Bette Ford Movies
- 2003
- PG13
Part of the Animatrix series of animated shorts set in the universe of the Wachowski brothers' The Matrix, Final Flight of the Osiris comes from Andy Jones, the animation director on Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Beginning with a playful sparring session with erotic undertones, the film tells the story of the last moments of the crew of the hovercraft The Osiris. When the crew spots a group of Sentinals approaching, it's a race against time to contact their brethren in the last city of Zion (via the Matrix) before the machines attack their ship. Kevin Michael Richardson and Pamela Segall are among those who provide voices. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Abby's (Maura Tierney) bipolar mother, Maggie (Sally Field), testifies in court as to her competency, with surprising results. Back at the ER, Weaver (Laura Innes) is shocked to learn that her latest patient, a homeless derelict (Bette Ford), is actually "Princess Taffeta," Weaver's favorite kiddie-show host. Benton (Eriq La Salle) treats a repeat heart patient, his former teacher Carl Ferris (Roger Robinson). Palladino's (Erik Palladino) turbulent past catches up with him. And Carter (Noah Wyle) treats a young girl whose boyfriend has been trying to abort her baby through "natural" means. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Yasmine Bleeth is cast very much against type in this made-for-TV melodrama as Emily Gilmore, a meek, mild woman with a hideously scarred face. Receiving no help or support from her alcoholic mother and gorgeous sister, the easily led Emily falls in with a bad crowd, and before long she is sent to prison for a robbery she didn't commit. Once behind bars, Emily is able to get plastic surgery, emerging as stunningly beautiful--and totally unrecognizable. Upon her release, the no-longer shy and retiring Emily assumes a new identity--the first step in a chilling scheme of revenge, aimed at settling the score with the man (James Wilder) who framed her. Originally telecast March 11, 1996 by NBC, A Face to Die For has been released to video as simply The Face. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
- PG
This unflattering TV movie offers a portrayal of the stormy marriage between comedienne Lucille Ball (Frances Fisher) and her Cuban bandleader husband (Maurice Benard). ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frances Fisher, Maurice Benard, (more)
In Marked for Death, Steven Seagal is told to "try to find the gentle person inside yourself." But he doesn't spend too much time looking, preferring instead to crack the spines of his victims. Seagal plays John Hatcher, a burned-out narcotics agent who resigns from the Drug Enforcement Administration after his partner is killed. He returns to his hometown and finds the city in the thrall of a vicious Jamaican drug gang, led by the nasty Screwface (Basil Wallace). He meets an old friend, now a high school football coach, who tells John about losing his best player and his 13-year-old nephew to drug overdoses. Soon John's family is threatened and his prize Mustang stolen, so John joins forces with his buddy to take on Screwface and the drug gang themselves. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Seagal, Basil Wallace, (more)
- 1990
Hunter (Fred Dryer) finds out that the undercover cop (Blake Bahner) who was murdered during his investigation of a computer-chip robbery ring was actually the illegitimate son of Mafia don Sal Scarlatti (played by a pre-Law&Order Jerry Orbach). While Hunter tracks down the killer, the grieving Scarlatti maps out his own plan of revenge. But neither Hunter nor Scarlatti realize (until it is too late!) that the murderer is Scarlatti's other son Tony (Paul Regina)--who never imagined that he was snuffing out his own half-brother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Will (Will Smith) is both amazed and distressed by how his cousins' leisure activities are so meticulously dictated and scheduled by his control-freak Uncle Philip (James Avery). Aware that cousin Ashley (Tatyana M. Ali) is unhappy over being forced to take violin lessons, Will convinces her to trade her fiddle for a set of drums. Naturally, Phillip is outraged, but Aunt Vivian (Janet Hubert-Whitten) is supportive of Will's actions--at least until Ashley announces that she plans to give up her ballet lessons as well. This episode marks the first appearance of Will's best friend Jazz (Jeff Townes)--not to mention the first time that Jazz is unceremoniously booted out of the Banks mansion by a fed-up Philip! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
In the conclusion of a two-part story, the upcoming marriage between Coach (Nicholas Colasanto) and Irene Blanchard (Bette Ford) is abruptly called off when Irene wins the lottery. Despite this setback, Coach is convinced that Irene still loves him. The gang at Cheers do their best to dissuade Coach from his stubborn insistence that Irene will show up in time for the wedding ceremony. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
In the first episode of a two-part story, Coach (Nicholas Colasanto) falls in love with a woman named Irene (Bette Ford). Much to Coach's surprise, Irene instantly accepts his marriage proposal. Equally surprised is Sam (Ted Danson), who is turned down flat by Irene's sexy daughter Sue (Ellen Regan). Meanwhile, Diane (Shelley Long) develops a strategy to regain custody of items loaned to Sam during their romance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this fourth installment of the Dirty Harry series, Harry has been banished temporarily from San Francisco because his superiors are uncomfortable about his feud with a local crime boss. He goes to an oceanside small town for a little rest and recuperation but finds the town has been traumatized by a series of brutal murders. Harry meets and falls in love with Jennifer Spencer (Sandra Locke), a young artist. Jennifer and her sister were brutally raped a few years previously by a group of men, leaving her sister catatonic and Jennifer filled with a rage that is expressed in her disturbing artworks. Harry investigates the killings and the rapes, and one by one he dispatches Jennifer's rapists, one of whom is the son of the local police chief (which explains why the police have done little investigating). Finally, Harry finds out that Jennifer also dispenses her own brand of justice because she cannot rely on the criminal justice system. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, (more)
Clint Eastwood put his tough-guy image on hold for this personal project, which follows a musician taking one final chance at the big time. Red Stovall (Eastwood) is a would-be country singer who has been bouncing around the margins of the music business for years. With nowhere in particular to go, Red arrives at the failing Oklahoma farm of his sister for an extended visit, where her son Whit (Kyle Eastwood) quickly bonds with his uncle. However, it's obvious that Red is in very poor health, drinking heavily and breathing with difficulty, and when Red is invited to audition for the Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Whit tags along for the road trip to keep an eye on his ailing uncle. En route, Red and Whit are joined by Whit's grandfather (John McIntire) and another hopeful vocalist, Marlene (Alexa Kenin), who like Red is chasing her own dreams of stardom on the Opry. Clint Eastwood performed his own vocals and guitar work for Honkytonk Man, and a number of Nashville legends appear in cameo roles, including Marty Robbins, Porter Wagoner, Ray Price, Merle Travis, and Johnny Gimble. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clint Eastwood, Kyle Eastwood, (more)
- 1977
Captain Stanley (Michael Norell) traces his grouchy behavior to his arm pains, prompting the staff to suggest that he have a medical checkup. But Stanley balks, worried that he may be suffering from arthritis, thus rendering him expendable. This week's emergency load includes a man who gets his hand caught in a garage-door opener, a raging refinery fire,and a woman whose plastic surgery has resulted in some rather nasty side effects. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
A huge rainstorm traps Johnny (Randolph Mantooth) and Roy (Kevin Tighe) at Station 86. It turns out that the two paramedics are the only medical personnel in the area, as the storm causes major power failures and washed-out roads and bridges. Among the patients treated during the crisis are an old lady with a hip injury, a child suffering from bronchitis, a policeman struck by lightning, and a major traffic pile-up. Lindel Stuart guest stars as Dr. Slade, a psychiatrist who performs above and beyond the call of duty as the storm gets worse and worse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
