Brooke Adams Movies
The daughter of actors, Brooke Adams was once praised by the press for her supremely flexible countenance -- with expressions and demeanors to accommodate virtually any emotion or situation. Adams attended New York's High School of Performing Arts and the Institute of American Ballet, and took private acting lessons from Lee Strasberg. At age six, she made her Broadway debut in the 1954 revival of Finian's Rainbow. Eleven years later, she was cast as Burl Ives' teenaged daughter in the extremely short-lived TV sitcom O.K. Crackerby (1965-1966) on ABC.Adams then kept a low professional profile until making her adult off-Broadway bow in 1974, appearing in yet another revival, The Petrified Forest. A great future was predicted for Brooke when she starred as Abby, the romantic bone of contention between Richard Gere and Sam Shepard in Terrence Malick's critically acclaimed 1978 film, Days of Heaven. That same year, she played Elizabeth Driscoll (the Dana Wynter role) in the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, opposite Donald Sutherland, and in 1979 she was Sean Connery's ethereal leading lady in the Richard Lester-directed Cuba. Any one of those three roles could have spelled superstardom for Brooke -- had she really wanted to be a superstar. Instead, she deliberately avoided the trappings of celebritydom, preferring to measure her achievements by her own standards rather than Hollywood's. And, if that meant accepting "small" but artistically rewarding theatrical projects or teaching acting classics to emotionally disturbed children, rather than accepting a role in the latest Spielberg or Scorsese blockbuster, so be it. Brooke Adams' more notable credits during the mid- to late '80s and '90s included guest appearances on TV's Moonlighting (as single mother and David Addison Lamaze partner Terri Knowles), a role in the Broadway production The Heidi Chronicles, the narration duties for the 1994 miniseries The Fire This Time, and the role of Ione Skye's hardscrabble mother in the Allison Anders-directed Gas Food Lodging (1992). These represented high points, however, and more often than not, Adams found herself relegated to parts unworthy of her, such as the unevenly received 1985 adaptation of Kevin Wade's play Key Exchange (in which she reprised her stage role) and the histrionic TV movies Lace (1984) and Lace II (1985).
In subsequent years, Adams made a greater splash on television, with guest appearances on such series programs as Wings, Monk (both opposite husband Tony Shalhoub), and Touched by an Angel. She also returned to the big screen for supporting roles in several projects, including the 1995 Baby-Sitters Club and the 2007 Griffin Dunne-directed romantic comedy The Accidental Husband. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 2007
Lt. Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) retires from the force when he inherits a farm from his late uncle Harvey. It isn't long before Disher begins to suspect that his uncle was murdered--along with his prize pig Harvey. Though he recoils at the notion of being stranded on a dusty, dirty farm with dozens of unsanitary animals, Monk swallows hard and agrees to investigate Harvey's death, disguising himself as a migrant worker for the purpose. Aided and abetted by the local constabulary and a friendly farmhand named Oates (James Gammon), Monk is soon harvesting clues left and right--especially the fact that the farm's principal "crop" is of an extremely high value indeed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Brooke Adams, the wife of Monk star Tony Shalhoub, appears in this final episode of the series' third season as Abigail Carlyle, the mother of violin prodigy Daniel Carlyle...and a key player in a bizarre extortion plot. Monk is called in to investigate after a 22-month-old kid named Tommy (played by twins Preston Shores and Trevor Shores) shows up carrying a severed human finger in his tiny fist. The clues lead Monk to deduce that the finger belonged to a violin player, and this leads him to a meeting with the Carlyles. It doesn't take long for Monk to realize that "Daniel Carlyle" is an impostor, and that the real Daniel has been kidnapped--and to top it off, THIS crime is inextricably linked to little Tommy's grisly discovery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Award-winning actor Tony Shalhoub adds the "director" hyphenate to his calling card with this labor of love, starring his wife, Brooke Adams, and written by his sister-in-law, Lynne Adams. Made-Up lightly parodies the reality-TV "makeover" craze as it tells the tale of Elizabeth (Brooke Adams), a middle-aged divorcée who agrees to be made over by her daughter Sara (Eva Amurri), a process which will be documented for eternity by her aspiring-filmmaker sister, Kate (Lynne Adams). A former actress still smarting over her long-since faded stardom, Elizabeth is none too pleased at having her transformation videotaped, but she goes along with it, and soon finds that her "new you" is winning over the affections of a new beau, restaurateur Max (Shalhoub). But self-doubt continues to nag at Elizabeth, to the point where she almost undermines her own chances at romance. Lynne Adams based her screenplay on her own one-woman play; Gary Sinise makes an appearance as Elizabeth's ex-husband. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brooke Adams, Lynne Adams, (more)
- 2002
In the final episode of Monk's first season, the ultra-phobic Mr. Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is forced to take his first plane ride. Galvanized by sheer terror, Monk spends the first part of the flight driving his fellow passengers crazy with his anxious questions. Before long, he really has something to obsess over when he deduces that passenger Stephan Chabrol (Carl Marotte) has murdered his wife in mid-flight--even though a woman claiming to be Mrs. Chabrol is seated right next to him. The topheavy guest cast includes Tony Shalhoub's former Wings costar Tim Daly) as himself; Shalhoub's real-life wife Brooke Adams as a suspicious stewardess; and prolific producer-director Garry Marshall as a garrulous extension-cord salesman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian (Steven Weber) find themselves back in charge of Sandpiper Air, just in time for Christmas Eve. To celebrate the occasion, Joe plans a surprise party for Helen (Crystal Bernard), who is out shopping with Fay (Rebecca Schull) and Casey (Amy Yasbeck). Unfortunately, the party may never come up thanks to a malfunctioning time-lock and a pair of feuding siblings (Phil Leeds, Abe Vigoda). Brooke Adams, the wife of series regular Tony Shalhoub, makes an amusing guest appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Aghast at finding a tiny scratch on his otherwise flawless hardwood floor, Frasier calls in a contractor to repair the damage. What begins as a relatively small job mushrooms into a vast and expensive undertaking -- one that threatens to ruin a wine-tasting party being held at Frasier's home. The reason? Well, it all stems back to Niles (David Hyde Pierce), who is jealous over the attention paid by Daphne (Jane Leeves) to handsome hunk contractor Joe DeCarlo (Tony Carreiro). This episode earned an Emmy award for "best sound mixing." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
In 1992, television cameras on the ground and in helicopters caught the violence of an inner city riot in south central Los Angeles, which broke out after the acquittal of several white policemen in the brutal beating of Rodney King, also captured on video cameras. This documentary explores the root causes of the many days-long explosion of violence during which the community seemed to self-destruct. Among the causes of violence the filmmakers illuminate was a plan for inner city redevelopment which was drawn up following the Watts riots of 1965; no one in the black community had any input into the paternalistic plan, and none of the core grievances from the time of that earlier riot were addressed in it. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brooke Adams
- 1994
Monica (Roma Downey) and Tess (Della Reese) must somehow straighten out the domestic travails of lawyer Susana (Brooke Adams), her husband Jack (Ed Marinaro) and his mistress Megan (Nancy Allen). Using the Thanksgiving-weekend traffic rush to their advantage, the two angels contrive to have Monica and Tess meet in a car accident. And as if that wasn't enough, Monica and Tess also conjure up an "estate" where both ladies will be forced to spend the holiday with Jack...a situation that could turn either sweet or sour, depending on the breaks. As a bonus, we learn that even Angel of Death Adam (Charles Rocket) has qualms about killing a Thanksgiving turkey! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
In the television miniseries Picture Windows, a number of acclaimed Hollywood directors and top stars team up for short stories about love. In "Soir Bleu," directed by Norman Jewison, Tully (Alan Arkin) is a clown who has fallen in love with a married woman. To make matters more complex, her husband is the manager of the circus Tully works for. He also beats her, and Tully is desperate to do something to free her from her awful predicament. Peter Bogdanovich directs "Song of Songs," in which George Segal plays Ted, who runs a bakery and has both a wife (Sally Kirkland) and a mistress (Brooke Adams). Soon Ted learns the hard way about the difference between love and lust. And in "Language of the Heart," directed by Jonathan Kaplan, an aging orchestra conductor (Michael Lerner) uses the wisdom of his years to help bring together a poor but gifted busker and a lovely young dancer. Picture Windows was originally produced for the Showtime premium cable network. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Bryan Brown stars as CIA hit man Michael Grant, who plans to retire after one more assignment. He buys a house in New Mexico from a widow (Brooke Adams), and they fall in love; only later does Michael realize his final target is the woman's father. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
This adaptation of Stephen King's thriller is about a man who returns to his hometown after 27 years. Soon he is tormented by ghosts of the dead teens who killed his brother years before. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Matheson, Brooke Adams, (more)
- 1989
Four women, all high school best friends, are reunited in Minnesota at the wedding of a fifth friend. On the eve of the nuptials, the foursome discuss their lives, their loves and their innermost secrets. Adultery and a surprise pregnancy are choice ingredients added to this TV-movie brew. For the record, the four female chums are played by Shelley Hack, Sela Ward, Stephanie Faracy and Brooke Adams. Bridesmaids was originally telecast February 21, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
David (Bruce Willis) finally meets Walter (Dennis Dugan), the man whom Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) has impulsively married. Rather than get angry or exhibit jealousy, David generously offers to throw a bachelor party for Walter. That David might have an ulterior motive is evidenced when the stripper hired for the party doesn't show up--and Bert Viola (Curtis Armstrong) takes her place! Highlights of this episode include a chaotic hospital scene, and the formation of "The Royal Order of Napkin Heads." Also: Brooke Adams makes a return appearance as Terri Knowles, the pregnant woman whom David met in a Lamaze class a few episodes back. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
In the last episode of Moonlighting's fourth season, Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) returns to work after ending her brief marriage to Walter Bishop (Dennis Dugan). Her first post-nuptual case involves a public-relations man who wants to find his partner's lover, who has proven a major business distraction by penning gushy romantic letters. As Maddie and David (Bruce Willis) react differently to these letters, their assistant Bert Viola (Curtis Armstrong) broods over the fact that the Moonlighting fans have still not warmed up to him! The proceedings close as the entire cast frantically ad-libs a musical number when the writers go on strike. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
This week's episode opens as a helpful nurse recaps the previous weeks' activities to an ABC executive who'd been in a coma ever since he found out that David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) had still not gotten back together! As it happens, David is ruminating over his upcoming "role" in the birth of Maddie's baby. Perhaps David should enroll in a Lamaze class--a solution that (at first glance, anyway) makes a lot more sense than having him "practice" childbirth with his friend Bert Viola (Curtis Armstrong), who has stuffed a pillow in his shirt for the occasion! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Paul Reiser was still the star of the TV sitcom My Two Dads when he headlined this 60-minute video. Instead of the standard live-before-an-audience approach, Out on a Whim tells a self-contained story. Reiser, playing himself, is from time to time approached by an ethereal lady who wants to know all about "the real thing." Helping Reiser locate this mystery woman are such guest stars as Elliot Gould, Carrie Fisher, Terri Garr and Carol Kane. Out on a Whim was directed by Carl Gottleib, the actor/writer/director who penned the screenplay of Jaws. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
This made-for-cable action story stars Brian Dennehy as a diamond dealer and Brooke Adams as a doctor who join forces to make their way to Kenya. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In this sequel to the original miniseries, Lili (Phoebe Cates), having discovered the true identity of her mother, now begins looking for her father. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brooke Adams, Deborah Raffin, (more)
- 1984
Filmed on location in France, Italy, Greece, and Egypt, Innocents Abroad was adapted by Dan Wakefield from the 1869 book by Mark Twain. The Twain original was an amusing, semi-satiric account of the author's Grand Tour of Europe and the Holy Land in 1867. Most of the humor derived from the contrast between the iconoclastic Twain and the tacked-on "reverence" of his fellow tourists. The cast includes Craig Wasson as Twain, David Ogden Stiers as a ship's doctor, Barry Morse as Captain Duncan, and-best of all--Luigi Proiette as the glib, effusive tour guide. Innocents Abroad premiered May 9, 1983 on PBS' Great Performances series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Special People: Based on a True Story is the TV-movie saga of Toronto's Famous People Players, a theatrical troupe comprised principally of mentally handicapped young adults. Brooke Adams stars as a novice social worker who dreams up the concept of the Famous People Players and struggles to bring the organization to fruition. Though she has little practical experience, Adams has plenty of drive and ambition, qualities which she is able to transfer to her handicapped actors. Treating her charges as professionals rather than children, Adams manages to mount a complex puppet show, which premieres as part of a Liberace concert. Liberace plays himself in the Canadian-filmed Special People, as do seven members of the real-life Famous People Players. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Michael Roemer both wrote and directed the 60-minute TV drama Haunted. Brooke Adams stars as a troubled young woman who returns to her Rhode Island home. Why she does this is a mystery: her childhood was a textbook example of misery, exacerbated by her spiteful adoptive mother and her abusive foster father. Unable to close old wounds with her family, Brooke befriends neighbor lady Trish Van Devere. But her new friend has serious problems of her own, forcing Brooke to mediate between Trish and her resentful daughter Ari Meyers. Haunted was first telecast March 20, 1984, as part of PBS' American Playhouse anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brooke Adams, Jon de Vries, (more)
After Griffin Dunne's wife Brooke Adams is injured in a car crash, Dunne begins an affair with Adams' nurse Karen Young. You think that takes gall? Dunne also becomes best friends with Young's boyfriend Marty Watt. Believe it or not, Griffin Dunne is the most likeable character in the movie. After testing poorly at 110 minutes, Almost You was whittled down to 96 minutes. Those who have trouble wading through this prime example of mid-1980s self-indulgence are advised to keep an eye out for the brilliant monologist Spalding Gray in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brooke Adams, Griffin Dunne, (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 weakly limned comedy, romance, and social drama, Bob Hunt (Robert Hays) is a dedicated social worker out to save an elderly woman from having her heat shut off in the dead of winter. But his noble intentions are thwarted by Marion Edwards (Brooke Adams) a plainclothes policewoman, a barrage of municipal red tape, and an unscrupulous tycoon in the electrical power industry who will stop at nothing to make a tidy profit. When the elderly woman loses her bid for heat on a technicality and dies as a result, Bob starts a computer vendetta against the utility companies that sparks a counterattack by the industrial magnate out to enhance his own power. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hays, Brooke Adams, (more)
