Mel Harris Movies
In an era of Mandy Patinkin and Glenn Close, one shouldn't be surprised that one of the loveliest and classiest leading ladies on TV in the 1980s was named Mel Harris. After several years on the fringes of big success, things began to click all at once for Harris in 1987, beginning with a good part in the Rutger Hauer film Wanted Dead or Alive. More importantly, 1987 was the year Harris landed the role of wife/mother/free-lance writer Hope Murdoch on the popular TV series thirtysomething. Harris' subsequent projects have not been as rewarding: there wasn't much she could do with her leading-lady stint in the Jim Belushi opus K-9 (1989), while such melodramas as Raising Caine (1992) and the made-for-TV Women of Spring Break (1995) were beneath not only her talents, but also those of everyone else involved. Hopefully, Mel Harris enjoyed working on the loopy hospital comedy Suture (1993), if for no other reason than her character name was Renee Descartes. In 1996 Harris co-starred with Jere Burns in the TV sitcom Something So Right. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Waiting for Dr. MacGuffin director David Ondaatje takes his love for the "Master of Suspense" to the next logical step with this updating of the 1926 Alfred Hitchcock classic which shifts the action from turn-of-the-century London to contemporary Los Angeles. Adapted from the same Marie Belloc Lowndes novel that inspired the early Hitchcock effort, Ondaatje's thriller follows a mysterious lodger suspected of being a vicious copycat killer. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alfred Molina, Hope Davis, (more)
- 2007
Intended as a five-times-weekly presentation of MyNetwork's "Secret Obsessions" package, the English-language telenova Saints and Sinners was based on the TV Azteca prime-time soaper La Calle de las Novias ("Bride's Avenue"). An updated rehash of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", the series focused on the bitter rivalry between the Capshaws and the Martins, rival hotel owners in Miami Beach. Widowed Sylvia Capshaw (Mel Harris) was determined to break up the romance between her daughter Julia (Tyler Kain) and young Roman Martin (Scott Bailey), son of unscrupulous hoteliers Diana and August Martin (Maria Conchita Alonso, Charles Shaughnessy). It was not merely hatred of the Martins which motivated Sylvia: Roman had been arrested on the charge of murdering Julia's father. Acquitted of the crime, Roman endeavor to save his family from financial ruin by opening his own nightclub, "The Verona" (!) He also hoped to win back Julia from her current beau Richard Vargas (Chris Engen), the son of shady business mogul Antonio Vargas, who may or may not have actually been the infamous underworld boss known as "The Guerrero." Weaving in and out of the proceedings was the series' "Friar Lawrence" counterpart, a handsome bogus priest named Marcus (Ryan Scott Greene), and New York fashion designer Kelly Mitchell (Robin Givens), who wanted Robin all too herself. This series was originally filmed under the title "A Dangerous Love"; in the early developmental stages, the warring families were named Olivera and Manzini, Kelly Mitchell's name was Kelly Dodd, Maria Conchita Alonso's character had been conceived as the starring role. With the overall ratings for MyNetwork's various "original" telenovas plummeting precipitously, by the time Saints and Sinners debuted on March 14, 2007 the series had been reconfigured as a weekly rather than a nightly offering, with two episodes shown back-to-back each week. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2006
Having endured a lifetime of strange allergic reactions, 16-year-old Melinda (Michelle Trachtenberg) is placed in a scrupulously sterile environment after undergoing a heart transplant. Why, then, has Melinda gone into an apparently allergic shock at home and suffered heart failure at the clinic? Foreman is puzzled by this situation, but House (Hugh Laurie) thinks that the reason may have something to do with Melinda's fiercely protective mother (Mel Harris). Meanwhile, House and Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) try to live under the same roof without either one of them resorting to murder! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
William Sadler and Ed Lauter star in this war drama about a Marine sniper who is captured by the Iraqi government while on a covert mission to assassinate Saddam Hussein, and the threat he faces from his own superiors after he returns to the United States and escapes the psychiatric hospital where he is being held for evaluation. Epsilon Force is a shadowy military unit created for the sole purpose of assassinating foreign leaders who are thought to threaten the interests of the United States. In 2003, just prior to the United States' invasion of Iraq, Epsilon Force leader Colonel Allen (Sadler) recruits twenty-four year old Marine Corps sniper Oscar Padilla (Demetrius Navarro) for the mission of assassinating Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Shortly after Padilla arrives in Iraq prepared to carry out his orders, however, he is captured by the enemy and tortured in a Baghdad prison. Miraculously, Padilla is eventually freed by his captors and returned to the United States, though the psychological scars he bears run deeper than any of his notable physical wounds. Upon his return home, Padilla is taken to a military hospital for psychiatric evaluation. When he escapes, the powers that be deem him an unacceptable risk due to the fact that the very existence of Epsilon Force goes in direct opposition to an Executive Order outlawing the assassination of foreign leaders. Now, as Padilla runs for his life, Colonel Allen is assigned the task of eliminating that risk before the entire classified operation comes crashing down all around him. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Sadler, Demetrius Navarro, (more)
Young, self-absorbed attorney Matt Fleming (Jason London) is sent out of the city and into the woods by his mother, who is worried over the welfare of Matt's crusty, eccentric nature-loving grandfather Jack (Ed Asner). Not surprisingly, Matt is in for quite a culture shock. Not only does Jack do without any modern conveniences, but he also enjoys wandering in the great outdoors completely naked. Even worse -- at least as far as Matt is concerned -- Jack has spent the entire family fortune on a patch of land that he intends to donate to a local Native American child. In trying to curb Jack's enthusiasm and control the old man's behavior, Matt instead ends up learning about how to fend for himself in the wilderness, a skill that comes in very handy during a serious mid-film crisis. Matt also applies what he has learned from Jack in his efforts to make a lasting commitment to his own girlfriend Linda (Meredith Salenger). Produced for cable's Hallmark Channel, Out of the Woods debuted April 2, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ed Asner, Jason London, (more)
A family of paranormalists investigates the strange goings-on at a high school still reeling over a student's very public suicide in this teen thriller. Hangman's Curse concerns the further exploits of the Veritas Group, a loose collective of people committed to researching supernatural mysteries. The group's members include the Springfield family -- parents Nate (David Keith) and Sarah (Mel Harris) and Elisha (Leighton Meester) and Elijah (Douglas Smith) -- whose current assignment takes them to the aforementioned high school. There, they find that Abel, the teen who took his life, had been long ostracized by various cliques in the school -- jocks, popular kids, and the like -- all of whom are falling prey to mysterious ailments. As Nate and Sarah watch from the sidelines, it's up to Elisha and Elijah to pose as students to get inside the mystery. Hangman's Curse was based on the novel by Christian author Frank Peretti. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Keith, Mel Harris, (more)
Dooley and Jerry Lee are at it again. The day after Dooley (James Belushi) retires as a detective from the police force, he finds himself -- and his faithful canine companion Jerry Lee -- chasing high-tech burglars who have stolen a valuable prototype computer chip. Trouble is, Jerry Lee has eaten one of the chips, and the other three won't work without it. Meanwhile, Dooley is convinced to breed Jerry Lee and winds up with a crush on the female dog's owner (Barbara Tyson), however, a mysterious and beautiful client looking for her missing boyfriend has breeding ideas about Dooley of her own. Once again, Dooley needs Jerry Lee to rescue him from danger and straighten out his love life. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Belushi
- 2002
The media's tendency to favor youth and cosmetic perfection over experience and intelligence is the gist of this mildly trenchant TV movie. Mel Harris stars as Diana, a top TV news anchor who is summarily dumped from her lofty perch in favor of a younger and prettier journalist named Amber (Julianne Morris). Partly to get even, but mostly to prove something to herself, Diana undergoes plastic surgery, changes her name, and takes an entry-level job in a small TV market, intent upon building her stellar career all over again. Diana's saga is complemented by the story of her middle-aged newsperson colleague Michael (Perry King), who likewise faces competition from an up-and-coming pretty boy. It is somewhat ironic that one of the supporting characters in this film is played by Corey Donaldson, whose chief claim to fame was his participation in Survivor: Australia, one of many TV reality series in which the race is more often won by the good-looking than by the swift. Another Pretty Face debuted November 8, 2002, over the PAX network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Joel Grey makes his first appearance as Ronald, an oddball angel from the Records and Permanent Files division. Showing up while the other angels are preparing a surprise party for Tess (Della Reese), Ronald comments that he'd love to be a Heavenly caseworker, but he's too insecure--and besides, he's never come into contact with any human beings. Meanwhile, Tess is having more "contact" than she'd prefer with Kelly Rockhill (Mel Harris), the embittered cashier at a combination diner and car repair shop. Unless Kelly is willing to grant Tess a favor, the surprise party may never come off--but Kelly has been burned once too often by past favors that have resulted in disillusionment, despair, and even death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The Retrievers stars Bettie White, Robert Hays, and Robert Wagner in the kid-friendly tale of a family who discovers a dog and her newborn litter of puppies. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hays, Mel Harris, (more)
- 2000
Ernest Thompson, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play and Oscar-winning film On Golden Pond, was both director and co-writer of the cable-TV film Out of Time. The story begins in Oregon in 1980, when Jack Epson -- a young business owner, family man, and dedicated environmentalist -- discovers that he has leukemia. While ruminating over his fate, Jack is beckoned into the forests near his home by what seem to be the ghosts of his ancestors, who lure him into a deep sleep. Jack awakens 20 years later, only to find his home town in the grip of an evil land developer, who is now the husband of Jack's "widow" Annie. With the help of his ten-year-old grandson (who gives the "old man" a crash course in 21st century pop culture), Jack tries to make amends for his lengthy absence, and to set things right in his community. It hardly takes a rocket scientist to recognize Out of Time as an update of Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle; and indeed, Irving is given a posthumous "writing" credit, just in case anyone missed the connection. Co-produced by Tony Danza and starring NYPD Blue's James McDaniel, Out of Time first aired June 18, 2000, on the Showtime network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James McDaniel, Mel Harris, (more)
- 2000
Terror flies at 30,000 feet in this tense action thriller. Jeremy Barrett (Michael Harris) is a brilliant but unbalanced criminal genius who, while being transported to a penal facility aboard a commercial airliner, breaks free and takes control of the jet, holding the passengers hostage, blowing a hole in the cockpit, and threatening to crash the plane into a heavily populated area of a major city if his demands aren't met. Barrett may have met his match, however, in Nick Halton (James Russo), a former Navy SEAL and current FBI agent who is willing to take the potentially deadly assignment of being dropped by helicopter into the runaway jet to disarm Barrett and bring the jet safely to the ground. Sonic Impact also features Ice-T, Mel Harris, and Brittany Daniel. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Russo, Ice-T, (more)
A criminal is forced to become a hero in this action drama. Max Hopper (Dean Cain) is a successful burglar who has decided it's time to leave his life of crime behind him. But Hopper is lured into pulling one last heist when he learns about a valuable new computer chip being created by a leading-edge digital hardware firm. Realizing the prototype chip could be sold for a fortune, Hopper comes up with a clever plan to get past the building's security team by posing as a fireman. However, his scheme becomes unexpectedly perilous when a disgruntled employee really does set the building on fire, forcing Hopper to become a real firefighter to save his life, as well as those of the others trapped in the building. Firetrap also stars Richard Tyson, Mel Harris, Lori Petty, and Steven Williams. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dean Cain, Lori Petty, (more)
- 2000
Walter Baltzer's thriller Family Under Siege stars Mel Harris as Fay Baxter, a mother who must defend her family after they are taken hostage by three bad guys. Daniel Baldwin and Melinda Clarke play two of the criminals who kidnap Fay's husband while keeping her and her kids tied up. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Three years after the cancellation of her popular series Murder She Wrote, Angela Lansbury returns for the first of several TV-movie followups to that selfsame series. Once again, Lansbury is cast as Jessica Fletcher, best-selling mystery writer and amateur sleuth. As indicated by the film's title, Hitchcock references abound in the plotline, beginning when a lady vanishes on the train that Jessica is taking to El Paso to deliver a lecture. Helpful Jessica accepts a message for the mystery woman, whereupon she is attacked by an assailant in search of "it." Our heroine is rescued by a journalist who may not be a journalist, then when attempting to ascertain the missing woman's whereabouts Jessica is warned to mind her own business by a guy identifying himself as an FBI agent. Inasmuch as such warnings have never stopped Jessica in the past, she follows the trail of clues to the desert town of Agua Verde, Arizona, adopting a few aliases alng the way. The climax is an echo of Hitch's The 39 Steps, wherein Jessica not only solves the mystery but also unmasks the Least Likely Suspect (or in this case, Least Likely Suspects). Produced and directed by Angela Lansbury's sons, Murder She Wrote: South by Southwest first aired November 2, 1997 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Hoping to put her life back together after an abusive first marriage, mild-mannered Laura Jameson (Mel Harris) weds again, thereby incurring the wrath and resentment of her rebellious teenage daughter Kelly (Nicholle Tom). Still holding Laura responsible for the suicide of her father, Kelly goes completely off the deep end, beginning with an overnight stay in juvenile custody and culminating in an eight months of legal hell in a dizzying progression of courtrooms. Clearly over her head when trying to cope with Kelly (all she can say upon her daughter's release is "Was it awful in jail, honey?"), Laura will ultimately be forced to draw upon reserves of inner strength that she never knew or believed she had. Made for the NBC TV network, What Kind of Mother Are You? was first telecast on November 18, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
"How Far Would You Go to Save Your Sister's Life?" This was the question posed by the original ad copy for the made-for-TV drama A Case for Life--and the answer would seem to be "to the highest courts of the land", or at least that's how far Los Angeles lawyer Liz Hammett (Mel Harris) is prepared to go. A staunch pro-choice advocate, Liz discovers that her sister Kelly Porter (Valerie Bertinelli) is pregnant--a potential fatal situation, inasmuch as Kelly suffers from a rare medical condition requiring a delicate surgical procedure that will put both herself and her unborn child in jeopardy should she allow the baby to go to term. As dedicated to the pro-life movement as Liz is to the "other side", Kelly is determined to have her baby, and hang the consequences. It soon develops that Kelly is one against many, when even her doctor, her husband and her otherwise pro-life parents recommend an abortion. But Kelly sticks to her guns--and so does Liz, who initiates a lawsuit to force Kelly to abort immediately. Ultimately, the battle between the siblings becomes a national cause celebre, with virtually everyone in the country taking sides. A Cause for Life made its ABC network debut on February 18, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
- R
In this thriller, only a determined psychiatrist can save a traumatized, catatonic girl from going to prison for the murder of her parents. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Candace Cameron, Mel Harris, (more)
- 1995
Anxious for revenge against the corporation that has refused to promote her, an ambitious secretary beguiles a naive stockbroker into helping her enact a deadly plan. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Harris, Sheila Kelley, (more)
Mel Harris traces her aunt's mysterious roots in this made-for-television movie. Based on the book of the same name by Laurel Pace, Harris stars as Jordan Kirkland, a genealogist who begins tracing her wealthy Aunt Kitty's (Vivian Reis) roots. Her research -- which centers around a Fabergé egg seen in a photo from her orphan aunt's childhood -- takes her to several European cities and brings some colorful characters into the fray as she pieces together the woman's history. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Harris, Rob Stewart, (more)
- 1994
A family is torn apart when two adult sisters decide to take their father to court for sexually abusing them as children. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marlo Thomas, Mel Harris, (more)
Suture, Scott McGehee and David Siegel's self-conscious exploration of identity and individuality, evokes a flashy remake of Edward D. Wood Jr.'s Jail Bait. Dennis Haysbert and Michael Harris play half-brothers Clay and Vincent Towers. Clay travels to Phoenix to meet with Vincent, whom he hasn't seen in years. Upon seeing one another, they are amazed at their resemblance to each other. Clay remarks, "Isn't it remarkable how much we look alike?" The problem is they look nothing alike: Clay is a black man who could pass for a Dallas Cowboys linebacker, while Vincent resembles Ralph Nader. Nevertheless, after their reunion, the characters in the film have trouble distinguishing between the two, which is good for Vincent. Responsible for a murder, Vincent decides to fake his own death by substituting Clay for himself -- since no one will notice the old switcheroo. Vincent arranges for Clay's body to be discovered in the aftermath of an automobile explosion. Then Vincent can flee and start a new life. Unfortunately for Vincent, Clay survives the accident. Swaddled in bandages and ointments, Clay is attended to by the beautiful Renee Descartes (Mel Harris), a plastic surgeon who busily reconstructs his face. At the same time, his psychiatrist Dr. Max Shimono (Sab Shimono) tries to reconstruct his memories. Before the healing process ends, Vincent tries to get to Clay and make sure that this time he really dies. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Haysbert, Mel Harris, (more)
A young boy overcomes his obsessive fears by discovering a love for books in this animated fantasy adventure. In a live action wraparound, Macaulay Culkin stars as Richard Tyler, an easily bullied, nervous wreck of a kid who's an expert on safety statistics. His mother and father (Mel Harris and Ed Begley, Jr.) don't know how to inspire their son to embrace life boldly. Barely able to leave the house, Richard ventures out one day, but he gets lost in a storm and ends up at a mysterious library. Inside, he slips, knocks himself unconscious and finds himself in a cartoon realm where books come to life. Guided by Adventure (Patrick Stewart), Fantasy (Whoopi Goldberg) and Horror (Frank Welker), Tyler experiences the adventures of classic novels such as Moby Dick and Treasure Island, and he even meets some famed fictional characters, such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Leonard Nimoy). Through his experiences in the pages of the legendary books, Richard confronts his phobias and learns to face life more courageously. The Pagemaster was directed by Joe Johnston, a former special effects supervisor and production designer who later directed Jumanji (1995) and October Sky (1999). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Macaulay Culkin, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
- 1994
In this suspenseful made-for-cable whodunit, two rival mystery writers challenge each other to devise the perfect murder, and they quickly fall in love. The trouble is that one of them really is a murderer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Harris, Ted Shackelford, (more)
