Ted Atherton Movies

The mysterious and unexpected death of an iconic Hollywood star may be just the tip of an iceberg of scandal in this show biz drama based on a true story. George Reeves (played by Ben Affleck) was a journeyman actor who had played a small role in Gone With The Wind and appeared on screen with the likes of James Cagney, Rita Hayworth and Marlene Dietrich, but his career was not exactly booming when he was cast as comic book hero Superman in a 1951 B-movie, Superman and the Mole Men. A year later, the producers of the movie launched a syndicated Superman television series with Reeves returning as the Man of Steel. The show became a major hit, and Reeves was a star at last. However, on June 16, 1959, to the shock of many, Reeves was found dead of a gunshot wound. Police soon declared Reeves' death a suicide and closed the case, but his mother (Lois Smith) refused to believe her son took his own life, and hired Louis Simo (Adrian Brody), a private detective, to find out the truth about her son's passing. Simo found many Hollywood insiders did not care to cooperate as he researched the Reeves case, but his digging uncovered plenty of evidence suggesting the actor did not take his own life, and he also revealed one of Reeves's deepest secrets -- while he was engaged to marry a pretty young starlet, Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney), Reeves was also carrying on an affair with the beautiful Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), the wife of Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins), a powerful and ill-tempered executive at MGM. While the producers of Hollywoodland based their story on factual accounts of the investigation into the death of George Reeves, they were denied permission to use the Superman logo and the familiar introduction to the Adventures of Superman television show by the respective copyright holders. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This weekly, 60-minute series was based on the true story of one of the FBI's most unusual operatives. Deaf since the age of 18 months, Sue Thomas neither asked for nor received sympathy for her handicap at any time in her life: Indeed, as a youngster she was known to periodically bloody the noses of kids who taunted her in school. As an adult, Thomas became an accomplished pianist, and earned a political science degree from Massachusetts Springfield College. According to the chronology of the TV series, Sue was working as a fingerprint analyst at the FBI when agent Jack Hudson suddenly realized the value of her lip-reading skills. Thus did Sue become an agent herself, specializing in surveillance and deliberately seeking out the most exciting and dangerous assignments. Deaf actress Deanne Bray starred as Sue Thomas, with Yannick Bisson as Jack Hudson and "hearing-ear" dog Levi as himself. Though never shirking in its action and adventure content, Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye was family friendly and upbeat in the best PAX Network tradition. Created by Dave Alan Johnson and Gary R. Johnson, the series premiered October 13, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this romantic western, unlikely lovers leap across social boundaries so they can be together in the rugged, scenic Canadian Northwest. The young woman is a well-bred, impeccably mannered part of the country-club set, while her suitor is a rough-and-ready American rancher. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide