Harvey Frost Movies
A retired showman and twenty-five year divorcee connects with the granddaughter he never knew in this warmhearted holiday film starring Earnest Borgnine, Katherine Helmond, Tracy Nelson, and Jamie Farr. Ever since his divorce twenty-five years ago, eighty year old bachelor Bert O'Riley (Borgnine) has grown rather accustomed to living by himself. When his estranged daughter Marie (Nelson) is hospitalized following a serious car crash, however, Bert readily agrees to take in her nine year old daughter Becca (Juliette Goglia). Trouble is, Bert's social skills aren't so sharp after living alone for over two decades, and Marie hasn't exactly given Becca the best impression of her estranged grandfather either. At first the air between Bert and his precocious new roommate is downright icy, though things gradually warm to a thaw after Becca announces that she'd like to perform in her school's upcoming Christmas pageant. Later, after recruiting fellow showbiz retirees Roxie (Helmond), Adam (Farr), and Karl (Richard Libertin) to give Becca a few helpful pointers, Bert is called on to take over the show. Perhaps by working together, Bert and Becca can finally bridge the gap that has divided their family for so many years. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernest Borgnine
An eighteen year old aspiring doctor finds her life suddenly pulled in two opposing directions in this period romantic drama starring Erin Cottrell and Scout Taylor-Compton. Eighteen year old Belinda Tyler (Taylor-Compton) lives in the quiet western town of Anderson Corner. As the turn of the 20th Century draws near Belinda recognizes that she must begin to build her future. While campaigning to convince the local physician to grant her an apprenticeship, Belinda suddenly finds her attentions drifting towards a handsome New York lawyer. Before long Belinda is hopelessly in love with the dashing newcomer, but she knows that all he wants is a traditional family. Is it possible for a girl to have more than one dream in life, and even if so, is it realistic to believe you can truly have everything you ever wanted? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Erin Cottrell, Dale Midkiff, (more)
- 2007
It's Christmastime, and all young Jesse wants this year is a new father. But while Jesse's mother Sarah knows the importance of having a male role model for her son to look up to, she just can't seem to muster the motivation to start dating again. Reluctantly agreeing to go on a series of dates as part of a nationally publicized contest, Sarah finds herself unexpectedly swept off her feet by the contest's official chaperone. But despite the fact that young Jesse already has his future father picked out, he's going to have to work extra hard to make his Christmas wish come true this year. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gail O'Grady, Greg Germann, (more)
- 2005
In this sequel to the extraordinarily popular 2004 cable movie Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus, Steve Guttenberg returns in the role of Nick, son of the soon-to-be retired Santa Claus (John Wheeler) and heir to the North Pole toyshop. Likewise, Crystal Bernard repeats her characterization of Beth Sawtelle, the widowed mom who has agreed to marry Nick so that his "destiny" will be fulfilled. Nick and Beth have only four days before the Christmas Eve deadline to tie the knot, lest the Santa Claus Legacy crumble into dust. Unable to handle the wedding plans herself, Beth makes the tactical error of turning to her society-doyenne mother Joanna (Mariette Hartley) for help--and as it happens, Joanna just plain despises Nick, and isn't about to let her daughter marry "beneath her station" (Nick of course could solve the problem by revealing that his dad is Santa Claus. . .if only Joanna believed in Santa Claus!) Also returning from Single Santa Meets Mrs. Claus are Armin Shimerman as the Senior S.C.'s head elf Ernest (who prefers the title "executive assistant") and Dominic Scott Kay as Beth's son Jake. Making its television debut on December 17, 2005, Meet the Santas broke the record set by its predecessor, posting the highest-ever ratings for a Hallmark Channel movie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A single mother whose faith in love died with her former husband learns that Christmas miracles can still happen in director Harvey Frost's warmhearted tale of winter magic. Beth Andrews (Crystal Bernard) is a devoted single mother and advertising executive whose current campaign could put her on the fast track to the big time. The holiday season is here, and in order to sell the latest in video game technology, Beth's campaign needs the perfect Santa Claus. As Beth burns the midnight oil night after night and attempts to convince her young son Jake (Dominic Scott Kay) never to have faith in fantasies, the wistful young man pens a letter to Santa asking for a new dad for the holidays. It seems that up in the North Pole the time has come for Saint Nick to pass along the seasonal responsibilities to his son Nick (Steve Guttenberg), but in order to take the position, Nick must have a Mrs. Claus before Christmas Eve. Upon receiving the Christmas request from young Jake, Nick sets his sights on Los Angeles, and Beth Andrews in particular. Despite his best intentions, it's going to take more than a Christmas miracle to convince the dejected widow that love can still conquer all. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Guttenberg, Dominic Scott Kay, (more)
Only in a made-for-TV comedy would the owners of a fancy restaurant be out of town on the establishment's opening night. Thanks to an unforeseen mishap, Mr. and Mrs. Korda (John Larroquette, Lesley Ann Warren) are nowhere to be found when their eatery is scheduled to open its doors. It falls to the Korda children -- Rebecca (Margo Harshman), Sam (Andrew Allen), and Max (Andrew Allen) -- to hold down the fort in their parents' absence. Naturally, the big night is full of craziness, exacerbated by temperamental employees, snobbish customers, and a couple of unforeseen flies in the ointment. Recipe for Disaster made its first PAX network appearance on May 16, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Larroquette, Lesley Ann Warren, (more)
- 2000
Filmed on location in Cannes and Vancouver, this made-for-cable comedy/mystery spotlights Third Rock From the Sun's French Stewart as Nathan Booth, former star of a TV cop series. Arriving at the titular film festival for the premiere of his latest picture, Nathan instead finds himself the principal suspect in a perplexing murder case. Much to the dismay of the local constabulary, Nathan takes it upon himself to investigate the case, using the "vast expertise" of his old scriptwriters as his guide. Taking innumerable satiric potshots at vain actors, mercenary producers, sharkish publicists, and self-enamored European movie critics, the film manages to get most of the laughs that it aims for, though the mystery angle is sometimes lost in the excitement. Produced by Merv Griffin (who also appears more or less as "himself"), Murder at the Cannes Film Festival debuted December 17, 2000 over the E! Entertainment cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- French Stewart
- 2000
E! Entertainment's debut original TV production is an over-the-top depiction of Hollywood decadence and desperation. Five down-and-out women vie for a major award. The five include a drugged-out indie queen; a plumy British actress with a womanizing director for a husband; a porn star looking for a legit turn; an African-American chanteuse whose career is on the skids; and a lipstick lesbian with a wily publicist. The plot twists when a body turns up and all five are suspects. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andrew Airlie, Maria Conchita Alonso, (more)
- 1999
Veterinarian Molly Saunders (Gail O'Grady) is mighty depressed as she attends the wedding of her former husband Bruce (Corbin Bernsen). During the ceremony, Molly makes the acquaintance of sportswriter Jake Michaelson (Rob Stewart), a sentimental guy who is in attendance because his ex-wife Joan (a rare acting appearance by onetime Donald Trump vis-à-vis Marla Maples) happens to be Jake's new bride. Though Molly and Jake are a mismatched couple, to say the least, it is remotely possible that a romance will develop (this is, after all, a made-for-cable movie). Two of Hearts originally aired February 14, 1999 on the Lifetime channel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Produced in Canada for a Canadian and U.S. viewership, the weekly, hour-long drama series Fast Track starred Keith Carradine as Richard Beckett. A former racecar driver, Beckett had become a doctor, working almost exclusively along the speedway circuit and tending to the injuries of his fellow motorists. Naturally, Beckett also got involved with various domestic crises, and occasionally put in time as an amateur detective. The impressive supporting cast included Duncan Regehr as Christian Chandler Jr., Tristan Rogers as Harry, Fred Williamson as Lowell Carter, and Sebastian Spence as Stevie Servine. Produced by Alliance Atlantis, Fast Track unveiled the first of its 23 episodes on August 3, 1997, telecast simultaneously on Canadian and American cable TV. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In this psychological thriller, James Brolin plays David, the head of a large corporation who goes on a winter retreat with his wife Claire (played by Kelly LeBrock) in tow. One of the underlings in the company, Patrick (Wolf Larson), desperately wants David out of the way; in a fit of rage, he snaps and kidnaps Claire, torturing her until David can come to her rescue. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelly LeBrock, James Brolin, (more)
- 1980
This weekly Canadian series could be classified as a continuing drama, though each episode was a self-contained story despite its connection to previous and future installments. Set in Toronto during WWII, the series' focus was on the Lowe family, headed by general practitioner Dr. Arthur Lowe (Gerard Parkes) and his Jewish-refugee wife Anna (Kim Yaroshevskaya), a former nurse. The Lowes had two children: daughter Terry (Wendy Crewson) who worked in a defense plant, and who found solace in the arms of news correspondent Bruce McLeod (Bruce Savage) after her husband was killed in the war; and son Sidney (Peter Spence), a air corps pilot who spent much of the duration in POW camp, but who returned after the war with a pregnant British wife in tow. Sideline characters included the family's "surrogate son," Anna's Polish nephew Jakob; and Dr. Lowe's nurse, Marge, who was replaced in the doctor's office by Arthur's wife Anna after signing up with the Red Cross. An outgrowth of a drama-workshop project developed by series co-creator Jim Purdy, the weekly, 60-minute Home Fires was seen from November 9, 1980 to November 28, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gerald Parkes, Kim Yaroshevskaya, (more)
- 1979
Somebody should have told the novice filmmakers in charge of this Canadian work to utilize a less critic-baiting title than Something's Rotten. The story is borrowed from such classic forebears as The Corsican Brothers, Prisoner of Zenda and The Iron Mask. A set of twins, one good and one bad, vie for the throne of a mythical European throne. The film's surprise ending saves it from total mediocrity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlotte Blunt, Geoffrey Bowes, (more)
