Amos (film)
Amos | |
---|---|
Based on | Amos: To Ride a Dead Horse by Stanley Gordon West |
Screenplay by | Richard Kramer |
Directed by | Michael Tuchner |
Starring | Kirk Douglas Elizabeth Montgomery Dorothy McGuire Pat Morita James Sloyan Ray Walston |
Composer | Georges Delerue |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producers | William R. Finnegan Sheldon Pinchuk |
Cinematography | Fred J. Koenekamp |
Editor | David Campling |
Running time | 100 minutes |
Production companies | Amos Productions Bryna Productions |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release |
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Amos is a 1985 American made-for-television drama film directed by Michael Tuchner and written by Richard Kramer. It is based on the 1983 novel Amos: To Ride a Dead Horse by Stanley Gordon West. The film stars Kirk Douglas, Elizabeth Montgomery, Dorothy McGuire, Pat Morita, James Sloyan and Ray Walston. The film premiered on CBS on September 29, 1985.[1][2][3]
Plot
The opening of the start of the movie reveals the couple having breakfast, then going on a road trip or outing, when suddenly Amos (Kirk Douglas), who was driving, and his wife were involved in a major accident that claimed the life of his wife and severely injured Amos. He woke up in a hospital, to realize that his home was sold, and his wife died as a result of the accident. He was sent to a nursing home known as Sunset Nursing Home. There he meets his baseball friend, then a female resident courts with him at the nursing home. The head nurse, Daisy Daws (Elizabeth Montgomery), became notorious for running the facility with strict rules that were enforced by Roland, an orderly (male CNA). Quite often Daisy would have her boyfriend, a sheriff, visit her to play around (have sex).
One night, Daisy would administer an overdose of a barbiturate to Amos' roommate, while Amos pretended he was sleeping, he watched it happen and couldn't do anything about it. Later after the remains were picked up by morticians, Amos would question Daisy of why she did that.
A County Commissioner, Burt, paid a surprise visit and was told only good things about the facility and Daisy, who everyone was afraid of, given her notoriety as striking and attacking residents who would dare question or impede her practice.
Amos would then sneak into Daisy's bedroom to steal a syringe, needle, and barbiturates which were used to euthanize her residents. Amos would pick a fight with Roland so that Amos would suffer bruises or other skin injuries just before he would administer to himself the barbiturate and be found dead the next morning by Daisy. His death drew tears from the nursing assistant that gathered Amos' belongings. Just before he administered his own lethal injection, he had written a letter to state that any benefits from his life insurance policy should be shared between his grandson, who paid a visit to him at the nursing home, and Lydia, his girlfriend at the nursing home. The movie ends after the Sheriff lures the nurse to his office, then reads a letter Amos wrote, which suggests that an autopsy be performed. The autopsy reveals "enough barbiturates to kill seven people, and confronts her with that letter and other evidence he had so far, against her. The Sheriff arrests her right in his office, then she started to scream and threaten to expose the Sheriff's infidelity.
Cast
- Kirk Douglas as Amos Lasher
- Elizabeth Montgomery as Daisy Daws
- Dorothy McGuire as Hester Farrell
- Pat Morita as Tommy Tanaka
- James Sloyan as Sheriff John Thomas
- Ray Walston as Johnny Kent
- Jerry Hausner as Sol Kessler
- Don Keefer as Winston Beard
- Camila Ashland as Mildred Lasher
- Frances Bay as Lydia
- Frederick Coffin as Roland
- Lois de Banzie as Dorothy Dearborn
- Helen Martin as Mrs. McKenzie
- Royce Wallace as Helen
- Pamela Dunlap as Leah
- Jack Blessing as Scott Lasher
- Jordan Charney as Commissioner Bert Daniels
References
- ^ Farber, Stephen (1985-09-23). "DOUGLAS IN TV FILM". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
- ^ Jeff Jarvis (1985-09-30). "Picks and Pans Review: Amos". People.com. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
- ^ Hal Erickson. "Amos (1985) - Michael Tuchner". AllMovie. Retrieved 2018-07-05.