Films on television

Press, 22 November 1989, Page 18

Films on television

By

DAVE WILSON TODAY

The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (One, 12.15 p.m.; colour; 1962): Vincente Minnelli (Liza’s dad) directs this soppy comedy about a boy trying to interest his widower dad in women. Glenn Ford plays the dad and Ronnie Howard (now Ron, director of “Cocoon”) is the brat. Smokey and the Bandit II (Two; 8.30 p.m.; colour; 1980): Remember CB radio sets and comedies about truckers and idiot cops? This is from that late 70s, early 80s era and of that happily forgotten genre. Burt Reynolds and Sally Field re-team to run through the same routines again for director Hal Needham. Jackie Gleason again plays the dumb cop. It spawned yet another sequel, even worse than this ’un.

Entertaining Mr Sloane (Two, 11.30 p.m.; colour; 1970): A Gothic black comedy that is today only sporadically effective. Peter McEnery (TV’s “The Collectors”) plays a young lodger who becomes sexually involved with a middle-aged woman (Beryl Reid) and her older brother (Harry Andrews). Hardly a “British Comedy Classic” as billed by TVNZ. THURSDAY, Nov. 23

The Bridges at Toko-Ri (One, 12.15 p.m.; colour; 1954): The umpteenth repeat of this thenpopular action/romance drama today better remembered as a starring vehicle for Grace Kelly. She plays the longsuffering wife of a Korean war jet fighter pilot (William Holden). The bridges of the title are a military target that provide the focus for the big air attack in the finale. Watchable.

Hard Country (Two, 11.35 p.m.; colour; 1981): This film is of the same genre as John Travolta’s “Urban Cowboy.” Jan -

Michael Vincent and Kim Basinger (“Batman”) star in a drama where Vincent is a Texan redneck who’d rather be out drinking with the boys than at home with his wife. Snub Kim Basinger? The guy must be weird. FRIDAY, Nov. 24 Dixie (One, 12.15 p.m.; colour; 1943): A light and inoffensive biography of the minstrel Dan Emmett (Bing Crosby is the theme of this 1943 movie, made to cheer up the folks at home during the war.

Eddie Foy, jun., and Crosby’s “Road” movies co-star Dorothy Lamour also appear. SATURDAY, Nov. 25

Absolute Beginners (Two, 1.45 a.m.; colour; 1986): A musical tribute to the era of the London teenager, circa 1958, delivered by the pop video makers of the 1980 s. David Bowie is the star name, but look also for other well known names from the era, including Mandy Rice-Davies, Ray Davies (of The Kinks) as well as contemporary pop star Sade. A better film that this insomniac hour of the morning slot would suggest.

The Blues Brothers (Two, 8.40 p.m4 colour; 1980): Perhapsthe cult music movie of all time? John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd play the title characters, trying to reunite their old band to make a few bucks and save their orphanage. A huge budget allows for big production numbers and some spectacular car wrecks along the way. Look also for many cameo appearances by big names, from Steven Spielberg to Pee Wee Herman. Also some fantastic music from Ray Charles, Cab Calloway and Aretha Franklin. A crazy comedy, and one that gets better as the years go by. Straight Time (One, 11.30 p.m.; colour; 1978): Dustin Hoffman in full dramatic cry here as a former prisoner who can’t go straight. Theresa Russell, Gary Busey and Harry Dean Stanton costar.

Brothers in Law (One, 1.25 a.m.; black and white; 1957): What an odd scheduling move. This very warm and witty British comedy, for once a

true “comedy classic” is not in that Wednesday slot, but served up as an entree to the rugby! Nevertheless it’s a delightful film following the misadventures of a young barrister (lan Carmichael). Terry-Thomas and Richard Attenborough costar. John Boulting directed it from a story co-written by his brother Roy. SUNDAY, Nov. 26

The Last Waltz (Two, 2.30 a.m.; colour; 1978): Director Martin Scorsese somehow found himself behind the camera for this odd, curiously flat final concert of Bob Dylan’s backing group The Band. The “film itjust as it was” approach makes for a dull performance on the small screen and the guest appearances by Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, and other names of the time, don’t save the moment. Overseas critics raveabout this film. It all comes down to how importantly you rated The Band. American Hot Wax (Two, 5.30 a.m.; colour; 1978): Will you really be awake at 5.30 a.m. to watch this? If not, video it for later. It’s an intriguing if affectionate account of the life and turbulent times of famous 1950 s American disc jockey Alan Freed. Tim Mclntyre plays Freed but the real bonus comes with the appearance by real stars of the era, including Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Neighbours (Two, 12.10 a.m.; colour; 1981): John Belushi was so whacked out of his head by drugs he just fell through his final movies, of which this was the last. It’s sad to see the comic team so

brilliant in “The Blues Brothers” here reduced to crud. Dan Aykroyd later went on to greater fame with “Ghostbusters” and Belushi ran out of lives. For the record the plot is about a mild man whose life is wrecked by the arrival of horrible nextdoor neighbours. MONDAY, Nov. 27

The Last Tenant (One, 12.15 p.m.; colour; 1978): Tony Lo Bianco stars in this drama of a middleaged bachelor whose future is complicated by family pressure for him to care for his elderly father. Lee Strasberg plays the father and this made for TV movie won an Emmy for script writing.

Hooper (Two, 11.30 p.m.; colour; 1978): The same team that gave you “Smokey and the Bandit” is back, this time with a comedy about ageing Hollywood stunt men. It’s very reverential. Director Hal Needham and star Burt Reynolds were both stunt men in their time. TUESDAY, Nov. 28

A Concert with the Royal Ballet (One, 12.15 p.m.; colour; 1984): A feast for ballet lovers and a chance to see Dame Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev and members of The Royal Ballet. “Les Sylphides” and Act 111 of “Sleeping Beauty” are highlights. The Next Man (Two, 11.05 p.m.; colour; 1976): Sean Connery plays a Saudi Arabian ambassador trying to make peace with Palestine and falling for Cornelia Sharpe who (he doesn’t know) is a killer hired to get him. Poor Sean. Good use of location filming in Bavaria, London, Morocco and Germany helps this drama along.