Robert Hamilton Movies

Laker Girls adheres slavishly to the formula established by those "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" TV movies of a decade or so ago. We follow the progress of three aspirants (Tina Yothers, Paris Vaughn and Alexandra Paul) for the cheerleading squad of the Los Angeles Lakers. There's the standard "den mother" character (Jean Simmons), and lots of prattle about the dedication and responsibility required of each new Laker Girl. And of course, there's plenty of jiggle, which is why most of you tuned in anyway. Shari Shattuck costars as a Laker cheerleader who wants to use this job as the stepping stone for a superstar career--which actually did happen to ex-Laker Girl Paula Abdul, a fact driven home at every possible opportunity by the ad campaign for this 1990 TV movie. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason must help a wounded hockey star who has been accused of killing an important sports figure. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Stuart Orme directed this charming children's adventure-fantasy based on the book by Joan Aiken. Set during the imaginary reign of King James III, sometime in the last century, the story takes place in the snowbound and wolf-infested North Yorkshire countryside in England. The tale centers upon two children -- Bonnie (Emily Hudson) and Sylvia (Aleks Darowska) -- and how they attempt to foil a sinister plot by their evil governess Slighcarp (Stephanie Beacham). ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

A man struggling to escape the political unrest of Northern Ireland finds that his violent past still follows him in this drama. Martin Fallon (Mickey Rourke) is a terrorist with the Irish Republican Army who, while attempting to blow up a British military transport, accidentally bombs a bus full of schoolchildren. The incident haunts Fallon, who decides to quit the IRA and escape to London. Fallon wants to relocate to America, but he lacks a passport, and his criminal past would prevent him from getting one. Jack Meehan (Alan Bates), a British gangster who knows about Fallon's past, offers him a deal -- he can get Fallon the papers and the cash to go to America, but in return he must kill a man. A priest, Father De Costa (Bob Hoskins), witnesses Fallon committing the murder, and Fallon wants to find a way to keep De Costa quiet without putting more blood on his hands. The original director of A Prayer for the Dying, Franc Roddam, left the production midway through shooting due to disputes with the producers, and star Mickey Rourke later attempted to disassociate himself from the film. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A moribund nightclub on the fringes of Liverpool's sprawl is the primary setting for this frenetic, dark, and confusing comedy done in a heavy regional "dialect" by director Peter Smith. Set on New Year's Eve, the film chronicles the rivalry between elderly Irish Catholic and Protestant attendees at a party held in a gritty pub in Liverpool. Mixed in with the warring oldsters are some shady types such as Billy the Beast, the killer of an Ulster terrorist. The club's new manager has a talent for dealing with mayhem and violence, but his first challenge lies in handling the punk rock band perversely scheduled to entertain the oldsters by the disgruntled former manager. After that challenge, he is faced with a magician on the verge of a nervous breakdown and other kinds of chaos that tear through the place. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

When Higgins (John Hillerman) is stunned into semi-consciousness by an errant croquet ball, Magnum (Tom Selleck) must take over supervision of a "Great Gatsby" costume ball held at the Masters Estate. In the course of the evening, some valuable jewels are stolen, and the chief suspect is none other than Higgins--who, still in a daze, imagines himself to be that eminent Shakespearean actor "Sir Fearing Pangborn." In order to solve the case and clear Higgins, Magnum must rely on his knowledge of Agatha Christie mysteries, as gleaned from a recent movie marathon on TV. Part of the fun in this episode is watching the series regulars cavorting in their celebrity costumes, with Magnum dressed Dashiel Hammett, Rick (Larry Manetti) made up as Charlie Chaplin, and T.C. (Roger E. Mosely posing as Paul Robeson in the role of "The Emperor Jones"! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Having long carried a torch for the beautiful Vivian Brock Jones--aka Lady Wilkerson, the Duchess of Witt--Higgins (John Hillerman) gallantly offers to protect the lady from thieves who covet her priceless jewels. Rather forgetting himself, Higgins composes a love letter to the lady, which she thinks has been sent by HER dream man Magnum (Tom Selleck). This comedy of errors turns deadly serious thanks to a kidnapping scheme which inconvenently occurs just as Magnum is preparing for Rick's annual surf-ski race. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

"Texas Lightning" is the nickname of professional cardsharp Jeannie Lowry (Julie Sommars), who hires Magnum (Tom Selleck) as her bodyguard during a big-time poker game on a luxurious yacht. It soon develops that Jeannie is using the game as a cover for a planned burglary of the adjacent yacht belonging to a shady character named Matt Thompson (Jack Hogan), and that there's some high-stakes espionage activity in the air. The result of all this skullduggery finds Magnum and Jeannie running for their lives on a not-so-deserted island. This is a heck of a way for Magnum to be spending his birthday! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Skeezer is an irresistible dog with a special affinity towards handicapped children. Nurse/therapist Karen Valentine uses Skeezer to brighten the lives of the emotionally disturbed and mentally handicapped kids in her charge. The authorities aren't keen on Skeezer's presence, but rest assured they'll change their minds before the film's 97 minutes have elapsed. Skeezer is based on a true story, as chronicled in Elizabeth Yates' book Skeezer, Dog with a Mission. The made-for-TV film was first telecast as an NBC "Operation Peacock" special on December 27, 1982; it subsequently won an "outstanding children's program" Emmy award. Incidentally, the dog playing Skeezer was named O. J. (no wisecracks, if you please). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Magnum is hired to protect a prize racehorse named Norman, who has been receiving kidnapping threats.. It so happens that the horse's owner, Adelaide Malone (Christine Belford), is the niece of Charles Cathcart (Cameron Mitchell), a former military officer who saved Magnum's life in Vietnam, at great personal cost to himself. Not only is Cathcart deeply disappointed that Magnum chose to leave the Navy, but he is also dead set against the detective carrying out his assignment with Norman. As it turns out, Adelaide is a more likely abduction candidate than her horse--and what's the deal with those two lawyers with the same name? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Magnum (Tom Selleck) is certain that the beautiful Jennifer Chapman (Devon Ericson) is playing up to the stuffy Higgins (John Hillerman) not because she loves him, but because she has a sinister ulterior motive. When Magnum announces his suspicions, Higgins accuses him of jealousy, thereby stoking the flames of a rather nasty feud. Somehow or other, a Sumo wrestler and a homicidal dwarf are mixed up in all this intrigue! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

John Mackenzie's masterfully directed British crime drama features a star-making performance by Bob Hoskins as Harold Shand, a successful London gangster whose world falls apart over the course of one weekend. Shand controls the London docks and is planning a big real estate deal, financed by money from the American mob and given the okay by the London organization. His world is sweet -- he lives in a fancy penthouse, he owns a yacht, and has a sensitive and intelligent mistress. But suddenly a bomb explodes inside his Rolls Royce, another bomb destroys a pub he owns, and a third is found inside his casino. Shand can't understand who would suddenly want him dead, particularly over the Easter weekend, when representatives from the American mafia are coming into town to discuss investing in Shands's real estate project. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide