The Choirboys (film)
''The Choirboys'' is a 1977 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Aldrich, written by Christopher Knopf and Joseph Wambaugh based on Wambaugh's 1975 novel of the same name. It features an ensemble cast including Charles Durning, Louis Gossett Jr., Randy Quaid, and James Woods. The film was released to theaters by Universal Pictures on December 23, 1977. Plot Los Angeles police officers experiencing various pressures at work unwind at night with drunken get-togethers (a.k.a. "choir practice") at MacArthur Park, where their pranks often go too far: among those there are a retiring cop, a small number of young cops, a bigoted one and a Vietnam vet with panic disorder. Cast *Charles Durning as Spermwhale Whalen *Louis Gossett Jr. as Calvin Motts *Perry King as Baxter Slate *Clyde Kusatsu as Francis Tanaguchi *Stephen Macht as Spencer Van Moot *Tim McIntire as Roscoe Rules *Randy Quaid as Dean Proust *Chuck Sacci as 'Father' Sartino *Don Stroud as Sam Lyles *James Woods as H ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Charles Durning
Charles Edward Durning (February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012) was an American actor who appeared in over 200 movies, television shows and plays.Schudel, Matt (December 26, 2012) "''In real life and on the screen, he played countless roles''" The Washington Post, p. B4 Durning's best-known films include ''The Sting'' (1973), ''Dog Day Afternoon'' (1975), ''The Muppet Movie'' (1979), '' True Confessions'' (1981), ''Tootsie'' (1982), ''Dick Tracy'' (1990), and ''O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' (2000). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for both ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'' (1982) and ''To Be or Not to Be'' (1983). Prior to his acting career, Durning served in World War II and was decorated for valor in combat. Early life Durning was born in Highland Falls, New York. He was the son of Louise (née Leonard; 1894–1982), a laundress at West Point, and James E. Durning (1883 – c. 1935). His parents were of German, Irish and Englis ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an American film production and distribution company owned by Comcast through the NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment division of NBCUniversal. Founded in 1912 by Carl Laemmle, Mark Dintenfass, Charles O. Baumann, Adam Kessel, Pat Powers, William Swanson, David Horsley, Robert H. Cochrane, and Jules Brulatour, Universal is the oldest surviving film studio in the United States; the world's fifth oldest after Gaumont, Pathé, Titanus, and Nordisk Film; and the oldest member of Hollywood's "Big Five" studios in terms of the overall film market. Its studios are located in Universal City, California, and its corporate offices are located in New York City. In 1962, the studio was acquired by MCA, which was re-launched as NBCUniversal in 2004. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jean Bell
Jean Bell (born Annie Lee Morgan on November 23, 1944) is a former ''Playboy'' Playmate of the Month, and one of the first African American women to feature in this role. She later had a career as an actress in movies, most prominently in '' TNT Jackson'', in which she played the title character, and supporting roles in ''Mean Streets'' and ''The Klansman'', as well as occasional TV appearances. Biography Bell grew up in Houston, Texas, along with three younger sisters and attended Texas Southern University, majoring in business administration. Jean was the first African American woman to participate in the Miss Texas Pageant, which is part of the Miss Universe competition. She aspired to professional bowling or acting. When she appeared in the October 1969 issue of ''Playboy'', Bell was only the second African-American woman to be the centerfold (the first being Jennifer Jackson (model), Jennifer Jackson, in March 1965). Her centerfold was photographed by Don Klumpp. A few mo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Charles Haid
Charles Maurice Haid III (born June 2, 1943) is an American actor and television director, with notable work in both movies and television. He is best known for his portrayal of Officer Andy Renko in ''Hill Street Blues''. Haid was born in San Francisco, the son of Grace Marian (née Folger) and Charles Maurice Haid Jr. He attended Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University), where he met Steven Bochco. He was associate producer of the original stage production of ''Godspell'' in 1971, which was developed at CMU. Haid's acting credits include the 1976/1977 series '' Delvecchio'' as Sgt. Paul Schonski, the 1980s series ''Hill Street Blues'' as Officer Andy Renko, and the 1980 movie ''Altered States'' as Dr. Mason Parrish. In 1984, Haid was cast as "The Fatman" (or just "Fats") at the Literature, Art ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Barbara Rhoades
Barbara Rhoades (born March 23, 1946) is an American actress, known primarily for her comedy and mystery roles, especially as lady bandit Penelope "Bad Penny" Cushings in '' The Shakiest Gun in the West'' (1968). She had a recurring role on ''Soap'', as Maggie Chandler, Jodie Dallas's future wife. Early years Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, Rhoades is the daughter of Sherry Rhoades. She attended Our Lady of Lourdes High School. She began taking dancing lessons when she was 7 years old. Career Rhoades began acting in the late 1960s, appearing in guest roles on several television series, including '' It Takes a Thief'', '' Ironside'', ''Mannix'', ''McMillan & Wife'', ''Columbo'', ''Kojak'', ''Starsky & Hutch'', ''Alias Smith and Jones'', ''Love, American Style'', '' The Odd Couple'', ''The Six Million Dollar Man'', ''Bewitched'', '' Maude'', ''Trapper John, M.D.'',''The Partridge Family'', ''Murder, She Wrote'' and ''Law & Order''. She was a regular cast member o ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Cheryl Smith
Cheryl Lynn "Rainbeaux" Smith (June 6, 1955 – October 25, 2002) was an American actress and musician who appeared in a number of mainstream features, exploitation and horror films throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She made her feature debut as lead in the major supernatural horror film ''Lemora'' (1973), followed by ''Caged Heat'' (1974), '' Massacre at Central High'' (1976), and ''Slumber Party '57'' (1976) (Debra Winger's debut film). She had the title role in Michael Pataki's musical comedy ''Cinderella'' (1977). Career Smith was born in Los Angeles, California. Her first film appearance was in the short ''The Birth of Aphrodite'' after a friend of her mother suggested her for the role. This led to supporting roles in other films, including the cult classic B-movies ''Caged Heat'', ''Phantom of the Paradise'', '' The Swinging Cheerleaders'', ''Revenge of the Cheerleaders'', ''The Pom-Pom Girls'', ''The Incredible Melting Man'', ''Laserblast'' and a cameo role in '' Cheec ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Susan Batson
Susan Batson (born February 27, 1943, in Roxbury, Massachusetts) is an American producer, actress, author, acting coach, and a life member of the Actors Studio. Batson graduated from Girls Latin School and Emerson College. One of three sisters born to John Batson and Ruth (Watson) Batson (the latter a noted civil rights activist), Susan trained with Harold Clurman, Uta Hagen, Herbert Berghof at HB Studio, and Lee Strasberg. She has coached notable actresses including Academy Award (Oscar)-winning actresses Nicole Kidman and Juliette Binoche. Batson won the 1971 Obie Award for her performance in ''AC-DC''. On Broadway, she performed in ''George M!'' (1968) and ''The Leaf People'' (1975), and produced the 2006 production of ''A Raisin in the Sun''. Her work in ''Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God'' won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for her. Filmography Film Television References External links * *Susan Batsonat the University of Wisconsin'Actors Studio ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Phyllis Davis
Phyllis Ann Davis (July 17, 1940 – September 27, 2013) was an American actress who appeared primarily on television. She co-starred on the 1978–1981 dramatic detective series ''Vega$ as'' Beatrice Travis, office manager and girl Friday for the show's main character, Las Vegas private detective Dan Tanna, played by Robert Urich. Early life Phyllis Davis was born in Nederland, Texas, but considered Port Arthur, Texas, her hometown. Growing up, Davis and her family lived in her parents’ mortuary business, in their home on the second floor. Davis recalled that when a funeral service was being held, the Davis children had to be very quiet on the second floor. After graduating in 1958 from Nederland High School, Davis attended Lamar University. After working as a secretary and as a flight attendant for Continental Airlines, she moved to Los Angeles in 1965. While in Los Angeles, Davis attended acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse. Career Davis's feature films include '' Th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jim Davis (actor)
Jim Davis (born Marlin Davis; August 26, 1909 – April 26, 1981) was an American actor, best known for his roles in television Westerns. In his later career, he became famous as Jock Ewing in the CBS primetime soap opera, ''Dallas'', a role he continued until he was too ill from a terminal illness to perform. Life and career Born in Edgerton in Platte County in northwestern Missouri, Davis attended high school in Dearborn, and the Baptist-affiliated William Jewell College in Liberty. At WJC, he played tight end on the football team and graduated with a degree in political science. He served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. He was known as Jim Davis by the time of his first major screen role, which was opposite Bette Davis in the 1948 melodrama ''Winter Meeting'',. His subsequent film career consisted of mostly B movies, many of them Westerns, although he made an impression as a U.S. Senator in the Warren Beatty conspiracy thriller ''The Parallax Vie ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Robert Webber
Robert Laman Webber (October 14, 1924 – May 19, 1989) was an American actor. He appeared in dozens of films and television series, roles that included Juror No. 12 in the 1957 film ''12 Angry Men''. Early life Webber was born in Santa Ana, California, the son of Alice and Robert Webber, who was a merchant seaman.Robert Webber, Actor, Dies at 64. Bourdain, C.S. '''' via . Published 20 May 1989. He graduated from [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is a mental disorder, mental and Abnormal behavior, behavioral disease#Disorder, disorder, specifically an anxiety disorder characterized by reoccurring unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear that may include palpitations, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, numbness, or a feeling that something terrible is going to happen. The maximum degree of symptoms occurs within minutes. There may be ongoing worries about having further attacks and avoidance of places where attacks have occurred in the past. The cause of panic disorder is unknown. Panic disorder often runs in families. Risk factors include smoking, psychological stress, and a history of child abuse. Diagnosis involves ruling out other potential causes of anxiety including other mental disorders, medical conditions such as heart disease or hyperthyroidism, and drug use. Screening for the condition may be done using a Patient Health Questionnaire, questionnaire. Panic ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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MacArthur Park
MacArthur Park (originally Westlake Park) is a park dating back to the late 19th century in the Westlake, Los Angeles, Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles. In the early 1940s, it was renamed after General Douglas MacArthur, and later designated City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #100. The lake in MacArthur Park is fed by Spring (hydrosphere), natural springs (although an artificial bottom to the lake was laid during the construction of the B Line (Los Angeles Metro), Red Line, opened in 1993). In the past, a fountain with a reflecting pool on the northern end was also fed by the springs. The Westlake/MacArthur Park (LACMTA Station), Westlake/MacArthur Park B and D Line station is across the street. Description The park is divided in two by Wilshire Boulevard. The southern portion primarily consists of a lake, while the northern half includes an amphitheatre, bandshell, soccer fields, and children's playground, along with a recreation center operated by the City of ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |