Judy Farrell Movies
Cliff Robertson wrote, produced, directed and acted the lead in this film about a rodeo performer. The rodeo footage in this film was shot at actual rodeo competitions. Rodeo rider J.W. Coop (Robertson) has just spent ten years in jail for passing bad checks. He comes out and discovers that everything except his crazy mother (Geraldine Page) has changed. Riders don't compete in all-around events anymore, but fly all over the country in private planes to compete in the same event in several rodeos a day. Furthermore, the sexual liberation movement has changed the way women relate to men. He is nonplused to discover a hippyish woman (Cristina Ferrare) who wants a no-strings relationship with him. The idea of health food catches him by surprise, too. Coop wants and needs to win a national rodeo championship, despite all the new challenges he faces. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cliff Robertson, Geraldine Page, (more)
- 1972
Roy (Kevin Tighe) tries to arrange a date between wife's cousin and his coworker John (Randolph Mantooth)--and one can only imagine how happy John is over this situation. Squad 51's caseload in this episode includes saving a youngster whose arm is caught in a swimming-pool drainpipe, a woman who suffers an epileptic fit after barely averting a car accident, and a young man who has been shot by his own father-in-law. Also: a case of tetanus poisoning, and an overweight man whose pacemaker fails at a crucial moment. Featured in the cast is a very young, pre-Little House on the Prairie Melissa Gilbert, and former child actress Patricia McCormack (The Bad Seed). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Falling for Renee Stern (Lark Geib), the daughter of Rabbi Ben Stern (Noam Pitlik), Danny (Danny Bonaduce) tries to win her over by telling her that he's Jewish. Danny's little white lie results in a lot of embarrassment for all concerned when the Sterns invite the Partridges to a family dinner. (Oy Vey!) Song: "I Heard You Singing Your Song". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
A stove explosion leaves Hawkeye (Alan Alda) badly burned and blinded. Faced with the prospect of permanent sightlessness, Hawkeye takes some comfort in the consul of a patient who likewise can no longer see (that patient is played by blind singer-composer Tom Sullivan). On a less somber note, Frank (Larry Linville) bets heavily on a baseball game--the outcome of which he already knows. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Radar (Gary Burghoff) becomes convinced that he will attract women if he gets a tattoo. The rest of the camp forms a protective circle around Radar, hoping to prevent him from defiling his innocent young epidermis. But Radar is determined, and soon he is sporting a beauty of a skin decoration--but things aren't quite what they appear to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
There is a rapist on the loose in Los Angeles, and Quincy (Jack Klugman) is fairly certain of the man's identity. Unfortunately, some potentially damning evidence has been destroyed while the most recent victim was being treated at an E.R. Even so, Quincy turns up the heat on the most likely suspect--who exacts a terrible revenge upon Carol Bowen (Adrienne Barbeau), a rape counselor who happens to be one of Quincy's closest friends. This is the final episode of Quincy, M.E.'s second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Quincy (Jack Klugman) and Sam (Robert Ito) are summoned to the small Arizona town of Porterville, where a mysterious disease has sent several local citizens to the hospital. The source of the disease remains a mystery until Quincy finds a correlation between the human epidemic and and malady that is decimating the livestock of tyrannical cattle baron Jack Porter (Guy Stockwell). This episode was originally scheduled to air on December 2, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
When the 4077th runs out of whole blood during a medical emergency, everyone in the camp donates a pint of their own--even the needle-shy Frank Burns (Larry Linville). Ultimately, however, the crisis is resolved by the timely arrival of some Turkish troops. Meanwhile, hot-headed Cpl. Moody (Hilly Hicks) gets a valuable lesson in moderate behavior. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The men and women of the 4077th finally get to meet Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan's fiancee, Col. Donald Penobscott (here played by Beeson Carroll). Despite the predictions of sullen Frank Burns (Larry Linville), who still carries a torch for Hot Lips (Loretta Swit) and is convinced that the belated wedding ceremony will never take place, Donald agrees to be married in camp immediately. What follows is a riotous bachelor party and an equally hilarious wedding, replete with hung-over commanding officers, unnecessary body casts, an off-key piano solo, and a gorgeous "ensemble" from fashionable cross-dresser Klinger (Jamie Farr). This was the final episode of M*A*S*H's fifth season--and the last series appearance of Larry Linville. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
A screening of Col. Potter's favorite movie My Darling Clementine is constantly interrupted by broken film and faulty projection equipment. When further showing of the movie proves impossible, Potter (Harry Morgan) frets that the 4077's morale will hit an all-time low. Fortunately, the resourceful doctors and nurses are capable of providing their own entertainment: Several people re-enact scenes from the movie (with Klinger [Jamie Farr] a standout as Walter Brennan), while Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) performs an impromptu piano solo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
- R
Neil Simon's bright, autobiographical romantic comedy, a big Broadway success, has been adapted to the screen in a screenplay by Simon, directed by Robert Moore, that subtly shifts the emphasis from the play. In the stage version, recently widowed writer George Schneider (James Caan) and his efforts to form a new relationship after years of marriage, was the crux of the story. The film, however, reduces George's role and, instead, emphasizes the character of Jennie MacLaine (Marsha Mason), the actress being wooed by George. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Caan, Marsha Mason, (more)
- 1979
Sometimes, Cupid's arrows land in the wrong targets. How else can one explain why the high-born Charles (David Ogden Stiers) has fallen in love with low-born Korean bar girl Sooni (Sylvia Chang)? And what other compelling reason would cause fashionable nurse Debbie Clarke (Kit McDonough) to enter into romance with blue-collar Klinger (Jamie Farr)? (It can't simply be because Debbie is impressed by Klinger's cross-dressing wardrobe--though she is, she truly is). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
The made-for-TV Fugitive Family questions the efficacy of the government's witness protection program. After sending syndicate kingpin Anthony Durano (Mel Ferrer) to prison, undercover agent Brian Roberts (Richard Crenna) and his entire family is marked for death by Durano's successor Peter Ritchie (Don Murray). Roberts and his brood are forced to change their names and move to a faraway city, there to start life anew. Vintner Olan Vacio (Eli Wallach) hires Roberts as a field worker, eventually making him his partner. This puts Vacio in the line of fire when Ritchie's hoods come calling. Fugitive Family first aired October 1, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is confident that his rare bottle of vintage Bordeaux wine will prove to be a "chick magnet" amongst the nurses. Elsewhere, Col. Potter (Harry Morgan) butts up against the bureaucracy when the Army bans a powerful anesthetic. With his patients suffering, Potter must find a suitable replacement painkiller. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
The Kid From Nowhere is built around the talents of Ricky Wittman, a remarkable young actor afflicted with Down's Syndrome who appeared in several TV programs during the early 1980s. Judy Farrell's script traces the efforts of a California mother (Susan Saint James) to curb the sudden energy outbursts of her retarded son. The boy is entered in a school athletic program, attaining confidence and achievement through his participation the Special Olympics. Director Beau Bridges has a supporting role as the boy's coach. Kid From Nowhere offers no easy solutions, but it does point out the importance of stressing self-value when dealing with children of special needs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
In one of his first major roles, 13-year-old River Phoenix stars in this ABC Afterschool Special as junior-high student Brian Ellsworth, who has a habit of writing his words -- and the letters -- backwards. Brian's friends think he's kidding, his teachers think he's lazy, and his parents think he's slow. In truth, Brian suffers from dyslexia -- or as he explains his plight, "You know what I see? A bunch of letters. All mixed up." Cast as Brian's younger brother Robby is River Phoenix's real-life sibling Leaf, who would later bill himself as Joaquin Phoenix. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- River Phoenix, Madge Sinclair, (more)
Two men in search of their soul mates discover that a little humor goes a long way in keeping love and attraction fresh in this romantic comedy starring Matthew Montgomery and Jeremy Lucas. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
