant Tinker, MTM executive and the then-husband of Mary Tyler Moore. "The Shame of the Cities" initially aired on January 25, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide