Arnold Laven Movies
Arnold Laven came to Hollywood in his late teens, securing work in a series of menial studio jobs. After several years as a dialogue coach, Laven worked himself up the ladder to director, helming the melodramatic programmer Without Warning (1952). In the mid-1950s, Laven was associated with several large-budget films, notably Paul Newman's The Rack (1956); still, if the subject matter intrigued him he was willing to work on such second-echelon features as The Monster That Challenged the World (1957). Specializing in westerns in the 1960s, Laven was both producer and director of 1962's Geronimo, and was producer only on the 1969 Burt Lancaster oater The Scalphunters. Arnold Laven was also one of the staff producers of Four Star Productions, a thriving TV-series mill of the 1950s and 1960s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 1985
In order to bring loan shark Jack "The Ripper" Lane (Wings Hauser) out in the open, the A-Team opens its own Irish pub, The Naked Lady. Disguised as pub owner Sean O'Shay, Hannibal (George Peppard) is apparently killed on orders from Lane, but it's actually a clever ploy to get inside the head villain's mansion (who'd suspect a corpse in a coffin?). Featured as the traditionally imperiled heroine is a pre-Northern Exposure Janine Turner. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
Assigned custody of a squirrely pickpocket (Paul Eiding), Rick Hunter (Fred Dryer) and DeeDee McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) are forced to temporarily stash their prisoner in a small town jail presided over by Sheriff Jake Cutter (Bo Svenson). Neither detective had counted upon the presence of a duplicitous deputy who manages to frame the pickpocket for a murder that the deputy himself has committed--and taking another life in the process. As a result, Rick, Dee Dee, and a terrified waitress caught up in the intrigue may never get out of town alive. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
Hunter (Fred Dryer) has finally nabbed the sociopathic bandit he's been chasing after for weeks. So imagine the detective's dismay and disgust when he is forced to provide police protection for his prisoner, who has offered to turn states' evidence against a mob kingpin in exchange for immunity. And if that wasn't enough of a cross to bear, Hunter must also nail the elusive "Mister Big" before he can get a chance to bump off the slimy witness. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
On the outskirts of Las Vegas, a gang of mercenaries called the Scorpions have been utilizing sophisticated commando tactics and high-tech weaponry to commit a series of minor crimes. Clearly, the Scorpions are merely rehearsing for Something Big--namely, the murder of their ex-comrade Al Driscoll (Robert Dryer),who has been taking into custody as a federal witness. Once they have determined that the Scorpions are being helped by a pretty "mole" in a Vegas casino, the A-Team goes into action to thwart the villains, through the simple expedient of practically begging to be attacked and/or kidnapped! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
Returning from a mission in Guatemala, the A-Team crash-lands in the backwoods of South Carolina. Here they stumble upon a group of vicious hillbillies who are in the process of burning a surveyor at the stake. The team rescues the would-be victim and hurry back to their crippled airplane, which serves as both shelter and fortress during the final all-out assault of the backwoods villains. Meanwhile, Amy (Melinda Culea) is saddled by the unwanted attentions of fellow reporter Mitchell Barnes (Edward Winter), who is determined to locate the A-Team on behalf of the government. This episode was originally scheduled to air on March 15, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
Hannibal's perennial nemesis Colonel Lynch (William Lucking) is in a festive mood when he finally succeeds in capturing the A-Team. But Lynch's exultation is short-lived: He is ordered to release the team by his superiors, who want Hannibal (George Peppard) and company to head to Borneo, there to rescue kidnapped army general Ludlam (Warren Kemmerling) and his daughter Kathy (Amy Steel). The assignment proves most difficult for B.A. (Mr. T) who once cold-cocked the General back in Vietnam. Future 24 and The Unit star Dennis Haysbert appears in a minor role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
Whenever one of their fellow Vietnam veterans is in trouble, you can count on the A-Team to come to the rescue. On this occasion, there are three disabled Vietnam vets, who in partnership with heroine-of-the-week Amanda (Robin Riker) have opened a desert resort called the Stagecoach Hotel. In his efforts to drive the vets off their property, evil land developer Frank Gaines (Alan Fudge) shuts down the water supply of both the hotel and a neighboring village. In order to foil the villain, the Team sets about to dig their own water well--and, as is customary, chaos ensues! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
This time the A-Team takes up the cause of migrant workers who are being treated as slaves--and cheated out of their meager salaries in the bargain--by evil landowner Ted Jarrett (played by prison-movie perennial John Vernon). Once on the scene, the Team sets about to organize the beleagured workers into a union, a task that necessitates the conversion of a huge cabbage-bailing machine into an armored vehicle. Meanwhile, the Team's perennial nemesis Col. Decker (Lance LeGault) continues to breathe down the Good Guys' necks. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1978
In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour TV movie), Jim (James Garner) is frustrated in his efforts to protect blind psychologist Megan Dougherty (Kathryn Harrold) from a dangerous stalker--mainly because Megan refuses to violate doctor-patient confidentiality by revealing what she knows about her alleged tormentor. Also, Megan had diagnosed the man as non-violent, and she cannot admit to herself that she might be wrong. Unfortunately, the stalker has already demonstrated his willingness to kill anyone who can identify him. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1978
In the first half of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour "TV movie"), Jim (James Garner) tries to save Dr. Megan Dougherty (Kathryn Harrold), a blind psychologist, from a mysterious stalker. There's a strong possibility that Megan's tormentor is one of her own patients, but she refuses to violate the patient-doctor confidentiality by providing Jim with any vital information. Thus, the detective is forced to piece the clues together himself and without his client's knowledge. Further complicating matters is the fact that Jim and Megan are falling in love. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1974
Chief Ironside (Raymond Burr) conducts an intensive search of San Francisco's Chinatown when one of the community's elder leaders is murdered. The main suspect is a young street-gang member named Billy (Frank Michael Liu), who has been positively identified by several witnesses. But the Chief suspects that Billy has been framed, the better to stir up a bitter and violent generational battle between Chinatown's older and young residents. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1972
Someone in San Francisco has been attacking Vietnam veterans with military-issue hand grenades. Two ex-soldiers have already fallen victim to the mystery assailant, and one of them has been killed. Ironside's aide Mark (Don Mitchell), a friend of the dead man, wants some answers--and thus he sets himself up as bait to lure the killer out in the open. This is one of several early-1970s TV programs centering around the tragic residue of the still-raging Vietnam conflict. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The McKenzie Break is an unusual POW escape drama in that the would-be escapees are German prisoners, held in a Scottish camp. When a Luftwaffe pilot is murdered in the compound, British major Ian Hendrey investigates. He suspects that the killing is tied in with a complex escape plan, engineered by German commander Helmut Griem. Before the inevitable break, the prisoners form into the sort of separate factions and pressure groups that fomented the Nazi upheaval in Germany in the first place. Based on a novel by Sidney Shelley, The McKenzie Break was actually filmed in Ireland rather than Scotland. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brian Keith, Helmut Griem, (more)
This light western comedy finds the lovely widow Laura Breckenridge (Angie Dickenson) offering a $20,000 reward for the return of some gold her late husband had stolen from the Denver mint. She seduces the virginal Sam (Burt Reynolds) into leading a team to retrieve the gold, now lying at the bottom of the Platte River. With the help of local blacksmith Jedidiah Hooker (Ossie Davis) and the inventor O.W. Bandy (Clint Walker), the trio agrees to go for the gold in order to receive the reward and restore the good name to the Breckenridge family. Meanwhile, the villains (Rick Davis and Del Reeves) trail the heroes in hopes of grabbing the gold for themselves. The good guys must break into the mint to put back the money, but they need to fool the wary watchman and superintendent (William Shallert). ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Clint Walker, (more)
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