Daniel Hugh Kelly in Cujo

Last week, while flicking channels late on a night sleep wasn't coming easily, I stopped to watch a few minutes of an episode of Friends. In the episode, Joey had talked Rachel into watching 1983's Cujo. As much as I love Stephen King the writer, some of the movies adapted from his novels have been hit and miss for me. I am sure I had previously seen clips of Cujo, but had never watched the entire film, so like Rachel, I decided to give it a try.

Some of you may remember that my checking out Cat's Eye last month led to a piece on the the site about actor James Naughton. (HERE:) Naughton played Drew Barrymoore's father, and his brief moments of shirtlessness had me wanting to see more. It seems the directors of Stephen King movies must have a thing for hot shirtless daddies as in the first few minutes of Cujo, I was introduced to another.

In Cujo, the daddy in question is actor Daniel Hugh Kelly who has to deal with his cheating wife and his frightened son played by Danny Pintauro. I sort of remember Kelly from Hardcastle and McCormick, a show I never watched, but have fleeting memories of my parents watching it when I was young. Cujo was Kelly's first feature film, and up until this movie was known mostly for his turn on the soap Ryan's Hope.

With Brian Keith in Hardcastle & McCormick

It is always amazing to me how certain actors, certain movies, and certain scenes draw my attention. I have known and seen Kelly guesting on TV shows as long as I can remember and barely paid attention. Now, seeing him walk across the bedroom in just his pajama bottoms in Cujo, gets me all hot and bothered.

The movie wasn't half bad either, except for too much of Pintauro screeching in the movies second half, it wasn't that bad. I have the book in my collection of King novels, but hadn't read it. This summer might be a good time.

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

I have done a few posts spotlighting the many actors who have played Brick in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. Kelly played Brick alongside Kathleen Turners Maggie in the 1990 Broadway Rival at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

Cujo (1983)