Valerie Bertinelli Movies
During her nine-year (1975-1984) tenure as Barbara Cooper on TV's One Day at a Time, Valerie Bertinelli grew from a chubby, awkward 15-year-old with only a smattering of bit-part credits into a polished actress and bona fide sex symbol. When Bertinelli "married" her One Day co-star Boyd Gaines in a 1982 episode, the ratings went through the roof, while many a male viewer's heart sank. One year earlier, Bertinelli had been a bride for real; her marriage to rock star Eddie Van Halen was kept under wraps by the series' producers for fear of damaging the actress' "Little Miss Perfect" image. Bertinelli's son by Van Halen was named Wolfgang, as in Mozart. While still a One Day regular, Bertinelli made the first of many TV-movie starring appearances in 1979's Young Love, First Love; later small-screen projects -- most of them packaged by Bertinelli's own production company, Bertinelli Inc. -- included The Princess and the Cabbie (1981), I Was a Mail Order Bride (1982), Shattered Vows (1984), The Seduction of Gina (1984), Silent Witness (1985), and Pancho Barnes (1988). Conversely, her theatrical-feature credits are limited, consisting only of C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979) and Ordinary Heroes (1985). In the years since One Day at a Time, Valerie Bertinelli has starred in two short-lived TV series, Sydney (1990) and Café Americain (1993). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2008
- Add True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet to QueueAdd True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet to top of Queue
A teen movie star attempts to overcome her addition to alcohol and salvage what's left of her career after passing out on the red carpet at her big Hollywood premiere and being sent to recover with her upbeat aunt in Indiana. Morgan Carter (Jo Jo) is only seventeen years old, but she's already on top of the world. But so much fame so early in life can yield unpredictable consequences, and when Morgan is sent to the hospital with alcohol poisoning, it's clear that she isn't ready to deal with the pressures of stardom. Whisked away to rehab as the paparazzi clamors for a picture and the press predicts her downfall, Morgan is sent by her mother and concerned manager to Indiana, far away from the temptations of Hollywood. Once there, the troubled starlet reluctantly starts to reconnect with her quirky Aunt Trudy (Valerie Bertinelli), who offers just the kind of unconditional support that the young girl needs to get her life - and career - back on track. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joanna 'Jojo' Levesque, Valerie Bertinelli, (more)
- 2003
First telecast by CBS on November 30, 2003, the made-for-TV Finding John Christmas is a sequel to the previous year's A Town Without Christmas, with Peter Falk reprising his role as versatile guardian angel Max. Valerie Bertinelli plays Kathleen McAllister, a divorced small-town nurse whose depression over the fact that the hospital ER she maintains may be forced to shut down because of a $100,000 debt is briefly lifted when she spots a newspaper picture taken by photojournalist Noah Greeley (David Cubitt). The picture shows an act of bravery performed by Noah's firefighter brother Hank (William Russ), who mysteriously left town 25 years ago and hasn't been seen since. Hank would like to quietly slip back into town without explanation or fanfare, but this proves impossible when Noah's newspaper posts a $50,000 reward to identify Hank, known only to the public as "John Christmas." And there's something, very, very curious about that photo: It also shows a Santa Claus suit seemingly floating in midair without an occupant. That elusive "Santa" is of course the angelic Max, who pops up now and again throughout the story in a variety of guises to solve problems, dispense advice, tie up loose plot strands--and even share a musical duet with Kathleen's talented daughter Socorro (Jennifer Pisana). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Mary (Jena Malone) is entering her senior year at American Eagle Christian High School. She seems to be in an ideal social position as one of the "Christian Jewels," the most devout and popular clique of girls in the school, led by the aggressively cheerful Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore). But things take an unexpected turn when Mary's boyfriend, Dean (Chad Faust), tells her he may be gay. Mary hits her head and has a vision, in which Jesus tells her how to help "cure" Dean of his unnatural urges. Mary does everything in her power to sway Dean, but when his parents find out about his "problem," they send him away just before the school year starts, leaving Mary alone, confused, and, she soon finds out, pregnant. Mary's new situation causes her to question everything, including her friendship with the judgmental Hilary Faye and her faith. Her mother (Mary-Louise Parker) is too preoccupied with her flirtatious relationship with the school's married principal, Pastor Skip (Martin Donovan), to notice Mary's problem. Pastor Skip's dreamboat skateboarder son, Patrick (Patrick Fugit), has returned from missionary work and is attracted to Mary, but she already has too much to deal with. Just when she thinks her situation is hopeless, she finds a pair of unlikely allies in Hilary Faye's cynical wheelchair-bound brother, Roland (Macaulay Culkin), and wild, muscle car-driving provocateur Cassandra Edelstein (Eva Amurri), the school's only Jewish student. Saved! marks the feature debut of director Brian Dannelly, who co-wrote the script with Michael Urban. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, (more)
- 2002
There's quite a lot of celestial activity on planet Earth as Touched By an Angel begins its ninth and final season. Roma Downey returns as heavenly caseworker Monica, whose job it is to seek out mortals in need of redemption, salvation and self-forgiveness. As before, Monica is assisted by her angelic supervisor Tess (Della Reese), former Angel of Death and current co-caseworker Andrew (John Dye), and apprentice angel Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli). Season highlights include "Jump!," featuring Daniel Baldwin as a radio "shock jock" who learns that there is more to life than a big ratings share; "Private Eyes," in which Monica poses as a film noir femme fatale to bring redeption to a hard-boiled detective (Stacy Keach); and "As It Is in Heaven," wherein Monica and Tess have quite a time on their 200th assignnment together. The two-part series finale finds Monica being put to the test for a possible promotion to Heavenly supervisor. This requires her to instinctively provide the proper assistance to a mysterious-looking drifter. Much to Monica's surprise (and professional gratification), the man in need turns out to be the Son of Man. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roma Downey, Della Reese, (more)
- 2001
At a charity car wash organized by Chris (voice of Seth Green), Meg (voice of Mila Kunis), Stewie (voice of Seth MacFarlane), and Chris find a wallet containing some cash. Joe (voice of Patrick Warburton) tells the kids that they have to post a notice about the missing wallet and wait two weeks before they can claim it as their own. Suddenly, a thief grabs the wallet and runs off, sending Joe on a high-speed chase in his wheelchair. Joe manages to retrieve the wallet, but the thief escapes. Joe sinks into a deep depression. It's the first time he's ever "lost a perp," and he considers quitting the police force. Peter (MacFarlane) raises Joe's spirits by convincing Joe to compete in the "Special Peoples' Games" and training him for the decathlon. "Today we'll see some of Quahog's finest athletes struggle valiantly against God's twisted designs," announces Tom Tucker (MacFarlane) on the day of the event. When Joe begins to doubt his chances after falling behind, Peter makes an inspirational speech. "Did George W. Bush quit even after losing the popular vote? No. Did he quit after losing millions of dollars of his father's friends' money in failed oil companies? No. Did he quit after he got that DUI? No...." Determined to see his friend victorious, Peter steals some steroids from the pharmacy and "juices" Joe's water bottle. Their friendship grows strained, however, after Joe wins and becomes a national celebrity, and downplays Peter's contribution to his victory. Meanwhile, Meg, Stewie, and Chris grow increasingly paranoid about who gets to hold onto the wallet, eventually asking Brian (MacFarlane) to watch it for them. This episode features the voices of Tony Danza, Valerie Bertinelli, and Alex Rocco. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Season eight of Touched By an Angel once more finds Heaven being represented on Earth by angelic caseworker Monica (Roma Downey), her supervisor Tess (Della Reese), and angel-in-training Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli). This season finds Andrew (John Dye), hitherto the gentle, self-effacing Angel of Death, taking a larger role in the proceedings (and sometimes being spared the necessity of "collecting" souls) when he is himself promoted to "caseworker" status. Among those benefiting from the angels' divine intervention this season are an aspiring ballplayer who must learn to forgive his domineering father in order to achieve spiritual success; a habitually unlucky-in-love young woman whose new, "perfect" beau is unexpectedly killed; a condemned prisoner whose chances of entering Heaven are endangered by his irrational hatred of his mother; a young boy who reacts to disturbing changes in his life by experimenting with dangerous drugs; and the owner of a small cable TV station who feels hopeless because he's made all the "wrong" decisions in life. This last-named character is played by Ernest Borgnine, just one of season eight's multitude of guest stars: others include Angela Lansbury, Luther Vandross, Doris Roberts, Debbie Reynolds, and Hal Linden. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roma Downey, Della Reese, (more)
- 2001
Monica (Roma Downey) takes novice angel Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli) under her wing to show her how best to bring the love and hope of God to ordinary human motals. Just when she is making headway, Monica is literally shaken by a bomb blast in an office building which kills dozens of people (ironically, this episode originally aired several months before 9/11). Suffering a near-total loss of faith, Monica wanders aimlessly in the desert, where she hitches a ride with a handsome, charismatic stranger (Mandy Patinkin). It doesn't take long for the stranger to betray his true demonic identity as he tempts Monica with the prospect of forsaking her angelic ways by becoming a human being...and his earthly emissary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Geneticist Sarah Conover (Annabella Sciorra) hopes to make medical history by being the first to clone a human being. When Monica (Roma Downey) tries to warn her of the ethical and spiritual ramifications of this undertaking, Sarah insists that her idol, Albert Einstein (Harold Gould), would have heartily approved--and indeed, she plans to use Einstein's DNA for her first experiment. A lengthy flashback to the moment that Monica's fellow angel Tess (Della Reese) touched base with the dying Einstein considerably alters the outcome of the story. Valerie Bertinelli makes her first series appearance as novice angel Gloria. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Inspired by a true story, the made-for-TV Personally Yours stars Valerie Bertinelli as the recently divorced Susannah Stanton. Shed of her husband Jesse (Jeffrey Nordling), an Alaskan rancher, Susannah strikes a blow for independence by opening up her own restaurant in Anchorage. Still, there is something lacking in Susannah's life, and her three children think they know what it is. Placing a classified personal in the local newspaper, the enterprising kids advertise for a perfect father, knowing full well that their specifications match one man and one man only -- their own dad Jesse. An engaging illustration of the old saw that "love is lovelier the second time around," Personally Yours made its CBS network bow on October 8, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Valerie Bertinelli, Jeffrey Nordling, (more)
- 1997
Reminiscent of the "best" of David Lynch, the two-part TV movie Night Sins uses a mysterious abduction as catalyst for a progressively bizarre and disturbing expose of small-town corruption, hypocrisy and perversion. When the 8-year-old son of a doctor is kidnapped from his home in the rural Washington town of Deer Lake, government agent Megan O'Malley (Valerie Bertinelli) arrives to investigate. It soon becomes apparent that this most recent abduction is tied in to a string of kidnappings and murders that have occurred in the region over the past twenty years. As Megan pursues her investigation with the help of friendly local cop Mitch Holt (Harry Hamlin)--to whom she grows extremely close--innumerable local skeletons are dredged out of innumerable local closets. In fact, it seems that everyone concerned with the story is harboring a dark, unsavory secret--including Megan. If nothing else, this offbeat melodrama may well be the only TV movie to feature an evil chess club! Originally telecast on CBS, Night Sins was first seen on February 23 and 25, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
"How Far Would You Go to Save Your Sister's Life?" This was the question posed by the original ad copy for the made-for-TV drama A Case for Life--and the answer would seem to be "to the highest courts of the land", or at least that's how far Los Angeles lawyer Liz Hammett (Mel Harris) is prepared to go. A staunch pro-choice advocate, Liz discovers that her sister Kelly Porter (Valerie Bertinelli) is pregnant--a potential fatal situation, inasmuch as Kelly suffers from a rare medical condition requiring a delicate surgical procedure that will put both herself and her unborn child in jeopardy should she allow the baby to go to term. As dedicated to the pro-life movement as Liz is to the "other side", Kelly is determined to have her baby, and hang the consequences. It soon develops that Kelly is one against many, when even her doctor, her husband and her otherwise pro-life parents recommend an abortion. But Kelly sticks to her guns--and so does Liz, who initiates a lawsuit to force Kelly to abort immediately. Ultimately, the battle between the siblings becomes a national cause celebre, with virtually everyone in the country taking sides. A Cause for Life made its ABC network debut on February 18, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
This fact-based TV movie takes place in Richmond, Virginia, the home of single mother Jody Shaffell (Valerie Bertinelli). Appalled by the fact that Jody has come out of the closet and is living in an openly gay relationship with her female lover, Jody's mother Nancy (Vanessa Redgrave) sues to gain custody of her grandson Zachary (Adam Rehman). A homophobic judge arranges for Zachary to be taken out of Jody's home, whereupon Nancy sets about to thoroughly wipe her grandson's memory clean of his previous "immoral" lifestyle--even unto demanding that the boy refer to her as Momma. The film's script is careful to weigh both sides of the argument equally, demonstrating that for most of her life, Jody was hardly a paragon of responsible motherhood, having supped full of booze and promiscuity before realizing she was gay and promptly cleaning herself up; nor is Nancy depicted as a cold-hearted villain, merely a concerned grandmother who wants what she thinks is best for Zachary. Indeed, if there are truly any "heavies" in the piece, they are the best friend and brother of the beleagured Jody, who callously testify against her in court. Originally seen over the ABC network, Two Mothers for Zachary debuted September 22, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Previously and brilliantly filmed by director Jack Clayton as The Innocents in 1961, Henry James' classic psychological-horror novel The Turn of the Screw was remade 34 years later in the form of this TV movie, which changes the original locale and several character names. American governess Helen Walker (Valerie Bertinelli) arrives at an ornate English country estate, there to take charge of two orphaned siblings, Flora (Florence Hoath) and Mile (Aled Roberts). That the children are rude and ill-mannered does not unduly rattle Helen, who expects this sort of behavior in children of privilege. What is disturbing is that the youngsters' game-playing often takes on an unsavory sexual subtext far beyond their tender years. This, and a few strange "sightings", leads Helen to the startling conclusion that the children are under the power of the ghosts of their former caregivers--a sadistic handyman and an evil governess who died despising one another, and intend to "resolve" their kinky carnal issues using the youngsters as their pawns! Though handled with surprising subtlety and austerity, The Haunting of Helen Walker somehow falls short of the eerie brilliance of the 1961 The Innocents, and without being unduly cruel, it can be said that Valerie Bertinelli is no Deborah Kerr. Filmed on location near Readling, England, the TV movie premiered December 3, 1995 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
When a district attorney starts an investigation into corruption that leads her back to her own family--rife with police officers--she finds some decisions hard to make. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Valerie Bertinelli, George Dzundza, (more)
- 1991
In this two-part made for TV movie, a woman (Valerie Bertinelli) fights for the custody of her sister's son after the sister is murdered by her husband.. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Valerie Bertinelli, Michael Ontkean, (more)
- 1989
Coproduced by Marlo Thomas, the made-for-TV Taken Away was a curiosity: a Valerie Bertinelli film not based on a true story. Bertinelli plays a young, divorced mother, unjustly charged with neglecting her 8-year-old daughter Juliet Sorcey. The motives behind the charge soon become clear: some well-meaning but misguided bureaucrat wants to take Sorcey out of Bertinelli's hands and place the child in the foster-parent pool. With few friends and no money, Bertinelli is nonetheless determined to take on the system and regain custody of Sorcey. Seldom bothering with subtlety, Taken Away hammers away relentlessly at the viewer's tear ducts. The film premiered on November 5, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
A made for TV movie in which Valerie Bertinelli portrays Florence Pancho Barnes, a bored socialite who decides to learn to fly. After receiving her pilot's license, even though her ambitions get in the way of her love life, she becomes a stunt pilot, barnstormer, and even forced Howard Hughes to change his mind about unions. Her career spanned such varied activities as racing against Amelia Earhart and training army pilots. Fine portrayal of one of the more interesting of the independent women from the 1920s. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
This glitzy miniseries based on the Judith Krantz novel is a wicked soap opera about sex, power, and betrayal. Valerie Bertinelli stars as Maxi, whose mother (Francesca Annis) marries her father's hated brother Cutter (Perry King) after his death. Cutter had sworn to destroy everything his late brother valued and proceeds to run his publishing empire into the ground. Maxi, who has already been through three husbands by age 29, turns over a new leaf by gathering her family and making a commitment to save the business, which she does by becoming the editor of a successful fashion magazine. Maxi lives in the Trump Tower, whose famed real-life owner appears as himself. It has some unintentionally campy moments, but King is quite good as the villainous Cutter, and fans of this sort of high-gloss '80s melodrama will want to put it on their lists. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Valerie Bertinelli, Francesca Annis, (more)
- 1987
- R
Detective Berzak (Robert Carradine) and his suave partner Hazeltine (Billy Dee Williams) combine forces to track down a notorious drug lord in this routine action feature. Captain Ferris (Peter Graves) monitors the progress of the decidedly different detectives. The trail leads to Dacosta (Barry Sattels) a respected member of the social elite and the community. Valerie Bertanelli plays Berzak's daughter Teresa, who is pumped for information by her father about his ex-wife (Doris Roberts). ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Carradine, Billy Dee Williams, (more)
- 1987
This 1987 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Valerie Bertinelli and features musical guests Eddie Van Halen and Robert Cray. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Valerie Bertinelli, Eddie Van Halen, (more)
- 1985
A young wife and her husband witness the brutal barroom rape of a young woman and now must decide whether or not to testify against the culprits or remain quiet in this made-for-TV drama that exploits an actual Massachusetts case. Compounding her difficulties is the fact that one of the rapists is her brother-in-law. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1985
The direct-to-video Ordinary Heroes stars Richard Dean Anderson as a blinded Vietnam veteran. Returning from the war with his spirit in tatters, Anderson tries to reassemble his pre-military life. He rekindles his relationship with former girl friend Valerie Bertinelli, an alternately painful and tender experience for them both. An all-but-forgotten film, Ordinary Heroes is worth at least a second look, if only for its intelligent, non-sensational treatment of the subject matter. In addition, the film contains what may well be Valerie Bertinelli's best performance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
The made-for-TV Shattered Vows stars Valerie Bertinelli as a young nun named Mary Gilligan. Though she tries to honor the edicts of her calling, Mary falls in love with a handsome priest (David Morse). Her overwhelming desire to marry and raise a family culminates in her leaving her order before taking final vows. The real-life Mary Gilligan Wong eventually became a clinical psychologist. Her autobiography Nun: A Memoir served as the basis for Shattered Vows, which first aired October 29, 1984 ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
