Perry King Movies

[Squad 51]

And another mini series which I downloaded some time ago. Never mind, I present The Last Convertible, again from 1979.

Cast (all parts):
Perry King - Russell Currier
Deborah Raffin - Chris Farris
Bruce Boxleitner - George Virdon
Edward Albert - Ron Dalrymple
Sharon Gless - Kay Haddon
John Shea - Terry Garrigan
Michael Nouri - Jean RGR des Barres
Caroline Smith - Nancy van Breymer
Stacey Nelkin - Sheila Garrigan
Tracy Brooks Swope - Liz Baynor
Kim Darby - Ann Rowan

and many more

Part 1:
We meet five young men at Harvard in fall of 1940. Russ, George, Ron, Terry and Jean are these five and well, Chris is the sixth in this group unintentionally. The one constant though is a green 1939 Packard convertible which wanders from man to man. Russ, George and Ron are all in love with Chris, yet for her it's only Russell what makes it complicated for the whole group. They are best friends, yet also competitors. Terry is the first one to settle down with a wife, yet the other four are torn. When Kay comes into their lives, as she read one of Russell's books, he is fascinated and more, wanting to settle down with her but as Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, the situation has changed for all of them. Jean returns to Europe/Africa to help his country, Russ joins the Navy and the others are also far away. Only George remains at Harvard and he has to help Chris who's pregnant from Russ and doesn't know what to do. George also finds a girl in the end and so ends this part.

Some pictures:


It's based on a book by Anton Myrer and some cast got later famous. lol

And tomorrow it goes on.

[Squad 51]

Regarding the mini series, I've found another one on my own sources. All eight parts and the series is called "Captains and the Kings" from 1976. Don't know yet when I watch it. Maybe with a little break here. *sighs*

[Tim]

Nice pics.

[Squad 51]

Thanks.

Now onto Part 2:
Some changes have happened. We get confirmed that Jean is dead, and George also moves into the army, infantry. He and Chris try to get rid of the kid but at the last moment, Chris decides otherwise. As said, George then gets drafted and when he moves in, Chris comes to tell him that she married Ron without telling him the truth about the baby. During the war, George lost his battaillon but took care of a young soldier who he then lost in Scotland. There he met Kay again, a famous singer, telling her about the others which put her into shock. Russ serves on a ship but he's seasick, yet gets into trouble with his Chief. Unfortunately, the ship gets under attack from a (German) submarine and no one knows about his destiny. Terry is in the Air Force and also lost many men when his superior wants him to use his foreign language skills in Germany. Reluctantly he does but he's also in love with a married woman. Ron also gets drafted.
At home, the ladies deal with the men's abstinence. Sheila finds herself a lover, though both know she's married and waiting for her husband's return. Chris meanwhile has given birth to a certain blond baby and all four women speak on a record for the boys what George listens to in Italy. Russ is seen again, drinking with his Chief in a bar when they think about the ending war with two atombic bombs over Japan. Yet all four don't look forward of coming back to the USA.

That, I guess, will be the last part.

[Tim]

Guess so.

[Squad 51]

Well, and now onto Part 3:
The guys are back in the USA and don't recognize the country anymore. The first two meeting together are Russ and George and they stop by Chris and her son. Russ is stunned and more and flees after some time. In a bar where George finds him, Russ wants to know if Bobby is his son but George refuses to answer. Since the two of them are still bachelors, they settle down with Terry who has taken a break from his wife and Russ writes a book which becomes a bestseller. At his presentation, the friends meet again and Terry and Ann are coming back on speaking terms, Russ sees Kay and decides to go with her to Hollywood and George finally settles down with Nancy. After some years, Terry, Ron and George meet again at their beach with the kids but on that faithful day, Terry, George's son gets ill and dies. It's heartbreaking for anyone around, yet Russ seems to appear at the inappropriate times and always he comes to George. However, Sheila falls in love with Russell at a young age and after some time, they even make love, yet as Russ wants to go to Hollywood with Kay, Sheila tries to kill herself but George finds her on time - and they remain close. After another time, Russ gives the 1939 Packard convertible to George and tells him that he and Kay split up for good. Some of his works are good on Broadway and in Hollywood.

At their 25th reunion, in 1969, all come together again, even Russ. George and Nancy got a daughter who seems to be in love with Robby. Chris and Ron are together as well as Terry and Ann. Only Russ and Liz are alone. Russ wants a dance with Chris and she offers him this and after that, they talk because Russ wants to convince her to go with him but it's too late. Ron is still jealous but Chris tells them her point of view finally and all three men, Russ, George and Ron, realize their mistake and all can accept their friendship again. Russ gives a letter to George which he'd written after his night with Chris, but he knows that he'd lost and says good bye. The other three and their wives enjoy their reunion and that's the end!

Some changes about the men: Terry and Ron have gray hair, George a mustache and Russ a beard at the end. And the stylists have done well.
Just bad that there are no pictures to find!

Tomorrow I'm off (Long Night) and on Saturday I may continue with the other mini series from 1987 (four parts).

[Tim]

Right.

[Squad 51]

Well, by accident while checking on the current mini series I've found another movie called "Short Cut to Haifa" from 1974 with Perry King and the late Peter Ustinov and Francesca Annis. You'll notice why.

---

And now a big jump to I'll take Manhattan from 1987! Another mini series in four parts (on Youtube available!).

Cast (all parts):
Valerie Bertinelli - Maxime 'Maxi' Amberville
Barry Bostwick - Zachary Amberville
Francesca Annis - Lily Amberville
Jane Kaczmarek - Nina Stern
Jack Scalia - Rocco Cipriani
Paul Hecht - Pavka Meyer
Tim Daly - Toby Amberville
Julianne Moore - India West
Adam Storke - Justin Amberville
Perry King - Cutter Amberville

and many more

Story:
This is the story of Maxi Amberville and her attempt to save her father's empire from her uncle. It begins when Maxi Amberville's father Zachary is found at the bottom of a cliff and dies later. Five months later, Maxi and her siblings learn that there is a board meeting of which they were not informed. They discover that their uncle Cutter Amberville, Zachary's brother, is not only in charge but has just married their mother, and also that Cutter has decided to cease operations on four magazines that have been in the red. When Maxi learns of this she threatens to reveal to her mother some of the skeletons in Cutter's closet unless he allows her to take charge of one of the magazines that he plans to close and if she can make it get into the black, the others will remain in operation. Then the story shifts to when Zachary returned from WW2, a hero, and his family is fawning all over him, which leaves Cutter pretty much out, which is the reason for the animosity between them. Zachary then goes to New York to begin his work and he eventually starts his own magazine. Before long he has several magazines under his belt, and he also finds the love of his Nina, but she rejects his marriage proposal. He then goes to England and meets Lily, an aspiring dancer. But when she is rejected by the dancing world, she decides to accept Zachary's proposal. They have two children, Toby and Maxi. Now Zachary fawns all over Maxi, which sometimes Lily feels is too much, and when Toby is diagnosed as having a condition that will eventually leave him blind, things begin to unravel. She then has an affair with Cutter, who clearly is just using her to get at Zachary. Maxi would grow up to be Daddy's Girl, who throws herself at Rocco Cipriani, a man who works for her father. When she gets pregnant, they marry but divorce when Maxi clearly cannot survive without the lifestyle that her father provided for her. She would marry two more times. Eventually Zachary becomes aware of not only Cutter's affair with Lily but also of other machinations. He then cuts himself off from Cutter, which only fuels Cutter's hatred for him. (taken from IMDB)

My own thoughts:
We start with a body found at a cliff and five months later, many changes have appeared. The lost daughter returns and challenges her uncle. Back, after the war, we see that the parents also have decided which son they love more and that brings out a bad sibling rivalry between Zachary and Cutter Amberville. While Zachary decides to start a magazine business and that with success over the years, and well, two women dominate his life: Nina Stern, an editor, and later Lily who he met in London where they marry. Yet after Cutter also comes to New York, he and his sister-in-law start an affair which results into a baby.

Some pictures:


Once again, this is based on a novel by Judith Krantz. And in one of these pics is a familiar face but he hasn't appeared yet.

Tomorrow then Part 2!

[Tim]

I remember hearing about this one.

[Squad 51]

That's great to hear. I forgot to mention yesterday that Lily gave Cutter a necklace which plays an important role for the dead body.

Part 2:
Lily and Cutter continue their affair despite being separated. Cutter goes to San Francisco to start his own career for a broker named Alexander. Upon his first day, he stumbles across Candice and her dogs and Lady's man strikes again. Candice dedicates her life to him but Cutter doesn't appreciate it. He creates an accident which would leave her crippled but it can be avoided. Lily, meanwhile on the East Coast, has given birth to Justin Amberville who's the spitting image of Cutter but she told Zachary that he is his son. Before that, Zachary wanted to start anew with Nina Stern but Lily won here. With the start of 1970, Amberville Publications has grown and more and the kids have grown as well. Not knowing any differently, Toby, Maxi and Justin are siblings though Toby is blind but cooks well. Maxi starts her career at her father's company under a false name and instantly fells in love with her boss, Rocco. Her best friend is India West who she tells everything. Well, on the West Coast, Cutter has made so important (or he thinks so) that he can control anyone: the ladies, his boss and his wife. Unfortunately, one of his affairs blackmails him and sends some photos to his wife Candice. She sees no other way than to commit suicide by falling from the highest hotel room. Zachary is then told by Candice's father about his brother's affair with his wife and in front of Lily, he threatens to not letting Cutter anywhere near her or he kills him. And with that ends this part.

Thoughts: Whohoo, the Amberville clan is complicated. Brother against brother instead of helping. Jealousy is the main part here which drives the family apart.

[Tim]

Although set in Manhattan, it was actually filmed in Toronto.    So it was jokingly called "I'll Fake Manhattan."

[Melinda Halliwell]

This certainly is drama all the way. Whoa, I wouldn't want to be married to a guy like Cutter if I ever met anyone like him then.

[Squad 51]

May 22, 2022 17:08:54 GMT -5 Tim said:

Although set in Manhattan, it was actually filmed in Toronto.    So it was jokingly called "I'll Fake Manhattan."

Had to check it out on IMDB and you're right. Wow! Even back then, a fake Manhattan.

[Tim]

Yeah, they've been filming stuff in Canada for decades now.

[Squad 51]

This certainly is drama all the way. Whoa, I wouldn't want to be married to a guy like Cutter if I ever met anyone like him then.

But I like it when Perry King plays though a loveable guy outside but inside. You know what I mean.

Yeah, they've been filming stuff in Canada for decades now.

That's true as well.

---

Part 3:
This time the focus is more on Maxi and her many relationships. We start with Rocco whom she has a daugher, Angelica, with but they come from too different backgrounds and so the marriage doesn't work at all. In Monte Carlo she meets another guy and marries him just as quickly as she divorces him too. During a balloon flight, she lands in a Scottish castle and marries the owner as well but even this marriage doesn't hold. India, meanwhile, has become a star and lives in Hollywood and her agent wants more for her. Zachary and Lily spent some time in Europe and when they are back, they go into a restaurant where they meet Cutter and his friend Jimbo. The tension between the brothers is touchable. Jimbo manages to give Cutter another chance at a job but the owner phones Zachary who tells him the truth and before Cutter can even start, he's fired. That's the last straw for him and he follows his brother everywhere, even in Canada where it comes to the final showdown. We see how the brothers fight and how Cutter sends the unconscious Zachary over the edge but he's lost the necklace. He returns just in time to get Lily's call about Zachary's "accident" and Lily, Maxi and Cutter fly there when Zachary dies. Lily is asked to check out his belongings but she can't, so Cutter does it and finds the necklace which he quickly hides in his jacket's pocket. Then we're at the board meeting from the start where Maxi tells her uncle about the Alexanders and asks him for a paper to take care of for a year. He agrees though but his plan is to destroy his brother's empire while he's with a young lady again - after the funeral. Mmm.

Thoughts: So that was the long story of how it came to where we started. Family is complicated but here it seems that the brothers cannot be friends at all. They never had a chance to reconsider and start anew. The opportunities are long gone and so we ended where we did. And the next generation seems to follow here - with hating the uncle.

And no, DT has not appeared yet but might be in the last part. Just great!