Richard De Roy Movies
- 1983
This once-timely made-for-TV drama was originally titled Lovesick: The Herpes Story until wiser heads prevailed. Soap-opera favorites Anthony Geary and Judith Light starred as dedicated doctor Kyle Richardson and lovelorn tourist Marsha Sarno in this saga of a genital-herpes outbreak in a posh resort community. Also on hand is Robert Vaughn as Dave Fairmont, the requisite evil land developer who will resort to any means necessary to keep news of the epidemic from spreading to the world. Intimate Agony made its ABC network debut on March 21, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1981
In this drama, a couple tries to cope with the devastating aftermath of the wife's rape. The wife is terribly traumatized. The husband is unable to deal with it. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1980
Old-time Hollywood director Vincent Sherman brings a glossy studio-bound look to The Dream Merchants, a two-part, four-hour adaptation of Harold Robbins' novel. The story follows the career of a pioneer filmmaker (Mark Harmon), who comes to Hollywood in the early 20th century with a pocketful of dreams and helps build the sleepy California orange-grove community into the world's entertainment capital. Typical of the Harold Robbins ouevre, most of the characters are based on real-life movie personalities: Robert Goulet's vainglorious matinee idol is a combination of John Barrymore and Douglas Fairbanks, while Vincent Gardenia's vitriolic mogul can be taken as a low-budget Louis B. Mayer. The film is rife with historical inaccuracies (Goulet is informed that the closeup has "just been invented by D. W. Griffith" as a means to convince him to sign a long-term contract assuring him plenty of closeups!), while the haircuts and speech patterns are firmly locked into the 1980s. All the same, The Dream Merchants was a profitable entry in the syndicated "Operation Prime Time" series of TV specials. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1977
The cast of the popular old TV series Peyton Place reunite when Allison MacKenzie and Rodney Harrington are found dead. Other than that, and a decade's worth of gossip, nothing much has changed there. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1977
The formal title for this TV mini-series was Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue, just in case you might mistake it for William Makepeace Thackeray's 79 Park Avenue. Originally presented in three parts, this adaptation of the Robbins best-seller stars Lesley Ann Warren as Marja Fludjicki, a Depression-era tenement girl who is accused of murdering her drunken stepfather. Part One details how Marja's "crime" was justifiable; she'd been raped by the bounder. Parts Two and Three would trace Marja's progress from teenaged prostitute to elegant, high-priced Park Avenue Madam--and mob mistress. Forced by circumstance into a life of prostitution, Marja marries Las Vegas high-roller Ross Savitch (Marc Singer). Ross is bumped off by the Syndicate, leaving Marja in the lurch. Marja rebounds from tragedy to become a federal witness against the Mob. 79 Park Avenue was first telecast on October 16, 17, and 18, 1977. Though all the names are changed, it isn't hard to discern the Bugsy Siegel story in this video equivalent to eating a whole box of chocolates in one sitting. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
- R
Evan Bonner (Peter Fonda) is a former solider who deserted the Army due to his growing opposition to the U.S. role in Vietnam. Having spent the intervening years drifting aimlessly, he has ended up in Marrakesh – where he has made the decision to return to the U.S. and turn himself in. Also in Marrakesh are a famous fashion model, Deirdre McCluskey (Lindsay Wagner), her live-in lover (and photographer) Ron, and her editor Barbara. This trip is experiencing considerable tension at the moment. They have finished their photo shoot and are ready to return to New York, but Ron has decided he wants to stay on in Marrakesh for the time being. Deirdre and Barbara board a train to Casablanca the next day, and Deirdre soon finds herself admitting that her relationship with Ron has petered out. She also admits that she would really like a few puffs of the local strain of marijuana; spotting Evan and recognizing him from the café, she decides to see if he has any but changes her mind when she sees that he is emotionally overwrought. Eventually, however, Evan strikes up a conversation with Deirdre, and they begin a halting relationship that grows in intimacy as they journey back to the United States. Deirdre tries to persuade Evan to give up his plans, and even says she will move her young son to Europe so that the three of them can live together. Evan and Deirdre's son hit it off when they meet in New York, but even that is not enough to dissuade Evan from his plans. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Fonda, Lindsay Wagner, (more)
- 1971
Although advertised as a "reunion" of former I Dream of Jeannie stars Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman, the made-for-TV A Howling in the Woods is actually a vehicle for Eden, with Hagman contributing a glorified cameo role. The scene is a remote wooded area in Nevada, where disillusioned housewife Liza Crocker (Eden) has arrived for a solitary camping trip. It so happens that Liza's "sanctuary" is located near the small and cloistered town where she was born -- a town that does not necessarily want to have her back. As Liza's husband, Eddie (Larry Hagman), searches for her in hopes of a reconciliation, the heroine is terrorized by the mournful sound of a howling dog, which triggers painful and frightening memories that she had hoped were long, long buried. Based on a novel by Velda Johnston, the underrated and almost unbearably suspenseful A Howling in the Woods debuted November 11, 1971, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1970
To impress his latest girlfriend Tina (Jane Actman), Keith (David Cassidy) pretends to be a staunch supporter of the Women's Liberation Movement. As a result, the reluctant Partridges are expected to perform Tina's wretched "activist" songs at an upcoming rally for P.O.W. (Power of Women)--and to make this a true "between a rock and a hard place" situation, the family will be carefully scrutinized by a group of anal-retentive parents calling themselves "The Morality Watchdogs." (And speaking of "watching", keep an eye peeled for a glimpse of Darrin and Samantha's home from Bewitched in the scenes shot at the Columbia Ranch). Song: "I Think I Love You". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1970
When the Partridges' resident composer Keith (David Cassidy) suffers a creative dry spell, younger brother Danny (Danny Bonaduce) offers to write a few songs of his own. Unfortunately, Danny's tunes have a very familiar ring, leading Keith to accuse his brother of plagiarism. It turns out, however, that Danny is having a "George Harrison" moment, subliminally soaking up other people's compositions while he's supposed to be asleep! (Note to younger viewers: Ask your parents to explain the "Myra Breckinridge" reference). Song: "To Be Lovers." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1967
To brighten the existence of elderly, homesick Norwegian nun Sr. Olaf (Celia Lovsky), Sr. Bertrille takes to the air and "arranges" a sudden snowstorm. Her act of largesse not only wreaks havoc with a confused weatherman (Woodrow Parfrey), but also threatens to destroy the San Juan tourist trade. First broadcast on December 21, 1967, "Wailing in a Winter Wonderland" was written by Richard De Roy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1967
Gena Rowlands guest stars as Baroness Ingrid Blangstead, the power-mad owner of a health spa frequented by the vain wives of the world's top leaders. In exchange for certain political favors, the Baroness promises to use a new youth serum on her female clients. UNCLE agents April and Mark try to thwart the villainess' scheme -- and as a result, Mark is injected with a "reverse" serum which transforms him into an octogenarian. Veteran Asian actor Philip Ahn appears as Premier Dao, with Miiko Taka as his wife. Scripted by Richard DeRoy from a story by DeRoy and Robert Bloch (of Psycho fame), "The Fountain of Youth Affair" originally aired on February 7, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1967
Convent San Tanco has become the home of a talking parrot with a very colorful -- and profane -- vocabulary. It is up to Sr. Bertrille to hide the dirty bird from the eyes and ears of the Reverend Mother. Step number two: Find a proper home for the feathered troublemaker. First broadcast on October 19, 1967, "Polly Wants a Cracked Head" was written by Richard DeRoy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1967
Maureen Arthur guest stars as Bobbye Starr, the girlfriend of Chicago mobster Al Caine (Herb Edelman). Much to the discomfort of the nuns, Bobbye takes refuge in Convent San Tanco, not out of fear of her boyfriend, but out of frustration over his refusal to marry her. Sr. Bertrille takes a hand in matters, as she always does. Written by Richard DeRoy, "Ah Love, Could You and I Conspire" first aired on October 26, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1963
Bernard Herrmann composed his final Twilight Zone musical score for the December 20, 1963 episode "Ninety Years Without Slumbering." Ed Wynn stars as septuagenarian Sam Forstmann, who resists his family's efforts to sell his precious grandfather clock. It seems that the clock began running on the day that Sam was born, and he is convinced that if its stops running, so will he. As originally conceived by George Clayton Johnson, this episode was to have had a "cyclical" ending, with Sam's death coinciding with the birth of his grandson. But as rewritten by Richard de Roy, "Ninety Years Without Slumbering" settled for a "happier" -- and weaker -- denouement. Watch for Dick Wilson, TV's "Mr. Whipple," as a moving man. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ed Wynn, Carolyn Kearney, (more)
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