David Knapp Movies

In this bittersweet comedy drama, a man nearing the end of his life seeks closure with his family and friends, and he confronts the issues of the right to die. Nick Stark (Eric Roberts) is a successful architect who is openly gay. He was involved in a committed relationship with Brandon Theis (Gregory Harrison), a television director, until Nick discovered that he's HIV-positive. Nick's first question to Brandon is "You won't leave me, will you? I don't want to die alone." Brandon, however, doesn't have the emotional strength to deal with Nick's condition and soon moves on. Several years later, even though Nick has been mindful of his health, he begins to display symptoms of full-blown AIDS, most notably the brain lesions that indicate Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy, an AIDS-related illness that has already claimed several of his friends. Wanting to go out with his dignity intact, Nick decides to throw one last party, which will give him the opportunity to say goodbye to his friends and family while he's still lucid -- shortly after which he intends to take his own life with painkillers. Nick attempts to make peace with his mother and father (Lee Grant and George Segal), who had difficulty accepting their son's lifestyle, and he enjoys a last laugh with his close friends, until Brandon -- who is hardly welcomed by the group -- shows up. Appearing as Nick's friends and family are Margaret Cho, Bronson Pinchot, Bruce Davison, Sally Kellerman, Marlee Matlin, Roddy McDowall, and Dennis Christopher. Writer and director Randal Kleiser loosely based It's My Party on his own personal experiences when his longtime companion was diagnosed with AIDS and opted to take his own life before his symptoms became too severe. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Emily can't understand why Bob refuses to meet his former girlfriend. Bob's answers are vague, but serve to satisfy Emily. And then helpful Howard blurts out the truth: Bob had dated both Emily and his ex-sweetheart at the same time. The supporting cast includes Casey Connors as Jennifer, David Knapp as Ralph, Wayne Tippit as the pilot, Gary Krawford as the co-pilot, and Joseph Sicari as the salesman. Originally telecast on January 18, 1975, "The Way We Weren't" was written by Roger Beatty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This episode was designed as the pilot for a proposed Kojak spinoff, starring Vincent Gardenia) as Lt. Kojak's former NYPD colleague Vince LaGuardia. Now working in Las Vegas, LaGuardia alerts Kojak (Telly Savalas) of his plan to extradite an elderly counterfeiter (Jeff Corey) to Manhattan. When the old man suddenly dies in his jail cell, Vince suspects foul play and launches a search for an unknown hitman. All the while, the veteran cop endeavors to balance his professional life with his personal responsibilities as surrogate father to his nephew Nick (Mike Darnell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Like Paul Henreid's For Men Only (1951), The Pledgemasters sets itself up as a "shocking expose" of college fraternities. The cruelties of the hazing process are captured in gritty 16 millimeter. The participants are not actors (which is fairly obvious), but genuine, bonafide college students. If all frats were as sadistic as this one, it's amazing that anyone has ever graduated-much less survived their freshman year. We'll take Animal House any day. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide