11 Movies Directed by Michael Ritchie

Downhill Racer

Downhill Racer

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1970-01-15

Languages:

English, German, French

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

101 min

Rated:

M

IMDB Ratings:

6.5 (2699 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Genres:

DramaSport

Fullplot:

David Chappellet is a mean-spirited skier, who profits from another skier's injury to gain a spot on the American Olympic team. His roommate sums up his goals when he observes of David, "He's not for the team, and he never will be"; but precisely who the David is that David is so fiendishly striving for we're never to learn. He develops a short-lived relationship with Carole Stahl, a glamorous European woman even more capricious than himself. Chappellet's identity trouble are exacerbated by the fact that he is an "Event" as well as a personality; and more astute minds than his own have difficulty where the one leaves off and the other takes over. Director Michael Richie's ("The Candidate") feature film debut.

The Candidate

The Candidate

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1972-08-11

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

110 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

7.1 (6714 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Genres:

ComedyDrama

Fullplot:

Californian lawyer Bill McKay fights for the little man. His charisma and integrity get him noticed by the Democratic Party machine and he is persuaded to run for the Senate against an apparently unassailable incumbent. It's agreed he can handle it his own way, on his own terms. But once he's in the race and his prospects begin to improve, the deal starts to change.

Smile

Smile

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1975-07-09

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

113 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

7.2 (1523 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Genres:

Comedy

Fullplot:

It's time again for California's "Young American Miss" beauty pageant, the biggest event of the year for Big Bob Freelander and Brenda DiCarlo, who give their all to put on a successful pageant. But Brenda is having marital difficulties and Bob's son is up to some mischief. Could this year's pageant be in jeopardy?

The Bad News Bears

The Bad News Bears

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1976-04-07

Languages:

English, Spanish

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

102 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (15428 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Fullplot:

First of a trilogy of films takes an unflinching look at the underbelly of little league baseball in Southern California. Former minor leaguer Morris Buttermaker is a lazy, beer swilling swimming pool cleaner who takes money to coach the Bears, a bunch of disheveled misfits who have virtually no baseball talent. Realizing his dilemma, Coach Buttermaker brings aboard girl pitching ace Amanda Whurlizer, the daughter of a former girlfriend, and Kelly Leak, a motorcycle punk who happens to be the best player around. Brimming with confidence, the Bears look to sweep into the championship game and avenge an earlier loss to their nemesis, the Yankees.

Semi-Tough

Semi-Tough

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1978-06-01

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

108 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

5.9 (1736 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Cast:

Writer:

Walter Bernstein

Dan Jenkins (novel)

Fullplot:

A comedy about two football players and their mutual girlfriend. Includes many spoofs and parodies about various self-help groups and personal self-improvement seminars that were wildly popular during the 1970's.

The Island

The Island

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1980-06-13

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

109 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

5.2 (2669 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Cast:

Writer:

Peter Benchley (screenplay)

Peter Benchley (novel)

Fullplot:

In New York, the journalist Blair Maynard convinces his editor to travel to Florida to investigate the mysterious disappearance of ships in the Bermuda's Triangle area. Maynard is divorced and his ex-wife sends their son Justin to stay with him while she is traveling with her boyfriend. Maynard brings Justin with him and promises to go to the Disneyland with him. However he tells Justin that they will travel to the Bermuda's Triangle but their plane crashes in an island. Maynard rents the boat of the local Dr. Brazil to fish barracuda with his son. But they are attacked by pirates and Maynard kills one of them in self-defense. They are captured and find that they are trapped in an island with pirates under the command of John David Nau. Maynard is forced to be the substitute for the husband of the widow Beth and Justin is brainwashed and converted into a pirate. Now Maynard tries to find a way out from the pirate island.

Fletch

Fletch

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1985-05-31

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

98 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

6.9 (35087 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Cast:

Writer:

Gregory McDonald (novel)

Andrew Bergman (screenplay)

Fullplot:

Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher, Los Angeles journalist, really lives for his profession. As Jane Doe, he publishes articles that have caused several heads to roll in the past. Now, Fletch is at it again: In disguise as a bum, he lives at the beach, researching drugs and their dealing. One day, Fletch is addressed by Alan Stanwyk, a rich man, who asks him, the bum, a favour. For the sum of $50,000, Fletch should kill poor cancer-ridden Mr. Stanwyk with a gun, so that his wife will get the insurance money. What the guy didn't think of was Fletch's real profession. Returning into normal life, Fletch instantly takes up research not only to find out that Mr. Stanwyk is healthy as life itself but he also runs into certain connections between drug dealing at the beach, Alan Stanwyk, his private jet, the police and a very expensive piece of Land in Utah.

The Golden Child

The Golden Child

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1986-12-12

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

94 min

Rated:

PG-13

IMDB Ratings:

5.8 (36790 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Fullplot:

Wildcats

Wildcats

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1986-02-14

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

106 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

5.9 (8901 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Genres:

ComedySport

Fullplot:

Molly is a high school track coach who knows just as much about football as anyone else on the planet. When the football coach's position becomes vacant, she applies for the job, despite expecting sniggers from fellow staff members and her former husband.

The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom

The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1993-04-10

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

99 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

6.7 (1082 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Fullplot:

Err, the title is almost a summary itself. Based on the true story of a Texas mom who tries to hire a hitman (through her ex's brother) to kill either or both a cheerleader and her mother. With the intended victims out of the way, Wanda's daughter gets the chance to become a cheerleader. When the media get hold of the story, Wanda's trial turns into a media circus.

A Simple Wish

A Simple Wish

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1997-07-11

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

89 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

5.3 (4047 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Fullplot:

Murray is a male fairy godmother, and he's trying to help 8-year-old Anabel to fulfill her "simple wish" - that her father Oliver, who is a cab driver, would win the leading role in a Broadway musical. Unfortunately, Murray's magic wand is broken and the fairies convention is threatened by evil witches Claudia and Boots.

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