Samaria Graham Movies
- 1999
In this two-part miniseries, the formative days of rock & roll are relived through the experiences of a fictional musical quartet called the Heartaches. The group is led by the handsome Tyler (Brad Hawkins), whose heart belongs to Lyne (Bonnie Somerville), the female member of the band. Along the bumpy road to fame, Tyler achieves enormous success, his ego swelling with every new gig -- and the chasm between himself and his three fellow band members growing ever wider. Eventually Lyne breaks up with Tyler, finding success of her own in a most unexpected fashion. The soundtrack reverberates with expert re-creations of vintage rock & roll tunes, while B.B. King shows up to offer a rendition of Bob Dylan's "Fur Slippers." Shake, Rattle & Roll: An American Love Story was telecast on November 7 and 10, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bonnie Somerville, Samaria Graham, (more)
Detective Jean Martin (Linda Hamilton, in her first TV movie) isn't happy at the LAPD sex crimes unit and gets a transfer to robbery/homicide, where she's partnered with Dan Collins (Jeff Fahey) and Lt. Gil Suggs (Coolio). As a single mom, Martin tries to raise her young son (Tim Redwine) and engage in a few fleeting moments of romance, while simultaneously tracking down violence-prone, death-dealing teen bank robbers. Filmed in LA, this TV movie premiered January 15, 1998. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Hamilton, Jeff Fahey, (more)
- 1998
Oprah Winfrey co-produced this psychological drama, a TV movie remake of the acclaimed black-and-white low-budget ($180,000) 1962 David and Lisa. The original earned $1 million in its first run and also earned Oscar nominations for director Frank Perry and screenwriter Eleanor Perry, who adapted the story from the case history by Theodore Isaac Rubin. The script for the remake is credited to director Lloyd Kramer, Eleanor Perry, and Rubin. Emotionally disturbed teenager David (Lukas Haas), a genius with a fear of being touched, is taken by his mother to an institution where he encounters compassionate psychiatrist, Dr. Jack Miller (Sidney Poitier) and free-spirited teen Lisa (Brittany Murphy), who speaks in rhyme. Although Miller makes a supreme effort with David, it's Lisa who succeeds in reaching out to David and making contact with him, quelling his demons with love. The remake relocates the story from the East Coast to the West Coast, where it was filmed in Los Angeles locations (Venice, Los Feliz). The telepic premiered November 1, 1998 on ABC. When this remake was filmed, Rubin was still a practicing psychiatrist in New York at the age of 75. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sidney Poitier, Lukas Haas, (more)
- 1998
In the opening episode of Touched by an Angel's fifth season, amiable Angel of Death Andrew (John Dye) promises a dying hospital patient to help restore the faith of someone else at death's door. The identity of that person can be found in a missing Bible, which Andrew searches for with the help of Monica (Roma Downey). At the same time, the angels must root out the well-meaning but misguided mortal who has been posing as the Angel of Death, providing false hope to a number of terminal patients. Without giving away the ending, it can be noted that among the episode's guest stars are such reliable performers as Chad Lowe, Margot Kidder and Carrie Snodgress. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) has problems on several fronts. First off, he and Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) are investigating the disturbing murders of two children; second, his pregnant wife, Sylvia (Sharon Lawrence), is going through big-time bouts of morning sickness; and third, he doesn't like the fact that Diane (Kim Delaney) has gone off the wagon -- and has turned to Bobby instead of Andy for support. Elsewhere, Lesniak's (Justine Miceli) "private" revelation of her homosexuality is the talk of the precinct. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
As detective Cerreta (Paul Sorvino) recovers from his gunshot wounds, Logan (Chris Noth) adjusts himself to his new partner, Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach, in his first Law & Order appearance, save for an earlier guest-star appearance in a different role). Logan and Briscoe's current investigation results in the arrest of a suspect who claims self defense. In mounting his case against the accused, assistant D.A. Stone (Michael Moriarty) is distressed to learn that he will be coming face to face with an old enemy from his law-school days. Elaine Stritch won an Emmy award for her performance in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
It is no coincidence when a woman disappears shortly before the slaying of two ad-agency employees: All three had been witnesses to a mob execution. Assistant D.A. Stone (Michael Moriarty) attempts to prove that the kidnapping and murders had been ordered from within prison walls. But to do this, Stone will have to tilt with his longtime adversary, brilliant defense attorney Arthur Gold (George Grizzard). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
