Nicolas Coster Movies
The son of a New Zealand marine commander, actor Nicolas Coster was born in London. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, then moved to New York, where he studied at Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse. A businesslike type best suited to executive roles, Coster has spent most of his time in TV daytime drama: Young Dr. Malone, Secret Storm, As the World Turns, Somerset, Another World, One Life to Live, All My Children and Santa Barbara. Even his first prime-time stint was the weekly soap opera Our Private World (1965). Coster's film credits include All the President's Men (1976), Reds (1981), and Betsy's Wedding (1991); he has also done stage and commercial voiceover work. An avid scuba diver, Nicolas Coster is licensed as a U.S. Coast Guard skipper in his off-hours. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A widow returns to see an old flame. She brings her daughter along too. Tensions arise when the old beau and the daughter become romantically involved. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sydney Penny, Scott Reeves, (more)
- 1991
Season Two of Law & Order begins on a shockingly tragic note, as Detective Sergeant Max Greevey is shot down and killed in front of his own home (former regular George Dzundza had already departed the series when this scene was filmed). In his grief, Greevey's partner Logan (Chris Noth) vows to track the murderer to the ends of the earth -- a promise complicated by his difficulty in adjusting to new partner Phil Cerreta (Paul Sorvino). Ultimately overstepping his bounds, Logan may ironically prevent the D.A.'s office from successfully prosecuting the killer. In addition to introducing Paul Sorvino to the cast, this episode also represents the first appearance of Catherine McCormack in the recurring role of police psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Olivet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Jonathan Frakes, Next Generation's Cmdr. Riker, made his series directorial debut with this March 17, 1990 episode. Yearning for the joys of parenthood, Data builds an android "child," which assumes human form as a girl named Lal (Hallie Todd). This unauthorized experiment takes a poignant turn when the Federation insists that it must take charge of Lal so that she will receive a "proper" childhood. While Data argues his case to Captain Picard, an unforseen tragedy occurs. "Offspring" was written by Rene Echevarria. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The made-for-cable Incident at Dark River stars Mike Farrell as a working-stiff family man. When his daughter falls ill, Farrell discovers to his horror that the girl is suffering from toxic poisoning. A local battery factory has been polluting the area with its deadly waste, but when Farrell tries to take legal action, he finds that the law favors the factory. Albert Rubin's slowly paced script leans towards "bad guy vs. good guy" rather than shades of gray, but it successfully hits all the right emotional buttons. The presence of well-known environmentalist Mike Farrell in this sincere, medium-budget effort is a prime example of putting one's money where one's mouth is. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Sammy Davis Jr. guest stars as Benny Shaffer, veteran trainer of up-and-coming boxer Sonny Ruiz (Scott Colomby). When Ruiz's manager and doctor are murdered, both Shaffer and the boxer fall under suspicion. With the help of police detective Hunter (Fred Dryer), Shaffer hopes to prove that the real culprit is a big-time promoter. Famed restauranteur Nicky Blair) appears as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Soviet radicals upset with the thawing of the Cold War explode a nuclear weapon in Russia, setting off a series of events that may very well trigger World War III. The president (Martin Landau) has been isolated after a helicopter accident and must outwit government and military officials who are attempting to go forward with the war. The film centers on the relationship between a pair of American pilots who have been ordered to bomb the U.S.S.R. and the attempts by some factions to bring them home before global Armageddon. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The 100th episode of Murder She Wrote gets under way when a derelict is found dead in a New York alley. At first glance, it appears that the dead man succumbed to alcoholism, but the other clues--including several conspicuously missing items--don't add up. Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) teams with ulcerated NYPD lieutenant Hanratty (Barney Martin) to make sense of the case, leading both sleuths to a group of disreputable doctors. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Faye Dunaway stars as a successful madam who is faced with difficulties from her "girls" in this made-for-TV movie. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1983
The wealthy MacKenzie family controls a vast business concern which is being systematically robbed by "person or persons unkown." In order to root out the culprit, the company's CEO hires Magnum (Tom Selleck) to work undercover. This strategy obliges the matrimony-phobic Magnum to go through with a sham marriage to the CEO's niece, Marsha MacKenzie (Katherine Cannon--who turns out to have some very unorthodox views about wedded life in general and husbands in particular! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Mariette Hartley portrays Candy Lightner, the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, in this made-for-television movie produced and written by Michael Braverman. After her daughter is killed by a drunk driver in a hit-and-run accident, Lightner forms M.A.D.D. to enact legislation curbing the spread of alcohol-related driving. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mariette Hartley, Paula Prentiss, (more)
- 1982
This drama chronicles the destruction of a family from the viewpoint of a blue-collar husband. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1982
After several deaths have occurred during routine surgical procedures, Quincy (Jack Klugman) begins an investigation of eminent surgeon Dr. Stanley Royce (Jose Ferrer), who had allegedly performed the fatal operations. It isn't that Royce has lost his touch--it's simply that he is signing off on surgeries in which he had no part. Confirming that Royce has been using less qualified resident surgeons as "ghosts" for operations which he was scheduled to perform himself, Quincy mounts a campaign to charge Royce with medical manslaughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
The Emmy-winning TV movie Friendly Fire was adapted by Fay Kanin from the fact-based book by C.D.B. Bryan. Carol Burnett and Ned Beatty play Peg and Gene Mullen, the parents of a young soldier who is killed in Vietnam. Dissatisfied with the "official" version of their son's death, Peg and Gene conduct a soul-wrenching investigation of their own. Only after months of military stonewalling does the truth come out: their son was accidentally killed by "friendly fire" from American artillery. This revelation leads to Peg Mullen's full-scale embracing of the anti-war movement. Even allowing for the grimness of the story, Carol Burnett's taciturn performance wears on the viewer after a while (one wonders if Peg Mullen ever smiled before her son died). Far better within the framework of the film is the superbly detailed performance of Ned Beatty as Gene. Friendly Fire was originally offered on April 22, 1979, as an ABC Theatre presentation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carol Burnett, Ned Beatty, (more)
- 1979
The fourth Airport film may be the silliest of them all, as George Kennedy returns, this time co-piloting with Alain Delon. The plane is on its way to the Moscow Olympics, has a bomb on board, and gets fired upon with missiles that necessitate flying upside-down. A look at the cast list resembles a bad episode of Fantasy Island, but it's always fun to see shameless touches like casting Mercedes McCambridge (Johnny Guitar) as the coach of the Soviet team. If you don't understand the significance of that choice, you may find this film more tedious than laughable, but fans of bad movies will have a field day, as Jimmie Walker, Charo, and -- oddly enough -- Bibi Andersson rub shoulders with high-altitude disaster. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Susan Blakely, (more)
- 1978
Stephanie Zimbalist stars as the brilliant, athletic teen-aged daughter of Cloris Leachman and Michael Connors. Stephanie's perfect world is shattered when she is caught in the middle of a bus-train collision. She survives, but suffers severe brain damage and the loss of a leg. Zimbalist must make the "long journey back" to recovering her health and self-esteem, with her parents and friends helping every step of the way. Originally telecast December 15, 1978, Long Journey Back was adapted for television by Audrey Davis Levin from a true story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
The story begins as an astronomer notices that a blazing comet is headed straight for Phoenix Arizona. Unfortunately, no one believes him. They will eventually, but only after most of Phoenix has been reduced to cinders. Emmies went to the special effects (among the best ever seen on TV in those days before computer-generated special fx) and sound recording. The all-star cast includes Richard Crenna, Elizabeth Ashley, David Dukes, Joanna Miles, Lloyd Bochner, Merlin Olsen and Andrew Duggan, all of them superbly cast and none merely doing the usual celebrity walk-through. Originally telecast in a three-hour slot, Fire in the Sky debuted November 26, 1978. This film should not be confused with the 1993 alien-abduction film of the same name. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Jim (James Garner) is hired by an insurance firm to "baby-sit" Frank Falcone (Hector Elizondo), an ex-cop who has struck it rich as a crime novelist. Falcone's career has inspired a movie, a TV show, and a line of toys, and now Jim must prevent the former cop from engendering negative publicity at an LA toy convention. But this may prove impossible, inasmuch as the loose-cannon Falcone is a trouble magnet--especially since he has decided to solve one last case that is guaranteed to bring down the full wrath of the Mob. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
On the day of Charles and Caroline Ingalls' wedding anniversary, Charles (Michael Landon) is unable to come home on schedule due to a broken wagon wheel. While everyone waits for the festivities to commence, Caroline (Karen Grassle) regales her children with a story about her youthful romance with Charles -- or, to be more specific, Charles' utter refusal to reveal his romantic inclinations. Nicolas Coster is seen as Charles' father, Lansford, a role originated by Arthur Hill in the third-season episode "Journey in the Spring," while Matthew Laborteaux, who would soon appear regularly on the series as the Ingalls' adopted son, Albert, is here cast as the young Charles. Katy Kurtzman, who played Anna Gillberg in the previous season's "The Music Box," appears as the young Caroline. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1965
My Blood Runs Cold was a typically lurid horror chiller produced and directed by William Conrad during his 1960s tenure on the Warner Bros. staff. Heiress Joey Heatherton falls prey to the charms of a handsome young man (Troy Donahue) who claims to be the reincarnation of a legendary lothario. Troy further insists that Joey had been his lover in a previous life. Pretty soon Joey nearly has the opportunity to check out the veracity of Troy's story in the Hereafter, for Mr. Donahue is actually a psychopath who hopes to claim Ms. Heatherton's fortune and then bump her off. My Blood Runs Cold is silly enough to have been dreamt up by Bill Conrad while he was narrating Rocky and His Friends. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Troy Donahue, Joey Heatherton, (more)
- 1964
In this romance, a plain, lonely secretary wins three dance lessons. Her handsome instructor tells her that she is quite talented and cons her into signing a long-term contract. She soon finds herself in love with him, and an affair begins. The normally cold-hearted instructor is surprised when he finds himself genuinely returning her affections. Trouble ensues when she dances with another instructor who gives her exactly the same sales pitch. The angered young woman refuses to see her lover; when he proclaims his true feelings, she disregards him and leaves. Loneliness gets the best of her, and she soon returns. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1955
After several years of supporting parts, Victor McLaglen once more landed a leading role in Republic's City of Shadows. McLaglen plays Big Tim Channing, an ageing but powerful gangster who raises young newsboy Dan Mason as his own son. Upon reaching adulthood, Mason (John Baer) becomes a law student, with the covert (and illegal) help of Channing. Despite his checkered past, Mason opts for honesty when he falls in love with Fern Fellows (Kathleen Crowley). This decision ultimately spells the doom for Mason's mentor Big Tim. The all-character actor cast includes such familiar faces as Anthony Caruso, Paul Maxey, Frank Ferguson, Richard Travis, and Kay E. Kuter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victor McLaglen, John Baer, (more)
- 1954
Jet Cosgrave (John Derek) is The Outcast in this big-budget Republic western. Thanks to the chicanery of his crooked uncle Major Cosgrave (Jim Davis), Jet has been cheated out of his father's property and branded a pariah. He spends the rest of the film trying to regain his birthright and clear his name. The two women in Jet's life are Judy Polsen (Joan Evans), who chases him for so long that he finally catches her, and Alice Austin (Catherine McLeod), Major Cosgrave's fianee. The supporting cast is dotted with such weatherbeaten western "regulars" as Slim Pickens, Bob Steele and Harry Carey Jr. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Derek, Joan Evans, (more)
Offbeat fashion student Betsy Hopper (Molly Ringwald) and her straight-laced investment-banker fiancé, Jake Lovell(Dylan Walsh), just want an intimate little wedding reception, but Betsy's father, Eddie (Alan Alda), a Long Island construction contractor, feels so threatened by Jake's rich WASP parents (Nicolas Coster and Bibi Besch) that he blows the ceremony up into a bank-breaking showpiece, sending his wife, Lola (Madeline Kahn), into a financial panic. Pressure from Betsy's extended family to include their joint Jewish and Italian-Catholic heritage in the ceremony doesn't do much to assuage the title character's worries, nor does the lovelorn bitterness of her older sister, Connie (Ally Sheedy), who's single, her parents assume, because she has the audacity to pursue the unfeminine profession of police officer. With all of his funds tied up into the money pit of a house he's building, Betsy's dad has to turn to his crooked brother-in-law, Oscar (Joe Pesci), for financial assistance, and soon a soft-spoken but menacing young mobster named Stevie Dee (Anthony LaPaglia) is supervising Eddie's construction project and casting his romantic aspirations toward the clueless Connie. Underworld hijinks and unconventional matrimonial practices ensue in this broad domestic comedy written and directed by star Alan Alda. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Alda, Madeline Kahn, (more)
