John G. Avildsen

[4] Christopher Atkins (The Blue Lagoon) and Lesley Ann Warren (Clue) star in this incredibly unfocused drama about a young community college teacher who enters into an affair with a handsome student failing her class. The tawdriness begins when she catches the student stripping at an all male-revue. He gives her a lap-dance and it’s all downhill from there. In curious subplots, we see the …

[4] George C. Scott stars as a police officer who follows a murder case that gets him embroiled in a mystery involving the Nazis and big oil. The film’s ahead of its time in vilifying the oil companies, represented here by none other than Marlon Brando. Scott’s character hits the nail on the head when he tells Brando: “You’re not in the oil business, you’re …

[9] Sylvester Stallone wrote and stars in this low-budget box office triumph that went on to win the Best Picture Academy Award. Rocky is a remarkable blend of fantastic performances, understated screenwriting, and straightforward execution. It’s very hard not to get swept up in the characters’ hopes and dreams. There are a couple of incredible scenes that really seal the deal for me. One is …