Sneak Previews Season 1 Episodes

Episode 1

Pilot - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Self Service, Mr. Quilp, Conduct Unbecoming

Wed, Nov 26, 1975

Two Chicago newspaper critics, Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, introduce themselves and their new show, describing it simply as "two film critics talking about the movies." They promise to show "what's playing in town, what's coming to town" and to take the viewers behind the scenes to learn something about the movie business. They begin by talking about the Chicago Film Festival, which had the premiere of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). Clips are shown. The critics like the movie, but don't believe it lives up to its reputation. They show clips from the festival's Self Service (1974), Bruno Bozzetto's animated short about hungry mosquitoes. Next, they review and show clips from a rare family film, Mr. Quilp (1975), a musical based on Charles Dickens. The review quickly gives way to a broader discussion about children's movies. The critics both dislike the British melodrama, Conduct Unbecoming (1975). They introduce their feature, The Dog of the Month. Siskel's pick is Ken Russell's gross-out, Lisztomania (1975), which he calls trash. Ebert disagrees, noting that he rated it three stars for his newspaper. Siskel, however, agrees with Ebert's dog, Mahogany (1975), an old-fashioned melodrama whose only twist is that the characters are black.

Episode 2

Taxi Driver, The Man Who Would Be King, Hester Street, Manson, The Story of Adele H.

Wed, Apr 7, 1976

Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel review four new movies, pick their Dogs of the Month and discuss the recent Oscar nominations. The critics split somewhat over Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976). Siskel has a "love-hate affair" over the movie: he enjoyed the relationship between the two leads, but the violence repelled him. Ebert believes the violence was necessary to the movie, which he found to be a fascinating character portrait. Both critics recommend John Huston's swashbuckling adventure film, The Man Who Would Be King (1975). Siskel especially enjoyed the wit, a quality sorely lacking in modern movies. Both critics like the "nice little film", Hester Street (1975), a turn-of-the-century story of Jewish immigrants in New York. They split on Francois Truffaut's new movie, The Story of Adele H (1975), in which the daughter of Victor Hugo falls in love with a British officer. Ebert enjoyed it; Siskel found it too slight. Ebert's Dog of the Month is the "Exorcist" rip-off, Sharon's Baby (1975); Siskel's is the awful documentary, Manson (1973), back in town after 18 months to capitalize on the Squeaky Fromme trial.

Episode 3

A Star Is Born, King Kong, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, The Enforcer, Network, Rocky, Nickelodeon, Silver Streak

Tue, Dec 21, 1976

Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel review eight new movies. Both critics agree that A Star Is Born (1976) is sensational when Barbra Streisand sings and lackluster otherwise. Ebert found King Kong (1976) to be silly fun with good special effects; Siskel disliked the effects and the movie's alternating attempts to be self-mocking and self-serious. Both enjoyed the classy new Sherlock Holmes movie, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976). Ebert believes _The Enforcer (1976/I)_ to be the best "Dirty Harry" movie, but Siskel calls that a rash statement. Both think Paddy Chayefsky's devastating satire, Network (1976), is terrific, even though Siskel says it's overwritten. Ebert thinks Rocky (1976) is a terrific experience; Siskel liked it but found the characters of Adrian and her brother to be ridiculous. Neither critic enjoyed Peter Bogdanovich's ode to silent movie-making, Nickelodeon (1976). Only Ebert liked the Richard Pryor-Gene Wilder comedy Silver Streak (1976): Siskel thought the mystery plot was dull. Ebert's Dog of the Month is At the Earth's Core (1976); Siskel's is Ape (1976).

Episode 4

The Top Ten Films of 1976

Tue, Jan 4, 1977

Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel each lists his top ten movies of the year. Ebert's list: #10: The Shootist (1976); #9: Silent Movie (1976); #8: All the President's Men (1976); #7: Rocky (1976); #6: Swept Away (1974); #5: Network (1976); #4: The Clockmaker (1974); #3: The Magic Flute (1975); #2: Taxi Driver (1976); and #1: Small Change (1976). Siskel's list: #10: The Man Who Would Be King (1975); #9: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976); #8: Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976); #7: "Taxi Driver"; #6: Cousin, Cousine (1975); #5: Stay Hungry (1976); #4: "Small Change"; #3: Sandakan No. 8 (1974); #2: "Network"; and #1: "All the President's Men". They also pick three Dogs of the Year apiece. Ebert's: Eat My Dust (1976), The Omen (1976) and Midway (1976). Siskel's: Ape (1976), Gable and Lombard (1976) and Two-Minute Warning (1976).

Episode 5

Twilight's Last Gleaming, Fun with Dick and Jane, The Cassandra Crossing, The Sentinel, Freaky Friday, Voyage of the Damned

Tue, Feb 15, 1977

Episode 6

Oscar Predictions

Mon, Apr 4, 1977

Episode 7

Slap Shot, The Eagle Has Landed, Wizards, Black Sunday, Airport '77, Brothers

Mon, May 9, 1977

Episode 8

Annie Hall, Islands In The Stream, In The Realm of the Senses, Nasty Habits, The Car, The Late Show

Sat, Nov 5, 1977