Rick Podell Movies
Everybody Loves Raymond co-star Brad Garrett brings "The Great One" to life in this made-for-TV biography of video icon Jackie Gleason. The product of a fractious Brooklyn childhood, capped by the abrupt desertion of his ne'er-do-well father, Gleason launches his show business career with the motto "Never depend on anyone." Yet because of his multitude of insecurities, he demands total loyalty and 100-percent devotion from everyone around him. Trouble is, he has no loyalty or devotion to give in return: Dedicated to his career, his drinking, and his womanizing (not always in that order), Jackie neglects his wife Gen (Gretchen Egolf) and his children, tyrannizes his associates in general and his faithful agent George "Bullets" Durgom (Saul Rubinek) in particular, and shamelessly steals other people's ideas and comedy material, claiming it exclusively as his own. For all his bluster and bullying, Gleason remains likable and arguably even lovable -- just like his most famous TV character, Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden (indeed, the script suggests that Gleason was Kramden and Kramden was Gleason -- and that Jackie was envious of Ralph's ability to "make things up" to his long-suffering wife Alice at the end of each Honeymooners sketch). The film is at its best in its re-creations of Gleason's stage and TV triumphs, though one could nitpick about the hazy and often downright inaccurate chronology of events. As the title character, Brad Garrett offers an uncannily on-target portrayal, despite the fact that the 6'8" actor was nearly a foot taller than the real Gleason (this discrepancy was amply compensated for by the clever camera angles of cinematographer Neil Roach, not to mention the elevator shoes worn by practically every other member of the cast). Of the supporting players, Gretchen Egolf and Terry Farrell are superb as Jackie's first and second wives respectively, while Michael Chieffo's portrayal of Art Carney is eerily perfect. Co-written by Michael Preminger and Rick Podell, the same team responsible for Jackie Gleason's final theatrical feature Nothing in Common, Gleason made its CBS network debut on October 13, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A married woman who has not been able to successfully conceive a child turns to a specialist who succeeds in inseminating her artificially. Before too long, she hears rumors of the doctor's past and present genetic experiments and when she finally aborts the fetus, finds that it is a monster as she had feared--and still alive! ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brooke Adams, Jeffrey Hayenga, (more)
- 1991
The "first time" usually refers to romance in TV movies of this nature. Corin Nemic is an impressionable young Jewish kid who falls hard for girl next door Cheryl Pollak. Ah, but this is San Antonio in the early 1960s, and Pollak is Catholic. Before you can say "Bridget Loves Bernie" (or even "Abie's Irish Rose") the two young spooners are stymied by parental pressure. It is the girl who takes the initiative in quelling the fears and doubts of the grown-ups, while shy Corin stands by in moonstruck admiration. For the Very First Time is nearly stolen by Donovan Leach (son of rock singer Donovan and sister of actress Ione Skye), who plays a beatnik artist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) hopes to make a corporate farewell party a lot more exciting than the dullard who is retiring. Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and the guys reluctantly attend the bris of baby Frederick, with at least one of the guests making his own cut-out a bit early. Meanwhile, Carla (Rhea Perlman) waxes sentimental over her late husband's hockey jersey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
In this post-apocalyptic film, a lack of rain has made water the most valuable thing in existence, and when an evil gang led by Derek Abernathy (Adam Ant) threatens to take over the spring-fed community of Lost Wells, the peaceful residents must find the means to protect themselves and their resource. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Dern, Michael Paré, (more)
Garry Marshall directed this film which starts as a light comedy but moves into heavy-duty drama later on. David Basner (Tom Hanks in a good performance) works in an ad agency, where he enjoys bantering with his co-workers and meets a lot of women. He hasn't been especially close to his father (Jackie Gleason) and never thought about him much until his Dad is left devastated when his wife of 36 years walks out on him. He is soon faced with serious health problems as well. This propels the elder Basner on a downward slide that affects David and their relationship. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Jackie Gleason, (more)
In order to win a bet, a nebbishy engineer must meet a model; not only does he get to know her, they begin to date. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Teri Copley, Tim Daly, (more)
- 1984
Nine passengers survive an airplane crash in the desert with few supplies and no exit sign -- that situation begins this undistinguished, run-of-the-mill story about who makes it to civilization and who does not -- all fairly obvious from the beginning. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Makepeace, Scott Hylands, (more)
- 1982
In this romantic comedy, an attorney finds himself frustrated when his lovely fiance, a marine biologist insists on remaining celibate until her wedding night. The film is also known as Perfect Affair. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1982
After Lionel and Jenny's apartment is burglarized, Lionel's dad, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley), wants to buy a gun. George's wife, Louise (Isabel Sanford), is adamantly opposed to having a weapon in the house, so George buys a gun without her knowledge -- and with potentially disastrous results. Frank DeVol makes his final series appearance as Sammy the songwriter (DeVol had been advertised as a "new regular," but it didn't pan out). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1981
- R
A trio of unemployed beauties inherit a lunch wagon, only to run afoul of bank robbers in this sex comedy also known as Lunch Wagon Girls and Come 'N' Get It. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pamela Jean Bryant, Rosanne Katon, (more)
- 1980
- PG
Ever wonder what happens to your car when you give it to a parking lot attendant? Find out in this zany slapstick comedy set in an exclusive Beverly Hills Hotel. There the attendants gleefully smash and bash the expensive cars of patrons while trying to get them parked. The story really perks up when an enamored and fabulously wealthy sheik joins the attendants in hopes of attracting a certain beautiful woman. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
John Ritter plays an unsuccessful actor who takes a job posing as comic-book hero Captain Avenger at comics stores and conventions. While thus garbed, Ritter foils a grocery store robbery. He skedaddles from the scene when the cops show up, leading witnesses to assume that he is a genuine costumed superhero, the sort that shows up to foil the villains and then modestly retreats after his job is done. Ritter is hired by the mayor's staff, who hope that the Captain Avenger tie-in will help the mayor win an upcoming election. This plan comes acropper, and Captain Avenger finds himself on the outs with the public. Prodded by his girlfriend Anne Archer to be himself and not rely on a costume and mask to gain adulation, Ritter becomes a bonafide hero when he rescues several citizens from a fire. Thanks to the enthusiastic performance of John Ritter, Hero at Large remains amusing even when you know what's going to happen next (a common occurrence in this film). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Ritter, Anne Archer, (more)
- 1978
In the conclusion of Laverne and Shirley's two-part Season Four opener (originally telecast as a single hour-long special), the gang is still in New York, there to visit Frank's mother (Penny Santon) and to attend an Italian-American festival. The fun and games resume when Frank enters a greased-pole contest in hopes of winning his mother a vacation to her native Italy. Meanwhile, Laverne (Penny Marshall) has a fling with a handsome "local" (John Lansing). Marc Sotkin, who cowrote this episode, appears as one of the contest judges. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Season Four of Laverne and Shirley gets under way with the first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single hour-long special). Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) bid a temporary farewell to Milwaukee so they can accompany Frank (Phil Foster) and Edna (Betty Garrett) on a bus trip to New York. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to attend a lavish Italian festival, and to spend time with Frank's old-world mother (Penny Santon). While Grandma DeFazio is happy to see Frank, she is even happier to see tag-along Squiggy (David L. Lander), who adores Grandma's home-cooked spaghetti. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Chet Kelly (Tim Donnelly) drives his fellow firefighters crazier than usual when he forces them to go on a "nutritious" diet consisting of such unappetizing items as dried toast and figs. On the job, Roy (Kevin Tighe) and John (Randolph Mantooth) rescue a man from a huge fish tank and face a double emergency involving a pregnant woman and her ailing mother, while the doctors tend to a youngster who has fallen ill after ingesting raw cake dough just before his birthday party. And in a grim development, Captain Stanley (Michael Norell) suffers a severe shock from a fallen power line. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Originally telecast as a component of The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie, the feature-length opening episode of Quincy, M.E. quickly establishes the prickly personality and crusading nature of LA County Coroner's Office medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman). We're also introduced to several others series regulars, including Quincy's current girlfriend Lee (Lynette Mettey), his talented young assistant Sam (Robert Ito), his overcautious supervisor Dr. Robert Astin (John S. Ragin) and his police contact Lt. Frank Monahan (Garry Walberg). In the opener, Quincy investigates the possible links between a the rape and murder of the mayor's secretary, and the mysterious death of a city controller--and in the process, unearths a wide-ranging conspiracy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Everyone at the station house breathes a small sigh of relief when tough-as-nails Captain Hochrader (Joe Maross) announces his retirement. Deciding to celebrate "Captain Hook"'s departure with a wild party, the gang works hard (perhaps a little too hard) to convince the Captain that it's actually going to be his retirement bash. Elsewhere, the team rescues some Highway Patrol officers from a crashed helicopter, and a woman in a bear costume who has collapsed from heat prostration. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Rocky co-star Burt Young makes his second Baretta appearance, this time in the role of immigrant Jewish watchmaker Solomon Goldfarb. No stranger to persecution, Goldfarb defiantly stands up to a gang of protection extortionists who have been terrorizing his neighborhood. Undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake) makes it his personal mission to protect Goldfarb from mob retribution. The actual telecast date of this episode is in doubt: Originally scheduled for November 19, 1975, it was reportedly not seen until over a year later, on December 29, 1976. However, a summer 1976 telecast of the episode was listed as a "rerun" in the pages of TV Guide, suggesting that "The Big Hand's on Trouble" first aired sometime in December 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
