

Don Ameche was an American actor and comedian, best known for his role as ‘Art Selwyn’ in the 1985 film ‘Cocoon.’ He won the ‘Academy Award’ for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for his role. Don’s entertainment career started as a radio host in the 1930s, before he made his film debut in an uncredited role in ‘Dante's Inferno’ (1935). His first leading role came in the 1936 film ‘Sins of Man.’ For the next 14 years, he starred in numerous successful films, such as ‘The Story of Alexander Graham Bell’ (1939), ‘Heaven Can Wait ‘ (1943), ‘Greenwich Village’ (1944), ‘A Fever in the Blood’ (1961), ‘Trading Places’ (1983), ‘Things Change’ (1988), ‘Folks!’ (1992), and ‘Corrina, Corrina,’ which was also his final film role. He was the host of TV show ‘International Showtime, ‘from 1961 to 1965. His was also seen in an episode of ‘Golden Girls’ in 1990.Â
Louis Winthorpe is a well-to-do broker working for Mortimer and Randolph Duke, who decide to switch Winthorpe’s lifestyle with that of street hustler Billy Ray Valentine’s, for a bet to test whether heredity or upbringing decides the character. So Valentine gets Winthorpe’s job while Winthorpe is falsely framed for a crime. As the two realize the situation, they design their own plan.
Heaven Can Wait is a romantic comedy drama fantasy film which tells the story of Henry Van Cleve, who presents himself at the gates to the underworld, after his death. However, in order to be allowed entry into hell, he has to prove his worthiness to the devil.
Love is News is a romantic comedy film, which tells the story of a prying newspaper reporter who goes after a rich heiress, to get an exclusive story with her. Annoyed with the articles that he published, she announces to the press that she is engaged to him.
A fictionalized retelling of the life of inventor Alexander Graham Bell, the movie follows Bell, as he invents the telephone with the aid and support of his wife Mabel and friend Thomas A. Watson. It also focuses on the legal battle against Western Union on the matter of the patent.
Sisters Barbara and Kay Latimer are informed that they will lose nearly all of their inheritance in taxes. To make sure that Kay marries a millionaire, the sisters take a trip to Miami and Kay immediately attracts the attention of rich bachelors Jeffrey Bolton and Phil McNeil but Barbara starts falling in love with Jeff.
Larry Martin is an entertainer, who earns his living by impersonating airline czar Baron Manuel Duarte at a casino in Rio de Janeiro. One evening, the Baron and his wife come to see his acts and become so impressed that they decide to hire him in order to confuse Duarte’s rival. While Larry’s impersonation saves Duarte’s airline, it also has side effects.
While on a trip to America to sell horses, Argentinian race-horse breeder Ricardo Quintana tries to stay away from his father’s enemy. When Glenda Crawford shows interest in a horse, Ricardo cancels the deal as he realizes that she belongs to the same family. Glenda follows him to Argentina where they deeply fall in love. Later, she wins over his father’s approval.
Ambitious Jim Carter joins Pop McWade’s carnival and works for a show called ‘Dante’s Inferno,’ making it a big attraction. He marries Pop’s niece Betty and they have a son. Carter bribes an inspector who proclaims the show pier as unsafe. When the pier crashes injuring Pop, Carter faces trial while Betty leaves him. Despite this, he starts a new floating casino.
A millionaire leaves his fortune for Fred, a flea circus manager, and his grand nephew, just before he is murdered. Now, all Fred needs to do is locate the chair in which the money is hidden.
This biographical drama film revolves around the life story of musical star and actress Lillian Russell. It portrays how from a small town girl, she struggled to become one of the best-known singers and actresses of her time.
In order to attract more people into his self-improvement courses, Dwight Dawson and his press agent fiancee, plans a contest to locate America’s biggest failure.
Happy Landing is a musical comedy film which tells the story of a bandleader named Duke Sargent, who sets off to pilot a plane to Paris, as a publicity stunt, along with Jimmy Hall, his manager. However, due to bad weather conditions, they are forced to land near a small village in Norway, where a woman named Trudy starts developing feelings for Duke, and thinks of him as a possible husband. After Duke leaves, she follows him all the way to the US.
Lew Marsh, an Iowa pharmacist, is grief-stricken on learning about son Rusty’s death in war. Embittered that the boy died too soon before enjoying life, Lew isolates himself in his grief. The spirit of his grandfather appears and takes him on a trip through the past, revisiting the milestone moments, convincing Lew that Rusty lived his life well and died an honorable death.
Professor of psychology, John Hathaway, who doesn’t believe in jealousy, moves to New York with wife Julie to publish his book on jealousy. They meet publisher Elliot Morgan who totally falls for Julie, while John’s working with Elliot’s assistant, Nellie, irks Julie. She wants John to get jealous and teach Elliot a good lesson. Will John feel what he thinks doesn’t exist?
Film director, Michael Linnett Connors, chooses Broadway singer Molly Adair, to be in his next film. Although Molly is in love with Connors, thinking that he doesn’t reciprocate her feelings, she marries her co-star. Connors fires her out of misunderstanding, but his career eventually starts to decline with the beginning of the sound era.
A newspaper correspondent has convinced his publisher that he is married. He asks his friend’s wife, Mary, to play the part, and she agrees. But things get complicated, and soon they are forced to be inseparable.
The crown prince of Zamunda, Akeem Joffer, leads a luxurious life and is supposed to marry a girl of his parent’s choice. However, he decides to choose his life partner himself and along with his aide, Semmi, travels to Queens for the purpose. Disguised as poor student, he finds his perfect match in Lisa McDowell, but she has a boyfriend and her father does not approve of him.
Although he prefers to write songs, Stephen’s family wants him to accept a clerical job. He soon manages to sell one of his songs ‘Oh! Susanna’ for fifteen dollars to a singer named EP Christy, but he also allows her to take credit as the writer.
When a family goes on vacation, their pets, Chance—a bulldog, Shadow—a retriever, and Sassy—a cat, are left with a friend. Anxious about never seeing their owners again, they embark on a journey to find their family. Risking their lives, they travel through the Sierra mountains wilderness, open countryside, and learn to keep their differences aside to reach their owners.
‘Mitch’ Mitchell, American war-correspondent in London, needs to send an important news regarding expected Nazi invasion of England. With press offices and teletype machines destroyed in an air-raid, he takes the help of teletype-operator Jennifer to send his scoop, but realizing it is uncensored, she tries to stop him. Devastated by the death of his informer, Mitch stops transmitting news, earning Jennifer’s affection.
Clive of India is an American historical biographical film, which revolves around the life of Robert Clive, who is known for laying the foundation of the British Empire in India. The film is based on a play of the same name by RJ Minney.
Ladies in Love is a romantic comedy drama film which tells the love stories of three working girls living together in a shared apartment, as they look for ways to impress their dates.
After murdering a woman, a man creates a fire to make the death look accidental. The case receives a lot of attention, and eventually, the wealthy husband of the murdered woman is arrested by the district attorney Dan Callahan. Callahan hopes that this case will help him reach the governor’s office.
The Oscar-winning film follows a group of elders from a retirement home, who secretly use the swimming pool of nearby unused house. They are not aware that the house is rented by aliens living as humans and have stored the cocoons containing their people in the pool which imparted a special quality to water making the seniors feel invigorated with youthful energy.
Ramona, a lovely part-Indian girl brought up on a wealthy ranch, is wooed by the Spanish ranch-owner’s son Felipe, but she doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, while his family disapproves of his interest in her. When the Indians arrive for the yearly visit, their leader, Alessandro, and Ramona fall in love. When the ranch-owner tells her to join a convent, Ramona sneaks away with Alessandro.
D’Artagnan, a French peasant, who dreams of joining the Musketeers, sets out for Paris. On the way, he comes across three warriors who challenge him to a duel. Eventually, they all become best friends, and also become an ally to the Queen of France.
An aspiring composer, Kenneth Harvey, moves to a Greenwich Village, where he meets Danny O’Hara, a club owner who puts together a musical show. Thinking of Kenneth as an easy mark, Danny thinks of taking advantage of him. However, his singing star Bonnie, tries to prevent this, as she develops a liking for Kenneth.
Manny’s wife’s passes away, and he is in need of a nanny to care for his daughter Molly, as his job keeps him quite busy. It also appears that Molly is unable to speak as a result of her mother passing away. A woman named Corrina applies for the position, and Manny decides to hire her. He soon sees that Corrina is able to develop a bond with his daughter very quickly, and can communicate with her without the need for her to speak.
On his deathbed, Angelo promises to his dying father that he will leave the world of crime, and live an honest life. Although he has no experience in making money legally, he tries to keep his father’s promises.
This comedy drama film takes us to a small southern town in the US, where the locals resent the nearby presence of an Army base, due to the trouble caused by some of the enlisted men. Officer Nace who is in charge of community relations, organizes a big dance to improve the relations, but despite well intentions from both sides, the dance only riles up the locals further.
While returning from a trip in the woods, the Henderson family runs into a Bigfoot. Thinking him to be dead, they take him home, but they are shocked when he awakens. They soon learn that his name is Harry, and that he is a very kind and sensitive being. However, they soon find it difficult to keep his existence a secret, and also fear for his safety.
Picture Mommy Dead is a horror film, which tells the story of Susan, who is sent to the mental asylum, after she is badly shocked at the death of her mother. She eventually returns from the asylum, but her stepmother starts conspiring against her.
This science fiction adventure film revolves around friendly aliens from Anterea, a far away planet, who return to Earth to rescue some incubation pods which have been found by scientists. Although in their planet, nobody grows old, they start developing a liking towards earth and therefore, they think of staying back.
Don Ameche Awards
Cocoon | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | 1986 |