Kate Zentall Movies
- 1988
Defense attorney Mike Snow (Martin E. Brooks), longtime nemesis of police detective Hunter (Fred Dryer), is the first person contacted by a distraught woman (Wendie Malick) whose husband has just been killed in an "accidental" boat explosion. Though Snow is certain that he'll be able to clear the woman of murder charges, Hunter is convinced that she is guilty as Hell, but has no proof to back him up. A neat "Second Time's The Charm" plot twist wraps this one up in a nice, tidy package. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1987
Season Four of Hunter begins as police detectives Hunter (Fred Dryer) and McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) investigate the seemingly motiveless murder of a skid-row derelict. It turns out that the "bum" was anything but, and that he had been deliberately targeted by a hit man. Despite the interferences of the Feds, Hunter is determined to get the whole truth--and to save the life of the hapless bag lady (Beah Richards) who witnessed the hit. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1987
In the conclusion of a two-part story, McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) faces the possibility of permanent paralysis as she undergoes surgery to remove a bullet from her spine. Meanwhile, Hunter (Fred Dryer) heads to Mexico, there to settle accounts with notorious pimp Big Jack Hemmings (Robert Ridgely), whom he holds responsible for McCall's plight. When Big Jack turns up murdered, Hunter is arrested--and as the story winds down, the detective must place his life in the hands of his old enemy, gonzo defense attorney Mike Snow (Martin E. Brooks). This final episode of Hunter's third season was directed by series costar Stepfanie Kramer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
Rick Hunter (Fred Dryer) is convinced that Otto Minski (Anthony James), a man he arrested several years before, is responsible for blowing up the angel statue on the grave of a woman whom Rick has once planned to marry. Trouble is, Minski is a past master at slipping through the fingers of the law and cooking up convenient alibis. Now Hunter must literally race against the clock to prevent the demented Minski from planting time bombs all over town! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
The Cosby Show's Malcolm-Jamal Warner stretches his acting muscles in this powerful ABC Afterschool Special. Warner is cast as Charlie Curtis, a teenager who on surface seems to have everything -- loving parents, supportive teachers, and many friends. Why then, does Charlie find life so bleak that he ends up committing suicide? Charlie's best friend, Jed (Rob Stone), spends the bulk of the story trying to solve the puzzle -- and to come to terms with the tragedy. A Desperate Exit is based on Eve Bunting's novel Face at the Edge of the World, which is also the title of the 30-minute VHS version of this film. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Rob Stone, (more)
- 1986
John Ritter stars in this made-for-television comedy as a lonely philanderer who falls in love with a one-night-stand (Connie Sellecca) who is about to marry another man. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
Best remembered for containing the film debut of phenomenally popular comedian of the early '90s, Jim Carrey, Once Bitten is a horror comedy that chronicles the attempts of a bloodthirsty female vampire living in modern day Los Angeles to find the three male virgins she needs every year to stay alive and young-looking. If she cannot do it by Halloween, she will surely die. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lauren Hutton, Jim Carrey, (more)
- 1985
A group of mental patients use the courtroom to rebel against the shoddy treatment afforded them by their nursing-home staff. Things get a tad out of hand when one of the patients, a mute, locks herself in the chambers of Judge Harry (Harry Anderson), armed with a revolver. This episode was originally slated to air on October 24, 1984, then on December 13 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
- R
Joan Collins and David Hasselhoff star in this made-for-TV comedy caper, in which a con artist who has just gotten out of jail. Curt Taylor (Hasselhoff) finds himself back in business when he becomes an assistant to glamorous film star Cartier Rand (Collins). Curt's primary interest in working with Cartier is the opportunity to get his hands on her world famous and highly-valuable collection of jewelry. In time, however, Curt finds himself attracted to Cartier, which will take a bit of explaining, since he informed Cartier's jealous fiancée that he was gay in order to win the job. The Cartier Affair also stars Telly Savalas, Charlies Napier, and Ed Lauter. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Fed up with watching vicious criminals walk on technicalities and loopholes, judge Michael Douglas accepts his older colleague Hal Holbrook's invitation to join "The Star Chamber." This sub-rosa organization consists of nine like-minded judges who endeavor to take the law into their own hands. Essentially, these are robed vigilantes, but Douglas joins them, determining that the end justifies the means. Before long, however, Douglas finds himself balking at sanctioning the murder of freed criminals -- and as a result becomes the target of the Star Chamber himself. Worth noting in the supporting cast of The Star Chamber are Diana Douglas, Michael Douglas' real-life mother, and Frances Bergen, widow of Edgar Bergen and mother of Candice Bergen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Douglas, Hal Holbrook, (more)
- 1981
- PG
It's not often that a 55-minute feature film received theatrical distribution in the 1980s. The Canadian Getting Even was just such a film; if you happened to miss it back in 1981, you're in good company. The script, by director Mark Feldberg, concerns a carefully planned bank robbery. The erstwhile thieves are an impoverished artist (Kate Zentall) and her born-loser boyfriend (Matthew Faison). Though their scheme is meticulous, the execution of the robbery goes awry due to the couple's ineptitude. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Matthew Faison, Kate Zentall, (more)
- 1981
A young Rob Lowe plays a supporting role in this Emmy Award-winning ABC Afterschool Special. The main focus, however, is on high-school senior Lisl Gilbert (Karlene Crockett), who must reconcile herself to her mother's terminal cancer. In the agonizing months that follow the initial prognosis of her mom's illness, Lisl is forced to draw upon the inner strength and resourcefulness that she never knew she had. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Karlene Crockett, Rosemary Forsyth, (more)
- 1979
Elizabeth Montgomery stars in this made-for-television movie about a liberal reporter whose views are challenged after she becomes the victim of random crime. Montgomery stars as Katherine McSweeney, a divorced, single-mother news reporter assigned to cover crime in her lower-middle-class neighborhood. After being mugged in her hallway, Katherine finds little sympathy from her colleagues or the police who feel her left-wing tendencies left her wide open for crime. The film shows how she transforms from a tolerant woman into a frightened and judgmental citizen, who is angry at her loss of innocence, but determined not to give in to her fear. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
