Marilyn Chris Movies
- 1998
One of the most infamous hate crimes of the 1990s was the source for this episode. Even jaded New York detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) are shocked by the brutal murder of a black man who was dragged behind a car to his death. Prosecuting the crime proves to be a difficult task, thanks to the reluctance of the only known eyewitness and the evasive behavior of certain NYPD cops. The outcome of the case is as startling as the crime was senselessly vicious. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1995
The sixth-season opener of Law & Order finds detective Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) teamed with a new partner, Rey Curtis (Benjamin Bratt). For their first assignment together, Briscoe and Curtis try to piece together the last hours in the life of a murdered girl, using an ATM machine film to determine what happened to the victim between her classroom and her music lesson. The results of the investigation lead to a revenge killing -- which many observers regard as "justice." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1994
This episode was clearly inspired by the 1993 arrest of Vietnam-era activist Katherine Anne Power. While pursuing a routine robbery investigation, detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Logan (Chris Noth) follow the trail of clues to 1960s war protester Susan Forrest (Mary-Joan Negro), who has been in hiding ever since participating in a 1971 burglary in which a policeman was killed. As the dead man's widow (Marilyn Chris) presses for full retribution, Forrest enlists the services of none other than "Chicago Seven" defense lawyer William M. Kunstler -- played by Kunstler himself. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1970
Parents worry about their daughter when she freaks out on drugs and is hospitalized. Arthur (Eli Wallach) and Gerri (Julie Harris) face the reality when Maxie (Deborah Winters) must remain at the facility or return home. Della (Rue McClanahan) is Arthur's straight shooting secretary and mistress who offers an objective opinion of the situation. Dr. Salazar (Nehemiah Persoff) is the concerned physician treating Maxie. David (Hal Holbrook) and Tina (Cloris Leachman) are the neighbors whose son Sandy (Don Scardino) turns out to be a juvenile drug dealer. The story was taken from an award winning 1968 television special but fails to live up to the promise of the initial production. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eli Wallach, Deborah Winters, (more)
- 1963
Taken for granted by her Italian family, New Yorker Natalie Wood seeks solace in the arms of irresponsible jazz musician Steve McQueen. She becomes pregnant, but doesn't expect McQueen to marry her; all she wants is enough money to pay for an illegal abortion (this is ten years before Roe v. Wade). Not surprisingly, McQueen is refused a loan by his girl friend Edie Adams; meanwhile, Wood is being pressured by her family to marry gormless Tom Bosley. As the abortion appointment approaches, McQueen begins to feel guilty, but still won't propose. Bosley finds out that Wood is pregnant, and is willing to make an honest woman of her. Wood finally makes up her mind what she's going to do and whom she's going to choose when she walks into the seedy abortion clinic. Though very dated, Love With the Proper Stranger is still dramatically viable, thanks to the on-screen rapport between Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen, and to the large and talented New York-based supporting cast. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Natalie Wood, Steve McQueen, (more)
Character actor Steve Buscemi made his debut as a writer and director with this seriocomic tale of a guy who is going through something but doesn't know just what it is. Tommy is a 31-year-old auto mechanic who lost his last job after "borrowing" 1,500 dollars from the cash register and heading to Atlantic City, where he wasted no time losing it all at the tables. The fact that he can't get his own car to run isn't impressing any prospective employers, so Tommy spends much of his time at the Trees Lounge, a local watering hole conveniently located downstairs from his apartment. Eventually Tommy lands some work driving an ice cream truck and becomes acquainted with his ex-girlfriend's 17-year-old niece, Debbie (Chloë Sevigny). When they half-heartedly fall into a romance, it's just one more thing for Tommy to be confused about. Buscemi draws upon a rich cast of supporting actors, including Elizabeth Bracco, Anthony LaPaglia, Carol Kane, Debi Mazar, Samuel L. Jackson, and Mimi Rogers. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Steve Buscemi, Mark Boone, Jr., (more)
Martha Beck (Shirley Stoler) is a lonely nurse who takes care of her invalid mother in Mobile, Alabama. Starved for affection, she places an ad in a lonely hearts column and soon receives a letter from Ray Fernandez (Tony LoBianco). He meets her and runs off with her dowry to New York City. Martha puts her mother in a nursing home and follows the handsome con artist. She agrees to pose as his sister as the two fleece lonely, unsuspecting women out of their money. Martha's jealousies of Ray's victims leads to murder. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, an elderly matron is killed and her child is drowned in a washing machine. Martha considers confessing to the police when she finally realizes Ray will never be true to her or any other woman. The story was taken from actual events, and the real-life couple were eventually executed in Sing Sing prison in 1951. The black-and-white photography adds an aura of authenticity to the documentary-style production. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Shirley Stoler, Tony Lo Bianco, (more)
A doctor learns there's more to his profession than making money in this comedy-drama. Charlie Keegan (Robert Capelli Jr.) is a physician who has built up a lucrative practice by caring more about profits and working the loopholes of medical insurance claims than looking after the needs of his patients. While Keegan's scams allow him to live high for a while, eventually his misdeeds catch up with him, and when he's found guilty of insurance fraud, as part of his sentence he's ordered to spend six months doing volunteer work at Shady Pines, an nursing home for the elderly that has seen better days. With the help of Jill (Emmanuelle Chriqui), a pretty and compassionate nurse who works at the home, Keegan makes friends with his often eccentric patients and learns to deal with the other members of the staff and their many problems. In time, Keegan finds himself looking at the Shady Pines residents as people rather than clients, and gains a new perspective on himself and his career; he also finds himself falling in love with the idealistic Jill. Also starring Pat Hingle, Betsy Palmer, Paige Turco, and Artie Lange, Waltzing Anna was the first directorial effort from the team of Doug Bollinger and Bx Giongrete. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Emmanuelle Chriqui, Robert Capelli Jr., (more)
Adapted for the screen by novelist Joseph Wambaugh himself, The Black Marble stars Robert Foxworth as a burned-out, hard-drinking cop who is teamed with idealistic lady officer Paula Prentiss. These two polar opposites wade their way through a seamy urban world of corruption and hopelessness. The film is peppered with supporting players, of which include Harry Dean Stanton, James Woods, John Hancock and Barbara Babcock. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Foxworth, Paula Prentiss, (more)
- 1977
- PG
Looking Up is an independently produced domestic drama filmed in New York and drawing its cast from the soap-opera pool. Marilyn Chris plays the daughter of a Jewish seltzer-stand operator. She hopes to pump money into her dad's business by running her own "Burger Crown" franchise. Complications include the fact that Marilyn's husband (Dick Shawn) has fathered her sister's child, and that Marilyn is saddled with caring for her contentious grandchildren while her daughter tries to wean herself away from a pill-popping habit. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Marilyn Chris, Dick Shawn, (more)
Rhinoceros is another American Film Theatre movie recording a notable stage production. The incomparable duo of Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, whose earlier work in The Producers is now a comedy classic, join forces here to make the surreal comedy of Eugene Ionesco's play come to life. Ionesco was a leading exponent of "theater of the absurd," and realism was the last thing on his mind. For that reason, many people find this comedy rough going. Stanley (Gene Wilder) seems to be the only one who notices that everyone in the world is turning into Rhinoceroses--Everyone. First, they are overcome by a certain indifference to human values, and then POOF! they are on all fours, knocking over buildings and eating vegetation. He confides his concerns to his friend John (Zero Mostel), but even he swiftly begins to develop certain "thickish" tendencies. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
John and Mary attracted a great deal of press coverage in 1969 for being the one of the first American films in which the male and female leads (Dustin Hoffman and Mia Farrow) start out the film by spending the night together, rather than holding off until the end. The morning after, the boy and girl wander about New York, wondering if they'll truly commit themselves to one another. Both characters are haunted by unsuccessful earlier affairs, and both have enough hang-ups to fill volumes of psychological textbooks. Come nightfall, John and Mary end up back in bed...and learn each other's names for the first time. John and Mary was considered "beautiful," "progressive" and "significant" in the permissive 1960s; nowadays it's about as controversial as The CBS Morning News. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dustin Hoffman, Mia Farrow, (more)
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