William Forward Movies
- 2002
Though Rory (Alexis Bledel) has her heart set on going to Harvard, grandpa Richard (Edward Herrmann) is determined to convince her to attend his alma mater, Yale. Lorelei (Lauren Graham) fumes over Richard's interference, but she can't prevent Rory from spending a day on the Yale campus. Meanwhile, Kirk's dance trophy is stolen, which seems to bother only Kirk (Sean Gunn); and Luke (Scott Patterson) warns Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) to cool it so far as Rory is concerned -- little suspecting how far the relationship between Rory and Jess has already gone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) learns that her mother is suffering from brain cancer and feels helpless to do anything about it. Anya (Emma Caulfield) and Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) counsel her and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) that a healing spell might make things worse because the magical and the medical aren't supposed to mix. Riley (Marc Blucas) comforts Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) and tries to do the same for Buffy, but she pushes him away. She's too busy seeking out the giant snake-demon that Glory (Clare Kramer) has dispatched to find the mystical Key that, unbeknownst to the vivacious demon, has actually been incarnated into human form as Dawn. Buffy is furious to discover that Glory procured the materials for her enchantment from Giles and Anya's shop -- walked right in and out under their noses. Nonetheless, after receiving another butt-kicking from Glory, the Slayer tracks down the she-demon's minion and savagely mutilates it, thereby saving Dawn and venting some of her own feelings of powerlessness. Back at the hospital, she affects steely determination, once again shutting Riley out. Of course, she has no clue that he's been getting his kicks by letting a vampire tart suck his neck and then staking her. Originally broadcast November 21, 2000, on the WB network, "Shadow" marked episode 86 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Delenn is kidnapped by renegade mebers of the Nightwatch. Her captors threaten to kill Delenn unless the Minbari forces leave immediately. It is up to Sheridan and Garibaldi to devise a ruse that will enable them to rescue their comrade without depleting their defenses. This episode is highlighted by a B5 ceremony honoring the recent war dead, and by a surprise "cosmetic change" at the end of the story. First seen in America during the week of April 8, 1996, "Ceremonies of Light and Dark" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian, (more)
- 1996
Londo's political ambition spurs him to attempt the assassination of G'Kar. With characteristic cunning, Londo enlists the unwitting assistance of Vir to set a trap for his old enemy -- but not if Garibaldi has anything to say in the matter. Meanwhile, Capt. Sheridan courts madness when he tries to second-guess the Shadows. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place" was seen in the United Kingdom on September 8, 1996, and in America on October 14 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian, (more)
- 1995
The Centauri emerge victorious in their war against the Narn, largely due to the leadership of Londo. Ordered to surrender G'Kar to the Centauri, Sheridan temporarily offers sanctuary to his comrade in arms. And the mysterious Draal (John Schuck) contacts Sheridan with some startling information.J. Michael Straczynski's script for "The Long, Twilight Struggle" was full of suprising plot twists to which viewers in England were privy long before the series' American fans. The episode first aired in the United Kingdom on August 1, 1995, then made its belated US debut on October 19 of that year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian, (more)
- 1995
Captain Sheridan is subject to bizarre hallucinations while visiting the Gray Corridor. Seeking solutions to these strange visions, both Dr. Franklin and Garibaldi risk their own lives. And Londo plays host to Urza Jaddo (Carmen Argenziano), an old friend who has been accused of treason by the Centauri government. Written by Lawrence G. DiTillio, "Knives" made its first American TV appearance on May 17, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian, (more)
- 1995
On the verge of death, the Emperor of Centauri (Turhan Bey) hopes to negotiate honorable peace with the Narn. Instead, a power struggle blossoms into an all-out war, with Nondo in the middle. And former B5 Commander Sinclair makes unexpected contact with Garibaldi, delivering a message which could well determine the fate of everyone on the space station. First telecast on February 1, 1995, "The Coming of Shadows" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian, (more)
- 1994
Londo's political ambitions nearly prove to be his downfall when he manages to alienate a visiting Techno-Mage (a humanoid wizard) named Elric (Michael Ansara). Newly promoted to a diplomatic post, Ivanova arbitrates an ancient rivalry. And Garibaldi, at last recovered from his wound, makes a fateful decision. First broadcast on November 16, 1994, "The Geometry of Shadows" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian, (more)
This 1993 remake of the 1950 film Born Yesterday (based on the 1946 Garson Kanin stage play) was retooled as a star vehicle for then-marrieds Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. Roughneck self-made millionaire Harry Brock (John Goodman) wants to become a powerful Washington lobbyist. Brock's efforts to hobnob with DC uppercrust are compromised by his brash, embarrassingly vulgar mistress Billie Dawn (Melanie Griffith). He'd like to unload the ex-chorus girl, but he thinks he's in love: besides, she knows too much about his crooked dealings to be running around loose. Thus, Brock hires bookish Paul Verrall (Don Johnson) to educate Billie. Verrall does his job amazingly well, awakening Billie to her responsibilities as a loyal, honest American: along the way, the two fall in love. Featured in the cast are Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee and his star reporter (and wife) Sally Quinn, cast as DC power brokers. Also appearing in a small role is 1960s starlet Celeste Yarnell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Melanie Griffith, John Goodman, (more)
- 1992
Following an temporary insanity acquittal of her daughter's rapist and murderer, a mother goes after the criminal. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donna Mills, Lee Grant, (more)
- 1991
- R
- Add The Waterdance to Queue
Paralyzed in a 1984 accident, writer/director Neal Jimenez (of River's Edge fame) channelled his own experiences and emotions into his 1991 film Waterdance. Eric Stoltz stars as a young writer left incapacitated by a hiking accident. He is placed in a paraplegic ward, peopled by patients of all races and emotional states. Together with his new-found friends, Stoltz rebels against the hospital system and his own debilitation. Helen Hunt and Wesley Snipes are among the costars in this effective update (though not a remake) of 1950's The Men. Waterdance was given a brief theatrical release in 1992 before being telecast on PBS' American Playhouse in early 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Stoltz, Helen Hunt, (more)
The bizarre relationship between an overbearing mother and her son, a convicted rapist, forms the basis of this dark drama based on a novel by Jack Olsen, which is in turn based on a true story. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dale Midkiff, (more)
- 1990
Originally telecast in two parts, Blind Faith was adapted from a fact-based book by investigative author Joe McGinniss. The scene is Toms River, New Jersey; the year is 1984. Insurance salesman Rob Marshall (Robert Urich) informs the authorities that his wife Maria (Joanna Kerns) has been murdered by a band of marauding thieves. Marshall claims that he and his wife were ambushed at a remote picnic area, and for a while everyone believes the man. But further investigation leads to the conclusion that Maria was the victim of a murder conspiracy, fomented by Marshall himself in order collect his wife's insurance. The climactic trial forces Marshall's three teenaged sons to bear witness against their own father. With grim irony, Blind Faith was first broadcast just before Valentine's Day, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Victoria Principal plays a deputy District Attorney; that we can believe. James Farentino costars as a judge; this is also believable. Opponents in the courtroom, Principal and Farentino are lovers in bed; okay, we'll buy that. Principal is trying to secure a murder conviction for a pimp/blackmailer; we're still with this. But what Principal doesn't know is that the actual murderer is none other than Judge Farentino. Now you've lost us. Naked Lie was first telecast February 26, 1989, an event deemed worthy of a TV Guide cover; one gets the feeling that Victoria Principal could have gotten a TV Guide cover in 1989 by reading the phone book. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
"They didn't kill me; I was dead already," is the statement uttered by Dexter Cornell (Dennis Quaid), an English professor at the University of Texas at Austin who has been poisoned by a slow-acting toxin and who has twenty-four hours to track down his killers before he ceases to exist. Remade from the 1949 Rudolph Mate thriller by Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton, the co-directors jazz up the old luridness with slap-up doggishness that boosts the intensity-level higher than it deserves to go. Cornell is a burned-out novelist trying to hold on to tenure at the university while seeing his marriage collapse around him. As if that weren't enough, he is receiving amorous come-ons from smart, young student Sydney Fuller (Meg Ryan) and being badgered by another student, Nick Lang (Robert Knepper), to read his brilliant first novel. Not long after Dex demurs to Nick to read his novel, Nick is killed in a fall. Only then does Dex find out that Nick has been having an affair with his wife. Things keep going from bad to worse when, after an all-night drinking binge, Dex discovers that he has been slipped a poison that will kill him within 24 hours. Teaming up with the adoring Sydney, Dex tries to track down the person who poisoned him while dodging the cops, since he happens to be a prime murder suspect. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan, (more)
This made-for-TV effort from horror director Wes Craven and Salem's Lot producer Richard Kobritz involves a case of cryogenic suspension gone horribly wrong. A wealthy industrialist (Michael Beck) arranges for his body to be kept on ice in a high-tech cryonic chamber with specialized instructions regarding his revival at a future date when medical science can restore him to life. Thanks to a computer malfunction, these instructions are not followed properly, and Beck emerges from the frozen crypt as an empty, soulless creature and a vessel of pure evil with an appetite for destruction. So evil, in fact, that his own mother (Beatrice Straight) decides he must be destroyed and sets out to do the deed herself. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
In this flat attempt at comedy by the director of the Police Academy series, Neal Israel, a brash Dana Cannon (John Murray, brother of Bill) lands in a crooked re-education school for delinquent drivers, run by Deputy Halik (James Keach, brother of Stacey). The objective is to lord it over the miscreant drivers sent to the school (wrongly given citations and tickets by cops out to fill a quota, according to opening sequences) and make some money in the bargain. Deputy Halik has already decided to flunk out anyone in his classes, with the objective of impounding their cars and then auctioning off the vehicles to the highest bidders. Dana, the irrepressible new student, manages to unite the other put-upon drivers at the school into a single, determined faction -- and trouble quickly brews. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Murray, Jennifer Tilly, (more)
