Peter Werner Movies
Director Peter Werner, born in New York City, has specialized largely in mini-series and tele-features since the mid '70s, most notably the western drama Ned Blessing (1991). ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide- 1992
Jealous over Whitley's new boyfriend, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) tries to forget his troubles by accompanying Ron (Darryl M. Bell) to the annual Hillman-Virginia A&M football game. By the end of the evening, both Dwayne and Ron have been arrested, along with a trio of white A&M students who are accused of defacing Ron's car with a spray-painted racial slur. In their efforts to find out what happened, the authorities are barraged with a number of wildly contradictory "facts" from all concerned. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) is unpleasantly surprised when his friend Zellmer (Blair Underwood), an Army reservist, is called to active duty in the Persian Gulf. Nonetheless, Dwayne organizes a "guy's only" farewell party for his pal--which is memorably crashed by Whitley (Jasmine Guy), Jaleesa (Dawnn Lewis), and Kim (Charnele Brown), who perform "The Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy From Company B". Meanwhile, Freddie (Cree Summer) can barely say a word to Zellmer due to her opposition of the US' intervention in the Gulf. This episode was cowritten by series regulars Jasmine Guy and Dominic Hoffman (Julian Day). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The made-for-television Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes recounts the August, 1945 nuclear bombing of Hiroshima through the eyes of a number of survivors, including Japanese soldiers, citizens, and American prisoners of war. The film is partly based on Michihiko Hachiya's Hiroshima Diary. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
Albert Finney stars as a TV-news anchorman who wrongly implicates a good friend in a savings-and-loan scandal; when the friend commits suicide, Finney must question his ethics and obsession with high Nielsen ratings. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Finney, Marsha Mason, (more)
- 1987
The valor and anguish of the Alamo is resurrected in this '80s effort that features a considerably accomplished cast. Brian Keith plays Davy Crockett and James Arness is Jim Bowie who, although at odds at times with his leader Colonel William Travis (Alec Baldwin), is able to focus upon the battle against the Mexican soldiers. Highlights of this film are the battle action scenes. ~ All Movie Guide
Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander) are angels who watch over the city of Berlin. They don't have harps or wings (well, they usually don't have wings) and they prefer overcoats to gossamer gowns. But they can travel unseen through the city, listening to people's thoughts, watching their actions and studying their lives. While they can make their presence felt in small ways, only children and other angels can see them. They spend their days serenely observing, unable to interact with people, and they feel neither pain nor joy. One day, Damiel finds his way into a circus and sees Marion (Solveig Dommartin), a high-wire artist, practicing her act; he is immediately smitten. After the owners of the circus tell the company that the show is out of money and must disband, Marion sinks into a funk, shuffling back to her trailer to ponder what to do next. As he watches her, Damiel makes a decision: he wants to be human, and he wants to be with Marion, to lift her spirits and, if need be, to share her pain. Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire is a remarkable modern fairy tale about the nature of being alive. The angels witness the gamut of human emotions, and they experience the luxury of simple pleasures (even a cup of coffee and a cigarette) as ones who've never known them. From the angels' viewpoint, Berlin is seen in gorgeous black-and-white -- strikingly beautiful but unreal; when they join the humans, the image shifts to rough but natural-looking color, and the waltz-like grace of the angels' drift through the city changes to a harsher rhythm. Peter Falk appears as himself, revealing a secret that we may not have known about the man who played Columbo, and there's also a brief but powerful appearance by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Wings of Desire hinges on the intangible and elusive, and it builds something beautiful from those qualities. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, (more)
Benjy Taylor (D.B. Sweeney) is a rookie cop who goes undercover to nab a gang of car thieves in this routine crime drama. Taylor salivates over the lifestyle and money enjoyed by Ted Varrick (Charlie Sheen), the smooth operator who leads the Porsche pilferers, and he reports back to Lieutenant Vincent Bracey (Randy Quaid), who is convinced Ted is a cop killer but needs more proof. Taylor joins the gang and begins to justify car theft and the money it brings as gathering evidence. Soon his reasoning is clouded and the rookie cop gets in deeper when he actually begins to like Ted and the suspect's sultry sister Ann (Lara Harris). ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlie Sheen, D.B. Sweeney, (more)
- 1986
Whoopi Goldberg earned an Emmy nomination for her guest-star turn as a con artist named Camille Brand (Whoopi Goldberg). While evading arrest, Camille unintentionally saves the life of a politician. Duly impressed, Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) is convinced that the highly untrustworthy Camille might be a valuable addition to the Blue Moon Detective Agency. This final episode of [#Moonlighting's second season contains a few choice "It's only a TV show, folks" moments (at one point, the villain is disarmed by the studio prop man)--not to mention a cameo appearance by famed dwarf actor Billy Barty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Randy Quaid avoids caricature and cliché in his multifaceted portrayal of Lyndon Baines Johnson in LBJ: The Early Years. This made-for-TV film chronicles the years 1934 through 1963, tracing the beginnings of Johnson's public career, chronicling his reputation for down-and-dirty politicking, and following his progress from congressman to senator to majority leader to vice president. Staunchly at LBJ's side through thick and thin is faithful-wife Lady Bird (Patti LuPone), whose fidelity remains unshaken even while Johnson dallies with other women. Charles Frank co-stars as John F. Kennedy, whose assassination catapults the reluctant Johnson into the presidency that he'd always wanted to win on his own merits. Less than six days before LBJ: The Early Year premiered on February 1, 1987, author Larry L. King picked apart the film's inaccuracies in a TV Guide article. Audiences cared not for absolute truth, and had a grand old time watching Randy Quaid impersonate the amazing Mr. Johnson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Dana Delany guest stars as Gillian Armstrong, a former girl friend of detective David Addison (Bruce Willis). Having previously broken David's heart, she comes back into his life as a client, hoping that he can track down a missing heirloom. Naturally, David jumps at the chance, though his partner Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) is convinced that he is setting himself up for another fall. The plot thickens when Gillian's husband (Joel Colodner) is found murdered. Somehow this situation culminates in a zany chase sequences involving a hearse! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In his last acting assignment before his death, Orson Welles narrates this highly unusual episode of Moonlighting. While gathering evidence for their latest case, David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill learn of the famous Flamingo Cove Murder, a 1946 case that has never been solved. It doesn't take long for the two detectives to dream up their own separate solutions to the murder--dreams filmed in glorious black and white in the manner of a classic film noir (David's scenario looks like something out of the Rita Hayworth flick Gilda, while Maddie's resembles a Tennessee Williams-style romantic melodrama!) Cybill Shepherd sings "Blue Moon" and "I Told Ya I Love Ya, Now Get Out!" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
This opening episode of Moonlighting's second season begins with stars Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis, aka Maddie and David, briefly dropping character to chat with the audience and explain that they have to kill a little time because the script isn't long enough to fill out the hour. In the story proper, Charles Rocket makes his first appearance as David's irksome brother Richie, who blows into town with one hundred thousand dollars to his name. David is jealous that Richie is able to impress Maddie by tossing his new-found wealth around, but what begins as a case of sibling rivalry develops into something far more deadly when it is revealed that the money actually belongs to a Philadelphia drug dealer named Mr. Navarone (Ed O'Ross)--a man who is not known for his gentle nature or sense of humor! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) and David (Bruce Willis) are hired by a collection agency to go after a deadbeat debtor named Roy Hirsch. Not long afterward, the detectives come across Hirsch's dead body--which promptly disappears. What does the mystery Man With the Mole have to do with all this? The final episode of Moonlighting's first season, "The Murder's in the Mail" features the series' first "aside" to the audience, wherein David sly breaks down the forth wall and directly addresses the viewer; it is also the LAST time that the series would ever feature a climactic pie fight! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Moonlighting's first Christmas episode involves, Mary, Joseph and the Three Kings--sort of. It all begins when a woman named Mary (Leslie Wing) hides her baby in the apartment of Blue Moon's secretary Agnes (Allyce Beasley) after Mary's husband Joseph is gunned down by the minions of an ill-tempered gangster. As for the Three Kings, they're actually the three King Brothers, Saul (Daniel Chodos), Jim (John Hostetter) and Reuben (James Avery)--and the possibility exists that they are not so much Wise Men as wise guys! Watch how the series' cast and crew cleverly plays for time when the episode abruptly runs out of script. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
The Blue Moon Detective Agency has finally posted a profit, but Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) spends every penny on a painting of herself. No, she's not motivated by vanity, but rather curiosity: The artist had never met Maddie, but was clearly infatuated by her--and shortly after completing the painting, he committed suidice. Or did he? One thing is certain: There are several unsavory-looking characters who'd love to get their hands on the mysterious portrait. Highlights of the this episode include the Bernard Herrmann-esque musical score, a wry comment by David (Bruce Willis) about the series' writing staff, and a climactic (and very messy) set-to in an auto-painting shop. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) is shocked when her favorite radio DJ Arthur Boyd is murdered right in the middle of a broadcast. David (Bruce Willis) prods Maddie into investigating the tragedy, which she does. In the process, Maddie discovers that the "late" Mr. Boyd is still alive--but if she doesn't mind her own business, her own life may be in dire jeopardy. Actress Melinda Dillon provided a few uncredited contributions to the script of this episode: However, Dillon had nothing to do with the celebrated "boinking" discussion that serves as the highlight. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Having been conned into keeping the Blue Moon Detective Agency alive, Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) reluctantly agrees to team up with arrogant private eye David Addison (Bruce Willis) to solve their first "official" case. A man (Pat Corley) has come to the agency in hopes of locating his long-lost son Michael (Gary Graham). Following the trail of clues, the detectives discover that Michael is a professional contract killer--but they haven't the heart to tell Michael's father. What they don't realize is that dear old dad is likewise a professional hit man, and that father and son have been assigned to knock each other off! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
James Coburn stars in this TV movie as the powerful head of a major law firm. Glynnis O'Connor is the firm's prize attorney--and also the lover of Coburn's son Ted Wass, a blue-collar worker long estranged from his father. Coburn stages a reconciliation with his son, but it's only so he can enjoy Glynnis' sexual favors himself. After only token resistance, Glynnis defers to Coburn's desires. The question raised by Sins of the Father: which of the two lawyers is the most opportunistic? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In order to win a bet, a nebbishy engineer must meet a model; not only does he get to know her, they begin to date. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Teri Copley, Tim Daly, (more)
- 1982
- PG
This heartwarming tale of courage and devotion is set during the Vietnam war and centers upon a young medic who makes extra money on the side dealing drugs. His life is forever changed when he meets an Army doctor who persuades him to help her save a group of war orphans. First she appeals to his sense of guilt; then she blackmails him into assisting. The children are cared for by a few Vietnamese nuns. The doctor and the medic bring them badly needed food and supplies. To do this, the brave duo must face enemy bombs and the resistance of the US government. This is based on a true story and though wrenching, it is not syrupy or sentimental. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Christopher, Susan Saint James, (more)
This 40-minute TV dramatization of William Faulkner's Barn Burning stars Tommy Lee Jones as the truculent head of the Snopes family. Jones has a tendency to burn down the barns of local landowners who've incurred his displeasure. His son Shawn Willington wants no part of this vengeful practice, but is bound by loyalty to his family. Adapted for television by Horton Foote, Barn Burning was originally presented in tandem with a TV version of Mark Twain's The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg. Both dramas debuted on March 17, 1980, as part of PBS's American Short Story anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
This TV movie stars Jean Stapleton as the real-life "Aunt" Mary Dobkin, a physically handicapped woman living in the Baltimore of the 1940s. Concerned that juvenile delinquency is destroying her neighborhood, Aunt Mary organizes the "Dobkin Dynamiters", a baseball team comprised of disadvantaged and minority children. As she fights to have her biracial team officially sanctioned by the highly segregated Baltimore power structure, Aunt Mary is further challenged by the amputation of her left leg and right foot. Nonetheless, she perseveres over the next two decades, providing nearly 35,000 disenfranchised boys the opportunity to escape the streets and play ball. Sportscaster Ernie Harwell, who'd once called the shots for the Baltimore Orioles, makes a cameo appearance in this 1979 Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Battered concentrates upon three female victims of spousal abuse. Chip Fields is the new wife of struggling young Levar Burton. Joan Blondell is the alcoholic middle-aged spouse of the equally bibilous Howard Duff. And Karen Grassle (who cowrote the screenplay) is married to Ivy leaguer Mike Farrell. While a bit too cut-and-dried, Battered handles the issues at hand with intelligence and an avoidance of sensationalism. Made for television, the film debuted September 26, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Karen Grassle, LeVar Burton, (more)
