Linda Otto Movies

In this documentary produced for the HBO cable network, child beauties and their parents throw themselves passionately into the national pageant circuit made famous by the JonBenet Ramsey murder case. Presented with only a few factual intertitles and without voice-over narration, the 90-minute film focuses on delicate five-year-old blonde Swan Brooner and her no-nonsense mother, Robin Browne, as they try to parlay Swan's success at local beauty pageants into national recognition and cash prizes. A pair of big-bucks coaches, Shane King and Michael Butler, train Swan to walk, dance, sing, and flirt, even as they continue to groom Michael's daughter -- reigning champion Leslie Butler, age seven -- for a comeback after a nine-month sabbatical. Following these and other players from one weekend contest to the next, the film climaxes with the Dallas-based Gingerbread Pageant, where Robin hopes Swan will win back some of the 70,000 dollars she has invested in the girl's career so far. Produced for HBO's long-running America Undercover series, Living Dolls: The Making of a Child Beauty Queen premiered May 13, 2001. Writer/director Shari Cookson previously helmed HBO's Skinheads USA, while producer Linda Otto has worked on a number of child-themed films, including Unspeakable Acts, The Ryan White Story, Adam, and Adam: His Song Continues. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Based on one of Shirley Jackson's spookier stories, this made-for-TV thriller recounts a small New England town's chilling annual ritual, a quasi-pagan affair involving human sacrifice performed in a particularly horrific manner. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this drama, 12-year-old Gregory decides he prefers living with his foster parents and so launches his own custody battle to get away from his birth parents. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

This TV movie is not necessarily in defense of married man Michael Ontkean. That responsibility is taken by Judith Light, Ontkean's wife. When Ontkean is accused of murdering his mistress (Cynthia Sikes), his wife Light, a defense attorney, handles the case. Beyond the unavoidable emotional involvement, Light must wrestle with whether or not she really wants to ask her husband if he did it. In Defense of a Married Man is an exercise in the mundane, brightened by Stan Getz' jazz score. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Unspeakable Acts is the all-too-true story of a 1984 Dade County (Florida) sexual abuse case. Frank and Ilana Fuster (Gregory Sierra and Bess Meyer), who operate an upper-class day care center in a Florida suburb, are accused of committing appalling acts upon their young charges. The prosecution's case hinges on the testimony of one emotionally scarred child. Jill Clayburgh and Brad Davis play Lauri and Joseph Braga, the husband-and-wife child development specialists who must convince the abused youngster to testify without causing additional damage. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This made-for-TV drama was based on the true story of George McKenna (played by Denzel Washington in one of his first leading roles), an educator in Los Angeles who faced the greatest challenge of his career when he was named Principal of George Washington Memorial High School. Located in a run-down inner-city neighborhood, Washington High was being torn apart by gang violence and drug dealing, and much of the student body seemed more interested in surviving the day than in learning. McKenna was determined to make Washington High a safe place where students could get a quality education which would allow them to go to college if they so desired, but he soon realized he was facing an uphill battle, having to deal not only with gangs and delinquent students, but apathetic teachers and parents too busy or unconcerned to help in the education of their kids. The George McKenna Story also stars Lynn Whitfield, Debra Artis, and Richard Masur; after Denzel Washington's later rise to superstar status, the film was rereleased on home video under the title Hard Lessons. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Adam is the heartbreakingly true story of the disappearance of 6-year-old Adam Walsh (John Boston) at a South Florida shopping mall. Adam's anguished parents John and Reve Walsh (Daniel J. Travanti and JoBeth Williams) turn to the FBI for help in finding their son, only to discover that the federal organization does not involve itself in such cases. As hope for Adam's return fades, the Walshes begin an organization to aid and comfort other families of missing children. The story does not end happily for Adam or his parents, but as a result of this tragedy, Congress passes the Federal Missing Children Act in 1983. This made-for-TV drama, originally telecast October 10, 1983, was followed by a sequel three years later. The real-life John Walsh later hosted the popular "reality-based" TV series America's Most Wanted. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. Bob Newhart is a marathon runner in this sprightly made-for-TV movie. A mild, middle-aged suburbanite with the requisite loving wife (Anita Gillette), Newhart is smitten by gorgeous female jogger Leigh Taylor-Young. "Accidentally" arranging to meet the object of his affections during subsequent jogging jaunts, Newhart ends up joining Leigh in entering the grueling New York Marathon. Though the film makes light of vicarious adultery, screenwriter Ron Friedman remains scrupulously within the bounds of good taste, as does Jackie Cooper's gentle direction. Marathon was first broadcast January 30, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Lee Remick is Torn Between Two Lovers in this made-for-TV romantic drama. Happily married to Joseph Bologna, Remick becomes involved with handsome architect George Peppard after a chance meeting in Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Halfway down the cast list is Second City TV regular Andrea Martin in the role of Remick's buttinsky sister-in-law. The film's title was inspired by Peter Yarrow and Philip Jarrell's syrupy 1970s song hit of the same name. Representing the third TV-movie collaboration between actress Lee Remick and director Delbert Mann, Torn Between Two Lovers debuted May 2, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi