Michael Schultz Movies
After undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin and Marquette University, Milwaukee's own Michael Schultz attended Princeton, where in 1966 he directed his first play, Waiting for Godot. Schultz joined the Negro Ensemble Company in 1968, which brought him to Broadway in 1969. His breakthrough production was To Be Young, Gifted, and Black, which he restaged for television in 1971. Schultz' earliest film projects combined low comedy with profound social comment (Honeybaby, Honeybaby, Cooley High). Eventually, Schultz would concentrate on such pure-entertainment projects as Car Wash (1976) and Which Way is Up? (1977). He managed to survive the potential career-killer Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), continuing to churn out brainless but profitable efforts like Scavenger Hunt (1979) and Disorderlies (1987). As of late, Michael Schultz has been busier on television than in films, piloting episodes of such style-conscious series as Young Indiana Jones and Picket Fences, as well as an abundance of made-for-TV movies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1993
This a locally-made documentary of the explorations of inner-city youths into the area ravaged by a riot in 1992. The youngsters were guided through the filmmaking process by civic-minded filmmakers, and were assisted by a professional cameraman and director. Engaging mostly their own relatives and friends, they ask questions of those affected by the riots. A great deal of time is spent exploring how the residents of South Central L.A. regard the police, and how they regard their fellow residents in the area. The jazz soundtrack was provided by Delfeayo Marsalis, one of the less well known of the musical siblings from that clan. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Relying more on acting and attitude than makeup, Louis Gossett Jr. plays a cantankerous, fiercely independent old man in Benny's Place. A longtime employee of a steel mill, Gossett has set up his own tool repair operation within the mill, running things nicely, thank you, without the interference of his employers. He has rejected one white apprentice after another, but now is forced by affirmative action to accept an African-American assistant (David Harris)--whom Gossett suspects is being groomed to replace him. In his off-hours, Gossett juggles the affections of the two women in his life: a much-younger lady played by Anna Maria Horsford, and a mature lover closer to his own age, played by Cicely Tyson. Benny's Place was written by J. Rufus Caleb. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Michael Schultz directed this kinetic, hyperventilating comedy (scripted by Joel Schumacher) concerning the crazed events that go on within a single 10-hour period at a Los Angeles car wash. The cast of colorful car-wash employees includes Lonnie (Ivan Dixon), an ex-con; Duane (Bill Duke), a militant black activist; and Lindy (Antonio Fargas), an obnoxious homosexual. Sully Boyar plays Mr. B, the frazzled car-wash owner who has to deal with his screwball employees along with his over-educated slip of a son, Irwin (Richard Brestoff), who quotes Mao and wants to radicalize the workers. Also along for the wash and wax are Miss Beverly Hills (Lauren Jones), with a wild assortment of wigs; Marsha (Melanie Mayron), the distracted car wash secretary; a mad bomber (Prof. Irwin Corey), who is terrorizing the neighborhood; and Daddy Rich (Richard Pryor), the founder of the Church of Divine Economic Spirituality, who sports a gold limousine. Danny de Vito, Brooke Adams and others were originally in the cast but their scenes were ultimately deleted. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Franklyn Ajaye, Sully Boyar, (more)
George Segal plays rich and surly California executive Walter Whitney, who learns out-of-the-blue that he has a 17-year-old black son, in Michael Schultz's lightweight Carbon Copy. When his son Roger Porter (Denzel Washington) arrives, Walter tries to pass him off to his neighbors in the restricted all-white suburb as a sociological experiment. But when he eventually confesses his parenthood to his wife Vivian (Susan Saint James), his world is turned upside down. In a flash, all the trophies of upper-class white respectability are removed -- he loses his job, his credit cards are revoked, and Vivian throws him out of the house. Without the white man's trappings, he is forced to accept the help of downtrodden minorities. When he is compelled to manual labor, Walter comes to understand the troubles his son goes through. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Segal, Susan Saint James, (more)
- 2001
While mourning the death of their sister Prue, Charmed Ones Piper and Phoebe Halliwell (Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano) are surprised by a visit from their mother, Patty (Finola Hughes) -- and even more surprising by the news Patty has brought them. It seems the girls have a half sister whom they have never met: Paige Matthews (Rose McGowan), the daughter of Patty and her Whitelighter (guardian angel) Sam. Now, explains, Patty, the "Power of Three" remains intact, with Paige joining the Halliwell household for more benevolent witchery. This opening episode of Charmed's fourth season was originally telecast as a single two-hour program; it has since been divided into a pair of one-hour shows for syndication. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Krause, Julian McMahon, (more)
Michael Schultz directed this deeply felt recollection of adolescent life on Chicago's near North Side in 1964. Like American Graffiti, Cooley High deals with girl, school, and police troubles as a group of high-school seniors prepare for post-high-school life. The chums are Glynn Turman as "Preach," who loves to read poetry and history and wants to become a Hollywood screenwriter, but who has the worst grades in the school; and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Cochise, the high-school basketball star and suave lady-killer. Preach has to contend with love problems in the form of Brenda (Cynthia Davis), school problems with emphatic teacher Mr. Mason (Garrett Morris), and law problems with street toughs Stone (Shermann Smith) and Robert (Norman Gibson). ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glynn E. Turman, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, (more)
- 1992
Day-O is a purified TV-movie variation on the odious theatrical feature Drop Dead Fred. Mother-to-be Delta Burke begins to get those old familiar prebirth blues. Feeling that she's let life pass her by, Delta is enervated by the return of her imaginary childhood playmate, Day-O (Elijah Wood). Nothing much happens, except for the formidable Ms. Burke raising her voice to an air-raid-siren decibel every few minutes. As always, however, young Mr. Wood is consistently fine. Day-O was originally telecast May 3, 1992, in the timeslot that used to be occupied by the Disney Sunday Movie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A conniving nephew (Anthony Geary) wishes to get rid of his elderly uncle (Ralph Bellamy) to collect a large inheritance, so he hires the three worst orderlies he can find (played by the Fat Boys). ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Damon Wimbley, Ralph Bellamy, (more)
The concert film Dorinda Clark-Cole: Live captures the singer belting out a half-dozen songs. The setlist includes "I'm Coming Out," "You Can't Hurry God," "If It Had Not Been For the Lord," and "I'm Still Here." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
R&B supergroup Earth, Wind & Fire performs their standards at the Oakland Coliseum on December 30-31, 1981. Highlights include "Sing a Song," "Fantasy," and "Shining Star." ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Earth, Wind & Fire
- 1983
Howard E. Rollins stars as martyred civil-rights spokesman Medgar Evers, while Irene Cara co-stars as his wife (and future NAACP leader) Myrlie. The film concentrates on the last years of Evers, an ex-insurance agent turned activist. His home in Jackson, Mississippi is besieged by bigots and he and his family are threatened with dire consequences, but Evers continues to work towards the goal of integrating his racially-polarized state. In June of 1963, the 37-year-old Evers is shot to death in front of his home. This 90 minute drama was adapted from a book co-authored by Mrs. Evers, Ossie Davis and J. Kenneth Rotcop. For Us, the Living was first telecast March 22, 1983 on PBS' American Playhouse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Howard E. Rollins, Jr., Irene Cara, (more)
- 2006
Just before Christopher (David Sutcliffe) is to join Lorelei (Lauren Graham) for Friday Night Dinner at her parents' house, the couple has a bitter quarrel over Christopher's daughter GiGi (Nicolette Collier). In her usual inimitable manner, however, Lorelai's mother Emily (Kelly Bishop) chooses to ignore how thick the air is at the dinner table. As for Lorelai's own daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel), her reunion with Logan (Matt Czuchry) is a lot less fond than she'd anticipated, thanks to the presence of Logan's sexy new coworker. And elsewhere in Stars Hollow, Taylor (Michael Winters) alienates everyone (again!) by refusing to do anything about a malodorous trainload of spoiled pickles that has derailed just outside of town. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
- PG
Based on the life story of NASCAR auto racing champion Wendell Scott, this film, starring Richard Pryor as Scott, covers his struggles -- from the end of World War II to 1971-- to overcome racism and gain the freedom to demonstrate his winning auto-racing skills to everyone. He is not without support: he has Mary Jones (Pam Grier), his loving wife, a sense of humor, and quite a few good friends, including the white race-car driver Hutch (Beau Bridges). Filmed in the Atlanta area, this movie features performances by folksinger Richie Havens, Julian Bond (later a Congressman), and Maynard Jackson (at one time Atlanta's mayor). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Pryor, Beau Bridges, (more)
- 1974
- PG
In this comedy, filmed in Beirut, an American interpreter wins a trip to the Middle East and finds gets a lot more than a guided tour when she hires an adventurer, who is taking the body of a deposed African leader to its final resting place. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Good thing they told us this Jury Duty: The Comedy; we might have thought it was Jury Duty: The Term Paper. This comedy salad features a whole slew of TV luminaries--Alan Thicke, Bill Kirchenbauer, Lynn Redgrave, Heather Locklear, Tracy Scoggin, Reginald VelJohnson etc.--playing judge, jury, defenders and prosecutors in an embezzlement case. The clue as to the film's sobriety level is the fact that Bronson Pinchot plays four roles: Sanford, Arthur Lloyd, Jorge Jimenez, and Magda. Highlights include a mid-trial pizza delivery, a faulty oxygen tank, and a kid holding up a "Hi Mom" sign for the benefit of the courtroom cameras. This dumb-but-lovable TV movie first aired January 15, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
In this taut drama, a father fights to save his family from the desperate bank robbers who have taken over his newly acquired country home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mario Van Peebles, Holly Robinson Peete, (more)
In-between rappin' numbers by groups like Run-DMC and The Fat Boys, an almost unnoticeable plot unfolds as manager Russell (Blair Underwood) desperately looks for funding to press more records for Run-DMC's first hit. This gets him into deep water when he borrows from the wrong man and then is left behind after his performers hit the charts and are off on a better life. But all is not lost, after more rap and rock by everyone, the clan returns with salvation at hand. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Blair Underwood, Joseph Simmons, (more)
This two-hour TV movie served as a reunion for the cast of L.A. Law, a popular NBC legal series which originally aired from 1987 to 1994. Virtually all of the series' regulars were back on the job, with the noteworthy exception of Jimmy Smits. Most of the story takes place within the walls of the high-powered McKenzie-Brackman legal firm, which since the retirement of Leland McKenzie (Richard A. Dysart) had been controlled by the rule-bound Douglas Brackman (Alan Rachins). The main plot strand zeroes in on lawyer Michael Kuzak (Harry Hamlin), who in his efforts to save a former client from execution is pitted against his former partner -- and lover -- Judge Grace Van Owen (Susan Dey). Meanwhile, legal eagle Arnie Becker (Corbin Bernsen) is in the throes of a divorce action brought about by his wife (and ex-colleague) Abby Perkins (Michelle Greene); attorneys Stuart Markowitz (Michael Tucker) and Ann Kelsey (Jill Eikenberry) are being defrauded out of their life savings; and Roxanne Melman (Susan Ruttan) copes with the imminent death of her ailing ex-husband. Known variously as L.A. Law: The Movie and L.A. Law: Return to Justice, the film was telecast by NBC on May 12, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
After getting his big break, an aspiring TV reporter (Terrence 'T.C.' Carson) finds that showbiz ain't all it's cracked up to be. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Terrence "T.C." Carson, Lisa Arrindell, (more)
Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Chicago attorney Susan Morton (Nancy Travis) returns to her home town of California to wait out her final months. She also brings along her 11-year-old daughter Carson (Jamie Renee Smith), in hopes of finding a good home for the girl when the time comes. Unexpectedly, Susan falls in love with Michael Blake (Scott Bairstow), a much-younger busboy; alas, faced with the prospect of "instant" fatherhood, Michael breaks off the engagement. With nowhere else to turn, Susan entrusts Carson's future with her own elderly parents (James Karen, Holland Taylor)...and then Michael returns. Orginally telecast by ABC on January 25, 1999, My Last Love has since been rerun on the Lifetime cable channel as To Live For. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
