Harry Groener Movies
Harry Groener is known to many viewers as the mayor of Sunnydale on the cult-hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but some of the actor's biggest accomplishments have been on the stage. Born in Germany, Groener's family moved to the U.S. when he was two. He apprenticed with the San Francisco Ballet as a teenager, and went on to study drama at the University of Washington before embarking on what would become an extremely successful career on Broadway. Throughout the following decades, he would appear in countless plays such as Cats, Oklahoma!, and Spamalot, while simultaneously maintaining a career onscreen, appearing in movies like Road to Perdition and About Schmidt, and on TV shows like Dear John (as the very awkward Ralph), The West Wing, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
- Add Broadway's Lost Treasures, Vol. 3 to QueueAdd Broadway's Lost Treasures, Vol. 3 to top of Queue
Experience the performances that made Broadway history in this release that compiles twenty-three unforgettable musical performances from the Tony Award broadcast archives. Featuring such stars as Harvey Fierstein, Robert Goulet, and Carol Channing in performances from Show Boat, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Kiss Me Kate, My Fair Lady and many more, this release brings the magic of the stage directly into your living room. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Author John Ricca (Harry Groener) is murdered, apparently for writing a nasty, warts-and-all biography of legendary Kung Fu movie star Sonny "The Cobra" Chow. In the course of his investigation, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) gathers evidence which seems to indicate beyond doubt that Ricca was murdered by Sonny Chow himself. But this theory may not hold up in court: Sonny Chow has been dead for six years! Before this baffling case is solved, Monk has a too-close-for-comfort confrontation with the real killer, and ends up being buried alive--a grisly fate by anyone's standards, but especially so for a man with a crippling fear of both dirt and the dark. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
As a broken-down Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) searches for someplace to sleep, Faith (Eliza Dushku) struggles to find her voice as leader of the potentials. Eventually, she assumes the mantle of command and settles on a scheme to kidnap one of The First's weakest breed of minions: the blind, mute acolytes known as Bringers. Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) locates a spell to communicate with the captive enemy, who reveals the location of this brethren. Meanwhile, Spike (James Marsters), having learned of Buffy's ouster, locates the distraught Slayer and soothes her wounded psyche. Buffy confesses doubts in her ability to lead, but Spike professes his admiration for her power -- and his undying love. With Sunnydale nearly deserted and the electricity no longer running, the two hole up and share a chaste but tender night together. Back at the house, Kennedy (Iyari Limon) convinces a skittish Willow (Alyson Hannigan) to share an altogether racier evening with her. Faith, too, finds sexual solace -- in the arms of Principal Wood (D.B. Woodside); even exes Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Anya (Emma Caulfield) get in on the act. The next morning, Faith leads a team to the catacombs where the Bringers have sequestered themselves, unaware that a time bomb ticks away at their destination. Meanwhile, Buffy completes the mission the others wouldn't support, but she does so with agility and grace rather than brute strength. Instead of engaging in a slug-fest with Caleb (Nathan Fillion) at his winery, she dances out of his reach and discovers the secret entrance to a chamber where a powerful weapon lies hidden. Originally broadcast May 6, 2003, on UPN, "Touched" marked episode 142 of the cult-favorite series. Fans of the various Buffy comic-book series will recognize the mysterious weapon the Slayer unearths: it is a Scythe, first introduced in a comic called Fray about the adventures of a future vampire slayer. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Sisters Gabrielle C. and Maria Burton direct the independent comedy Manna From Heaven, written by their mother, Gabrielle B. Burton, and produced by their siblings at Five Sisters Productions. In Buffalo, NY, during the '50s, the wind blows in cash money to the tune of 20 thousand dollars. Believing it was a tangible gift from God, Sister Teresa (Ursula Burton) tries to gather up the money and pay it back 30 years later. However, her family members don't want to give up their free money and can't even get along, including card dealer Inez (Wendie Malick) and con artists Bunny (Shirley Jones) and Ed Burns (Frank Gorshin, in his final film role). Also starring Seymour Cassel, Shelley Duvall, Cloris Leachman, Harry Groener, Faye Grant, Jill Eikenberry and Louise Fletcher. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Burton, Ursula Burton, (more)
The acclaimed graphic novel from crime writer Max Allan Collins becomes this big budget Dreamworks drama from director Sam Mendes and screenwriter David Self. Tom Hanks stars as Michael Sullivan, a morally conflicted Depression-era hit man committing murder in the name of his employer, John Rooney (Paul Newman). A kindly, aging Irish crime boss who raised Sullivan as his surrogate son, Rooney is affiliated with Al Capone in Chicago and thus wields great power in the "Tri-Cities" of Moline, IL; Rock Island, IL; and Davenport, IA. Curious about his father's mysterious profession, Sullivan's son, Michael Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin), stows away in his father's automobile one night and witnesses the execution of a man at the hands of Sullivan and Rooney's biological son, Connor (Daniel Craig). Although Michael keeps his promise to remain silent about what he's seen, the paranoid and unstable Connor tries to wipe out the entire Sullivan clan anyway, succeeding only in killing Sullivan's wife, Annie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), and youngest son, Peter (Liam Aiken). Enraged at this and another surprise betrayal by the Rooneys, Sullivan embarks on a path of bloody retribution, Michael in tow. Although he intends to leave his boy with relatives in the rural town of Perdition once the coast is clear, he ends up exposing Michael to the goriest aspects of his talents, slaughtering former associates as he dodges contract assassin Maguire (Jude Law) and cripples the cash flow of the Rooney and Capone organizations through a series of bank robberies, attempting to force either mob family to offer up the sequestered Connor as a sacrifice. Inspired by the popular Japanese comic book series Lone Wolf and Cub and based loosely on an episode from the life and career of notorious real-life crime figures John and Connor Looney, Road to Perdition co-stars Stanley Tucci as legendary Chicago mobster Frank Nitti. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, (more)
- 2001
In this first episode of the series' two-part Season Six finale (originally telecast as a single hour-long special), Drew (Drew Carey) is appointed manager of Winfred-Louder's new woman's store, while Mimi (Kathy Kinney) gets Drew's old job--and becomes a maniac power freak in the process. In the days before the new store's opening, Drew goes into full panic mode, even imagining that all the mannequins are planning a revolt and that the trees are full of parrots who are mocking him. Deducing that Drew is merely suffering from lack of sleep and tension, the store's psychiatrist places him under observation for 72 hours--meaning that he will miss the opening of his own store. Can it possibly be the Mimi is behind Drew's nervous-breakdown-in-the-making? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
In the conclusion of the series' two-part Season Six finale (originally telecast as a single hour-long special), Drew (Drew Carey) apparently goes crazy just before he is to become manager Winfred-Louder's new woman's store, and is institutionalized at the behest of store shrink Hershlag (Harry Groener). The only person who knows where Drew is locked up is Mimi (Kathy Kinney), but she won't tell anyone--and for good reason, since it was Mimi who deliberately drove our hero over the edge. Eventually, Lewis (Ryan Stiles) and Oswald (Diedrich Bader) are able to gain entrance to the sanitarium holding Drew, but they're not able to get out until they deploy their new-found fireworks prowess. The season ends as Drew shows up just in time to open the new store--but what he discovers upon arrival drives him insane all over again! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Angry over being human and still only in the 12th grade, Anya (Emma Caulfield) enlists Willow (Alyson Hannigan) to help her get her amulet back. Their spell goes wrong, and, instead of the amulet, brings vampire Willow back (see "The Wish"). Soon, vamp Willow recruits some vampire henchmen, takes over the Bronze and generally sullies the real Willow's nice-girl reputation. Real Willow confronts vamp Willow in the library -- are they attracted to each other? -- and manages to lock her in the book cage. She trades outfits with her vampire self and goes to the Bronze to kick some pasty vampire butt. Later in the library, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), mistaking vamp Willow for the nice one, lets her out of the book cage, all the while preaching to vamp Willow about stealing boyfriends. Meanwhile, Anya recognizes the real Willow at the Bronze blowing her vampire cover and causing one heck of a barroom brawl. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
On orders from the Mayor (Harry Groener), Faith (Eliza Dushku) retrieves the Box of Gavrok and returns it to him. Buffy soon learns of the box, an apparent accoutrement for the Ascension -- see "Graduation Day, Pt. 1." She decides to curtail the Mayor's efforts and employs Willow (Alyson Hannigan) to magically lift the supernatural protection around the box. Later, while commandeering the box, Angel (David Boreanaz) and Buffy run into some vampires, but escape with the box. Meanwhile, Faith has kidnapped Willow and the Mayor is holding her for ransom to get the Box of Gavrok back. While captured, Willow manages to sneak a look at some of the pages in the Book of Ascension. Wesley argues that holding on to the box is more important than trading for Willow, but Buffy and friends decide otherwise. As the characters near the end of their senior year, Willow and Buffy discuss attending college together in Sunnydale. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Episode 48 finds Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) falling under the negative influence of maverick slayer Faith (Eliza Dushka). The episode is also noteworthy for the introduction of Buffy's new Watcher, Wesley (Alexis Denisof), a young and unwelcome administrative type who views Giles' training techniques as outmoded. At the start of the episode, Buffy dusts a vampire armed with two swords, which are then stolen by Mr. Trick (K. Todd Freeman), apparently playing some part in the mayor's ascension. Later, Buffy is introduced to the uptight and overconfident Wesley, whom she immediately dislikes. Nonetheless, Wesley informs her that the vampire with the swords belonged to the 15th century duelist cult El Eliminati -- worshippers of the demon Balthazar. They are now searching for a lost amulet, which is in all likelihood harmless. After finding the amulet and discovering where Balthazar is hiding, Faith persuades Buffy -- against her better judgment -- to break into a sporting goods store for weapons. They are arrested and -- again through Faith's persuasion -- cause the squad car to crash so they can escape. Giles and a terrified Wesley are captured by the El Eliminati; during the capture, Faith mistakenly kills Deputy Mayor Finch (Jack Plotnick), an act that will drive her insane and make her evil. Buffy and Angel (David Boreanaz) come to save Giles, who then shows up Wesley by deftly beheading Balthazar with some top-notch swordplay. Meanwhile, the Mayor (Harry Groener) performs a ceremony, after which he pronounces himself invincible for the next 100 days until the Ascension. Buffy confronts Faith about killing Finch -- killing a human is against slayer policy -- but Faith just doesn't care. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) is out on a slayer patrol with Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) when they come across the bodies of two dead children, both bearing wierd symbols on their hands. It is Giles' (Anthony Head) view that the children may have been murdered by students practicing the occult. Joyce becomes incensed by this idea, and, with the help of Mrs. Rosenberg -- Willow's (Alyson Hannigan) mom -- forms "MOO" or Mothers Opposed to the Occult. Soon, MOO confiscates Giles' library books and other Sunnydale students begin picking on classmates suspected of occult activity. Also, the ghosts of the two dead children appear to Joyce and insist on her avenging their murder. Meanwhile, Buffy and friends discover a demon that takes on the forms of two young children -- Hans and Greta Strauss -- whose deaths engender persecutorial insincts among humans who then seek out and kill the murderer. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
This seminal two-part episode features the end to the characters' high school careers. As the Mayor (Harry Groener) prepares for the Ascension, so do Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her friends -- with the help of former demon Anya (Emma Caulfield). Buffy assumes that she has to miss graduation to fight the Mayor, but is amused at finding out that he will give the commencement speech. Hoping to take Buffy's attention off the Ascension, Faith (Eliza Dushka) poisons Angel (David Boreanaz). Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) and Wesley (Alexis Denisof) research a cure and find that Angel must drink the blood of a slayer. Nervous about battling with the Mayor, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Oz (Seth Green) grow closer. Tired of Oz's distant behavior, Willow urges him to express his panic -- which he does by kissing her. Buffy attempts to sacrifice Faith to save Angel, stabbing her -- but this, of course, is not the end of their rivalry. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Featuring more subterfuge than a Shakespearean comedy, the good slayer/bad slayer plot thickens as Faith (Eliza Dushka) and the Mayor (Harry Groener) plan to take away Angel's (David Boreanaz) soul. Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), and the rest of the gang debate the nature of the Ascension -- which says it will make a city disappear; they all agree this would not be good! Following the Mayor's orders, Faith steals the Books of Ascension from a demon she has killed. She then goes to Angel and attempts to seduce him and turn him evil. It does not work, but Buffy comes in on them just as Faith kisses Angel. Later, unaware that Faith is working with the Mayor, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) has Buffy and Faith go look for the Books of Ascension. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Episode 49 finds Faith (Eliza Dushka) descending deeper into her slayer psychosis, causing Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) to have a nightmare. In it, Buffy is drowning with the dead Finch (Jack Plotnick); she awakens to find that Finch's body has been found, and the Mayor (Harry Groener) is vowing retribution. Later, Buffy breaks down sobbing in front of Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and tells her how Faith killed Finch, a moment that brings them together after their protracted falling out. At the urging of Willow, Buffy tries to tell Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) the truth -- but Faith has falsely accused Buffy of the crime. Giles later tells Buffy he did not believe Faith, but that this kind of accident is not uncommon with slayers. In the process, everyone finds out that Xander (Nicholas Brendan) had sex with Faith. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Failing to cure Angel (David Boreanaz) with Faith's (Eliza Dushka) blood, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) decides to sacrifice herself. Ignoring the obvious dangers, Buffy forces Angel to feed on her blood. Although her friends are angry at her for foolishly risking her life, they all team up -- with a covert plan -- to fight the Mayor. While giving his commencement speech, the Mayor winces with pain and quickly metamorphoses into a giant demon snake. As parents flee the auditorium, students whip open their commencement gowns to reveal an array of medieval weaponry -- and some handy flame-throwers. Buffy orchestrates the attack on the Mayor, luring him into the school library while everyone else is battling with vampires. Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) sets off the pre-planted explosives and blows the demon-mayor as well as most of Sunnydale High to bits. Oz, in a comedic denouement, suggests that everyone reflect on the horror they survived -- high school that is. A minor, but important plot point revealed earlier in the episode is that Buffy quits the Watcher's Council; thus, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) returns to England. A controversial episode, this second part of the March 1999 season finale was postponed until July in sensitivity to the then-recent shootings at Columbine High School. ~ All Movie Guide
In this bizarre drama that would seem to have "cult item" written all over it, Francis (Aidan Gillen) is a severely introverted young man with a speech impediment who shares a shabby apartment with his bedridden mother, Sal (Susan Tyrrell). Francis has developed certain voyeuristic tendencies which are satisfied through his job in a photo lab, where he helps process other people's snapshots all day. Soon Sal has a new boarder, a massive plumber named Vic (Mark Boone Junior), and Francis notices that a beautiful woman has moved in across the street -- who, to his delight, never draws her curtains. One day, while walking home, Francis sees the woman being attacked by a mugger, and he's able to rescue her. The grateful woman introduces herself as Gloria (Emmanuelle Seigner) and begins flirting with Francis; the evening ends with Francis in Gloria's bed, hardly able to believe his good fortune. However, he can't help watching her from across the street, and when the staunchly vegetarian Gloria is gobbling down some meat, he begins to suspect that not everything is what it seems to be, leading him into a labyrinth of violence and murder. The score was composed by Michael Brook, with contributions from Brian Eno. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aidan Gillen, Emmanuelle Seigner, (more)
Randa Haines directed this dance drama, focusing on young Cuban Rafael Infante (Latino singer Chayanne) after the death of his mother. Rafael leaves Cuba for Houston, where he meets his father John Burnett (Kris Kristofferson) for the first time. Burnette is unaware that the young man is his son, and Rafael can't figure out how to tell him. Rafael's mother was a singer on cruise ships where Burnett was a dance instructor. Burnett owns the Excelsior Dance Studio, and he gives Rafael a handyman job there, where he meets and falls for the Ruby (Vanessa L. Williams) a beautiful professional dancer. With the Las Vegas World Open Dance competition in a few weeks, dancers work on their routines, and Ruby aims for the Vegas prize. Rafael partners with Patricia (Jane Krakowski) after Burnett loses interest in the competition, and Ruby dances with her brutish ex-boyfriend, the father of her young son. Then it's on to Vegas. This film features great dance numbers and an homage to Gene Kelly beneath a sprinkler system. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vanessa Williams, Chayanne, (more)
- 1998
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and friends are recruited by Principal Snyder (Armin Shimerman) to sell chocolate bars for the Sunnydale band. Buffy pawns some off on Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) and Giles (Anthony Head) and then runs off to see Angel (David Boreanaz). Realizing that Buffy used them to distract each other, Joyce and Giles treat themselves to some sympathy and chocolate. Soon, the Sunnydale High staff is behaving irresponsibly and even the Bronze is swamped with adults acting like teenagers. Meanwhile, Giles steals a coat for Joyce and they make out on the hood of a police car. Realizing the connection between the band candy and the adults' goofy behavior, Buffy forces a squirrely Principal Snyder to show her where the candy is being manufactured. He leads Buffy to a warehouse where Ethan Rayne (Robin Sachs), the sorcerer -- see "Halloween" and "The Dark Age" -- is in charge of the candy production. Yet, the candy is a mere ruse to distract the slayer from an even more demonic activity. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1998
It's Homecoming at Sunnydale High and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) is determined to be crowned Homecoming Queen. As Angel (David Boreanaz) is still chained up in his mansion, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) accepts Scott's (Fab Filippo) invitation to the dance. Cordelia's self-involved behavior over her Homecoming campaign irks Buffy into running herself. Meanwhile, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) share more than their prospective outfits for the dance. Elsewhere, Mr. Trick (K. Todd Freeman) invites a motley band of psychotics and vampires back to Sunnydale for their own slayer killing festivities. Hoping to give Cordelia and Buffy a chance to mend their friendship, Xander arranges for the limo driver to pick up the feuding pair separately. This works fine, except that the limo driver is German psycho killer Hans Gruenshtahler (Joseph Daube), one of Mr. Trick's guests. Mayor Richard Wilkins III (Harry Groener) is also introduced in this episode, and his demonic intentions established. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1998
Everyone in Sunnydale seems to have relationship problems. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) cannot be with Angel (David Boreanaz) or he'll go evil. Willow (Alyson Hannigan) wants to cast a spell to stop the attraction between her and Xander (Nicholas Brendon). Even Spike (James Marsters) is moping around, still pining over losing Drusilla (Juliet Landau). Spike soon kidnaps Willow and Xander with the diabolical plan of forcing Willow to perform a spell to bring Drusilla back to him -- or they both die. Later, Spike lures Buffy and Angel into his plan by hanging out with Joyce (Kristine Sutherland). Buffy is ready to stake him until he informs her of his hostages. Oz (Seth Green) and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) are also told of Spike's plan and go to rescue their respective mates, only to find them kissing. Meanwhile, the Mayor (Harry Groener) sends some vampires out to kill Spike. Buffy, Angel, and Spike team up to fight them off. The thrill of the battle enlives Spike, who decides to go to Brazil and torture Drusilla until she loves him again. Needless to say, Willow and Xander's now-uncovered relationship spells an uncertain future for the friendship of Buffy's group. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1997
Feeling that she is living on borrowed time, Murphy wants to fulfill a lifelong dream: conducting a symphony orchestra. She is given this chance during a charity auction, only to find that Olivia Newton-John) is determined to fulfill the same dream herself. Meanwhile, Jim (Charles Kimbrough) launches a campaign to win back his estranged wife Doris. With this episode (originally scheduled to air on November 24, 1997), Concetta Tomei takes over from Janet Carroll in the role of Doris Dial. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
The title character in this episode manages to disrupt the lives of Paul and Jamie Buchman (Helen Hunt, Paul Reiser) without even trying. Complicating matters is Jamie's insistence upon seeing all sorts of sinister conspiracies at her workplace -- the result of a quick reading of Julius Caesar. And incidentally, you can't sneak up on a cockatoo the way they did on Daktari. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Jamie (Helen Hunt) reveals her pregnancy to boss Lance Brockwell (Harry Groener) and the rest of the City Hall staff. The question: Can she still maintain the hectic pace of her job? Meanwhile, Ira (John Pankow) takes over the financing of Paul's (Paul Reiser) epic documentary "Buchman" -- and manages to secure the services of a moderately famous narrator. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
