They’re Playing with Fire (1984)

They're Playing with Fire

I came across this movie in one of those bargain bins. You know the kind where you can buy two and get three for a buck. I don’t think they were cut-outs. Maybe they were a dumped to make room for smothering else. It didn’t matter much to me once I saw Sybil Danning above the title. I picked it up and clasped it to my chest with all the anticipation of a 15-year-old. Like many lads, Sybil Danning just has to stand there with her feet spread apart a foot or so with her fists on her hips and smoulder. I was under her sway. She could have her way with me and I’d smile and smile and smile. Sadly for me, it has yet to happen but one can dream. As for the movie, I’m having some trouble remembering.


Director:  Howard Avedis
Writer:  Howard Avedis; Marlene Schmidt
Cast:
Sybil Danning -  Diane Stevens
Eric Brown -  Jay Richard
Andrew Prine -  Michael Stevens
Paul Clemens -  Martin ‘Bird’ Johnson
K.T. Stevens -  Lillian Stevens
Gene Bicknell -  George Johnson
Curt Ayers -  Bartender
Dominick Brascia -  Glenn
Bill Conklin -  The Preacher
Therese Hanses -  Pub Singer
Greg Kaye -  Dale
Suzanne Kennedy -  Janice
Violet Manes -  Jenny
Alvy Moore -  Jimbo
Joe Portaro -  Professor
Beth Shaffel -  Cynthia









Romancing the Stone (1984)

Romancing the Stone

We all dream about running off to exotic climes to participate in high adventure with shady characters who turn out to have hearts of gold. Not many of us make it to the airport let alone plan what to pack. But it keeps us sane when our day takes a turn for the worse like getting splashed by a bus or being cut off by a marauding speeder on the freeway. But it is worth continuing to dream those dreams. Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) is one of those dreamy folks who happens to find herself in Columbia to ransom her sister and literally runs into a profiteering soldier of fortune, Jack Colton (Michael Douglas). While trying to get back to civilization, a misstep sends them both careening down the mud-soaked side of a mountain ending up with Jack’s face ending up planted in Joan’s crotch.


Director:  Robert Zemeckis
Writer:  Lem Dobbs; Howard Franklin; Treva Silverman; Diane Thomas
Cast:
Michael Douglas -  Jack T. Colton
Kathleen Turner -  Joan Wilder
Danny DeVito -  Ralph
Zack Norman -  Ira
Alfonso Arau -  Juan
Manuel Ojeda -  Zolo
Holland Taylor -  Gloria
Mary Ellen Trainor -  Elaine
Eve Smith -  Mrs. Irwin
Joe Nesnow -  Super
José Chávez -  Santos
Chachita -  Hefty Woman
Camillo García -  Bus Driver
Rodrigo Puebla -  Bad Hombre
Paco Morayta -  Hotel Clerk
Jorge Zamora -  Maitre’D









Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Beverly Hills Cop

I’ve met a number of characters in my day. Some have been enchanting, some have been rude and some have been creepy. Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is looking for his old friend Jenny Summers (Lisa Eilbacher) at a gallery where she works when he runs into Serge (Bronson Pinchot). With a dubious accent and a proclivity for anything in pants, Serge tries to persuade Axel that she is too busy. Persistence pays off so Serge fondle another assistant asking him to bring Jenny along to see Axel.


Director:  Martin Brest
Writer:  Danilo Bach; Daniel Petrie, Jr.
Cast:
Eddie Murphy -  Det. Axel Foley
Judge Reinhold -  Det. William ‘Billy’ Rosewood
John Ashton -  Det. Sgt. John Taggart
Lisa Eilbacher -  Jeannette ‘Jenny’ Summers
Ronny Cox -  Lt. Andrew Bogomil
Steven Berkoff -  Victor Maitland
James Russo -  Mikey Tandino
Jonathan Banks -  Zack, Maitland’s Thug
Stephen Elliott -  Police Chief Hubbard
Gilbert R. Hill -  Insp. Douglas Todd
Art Kimbro -  Det. Foster
Joel Bailey -  Det. McCabe
Bronson Pinchot -  Serge
Paul Reiser -  Jeffrey
Michael Champion -  Casey
Frank Pesce -  Cigarette Buyer









Calendar Girl Murders (1984)

Calendar Girl Murders

With 20-plus years to refine the style of car chases, plot misdirection, wardrobe changes, set decoration and dialogue, the Hollywood folks who made this TV movie show hints of where we are today. Cassie Bascomb (Sharon Stone) had been is recovering from the effects of a stalker and Dan Stoner (Tom Skerritt) thinks she is the key to solving the murder of magazine centerfolds. He keeps close to her until he discovers she knows more that she is saying.

Unexpected plot twists make this movie something more that usual fare. Cassie makes a move on Dan but he chooses to remain faithful to his family. Cop banter rises above the usual banal guy drooling over beautiful centerfolds. The magazine publisher is a stand-up guy rather than something slimy. On the whole this 1984 movie is better than you expect it to be.


Director:  William A. Graham
Writer:  Gregory S. Dinallo; Scott Swanton
Cast:
Tom Skerritt -  Lieutenant Dan Stoner
Sharon Stone -  Cassie Bascomb
Barbara Bosson -  Nancy
Robert Beltran -  Mooney
Pat Corley -  Tony
Robert Morse -  Nat Couray
Alan Thicke -  Alan Conti
Silvana Gallardo -  Detective Rose Hernandez
Michael C. Gwynne -  Krell
Robert Culp -  Richard Trainor
Barbara Parkins -  Cleo Banks
Wendy Kilbourne -  Heather English
Victoria Tucker -  Pam
Pamela West -  Gail Keating
Claudia Christian -  Kara
Donald Hotton -  Mr. English