Jack Starrett Movies

Not bad as far as slasher movies go, Brothers in Arms is set-inevitably-in a remote backwoods community. The title refers to a pair of siblings who don't get along (that's putting it mildly). When the brothers inadvertently venture into looney-land, they are besieged by a religious cult which dotes on ritual murders. Forced to work together, our heroes struggle manfully to avoid being chopped, lopped, sliced and diced. Dedee Pfeiffer, Michelle's sister, shows up in a role that might surprise her Cybill fans. Brothers in Arms is more than a little inspired by Deliverance, with elements of The Most Dangerous Game tossed in for good measure. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this supernatural thriller a group of parapsychology students and their instructor explore the elusive, bizarre world of dreams in a supposedly haunted house built over a deep mine shaft. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

B.A.'s old college rival Jason Duke (Rick Fitts), now a bank employee, turns up missing. Despite his reluctance, B.A. (Mr. T.) agrees to look for Duke at the request of Jason's wife Debra (Sheila DeWindt), who happens to be B.A.'s former girlfriend. This assignment obliges the A-Team to descened upon Whispering Pines, Arizona, where virtually everyone in town is an accomplice in a scheme to steal gold from a nearby mine. Making matters worse, both Face (Dirk Benedict) and Murdock (Dwight Schultz) try to use the same "con" on the bad guys, neatly cancelling each other out--and nearly getting themselves killed in the process! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When a former military man threatens to ruin a small town, it is up to the law enforcement agents of the Wildside Chamber of Commerce to put a stop to his dastardly plans. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

This socially conscious family farm drama from director Mark Rydell was his follow up to the Oscar-winning On Golden Pond (1981). Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek star as Tom and Mae Garvey, struggling Tennessee farmers constantly one step away from foreclosing. Their farm sits next to a river that both nourishes their land and constantly threatens to overflow its banks and destroy their crops. The Garveys sell some of their equipment for obscenely low prices at a foreclosure auction, at which some of their neighbors are forced to give up everything they own. The stoic Tom takes a job as a scab at a mill where the union workers are striking. Meanwhile, Mae has a platonic flirtation with local bank manager Joe (Scott Glenn), who saves her life when she's trapped under a heavy piece of farm equipment. Tom's homecoming is cut short by a flood, but the raging waters allow him to become a hero to his family again. The River was the third in a trio of dramas depicting the plight of the American family farmer released that same year. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

First Blood is the Sylvester Stallone film that unleashed "Rambo" onto an unsuspecting world. Wandering into a small, hostile town, ex-Green Beret John Rambo (Stallone) is targeted for persecution and abuse by potbellied Sheriff Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy). When he can stand no more, Rambo goes bonkers, killing a deputy and heading into the surrounding hills, armed to the teeth. Only after Rambo has picked off practically every law enforcement officer within a radius of 50 miles do the local authorities bring in his former commanding officer, Trautman (Richard Crenna), for advice. Trautman's response -- that the locals had better get a lot of body bags ready -- is hardly encouraging. First Blood proved to be one of Stallone's biggest non-Rocky hits. Kirk Douglas had originally been cast as Trautman, but he quit the project when the producers refused to cave in to his demand that Trautman kill Rambo in the finale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Treachery and Greed on the Planet of the Apes was cobbled together from two 1974 episodes of the TV series Planet of the Apes, which of course was inspired by the popular movie series of the same name. Ron Harper and James Naughton play two contemporary astronauts who fall into a time warp and are transported 2000 years into the future. They find themselves hunted by a civilization of highly intelligent apes who have taken over the Earth. Roddy MacDowell, playing friendly ape Galen, is the only actor to carry over his role from the Apes movies. In Treachery and Greed, the humans must deal with a scientist ape conducting a brainwashing experiment, and a crooked simian landowner who uses bribery to achieve his goals. For the record, there were five makeshift movies lifted from the Planet of the Apes TV series: other titles include Back to the Planet of the Apes, Forgotten City of the Planet of the Apes, Life, Liberty and Pursuit of the Planet of the Apes and (it's about time!) Farewell to the Planet of the Apes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this western, based on a William Goldman novel, the life of scout Tom Horn, an idealistic fellow whose life experiences turn him into a bitter bounty hunter, is chronicled. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Sue Anderson heads the cast of the made-for-TV The Survival of Dana. Dana Lee (Anderson) is a basically decent high school girl who suffers severe culture shock when her family moves to another town. A victim of oppressive peer pressure, Dana begins hanging around the "wrong crowd." Despite the affluence of their parents, these aimless kids get their kicks out of petty crime-and before long, there's nothing petty about their activities. Marion Ross, Robert Carradine Talia Balsam and Frederic Forrest costar in The Survival of Dana, which debuted May 29, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Johnny and June Carter Cash star in the made-for-TV Thaddeus Rose and Eddie. But they don't necessarily play the title characters: true, Cash essays the role of indigent Texas Thaddeus Rose, but his buddy Eddie is played by Bo Hopkins. June is seen as T.R.'s girlfriend Crystal, while Eddie's steady is portrayed by Diane Ladd. Now that the introductions are over, we note that the story isn't much, merely a series of disasters befalling T.R. and Eddie as they try to improve the quality of life for themselves and their lady friends. Directed by cycle-flick perennial Jack Starrett, Thaddeus Rose and Eddie debuted February 24, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rated R for violence, this is another of the promises broken to us by the movie industry. When they promise that we won't have to see something again, why can't they make it happen? Although this, like the Jason movies (Friday the 13th ad nauseam), is followed by a made for TV movie and a series, they really have to be prequels to this "final chapter," as dictated by the fiery conclusion of the movie. The story of a sheriff who just isn't going to take it anymore, it is based on a true story but, as with all Hollywood fare, made larger than life. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide