Jerry Ludwig Movies

Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates directed this made-for-cable feature inspired by the true story of one of America's greatest literary couples, Lillian Hellman and Dashiell Hammett. Hellman (Judy Davis) was an award-winning playwright whose successes included The Children's Hour and The Little Foxes, while Hammett (Sam Shepard) was a superlative mystery writer whose books inspired such classic films as The Thin Man and The Maltese Falcon. The couple met in the 1930s, while Hammett was working in Hollywood as a screenwriter. They remained together until Hammett's death from lung cancer in 1961 (never married despite the conventions of the day) in a relationship strained by Hammett's infidelity and their shared alcoholism. Dash and Lilly uses Hellman's 1950s testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee as a springboard to look back at their relationship; both Hammett and Hellman were branded as Communists and called before HUAC, leading to a prison term for Hammett. The film also features Bebe Neuwirth as Dorothy Parker, Laurence Luckinbill as Joseph Rauh, and Mark Zimmerman as Walter Winchell. Hellman's relationship with Hammett formed one of the plot points of the 1977 biopic Julia, which starred Jane Fonda as Hellman and Jason Robards in an Oscar-winning performance as Hammett. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Once again, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) finds herself immersed in the world of Grand Opera, this time during a visit to Genoa Italy. The plot is set in motion by a series of death threats leveled at an American opera diva poised to make her European debut. There are those who dismiss these threats as a publicity stunt--but they change their tune after the horrific events on Opening Night. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A tranquil Arizona community is being terrorized by a series of robberies staged by an elusive truck-stop bandit. In addition, a number of disreputable-looking strangers have descended upon the community in search of buried treasure. Fortuously visiting a friend who lives near the town in question, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) ends up helping the new, inexperienced sheriff handle the onslaught of trouble--which of course is capped by a murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The scene is a writers' conference in Amsterdam, attended by (among many others) Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) and her British friend Nigel Allison (Joseph Maher). Things take a sinister turn when Nigel is kidnapped--whereupon the victim's so-called friend Collin Biddle (Marcus Gilbert) assures Jessica that there is nothing to worry about. Even investigating inspector Van Horn (Theodore Bikel) appears to be indifferent about the abduction, prompting Jessica to take a hand in matters. What follows is a maelstrom of intrigue involving espionage, illegal arms and illicit drugs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A security guard (Jack Scalia) is enticed to scam a businessman for his insurance money by the man's attractive wife (Kathryn Harrold). The real trouble begins when the guard discovers that the husband has ties to the mob. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

All the charm and joie de vivre of the 1953 Gregory Peck/Audrey Hepburn Roman Holiday is purged from this hollow TV remake. The stunning but lifeless Catherine Oxenberg assumes the Hepburn role of a young princess who escapes the protocol of court life for a romantic fling in Rome. Tom Conti stands in for Gregory Peck as the American journalist who falls in love with the Princess. Ed Begley Jr. takes over Eddie Albert's part of the eccentric photojournalist who acts as comic relief to the leads. Heading the list of mistakes committed in this remake is the fact that Oxenberg behaves more like a bored Danielle Steele character than the impressionable, virginal heroine of the original. Rome may be eternal, but the 1987 Roman Holiday is terminal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the Glitter Palace was the first made-for-TV movie in which lesbianism was a crucial plot factor. Chad Everett stars as a defense lawyer and erstwhile detective, whose gay client is Barbara Hershey. She is on trial for murdering her slimy blackmailer (played by that master of sliminess, Anthony Zerbe). Among Hershey's lesbian friends are Salome Jens and Diana Scarwid, who may know more than what they're telling Everett. Just because In the Glitter Palace was a groundbreaker in regards to its subject matter doesn't make it a better movie; strip away the "relevance," and you've got just another by-rote whodunit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jim Brown and Fred Williamson team up for this violent western, directed by Antonio Marghetti under the name of Anthony M. Dawson. Brown plays Pike, a stonefaced cowboy who meets up Tyree (Fred Williamson), a jocular and dishonest gambler. Together with a mute Indian scout Kashtok (Jim Kelly), the trio attempts to transport $86,000 across hundreds of miles of Western wasteland to deliver it to the widow of Pike's former employer. Along the way, they are pursued by bounty hunter Kiefer (Lee Van Cleef) and corrupt sheriff Kane (Barry Sullivan). Dana Andrews also appears in a cameo role as Pike's boss Morgan. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

A murderous robber returns home to his loving family after he serves 18 years for his crimes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Scenes of the real Munich are interspersed with shots of studio mockups in Assignment: Munich. Roy Scheider stars as an American expatriate running a saloon in Munich (shades of Casablanca). He agrees to help the US government locate a cache of gold, appropriated by the Nazis during the war. This TV pilot was a long time in getting a network commitment--so long, in fact, that star Roy Scheider took another job in the interim. By the time the series premiered in the fall of 1972, the role played by Scheider had been rewritten several times for several actors; Robert Conrad, who was then "between jobs", ended up playing the part. The city of Munich was also "replaced", and the series was retitled Assignment: Vienna. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Harry Kellem (Russ Conway), an American businessman working in Tokyo, has been accused of murdering his Japanese wife. The actual culprit is Kellem's brother-in-law Toshio Masaki (Khigh Dheigh), who for political reasons is bent on destroying Japanese-American diplomatic relations. Assigned to clear Kellem and expose Masaki, the IMF embarks upon a series of clever ruses, wherein Paris impersonates a Kabuki dancer, Willy poses as a martial arts champion and Dana disguises herself as the late Mrs. Kellem. Originally seen on October 31, 1970, "The Butterfly" was scripted by Eric Bercovicci and Jerry Ludwig, from a story by Sheldon Stark. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The technical wizardry of the IMF is given a real workout in "The Double Circle." Anne Francis guest stars as IMF agent Gillian Colbee, who poses as the owner of a valuable antique. Gillian's impersonation is part of a master plan to recover a stolen rocket fuel formula from mercurial art collector Victor Laszlo (James Patterson). Other vital ingredients to the success of the plan include the precise re-creation of Laszlo's apartment, and a delicate electronic rigging on the villain's private elevator. First seen on November 9, 1969, "The Double Circle" was written by Jerry Ludwig. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Written by Jerry Ludwig, this I Spy episode takes place in the jungles north of Acapulco. Lloyd Nolan is cast as Manion, a fanatical general who believes he's been betrayed by the United States. Luring agents Kelly and Scotty into his lair, Manion goes the "Most Dangerous Game" route by setting the two men loose in the middle of the jungle, then hunting them down like animals. "The Name of the Game" first aired on March 11, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide