Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs Movies

A madman learns how to control the oceans for his own purposes, and two very different scientists band together to stop him in this made for TV disaster movie. The coastline of Southern California is suddenly besieged with a series of tidal waves which threaten to wipe out a number of seashore communities. Investigators suspect that the tsunamis are not of natural origin, and oceanographer Jessica Weaver (Julianne Phillips) and weapons expert John Wahl (Corbin Bernsen) are brought together to look into the matter. Together, they uncover evidence that the waves are the work of a terrorist, but when a billion dollar ransom is demanded to save Los Angeles from a massive tidal wave, some suspect that Wahl is in cahoots with the bad guys. Tidal Wave: No Escape also features Harve Presnell, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and Gregg Henry. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this thriller, the owner of a popular health spa is forced to go into hiding because he knows that a prominent (and corrupt) congressman, who is running for a seat in the Senate, is responsible for the death of his friend. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This actioner is the sequel to the film LA Heat and chronicles the further exploits of Chance, a street-wise gumshoe who is now working for the vice squad. He and his captain work together to solve a series of killings. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Ex-football great Jim Brown co-stars in this blood-filled police actioner with former Welcome Back Kotter "Sweathog"Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs. In the story, Jon Chance (Jacobs) is a police detective with a very active fantasy life, who must be spurred into action by his captain (Brown). The case at hand involves a super-violent drug-dealer who is giving the police the run-around, and Jon's task is to bring him in. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

When the local police won't do much to thwart the antics of vicious mob bullies led by a crazed leader (Paul Koslo), a Vietnam vet throws his hat in the ring and pledges to put an end to the rowdy bully-rule. Soon his Vietnam vet friends have joined, too, and together put their jungle combat training to work and do some serious butt kicking. This is a violent film, not for those who dislike face-altering altercations. ~ All Movie Guide

The fourth and final season of Welcome Back Kotter opens as capricious remedial-class teacher Gabe Kotter (Gabriel Kaplan) is promoted to vice principal of Buchanan High School, replacing his long-time nemesis Mr. Woodman (John Sylvester White)--who in turn has moved up the food chain to full principal. Meanwhile, Kotter's students--aka the "sweathogs"--have all gotten off-campus jobs, following the example of self-appointed class leader Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta), who has left school to work as a hospital orderly. This move was made primarily to accommodate the ever-increasing motion picture commitments of John Travolta, who makes only a handful of appearances this season. As a potential replacement for the swaggering Vinnie, Stephen Shortridge joins the cast as Southerner Beau De Labarre, a charming prankster with above-average intelligence who has landed in the remedial program because of his propensity for wreaking havoc--which he has done with considerable success in the seven previous schools from which he has been expelled. Another noteworthy cast addition is Irene Arranga, as lonely, insecure student Mary Johnson, who makes her first appearance in "Once Upon a Ledge" as a would-be suicide who is brought back to her sense by--of all people--Mr. Kotter's nerdiest student, Arnold Horshack (Ron Palillo). By series' end, Arnold and Mary will have become husband and wife, much to the amazement of Horshack's "cooler" classmates Epstein (Robert Hegyes) and Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jack Albertson stars as an old-time Borscht Belt comic who owns his own nightclub. Albertson's public has been dwindling for years, and his club is in danger of folding. He decides to renovate his business by changing his establishment into a Comedy Store-like operation, opening his doors to aspiring young comedians, then inviting show-biz biggies (including George Burns, playing himself) to watch the parade of new talent. Coincidentally, this film was originally telecast opposite another TV movie titled Telethon, in which a washed-up comic (Red Buttons) desperately tries to sign celebrities for an all-night fundraiser. Despite its title, this is pure drama in its staging, characterizations and resolution. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The opening episode of Welcome Back Kotter's second season finds Buchanan High School teacher Gabe Kotter (Gabe Kaplan) considering the idea of giving up his "sweathog" class to accept a job with a Japanese inventor, played by Pat Morita. Other noteworthy guest stars appearing this year are John Astin as a ghoulish museum curator who convinces Kotter's students that they're being stalked by a mummy; Valerie Curtin as a student teacher who has her hands full with the sweathogs until Gabe comes to her rescue; veteran western star Scott Brady as an ill-tempered gym teacher who punches remedial student Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta) right in front of a group of his female admirers; Harold J. Stone as Kotter's hyper-judgemental; George Carlin and Fred Grandy (what a combo!) in an episode wherein Kotter's student Epstein (Robert Hegyes) becomes a popular radio DJ; and Ellen Travolta, the sister of series costar John Travolta, in the first of several appearances as "Mrs. O'Hara", this time in a two-parter in which the nerdish Horshack (Ron Palillo) thinks about quitting school to support his family. In addition to the aforementioned "regular" sweathogs (plus Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Freddie "Boom-Boom" Washington), Charles Fleischer, future voice of cartoon star Roger Rabbit, makes his intial appearance this season as Carvelli, Barbarino's tough-guy rival from another school; by the end of Season Three, Carvelli will have transferred into Kotter's class at Buchanan High. Season Two ends with the news that Gabe's ever-lovin' wife Julie (Marcia Strassman) is pregnant with twins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The pilot episode of Welcome Back Kotter finds history and social studies teacher Gabe Kotter (Gabriel Kaplan) taking charge of the remedial class at Brooklyn's James Buchanan High School, some ten years after he had graduated from the same class. Despite his status as a former "Sweathog", Gabe has a lot of trouble riding herd over such "unteachable" 10th graders as Barbarino (John Travolta, Horshack (Ron Palillo), Epstein (Robert Hegyes) and Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), and by the end of the first day he is sadly informing his wife Julie (Marica Strassman) that he intends to quit. Gabe is prevented from doing so when the "Sweathogs" tell him how much they really like and appreciate him--much to dismay of our hero's longtime nemesis, Buchanan's scowling vice-principal Woodman (John Sylvester White). Incredibly, this pilot show was NOT the debut episode of Welcome Back, Kotter's first season: Instead it was shown third, after episodes in which the sweathogs match wits with a snotty debate team, and in which Washington contemplates dropping out to become a basketball star. Though audiences of the time were probably confused by the chronological mixup, they quickly picked up on the comic rhythm of the show, especially those scenes in which Kotter's charges indulge in their pet hobb of "ranking"--that is, topping each other's insults. Before long, all of America was rooting for Kotter's sweathogs and booing the efforts of Mr. Woodman to undermine Kotter--which including finding an academic loophole forcing Gabe to retake his high school finals! Among the first season's best episodes are "Whodunit", in which student Rosalie "Hotsy" Totzie gets even with the sweathogs for underservedly tagging her with a "fast" reputation; "No More Mr. Nice Guy", in which Kotter and Woodman unexpectedly exchange personalities when Woodman takes over teaching the class one day; "Arriverdci Arnold", wherein the nerdy Horshack is promoted to a "smart" class--and hate it); "Follow the Leader", a two-part power struggle with Barbarino and Washington vying for the unofficial position of class leader; and "Dr. Epstein, I Presume", in which Epstein displays a hitherto unsuspected talent as a veterinarian. In addition to the actors mentioned above, Season One features a number of recurring characters: Vernee Jean Williams (Vernee Watson), who in one installment is talked out of marrying Washington by his pals; supersmart Judy Borden (Helaine Lembeck), whom Barbarino despises until she helps him improve his grades; and Todd (Dennis Bowen) and Maria (Catarina Cellino). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide