Jon Cypher Movies

This paranoid Australian thriller from director Gideon Amir concerns the theft of a dangerous device by evil scientist James Hughes (Jon Cypher). The inventor, Eddie Powers (Edward Albert), teams up with a researcher (Leigh Taylor-Young) to prevent its sale on the global-arms market. Like most of its ilk, this film posits a noble scientific goal (in this case, a revolutionary brain-surgery tool) resulting in near-catastrophe, but it is at least well-made and competently acted by its veteran cast. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

Dependable character actor John Marley is afforded a rare starring role in Blade. Marley plays the title character, a world-weary private eye currently working on a murder case as a favor for a friend. The victim was the daughter of prominent conservative politico William Prince, whom Blade "knew when." While hunting for clues, Blade is bombarded by one disillusionment after another. The prime suspect turns out to be someone very, very close to Prince-who may have thought that, by eliminating his daughter, he was doing Prince an enormous favor. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

On March 31,1957, composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein produced a live, made-for-television version of Cinderella, the classic rags-to-riches story of a young woman oppressed by her wicked step-family. Aired on CBS in what was widely believed to be the network's answer to NBC's Peter Pan, Cinderella starred Julie Andrews in the title role of Cinderella, John Cypher as the Prince, and Edith Adams as the Fairy Godmother. Though the musical was specifically written to showcase Andrews' famous vocal talents, all performances were well-received. Over 107 million television viewers tuned into this live adaptation of Cinderella, giving it the largest audience of the time. Another television version of the classic fairy tale was made in 1997 and featured actress Whoopi Goldberg, as well as musicians Whitney Houston and Brandy. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

In this stylish caper drama, Andy Hammond (Donald Sutherland) is a detective working with an insurance company who is investigating the theft of $3 million in diamonds. While Andy is initially eager to crack the case and bring the burglars to justice, his attitudes begin to shift when he meets Paula Booth (Jennifer O'Neill), a wealthy and beautiful woman who whose father Paul (Patrick Magee) is well-known as a "fence" for stolen goods -- and is the prime suspect in the robbery. Robert Duvall appears in a key supporting role as Ford Pierce, a straight-arrow police detective working with Andy to find the missing gems. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The detectives discover that a young junkie found dead in the yard of a day-care center was the daughter of a wealthy family. Further investigation reveals that the woman was taken to her final "resting place" as she was dying. The question: Is it possible that someone very close to the victim would have allowed her to perish in so ignominious a fashion? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When the made-for-TV The Rumor Mill first aired on May 12, 1985, it bore the title Malice in Wonderland. This joyously inaccurate biopic concerns itself with Hollywood's two foremost gossipmongers of the 1930s and 1940s: Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper. Long involved in the film industry, Parsons used her ironclad relationship with publishing mogul William Randolph Hearst and the "confidential" information gleaned by her physician husband Harry "Docky" Martin to outscoop every other columnist in Tinseltown. Parsons' awesome power remained unchallenged until 1938, when Hedda Hopper, a character actress fallen on hard times, was hired as a gossip reporter by one of Hearst's rivals. Thereafter, it was every woman for herself: the blood feud between Parsons and Hopper raged unabated until the latter's death in 1966. Jane Alexander's on-target portrayal of Hedda Hopper won her an Emmy nomination; no less impressive (though not as accurate in her characterization) is Elizabeth Taylor as Louella Parsons. Other Emmy nominations went to the costume design and sound mixing, while Philip H. Lathrop won the statuette for his '30s-style photography. The "look who that is" supporting cast includes Richard Dysart as Louis B. Mayer, Eric Purcell as Orson Welles, Tim Robbins as Joseph Cotten (who once booted Louella in the derriere), Jason Wingreen as Jack Warner, Gary Wayne as Clark Gable, Denise Crosby as Carole Lombard, and Thomas Byrd as Hedda Hopper's actor-son William. Adapted from George Eels' waspish book Hedda and Louella, Malice in Wonderland is delightful, high-class claptrap. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A middle-aged housewife, bored and frustrated with her life, endeavors to find herself and renew her happiness in this drama. To relieve the ennui, she has tried several techniques, including mate swapping, but nothing works. She then takes to making daily visits to a hotel room where she finds peace, and also hopes to make her husband jealous. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

While visiting Boston, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) runs into her former neighbor John Winslow (John Furlong)--who brusquely insists that he's never seen her before in her life. Quickly dialing up Winslow's wife Maude (Christine Belford), Jessica is informed that John died two weeks before! To solve this mystery, Jessica capitalizes upon her friendship with gruff-but-lovable Boston P.I. Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is appointed foreman of the jury in an apparently "open and shut" murder trial. The accused claims that he killed the victim in self-defense, when said victim found the accused in bed with his wife. Half of the jury is for conviction, half for acquittal; as for Jessica, she is convinced that there is more to the case than meets the eye. Indeed, she believes that more than one murder is in play here--and as usual, she's right! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This uneven comedy came and went quickly in commercial release. An American triathlete (Mark Neely) trains for an upcoming event, with the main competition coming from a pretty Russian exchange student (Terry Farrell). Billy Barty excels in his character role as a diminutive Russian, and the slapstick rivalry between the two event announcers and some sight gags help but fail to bring this feature to the finish line. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

This lively made-for-cable adventure chronicles the ordeal endured by five urban executives who head to the wilderness to relax and end up fighting for their lives after they stumble across a cocaine-smuggling operation. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this lively comedy, an African American yuppie rethinks life on the corporate fast-track after he falls in love with an ultra hip club promoter. Knowing that she finds him a total square, he seeks the advice of a swinging young mail boy. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi