Arthur Hiller Movies
After wartime service with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Edmontonian Arthur Hiller began his show business career in Canadian radio and television. In the mid-1950s, Hiller left the CBC for American television, directing such live anthologies as Playhouse 90 and such filmed weeklies as Alcoa/Goodyear Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Naked City. He directed his first theatrical film in 1957, moving on to such 1960s big-budgeters as The Americanization of Emily (1964), where he proved himself a superb technician with only a trace of personal style. In 1970, Hiller was fortunate enough to be in the director's chair for that year's biggest hit, Love Story, which earned him an Oscar nomination. Extremely successful for the past four decades, Arthur Hiller has continued to turn out such slick, efficient products as Silver Streak (1974), The In-Laws (1976), The Lonely Guy (1984) and The Babe (1992), works that were always as good as (but seldom better than) their scripts. One of Hiller's most admirable professional accomplishments was establishing a strong rapport with notoriously argumentative actor George C. Scott, whom Hiller directed in The Hospital (1971) and Plaza Suite (1971), and about whom Hiller wrote an article for the 1977 compendium Closeups: The Movie Star Book. In 1993, Hiller was appointed president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A Russian immigrant arrives in the Unites States to discover that the American dream has dampened somewhat in writer-turned-director Len Richmond's satirical look at America's preoccupation with all things sexual. Despite enthusiastic Alex's (Michael York) best efforts, the only job he can find upon arriving in the United States is a low-paying stint in a sex-toy factory. When elderly factory owner Eppy (Nancy Fish) takes pity on the struggling newcomer and introduces him to has-been adult film star Catherine (Prunella Gee) in hopes of making a match, the romantic bachelor finds that true love doesn't always arrive in the most conventional form. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael York, Prunella Gee, (more)
- 1961
Arnold Bourdon (Scott McKay) hires beautiful nurse Joan Grecco (Antoinette Bower) to care for his overbearing wife, Elizabeth (Geraldine Fitzgerald). Inevitably, Arnold falls in love with Joan, whereupon husband and nurse conspire to kill the ailing wife. Unfortunately for the conspirators, Elizabeth figures out what's going on and fires Joan, replacing her with a much older nurse -- but Arnold still manages to have the last laugh. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Hubert Wintor (George Grizzard) can't persuade his widowed mother, Sofie (Patricia Collinge), to lend him any money. However, Hubert is more successful talking Sofie into attending a séance staged by a suspicious-looking medium named Irma (Barbara Baxley). In the course of the séance, a voice from beyond suggests that it is high time that Sofie "cross over" to the other world so that she can be reunited with her husband. Sofie agrees that she'd be better off dead: problem is, she has no intention of leaving this world for the next without a traveling companion.... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Tom (William Demarest) and Ben (Roscoe Ates) are a pair of old coots living in the Nevada desert. The local sheriff (Ben Johnson) shows up at their place with an eviction notice, but he agrees to let them stay on their property if they can get a dead rosebush to bloom within the next 30 days. Not long afterward, Tom and Ben are confronted by a fugitive from justice (Mike Kellin), leading to a fight and a killing -- and thereby hangs the conclusion of the story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Lawyer John Benson (Edmon Ryan) comes to a Christmas party held by siblings Charlie (Carmen Mathews) and Celia (Carmen Mathews). But it's not exactly a social call: Benson is hoping against hope to patch up the long-running family feud between brother and sister. This, however, may prove more difficult than Benson imagined -- especially since Charlie is convinced that Celia murdered his wife, and is determined to exact a deadly revenge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Fired for his sympathetic coverage of an Arab leader who has been executed for murder, disgraced reporter Ted Franklin (Gary Merrill) boards a flight from Tangier to Cairo. His traveling companion is the beautiful Barbara Denham (Patricia Cutts), who expresses fascination over his unorthodox treatment of the murder trial. Gradually, Franklin reveals just why he believed the Arab was innocent -- and in so doing puts a noose around his own neck. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
It has been ten years since the wife of Munro Dean (George Mitchell) was murdered, and during this period Munro has hired 39 detectives in a futile effort to track down and destroy his wife's killer, an elusive gent named Otto (Jack Weston). The 40th detective turns out to be a young man named William Tyre (James Franciscus), who in his own way is as embittered and frustrated as Dean. The question is whether Tyre will accept the assignment, which will also oblige him to kill Otto once he has found him? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
A round robin of betrayal and murder takes up most of the running time in this episode. First off, Elise Taylor (Diana Van Der Vlis) falls in love with Bish Darby (James Best), who is married to a woman named Jackie (Madeleine Sherwood), who in turn makes arrangements for Bish to die and for Elise to be blamed. But someone beats Jackie to the punch -- namely, the husband of another woman with whom Bish is fooling around. Ultimately, Elise is punished for her indiscretion...but not in the way that Jackie had expected. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Mrs. Herman (Doro Merande) is the landlady of actress Mrs. Fenimore (Mary Astor). Both ladies are in dire need of quick money -- and thus, when Mrs. Herman hatches a scheme to murder her wealthy uncle Bill (Russell Collins), Mrs. Fenimore agrees to help her for a share of the inheritance. As things turn out, however, one of the two ladies is a bit quicker on the uptake than the other...and she's the one who ends up with all the cash. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Arrested for embezzling 20,000 dollars, mild-mannered Milton Potter (Paul Hartman) immediately surrenders to the police, explaining that he is "not the running type." Sentenced to 12 years in jail, Milton is given several opportunities to shorten his sentence by revealing the whereabouts of the stolen money, but he refuses each time. And then, upon his release, Milton promptly returns every penny of the 20 grand. So what was in it for him? You'd be surprised. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
When a man collapses and apparently dies on the street, the wallet he is carrying is stolen by impoverished Joe Helmer (Jeremy Slate). Examining the wallet's contents, Joe finds a card indicating that the wallet's owner is suffering from a disease that causes a deathlike state. Consumed by guilt over his failure to check if the man was truly dead, Joe makes a full confession to the police -- little knowing that he is in for the surprise of his life! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
After the death of her first husband, Judy (Joanna Moore) marries Steve (Steve Forrest), the man who sold her the insurance policy on her late hubby's life. When Judy and Steve quickly run out of money, Judy pins her hopes on a sweepstakes ticket that husband number one purchased just before his death. Unfortunately, the ticket stub is in the pocket of her dead husband's jacket -- the jacket that he was buried in. Based on a story by frequent Hitchcock collaborator Cornell Woolrich, "Post Mortem" had been previously been dramatized on the radio anthology Suspense. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Hopelessly in love with Poopsie Barrett (Sarah Marshall), the childlike, scatterbrained wife of his boss James Barrett (Richard Gaines), Philip Weaver (Peter Walker) begins plotting Barrett's demise. The scheme involves a business trip to Toronto and an "accidental" tragedy. What Philip hadn't counted on is the fact that Poopsie is not only scatterbrained, but rather stupid as well!€ ° ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Tennis player Walter Richmond (Robert Horton) finds a perfect doubles partner in the shapely form of attractive young widow Laura Gild (Betsy Von Furstenberg). As the two get to know each other better, the insatiably curious Walter begins asking questions about Laura's dear, departed husband. It would have been far better, however, if Walter had kept his curiosity to himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
After a fight with his wife (Gena Rowlands) in which he tells her that he wishes he was single again, Ralph Jones (Dick York) is miraculously transported back to his bachelorhood, two years earlier. At least, that's the story Ralph tells his psychiatrist (John Zaremba), who has trouble believing such a far-fetched tale. The truth of Ralph's claim may well be confirmed by something as simple as a waterlogged baseball card! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Practical joker Bradley (Albert Salmi) chooses as his next victim Pop Henderson (Roscoe Ames), the nearsighted, hearing-impaired attendant at the local morgue. Sneaking onto a slab, Bradley pretends to be a corpse -- and when he "comes to life," the terrified Henderson nearly jumps out of his skin, and almost loses his job. But there's a comeuppance in store for Bradley when one of his previous victims knocks him unconscious, leaving him in a state of complete paralysis.... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
This 1959 episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents could well be described as a precursor to Hitchcock's upcoming theatrical feature Psycho. Helen Brewster (Barbara Bel Geddes) wants to wed her much-younger boyfriend, Philip Pryor (Don Dubbins), but he keeps putting off the wedding, explaining that his mother is ill. After numerous delays, Philip and Helen finally become man and wife, whereupon Helen demands to meet her troublesome mother-in-law. But Philip is reluctant to arrange such a meeting -- and not without good reason. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Businessman Mort Bonner (Allyn Joslyn) is awakened one evening by a middle-aged burglar (Eddie Foy Jr.). Surprisingly, the bespectacled crook offers to split the insurance money that Mort will collect for the items that will be stolen. Impressed by the burglar's business acumen, Mort comes up with a better offer: for "the right price" the burglar will murder Mort's quarrelsome wife, Jocelyn (Jane Dulo). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Successful playwright Al Pacino can't get any work done as long as he is pestered by his wacko wife Tuesday Weld. Making things worse are the couple's obstreperous children, many of them products of her previous marriages. Just as Pacino is completing his latest work, his wife walks out on him. That's the good news: the bad news is that he's saddled with a bunch of snot-nosed kids. Still and all, Pacino finds time to inaugurate an affair with his play's leading lady, played by Dyan Cannon, while attempting to juggle the stresses of opening night with the needs of the demanding, often obnoxious children. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Al Pacino, Dyan Cannon, (more)
The third entry in the popular Beverly Hills Cop series finds Detroit cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) returning yet again to Southern California, this time on the trail of two car thieves turned murderers. As he teams up again with L.A. cop Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), Foley's investigation leads him to Wonder World, a theme park that is also the front for a major counterfeiting ring. More action and less wit are the trademarks of this film, which features Murphy dishing out his usual wisecracks, but with less flair and freshness than in the original film. Alan Young plays the old man who runs the amusement park, an interesting setting that still adds little to the tired premise. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, (more)
Franklin Lazlo (Tom Arnold) is desperate. His carnival is on the skids and he hasn't got the money to make his next payroll. He tries robbery, with little result except to have the police, some professional robbers, and a meter-maid (Rhea Perlman) chasing him. On the way, he takes uptight and harried children's carpool father Daniel Miller (David Paymer) and a van full of children hostage. Franklin and the children get up to some wild hijinks all over town, and gradually the starchy Daniel begins to loosen up. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Arnold, David Paymer, (more)
- 2000
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Leslie Jordan writes and stars in this autobiographical account of being gay and drug-addled in 1970s Atlanta. The film opens with the protagonist known only as Storyteller (Jordan) meeting his maker after a drug overdose and trying to explain the sorry state of his former life. Rewind 20 years, when our hero, styling himself as a lilliputian dandy à la Truman Capote, leaves home for Atlanta -- dubbed the "San Francisco of the South." There he meets debutante refugee and drug connoisseur "Miss Make-Do" (Erin Chandler) who introduces him to the wonderful world of chemicals and the film's titular hotel -- a low-rent Chelsea-like dive. After his benefactress kicks him out for taking up with a thuggish coke dealer, the hapless fop protagonist finds another protector in Tripper -- a roughneck junkie, ex-con, and pimp. The two form a weird platonic and dependent relationship that eventually spirals into an opiate oblivion. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Jordan, Erin Chandler, (more)
In director Arthur Hiller's hit tearjerker -- based on Erich Segal's novella -- Ryan O'Neal plays Oliver Barrett IV, a comfortably off Harvard pre-law student who falls in love with Radcliffe music student Jenny Cavilleri (Ali MacGraw), a freewheeling, delightfully profane product of a blue-collar Italian-American family. Oliver's father (Ray Milland) heartily disapproves of the subsequent marriage and cuts off his son's allowance. Despite financial travails (the pampered Oliver actually has to go to work!), the couple is blissfully happy....until Jenny is diagnosed as having an unnamed disease that consigns her to an early death. The movie's tagline "Love means never having to say you're sorry" became an iconic American catchphrase, the film's theme a number one hit. One of the early products of Paramount guru Robert Evans, Love Story grossed more money than any Paramount production before it. This enormously successful film inspired a 1978 sequel, Oliver's Story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ali MacGraw, Ryan O'Neal, (more)
Arthur Hiller directed this drama exploring the disintegration of an ideal marriage after the husband discovers he is gay. Kate Jackson is Claire, a successful television producer, and Michael Ontkean is her husband Zack, an equally successful doctor. They enjoy eight years of married bliss until homosexual writer Bart McGuire (Harry Hamlin) appears at Zack's office. As Zack gets to know Bart, he discovers he is attracted to him. He asks Bart out to dinner, one thing leads to another, and soon Zack announces to Claire that he wants to explore his new-found sexuality with Bart. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Ontkean, Kate Jackson, (more)
Dale Wasserman's long-running Broadway smash comes to the screen in this musical based on Miguel de Cervantes' classic satire Don Quixote de la Mancha. Cervantes (Peter O'Toole) is arrested and put in prison by the soldiers of the Spanish Inquisition after staging a comic performance which mocked the Spanish government. Cervantes' fellow inmates are eager to divvy up his belongings, but the author is desperate to save a manuscript of his latest work; in order to win the prisoners over, he stages, with their assistance, his latest comedy about the delusional knight Don Quixote (O'Toole). Don Quixote, with the help of his loyal manservant Sancho Panza (James Coco), is determined to battle evil, though he most often finds himself combating windmills. Don Quixote encounters the beautiful virgin Dulcinea -- personified by a jailed prostitute, Aldonza (Sophia Loren) -- and is certain he has found the love of his life. However, tragedy befalls Don Quixote when a band of savages rape Dulcinea as he sleeps, and he must decide where his greatest loyalty lies when his niece Antonia (Julie Gregg) arrives, asking Quixote to please return home to his family. In a move which was widely criticized at the time of the film's release, Peter O'Toole's singing voice was dubbed for most of his musical numbers, while Sophia Loren did all of her own vocal tracks. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter O'Toole, Sophia Loren, (more)
