George Hall Movies
A veteran character actor of film, television, and stage, George Hall's formidable skill for comedy was equally matched by his remarkable versatility and dramatic range. Though television viewers will likely recognize Hall for his appearances on The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and AMC's Remember WENN, the busy actor also essayed frequent Broadway roles, including There's a Girl in My Soup, A Moon for the Misbegotten, and Bent. Born in Toronto, Hall refined his skills on vaudeville stages and, later, Le Ruban Bleu and Upstairs at the Downstairs before making his Broadway debut in 1946's Call Me Mister. He subsequently gained frequent exposure on the stages of Broadway, and appeared in such films as A Canterbury Tale (1944), From the Hip (1986), and Mrs. Brown (1997). As comfortable in front of a camera as he was before a live audience, Hall made his final television appearance in the 2001 series Murder in Small Town X. He died the following year due to complications from a stroke. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Actor-turned-filmmaker Griffin Dunne directs this mockumentary about the lives of struggling thespians. The film focuses on Lisa Picard (Laura Kirk), a fledgling actress about to burst on the scene thanks to a bit part in a made-for-TV movie. She is followed around by Dunne as she makes her publicity rounds with her friend Tate Kelley (Nat DeWolf), a writer/actor/militant gay activist. Famous is populated with several direct-to-camera interviews featuring the likes of Penelope Ann Miller, Charles Sheen, and Mira Sorvino. This film was screened at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel London
Prospective parents everywhere, meet the world's least likely paternal role model: Adam Sandler! In Big Daddy, Sandler plays 30-year-old bachelor Sonny Koufax, a carefree slob who has never much taken to adult responsibilities; he works one day a week as a tollbooth collector, and spends the remainder of his time living off of a $200,000 reward he collected from an auto accident. All told, the life suits him just fine. However, as his old buddies start getting married and drifting away, Sonny realizes that if he doesn't do something soon, he could end up all alone for the rest of his life. When his most recent girlfriend, Vanessa (Kristy Swanson), indicates that she needs some time off because she's sick of being with a man who can't act like a grown-up, he decides that it's time to take drastic action to win her back. Conveniently enough, a little boy named Julian (Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse) turns up on his doorstep, claiming that he's the biological son of Sonny's roommate and friend from law school, Kevin (Jon Stewart). The kid tells Sonny that he's from Buffalo, New York; Kevin has never been to Buffalo, New York, but no matter - Sonny foresees, in Julian, an opportunity to convince Vanessa that he can face adult responsibilities. He thus takes charge of the little boy over a long Columbus Day weekend, pretending to be Kevin. However, the plan doesn't work as expected, and the authorities hone in on a discovery of Sonny's real identity. Meanwhile, Sonny finds himself genuinely drawn to the tyke. Also supporting Sandler in Big Daddy are Joey Lauren Adams, Josh Mostel and Rob Schneider. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, (more)
- 1993
This made-for-TV movie stars Sean Patrick Flanery as the young Indiana Jones, who unexpectedly finds himself helping to destroy a massive anti-rail weapon in German-occupied East Africa during the First World War. Produced as part of the television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Young Indiana Jones and the Phantom Train of Doom also features Paul Freeman, Freddie Jones, and Ronny Coutteure. The screenplay was written by Frank Darabont, who directed the acclaimed feature films The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Patrick Flanery, George Hall, (more)
- 1992
This made-for-TV movie compiled from episodes of the television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles finds Indy (Sean Patrick Flanery) as a captain in the French Army during World War I. As Indy guides a pair of Austrian princes to a secret meeting with Austria's Emperor Karl, he faces danger and puts his charges in serious jeopardy as he tries to arrange a European alliance against Germany. Indy's next assignment takes him to Russia, where he goes undercover to monitor the activities of a group of young Bolsheviks bent on revolution. While Indy knows that their actions could be ruinous to the French war effort, he also finds himself developing a greater understanding of the Russians' cause and beliefs. Young Indiana Jones: Adventures in the Secret Service was edited from two episodes of the series: "Austria, March 1917" and "Petrograd, July 1917." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Patrick Flanery, Patrick Ryecart, (more)
Johnny Walker (Anthony Michael Hall) is a hot-shot high-school quarterback who receives intoxicating offers from spirited college recruiters in this adolescent teen comedy. Bathroom humor and sight gags are strung together in a story involving booze, broads, and other benefits for the coveted quarterback. Robert Downey Jr., Uma Thurman, and Paul Gleason co-star. Even cameos from Jim McMahon and Howard Cosell can't save this feature from itself, though it isn't the fault of the cast. Originally rated PG-13, it was reedited to R (with scenes added) for a home video release. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Downey, Jr., (more)
Director Bob Clark, whose previous cinematic endeavors ran the gamut from Porky's to A Christmas Story, called the shots on From the Hip. Fresh out of law school, Robin Weathers (Judd Nelson) is hired by a law firm not known for its ethics. Weathers' first client is a man who, up to trial time, was perfectly willing to cop a plea. Instead, the novice lawyer sharkishly secures a "not guilty" verdict--not to mention a public reputation as a live wire. His jealous older colleagues decide to get even with Weathers by assigning him a case that cannot possibly be won. Thus it is that Weathers is assigned to defend insufferable murder suspect Douglas Benoit (John Hurt), who refuses to cooperate with his attorney even though he's facing a death sentence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Perkins, John Hurt, (more)
