Ronnie Claire Edwards Movies
Ronnie Claire Edwards made her acting debut with a role that most actors only dream of, taking on the role of Corabeth on TV's The Waltons in 1974. The show was intensely popular, and Edwards remained with the cast until the show ended its run in 1981. She also acted in a variety of other projects, like the '70s TV movies Future Cop and When Every Day Was the Fourth of July. After The Waltons, Edwards enjoyed an extensive career in repository theater, and continued to act on camera, mostly in the form of TV guest appearances on shows like Designing Women and Murder, She Wrote. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide- 1997
The sixth TV-movie spinoff of the popular family series The Waltons, A Walton Easter manages to reunite all of the surviving cast members--and in so doing, unintentionally reveals why several of those performers hadn't been doing much acting recently. Throwing the orginal series' chronology to the four winds, executvie producer Earl Hamner Jr. would have us believe that the 40th wedding anniversary of John and Olivia Walton (Ralph Waite, Michael Learned) is taking place in the year 1969, which doesn't quite explain how the couple managed to have all those teenaged offspring back in the late 1930s. Once we're past this inconsistency, the story boils down to the Easter reunion of the family at Walton Mountain in West Virginia--and more specifically, the return to the fold of John-Boy Walton (Richard Thomas), now a successful TV news anchorman in New York. John-Boy has not only brought along his pregnant wife Janet (Kate McNeil), but also Aurora Jameson (Sydney Walsh), a Time magazine photojournalist who is covering the reunion. Gradually, the various intrigues of the other Waltons are shunted to the background as the film's Big Question raises its head: Will John-Boy return to New York with his city-bred wife Janet, or will he sentimentally choose to remain at Walton Mountain...with someone else by his side? A Walton Easter debuted March 30, 1997 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, (more)
Luke Perry stars in this biography of the late Lane Frost, a champion bull rider who in 1987 won a rodeo world championship at the tender age of 21. In Eight Seconds (the title refers to the minimum amount of time a rider must stay on a bull in competition), Lane Frost is a young man from Oklahoma who learns to ride, hoping to win the approval of his emotionally distant father. As Lane works his way up the rodeo circuit with his best friend Tuff Hedeman (Stephen Baldwin), he meets Kelly Kyle (Cynthia Geary), a pretty barrel-race rider with whom he falls in love. Lane and Kelly marry, but Lane stubbornly refuses any help from Kelly's wealthy parents, forcing the young couple to live a hand-to-mouth existence, and while Lane's dedication to rodeo and its fans earns him a devoted following, it also keeps him away from Kelly and threatens to sink their relationship. Lane's hard work pays off when he wins the 1987 world championship, but the danger of the sport catches up with him two years later, when he dies as a result of an accident during competition. Country star Vince Gill appears onscreen with his band; keep an eye peeled for a brief appearance by Renee Zellweger, two years before her breakthrough role in Jerry Maguire. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Luke Perry, Stephen Baldwin, (more)
- 1994
An amnesiac Data finds himself stranded on Barkon Four, a primitive, pre-industrial planet. As he tries to put the pieces together, Data unwittingly endangers the inhabits with the radioactive material he carries with him. Meanwhile, Deanna Troi subjects herself to the exacting bridge officer's test. First telecast February 19, 1994, the Emmy-nominated "Thine Own Self" was scripted by Christopher Hatton from a story by Robert Wiemer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Previously filmed in 1962 with Geraldine Page and Paul Newman in the leads, Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth was restaged for television in 1989 by Nicolas Roeg. Elizabeth Taylor stars as Alexandre Del Lago, a fading, alcoholic, drug-dependent movie star. Mark Harmon co-stars as Chance Wayne, a shiftless would-be actor who romances Alexandre in hopes of getting a few producer's doors opened for him in Hollywood. Assuming that it'll be a simple task to unload Alexandre when he's through with her, Chance has not reckoned with the star's smothering ego. Chance must also contend with Tom Finley (Rip Torn), the fire-breathing political boss who is the father of Chance's hometown sweetheart (Cheryl Paris). The TV remake of Sweet Bird of Youth was first broadcast October 1, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Taylor, Mark Harmon, (more)
- 1988
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is among the guests enjoying a skiing vacation at a mountain lodge. At least, she and the other guests were enjoying the vacation until they were all trapped in the lodge by a sudden blizzard. Among the others are a jealous husband, an outraged wife, a long-suffering agent and an abrasive champion skier. Before long, one of these characters is going to be murdered, and Jessica will try to figure out the killer's identity before he (or she) can strike again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The Dead Pool is the fifth and (thus far) the last of Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry movies. A sports pool is placing bets on which famous person will die next. Suddenly a serial killer who preys upon celebrities enters the scene, radically (and perhaps deliberately) changing the odds in the pool. As a celebrity of sorts, maverick cop Dirty Harry Callahan becomes a target of the killer, as does high-profile TV journalist Patricia Clarkson. Surprises are at a minimum in The Dead Pool; the film gets down to business quickly, moves logically if violently towards its climax (with a spectacular car-chase sequence thrown in for good measure), and delivers exactly what its fans expect. One major difference between this film and the earlier Dirty Harry epics is that the murders are committed in so outrageous a fashion that the picture seems at times to be a Freddie Krueger vehicle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clint Eastwood, Patricia Clarkson, (more)
This sharp drama is about the trials and tribulations of a young woman defeated by her past, yet tempted to overcome it through a meaningful relationship. Cassie (Rosanna Arquette) works as a waitress in a southwestern town. Not that long ago, she stabbed her lover (and the father of her baby) in public, and even though he recovered, she did not. The most immediate result of her action is that she gave away her baby, and the next, more severe result is that she lost all of her self-respect. Now she takes care of her mother and younger, offensive brother and also dallies on and off with her ex-lover -- who is married. Then Riley (Eric Roberts) comes into town for awhile with a theatrical troupe and he falls for Cassie. He is only in town for a short period of time and that may or may not be enough to convince Cassie to leave with him when he goes. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rosanna Arquette, Eric Roberts, (more)
- 1982
Featuring a reunion of most of the cast of the long-running family series, The Waltons, this touching drama centers on the attempt of the now grown and scattered brood of Olivia and John Walton to regroup for an old fashioned family holiday. Unfortunately, John-Boy is not among them. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1982
The second of three TV-movie spinoffs of the long-running series The Waltons, Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain marked the return of actress Michael Learned in the role of Olivia Walton, a part she had relinquished when her contract expired one year before the original series' cancellation in 1981. Still consigned to a tuberculosis sanitorium, Olivia has only a few scenes in the film, though she does return to Walton Mountain in time to help her daughter Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) weather a crisis. It appears as if Mary Ellen, newly wed to longtime beau Jonesy (Richard Gilliland) will be unable to have children, thanks to an auto accident; meanwhile, the rest of the Walton clan has problems of their own, including son Ben's (Eric Wilton) efforts to restore harmony between himself and his own wife Cindy (Leslie Winston). Of the original Waltons cast, only Richard Thomas, Ellen Corby and the late Will Geer were absent from the proceedings. Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain debuted May 9, 1982, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Walmsley
- 1981
When his car breaks down on Walton's Mountain, young Arlington Wescott Jones III (Richard Gillilland) in his first series appearance) accepts the hospitality of the Walton family. Before long, "Jonesy" has fallen deeply in love with the widowed Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor), and the feeling appears to be mutual--until a stranger named Betty (Pamela McMyler) visits the Walton house in the middle of the night with some startling news. Elsewhere, Jason (Jon Walmsley) sets about to repair and revitalize the Dew Drop Inn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Freshly returned from the War, Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) and Josh Foster (Jason Moses) have no intention of settling down and looking for employment, but instead plan to take it easy and have as much fun as possible. This "fun" soon devolves into foolish recklessness--which nearly proves fatal for at least one of the two returnees. Elsewhere, the Baldwin sisters stumble upon the room where their grandfather first created their intoxicating "recipe". . .just as a Federal agent shows up at their house! With this episode, Charles R. Penland becomes the third actor to appear in the recurring role of Jody Foster, succeeding both Erin Blunt and T.K. Carter). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
After the sudden death of her father, Ben's wife Cindy (Leslie Winston) has a bizarre dream about a carousel, and about a woman whose face she briefly glimpsed at her dad's funeral. Ultimately, Cindy discovers that she was actually adopted--and that's not the end of the story! Meanwhile, Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) becomes jealous when her boyfriend Drew (Tony Becker) neglects her to spend time with the rest of the Walton siblings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Rose Burton's erstwhile beau Stanley Perkins (William Schallert) returns to Walton's mountain, still determined to marry Rose (Peggy Rea) and still filling her head with grandiose tales of his fabulous success in the business world. But things quickly go sour when Rose finds out that Stanley has recently been in a mental hospital, the result of a breakdown after being summarily fired from his job. Meanwhile, Jason (Jon Walmsley) hires country singer Johnny Calico (Curtis Credel) to perform at the Dew Drop Inn--and winds up vying with Johnny for the affections of Toni Hazelton (Lisa Harrison). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Having returned to Boatwright University as an instructor, John-Boy (Robert Wightman) is given the assignment of creating a new department for the study of that postwar phenomenon known as television. As a result, the Waltons become the first family in Virginia to own a TV set, courtesy of Jim-Bob's electronic expertise; trouble is, there's nothing to watch. Elsewhere, Aunt Rose (Peggy Rea) goes on a diet in hopes of preventing Stanley (William Schallert) from succumbing to the charms of her rival Zuleika (Pearl Shear). The closing dialogue in this episode is priceless! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Series regular Ronnie Claire Edwards) plays a dual role in this episode, as prim-and-proper storekeeper Corabeth Godsey and as Corabeth's polar-opposite sister Orma Lee. As the sisters squabble over which on will inherit a valuable string of pearls from their Aunt Cordelia, Corabeth can't help but notice that her husband Ike (Joe Conley) is fascinated by the footloose and fancy-free Orma Lee--and she doesn't like it one bit! Meanwhile, Elizabeth Walton (Kami Cotler), the youngest member of the family, sets out to visit her mother and father in Arizona...all by herself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
After numerous delays and second thoughts, Aunt Rose (Peggy Rea) has accepted the marriage proposal of her longtime beau Stanley (William Schallert), and a wedding date is set. But the nuptuals may be permanently postponed when Rose's attack of "heartburn" proves to be something much more serious. Elsewhere, Cindy (Leslie Winston) grows weary of being just another housewife, and demands that Ben (Eric Scott) allow her to get a job--with surprising results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Corabeth Godsey (Ronnie Claire Edwards) is convinced that her husband Ike (Joe Conley) is cheating on him when she finds a letter signed "Pamela." But though he begs Corabeth not to file for divorce, Ike stubbornly refuses to reveal the identity of his mysterious correspondent. And on the anniversary of their first date, Drew (Tony Becker) pressures Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) to prove her love for him by going "all the way". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) comes to the rescue of a 14-year-old mountain girl named Sissie (Debbie Lytton) , whose father has sold her into marriage. Angry over Mary Ellen's interference, Sissy's prospective husband Job (Gary Grubbs) kidnaps Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) in retaliation. On a lighter note, we finally get to meet the Baldwin sisters' fabled Cousin Octavia (Mary Wickes), who turns out to be a walking disaster area--and a kleptomaniac in the bargain! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough) has fallen in love with Paul Matthews (Morgan Stevens), a new employee at the Walton lumber yard. His curiosity aroused by Paul's reluctance to discuss his past, John-Boy does a bit of research on his own--and discovers to his amazement that Paul's real name is Northridge, and that his father is one of the Waltons' biggest business rivals. Meanwhile, Ike and Jim-Bob gets a lot more than they bargained for when they go prospecting for uranium. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
The Waltons comes to the end of its 221-episode run with this episode, in which John-Boy heads to New York to learn the fate of his third novel. Upon discovering that the book has been rejected, John-Boy is too proud to return home in defeat, even though he is flat broke. And back on Waltons' Mountain, the redoubtable Baldwin sisters decide to hold a "life celebration" ball, inviting all of their old finishing school classmates--very few of whom are still above ground. Not surprisingly, the final words in this final episode are eloquently spoken by series creator Earl Hamner Jr.. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough) is overjoyed when her old friend Laurie (Carol Jones) returns to Walton's Mountain. But there is little joy in the lives of Laurie and her hard-drinking husband Kenny (Ben Andrews), a mentally disturbed war veteran who vents his anger by savagely beating his wife. Worse still, Kenny is obsessively jealous, and this may prove disastrous not only for Laurie but also for Erin. Meanwhile, Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) plans to make a fortune by selling war-surplus materials--only to end up flat broke and deeply in debt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
In the waning days of WW2, Jason (Jon Walmsley) wonders if he should marry Toni (Lisa Harrison), especially since he is scheduled to be shipped off to the Pacific front. And in a faraway Japanese POW camp, Ben (Eric Scott) is convinced that he is about to be executed--when suddenly, his captors do an about-face and surrender to him! This pivotal episode ends on a note of triumph...and for some members of the Walton family, a tinge of melancholy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Freed from a Japanese POW camp and safely returned to Walton's Mountain, Ben intends to enter the postwar working world as a professional engineer. His dad John (Ralph Waite), however, wants Ben to give up his plans and become a full partner at the family lumber mill. The situation changes dramatically for both father and son when word comes that Olivia Walton's health has taken a turn for the worse. This episode marks the final series appearance of Ralph Waite. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
While on furlough, Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) is pursued by an impulsive lass named Kathy (played by a very young Jennifer Jason Leigh), who insists that she is pregnant--and that Jim-Boy is the father. And half a world away, Ben (Eric Scott) is having a great deal of difficulty curbing his rebellious streak as he sits out the war in a Japanese POW camp. It can be argued that the problems of both Walton brothers are resolved by episode's end--though one of them still has a long way to go before he's completely out of the woods. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) and Josh (Todd Bridges) steal money from the Godsey's store to cover their losses in a crap game. But when the authorities catch up with them, Jeffrey magnanimously allows Josh take all the blame. And in another development, an insulting remark from a soldier convinces Ben (Eric Scott) that it is high time that he enlist in the Armed Forces -- even though he is a new husband and an even newer father. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
