Bess Armstrong Movies
Outgoing, athletic American actress Bess Armstrong attended Brown University, then headed off to New York to inaugurate a stage career. Bess and Lynnie Greene were starred in the 1977 sitcom On Our Own, one of the last comedy programs to be taped in Manhattan. Movie offers began sprouting up afterwards: The Four Seasons (1981), in which Bess was costarred with Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Jack Weston and Sandy Dennis, represents Ms. Armstrong's best screen work to date. The 1983 adventure High Road to China was intended to transform Bess and costar Tom Selleck into action-movie stars, but failed. Since that time, Bess Armstrong has made films for both theatrical and direct-to-TV release, and has costarred in a brace of television series: All is Forgiven (1986) and Married People (1990). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A devoted family man with a successful career in software unwittingly falls into a hopeless pattern of corporate slacking, lavish business trips, and beautiful prostitutes after being promoted to middle-management in this humorous tale of ambition and redemption starring Breckin Meyer. Ted (Meyer) was the kind of guy who always put his family first, but now that he's been promoted his priorities are beginning to shift. His new manager (Adam Scott) seems more interested in cutting corners and taking advantage of the high life than getting any real work done, and it isn't long before Ted becomes wrapped up in the perks of his new position as well. As much fun as he may be having at the moment, however, Ted will eventually have to return home and answer to his increasingly lonely wife. It's only a matter of time before Ted's corporate affairs come back to haunt him, and when they do will they really have been worth it? Laura Harris, Monica Keena, and Bess Armstrong co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Breckin Meyer, Laura Harris, (more)
- 2002
Arriving in Seattle to attend the birthday party of her best friend Mandy Roberts (Bess Armstrong), the recently widowed Jane Thornton (Cheryl Ladd) is shocked to learn that Mandy plans to divorce her husband Will (William R. Moses). Having recently lost a loved one herself, Jane feels the Roberts' pain, and endeavors to bring Jane and Will back together again. But things don't go quite as planned when, while helping Will alleviate his new-found loneliness, Jane realizes that she is attracted to the man. Although the premise smacks of contrivance, the development and the outcome are touchingly realistic -- and all too human. Filmed in Toronto, the made-for-cable Her Best Friend's Husband premiered March 11, 2002 on the Lifetime Network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
The ABC series That Was Then was a less comic variation on the premise of the like-vintage WB sitcom Do Over. James Bulliard starred as Travis Glass, a 29-year-old salesman who was still living with his parents. A perennial loser, Travis would give anything to return to his youth and correct past mistakes; more specifically, he would like to correct the glaring social error which drove his high-school sweetheart Claudia (Kiele Sanchez) into the arms of Travis' obnoxious brother Gregg (Brad Raider). Then on the eve of his 30th birthday, while listening to the Kinks' "Do It Again," Travis was miraculously thrust back to the year 1988 -- thereby getting his chance to use the knowledge and the experience gleaned in adulthood to straighten out the life of his "teenaged" self. Described by co-creators Daniel Cohn and Jeremy Miller as Back to the Future meets The Wonder Years, That Was Then premiered September 27, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Bulliard, Kiele Sanchez, (more)
- 2002
This presentation from Peter Pan is designed to help expecting parents through the difficult times they will face as they prepare to be parents. Released in 2002, Baby Time: Baby to Be - The Video Guide to Pregnancy is divided into ten specific chapters, discussing a range of topics. The titles of the chapters range from "Getting Prenatal Care" and "Your Growing Baby" to "When to Call the Doctor" and "Getting Ready for Baby." ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Kim Coles returns as "Dr. Mary" Thomas, the sassy radio-advice-show rival of Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer). When Mary and Frasier are assigned to co-host Seattle's Christmas Parade, Frasier is none too happy about it -- especially since Mary had started out as his temporary employee and ended up as his chief competition. Even worse, the public clearly "loves" Dr. Mary more than Dr. Crane, a fact that leads to an uncharacteristic stream of over-the-air venom from Frasier just at a time when his audience was primed for a bit of Yuletide warmth and cheer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A veteran salesman is forced to make way for a young drummer and has some improbable adventures along the way in this comedy-drama. Eddie (Robert Forster) has worked for over 30 years as a travelling jewelry salesman, but after he's stricken with a heart attack, he discovers he's no longer eligible for insurance. Given the fact that he routinely travels with a stash of goods worth up to a million dollars, this development means that he's going to have to give up working on the road. Bobby (Donnie Wahlberg) is the young salesman who is first in line to take over Eddie's route. Though Eddie doesn't think much of reckless Bobby, he takes him on the road to show him the ropes. As they spend some time together, Eddie takes a liking to Bobby, who wants to show Eddie his gratitude for teaching him how to sell in the big leagues. Bobby takes him to a combination roadhouse and brothel for an evening's entertainment, but things get sticky when jewel thieves track the two men to the club. Diamond Men also features Bess Armstrong and Jasmine Guy as a pair of working girls Eddie and Bobby meet in the course of their adventures. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Forster, Donnie Wahlberg, (more)
- 1998
Teenage spelling champ Aaron (Noah Fleiss) finds it impossible to cope with the death of his older brother Michael (Jess Raynes), who was not only his mother's favorite, but also a surrogate parent to the fatherless Aaron. Monica (Roma Downey) must not only help Aaron come to grips with his loss, but also prepare him from some more disturbing news regarding the affectionate letters supposedly written by his long-absent father. In the end, however, it is Aaron's mother Mary (Bess Armstrong) who must stand up and be counted in her son's hour of greatest need. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
This junior-level Ground Hog Day stars Erik Von Detten as Billy Jackson, a 13-year-old Scrooge in the making. Lacking the athletic prowess to play with his Christmas presents, mooning over a girl who doesn't know he's alive (and whose boyfriend is a bully), and ruminating over the fact that his rich uncle's new Val-U-Mall will put his father's store out of business, Billy has absolutely no reason to believe in Santa Claus--and he relays this sentiment to his kid sister Sarah (Yvonne Zima). In a burst of retaliatory stubbornness, Sarah counters Billy's sourness by wishing that it would be Christmas every day. Wham! She gets her wish, and Billy is trapped in an eternity of Christmases--and of course, he's the only person who is aware that time is standing still. At first intending take advantage of his foreknowledge by getting even with various enemies and selfishly grabbing up whatever he wants, Billy gradually realizes that the only way December 26th will ever dawn is if he stops thinking about himself and starts caring about others. First telecast by the Family Channel on December 17, 1996, the made-for-cable Christmas Every Day has become something of a Yuletide perennial in recent years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In this drama, an adolescent awakens from a coma to discover herself in the bosom of her family. This troubles her deeply because before she became comatose, she had run away from them. Matters become worse as she slowly starts remembering the events that led to her current condition. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracey Gold, Bess Armstrong, (more)
- 1996
The perils and pitfalls of the so-called "repressed memory syndrome" are brought home in a chilling fashion in this fact-based TV movie. After attending a Christian retreat, young Rebecca Bradshaw (Lisa Dean Ryan) returns home to accuse her deputy sheriff father Matthew (John Shea) of sexually abusing her as a child. Matthew protests that he is innocent, but as Rebecca's claims become more vivid and outrageous--involving satanic rituals and the like--even he begins to wonder if there is any truth to the story. Making matters worse, Rebecca spreads her accusations to Matthew's old poker-playing buddies, insisting that they are all involved in a diabolical coven which requires the molestation of children! With nowhere else to turn, Matthew goes to the local pastor for advice--only to be bluntly informed that the only way he can find peace is to confess to horrendous crimes that may never have happened. Adapted from a series of articles by Lawrence Wright, Forgotten Sins originally aired March 7, 1996 on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
The cast of this made-for-TV melodrama is comprised almost exclusively of popular young TV personalities, virtually all of them cast radically against type. Candace Cameron Bure heads the cast as Melissa Connell, a shy college freshman who accepts an invitation to attended a party held by her brother's fraternity. Admidst the booze, tobacco and sexual intercourse running rampant during the festivities, Melissa is savagely date-raped by one of her brother's frat members, Scott Baker (Paul-Mark Gosselaar). Demanding justice for her humiliation, Melissa runs up against a conspiracy of silence, and can only stand by helplessly as her B.M.O.C. attacker is acquitted by a campus court. Still, she intends to get even with Scott--but first she must accumulate irrefutable evidence of his libidinous behavior. She Cried No made its NBC debut on September 23, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Candace Cameron Bure, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, (more)
- 1995
In this tense drama, the parents of a runaway girl learn that she is being held captive by a murderous criminal. If they do not meet his demands, their little girl will die. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
A true-life story of sexual harassment in the workplace is told in this thought-provoking made-for-television movie. Gail O'Grady stars as Lt. Paula Coughlin, the Navy officer who lodged sexual harassment complaints after the infamous 1991 Las Vegas Tailhook convention. Coughlin took on the military and a scandal erupted as the story became public. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1995
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The happiness and heartbreaks of first-time parenting are lavishly visualized in this TV adaptation of Danielle Steel's novel Mixed Blessings. The teleplay by Virginia L. Browne and Rebecca Soladay evenly divides its time among three newly married couples, each one seriously contemplating parenthood. Though Brad Coleman (James Naughton) has a touchy relationship with his grown daughter from a previous marriage, his younger bride Pilar (Bess Armstrong) wants to experience motherhood firsthand. The relationship between Andy and Diana Douglas (Bruce Greenwood, Gabrielle Carteris) is imperiled when Diana has trouble conceiving. And while Charlie Winwood (Scott Baio) wants a baby in his life, his spouse Beth (Alexandra Paul) is not so easily persuaded. Add to this mixture a heavy dollop of "outside" emotional baggage and a few picture-book happy endings, and you have a typical (and typically well-received) Danielle Steel soufflé. The film initially aired December 11, 1995, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabrielle Carteris, Scott Baio, (more)
Kirk Douglas has the starring role in this made-for-television drama which is based on the novel The Lies Boys Tell by Lamar Herrin. Douglas stars as Ed Reece, an elderly man who decides that he wants to spend his final days back in the town where he was born. He persuades his grown son to make the journey with him for a long goodbye. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
For the first time ever, all 19 episodes of the critically-acclaimed television show My So-Called Life, starring Claire Danes, are available in one 5 disc DVD box set. Her portrayal of Angela Chase, the angst-ridden, introspective teen earned Clare Danes a Golden Globe. Even today, after being off the air since early 1995, the show has thousands of fans all around the world.
- Starring:
- Claire Danes, Bess Armstrong, (more)
- 1984
A notorious, internationally known sex symbol (Phoebe Cates) attempts to track down her birth mother in this glitzy, deliciously trashy melodrama. The mother could be one of three women, all of whom have vowed to never reveal the secret truth behind the child's illegitimate birth. Based on the novel by Shirley Conran. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bess Armstrong, Brooke Adams, (more)
- 1983
In this detective drama set in Hollywood, a private investigator uses logic to solve the murder of a famous mystery writer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1983
O'Malley (Tom Selleck) is a heavy-drinking, tough biplane pilot flying the skies of China for fun and profit when Eve (Bess Armstrong) seeks him out to help her find her father before he is declared dead and she loses an inheritance to the evil Bentik (Robert Morley). O'Malley does not really want Eve around, but adventure and the challenge beckon. If only their journey together had been sparked by a little excitement, clever humor, snappy dialogue, and seductive romantic chemistry, this bland film would be a different trip altogether. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Selleck, Bess Armstrong, (more)
- 1980
Bess Armstrong is the anguished heroine of the made-for-TV Walking Through the Fire. A normal, healthy housewife and mother, Bess' world is shattered when she falls victim to Hodgkin's disease. Not only is her life threatened by this debilitating illness, but also the life of her unborn child. Walking Through a Fire was adapted by Sue Grafton from the autobiography by Laurel Lee. This David Susskind production first aired May 15, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
The 11th Victim was partially based on the activities of California's Hillside Strangler. Bess Armstrong stars as a Des Moines TV journalist whose younger sister, an aspiring actress, has entered a life of prostitution in Los Angeles. When the sister becomes the eleventh victim of a sex murderer, Armstrong conducts her own investigation into Hollywood's night world of commercial sex. Max Gail plays a sympathetic cop who tries to save her from becoming a victim herself. The 11th Victim had potential, but was defeated by the usual TV-movie budgetary restrictions and desire to exploit rather than explore a "hot" issue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In this abysmal, tasteless farce, the pitfalls of patient and staff life in a big city hospital are supposed to be the brunt of the jokes, but there are no living jokes in this film. In the first several scenes, the obnoxious know-it-all Fats (Charles Haid) introduces new interns to the hospital with an aggressive monologue that exhorts them to stay away from the patients and basically do exactly the opposite of what the Hippocratic Oath enjoins. Everything spirals downhill from there. Later on, an intern quits in disgust but returns to the hospital when one of his friends needs his medical expertise. As an example of the hilarious behavior of the protagonists, a female doctor does an autopsy while she herself is bare to the waist. Certainly her scalpel might have been put to better use by excising that scene and then transplanting another movie onto this one. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Matheson, Charles Haid, (more)
- 1978
Though Desi Arnaz Jr. gets star billing in How to Pick Up Girls, the film's true leading man is third-billed Fred McCrarren. He plays a clueless Nebraska boy whose efforts to score with chicks in the Big City come to naught. Finally he stumbles upon the "secret" to successful dating with the help of his superstud roommate (Desi Arnaz Jr.) McCrarren is transformed into a makeout king--much to consternation of the nice girl (Bess Armstrong) who likes him for himself. Based on the book by Eric Weber (which one supposes was supposed to have been taken seriously), How to Pick up Girls is a made-for-TV smarmfest. At that, it is a few notches above the standard "horny teenager" flick which glutted the market in the early 1980s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In this romantic comedy, a news anchorwoman's prenuptial jitters increase dramatically when another man, a songwriter, falls deeply in love with her and decides that he would do anything to be her husband. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Thomas, Bess Armstrong, (more)
