Renata Scott Movies
- 1995
Despite Helen's (Crystal Bernard) admonitions and trepidations, Roy (David Schramm) is eager and willing to marry Anya (Natasha Pavlovich), the mail-order bride he has ordered from Russia. Unfortunately for Roy, Anya falls out of love with him the second she meets another man. And in other developments, Lowell (Thomas Haden Church) is pressed into service as Fay's (Rebecca Schull) cardboard lover. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
The opening sequences of this episode lead the Cheers gang to conclude that Cliff (John Ratzenberger) has, at long last, murdered his mother (Frances Sternhagen). On a less morbid note, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) is led to believe that Kelly's wealthy father Mr. Gaines (Richard Doyle) is romantically interested in her. Originally a one-hour episode, "Rebecca Gaines, Rebecca Loses" has since been re-edited into two half-hour programs for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
The mystery of Cliff's (John Ratzenberger) missing (and possibly murdered) mother is finally solved. After making the assumption that Kelly's (Jackie Swanson) wealthy father Mr. Gaines (Richard Doyle) is enamored with her, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) is in for a shock when she learns Gaines' true motives for inviting her to his home. Originally a one-hour episode, "Rebecca Gaines, Rebecca Loses" has since been re-edited as two half-hour programs for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
When a San Diego socialite is convicted of murdering her ex-husband and his new bride, truth is stranger than fiction as she hires a public relations firm in an effort to keep the media in her corner. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meredith Baxter, Judith Ivey, (more)
Partly based on Charlie Chaplin's My Autobiography, this humorous and dramatic biopic features an all-star cast including Oscar nominee Robert Downey Jr., Dan Aykroyd, Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Kline, Diane Lane, and Chaplin's real-life daughter, Geraldine Chaplin, who portrays his mentally ill mother. With the use of flashback, an elderly Chaplin discusses his autobiography with his editor (Hopkins), who urges him to be more vulnerable and emotionally honest with his memoirs while journeying through his poverty-stricken childhood, closest friendships, many marriages, merciless pursuit by J. Edgar Hoover (Kevin Dunn), and ingenious invention of "The Little Tramp." Highlighted works such as The Gold Rush (1925) and The Great Dictator (1940) illustrate significant turning points in Chaplin's prolific filmography. Director Richard Attenborough's film also explores the circumstances surrounding Chaplin's exile from America and his eventual return to receive an honorary Academy Award. ~ Lisa Kropiewnicki, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Downey, Jr., Dan Aykroyd, (more)
- 1992
Once again, overly sensitive engineer Reg Barclay (Dwight Schultz) unwittingly creates havoc for the rest of the Enterprise crew. This time, Barclay is terrified at the thought of being transported to an away team rescue vehicle. Hoping to confront his fear, he goes through with the transportation process, only to undergo an incredible experience which causes him to doubt his sanity. Written by Branson Braga, "Realm of Fear" originally aired October 3, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
- R
In this sudsy and violent melodrama, a prominent actress is tormented by both an obsessive stalker and a trauma from her distant past. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Catherine Oxenberg, David Naughton, (more)
- 1990
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, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Fact-based, made-for-television account of the hunt for a pair of serial killers who slaughtered ten women in the hillsides of Los Angeles between October 1977 and February 1978. (Alternate title: The Case Of The Hillside Stranglers) ~ Nicole Gagne, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Crenna
A passable sequel to the excellent sleeper hit that preceded it, this film steers its story in a cartoonish, less horrific direction. Terry O'Quinn returns as the nameless family man who butchered one nuclear unit and was on his way to dispatching another when he was (seemingly) fatally stabbed. It turns out that he wasn't killed after all but was captured and sent to the loony bin. Now the deranged control freak has murdered his jailers and escaped from the institution. Establishing himself in a small, idyllic town as a family counselor, he thinks that he's found the perfect candidate for a family in Carol (Meg Foster), the real estate agent who lives across the street, and her son, Todd (Jonathan Brandis), who adores his mom's new boyfriend. Unfortunately, Carol's irresponsible husband shows up unexpectedly after abandoning his family -- and nosy neighbors and a variety of others stand as obstacles in the stepfather's path to perfection. The first film, The Stepfather (1987), by writer Donald E. Westlake was very loosely based on the real-life story of long-time fugitive John List, lending the film an eerie, skin-crawling air of psychological authenticity that this sequel entirely lacks. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Terry O'Quinn, Meg Foster, (more)
- 1987
When Mary Rose Welch (Joan Caulfield) is injured in a car accident, she prevails upon Jessica (Angela Lansbury) to travel to the town of Eden, where Mary's sister has recently died under mysterious circumstances. Figuring that the best way to get to the truth is to adopt a guise, Jessica poses as Mary and shows up in Eden for the funeral. It doesn't take her long to determine that this "idyllic" community is hardly Edenlike, and that skeletons in the closet abound! Among the suspects on this occasion are Sheriff Landry (Roy Thinnes), Dr. Lynch (MacDonald Carey) and realtor C.J. Dobbs (Stuart Whitman)--all of whom knew Mary a little more intimately than they're willing to reveal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
In this elaborate spoof of the Bond films, Murdock (Dwight Schultz) dons tux and toupee to pose as dashing secret agent Logan Ross--a man who doesn't exist, but was created as a decoy by General Stockwell (Robert Vaughn). It is Murdock's mission to prevent a political assassin named Jaguar from striking again--and to keep his fellow A-Teamer Face (Dirk Benedict), jealous over not being chosen to impersonate Logan Ross, at arm's length. The episode is filled to the brim with "007" references, including an exotic and enigmatic heroine, a wheelchair-bound master villain headquartered in a Monte Carlo casino, and an Oddjob-like henchman named Frobe! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
