William Wiard Movies
- 1983
Considering how seldom she appeared on TV in the 1980s, Donna Reed could have picked a better vehicle than Deadly Lessons. Ms. Reed is cast as the headmistress of an exclusive all-girl's prep school. Like the title suggests, the school is being terrorized by a mysterious murderer. Only by discerning the killer's modus operandi can the Good Guys (or Good Girls) unmask the miscreant. Halfway down the cast list is Nancy Cartwright, better known as the voice of Bart Simpson. Deadly Lessons premiered March 7, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
A career woman is so desperate to conceive a child that when her boyfriend the sportswriter comes up short, she goes looking for a fertile stranger in this made-for-TV comic outing. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Suzanne Pleshette, Gil Gerard, (more)
- 1981
This made-for-TV suspenser stars Suzanne Pleshette as famous soap opera writer Carla Webber. Carla turns detective when the cast members of her program begin dying under mysterious circumstances. Barry Newman plays the investigating detective, while Robert Vaughn and Patrick O'Neal are special guest suspects. The film's principal attraction (and a hardly unexpected one) is the presence in the supporting cast of then-current soap opera stars: All My Children's Peter Bergman, General Hospital's Stuart Damon and Robin Mattson, Ryan's Hope's John Gabriel, and One Life to Live's Robert S. Woods. Fantasies was first networkcast January 18, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
This made-for-TV Amityville Horror knock-off ranks among the more interesting titles from a spate of early-1980s haunted-house efforts. The title abode is the sumptuous new residence of recuperating neurotic rock star Gary Stralhorn (Parker Stevenson), who resides there with his young amnesiac nurse Sheila (Lisa Eilbacher). After a conversation with a mysterious woman (Joan Bennett), Sheila becomes increasingly convinced that she's lived in the house before. Soon, people around her begin falling victim to the malevolent spirit in the house, which seems to be protecting Sheila while guarding its own dark secret. The flamboyant death scenes -- quite graphic for television -- involve breathing mirrors that fire dagger-like shards, willful electrical cables, and a boiling hot swimming pool. Things are nicely wrapped up for the enthusiastically creepy climax, but fans of The Haunting won't be too surprised at the outcome. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1980
John D. MacDonald's offbeat semifantasy novel The Girl, the Gold Watch and Everything was enjoyably hoked up for television in this "Operation Prime Time" presentation. Robert Hays stars as Kirby Winter, an unprepossessing chap who inherits a gold watch from his late uncle. Kirby soon discovers that the watch has the power to stop time. It also provides a clue to a hidden fortune, meaning that there's trouble aplenty in store for Kirby and his air-headed girlfriend Bonnie Lee Beaumont (Pam Dawber). First syndicated to local stations on October 13, 1980, The Girl, the Gold Watch and Everything was offered in two versions: as a standard 2-hour movie, and as cliff-hanging series of five half-hour programs. So successful was this non-network effort that it spawned a 1981 sequel, The Girl, the Gold Watch and Dynamite. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Steve McQueen's penultimate film deals with a fascinating western legend, founded on an insightful script by Thomas McGuane and Bud Shrake. Unfortunately, the film was done in by the five directors --Don Siegel, Elliot Silverstein, James Guercio, William Wiard, and McQueen himself-- that were, at one point or another, attached to the project. The film deals with the infamous Texas gunslinger Tom Horn. Horn gained fame for a variety of exploits; he served with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders and was the Pinkerton detective who captured the notorious outlaw Peg Leg Watson. But as Tom Horn begins, something in Horn (Steve McQueen) has snapped. Tom quits the Pinkertons and hires himself out to rancher John Coble (Richard Farnsworth) to assist him in putting an end to his problems with the local homesteaders and rustlers. But Horn performers his job with a chilling intensity, killing so many people with such bloodthirsty rage that it is even too much for Coble and the ranchers to take. When Horn's violence cannot be stopped, Coble has to take the law into his own hands to put a halt to Horn's bloodbath. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve McQueen, Richard Farnsworth, (more)
- 1979
In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single "TV movie"), glamorous socialite Kendall Warren (Lauren Bacall) insists upon helping Jim (James Garner) track down the mysterious assailant who has been trying to kill her--and to find out why she has been thus targetted. This case hits a snag when the most likely suspect, gangster Tommy Minnette (Carmine Caridi), ends up murdered himself. And what has become of Princess Irene (Dana Wynter), the woman who hired Jim to protect Kendall in the first place? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
When Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.) wins a free trip to Hawaii, Jim (James Garner) tags along, only to cross the path of his former Army commander John "Howling Mad" Smith (Ken Swofford). Before Jim quite knows what has happened, Smith has gotten him involved in a CIA operation designed to break up a spy ring. Unfortunately, old "Howling Mad" has neglected to inform Jim of all the dangers inherent in this assignment, and as a result our hero is beaten, robbed, drugged and kidnapped--and that's all during the first half hour. Fortunately, through the sort of incredible coincidence that could only happen on network television, Jim's policeman pal Dennis Becker (Joe Santos) shows up in Hawaii just in time to lend a helping hand. This was the last Rockford Files episode to be filmed, though not the last to be telecast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jim (James Garner) tries to determine if the murder of a crooked business manager is somehow tied in with the messy "palimony" trial involving rock star Tim Richie (Kristoffer Tabori) and his scorned lover Diane Bjornstrom (Leigh Christian). Meanwhile, ex-con Eddie (George Loros), the man who brought Jim into the case, continues to moon over his not-so-secret love, music journalist Whitney Cox (Marcia Strassman). With mobsters and drugs involved, it's a safe bet that Jim is going to endure a few lumps before everything (or almost everything) is straightened out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In the first episode of a two-part story, Jim (James Garner) is hired by his ex-con pal Eddie Lopresti (George Loros) to locate Brian Charles, the missing business manager of rock star Tim Richie (Kristoffer Tabori). Ostensibly, Eddie is doing this on behalf of Richie, who needs backup during a messy palimony trial; but in fact, Eddie is less interested in impressing the singer than in declaring his love for gorgeous music journalist Whitney Cox (Marcia Strassman). Whatever the case, Jim soon finds himself entangled in a web of intrigue involving crooked business dealings, drugs, and the Mob--and worse, there's someone out there who is willing to kill both Jim and Eddie to get them off his (or her?) back. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jim (James Garner) has cooked up an elaborate sting operation to save the printing plant owned by the father of fellow private eye Richie Brockelman (Dennis Dugan) from the clutches of crooked sports promoter Coombs (Robert Webber). The scam is wide-ranging indeed, involving a travelling King Tut exhibition and a popular auto-racing track. While simultaneously endeavoring to pull off the con and preventing his "pal" Angel (Stuart Margolin from gumming up the works, Jim also finds himself falling in love with enigmatic co-conspirator Odette (Trisha Noble). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
This two-part episode (originally telecast as a single two-hour "TV movie") was a byproduct of Robert Altman's theatrical feature H.E.A.L.T.H, in which costars James Garner and Lauren Bacall hit it off so well that Bacall asked to play a guest role on Garner's TV series. The screen legend is cast as Kendall Warren, jet-setting best friend of Princess Irene Rachevsky (Dana Wynter). When it becomes obvious that someone is trying to kill Kendall, the Princess asks Jim (James Garner) to investigate. The trail of clues leads to a lethal costume party, capped by the inevitable arrival of Jim's perennial "bete noire" Lt. Chapman (James Luisi). And keep an eye out for that celebrated socialite "Lord Evelyn Martin"--who looks an awful lot like our old friend Angel (Stuart Margolin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In the first half of a two-part story, greenhorn detective Richie Brockelman (Dennis Dugan) asks Jim (James Garner) to help get back the printing plant that has been swindled from Richie's father (Harold Gould) by sleazy sports promoter Harold Jack Coombs (Robert Webber). This undertaking requires an elaborate "sting" operation--so elaborate that Jim must hold auditions to pick the right con artists for the right job. This episode is essentially a promo for guest star Dennis Dugan's own series, Richie Brockelman: Private Eye. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In the latest in a long line of outlandish get-rich-quick schemes, Angel (Stuart Margolin) poses as a hit man named "Mr. Jones" and accepts a $10,000 contract. Of course, Angel has no intention of killing anyone, and every intention of absconding with the money. But things quickly go sour when Angel's would-be victim is apparently murdered by someone else. Once again forced to extricate Angel from the mess he's gotten himself into, Jim (James Garner) discovers that both the US Navy and the Russian KGB have taken a special interest in the murder--and while he's trying to figure out why, Jim must also solve the mystery of his dad's stolen blue jeans. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
An angry John Cooper (Bo Hopkins) decides to take the law in his own hands when his pal Jim (James Garner) is beaten and his sister Gail (Laurie Jefferson) is raped by members of the Rattlers motorcycle gang. Harking back to his own leather-jacket days as a member of the Vincent Black Shadow gang, Coop takes his cycle out of mothballs and goes undercover to exact vengeance against Rattlers leader Willie Green (Paul Koslo). Meanwhile, Jim has recovered sufficiently to chase after Coop in hopes of preventing him from committing cold-blooded murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.) is delighted at the prospect of his son Jim (James Garner) being reunited with interior decorator Valerie Pointer (Patrick Crowley), who'd been Jim's girlfriend back in the late 1950s'. But Val has a habit of stirring up trouble wherever she goes--and on this occasion, she is being stalked by a would-be murderer. Likely suspects include Val's son-in-law Eric (Ted Shackelford) and her rather formidable new client Zarakarian (Robert Quarry)--and what about Jean Ludwig ($Elizabeth Brooks), who offers a job to Jim for the express purpose of getting him out of town and far away from the luckless Val? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
References to the films of Alfred Hitchcock abound in this roller-coaster of an episode, in which Jim (James Garner) is mistakenly identified as a spy named Terrence Halsey. Unable to convince the Feds that he isn't who they think he is, Jim ends up being dispatched to South America, there to help a wide-eyed heiress (Dorrie Kavanaugh) whose villainous husband (Don Chastain) is using her family's good name to engineer a swindle. See if you can spot the "swipes" from such Hitchcock classics as North by Northwest, Saboteur and especially Notorious. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the opening episode of The Rockford Files' fifth season, Jim Rockford (James Garner) wants to know why his dad Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.), temporarily employed as a delivery driver, was forced off the road and his cargo--consisting of breakfast sausages--was hijacked. The main culprit would seem to be the sausage company's front man, country-western singer Charlie Strayhorn (Taylor Lachman). But Charlie turns out to be a mere pawn in a widespread smuggling scheme masterminded by the real villain of the piece. The title song for this episode was written (but not performed) by Willie Nelson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Jim (James Garner) is hired by an insurance firm to "baby-sit" Frank Falcone (Hector Elizondo), an ex-cop who has struck it rich as a crime novelist. Falcone's career has inspired a movie, a TV show, and a line of toys, and now Jim must prevent the former cop from engendering negative publicity at an LA toy convention. But this may prove impossible, inasmuch as the loose-cannon Falcone is a trouble magnet--especially since he has decided to solve one last case that is guaranteed to bring down the full wrath of the Mob. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
The most surprising aspect of the made-for-TV Ski Lift to Death is that it wasn't produced by Irwin Allen. Two ski-lift gondolas derail, hanging perilously close to destruction. Among the passengers are a former gangster and the hit man assigned to kill him. Also on board are a pair of champion skiiers who've been linked in a publicity-generated romance. Real-life ski champ Suzy Chaffee plays Maureen; the rest of the cast includes such TV stalwarts as Deborah Raffin, Howard Duff, Don Galloway, Don Johnson, Veronica Hamel and Clu Gulager. Ski Lift to Death was originally telecast March 3, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Rita Moreno returns as freewheeling prostitute Rita Capkovic, who wants again begs Jim (James Garner) to save her life. It seems that Rita's most recent "John", Dr. Neil Rosendahl (William Joyce), was murdered right before her eyes--but she herself has been charged with the crime. Among other things, Jim tries to figure out while Rita, who has recently inherited a fortune, refuses to hire a good attorney to get her off. The solution to the mystery rests with two other characters: one a doctor, and one a highly questionable "business associate" who suffers from a REALLY bad hip problem. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.) is not the only person in the trailer park who is annoyed by his new neighbors Nodzak (Luke Andreas) and Conigliaro (Greg Antonacci), who not only throw wild and noisy parties every night, but threaten to beat up anyone who complains. Jim (James Garner) takes it upon himself to confront the two troublemakers, only to end up being charged with murder. With his new attorney (Sorrell Booke) too busy to devote his full time to Jim's plight, the detective places his fate in the hands of the estimable John Cooper (Bob Hopkins in his first series appearance), a disbarred lawyer-turned-legal researcher. Unexpected complications ensue, involving the sister of a notorious mobster. . .not to mention another murder which is still in the planning stages. This episode and its sixth-season followup "Just a Coupla Guys" were written by David Chase, who later parlayed his fascination with the Mob into the groundbreaking cable-TV series The Sopranos. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Jim Rockford (James Garner) arranges for his ex-jailbird "pal" Gandy Fitch (Isaac Hayes) to work as a legman for Marcus Hayes (Louis Gossett Jr.), a private eye who'd once been Jim's parole officer. Gandy repays the favor by horning in on "Rockfish"'s current case, involving the search for a missing heir named Finn O'Herlihy (Jack Collins)--who, as it turns out, is on the lam from the Mob. In the course of their investigation, mismatched Gandy and Marcus (aka "Gabby" Hayes) manage to stumble into a neo-Nazi bar, where, as the only two black men on the premises, they are more than a little conspicuous! Things come to a rousing climax at a Polish wedding where the elusive O'Herlihy is employed as a musician. This episode was intended as the pilot for a possible spinoff series starring Isaac Hayes and Lou Gossett Jr., tentatively titled "Gandy and Gabby" (which, as Jim observes at one point, sounds more like a puppet show!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jim (James Garner) tries to protect Patsy Fossler (Leslie Charleson) from her mob-connected boyfriend Michael Kelly (Jon Cypher) by stashing the girl with his friend Wes (Lou Frizzell). Unfortunately, Patsy's hiding place is revealed by Lianne Sweeney (Joyce Van Patten), a "cop groupie" who has been pestering both Jim and his police-detective friend Dennis Becker (Joe Santos) throughout the story. Now Jim must somehow rescue Patsy and thwart both Kelly and the mobsters without tipping off the loose-tongued Lianne. Despite all indications to the contrary at the end of this episode, we haven't seen the last of the episode's primary villains Anthony Boy (George Loros) and Syl (Luke Andreas). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
