Gregory Harrison

Filmmaker Mark Hartley explores Australia's hidden genre in this documentary that casually casts aside "official" film history to celebrate the demented genius of director Brian Trenchard-Smith, and the exciting wave of little-known but supremely entertaining films that entertained adventurous Australian filmgoers throughout the 1970s and '80s. Every film student worth his or her weight in celluloid has seen Breaker Morant and Picnic at Hanging Rock, but what about the lesser-known gems that didn't make the film-school textbooks? In his forward to Tim Lucas' book Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark, director Martin Scorsese states, "We have to keep resisting the idea of official film history, a stately procession of 'important works' that leaves some of the most exciting films and filmmakers tucked away in the shadows." In this documentary, director Hartley explores the films forgotten by "official film history" with the comprehensive eye of a true film buff. As a child watching such films as Snapshot and The Man from Hong Kong, Hartley immediately recognized how wildly disparate they were in tone and execution from the films that comprised Australia's traditional film library. Appearing like American genre films that just happened to be shot in Australia and cast with Australian actors, these so-called "Ozploitation" flicks flourished in the wake of relaxed censorship laws down under. Yet despite constant chatter about the "new wave" of Australian cinema, financially successful films like The Man from Hong Kong and Patrick that were popular both at home and abroad were never mentioned, sneeringly dismissed as "genre" films rather than Australian films. Perhaps in the wake of such successful Australian films as Wolf Creek and Undead -- and looking ahead to such films as the slasher shocker Storm Warning and the eagerly anticipated remake of Long Weekend -- curious filmgoers are finally prepared to discover what they've been missing all these years. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Life has been Hell on Earth for Don and Stacey Costello (Gregory Harrison, Donna Bullock) since their own daughter Kimmie (Bethany Richards) was murdered. Especially affected by the tragedy is Don's career as a motivational speaker, which is rapidly going down the tubes. Worse still, the Costellos' bitterness has trickled down to their son Justin (Myles Jeffrey), who is now in big trouble at school. Posing as a child therapist, Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli) tries to smooth things out for Justin, but her efforts may be sabotaged by her own curiously misfire efforts to help Don get his act together. Ultimately, Justin makes a startling revelation to explain why that he, even more than her murderer, feels responsible for Kimmie's death. And at the close of this eighth-season Touched by an Angel finale, life goes on in a mysterious but wonderful way...thanks to Kimmie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Recalling François Girard's The Red Violin, Canone Inverso - Making Love is a multi-layered, multi-generational tale of music, fate, and passion. Based on the novel by Paolo Maurensig, the film opens in pre-WWII Europe, where Jeno, a half-Jewish boy, lives in relative poverty with his mother. His father, who abandoned his wife and son, left them with only a rare violin and a canone inverso, a traditional composition written for two instruments. During Jeno's (Hans Matheson) adolescence, his mother dies, and in the wake of her death, he is drawn to Sophie Levy (Melanie Thierry), a married, French Jewish pianist with whom he develops a close relationship. At Sophie's encouragement, Jeno applies for a scholarship to a music conservatory; there, he meets David Blau (Lee Williams), an aristocratic cad who becomes a great influence in Jeno's life. When Jeno is expelled from the school for being Jewish, David quits in protest and takes his friend back to his father's estate. It is at the estate that Jeno discovers a piece of music written by David's father that sparks a revelation about his family heritage -- and his connections to David and Sophie. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide

After months of unemployment, young MBA Jenny Morgan (Heidi Noelle Lenhart) applies for what she thinks is an administrative position with the firm owned by handsome business executive Oliver Caldwell (Gregory Harrison). Unforutnately, someone's signals have gotten crossed, and Jenny finds she has been hired as nanny for the widowed Caldwell's spoiled-brat kids Kate (Katie Volding) and Alex (Jake Dinwiddie). Despite her daunting lack of experience as a surrogate mom, Jenny manages to bond with the kids, who behave badly mainly because their dad doesn't spend any time with them. During a trip abroad, Kate and Alex decide to play matchmaker for Oliver and Jenny, even though both adults already have fiancés. But taking into account that Kate's boyfriend Charlie (Michael Woolson) is an aimless dork and Oliver's intended Vivian (Jane Sibbert) is a bitch on wheels, it isn't hard to figure out how things will turn out. And if there are any doubts, just ask Caldwell's wry, all-knowing chauffeur Nigel Kent (John Rhys-Davies). Set in Paris (but actually filmed in Budapest!), the made-for-cable Au Pair originally aired August 22, 1999, on the Fox Family Channel; its open-ended finale enabled the producers to dash off a sequel, Au Pair II, in 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A federal agent is demoted to a less challenging assignment, only to have it become the most dangerous mission of her life in this action-thriller. Alex McGregor (Mariel Hemingway) is a Secret Service agent who once guarded the President of the United States, Jonathan Hayes (Gregory Harrison). But after a series of misunderstandings following an attempt on the President's life, McGregor has been reassigned to oversee security for Hayes' teenaged daughter, Jess (Monica Keena). Jess has been chafing under the pressures of having a team of agents following her everywhere, so when she makes plans to go on a white-water rafting trip, the President requests a minimal compliment of Secret Service agents. This proves to be a mistake when Jess and her companions are kidnapped by a gang of right-wing terrorists. McGregor is forced to join forces with scruffy wilderness guide Grant Carlson (Doug Savant) in order to find Jess and return her to safety. Though set in the United States, First Daughter was shot in Australia, and had its premier on American television. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Stricken with the degenerative neurological disease ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease), professional artist Richard (Gregory Harrison) must quickly decide the sort of legacy he will leave behind for his wife Sally (Linda Purl) and his three sons. Feverishly, Richard rushes to finish several paintings in hopes of a huge commission--but money alone is not what his family really needs. Angels Monica (Roma Downey), Tess (Della Reese) and Andrew (John Dye) adopt various guises to convince Richard that the greatest gifts he can bestow upon his loved ones are Faith and Hope. Haley Joel Osmont (Sixth Sense) appears as Richard's son John Henry, who at story's end brings new meaning to the old adage "Life Goes On." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lacey Chabert was still the darling of the television series Party of Five when she accepted the leading role in this suspenseful TV movie. When the biological mother of adoptee Jenny Newhall (Chabert} is murdered, Jenny's adoptive father Greg (Gregory Harrison) immediately falls under suspicion. This tragic set of events rocks the small, tranquil town in which the Newhalls live to its foundations, ultimately laying bare a number of unpleasant and long-hidden secrets. Making matters worse, Greg Newhall all but confirms his "guilt" when he escapes custody--but who is the actual culprit? (You'd be surprised--or at least, that's what the film producers hoped!) Based on a novel by Patricia McDonald, When Secrets Kill first aired over CBS on April 6, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

From the highly acclaimed Hanna-Barbera animation studios comes the 10-tape video series Greatest Adventure Stories From the Bible. The episodes in this series are each viewed from the eyes of three young archeologists from the 20th Century who are taken back in time to experience Bible stories first-hand. Travel back with Derek, Mokey and Margot to the first Christmas in The Nativity. The animated version of this poignant Bible tale brings to life the profound love story of Mary and Joseph, their lives and relationship and the night when Jesus was born. Episodes in the series include Noah's Ark, The Creation, Moses, David and Goliath and others. ~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide

This drama examines the behavior of three female resident doctors working at a San Francisco hospital. It is based on a novel by Sidney Sheldon. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

For men such as Trent Turner having it all is never enough. In this actioner, his intrinsic avarice gets him involved in a deadly web of drug smugglers, extortion and murder. The trouble begins when he decides to leave his wife and lovely home to spend a hot weekend with his mistress in Vancouver. There he learns that she makes her living as a drug runner. She is in the midst of making a delivery when a threatening DEA agent shows up. In the ensuing scuffle, Turner kills the agent to save the girl and himself. He thinks his troubles are over then, but they are far from it, for soon he finds that the drug lord who employs his girl friend is trying to blackmail him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Fans of the Friends television series' co-star Matt LeBlanc may be particularly interested in this film, one of the amiable hunk's first cinematic efforts. In the story, he plays the nephew of Vinny Pallazzo (Jay Acovone), a man who has retired from the mob and changed coasts, from New York to L.A. Now his Vinny works as a clerk in a bookshop and spends a lot of time praying for his sins. When he's not doing that, he tries to give Anthony Manetti (LeBlanc) some advice which will keep him out of trouble with the gangs. Under the rubric of "you can run, but you can't hide," it becomes clear that both men will have to face Vinny's dark past before they can move ahead with their lives. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Originally shown as a CBS miniseries, the eight-part 500 Nations program was directed by Jack Leustig and executive produced by Academy award-winner Kevin Costner. The documentary program traced the history of the Native American tribes of North and Central America, from the centuries of prosperity before the arrival of Western settlers, up through the late 19th century. Produced in 1995 and hosted by Costner, the programs were narrated by Gregory Harrison and featured the voice talents of actors such as Wes Studi, Patrick Stewart, and Edward James Olmos. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide