John Ramsey Movies
- 2001
The owner of a Chinese restaurant is beaten to death. The detectives collar a teenaged suspect, which leads to the conclusion that the perpetrator and his friends killed simply for the thrill of it. The DA's office is faced with the decision to opt for a lesser penalty on the basis of the perpetrators' ages, or to go the distance and demand that the teenaged murderers be sentenced to death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
When the younger daughter of a wealthy family is murdered on her own property, an investigation reveals that the girl was addicted to drugs. At first, it looks as if the girl was killed by a member of her immediate family. But further developments shift suspicion upon two sons of the family's equally wealthy friends -- leading to a great deal of pressure brought to bear on the DA's office. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
A youngster dies of a virus at a day-care center. As detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) trace the source of the illness, evidence is unearthed of embezzlement and an extramarital affair. Somehow these diverse elements are all bundled together when A.D.A.'s McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Carmichael (Angie Harmon) target a drug manufacturer for prosecution. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
A young mother is the victim of a drive-by shooting. The ensuing investigation is complicated by a discrepancy in establishing time of death. By the time this matter has been sorted out, the DA's office is presented with two prime perpetrators: the person who fired the gun, and the doctor who declared the victim brain dead -- then harvested her organs for transplant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
It looks like a clear-cut case of suicide when a young woman plunges off a bridge. However, disturbing questions are raised during the ensuing investigation thanks to the evasive behavior of the witnesses. The subsequent prosecution boils down to a case of arson, a probable instance of blackmail, and a grown-up version of the traditional "big bully." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Five years after a series of murders committed by the same person, a copycat serial killer seems to be at large. Assistant D.A. McCoy (Sam Waterston), who handled the original case, agrees to investigate the more recent spate of murders. This brings McCoy back into contact with Diana Hawthorne (Laila Robins), his former legal partner and lover -- a woman who possesses information which may very well destroy McCoy's career. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
A threatening phone call leads to censure proceedings against Joel Thayer (David Groh), a prominent New York judge. When the case arrives at the office of D.A. Adam Schiff (Steven Hill), his subordinate Claire Kincaid (Jill Hennessy) surprises him by resigning. It seems that Kincaid once clerked for Judge Thayer -- and there is talk that a romance developed, one that may have been decidedly (and injuriously) one-sided. Future Malcolm in the Middle star Jane Kaczmarek appears as Janet Rudman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
A midtown auto accident leaves two people dead. The subsequent investigation reveals that one of the "victims," a woman, was placed in the driver's seat after the accident -- and that she was raped before she died. Ultimately, city councilman Spencer Talbot (Anthony Heald) is charged with the crime. He manages to beat the rap, but tireless Assistant D.A. Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) has another ace -- and another charge -- up his sleeve. This episode represents a reunion between former I'll Fly Away co-stars Sam Waterston and Regina Taylor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
The seven-year-old daughter (Madeline Zima) of prominent Broadway producer Gary Silver (Barry Primus) is kidnapped. As it turns out, the girl's abductor is her own natural mother. But things get even more complex -- and more unsavory -- when charges of sexual molestation enter the picture, leading to the requisite Law & Order surprise ending. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
In this fourth-season opener of Law & Order, Robert Klein guest stars as controversial, confrontational TV talk show host Rick Mason. During one of Mason's broadcasts, a guest is murdered on the air (and this show was telecast long before the Jenny Jones affair). The DA's office endeavors to prove that Mason provoked the tragedy -- and that, in so doing, he is himself an accessory to murder. Jill Hennessy and S. Epatha Merkerson join the regular cast as, respectively, Assistant DA Claire Kincaid and police lieutenant Anita Van Buren. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Lucy Neven (Blanche Baker), a popular TV soap-opera actress, is nearly beaten to death. The main suspect is Jesse Unger (Bradley White), Neven's obsessive "biggest fan." Unger's defense attorney tries to get his client off the hook with a plea of temporary insanity -- and, much to the dismay of assistant D.A. Stone, it looks as though the strategy will succeed. Future West Wing co-star Allison Janney can be seen in the supporting role of Nora. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Season One of Law & Order came to an end with this emotionally charged episode, in which police captain Don Cragen (Dann Florek) is himself a suspect in a conspiracy investigation. Cragen's longtime friend and colleague Peter O'Farrell (Robert Lansing), the NYPD's Chief of Operations, is suspected of laundering drug money. Reluctantly, the D.A.'s office pursues a possible link between O'Farrell's alleged crime and Cragen's supposed complicity. Series regular George Dzundza makes his final appearance as Detective Max Greevey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The ads for The Stone Pillow tended to suggest that this TV movie was Lucille Ball's dramatic debut--completely ignoring the fact that Ball had started out as a "straight" actress in the 1930s who only occasionally played comedy until I Love Lucy came along. Whatever the case, the Ball we see in Stone Pillow is a cranky bag lady, fiercely independent and violently resistant to do-gooders who try to alter her homeless status. Daphne Zuniga plays an idealistic social worker who tries to get Ball off the streets. It is only after watching several of her fellow indigents die where they sleep that Ball agrees to give up her "stone pillow." Though meant to be intensely dramatic, The Stone Pillow looks more like an elongated I Love Lucy sketch in which Ball dresses up like a tramp in order to meet Red Skelton (or somebody). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Carroll O'Connor stars as NYPD chief of detectives Frank Nolan in Brass. The script, pseudonymously cowritten by O'Connor and Alvin Boretz, dramatizes two real-life incidents: a sniper attack on Penn Station and a murder in the CBS network parking lot. Though consigned to a desk job, Nolan insists upon hitting the streets to solve the crimes at hand. Vincent Gardenia, who'd previously costarred with Carroll O'Connor on All in the Family as Archie Bunker's next-door neighbor, appears as Chief Mike Maldonato. The director was former actor Corey Allen, best remembered as James Dean's "chicken run" opponent in Rebel Without a Cause. Intended as the pilot for a weekly series, Brass debuted September 11, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
People are disappearing all over the Big Apple. Nobody cares, though, because most of the missing are homeless. But when investigative reporter Murphy (J.C. Quinn) tips off principled photographer George Cooper (John Heard) to a government conspiracy involving the dumping of nuclear waste beneath the streets, Cooper decides to dig a little deeper. Soon he discovers the existence of C.H.U.D.s, or "Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers," derelicts who have become grotesque monsters after being exposed to the mountains of hazardous waste. Meanwhile, Captain Bosch (Christopher Curry), a cop whose wife is among the missing, forms an unlikely alliance with the Reverend (Daniel Stern), a leftist soup-kitchen cook who knows the score. Murphy, Cooper, Bosch, and the Reverend soon run up against the stonewalling tactics of Wilson (George Martin), a government toadie. As the titular monsters begin to tire of their underground habitat, the protagonists -- including Cooper's wife, beautiful model Lauren Daniels (Kim Greist) -- face a race against time to defeat not only the C.H.U.D.s, but the government's cover-up. The debut, and only film, from writer Parnell Hall and director Douglas Cheek, C.H.U.D. was followed by 1989's C.H.U.D. 2: Bud the C.H.U.D. Co-stars Stern and Heard would later appear together in the first two Home Alone pictures, while Curry would appear in the third. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Heard, Kim Greist, (more)
- 1981
Dream House is an opposites-attract TV movie which strives mightily for social relevance. John Schneider plays a Georgia-cracker contractor who journeys to New York for a major building project. Out of love for Manhattanite urban planner Marilu Henner, he scraps his big-bucks assignment. Instead, he endeavors to build a "dream" house in the middle of one of New York City's most rundown ghettos. Dream House coasts merrily along on its star power alone; the storyline is acceptable, but nothing to break a date over. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
A kidnapping plot includes 5 women along with the last 2 games of the baseball World Series. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1970
- PG
A US Army Colonel (Cesar Romero) and his wife (Barbara Hale) relate their stories about the all black 10th cavalry unit formed after the Civil War. Eli (Robert Do'Qui) is one the new recruits being trained by two veteran troopers (Rafer Johnson & Isaac Fields). Julie (Janee Michelle) is the young beauty who tries to tame Eli's wild romantic heart. Eli befriends a local Indian chief (Robert Dix), but is unable to save him and the tribe from military cruelties. Lincoln Kilpatrick and Isabel Sandford also appear in this period film that is the directorial debut for John Cardos. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert DoQui, Janee Michelle, (more)
