Sunday, February 28, 2021

Alongside Comedy Greats

 
a closeup of Shelley from a promo pic
for the telefilm Found Money, 1983
 
Shelley appeared alongside comedy legends Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar in the 1983 TV movie Found Money. Originally titled Max and Sam (Van Dyke's and Caesar's characters) the movie was re-titled My Secret Angel then finally Found Money. The film was about computer expert Max Shepherd and security guard Sam Green, two former employees of First National Bank who have been let go with little to nil benefits after decades of employment. Max uses his computer skills to create an account in the bank using the money from inactive accounts that are automatically transferred to the state when not claimed after five years. Using the name Seymour Good, head of The Invisible Friend Inc., he transfers the money instead to accounts of ordinary citizens who bring kindness to the world - starting with $10,000 in Sam's account. After some convincing, Sam joins Max in his quest. As good Samaritans begin receiving the money, the story is picked up by the press and is covered by reporter Leslie Phillips (Shelley Hack) who becomes Max's love interest.
 
Shelley with Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar
in a promo pic for the telefilm Found Money, 1983
 
Shelley had a very promising acting career immediately after leaving Charlies Angels in 1980. She honed her acting skills in Jack Heifner's Vanities, Elizabeth Diggs's Close Ties and Garson Kanin’s Born Yesterday, wowing her critics and detractors as she did. She shined in the Martin Scorsese film The King of Comedy opposite Robert De Niro. She was great opposite George Segal in the TV movie Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer. And she held her own in the telefilm Found Money opposite legendary comedians Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar. Shelley found both of them "very generous to work with" but had to keep up with the their pace. "You had to work so fast, because everything was left loose," she told TV Guide. "I felt like I kind of jumped on a moving train," she added. Shelley would again work with Dick Van Dyke in 1997 - as a guest star in his series Diagnosis Murder.

Shelley with Dick Van Dyke
in a promo pic for the telefilm Found Money, 1983