Michael Fisher Movies
- 1997
- PG13
Directed by Bob Swaim, The Climb chronicles the efforts of a father and son trying to prove their bravery. Set in the 1950's and shot in New Zealand, 12-year-old Danny (Gregory Smith) is determined to reach the highest point of the town, which, in this case, is a 203-foot radio tower. The tower in question, however, is scheduled to be demolished due to the accidents created by kids who had already attempted the climb. Despite the danger, Danny (Smith) feels that climbing the tower would prove once and for all that his father is not the cowardly war-dodger he's reputed to be, and that Danny himself is not one to be bullied. Though Danny had expected to plan and execute the climb in full, he finds an unlikely ally in Mr. Langer (John Hurt), his ill-tempered, hard-drinking neighbor. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The "new" Misison:Impossible moved from Sunday to Saturday evenings with the January 28, 1989 episode "The Haunting." The IMF's target is an elusive serial killer whose latest murder may cancel a crucial oil-trade agreement. To stop the villain in his tracks, the IMF agents play a dangerous series of mind games, with Phelps posing as a mentalist and Max Hart impersonating a lunatic. Janis Paige and Parker Stevenson guest-star as Victoria and Champ Foster. "The Haunting" was written by Michael Fisher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1989
Times had certainly changed since the original Mission:Impossible. First telecast March 18, 1989, as part of the "M:I" revival series, "Spy" guest-stars Shane Briant as Dr. Yuri Nicolai, a KGB colonel --- not the villain of the peace, but instead a new member of the IMF team! The mission: To locate and destroy a chemical-weapons plant being operated in Africa by cashiered British Intelligence agent John Christie (Tim Hughes). Written by Michael Fisher, "Spy" first aired on March 18, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1988
Greg Morris, who played electronics expert Barney Collier on the original Mission:Impossible series, guest-stars on the "new" version in the November 20, 1988 episode "The Condemned." Framed for murder, Barney is locked up in a brutal Turkish prison and sentenced to death. It is up to Barney's son, new IMF agent Grant Collier (played by Morris' real-life son Phil Morris), to stage-manage his dad's daring rescue. Scripted by Ted Roberts and Martin Fisher from a story by John Truman, "The Condemned" is a remake of a 1968 Mission:Impossible episode written by Laurence Heath. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1986
The title of the 1986 Australian miniseries Cyclone Tracy refers to an infamous hurricane that hit and nearly destroyed the northern Australian city of Darwin between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 1974, killing well over 100 and leaving over 20,000 homeless. This docudrama recreates that terrible series of events. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1983
In this made-for-TV movie, two actors who pose as detectives on a television series lose their jobs, only to take up work as real crime fighters. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1981
In this routine but still interesting "B"-movie, Harry (Paul Winfield) is an escaped convict from the U.S. who has found shelter for awhile in Australia, at least until he meets Paul (Beau Cox), an orphan who has just witnessed an assassination. Because of what he saw, Paul becomes the next target of Payette (Rod Taylor) the man behind the assassination (also Paul's uncle). Payette is also ex-con Harry's boss -- throwing Harry and young Paul together as they both try to elude the killer in the scenic landscape and mountains on the outskirts of Sydney. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Winfield, Rod Taylor, (more)
- 1981
- PG
In this sci-fi film, a spaceship crash lands in the Midwest and strands an alien family. A gentle innkeeper takes in the marooned group. Except for their green chimpanzee that eats light bulbs, the aliens look like normal humans. Unfortunately, the family is pursued by a government agent determined to see that the aliens don't intermingle with the humans. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burl Ives, Christopher Connelly, (more)
- 1981
- PG
Ivan Hall directs the martial arts action film Kill and Kill Again. Martial arts champion Steve Chase is hired to save the Nobel Prize winning scientist Horatio Kane, who has been kidnapped by a rich, evil genius named Marduk. Chase assembles a team of mercenaries who must overcome treacherous encounters on their way to the villain's stronghold and then fight for their lives after they themselves are captured. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ryan, Anneline Kriel, (more)
- 1977
A sequel to the 1977 TV movie Fantasy Island, this film was originally titled Fantasy Island II and slated to air on November, 1977, but was instead re-christened and broadcast as the initial episode of the weekly Fantasy Island series. Once again, six people spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to fulfill their dreams on a lavish island resort overseen by the enigmatic Roarke (Ricardo Montalban) and his dwarf assistant, Tattoo (Herve Villechaize). This time, "de plane" arrives on the island with a passenger roster including Charles Fleming (Horst Buchholz), who allegedly wants to restore the memory of his amnesiac wife, Janet (Karen Valentine); love-struck executive, Benson (George Maharis), and his bitchy boss, Margo Dean (Adrienne Barbeau), whom Benson hopes to woo and win Taming of the Shrew style; and long-married couple Brian and Lucy Faber (Joseph Campanella and Pat Crowley), who yearn to be reunited with the child they gave up for adoption years earlier. Return to Fantasy Island premiered January 20, 1978, on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Richard Harris dodges bullets from stem to stern in this middling thriller, based on a novel by Alistair MacLean. The plot concerns high-sea hijinks aboard the Caribbean Star, a combination cargo ship and floating casino. In the midst of the high rollers and spinning roulette wheels appears Luis Carreras (John Vernon), an amoral mercenary who hijacks the ship. Taking his marching orders from a mysterious mastermind, he installs an atomic device mid-ship, holding both the passengers and the bomb hostage, hoping to exchange them for the gold bullion of an U.S. Treasury ship. All seems to be going according to Luis's plan until First Officer John Carter (Richard Harris), the attractive Susan Beresford (Ann Turkel), and Dr. Marston (Gordon Jackson) arrive to put a crimp in Luis's escapade. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Harris, Ann Turkel, (more)
- 1971
Posing as an elderly and very grouchy English professor, Ironside (Raymond Burr) infiltrates a convalescent home where many strange deaths have occurred. To lure the killer out of hiding, Ed (Don Galloway) and Fran (Elizabeth Baur) impersonate Ironside's grown children, carefully dropping hints that they'd be better off if "dad" was no longer alive. Without giving away the ending, it can be noted that Ruth Roman delivers an outstanding performance as a grim-visaged nurse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Hal Holbrook guest stars as Christopher Seims, a prolific art forger who specializes in copies of famous oil paintings. The FBI becomes interested in Seims' activities when he gets enmeshed in a Mafia scheme to flood the market with expensive counterfeits. Meanwhile, Seims finds his future (and his life!) on the line when he becomes attracted to Susan Craig (Nan Martin), a wealthy but rather gullible art connoisseur. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Chaddock (Barry Sullivan) is the straight-shooting marshall of Gloryhole, Montana. Wealthy rancher Rep Marlowe (Wendell Corey) practically owns the town by way of his gambling saloons, shady land deals and hired guns who intimidate the law-abiding citizens. Sheriff Tangley (Lon Chaney Jr.) calls on Chaddock when Marlowe holds the town hostage by damming the river and cutting off the water supply. Barbara Hale plays Sarah Cody, whose young son is killed by gunfire in the ensuing melee. The saloon girl Nora (Joan Caulfield) is a former schoolteacher forced into her tawdry occupation by the menacing Marlowe in this routine western film. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Sullivan, Joan Caulfield, (more)
- 1968
Three friends from a small North Carolina town face bleak economic futures in the years following World War II. Johnny (Robert Walker) takes to running moonshine after his discharge from military service. He tries to think of a way for a better life for wife Carol (Diane Varsi) and their young son. Johnny and Carol hook up with Roger (Dick Clark), an ex-army demolitions expert. They plan to blow up the safe of a bootlegger, steal $200,000 and head off for a new life in sunny California. Their plans are thwarted when Roger uses too many explosives and the noise draws the attention of a Federal agent. Johnny kills the agent in this backwoods crime drama. Merle Haggard has a bit part and sings a few songs with the help of his band The Strangers. Clark was the producer who, with Michael Fisher, is responsible for the story. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Walker, Jr., Diane Varsi, (more)
- 1968
This violent motorcycle gang drama finds the outlaws riding onto an Indian reservation to take over. A rival gang has other ideas. There are few likeable characters in this feature, the possible exception being Johnnie (Robert Walker), and he is a convicted thief. Rock-guitar legend Duane Eddy plays off the seven, while Penny Marshall makes an early big screen appearance. Marshall would gain fame for her television work in the 1970s, and by the 1990s she would become one of Hollywoods leading directors. The Savage Seven is a modern-day cowboys and Indians tale, only instead of horses, the outlaws ride motorcycles. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Walker, Jr., Larry Bishop, (more)
- 1966
Jose De Vega is cast as Tatu, an embittered Indian youth who hates all white men. Injured and left to die by his tribe, Tatu is rescued by Hoss, who makes it his mission in life to prove to the boy that not all whites are monsters. Before the episode is over, both Tatu and Hoss have their faithful in mankind severely tested. Despite the serious nature of the story, Michael Fisher's teleplay manages to rabbet in a few moments of levity. "To Kill a Buffalo" originally aired on January 9, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1964
British pop performer Michael Sarne stars as young Ricky, a kid from London's East End who is yet another victim of urban socio-economic blight. Discouraged and frustrated, Ricky gets involved with a local gang hoping to support his family by turning to a life of crime. Rita Tushingham, in her third film appearance, plays the role of Ricky's girlfriend Catherine. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bernard Lee, Rita Tushingham, (more)
