Sneak Previews
Season 6
TV-PG
One of the first widely popular film-review programs, this show gave reviews intended for everyday movie-goers, without trying to present an in-depth analysis of the filmmaker's 'artistic vision.' Popularized the "thumbs-up/thumbs-down" format of movie synopsis.
Where to Watch Sneak Previews • Season 6
37 Episodes
- Continental Divide / Only When I Laugh / Body Heat / Mommie Dearest / First Monday in OctoberE1
Continental Divide / Only When I Laugh / Body Heat / Mommie Dearest / First Monday in OctoberReviews of “Continental Divide”, “Only When I Laugh”, “Body Heat”, “Mommie Dearest”, and “First Monday in October”. Gene and Roger introduce Sparky the Wonder-Dog, whose dogs of the week are “Hollywood High Part 2” and “Chu Chu and the Philly Flash”. - Rich and Famous / So Fine / Gallipoli / True Confessions / Cattle Annie and Little BritchesE3
Rich and Famous / So Fine / Gallipoli / True Confessions / Cattle Annie and Little BritchesReviews of “Rich and Famous”, “So Fine”, “Gallipoli”, “True Confessions”, and “Cattle Annie and Little Britches”. Dogs of the week are “The Kinky Coaches and the Pom Pom Pussycats” and “A Hard Way to Die”. - Time Bandits / The Woman Next Door / Man of Iron / The Pursuit of D.B. CooperE8
Time Bandits / The Woman Next Door / Man of Iron / The Pursuit of D.B. CooperReviews of “Time Bandits”, “The Woman Next Door”, “Man of Iron”, and “The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper”. Dogs of the week are “Lovers and Liars” and “Haunts”. - Heartbeeps / Cinderella / Taps / Taxi Zum KloE14
Heartbeeps / Cinderella / Taps / Taxi Zum KloReviews of “Heartbeeps”, the re-release of 1950’s “Cinderella”, “Taps”, and “Taxi Zum Klo”. Sparky the Wonder-Dog visits on his day off (no dogs this week) so Gene and Roger can recap the holiday season's movies that are worth seeing. - The Ten Best Films of 1981E15
The Ten Best Films of 1981Once again, Gene and Roger each share their picks for the top ten films of the past year. There was also a special mention of the re-release of the 1927 silent classic “Napoleon”. Since many the films were still in theaters, this episode was repeated (with newly recorded "bookends") on April 1st. - Whose Life is it, Anyway? / Four Friends / On Golden Pond / Modern ProblemsE17
Whose Life is it, Anyway? / Four Friends / On Golden Pond / Modern ProblemsReviews of “Whose Life is it, Anyway?”, “Four Friends”, “On Golden Pond”, and “Modern Problems”. Dogs of the week are “The Children” and “Jack the Ripper”. - Shoot the Moon / Night Crossing / Montenegro / One From the HeartE20
Shoot the Moon / Night Crossing / Montenegro / One From the HeartReviews of “Shoot the Moon”, “Night Crossing”, “Montenegro”, and “One From the Heart”. Sparky comes to visit on his day off, as Gene and Roger take the Academy to task over two actors with historic performances who were snubbed this year. - Evil Under the Sun / Union City / The Amateur / Quest for FireE21
Evil Under the Sun / Union City / The Amateur / Quest for FireReviews of “Evil Under the Sun”, “Union City”, “The Amateur”, and “Quest for Fire”. Dogs of the week are “The Creeper”, originally titled “Rituals” (1977), and “Nightmare County” (1977). - Porky’s / El Salvador, Another Vietnam / Deathtrap / Richard Pryor, Live on the Sunset Strip / Das BootE23
Porky’s / El Salvador, Another Vietnam / Deathtrap / Richard Pryor, Live on the Sunset Strip / Das BootReviews of “Porky’s”, “El Salvador, Another Vietnam”, “Deathtrap”, “Richard Pryor, Live on the Sunset Strip”, and “Das Boot”. Dogs of the week are “Madman” and “Great White”. - I Ought to Be in Pictures / Silent Rage / Victor Victoria / Cat PeopleE25
I Ought to Be in Pictures / Silent Rage / Victor Victoria / Cat PeopleGene opened the show with a review of Neil Simon's "I Ought to Be in Pictures" which Roger thought was redeemed by good performances, but Gene thought was sappy and silly. Neither liked the Chuck Norris science fiction horror adventure "Silent Rage" which they both thought was ridiculous. They split on "Victor/Victoria", Roger thought it was stylish and fun while Gene thought it was unfunny and over-wrought. They were both enthusiastic about the remake of "Cat People. Plus, for the "Dogs of the Week" segment, Roger chose the college campus horror picture "Mark of the Witch" and Gene chose "Strange Behavior". - The Sword and the Sorcerer / Partners / Christiana F. / Conan the BarbarianE30
The Sword and the Sorcerer / Partners / Christiana F. / Conan the BarbarianReviews of “The Sword and the Sorcerer”, “Partners”, “Christiana F.”, and “Conan the Barbarian”. Dogs of the week are “The Beach Girls” and “The Senior Snatch”. - Buried Treasures (2)E31
Buried Treasures (2)Gene and Roger are “…spotlighting six excellent movies that we believe the public, film studios, and sometimes even the critics have overlooked unfairly”. Roger’s picks are “Cattle Annie and Little Britches” (1981), “Over the Edge” (1979), and “Swamp Thing” (1982), and Gene’s picks are “Go Tell the Spartans” (1978), “The Wanderers” (1979), and “Agatha” (1979). No dogs this week. - Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid / Rocky III / Poltergeist / E.T.: The Extra-TerrestrialE32
Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid / Rocky III / Poltergeist / E.T.: The Extra-TerrestrialRoger opens the show with a negative review of the Steve Martin comedy “Dead Man Don’t Wear Plaid”, Gene agreed. Neither liked “Rocky III”, which they both thought lost the colorful writing and intimate details that made the two previous installments. They review two Steven Spielberg productions, first was “Poltergeist”, which Roger gave a moderate recommendation due to the special effects, and Gene disliked because he thought it failed at being scary or even entertaining. However both were very enthusiastic about “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”, which they thought was one of the best films of the year. Plus, in the “Dogs of the Week” segment, Roger selected the vigilante fantasy called “Fighting Back”, and Gene selects the Sean Connery journalism drama called “Wrong is Right” which he dismisses as a crushing bore. - Hanky Panky / Annie / Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan / Grease 2E33
Hanky Panky / Annie / Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan / Grease 2Reviews of “Hanky Panky”, “Annie”, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”, and “Grease 2”. Dogs of the week are “Visiting Hours” and Universal Pictures for withdrawing “Barbarosa”, according to Roger, “before it ever had a chance to really prove itself”. - Blade Runner / Chan Is Missing / Eight Minutes to Midnight / DinerE35
Blade Runner / Chan Is Missing / Eight Minutes to Midnight / DinerGene Siskel and Roger Ebert review Blade Runner (1982), Chan Is Missing (1982), Eight Minutes to Midnight: A Portrait of Dr. Helen Caldicott (1981) and Diner (1982). - Megaforce / The Atomic Café / The Weavers: Wasn’t That a Time / The ThingE36
Megaforce / The Atomic Café / The Weavers: Wasn’t That a Time / The ThingReviews of “Megaforce”, “The Atomic Café”, “The Weavers: Wasn’t That a Time”, and “The Thing”. Sparky the Wonder-Dog has the week off, so Gene and Roger can address the record summer at the box-office by talking about “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial”. - The Secret of Nimh / The Devil’s Playground / Gregory’s Girl / TronE37
The Secret of Nimh / The Devil’s Playground / Gregory’s Girl / TronReviews of “The Secret of Nimh”, “The Devil’s Playground”, “Gregory’s Girl”, and “Tron”. Dogs of the week, introduced by a debuting Zeke, are “Humongous” and “Vanessa”. - Young Doctors in Love / The Aviator’s Wife / A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy / The World According to GarpE38
Young Doctors in Love / The Aviator’s Wife / A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy / The World According to GarpReviews of “Young Doctors in Love”, “The Aviator’s Wife”, “A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy”, and “The World According to Garp”. Dogs of the week are “Garden of the Dead” and “Seed of Terror” a.k.a. “Grave of the Vampire”. - Night Shift / Smash Palace / Xica da Silva / An Officer and a GentlemanE39
Night Shift / Smash Palace / Xica da Silva / An Officer and a GentlemanReviews of “Night Shift”, “Smash Palace”, “Xica da Silva”, and “An Officer and a Gentleman”. Dogs of the week are “Dracula’s Last Rites” and “Enter the Ninja”. - The Road Warrior / Sisters / The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas / BarbarosaE40
The Road Warrior / Sisters / The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas / BarbarosaReviews of “The Road Warrior”, “Sisters”, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”, and the re-release of “Barbarosa”, unceremoniously pulled from theaters just weeks earlier. Roger’s dogs of the week is “Frankenstein Island”, but Gene’s pick, “The Challenge” was a pleasant surprise to him and definitely not a dog.
