Al Schwartz Movies

In this riotous British satire, a conniving Catholic priest convinces a dying tycoon into writing the church into his will by having him add the following proviso: the tycoon's children will only inherit the fortune if one of them can produce an heir within one year after his death. If they fail, all the money will go to the Church. The priest is well aware that the magnate's son is gay and that his daughter is a lesbian. After the ailing fellow signs the will, the priest allows him to die. The two siblings soon find themselves pursued by two aspiring real estate agents who want some of that money for themselves and agree to let the middle-aged siblings adopt them. A voluptuous seductress also has her eye on the family fortune and she tries to sway the brother into giving her a go. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Adapted by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala from the novel by Henry James, Merchant/Ivory's The Bostonians is set among the Back Bay uppercrust of the 19th century. Basil Ransom (Christopher Reeve), bored by his opulent lifestyle and his "proper" friends, is fascinated by his cousin, outspoken suffragette Olive Chancellor (Vanessa Redgrave). Basil and Olive's mutual friend is likeable, gregarious Verena Tannant (Madeleine Potter). Soon a triangle develops, albeit an unorthodox one: Basil and Olive both find themselves pursuing Verena, Basil because he is in love with her, and Olive because she wants to exploit Verena's social connections and gift for public speaking to promote her own political ideology. Lurking in the background is Verena's true love, poor-but-honest attorney Henry Burrage (John Van Ness). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this interesting drama based on a novel by Robert Cormier, flashbacks to two different periods of time mixed with scenes from the present slowly unveil the mysterious circumstances surrounding a lonely teen (Robert MacNaughton) who meets regularly with a psychiatrist delving into his past. The boy is in an institution and often rides around the grounds on his bicycle, pretending that the guards, groundskeepers, and personnel are his enemies. As the psychiatrist probes deeper, more of the boy's family's past comes to light. His father (Don Murray) had been a successful journalist until he testified in a criminal court case that made him a target of assassins -- and so he faked his death in an accident, changed his name, and moved out to Vermont. He never told his son who he was, and when he and his wife (Hope Lange) are killed one day in an "accident" the boy sees it and goes into shock. Now as he continues in his treatments at the institution, he begins to suspect that his psychiatrist and the institution's staff are, in fact, his father's enemies and orchestrated the assassination of his parents. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

This painfully dull Alien parody pits an inept spaceship crew against a mutating, one-eyed walking manure pile that grows out of an organic lump they obtained on a remote planet. When the token mad scientist (Patrick Macnee, whose hammy performance provides one of the film's few real laughs) determines that the creature's lethal attacks on the crew are only a self-protective fear reaction, he casts aside what few ethics he might have had to keep the crew from frying it. Since the entire crew (led by Leslie Nielsen) are blithering idiots, they fail to realize the creature's true intentions until Macnee hooks it up to a voice synthesizer, through which it performs the lovely soft-shoe number "I Want to Eat Your Face" (providing the film's other real laugh). Those expecting Airplane!-style antics from Nielsen will be sadly disappointed by his deadpan performance. Written and directed by Bruce Kimmel, who previously worked with co-star Cindy Williams in The First Nudie Musical. Enough said. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Following the astonishing (and, to some, appalling) success of the 1978 TV movie Rescue From Gilligan's Island, most of the cast of the popular 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island were hired for two additional "reunion" films. The second, Castaways on Gilligan's Island, finds Gilligan (Bob Denver), the Skipper, too (Alan Hale Sr.) the millionaire (Jim Backus) and his wife (Natalie Schafer), the movie star (Judith Baldwin, subbing for a recalcitrant Tina Louise), the Professor (Russell Johnson) and Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) back on the flyspeck island whence they had recently been rescued. This time, the castaways decide to turn their tiny isle into a tourist resort. This leaves the door wide open for guest stars Tom Bosley and Marcia Wallace as a straitlaced vacationing couple. The Castaways on Gilligan's Island blew its network competition out of the water on the occasion of its debut on May 3, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Eleven years after the network cancellation of Gilligan's Island, the crew and passengers of the ill-fated S. S. Minnow returned to the small screen in Rescue from Gilligan's Island. The cast remains the same, with one significant change. Bob Denver plays inveterate bumbler Gilligan, Alan Hale is the long-suffering Skipper, Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer are the fabulously wealthy Mr. and Mrs. Thurston Howell III, Russell Johnson is the resourceful Professor, and Dawn Wells, as perky as ever, is Mary Ann. Tina Louise wanted no part of any Gilligan's Island reunion, so her role-perennial starlet Ginger Grant-is filled by Judith Baldwyn. The premise: a huge tidal wave transports the seven castaways back to civilization. While they're thrilled to be back in the real world, none of the seven are able to adjust to life outside the island....least of all Gilligan, who on top of all his other problems must contend with a pair of enemy agents (Vincent Schiavelli and Art LeFleur). Conceived as a two-hour pilot film for a weekly revival that never materialized, Rescue from Gilligan's Island was originally telecast in two ratings-grabbing 60 minute installments, shown on October 14 and 21, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hooterville becomes a hotbed of activity when promoter Syd Sparks (Peter Leeds) stages a talent contest at the Shady Rest. Bowled over by the singing skills of Billie Jo (Meredith MacRae) and Steve (Mike Minor), Sparks invites the couple to try their luck in the Big Apple. But Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) doesn't want to lose his niece, and does everything he can to shoot down her rising star. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With the jailhouse closed while Sheriff Crandall (Barry Kelly) is on vacation, erstwhile Justice of the Peace and game warden Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) brings kleptomaniac Eustace Pockle (Ben Lessy) to the Shady Rest. Locking Eustace in his room (and charging him rent in the bargain), Joe figures that his part of the job is done. But he's figured wrong--and within a few hours, light-fingered Eustace has robbed everyone blind! This episode was originally scheduled for November 1, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With this episode, Elvia Allman takes over the role of Selma Plout, longtime rival of Shady Rest Hotel owner Kate Bradley (Bea Benaderet). Observing the catnip-like effect that cropduster Steve Elliott (Mike Minor) has on Kate's three daughters, Selma begins plotting and planning to snare Steve as a husband for her own daughter Henrietta (Lynette Winter). But Kate has never let Selma best her before, and she's not about to now! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tomboy Betty Jo (Lori Saunders) unexpectedly catches the bridal bouquet at a wedding. Though she shivers at the prospect, Betty figures that she must do "the right thing" by being the next girl in Hooterville to march down the aisle. Problem is, she doesn't have a fiancé, or even a boyfriend--and thus begins a grim and dispassionate search for an eligible mate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) fails to come home from school on time, Kate (Bea Benaderet) fears the worst. And what could be any worse than the possibility that Betty has eloped with classmate Peter Latimer (Charles Briles)? Ironically, this episode was originally telecast the same week that TV Guide ran an article explaining why former Petticoat Junction regulars Pat Woodell and Jeannine Riley had left the series--and even more ironically, Linda Kaye was the only "Bradley daughter" to remain with the show from beginning to end! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Traditionally, whenever a jury is sequestered in Hooterville County, they stay at the Pixley Hotel. Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) hopes to move this business to the Shady Rest Hotel by offering an added incentive: Namely, the delicious meals provided by his niece Kate (Bea Benaderet). Joe's plan backfires when the first jury to be billeted at the Shady Rest refuses to reach a verdict because they love Kate's cooking and don't want to leave!. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The 100th episode of Petticoat Junction finds Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) in the town of Pixley, ostensibly looking for a job but actually loafing about as usual. However, Joe does manage to increase his "riches"--or so he thinks--when the Bradley's dog digs up a tin can full of money. Future Vega$ costar Phyllis Davis shows up, appropriately enough, as a scantily clad showgirl. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide