Mel Tormé
1925 - 1999The Comedian
John Frankenheimer
Mickey Rooney, Kim Hunter
Sammy Hogarth, a vaudeville comedian who now has his own TV show, is a ruthless egomaniac who demands instant obedience from his staff and heaps abuse on those in lesser positions than he is. His most vituperative behavior, however, is reserved for his weak-willed brother, Lester, who Sammy has hired as his assistant but who really uses him as his whipping boy.
The Comedian
Night of 100 Stars II
Clark Jones
Debbie Allen, Peter Allen
This special is the second "Night of 100 Stars" to benefit The Actors Fund of America. Edited from a seven-hour live entertainment marathon that was taped February 17, 1985, at New York's Radio City Music Hall, this sequel to the 1982 "Night of 100 Stars" special features 288 celebrities.
Night of 100 Stars II
Hugh Hefner: American Playboy
Kevin Burns
Hugh Hefner, Richard Kiley
With his magazine Hugh Hefner changed the face of publishing, combining titillation with hard-edged reporting and serving up nudity with taste. His swinging bachelor ways also made him an icon for the straight males for whom his publication was tailor-made. Join Richard Kiley in this documentary about the quintessential ladies' man. Includes footage, photos and interviews with Camille Paglia, Mel Torme, Tony Curtis and more.
Hugh Hefner: American Playboy
Good News
Charles Walters
June Allyson, Peter Lawford
At fictitious Tait University in the Roaring '20s, co-ed and school librarian Connie Lane falls for football hero Tommy Marlowe. Unfortunately, he has his eye on gold-digging vamp Pat McClellan. Tommy's grades start to slip, which keeps him from playing in the big game. Connie eventually finds out Tommy really loves her and devises a plan to win him back and to get him back on the field.
Good News
Walk Like a Dragon
James Clavell
Jack Lord, Nobu McCarthy
California, 1870s. The cowboy Lincoln 'Linc' Bartlett finds out there's a slave auction of Chinese women in San Francisco and he intervenes and purchases the Chinese Kim Sung from the auction with the intent of setting her free. But it doesn't occur to Linc that setting her free isn't enough. Where is she going to go? Kim doesn't speak English and she's just going to be exploited by somebody else. Linc takes Kim home to serve as a housekeeper. Ma Bartlett Linc's mother, is not happy that a Chinese girl is living in her home, and even less happy when Kim and her son fall in love. Their affair also arouses the jealousy of Cheng Lu, a Chinese immigrant.
Walk Like a Dragon
The Return of Spinal Tap
Jim Di Bergi
Michael McKean, Christopher Guest
Spinal Tap is back in a whole new feature-length rockumentary. Go behind the scenes and find out where the somewhat-less-than-fab three (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer) are now -- and where it all began in Squatney, England. Also, catch up with director Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner), ex-Polymer marketing whiz Artie Fufkin (Paul Shaffer), and Jeanine (June Chadwick), who now owns a shop specializing in itchy Irish clothing.
The Return of Spinal Tap
The Big Operator
Charles F. Haas
Mickey Rooney, Mamie Van Doren
A power-mad union boss resorts to murder to eliminate witnesses scheduled to testify against him. The eclectic cast includes Mickey Rooney, Mamie Van Doren, Mel Torme, Jay North, Vampira, Charles Chaplin Jr., Jackie Coogan and Norman Grabowski.
The Big Operator
Words and Music
Norman Taurog
Tom Drake, Mickey Rooney
Encomium to Larry Hart (1895-1943), seen through the fictive eyes of his song-writing partner, Richard Rodgers (1902-1979): from their first meeting, through lean years and their breakthrough, to their successes on Broadway, London, and Hollywood. We see the fruits of Hart and Rodgers' collaboration - elaborately staged numbers from their plays, characters' visits to night clubs, and impromptu performances at parties. We also see Larry's scattered approach to life, his failed love with Peggy McNeil, his unhappiness, and Richard's successful wooing of Dorothy Feiner.
Words and Music
Duchess of Idaho
Robert Z. Leonard
Esther Williams, Van Johnson
Ellen Hallit is in love with her playboy boss, Douglas Morrison, but is too timid to do anything about it. To help her, her roommate Chris decides to step in, and devises a plan. Chris follows Morrison on his trip to Sun Valley, Idaho and plays the overattentive female, hoping that he will send for Ellen (who often played his "fiancée" when he had a female he couldn't discourage otherwise.) Complications arise when Chris catches the eye of band leader Dick Layne, and finds herself caught in a triangle between the two men.
Duchess of Idaho
