Brian Patrick Clarke Movies
- 1951
At Sword's Point is about the sons of Dumas' Three Musketeers--one of those "sons" being of the female persuasion, played by Maureen O'Hara. As the swash-buckling daughter of Athos, O'Hara joins the offspring of Aramis and Porthos, portrayed respectively by Dan O'Herlihy and Alan Hale Jr., as well as the bouncing boy of D'Artagnan, played by Cornel Wilde. These second-generation Musketeers are reunited by the ageing Queen Anne (Gladys Cooper), who wants to stem the villainy of her treacherous nephew, the Duc de Lavalle (Robert Douglas). Lunging and parrying throughout the French countryside, the new Musketeers save the day by preventing a marriage of state between the princess (Nancy Gates) and Lavalle, restoring the girl to her true love, prince Peter Miles. Technicolor is the only decided plus in the favor of the lazy and derivative At Sword's Point, which was completed in 1949 but remained unseen in RKO's vaults for three years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cornel Wilde, Maureen O'Hara, (more)
- 1977
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First aired March 13, 1977, Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years was the brilliant follow-up to the equally praiseworthy 1976 TV movie Eleanor and Franklin: The Early Years. The film is framed in a flashback experienced by first lady Eleanor Roosevelt (Jane Alexander) while accompanying the casket carrying the body of her husband Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Edward Herrmann) to its final resting place in Hyde Park. Elected in 1933, FDR endeavors to pull the country out of the Depression with the New Deal during his first term, while Eleanor emerges as a formidable public figure in her own right during the second term, tirelessly working on behalf of social change and reforms. Ever under the baleful eye of his mother Sara (Rosemary Murphy), Roosevelt tries to maintain family equilibrium in the White House as he seeks an unprecedented third term. Sara dies in December of 1941, two days before Roosevelt, in his "Day of Infamy" speech, declares war on Japan. Despite health problems, FDR successfully pursues a fourth term in 1944; he dies in office in April of 1945, a scant few months before the end of World War II. Despite her long-standing displeasure over her husband's long-ago affair with artist Lucy Mercer (Linda Kelsey), a stiff-lipped Eleanor puts on a brave front when Roosevelt dies in the company of Deakins at a health spa in Georgia. Based on Joseph P. Lash's Pulitzer prize-winning biography, Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years earned Emmies for "Outstanding Special" and for director Daniel Petrie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Herrmann, Jane Alexander, (more)
- 1978
This is the story of a group of aging wrestlers nickel-and-diming it on the Canadian circuit. William Smith, a well known second-string actor, plays a former wrestling headliner, now down on his luck. The plot is motivated by a romantic triangle involving Smith, up-and-coming grappler Brian Patrick Clark, and well-endowed leading lady Micheline Lanctot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Smith, Micheline Lanctôt, (more)
- 1979
As Season Four of Eight is Enough gets under way, David Bradford (Grant Goodeve), the oldest of Sacramento journalist Tom Bradford's (Dick Van Patten) eight children, is eagerly anticipating his marriage to his attorney fiancée Janet (Joan Prather). Romance also enters the life of David's sister Susan (Susan Richardson) when she falls for charming minor-league baseball player Merle "The Pearl" Stockwell (Brian Patrick Clarke). Thus it is that the wedding ceremony becomes a double header when Susan and Merle wed on the same day as David and Janet (conveniently just in time for the Fall ratings sweeps!). Elsewhere in the Bradford household, Tom's wife Abby (Betty Buckley) studies for a PhD in Education; daughter Joannie (Laurie Walters) lands a job at a local TV station, when she meets and falls in love with coworker Jeffrey Trout (Nicholas Pryor); 18-year-old Elizabeth (Connie Newton, previously billed as Connie Needham) enters college; David establishes his own construction business; second-youngest son Tommy (William Aames) organizes a band; Tom's freewheeling sister Vivian (Janis Paige) treats the family to a Hawaiian vacation (no, they don't meet the Brady Bunch); the kids and Abby help Tom come to grips with his 50th birthday; youngest son Nicholas (Adam Rich) "jinxes" the Bradfords by breaking a chain letter; and Susan finds out that she's pregnant--just after Merle has walked out on her. New to the series this season is Michael Goodrow as Tommy's new friend Ernie, who turns out to have a serious drinking problem. As Season Four draws to a close, Susan prepares for motherhood, and Tommy throws a graduation party that gets him into hot water with the local constabulary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Van Patten, Betty Buckley, (more)
- 1980
In this drama, union organizers, desperate to control the lumber and mining empire of a wealthy family, resort to sabotage. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Getting a late start due to the 1980 Hollywood actors' strike, the fifth and final season of Eight is Enough makes up for lost time with a frantic 90-minute opening episode, in which Susan Bradford Stockwell (Susan Richardson), one of the eight children of journalist Tom Bradford (Dick Van Patten), delivers the family's first grandchild, named Sandra Sue in honor of Susan's stepmother (Betty Buckley)--who of course prefers the nickname "Abby" to her given name. While the arrival of Sandra Sue is a high point in the lives of Susan and her professional-ballplayer husband Merle (Brian Patrick Clarke, things aren't quite so jubilant later down the line when Merle suffers an injury that injures his career. This is the season that Ralph Macchio joins the cast as Abby's troubled nephew Jeremy, who takes a bit of time adjusting to his new surroundings when he is brought into the Bradford household after his father drops out of sight. Also new to the cast is John Louie as Melvin, the geekish best friend of youngest Bradford son Nicholas (Adam Rich). Major developments this season include the breakup of the marriage between oldest son David Bradford (Grant Goodeve and his wife Janet (Joan Prather), though the couple eventually considers patching things up. Also, Abby lands a job as guidance counselor in a tough inner-city school; daughter Elizabeth (Dianne Kay) moves in with her boyfriend; the Bradfords are forced to economize when Tom is laid off during a newspaper strike; daughter Nancy (Dianne Kay) finds that her chosen career as an actress and model is fraught with professional perils and pitfalls; son Tommy (Willie Aames) and his pal Ernie (Michael Goodrow) return from college with a new "sophisticated" outlook on life; and later on, Tommy proposes to girlfriend Ellen (Tara Nutter) when he learns she is pregnant. The series concludes with a tense battle over legal custody of Jeremy between the Bradfords and Jeremy's irresponsible dad (George Ralph Dicenzo). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Van Patten, Betty Buckley, (more)
- 1983
Grace Kelly, the high-society beauty who became an Oscar-winning actress and then a European princess, is the subject of this TV biopic. Cheryl Ladd has the looks and poise of the original Grace, though she isn't quite as charismatic. The early portion of the film retraces the stormy relationship between Grace and her gruff Philadelphia millionaire dad, Jack Kelly. The script suggests that Grace went through life looking for a strong father figure, finally finding one in Prince Rainier of Monaco (Ian McShane), whom she weds. Several "celebrity look-alikes" parade through the film, pretending to be the film personalities with whom Ms. Kelly worked during her brief Hollywood career. Grace Kelly tones down the darker aspects of its subject, and the film is infinitely more tasteful than most other TV biographies of the same period, even when dealing with Princess Grace's untimely death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
- R
In this actioner, an auto engineer and an auto racer become romantic rivals when they fall for the same wealthy socialite. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Most of the original cast members of TV's Eight is Enough are on hand for the "retro" feature Eight is Enough: A Family Reunion. The single most conspicuous defector is Betty Buckley, who is here replaced by Mary Frann in the role of Abby Bradford. The premise: On the eve of his 50th birthday, Tom Bradford (Dick Van Patten) is in danger of losing his job as a journalist. He is offered moral support by his offspring, who have gathered together to celebrate Tom's half-century mark. Grant Goodeve, Willie Aames, Susan Richardson, Lani O'Grady, Adam Rich, Connie Needham, Dianne Kay and Laurie Walters portray the Bradford kids. The warm-and-fuzzy script is by Gwen Bagni-Dubov, who'd been churning out teleplays since the black-and-white era. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
- Add Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers to QueueAdd Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers to top of Queue
This campy horror sequel to the original 1983 feature is laced with doses of dark humor and blood-spattering special effects. Camp Rolling Hills is losing enrollment as the "bad teens" are being murdered in various gruesome manners. Angela Baker (Pamela Springsteen) is the moralistic camp counselor who tells people the campers have been "sent home." The victims are beaten, slashed choked, and one is even drowned in an outhouse as others die in creative and grisly ways. Renee Estevez stars as Molly, the heroine of the film who somehow manages to avoid being killed. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pamela Springsteen, Brian Patrick Clarke, (more)
In this crime drama, members of a formerly peaceful community fight back after the cops fail to protect them from the gangsters who have turned their neighborhoods into battlefields. They do this by hiring a boozy detective to investigate the backgrounds of the supposedly upstanding local politicals and businessmen behind the mayhem. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1994
In this feature-length continuation of the popular husband-and-wife television detective series, the fabulously wealthy and impossibly attractive Jonathan (Robert Wagner) and Jennifer (Stephanie Powers) Hart travel to the town of Kingman's Ferry to mourn the death of Jennifer's mentor. Suspecting foul play, the duo launch an investigation that reveals that burg's idyllic appearance masks a seething underbelly of deception. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Posing as a journalist, Monica (Roma Downey) is assigned to write a story about Sheriff John Mackey (John Amos), who is regarded as a hero for his actions during a hostage crisis in which both the gunman and Mackey's partner were killed. Under intense pressure to measure up to his father's standards, Mackey's son Matthew (Bumper Robinson) cheats on his US Naval Academy entrance exams, then tries to kill himself so his dad will never find out. As Matthew hovers between life and death, Monica endeavors to bring redemption to both father and son, a task that requires Sheriff Mackey to face up to his own failings--and his own self-serving lies. This is the final episode of Touched by an Angel's abbreviated first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Going into labor just before Thanksgiving, Carol (Julianna Margulies) gives birth to twins, with OB nurse Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney, in her first series appearance) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) in attendance. At first, things go relatively smoothly, but complication quickly set in, forcing Carol's Lamaze coach, Greene (Anthony Edwards), to skip Elizabeth Corday's special Thanksgiving dinner. As a result, poor Corday (Alex Kingston) is left alone to entertain Greene's irascible father (John Cullum) and surly daughter (Yvonne Zima). And back at the ER, Dr. Dave (Erik Palladino) collaborates with Carter (Noah Wyle) on a difficult diagnosis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Monica (Roma Downey) shows up as a reporter at the World Cup Qualifier Ski Race in Park City, Utah. The "highlight" of the event promises to be a grudge match between two competitive skiiers, Jett (David Lascher) and Will (Sean Murray). Though they are lifelong friends, a certain amount of friction has developed around the fact that whenever they've skiied in the same race, Jett has invariably come in first, and Will has always finished up second. Enraged by the insinuation that Will has been letting him win all these years, Jett insists upon a final, definitive, winner-take-all competition--which may result in tragedy for both men! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
