Bernie Passeltiner Movies
- 1999
The detectives and the lawyers tackle the mystery of a female patient found beaten to death in a hospital lounge. Ingredients vital to the solution are a glib "gentleman" specializing in wooing wealthy women and the effects of Alzheimer's disease on the sufferer's family. The supporting cast of this episode features such reliable veteran players as Glynnis O'Connor and Kathryn Hays. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
A newly excavated skeleton forces Assistant D.A. Stone (Michael Moriarty) to reopen a murder case that he worked on years earlier. The wily "perpetrator" in the original case, Phillip Swann (Zeljko Ivanek), hopes to use the rediscovered remains to force a new trial. But as so often happens in Law & Order, what seems obvious at first is likely to change at a moment's notice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Helene Hanff's book 84 Charing Cross Road had previously been a TV program and a stage play before it was converted into this 1986 film. The scene is New York, 1949: Anne Bancroft plays a struggling writer and passionate bibliophile, who answers an advertisement from a rare-volumes bookshop at 84 Charing Cross Road in London. Thus begins a two-decade romance by correspondence between Bancroft and Briton Anthony Hopkins, the man in charge of the overseas department of Marks and Company. Though several meetings are arranged, Bancroft and Hopkins never come face to face thanks to mitigating circumstances. But Anne finally makes it to London, and finds that much has changed. 84 Charing Cross Road was produced by Mel Brooks, the husband of star Anne Bancroft. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins, (more)
Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman), a brilliant but troublesome New York actor, has managed to alienate every producer on both coasts. Michael's agent George Fields (Sydney Pollack) can't even get his client a commercial since Michael complained that the tomato he was playing wasn't properly motivated. "You were a tomato!" screams George in desperation, adding that Michael is so obnoxious that he will probably never work again. Dorsey thinks otherwise; when he hears of an opening on a popular soap opera, he applies for the job--even though the job is for a woman. Posing as "Miss Dorothy Michaels," Michael wins the part and becomes a widely-known actress. Yet complications ensue when Michael falls for his co-star Julie (Jessica Lange, in an Oscar-winning performance) but, as Dorothy, is courted by Julie's widowed father (Charles Durning). Michael ultimately finds that his disguise as a woman has made him a better man. One of the classic comedies of the 1980s, Tootsie's gender-bending premise boasts a screenplay by Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal, and by a host of memorable supporting comic performances from Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, George Gaynes, and Bill Murray. Future Oscar-winner Geena Davis makes her screen debut as a daytime drama queen, which indeed she had been before Tootsie came along. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, (more)
The relationship between Madeleine Ross (Susan Sarandon), a journalist, and Harris Sloane (David Steinberg), an art theater owner is the focus of this standard love story. Neither protagonist is shown being very active in their respective careers, especially considering how active they are in thinking about and connecting to, or disconnecting from each other. Their relationship is anything but steady, so when Madeleine meets the famous French star Jean-Fidel Mileau (played by the famous French star Jean-Pierre Aumont), he is a potent diversion and catalyst for true love at the same time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Sarandon, David Steinberg, (more)
- 1977
Season Hubley is cast as Sister Maria, a young nun whose sister has been killed in a highly suspicious auto accident. Vowing vengeance against the airline executive whom she holds responsible for her sibling's death, Sister Maria formulates a plan to see that justice is serve--and ulitmately finds herself in the middle of a dangerous war of wills between Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) and the Mob. Among the supporting players is Holland Taylor, who later won an Emmy for her portrayal of oversexed judge Roberta Kittleson on TV's The Practice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
