SNEAK PREVIEWS—"'The Wiz', 'Days of Heaven', 'Girlfriends'"—WTTW-TV11 Chicago (10-19-78)

A complete edition of the first movie review program featuring the Chicago Tribune's Gene Siskel and the Chicago Sun-Times' Roger Ebert.

NOTE: Downloaded from the Internet Movie Database (IMDb).

Contents:
Opening credits
Introduction, featuring clip from THE WIZ
Reviews:
a. THE BIG FIX, a Universal release. Roger finds it a swell off-beat thriller with a great performance from Richard Dreyfuss and gives it a YES; Gene finds it a rather preachy film and gives it a NO.
b. WHO IS KILLING THE GREAT CHEFS OF EUROPE?, a Warner Bros. release. Gene and Roger are highly impressed with this comedy-mystery with Robert Morley (from the Britsh Airways commercials) as a rather prudish chef (both YES's).
c. DAYS OF HEAVEN, a Paramount release, which Gene and Roger find a hauntingly beautiful and beautifully photographed film (both YES's).
d. THE WIZ, a Universal release. This African-American take on THE WIZARD OF OZ gets two YES votes from Gene and Roger. They both believe Diana Ross holds her own in the role made famous by Judy Garland in 1939, although Gene believes she alone defines the film, and Roger believes there's more to it than that.
d. GIRLFRIENDS, a Warner Bros. release. Gene believes it spends more time on one girl than on the other; Roger enjoys the film much more immensely; they nonetheless are able to give it YES votes.
Dogs of the Week:
a. Gene picks a "nudie karate film" titled THE BOD SQUAD [Content Advisory: some of the remarks in this portion of the show may be construed as racially insensitive by some viewers]
b. Roger picks COUNT DRACULA AND HIS VAMPIRE BRIDE, which "has a great set of canines" as Christopher Lee assumes the role of Van Helsing.
Recap of reviews
Preview of next week's show
Closing credits
Funding credit: "Public Television Stations"
Logo: PBS