Reviews (10)

Suspense on Minnesota's North Shore!
This atmospheric thriller, filmed in part at an historic mansion in Duluth, Minnesota, is of special interest to residents of the "Land of 10,000 Lakes!" Starring Patty Duke, Richard Thomas, and Rosemary Murphy, the film's setting contributes much to the effectiveness of the storyline wherein Murphy portrays the cruelest mother-in-law one could imagine. Outstanding performances by all! Based on the novel by Naomi A. Hintze.

A TAUT LITTLE THRILLER.
An intriguing and tautly directed thriller in which Patty Duke plays an expectant mother who journeys to the colds of Minnesota to the visit the family of her recently deceased Army husband. What she discovers awaiting her arrival is quite different than she expected: a very twisted family indeed...A rather ingenious film which doesn't resort to any visual violence in order to keep a high level of terror and tension throughout, this film will also convince viewers that Richard Thomas could very successfully play against his stereotypical "John-Boy" character! Shot entirely in Minnesota using the Congdon Mansion - which was constructed on the shore of Lake Superior in 1903 at a cost of 1.3 million dollars - this movie is characterised by creatively imaginitive cinematography. Rosemary Murphy, a stage actress, made her transition to cinema extremely well: her performance is most effective.

very good thriller
Patty Duke gives a wonderful performance and Richard Thomas is nothing like John Boy Walton! This is a very well made and suspenseful movie.

Not the John-Boy we know and love
Richard Thomas comes out of Duluth's Congdon Mansion woodwork to pester a young Patty Duke in this 1972 pre-slasher thriller. He's more like "The Shining"s Jack Nicholson than John-Boy Walton. "You'll Like My Mother" is a variation on the Captive In A Snow Storm theme that works very, very well. Not a good palliative for cabin fever, as it will induce more anxiety than it cures, but be brave! Turn down the lights, stoke up the fireplace, get some Hot Chocolate, and meet "Mother." Or be really, really brave and make it a Triple Feature: "You'll Like My Mother," "Misery," and Jack's "The Shining." Reviewed by TundraVision

A classic thriller
Pales by today's standards in terms of graphics, violence, etc...but still a good movie. As usual, Patty Duke gives a wonderful performance...And Richard Thomas is no "John Boy"! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Last American Hero
This is 5 stars if you are a true race fan. Otherwise, it's still an interesting story. This film is loosely based on Tom Wolfe's essay about the younger days of Junior Johnson, although for some reason they changed his name for the film. (Notice, though, that Junior himself was a paid racing consultant on the film.) The race footage is very well done and there is some good footage from the old Southern 500. Bridges and Busey are a lot of fun to watch together as well.If you like stock car racing and wonder what the old days were like when the sport was still developing, you'll love this film. Only pity is it's not on DVD.

(Also another great film (although a little cheesy) about the old days is 43 The Petty Story starring Darren McGavin as Lee Petty and Richard Petty as himself AND Dale Inman AND Buddy Baker!!! It is a classic look at the old values that are still carried forward in the sport to some degree. It also has some insight to what NASCAR was and what it has become..Some really good vinatge racing footage is also included.) Also a pity it's not on DVD...We need to prolong the life of these smaller "special interest" films. Anyway have fun, great summmer stuff.

the last american hero
This is a classic movie about moonshing And small town life. It was the best when he went on to racing,It was great . I bought 3 copies and it's worth it. If you like muscle cars you love his black mustang. Great T.I.G.R

Best behind the scenes look at early NASCAR
I absolutely loved this movie! If you have an interest in real life drama, getting over obstacles and above all RACING, then this movie is for you! It shows the everyday struggle one goes through in their personal life, as well as one's pursuit towards a dream. This inspirational story shows you the everyday obstacles someone in this sport may go through and increases your interest and excitement with the sport as it is in today's world. I recommend this to everyone who lives and breathe NASCAR and other forms of racing.

Wonderful Film
This film show what a stock-car goes through to get from track to track and what he does when he joins another team ... Read more

Reviews (7)

An ageless story of Generals and Grunts.
One and a half million men were rejected for psychological reasons during WWII. Hundreds of thousands suffered combat fatigue during combat.(Depends whose counting.) A confused General slaps soldiers in a field hospital for breaking under the stress of war. (We all learn that it is only a matter of time before all would break.) The medical men say breaking is normal and Generals say it is an act of cowardice. All this sound and fury boils down to this...Private Slovick the only man to be killed by his country for being human and too honest.
Not one man in the firing squad that was made up of his buddies missed when they fired. Think you would have?

the execution of one miserable man
i'm an entusiast colector of world war II movies and i never see nothing like that before,i was a military at another country and another war{nicaragua}almost 25,000 of many young people die over there,there where many desertion too,but we never put nobody on front of fithing squad,i admire this private,because he prefer to die by his believe,than kill or be killed in action,in honor to the truth i think he was executed no by his desertion,but like he say by his criminal record,i do think ,the sistem was the one guilty because he recruit the man knowing his record.The problem is "the history don't make honor to desertors".

Chilling Performances Of A Chilling Story
A must see (and read) for anyone interested in WWII or the conflict each dogface must have experienced on the front lines. It is amazing to me how out of 40,000 deserters, 49 of which were sentenced to death, only ONE was executed. Indeed, the only one since the Civil War. What was so "special" about Eddie Slovik? The movie follows true to the excellent book by William Bradford Huie and Martin Sheen's performance is a study in reserved pain. He doesn't shout with indignation when sentence is conferred upon him. Rather, he takes it "in stride" as just another bit of dumb luck he has experienced his whole life. Snatched from the only good thing his short life ever provided, his wife Antoinette, after being reassured he would not be drafted was a cruel joke played upon a guy who was made to suffer cruelties all his life. I am not going to sit in judgment on his decision to confess to desertion. Hey, my dad faught in that war, you just can't have everyone deciding they are not going to fight. My argument is with the system that drafted this guy in the first place and the system that made him unique in the execution of sentence. Was Eddie Slovik the worst case of desertion in the entire war? I highly recommend this film and book. The book is out of print but Amazon found me a copy and I just finished reading it. I wish the film was available on tape but it isn't. I saw the movie on the "Encore" channel about a month ago after first seeing it on TV in 1974. It hasn't lost a thing. If you get a chance to see it, please do so, you won't believe how moving this story is.

Martin Sheen portrays my great uncle greatly!
This movie shows how brave, and great of a man my great uncle really was. I don't think any movie can ever top this. Not even Saving Private Ryan. This movie shows you that you don't have to have million dollar special effects, foul language, and blood to be good. Eddie Slovik was a truly brave man who stood up for what he believed in, even through death. I am proud of him, and I only hope he is proud of me. Thank you to everyone who has viewed this movie. I am sure he would be very proud if he knew he was looked upon as a very courageous man.

Parade of Mistakes
Being an active-duty military member, I have a special interest in the world of the profession of arms. Especially fond of WWII films, I have seen many of the wonderful and entertaining creations from this genre. It was my pleasure to view The Execution of Private Slovak, I ranked it right up there with films such as 12 o'clock High and Saving Private Ryan.

I must admit I was not all too familiar with the life and death of Mr. Slovak. As I watched his life develop under the brilliant acting of a young Martin Sheen, it became aware to me this young man only wanted to be happy and safe in life. He was not a fighter, but a lover of life.

After his reformatory days, Eddie is keen on getting his life together and getting a good job, and a fine woman. He gets both eventually, Antoinette was a definite match for him made in Heaven. They complimented each other perfectly. The draft board ultimately selects Eddie and he is off to training before you know it. You can sense the fear growing in Eddie already, not only because of his new warrior status, but because he is separated from his lovely new wife.

In the days that follow, he is sent to the front lines and comes under fire, which scares Eddie so much he decides to be a deserter, rather than face almost certain death from enemy fire. His zest for life picks up when the Canadians befriend him, but is reunited with his unit where he ultimately goes AWOL once again. This time, Eddie turns himself in and sign a confession stating his guilt. If only poor Eddie had broken parole back home and done a few months. He would've never been in that situation. But as Eddie said in a letter to his wife; "I never had a streak of luck".

Upon his courts-martial, Eddie is convicted of the charges of desertion in three separate ballots, and sentenced to death. Even then, the reality hasn't sunk in to his head yet. There is always the hope he will be reunited with his love. It isn't until the very end, where Eddie shows his true bravery, that he accepts nervously his fate.

I loved this film tremendously. As stated earlier, Martin Sheen made the movie true to life, as it should have been in the memory of Mr. Slovik. The special effects were lacking to today's standards, but hey, we're talking about a 1974 film here. The other actors, such as Ned Beatty and the actress who played Eddie's wife, we're also worth mentioning, they did a more than fine job. Also, the Major who presided over Eddie's execution and final drama was very convincing. He had many different emotions and a job to do, which conflicted with each other, and it showed.

Finally, this film brings out many deep thoughts and emotions brought on by the superb acting and storyline. I highly recommend this film to anyone who is a lover of WWII, drama, and the condition of being human. It can also be considered a tragedy in a sense. I salute Mr. Slovik, may he rest in peace. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

john/jimmy..kirk/johnny
this movie should be given its place in any western collection.
much as another fabulous western 'the man who shot liberty valence', it deals with a 'west' that has changed beyond the main characters' capacities to understand.
and, in common with countless westerns (of the a, the b, and the c varieties), it all comes down to who fastest, ¿no? or does it?
both the leading characters are riveting in their own ways,and ¡the ending! oh my, what an ending. whew.
this is a fine western, definately watchable again and again, and therefore definately buyable.
alvin

A Gunfight
Pretty good western with Johnny Cash in his first starring vehicle. Two aging gunfighters decide to sell tickets to a final showdown with the winner taking the proceeds. The whole town wages on the fight. Kirk Douglas in fine form. Cool ending, but does the winner really win? ... Read more

Description

Based on a true story - the integration of American schools in 1957 led to bomb threats, demonstrations and the intervention of State troopers. This is one teacher?s powerful tale of the crisis at Central High. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A great historical flick
This is an awesome movie that accurately describes the struggles of the black students that integrated the all white Central High School in Arkansas. It details what they went through every day, not only in school but out of school. this is a movie about courageous kids that fought for an equal education. This is a film for the whole family, for the history lover, or for anyone that wants to see a good movie. I highly recommend this movie.

An excellent film!
This is a wonderful film that was based on the real life journal teacher Elizabeth Huckaby kept during the 1957 integration that took place at a Little Rock high school. This is an intense and gripping drama that stars the talented Joanne Woodward along with Charles Durning, Henderson Forsythe and William Russ. Be sure to see this film!

Great picture
I see this movie occasionaly on late night local television. I have been looking for it for quite some time. I am glad that I finally found it. It is a good movie.

Memorable and moving
I saw this movie some years ago and found it so gripping that I wanted to own a copy. At last I found it here (after 7 years of looking) and am elated. It is a well done and very personal movie done from the point of view of "Mrs Huckaby" the lead character. Watch it, buy it, it's worth it!

wow!
This video is an excellent piece of the 1957 integration in Arkansas! I watched it in school, and it had me hooked from beginning to end! However , this may offend some people as the word "ni**er" is used quite often by the racist people in the movie. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Grand Depiction of What Happens When You Are Helpful.
This piece is long overdue. Every western, period piece of the "frontiers" depicts the Native Americans as a threat, and a menace.
This piece dispells this myth. The Iroquois were people just trying to hang on to what they had. Between the French, British, and Colonists, they were stripped of land no one owned, pushed around by the people they helped, and forced into situations that they were not equippted to handle.
The Mohawk, Onodaga, Onieda, Cayuga, Seneca, and eventually the Tuscarora all wanted what was best for everyone. But due to poor advice, mostly from the British, they lost everything, including a government that was started long before the whites,
and quite a bit of which was used to form the Declaration of Independance.
Indians did not start out as threats and menaces, this movie shows why they were perceived that way. They only wanted what they believed was theirs. Wouldn't you do the same thing?

Tale of the Six Nations and the American Revolution
"Broken Chain" is a decent made-for-cable movie essentially about the difficult decisions to be made by the Six Nations of the Iroqouis during the late 18th century as white settlers expanded into the New York frontier. It also shows the complex and fragile relationship that existed between the native tribes and their English allies as the American colonies rose up in rebellion against the crown. Symbolizing this relationship are two Mohawks, Thayendanega (Eric Schweig), the famous Iroqouis war chief known as Joseph Brandt who allied with the British during the Revolution and led a number of daring and bloody raids along the New York and Pennsylvania frontier, and his blood brother, Lohaheo, an intelligent and conflicted leader who tries in vain to keep his people neutral in the hope that it will preserve the Confederacy of the Six Nations and save the lives and land of his people in the face of total war.

After fighting against the French during the Seven Years War under the guidance of Sir William Johnson (Pierce Brosnan), an Englishman who genuinely admires the Iroquois, but who is only too eager to manipulate them for the purposes of the Crown, the Mohawks soon find themselves caught in the middle of the American Revolution, with both sides hoping to lure the powerful Confederacy to their cause. While Lohaheo urges neutrality, Brant joins the Britsh and fights with great ferocity against the Americans at Oriskany and Wyomissing. The two must face an uncertain future for their people and struggle to save a way of life whose existence is threatened by the people with and against whom they fight.

This is a good stab at a movie that brings this period of our history to life and tells a story that is too often ignored, not just the history of the Eastern Frontier, but the important role played by the Six Nations in the history of America.

A handsome historical production
"The Broken Chain" portrays a time when the Six Nations of the Iroquois were struggling for their land and their very survival. Two brothers find themselves on opposite sides--one as tribal leader tries to preserve peace among the Confederation, and the other allies himself with the British, placing his trust in their protective power. Eric Schweig gives a well-rounded performance as Joseph Brandt, the brother who adopts British ways, only to bring his people to ruin. Buffy Sainte-Marie shines as the wise tribal matriarch who does her best to warn her people against the encroaching tide of dishonest white settlers. Pierce Brosnan hams it up as William Johnson, the white friend of the Indians in early years and later their betrayer.
The film is educational, though plodding at times. Worth watching to understand how much our American government owes to the Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and other native peoples for its principles of democracy and equality.

Surprise appearances
It was great to see Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse (Young Joseph)and Micheal Spears (Young Lohaheo) that were in Dances with Wolves make appearances in this film.

The Broken Chain
I have seen this movie many, many times. No matter how often I see it, it remains an excellent tale of the Haudonshonia(Iroqouis)people. A people who's story needed to be told and Ted Turner did a fine job in doing so. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

I'm torn! Not a GOOD movie and a bare bones DVD ...
This was a 1976 drama that probably killed Margaux Hemingway's career as an actress and model, but oddly enough launched her younger sister Muriel into the spotlight! It's a rape drama about a victim (Margaux) who's rapist goes free (Chris Sarandon), and then attacks her younger sister (Muriel) and then all hell breaks loose!

The movie itself is a guilty pleasure - a potboiler melodrama done quite stlyishly, but somehow offensive and not well acted. Would fit in well with a double bill with EYES OF LAURA MARS! The fashion sequences are unique, and also the modern dance is neat to watch. And Margaux running in heels and a red sequin dress with a hunting rifle is a sight to see! I put it on my list of bad movies that I love. It has a SHOWGIRLS sensibility! Tried hard to be artsy and meaningful, but in the end was just too over the top to be anything but camp.

The DVD has a great transfer, but NO special features at all. Not even a trailer! Pity because Margaux died mysteriously, and this is her biggest movie. Memories of her would be welcome as well as why the movie was made. Credits show that a former DA of LA was an advisor, so somebody was trying to say something!

There's something about this movie ...
It's far from being the best film ever made, but LIPSTICK has some special quality about it. Let's first look at the exceptional performances from the cast:

Chris Sarandon - plays the school teacher of the younger sister (Mariel Hemingway) who rapes the older sister first and then the younger sister after being acquitted of the first crime. He really comes across as the creep he is intended to. You grow to hate him, which is the point.

Mariel Hemingway - her acting debut in which she shines. A great performance.

Ann Bancroft - plays the lawyer convincingly. An all round great actress.

Margaux Hemingway - the lead actress, and real-life sister of Mariel (unfortunately died tragically in mid 90's). Not a great actress by any means but she had her moments in the film. Pity about her voice. She was actually a model in real life then, rather than an actress.

The film bombed upon release in 1976 possibly because audiences couldn't accept Margaux trying to switch to acting. These days, such a movie would go straight to TV.

It is worth seeing at least once - The younger sister's performance is that good.

DVD SUMMARY - a bare bones release saved by an impressive transfer (and widescreen anamorphic too!). No trailer included.

strong stuff
This is one of my favourites from the 70's and it's great to see it finally appear on dvd. This is a hypnotic combination of cheesy exploitation and hard hitting drama that keeps you hooked right up to the explosive finale.
Margaux Hemingway is fantastic as the model who receives the unwelcome attentions of psychotic music teacher Chris Sarandon. Sarandon's character has to be one of the most loathsome ever put on film.
Mariel hemingway delivers a curiously affecting performance as the glamour model's younger sister.
After having only seen this before on UK tv in a cut version this nicely presented disc is a welcome addition to my collection.

Worst Movie Ever
...and boy am I glad it's finally on DVD. Can't wait to get my copy!

Delicious Trash
Oh how I love this film! Margaux is divine as a high fashion model who is raped by her teen sister's school music teacher! Well she is not just raped, she is completely brutalised! I swear some of those scenes looked a bit too realistic. Chris Sarandon is absolutely devilish in the role of the sadistic rapist. He doesn't just physically overpower Margaux, he also attacks her mentally. After the deed is done he slyly begs of her to "not do this with anyone else." During the trial he also torments her with late night calls playing selections of his Phillip Glass inspired music. While the subject matter is serious the film is also high camp & truely hilarious! In an emotional (or as emotional as Margaux can get) courtroom scene she shouts out "he tried to kill me with his c**k!" Let us also not forget lil sis Mariel who gets attacked at the end of the film...after a high speed chase through the Pasadena Design Center! This pushes Margaux over the edge so she grabs a shotgun and goes after Sarandon with a vengeance! After pumping him full of bullets she just keeps pulling the trigger...it is AMAZING! Francesco Scavullo must be so proud. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I love this movie
Yes, that's right: five stars. It's a five star B movie, and one of my favorites. My dream is that some day they will figure out a way to release these old 3-D movies on DVD for home viewing. But whether or not they get it in 3-D, I hope someday to see this on DVD. "Spacehunter" is a total cheesefest, but brilliant in it's own way. It's my favorite of all of the "forbidden zone" mutant type movies. There are all sorts of strange deformed creatures running around that were created by a mad scientist. The best part is Michael Ironside, who is awesome as the Overdog, who is the head mutant of this particular forbidden zone. He runs a death maze the he feeds beautiful women into to see if they can survive. Best line: "I like her. I like her for the maze!" Check it out.

I love this movie
Yes, that's right: five stars. It's a five star B movie, and one of my favorites. My dream is that some day they will figure out a way to release these old 3-D movies on DVD for home viewing. But whether or not they get it in 3-D, I hope someday to see this on DVD. "Spacehunter" is a total cheesefest, but brilliant in it's own way. It's my favorite of all of the "forbidden zone" mutant type movies. There are all sorts of strange deformed creatures running around that were created by a mad scientist. The best part is Michael Ironside, who is awesome as the Overdog, who is the head mutant of this particular forbidden zone. He runs a death maze the he feeds beautiful women into to see if they can survive. Best line: "I like her. I like her for the maze!" Check it out.

A superior film of the 80's
Ah, a classic movie that deserves nothing but praise. From the special effects, to the drama of a middle aged man and his relationship with a prepubescent girl.

Our hero (Peter Strauss) goes to a forbidden planet to rescue three space vixens from the clutches of an evil being that can only be described as monstrous. He is bald and attached by the head to something that looks like the mecahnical arms the paint cars at the GM plant. His hands are huge tri-claws. His only real purpose is to laugh a lot and look grimacing. In the end he dies while trying to 'steal the youth' of the young Molly.

In the beginning of the flick we have a real nice, low-budget 'Mad Max' type battle, but it picks up and moves on to greater things; a black dude joins up with them, but really has no purpose in the story, babies throw explosives down on them from the clifftops, the 'Death Maze' is the ultimate game show from hell, and our villian is a pervert who prefers his women to be undressed 'sl-o-o-o-o-wly' in front of him.

If this movie could possibly be any better, Mr. T and Nell Carter would have to do a cameo as guardians of the Neptune Moon Tressure.

One of the worst space movies ever made
I don't even understand why this movie was made. Don't buy this DVD. It only fans the flame for bad hollywood writing.

If you are looking for a movie that could be compared to the worse episode of the A-Team, then pick up this piece of junk.

Writing: poor
Special Effects: dismal
Acting: awful

Spazz-hunter...
Three years after "Facts of Life," but a year away from her triumphant role in "Sixteen Candles," Molly Ringwald finds herself the prisoner of some tricked-out bum named Overdog on a junk planet that looks like Fred Sanford's backyard. Peter Strauss, the poor man's Richard Chamberlain, plays the poor man's Han Solo (or Lone Starr, if you prefer) and tries to rescue her.

Yes, "Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone" is low-budget fun directed by Lamont Johnson. According to the IMDb, Johnson once played Tarzan on radio. With this movie, he shows a keen radio performer's eye for cinema. Ripping off "Star Wars" and "Road Warrior" and featuring more rickety metal garbage than any four episodes of TLC's "Junkyard Wars," this flick has a spunky little heart but little else to offer.

Ringwald would go on to become John Hughes' teen muse and the undisputed 80s teen comedy queen, usually playing upper middle class girls dating sexless, nonthreatening gimps like Andrew McCarthy. Here, she's a punky little spitfire who needs a bath and a shave. Come to think of it, she IS the spunky little heart of this movie. The rest of it can go to hell! But I kid "Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone." It's a silly movie with a clumsy title, yet worth watching with friends some drunken evening. But please- try not to confuse "Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone" with "Metalstorm: the Destruction of Jared Synn." They both have colons in their titles, and promise things like "adventures," "destruction" and "Jared Synn."

But only "Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone" has Molly Ringwald being tortured by Michael Ironside. Ask for it by name! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The best television detective series ever made!
PETER GUNN remains a television landmark. A half-hour show with enough material for a feature film in every episode. A groundbreaking marriage of narrative and music--many scenes play like Henry Mancini music videos (from the era when Mancini was cutting great jazz tracks with talent like Shelley Manne). The series' low budget is cleverly disguised behind the minimalist film-noir atmosphere. Blake Edwards created the series in response to the poor television handling of his RICHARD DIAMOND radio show--many episodes were actually rewritten from RICHARD DIAMOND radio scripts! Edwards proved he was an authentic successor of Hammett and Chandler (simply working in a different medium). Gunn is sophisticated, amusing, classy, tough, and always likable. His friendly relationship with Police Lt. Jacoby was a welcome change from the hard-boiled stereotype of P. I.'s who hated corrupt and/or stupid cops. The racy (for the 50's) banter with his night club singer/girlfriend and the bizarre, comic-relief contacts round out the format for this great series. The only complaint with this box set is the poor quality of the picture (it helps explain the low price). Collectors take note that three of the ten episodes were previously issued by Rhino Home Video about ten years ago. A must for mystery fans--PETER GUNN was Blake Edwards at his creative pinnacle.

Not A Bad Deal!
These are the only videos currently available for the vintage television series, "Peter Gunn", starring Craig Stevens. They are not too easy to find and Amazon.Com is one of the few places I've seen them available. This is a box set of five (5) videotapes with two (2) thirty minute episodes per tape for a total of ten (10) episodes. To begin, I bought this set with a little bit of apprehension. First, the price for the five tapes was very inexpensive ($15.83). Second, they are distributed by a company that I am unfamiliar with, Diamond Entertainment Corporation. However, for the price of $15.83 for ten episodes, I thought I would take my chances. Well, the episodes themselves were no surprise, your basic classic late 1950's/early 1960's detective show. The show was filmed in black and white which adds a film noir effect. This, combined with jazzy background music by Henry Mancini, are a "cool" combination. This is what "Peter Gunn" is known for. As for the quality of the tapes, well, they were okay. These are not digitally remastered copies by any stretch of the imagination, but the quality was decent. In fact, I was expecting a lot worse. Belive me, I've paid a lot more and seen a lot worse. With this in mind, if you like Peter Gunn or vintage detective shows, go for it! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

john/jimmy..kirk/johnny
this movie should be given its place in any western collection.
much as another fabulous western 'the man who shot liberty valence', it deals with a 'west' that has changed beyond the main characters' capacities to understand.
and, in common with countless westerns (of the a, the b, and the c varieties), it all comes down to who fastest, ¿no? or does it?
both the leading characters are riveting in their own ways,and ¡the ending! oh my, what an ending. whew.
this is a fine western, definately watchable again and again, and therefore definately buyable.
alvin

A Gunfight
Pretty good western with Johnny Cash in his first starring vehicle. Two aging gunfighters decide to sell tickets to a final showdown with the winner taking the proceeds. The whole town wages on the fight. Kirk Douglas in fine form. Cool ending, but does the winner really win? ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Well-Intentioned Effort
As a child growing up, I fondly remember going to the matinee in the 1970s to see all of those disaster films such as "Earthquake," "The Towering Inferno" and "Airport 1975," starring Charlton Heston more often than not. So the made-for-TV film "A Thousand Heroes" seemed like an interesting bet to view on video. I was familiar with the true-life incident -- the 1989 crashing landing of a United Airlines flight in Sioux City, Iowa -- and was interested to see how these dramatic events would be played out.

I was a bit disappointed by the lack of tension for much of this film, undoubtedly limited by the low-budget restraints of the TV movie format. Perhaps the most dramatic scenes in "A Thousand Heroes" were the events following the airplane crash, in which rescue workers frantically sift through the horrible wreckage in an attempt to find survivors. When they are greeted by the dazed passengers, walking out of the corn fields in zombie-like fashion, the film reaches its most dramatic moments.

How 180 passengers could have survived this terrible tragedy is beyond me, but certainly the efforts of the pilots and the rescue workers enabled these people to somehow walk away from the wreckage. "A Thousand Heroes" portrays these efforts in documentary-like fashion, never choosing to embellish or dramatize. Thus, this film deserves a three-star rating.

I had problems with the tensions in the cockpit, as we are shown a few sweaty brows and darting eyes, but for the most part, the portrayal of the pilots' frantic efforts is anything but exciting. Charlton Heston is probably about 15 years too old to play the part of the head pilot whose cool almost saves the day. Heston's undeniable presence boosts the film never-the-less, though a younger, more intense physical actor may have better served the role. James Coburn is terrific as a salty airport fireman, while Richard Thomas is given the thankless role of the young tenderfoot who trys to whip the rescue team into shape months prior to the incident.

One can't help but respect "A Thousand Heroes" as an earnest effort about an extraordinary incident in which man's better self rose to the occasion. The actual story is one of epic drama and nightmarish tension. This film, based on the story, never quite reaches those stirring heights.

The Miracle In Sioux City
The 1992 TV film A THOUSAND HEROES (which first aired as CRASH LANDING: THE RESCUE OF FLIGHT 232) recounts the events of July 19, 1989, when United Airlines Flight 232, enroute from Denver to Chicago, suffered a catastrophic engine explosion in mid-flight, which totally disabled its ability to stay airborne. Captain Al Haynes was forced to bring United 232 in for a very hard landing at Sioux City Airport in Iowa. The plane blew up and came apart on impact. But in one of the most miraculous outcomes ever, of the 289 passengers and crew onboard, more than 180 managed to survive the horrific ordeal.

With the exceptions of some slight dramatizations, A THOUSAND HEROES remains true to the essence of the story. Both veteran director Lamont Johnson and screenwriter Harve Bennett (STAR TREK III) are aided by a solid enough cast. Charlton Heston is quite good as the heroic Al Haynes (even if his being cast here seems a bit predictable). James Coburn scores as the tough-as-nails Sioux City airport emergency official who manages to get his team on the tarmac in time; and Richard Thomas, though he doesn't completely escape his "John Boy" image from "The Waltons", also does good work as the green rookie of Coburn's team.

A story as true as this with a miracle finish would seem tailor-made for the movies, and A THOUSAND HEROES works in that fashion. But we also see how Haynes and his crew managed to handle their in-flight emergency like the professionals they were, and how the Sioux City ground crew prepared for the kind of emergency that no airport, however big or small, would ever want to have on their hands. It is a movie well worth seeing for the cast and, most importantly, for this miraculous true story of survival.

unforgetable
i saw this film a long time ago on british television. for years i could not think of the name, but what i could remember was charlton heston starred, along with many other fine actors, and that i had to have the movie. for the last ten or so years i have searched movie books, video shops etc, to see if i could recognise the title, to no avail. then i went onto an actors website, punched in charlton hestons name, and hay presto, there it was. the plot was so unforgetable and i am so pleased i found it, although i have not managed to retrieve a copy of the movie yet. this movie shows that human beings can pull together in times of disaster, and how well firefighters, and medics can do their jobs. how lucky we are

A good job of portraying the real event
I was a long-time resident of Sioux City when this happened, and the events are etched on my memory. This is largely a true recounting of the crash of United 232, with a few variations for dramatic effect. In my opinion, Al Haynes with Bill Records and Dennis Nielsen were far more heroic than the actors could convey. There was about an hour of lead time before the actual crash, which gave outlying rescue units from as far as 50 miles away time to arrive and be ready. Eastern newspeople asked, "Does Sioux City have an airport large enough to land this plane? Do they have any hospital facilities?" Big city prejudice! Of course, we did. The airport, in a rural area south of the city, was left over from an air base with long runways built during WWII. Our hospitals were the best between Omaha and Minneapolis. What better place to have a crash than where it happened! Doctors and nurses were ready; helicopters were positioned; traffic was halted. The movie could have highlighted the most dramatic moment in a more meaningful way--the boy held in the arms of his rescuer. A statue in a memorial park preserves this moment. Perhaps a lesser-known actor than Heston would have been better in the role of Captain Al Haynes, if only to emphasize the heroism of the man rather than draw attention to Heston the celebrity. One can only say that the movie was a good job, but could never approach the level of heroism of everyone who was there that day.

Not bad!
I would not have cast Charlton Heston as the humble Captain Haynes, and I'll NEVER be able to watch Richard Thomas portray a character without thinking "John-boy", but it is still a very good made-for-TV movie. I had hoped for more scenes on the jet while it was still in the air, because not all the heroes were in the cockpit or wearing badges that day. There aren't ANY scenes of the jet beyond the cockpit (or exterior views), and even those are few and far between.

As a bonus, I noticed several of the actual people involved pop up in cameo roles. Very nice. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Shining Lincoln Shows Tarnish, Too
Though made drearily for television, this film has a number of elements that is ahead of its time. Sam Waterston's savvy, almost hippie-like Lincoln is not at all the "great ape" that many of Lincoln's detractors claimed. He is like the true Abraham Lincoln. With the high-pitched Kentucky squeak in his voice (like Lincoln), Waterston is simply riveting- as Lincoln himself must have been. His terrible screech of pain during the height of the Civil War is something I had always imagined he did several times. Waterston hypnotizes with this Emmy-worthy portrayal. The facts in the film are blurry at times, the direction is plodding, the lighting is too dark- and Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Todd Lincoln must be the casting blunder of the 20th century. Yet all involved give terrific performances. Too bad there wasn't more LINCOLN to this "Lincoln". But all in all, it is the must-see for any interested viewer.

Bland Mini-Series, Very Low Quality DVD
I was surprised to find this DVD so cheap, then found out why as soon as I put it in my player. Like other DVDs from the "Platinum Disc Corporation," it looks like someone took a VHS copy of this film and just recorded it to DVD. The picture is not sharp, and the colors are washed out. Some scenes are so grainy and low-quality they look like they were recorded straight from the 1988 TV broadcast. This DVD also does something I've never seen before - it initially shows a running time of just 1:33, which made me think I only had the first episode of this mini-series. When Chapter 8 concludes, the disc resets itself back to 1:33 for the second episode. Total time is a little over 3 hours. The disc contains no special features.

The film itself is, unfortunately, nothing special. Having been made after the heyday of the TV mini-series, its cinematography and less-than-stellar cast are almost as bland as the film's colors. Sam Waterston makes a good effort as Lincoln. Mary Tyler Moore is just adequate as Mary Todd Lincoln, although she does go over the top on a few occasions. Most of the other actors are stilted and unbelieveable, not to mention the atrocious accents some of them try to pass off. The battle scenes are short, bare-bones and poorly arranged; it looks as if they filmed all of the battles in one location and just used the same footage over and over, hoping no one would notice.

If you're looking for a really good Civil War mini-series, don't waste your time here. Wait for Warner to release all 3 North & South mini-series on DVD later this year (2004), and watch those instead.

Waterston is the Definitive Modern Lincoln
Sam Waterston is a very different Lincoln than the stately, orthodox one of Raymond Massey or even Henry Fonda. This Lincoln is clever, scheming, cynically funny and nakedly ambitious--one who might have a thing or two in common with some well known politicians of the 20th century. You could even call Waterston the first urban Lincoln, under the rail-splitting pretentions. But Waterston never loses sight of Lincoln's tortured, proud but guilt-ridden greatness, and that is the secret of his fine portrayal.

Strong portrait of a different Lincoln
The TV movie, perhaps predictably, doesn't have all the sardonic bite of Vidal's original novel. But it goes a long way toward breaking out of the Raymond Massey talking-waxwork mold and giving us a Lincoln believable as politician and man, as well as a strong portrait of the intensely political milieu in which he operated. Waterston is excellent-- completely unbound by past portrayals of Lincoln, and even fairly good at making us believe that he's anywhere near Lincoln's height-- and though I think there's a little too much of Mary Todd's personal life and not enough of the Civil War in this miniseries, there's no quibbling with Moore's splendid performance, which beautifully captures the pathos of this sad, unliked woman.

Good enough to watch again and again!
This is the best fictional movie about Lincoln that I have ever seen. It is intelligent and accurate, and beautifully directed. Sam Waterston is brilliant in the title role and Mary Tyler Moore is a fantastic Mrs. Lincoln. Believe me, I have watched this movie at least 25 times. It's terrific. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My first understanding of what racism is
This is one of my favorite tv movies of the seventies which is about racism in the south. The performances of the two lead actors are excellent. Patty Duke won a richly deserved Emmy Award for her role showing that her Oscar for the 'Miracle Worker' was not just a fluke. Al Freeman Jr. should of have won as well but that's Hollywood. This film opened my eyes to the real world showing me how ignorant people can really be. Unfortunately, things have not changed much since its release, however, it's still a great film to watch and analyze!

The Best TV Film of 1970
Granted, I am biased in that I have been a long-time fan of Ms. Duke's, dating back to 1962. But I am objective enough in my observations as a student of film, and a video producer myself, to realize - and highly recommend - the excellence of this splendid television production, adapted from the novel by David Westheimer.

The writing, acting, direction and production values are quite above-norm. Filmed entirely on location in Texas, the film captures the realistic flavor of the novel, which focused on the conflict naturally evolving between an uneducated, white, pregnant teenager and a black Northern attorney, drawn fatefully together by circumstances and differing forms of social prejuidice. The characters, as portrayed by Ms. Duke and Mr. Freeman, emerge as possibly one of the finest two-character studies ever produced for television.

Ms. Duke won her first Emmy award (1970) for her exceptional work in this production. Producers Levinson & Link (who were then novices),also received an Emmy for their script, as did Ed Abroms for editing. Director Lamont Johnson was awarded the coveted DGA for Best TV Director. In total, the film receive 8 Emmy nominations.

This was not only a critically acclaimed production; CHARLIE received a 31.7 rating and 48 Nielsen share. It represents a "breakthrough" effort in the TV industry arena. Due to its unprecedented success, writers and producers were encouraged to develop other serious-subject, controversial projects for the networks, vs. Hollywood. CHARLIE laid the groundwork for other TV productions, like ROOTS, THE EXECUTION OF PRIVATE SLOVIK, and many more above-par TV productions, to occur.

Although now 30+ years old, the film stands as an important work that honestly reflected our society's (still-existent) racial tensions and misunderstandings. It remains a brilliant hallmark in the evolution of better television fare.

Truly One of the Best
If you enjoy suspense, mystery and don't mind shedding a few tears, then you must see this movie. It is well written with great actors. Al Freeman, Jr. and Patty Duke are great. I have been searching for this movie for years. Amazon has made me so happy!

GREAT movie
Being a HUGE Patty Duke fan, this has always been my favorite movie of hers. It really showcases her enormous talent. Much like TV's Archie Bunker, Patty Duke plays a racist in the beginning, but the viewer soon learns that the character is not really mean, but just too ignorant to know the errors of her ways. It's a heartwarming experience, as well as a comment civil rights, that sadly, is still relevant today. ... Read more

Description

A young basketball phenom battles the business-driven college coaching system, putting his own sports scholarship at risk. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

ROBBY BENSON IN NEW MUSICAL!
Hey Robby Benson fans!
Guess what- Robby Benson is starring in a new musical at the Cherry Lane Theatre in NY! The show is called "Open Heart" and opens is March. You can get tickets through telecharge 212 239 6200

Better the Third Time Around
You know when I watched this movie when it first came out I was about the same age as Benson and played basketball. I was probably caught up in the fantasy of placing myself in his shoes at the time because I would have rated the movie 5 stars back then. I then saw it again about 10 years ago and was amazed at how cheesy some of the dialogue was. I was almost embarrased that I like it so much. I finally saw it again this past month and found I could love it all over again.

I am especially fond of Annette O'Toole. She has a look in this movie that is almost mesmerizing. Some of her facial expressions are almost the definition of "cute". She is worth one of my 4 stars alone. Benson on the other hand was always one of those guys who you either wanted to have as your best friend or you wanted to beat up.

All in all the movies inside politics of college basketball holds up pretty good over the years. It certainly has held up better then movies like North Dallas Forty or Bang the Drum Slowly, which were much better movies at the time but are now woefully dated.

The worst basketball movie ever? No, not really.
Spike Lee has called "One on One" with Robby Benson the worst basketball movie of all time, although he recently amended his remarks to say that 1977 film is neck and neck with Whoopi Goldberg's "Eddie." Co-written by Benson and his father Jerry Siegel, fans of college basketball will recognize the basic scenario of this film as what if Pistol Pete Maravich had gone to U.C.L.A. and the Coach John Wooden had been to the right of Bobby Knight and tried to break the young phoneme of his hot dog ways. Benson plays Henry Steele, who leaves his small town where he was basically the greatest show on earth to attend Western University in Los Angeles (scenes were actually filmed at Moby Gym on the campus of Colorado State University). There he discovers that Coach Moreland Smith (G.D. Spradlin) is not the same smiling guy who came recruiting him when the team is practicing.

Benson could actually play basketball (i.e., make long shots and do some fancy dribbling moves), and there was actually some thought put into the game sequences. The film deals with the ugly underside of college basketball (Henry has a campus job that pays him for the automatic sprinklers coming on) and Smith is a wonderful martinet that you will not be able to stand, but the basketball side of the equation is not what is wrong with this film. The tagline for this movie was "There comes a time when love stops being a ball and starts being a woman" (I swear I did not make this up). As long as Henry is on the coach's good side going to class is not exactly a priority; but then Smith wants him gone and now the classes matter. Henry ends up with a tutor, Janet Hays (Annette O'Toole), who is rather surprised to find out the freshman is not a dumb jock. Now, I can believe that Henry Steele can come off the bench in the final moments of the climatic game to save the day, but I cannot believe that he wins his tutor's heart. I totally understand the impulse on his part, and certainly Janet's current boyfriend is a troglodyte, but Robby Benson was not that cute.

This is another one of those 3.5 star films where you round up if at the end you are thinking about the basketball plot and down if you you are thinking about the romance. I also think "Eddie" is much worse as a basketball movie, and I am not even a New York Knicks fan.

Feel good movie
I saw this movie when it came out and thought it was a nice time capsule for the era. I went into college football, much as he did, small town to big time athletics and they tried to run me off also when I did not perform as they thought I should right out of high school. But I hung in there just like he did and made it to the starting lineup after the first year. So you can see I see what the story is about. I think everyone that likes sports and the seventies will love this story. He plays a great part. And the coach it your typical coach of the seventies. Reccommend it highly, watch it with your kids.

Laugh and feel good!
Fun movie, excellent vehicle for displaying good values, integrity and persistance. One of the best movies I saw as a young adult. Please release on DVD soon...I'll buy a copy for every one of my friends who happened to see it with me back in '77! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A solid war movie with an unusual twist!
This is one of my favorite war movies, although it certainly never got the acclaim that many bigger-budget films have received. "The McKenzie Break" is the story of a remote British-run POW camp for German Kriegsmariners and Luftwaffe officers in Scotland. The Germans are of course planning an escape, led by the ruthless Captain Schlutter, (a U-Boat Captain determined to get his trained men "back into the war") competently played by Helmut Griem. Brian Keith plays the British intelligence officer given a special assignment to deal with the situation at Camp McKenzie.

Of course, the notion of German POWs plotting to escape an Allied POW camp puts a unique twist on the usual POW theme, and in my opinion it works well in this film. The storyline moves along briskly and holds the viewer's interest. Bravo performances by Brian Keith and Helmut Griem carry the movie, and I felt that the cinematography and the on-location filming gave the film an excellent aura of authenticity. All in all there is a great deal about this film to like.

Don't compare this one to "The Great Escape" or any other POW film, because it isn't like any of them. "The McKenzie Break" stands on its own, and in my opinion does so very well.

Not The Great Escape
This movie tips its hat to The Great Escape but falls quite short of it in terms of watchability and being memorable.

The idea of a prison camp with rebelling German POWs was intriguing but didn't really carry itself through the movie.

The mutual respect of the two main adversaries could have been a strong dynamic to play upon but it sort of fell apart quickly 3/4 of the way through.

The tunnel and costume prep by the Germans was clearly inspired by the Great Escape but didn't carry the same level of excitement.

The ending, though ironic, was disappointing.

Complete reworking of POW genre by simply playing its rules.
Although made in 1970, the era of 'The Wild Bunch' and 'Bonnie and Clyde', this is a startlingly traditional POW film as might have been made in Britain in the 1950s. Except for a couple of minor changes. The policier plot, like 'Night of the Generals', in which a crime-reporter turned officer tries to inflitrate the (literally) underworld activities of the enemy; the heroes the audience are generically accustomed to root for, as they try to escape prison and provoke the film out of its impasse into action, are really unpleasant, model Nazis. The film as a whole, which takes a British genre and marginalises the British, seems like an allegory for that Empire's decline, with its two main demolishers - the Germans and the Irish - superimposed. Rarely has downbeat been so exciting.

Makes "The Great Escape" Look Daft
Set in a remote Scottish internment camp for captured German officers, The McKenzie Break is an interesting spin on the WW2 prisoner of war genre. Personally, I've always felt this to be one of the most under-rated WW2 films of its era, with stirling performances by Brian Keith as the shrewd, ballsy Irish Captain sent up to investigate a series of riots in the camp, and the suitably Aryan-looking Helmut Griem as the fanatical Nazi U-Boat captain fomenting the unrest as a cover for an impending escape attempt. Good solid entertainment which contrasts the arrogance and fanaticism of the German soldiers with the bewildered ineffectuality of the British camp guards (who mostly look like they should be drawing their old age pension).

Thank god we don't have to endure Steve McQueen showing off his prowess on a motorbike in this movie!

Excellent, Realistic POW Film
A film in the tradition of The Great Escape, although this one is much better in my opinion. It's the flip side of the coin. The German's are the POW's. A must see. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

john/jimmy..kirk/johnny
this movie should be given its place in any western collection.
much as another fabulous western 'the man who shot liberty valence', it deals with a 'west' that has changed beyond the main characters' capacities to understand.
and, in common with countless westerns (of the a, the b, and the c varieties), it all comes down to who fastest, ¿no? or does it?
both the leading characters are riveting in their own ways,and ¡the ending! oh my, what an ending. whew.
this is a fine western, definately watchable again and again, and therefore definately buyable.
alvin

A Gunfight
Pretty good western with Johnny Cash in his first starring vehicle. Two aging gunfighters decide to sell tickets to a final showdown with the winner taking the proceeds. The whole town wages on the fight. Kirk Douglas in fine form. Cool ending, but does the winner really win? ... Read more

Reviews (2)

john/jimmy..kirk/johnny
this movie should be given its place in any western collection.
much as another fabulous western 'the man who shot liberty valence', it deals with a 'west' that has changed beyond the main characters' capacities to understand.
and, in common with countless westerns (of the a, the b, and the c varieties), it all comes down to who fastest, ¿no? or does it?
both the leading characters are riveting in their own ways,and ¡the ending! oh my, what an ending. whew.
this is a fine western, definately watchable again and again, and therefore definately buyable.
alvin

A Gunfight
Pretty good western with Johnny Cash in his first starring vehicle. Two aging gunfighters decide to sell tickets to a final showdown with the winner taking the proceeds. The whole town wages on the fight. Kirk Douglas in fine form. Cool ending, but does the winner really win? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Ehhh...
This video is alright. Eric Roberts is not very believable as a young school aged boy, and his physical acting during the painting and symphony scenes is distracting and overdone. The video has elements not included in the story, perhaps to make Paul seem a more humane character than the cold portyal in print. In the written story, he seems to simply shut out his father and look down on his peers with an aloof disdain. However, the movie shows a boy who tries to please his father; a boy treated cruelly by his classmates. Though nicely filmed and authentic in appearance, the film tries too hard to accomplish what the story did not.

Superb
This is film is based on of one of the finest short stories ever written. Eric Roberts is nothing short of brilliant as the young man I always thought had to be the prototype for Holden Caulfield. The sensitivity & simplicity of this film is to be commended because it never would have worked as well as it does otherwise. This movie should definitely be seen by a far wider audience.

Paul and Jay Gatsby--spiritual brothers
Based on Willa Cather's stunning and justifiably one of her most famous short stories about a refined but underpriviledged youth whose dreary existence and desire for escape leads him toward a devastating end. Immediately evokes echoes of "The Great Gatsby"--ironic since it was published in 1905, 20 years before Fitzgerald's masterpiece, but makes me seriously wonder if he reviewed Cather's work before embarking upon his novel. Both have as their central character a wistful young man at odds with their lowly backgrounds and its inaccessibility for riches, culture and beauty, and as a result of their escapist desires and wild fantasies both become unrealistic, grand dreamers who meet a terrible fate. But whereas Fitzgerald's novel leaves one inspired in the end because we're left with the awareness that Gatsby represents larger-than-life qualities that transcends his physical self and will continue to live on despite his demise, Cather's story is utterly dark and bleak with the unmistakable impression of the same qualities dying with Paul. To fully appreciate this story one has to understand the context in which it was written. It was The Industrial Age, and along with all the positives of that era--unprecedented growth, progress and wealth--there was a dark underbelly evident in the widening gap between rich and poor, workers dehumanized and viewed as expendable, and the working class' deprivement of beauty and culture, which Cather viewed as necessities for the soul and spirit and makes her "case" excellently in the character of Paul (a young Eric Roberts), a 17-year old Chicagoan from the working classes who is alienated from his good-hearted but no-nonsense father and does badly in school, as he has no friends among either his teachers or fellow students. Paul finds his dreary home and school life unbearable and escapes at the theatre where he works as an usher--here he truly comes alive as he marvels at the glorious patrons, loses himself in the beautiful paintings for hours at a time, and mingles with the glamourous stage actors. But this pleasure comes to an end when Paul gets fired and his father finds him a dull job as a clerk, which unwittingly provides an opportunity to turn his dreams into reality when he steals $2000 and takes off for New York. Here he stays in a grand hotel, buys resplendent Brooks Brothers clothing, dines on fabulous cuisine, and is in his element among the smart set. But with all this luxurious living two grand doesn't last long and with the authorities and his father closing in Paul becomes disillusioned when he faces reality and rather than go back to his dreary old existence in Chicago, he takes a drastic, final, tragic action. Faithful adaptation with very sparse dialogue, appropriate since Paul's enchantment with culture and beauty is best expressed not by words, but by the people and objects, sights and sounds which make such unfathomable impressions upon him. Initially I hesitated about paying almost [price] for a 52 minute film--included is an excellent introduction by Henry Fonda--but am glad I did. A must-see for fans of Cather's story, as well as those of "The Great Gatsby," as this is as a fascinating companion piece on the dark side of The American Dream. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hardly stellar...
"Groundstar" is a top-secret government space project, whose security has been breached, by Welles, one of its employees (Michael Sarrazin). Escaping the facility with secret information, the man is severely injured, and when captured has no memory of who he is. George Peppard is Tuxan, a hardened, single minded, government investigator in search of answers. Nicole (Christine Belford) is a bystander drawn into the situation, as Tuxan attempts to unlock the secrets within Welles's mind.

The film has a made for TV look and feel, with a plot that is not really original, or particularly credible. The script doesn't contain much action, or well-written dialog. The atmosphere of big brother government is pervasive. Tuxan, who routinely travels in a helicopter, is full of bluster, and attempts to orchestrate much of the action, yet doesn't actually do much that is impressive. The resolution to the story is rather unsatisfying, and implausible. Unless you enjoy heavy-handed government tactics, you can skip this drama.

Groundstar was released while Peppard was doing the TV show Banacek. Fans of that program, should be prepared for quite different type of character. The same applies to Christine Belford, who also had a reoccurring role on Banacek. There are no warm scenes with witty conversation between them. Michael Sarrazin has the most challenging role, and his performance while serviceable, is hampered by having to deliver some very bad lines.

This one has TV movie stink all over it....
George Peppard plays a character named Tuxan, who is responsible for uncovering the break in and theft of highly classified information at a government facility called Groundstar. He uses any and all means necessary to do this, including hidden cameras, hidden microphones, and 24 hour surveillance. He has complete control most of the time, and absolute authority to find the information he needs in order to protect the United States against foreign interests that may try to undermine the government by stealing precious secrets.

That being said, this movie plays out like a cheesy 70's TV melodrama. I tried hard to like this movie, but it was a hard sell. The movie starts out with multiple explosions at some facility, and one character managing to make it out before the whole place goes up. We see this character running down a corridor, being chased by other individuals, and then the picture freezes at a dramatic moment to allow for a credit to be displayed on the screen. This happens about four or five more times, and becomes quite tiresome, but if I recall, this was a device used quite a bit in the 70's, on movie but more so on TV. This movie really has a 'TV' feel to it, so I am wondering if the director was primarily a TV director...well, I was right. The director is Lamont Johnson, and he has an extensive career directing TV, and it shows here. Anyway, one character escapes b