Ritch Brinkley Movies

A teenager in the '50s moves to a new neighborhood and has to deal with all the problems that come with it in this lighthearted feature--complete with a rock 'n' roll soundtrack. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi

Fact-based drama starring Robert Redford as Henry Brubaker, the new inmate at a run-down Southern prison that's become notorious for corruption and violence. After he witnesses several instances of gross misconduct and defuses a tense confrontation with a crazed inmate (Morgan Freeman), Brubaker reveals to the guards and administrators that he's not a criminal at all, but the new warden, assigned by the governor to infiltrate the facility undercover. His identity confirmed, Brubaker takes office and sets about shaping up policies and procedures, despite resistance from, incredibly, even some of the more entitled convicts. With the help of the prison's chief trustee (Yaphet Kotto) and a compassionate ally (Jane Alexander), the warden effects some positive change, but powerful business interests line up against him when his ideas threaten their financial bottom line. A reform-minded, socially conscious, and politically liberal picture of the type usually associated with director Norman Jewison, this fact-based prison drama was the result of a troubled production that saw original director Bob Rafelson replaced with Cool Hand Luke (1967) and The Amityville Horror (1979) helmsman Stuart Rosenberg. Despite the backstage turmoil, Brubaker was an acclaimed release and an Oscar-nominated, career-finale triumph for co-screenwriter Arthur A. Ross, creator of Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954) and father of successful writer/director Gary Ross. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

This clever and well-crafted production (produced for Home Box Office) goes the distance with its innovative concept, which is equal parts Raymond Chandler and H.P. Lovecraft. Taking place in 1948 Hollywood -- in an alternate reality where magic spells, curses and demons are commonly used and accepted -- the story revolves around hard-boiled gumshoe Harry P. Lovecraft (Fred Ward, looking nothing like his character's namesake and everything like Mike Hammer), the only detective in the business who relies on brains and instinct instead of gazing into a crystal ball or casting runes. This pure perspective is sought out by wealthy eccentric Amos Hackshaw (David Warner), who is trying to retrieve the legendary "Necronomicon" (a key component in the works of the real H.P. Lovecraft). The book is reputed to have the power to release the "Elder Gods" from their cosmic confines and return them to Earth, whereupon Hackshaw believes they will appoint him ruler of all mankind. The chief rival for possession of the book is a seedy gangster (Raymond O'Connor) whose favorite nightclub singer (Julianne Moore) takes a shine to Harry. Followed by a sequel, Witch Hunt, which applies a more sublime (if unnecessary) re-interpretation of the material, and features Dennis Hopper in the Lovecraft Role. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

A fugitive, a former slave, and a U.S. Marshal team up to free a desperate small town from the grip of a corrupt railroad tycoon in this western featuring Oscar-nominated actor Bruce Dern and Saw series veteran Tobin Bell. Thanks to the railroad, Payton McCay (Bruce Dern) has become a very rich man. But his cruelty knows no bounds. No one who's crossed him has lived to tell the tale, and as a result the locals cower at the mere mention of his name. McCay soon meets his match, however, in the form of three unlikely allies who won't be intimidated by his wealth and power. Luck Hatcher (Michael Ironside) is a fugitive driven by vengeance, and together with U.S. Marshal Bodine Michael (Keith Coulouris) and bounty hunter Jessup Bush (Vondie Curtis-Hall) - a one-time slave who is no stranger to breaking the bonds of oppression - he's about to teach McCay that no amount of money can pay for the innocent blood that's been shed in his ruthless quest for control of the Wild West. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The made-for-TV Jailbirds is a distaff comedy variation on The Defiant Ones. Phylicia Rashad plays an important LA business executive, while Dyan Cannon portrays a trailer-trash babe from Louisiana. Both Rashad and Cannon are thrown into a dank Southern jail for crimes they didn't commit. While manacled together, the ladies escape, driving each other cuckoo as they elude their captors. Apparently, CBS had so little faith in Jailbirds that the network hardly bothered to advertise the film went it premiered May 16, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Making its first appearance on November 14, 1988, the long-running, Emmy-winning CBS sitcom Murphy Brown starred Candice Bergen as the title character, the driving, driven, often overbearing but essentially likable star reporter of the Washington, D.C.-based TV magazine "FYI." A thorough professional, Murphy never gave less than her best before the cameras -- but behind the cameras, it was a different story. Constitutionally incapable of doing anything by halves, Murphy told her colleagues exactly what she thought of them at all times, seldom made a comment that wasn't laced with sarcasm, and was addicted to tobacco and, for a while, booze (this last shortcoming required her to do some time at the Betty Ford Clinic). Though the rest of the "FYI" staffers were accustomed to Murphy's mood swings and idiosyncrasies, outsiders tended to be scared off by our heroine: indeed, one of the series' most famous running gags was the fact that Murphy had a different secretary in practically every episode! Also in the cast were Charles Kimbrough as "FYI"'s uptight, humorless anchorman Jim Dial; Joe Regalbuto as the show's gonzo (and obviously toupeed) investigative reporter Frank Fontana, Faith Ford as "FYI"'s voluptuous, somewhat vacuous cub reporter and ex-Miss America Corky Sherwood, who considered Murphy to be her role model (often to Murphy's dismay) and who eventually married staff writer Will Forest (Scott Bryce), thereby becoming -- are you ready? -- Mrs. Corky Sherwood Forest; and Grant Shaud as "FYI"'s nebbishy executive producer Miles Silverberg, not exactly what one would call a born leader of men (or of Murphy!).

When not on the set of her show, Murphy could be found in her townhouse apartment, often conversing with quirky, philosophy-spouting house painter Eldin Bernecky (Robert Pastorelli), who spent day and night trying to finish redecorating Murphy's living room -- a job he still hadn't entirely completed when he left the series in season seven. Murphy also hung out with her co-workers at a neighborhood bar owned by another erstwhile philosopher named Phil (Pat Corley), at least until he reportedly died, whereupon Murphy and company purchased the bar themselves (as it turned out, reports of Phil's death were slightly exaggerated -- by Phil!). Additionally, Jay Thomas appeared intermittently as Geraldo-like journalist Jerry Gold, with whom Murphy frequently clashed -- when they weren't romancing one another, that is. As the series progressed, the basic throughline, and the characters, underwent a few changes. After her divorce from Will Forest, Corky eloped with Miles Silverberg, though she stayed in Washington when he left to run a CNN-style news service in New York. Murphy's brief fling with her ex-husband, Jake (Robin Thomas), produced a baby named Avery (who apparently grew up rather quickly, since he was played during the final season by Haley Joel Osment) -- and also stirred up a controversy when no less than Vice President Dan Quayle chastised Murphy Brown for eroding "family values" in America by bearing a child out of wedlock. Later on, dashing international reporter Peter Hunt (Scott Bakula) joined the "FYI" staff, sweeping Murphy off her feet and ultimately asking her to marry him (she didn't). Other additions to the cast included Garry Marshall as new network president Stan Lansing, who waged an ongoing war with Murphy over her non-PC attitude; Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman) as Stan's whiny nephew Andrew, who was forced upon Murphy as her secretary -- and actually kept the job for more than a single episode; Christopher Rich as "FYI" co-anchor Miller Redfield, just the sort of gorgeous-looking, empty-headed TV personality whom Murphy despised with every fibre of her being; and Lily Tomlin as Kay Carter-Shepley, "FYI"'s imperious, and not altogether competent, new executive producer. In addition to the main and supporting cast, the series featured a number of real-life news personalities as "themselves," among them Walter Cronkite, Connie Chung, Larry King, Katie Couric, and Paula Zahn. The series' tenth and final season found Murphy undergoing treatment for breast cancer, an outwardly grim situation that, amazingly enough, never intruded upon the laughter. Murphy Brown ended its network run on August 10, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

It's been a while since Murphy (Candice Bergen) has wound her biological clock, but the ticking begins anew when her pregnant friend Lisa (Jenny O'Hara) pays a visit. Now determined to be "with child" herself, Murphy doesn't want to waste time with such details as love and marriage, so she tries to coerce her coworker Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) into donating his sperm for an in-vitro procedure. This idea fizzles, leaving Murphy no other choice but to try to obtain Frank's sperm through the time-honored direct method! Marianne Muellerleile appears--and promptly disappears--as Murphy's eighth secretary. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the now-legendary final episode of Murphy Brown's fourth season, pregnant Murphy (Candice Bergen) goes into labor right in the middle of an "FYI" telecast. Once in the hospital, Murphy still can't believe that she's about to give birth, especially when the process seems to be so easy and free of care. . .at first. But when the contractions begin coming more rapidly--and the baby steadfastly refuses to make its debut appearance--the situation quickly deteriorates into comic chaos, as the pain-racked Murphy launches into her famous "childbirth rant", loudly and profanely railing against every male on the face of the earth--especially her Lamaze partner Eldin (Robert Pastorelli), who for reasons unknown has not showed up for the Big Moment. This episode earned an Emmy award for Candice Bergen, who has listed "Birth 101 as her all-time favorite (an opinion clearly not shared by Vice President Dan Quayle, but that's another story). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Murphy's past comes back to bite her as the "FYI" crew prepares to cover the 1996 Presidential election. A support group consisting of all of Murphy's former secretaries--led by Secretary #2, aka Robert (Charley Lang, who was fired in the very first episode--breaks into the studio to hold their ex-boss hostage. Now Murphy must plead her case before 86 different people (some of them VERY different) who would just as soon see her sleeping with the fishes. (The official cast list for this episode identifies several of the former secretaries by their now-famous character flaws: the "mimicker", the "slow speaker", the "Hitler", the "wrestler," and on into the night!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of Murphy Brown's two-part second season finale, Corky (Faith Ford) develops a bad case of pre-nuptual jitters on the eve of her marriage to Will Forrest (Scott Bryce). Yes, this will mean that she will soon be known as Corky Sherwood-Forrest--and this as much as anything is making her reconsider going through with the wedding. It is up to Murphy (Candice Bergen) to make sure that the ceremony proceeds as planned. . .though in all fairness, Murphy is given a bit of help by the soul-singing Temptations. Frances Bergen, real-life mother of Candice Bergen, appears as Will's mom, while Entertainment Tonight's Leeza Gibbons and John Tesh and telejournalist Kathleen Sullivan show up as "themselves." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Although the network has given the okay to Murphy's unwed pregnancy and allows her to remain on "FYI", Miles (Grant Shaud) worries that Murphy (Candice Bergen) will soon be physically incapable of maintaining her usual exhausting pace. Her first big challenge is to secure an interview with President Bush, who agrees to talk with her only while he's jogging. Once she realizes that being on foot with the Prez is out of the question, Murphy tries to keep up with the Chief Executive on a bicycle--yet another in a long line of blunders! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Frank (Joe Regalbuto), Miles (Grant Shaud) and Jim (Charles Kimbrough) have all elected to get in touch with their inner selves by joining a new men's movement created by Eli White (Brandon Maggart). All of this is a source of great amusement for Murphy, who dismisses the movement as merely a scam. Even so, she agrees to join her male coworkers for a weekend of "bonding"--meaning she'll be the only pregnant person on the premises. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi