Tag: Michael Ritchie

Downhill Racer

Downhill Racer VHS cover art. Skiing movie starring Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, Camilla Sparv. Directed by Michael Ritchie. 1969.

Downhill Racer on VHS. Starring Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, Camilla Sparv. Directed by Michael Ritchie. 1969.

From the box:

Director Michael Ritchie’s (The Golden Child) debut film is a tense and taut look at the world of Olympic skiing. Robert Redford is the hero, a handsome loner from Idaho Springs, Colorado, bent on making to the top of the heap. As the pressure and tension build, Redford handles himself well, learning in the process how fleeting and lonely fame can be. Redford is well cast as the all-American boy chasing his dream, and Gene Hackman is excellent as the tough and demanding American ski coach.

DVD Upgrade: Downhill Racer (The Criterion Collection)

Fletch

Fletch VHS cover art. Movie starring Chevy Chase, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Tim Matheson, Richard Libertini, Joe Don Baker. With M. Emmet Walsh, George Wendt, Geena Davis, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Based on the book by Gregory McDonald. Directed by Michael Ritchie. 1985.

Fletch on VHS. Starring Chevy Chase, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Tim Matheson, Richard Libertini, Joe Don Baker. With M. Emmet Walsh, George Wendt, Geena Davis, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Based on the book by Gregory McDonald. Directed by Michael Ritchie. 1985.

From the box:

Meet the only guy who changes his identity more often than his underwear.

Chevy Chase is at his hilarious best in this suspense-packed comedy thriller based on Gregory McDonald’s best-seller. Irwin Fletch, a.k.a. Fletch is an investigative reporter who’s constantly changing his identity. While working on a drug exposé, Fletch attracts the attention of a strange businessman who wants to be killed so his wife will inherit more insurance. The wily Fletch senses a scam, and soon he’s up to his byline in frame-ups, murder, police corruption and forbidden romance. It’ll be the story of the year, if he can stay alive to meet his deadline!

DVD Upgrade: Fletch

Double The Fletch: The Fletch Collection

Read The Book: Fletch Paperback by Gregory Mcdonald

The Bad News Bears

The Bad News Bears on VHS. Starring Walter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal. With Vic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten. Directed by Michael Ritchie. 1976.

The Bad News Bears on VHS. Starring Walter Matthau, Tatum O’Neal. With Vic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten. Directed by Michael Ritchie. 1976.

From the box:

A major surprise as one of 1976’s top grossing films, The Bad News Bears is a movie about children that is refreshing, utterly believable, and quite cleverly funny. Walter Matthau is at his absolute best as the grumbling beer-guzzling former minor-league pitcher who gets roped into coaching a band of half-pint misfits somewhat loosely called a team. With this bunch in uniform, it’s impossible to get caught up in the suburban competitive spirit that drives other adults to extremes of parental discipline. So, instead, the Bears have a good time.

DVD Upgrade: 4 Film Favorites (2013): Bad News Bears (The Bad News Bears, Bad News Bears (2005,) The Bad News Bears Go To Japan, The Bad News Bears In Breaking Training)

Instant Rental: The Bad News Bears (1976)