‘Hanna Montana’ Co-Star Appeared in ‘Sarah, Plain and Tall’
By David Inman
Question: I’m watching “Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter’s End,” and my 12-year-old daughter says the little girl on the show, Cassie, looks like Emily Osment of “Hannah Montana.” Could this truly be her? If not, what is the little girl’s name and has she appeared in any other shows?
Answer: Your daughter knows her “Hannah Montana” co-stars. That is, indeed, Osment, who plays Lilly on “Montana” and is Haley Joel Osment’s younger sister. But your daughter probably already knew that, too.
Q: I remember watching a movie or TV show in the late 1950s or early ’60s where the plot involved a man who wanted to kill his wife. He hides a time bomb in his basement, sets it to go off and leaves it there for when she comes home. But before he can leave the house, a few guys break in and then, unaware of the bomb, they tie him up in the basement, where he can see the bomb ticking. I can’t remember the title or who starred in it and whether it was a movie or TV show. Can you help?
A: That was an episode of the NBC anthology series “Suspicion” that aired in 1957. The title was “Four O’Clock” and it was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. E.G. Marshall played the husband, and Nancy Kelly played his wife.
Q: The dentist in the commercial for Sensodyne toothpaste is named Dr. Frank Scorsese. He bears a strong resemblance to director Martin Scorsese. Are they related?
A: They are, indeed — Frank and Martin are brothers.
Q: Someone recently asked about the TV movie “Women of Valor” about women being marched from one Japanese prison camp to another during World War II. In the 1980s I remember seeing a TV series about women of different nationalities in a Japanese prison camp and how they survived. It was a fascinating character study of how people deal with harsh conditions. Can you tell me who starred in it, and is it available in any media?
A: Sounds like “Tenko,” a British series that was syndicated in America. It ran from 1981 until 1984. The cast includes Ann Bell, Stephanie Cole and Emily Bolton. It’s on DVD.
Q: The death of George Carlin got me to thinking that he once had his own sitcom on Fox. When did it run and who else was in it? Is it on DVD?
A: “The George Carlin Show” ran on Fox in 1994-95. Carlin played New York City cab driver George O’Grady, who during his off-hours hung out at a working-class bar called The Moylan. Bar regulars included Harry the bookie (Alex Rocco) and upper-class physician Neal Beck (Christopher Rich). Susan Sullivan played George’s lady friend, Kathleen Rachowski. The show isn’t on DVD.
Q: In his autobiography, golfer John Daly mentions the book (later a movie) called “Dead Silent Perfect.” I can’t find it anywhere. Suggestions?
A: Yes — ask for “Dead SOLID Perfect.” The book is by Dan Jenkins. It was made into a cable movie in 1988 with Randy Quaid and Kathryn Harrold. It’s on video but not DVD.
Q: I’m looking for the titles of two movies. One is a comedy about some old friends who hang out at a pawnshop and try to rob it while the owner goes out of town.
Another is about a woman (Christine Lahti?) who lives in a really cluttered house and has to take in two teen female relatives who have nowhere else to go. Can you also tell me if they’re on DVD?
A: The first movie sounds like 1984′s “Crackers,” with Sean Penn, Christine Baranski and Donald Sutherland. And the second is 1987′s “Housekeeping,” which also stars Sara Walker and Andrea Burchill. “Housekeeping” is on video, but not DVD. And “Crackers” isn’t on either.
Q: Can you tell me the name of the movie with Tony Danza, Danny DeVito and three orangutans? It was a comedy.
A: “Going Ape!” from 1981, with Jessica Walter. The three primates were named Rusty, Poppy and Teeger. It’s on video.
(c) 2008 Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.