Mariette Hartley Movies
Never the typical ingénue, American actress Mariette Hartley was distinguished by attractively offbeat facial features and a full, throaty voice -- acting tools that enabled her to play a wide spectrum of ages and personalities even when she was barely out of her teens. The granddaughter of behavioral psychologist John B. Watson, Hartley began her training at Carnegie Tech, then studied acting under Eva LeGalleine . Shakespeare was Hartley's forte in her salad days; thus, she was a full-blown professional before the age of 21. Hartley's first film, Ride the High Country (1961), may well have been her best; as the runaway bride of a mentally deficient mountain man, Hartley was permitted to forego cutesiness and glamour, spending most of the film in dusty male western garb. She was so good in this first appearance that MGM literally had no idea what to do with her; the solution was to cast her as a garden-variety damsel in distress in Drums of Africa (1963), which Hartley now regards as her worst film (and it is -- far worse than the more obvious candidate, 1971's The Return of Count Yorga). Then as now, Hartley was better served on TV than in films. Appearing with regularity on such programs as Twilight Zone and Bonanza, Hartley exuded an intelligence and versatility rare in so young an actress. She gained a following with her recurring role on the nighttime soapera Peyton Place (1965), then provided the only bright moments of the misfire satirical sitcom The Hero (1966), in which she played the wife of a bumbling TV cowboy (Richard Mulligan). Her TV work load increased in the '70s, during which time she appeared as futuristic heroine Lyra-a in Gene Roddenberry's TV pilot Genesis II, a role which gained a great deal of press attention due to Hartley's exotic midriff makeup (her character was endowed with two navels). She also won an Emmy for her appearance in a 1978 installment of The Incredible Hulk. A popular talk-show raconteur, Hartley was able to parlay her no-nonsense persona into a series of lucrative camera commercials, in which she co-starred with James Garner. Her easy rapport with Garner led many to believe that she was married to the Rockford Files star, compelling her to make public appearances wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the message "I am NOT Mrs. James Garner" (she was, in fact, married to producer/director Patrick Boyriven). Her high audience "Q" rating led certain TV producers to believe that Hartley would be ideally cast as a news reporter on the 1983 sitcom Goodnight, Beantown. The casting was good, the show wasn't. Nor were follow-ups in this vein, including a foredoomed hitch as co-host of the 1987 revamping of CBS Morning News titled The Morning Program and the very short-lived newsroom-oriented weekly drama WIOU (1990). That the actress took to kidding about her many TV failures only added to her upbeat public image -- an image which masked a surfeit of grief brought on by the alcoholism and suicide of Hartley's father, which formed the basis of her 1990 book Breaking the Silence. Audiences were able to see this serious side of Mariette Hartley in her frequent TV-movie appearances, notably her performance as grieving mother Candy Lightner in M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Mariette Hartley remained busy on films and in television into the '90s; once again, the TV work was more rewarding than the movie assignments, which included such negligible entertainments as Encino Man (1992). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 2005
In this sequel to the extraordinarily popular 2004 cable movie Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus, Steve Guttenberg returns in the role of Nick, son of the soon-to-be retired Santa Claus (John Wheeler) and heir to the North Pole toyshop. Likewise, Crystal Bernard repeats her characterization of Beth Sawtelle, the widowed mom who has agreed to marry Nick so that his "destiny" will be fulfilled. Nick and Beth have only four days before the Christmas Eve deadline to tie the knot, lest the Santa Claus Legacy crumble into dust. Unable to handle the wedding plans herself, Beth makes the tactical error of turning to her society-doyenne mother Joanna (Mariette Hartley) for help--and as it happens, Joanna just plain despises Nick, and isn't about to let her daughter marry "beneath her station" (Nick of course could solve the problem by revealing that his dad is Santa Claus. . .if only Joanna believed in Santa Claus!) Also returning from Single Santa Meets Mrs. Claus are Armin Shimerman as the Senior S.C.'s head elf Ernest (who prefers the title "executive assistant") and Dominic Scott Kay as Beth's son Jake. Making its television debut on December 17, 2005, Meet the Santas broke the record set by its predecessor, posting the highest-ever ratings for a Hallmark Channel movie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
The SVU investigates when graduate student Myra Denning (Shannyn Sosamon) claims that she was raped by college advisor Ron Polikoff (Billy Campbell). A voluntary DNA exam reveals that Polikoff has indeed been intimate with Myra--but he tells a different story of their relationship, insisting that the girl manipulated him into having rough sex. The case results in an emotional schism between Detective Stabler (Christopher Meloni), who believes Polikoff's story, and Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay), who sides with Myra. When this episode originally aired on November 23, 2004, viewers were invited to cast their votes on NBC.com to determine whether Ron Polikoff was truly a rapist, or if he was an innocent victim of a duplicitous young woman (and no, the results will not be revealed in this synopsis). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
In this independent drama, aging Sandy Westphall (M. Emmet Walsh) and twenty-something Martin Kessler (Christian Leffler) accidentally pick up each other's suitcases at the baggage claim center of a busy airport. Before Sandy realizes what's happened, the suitcase he claimed is stolen by a pair of teenagers, Tyler (Spencer Vrooman) and Quinn (Jesse Roach). Sandy, who does not have long to live, is trying to tie up loose ends with the girl he loved in high school, while Martin has decided he needs to take a fresh look at his life and become more assertive. As Sandy and Martin find and lose each other's things, their stories begin to intersect and change. Baggage also stars Mariette Hartley and Vincent Schiavelli. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mariette Hartley
- 1999
Part of the Wild About Animals series, which teaches children and parents, too, about various wild animals, one special episode at a time, Wild About Animals: Animals of the Jungle travels to Central America. Viewers study various exotic creatures residing in the Central American rainforests. Cinematography features the animals at play and at rest, and also details the lush and fragile environment. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Part of the Wild About Animals series, which teaches children and parents, too, about various wild animals, one special episode at a time, Wild About Animals: Animals to the Rescue celebrates animals who protect and serve people in need. The program shares stories of staggeringly sensitive canines and other helpful, life-saving creatures trained to rescue at any cost. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Part of the Wild About Animals series, which teaches children and parents, too, about various wild animals, one special episode at a time, Wild About Animals: Animal Babies celebrates little tykes of the animal kingdom. Viewers observe a baby rhino restored to good health, lion cubs at rowdy play, and more. Mariette Hartley hosts the episode. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Part of the Wild About Animals series, which teaches children and parents, too, about various wild animals, one special episode at a time, Wild About Animals: Animals of Alaska visits the final frontier state, Alaska. Viewers study the bald eagle, the reindeer, the musk ox, and other animals, up-close and personal. Mariette Hartley hosts. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Part of the Wild About Animals series, which teaches children and parents, too, about various wild animals, one special episode at a time, Wild About Animals: Giant Sea Creatures dips below the surface to study animals of the deep. Viewers observe seals, sharks, manatees, dolphins, and more, as they move throughout their watery realm. Mariette Hartley hosts the program. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Part of the Wild About Animals series, which teaches children and parents, too, about various wild animals, one special episode at a time, Wild About Animals: Greatest Animal Stories Ever Told shares action-packed tales of heroic animals. Viewers learn about a smart dog who handed his master a cell phone in the midst of a medical emergency, a gorilla who extracted a small child from a deep, dark pit, and more. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1998
In this TV series, Boston police detective Sean McGrail (Jason Beghe) and public defender Annie Cornell (Moira Kelly) are an odd couple caught in a passionate love affair, and they're just as passionate when they clash. In their close-knit Irish neighborhood, they get plenty of advice, including caustic comments from Sean's mom Fiona (Fionnula Flanagan), his firefighter brother (Stephen Lee), and his other brothers (Jason Wiles, Stephen Largay), also cops. The opening episode sets up an improbable situation that has Annie in the courtroom grilling her hubby-to-be about thong underwear and strippers. Filmed in L.A., this romantic comedy-drama premiered September 30, 1998 on CBS. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Moira Kelly, Jason Beghe, (more)
- 1997
Not all U.S. women served indirectly on the home front during World War II. This video brings to light the proud service of those women who served in the Women's Army Corps. World War II: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory -- The Women's Army Corps chronicles the valuable support missions that put these intrepid women in harm's way. The Women's Army Corps, begun in World War II, existed until 1978 when it was finally absorbed by the regular army. This chronicle of its history is narrated by Mariette Hartley. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Part of the Wild About Animals series, which teaches children and parents, too, about various wild animals, one special episode at a time, Wild About Animals: Backstage With Celebrity Animals interviews animals in show business. Viewers meet big stars such as Shamu the whale and the pup who plays Eddy on Frasier. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Part of the Wild About Animals educational video series for children, which teaches kids about animals around the world, exploring one specific geographic location at a time, Wild About Animals: Amazing Animals of Australia looks at animal life down under. The program investigates the lifestyles of the kangaroo, the emu, the goanna, the koala, and several others. How do these animals live? How do they interact? The video answers these questions and more. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Part of the Wild About Animals series, which teaches children and parents, too, about various wild and domestic animals, one special episode at a time, Wild About Animals: Wonderfully Wacky Animals is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of oddball pets. Viewers observe a poodle fond of shooting pool, a ping-pong enthusiast kitty cat called Pancho, and many wacky others. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1995
The made-for-TV Falling From the Sky: Flight 174 was based on a true story that occurred high over Canada in July of 1983. While en route from Montreal to Edmonton, a brand-new Boeing 767 runs out of fuel in mid-flight. With only a cursory knowledge of the jet's inner works, the crew is forced to desperately improvise a means of rescuing the passengers by gliding the aircraft to a runway in Winnipeg--35 miles away. Although the actual story has enough inherent drama for five TV movies, the producers felt the necessity to add a few overly melodramatic touches to heighten the suspense; also, aviation enthusiasts weren't too happy with the script's inaccuracies, nor were movie purists impressed by the surprisingly shoddy computer enhanced special effects. Nonetheless, the film boasts excellent performances, especially from William Devine as Captain Bob Pearson. First broadcast by ABC on February 20, 1995, Falling From the Sky was adapted from William and Marilyn Hoffer's book Freefall, and has since been retitled Freefall: Flight 174 for cable-TV play. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Devane, Shelley Hack, (more)
- 1995
One of the first projects of syndicated TV producer Steve Rotfield, the weekly half-hour Wild About Animals was hosted by actress Mariette Hartley. The series cast its spotlight on rare animals, unique to specific regions of the United States. Regular weekly features included "K9 Cops and Animal Heroes," "Celebrity Owners," and "Animal Bloopers." First telecast in the fall of 1995, Wild About Animals was still flourishing at the end of the 20th century, by which time it was being shown in tandem with two other Rotfield efforts, The Lighter Side of Sports and Awesome Adventures, in most local markets. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
A physician--an amateur sleuth--decides to investigate the suicide of a former student of his and begins to suspect that it was murder. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) swings into action when entrepreneur Max Teller (Steve Forrest), who had recently converted a former western mining town into a tourist attraction, is murdered. The killing may have been linked to the legendary lost treasure of a notorious stagecoach robber. Graham Greene of Dances with Wolves fame guest stars as the town's Native American sheriff Sam Keeyani, whom Jessica assists in his investigation of the murder (or is it the other way around?) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In a 1991 episode of Jake and the Fatman, Dick Van Dyke guest-starred as Dr. Mark Sloan, who couldn't seem to keep his nose out of a murder investigation. Diagnosis of Murder is the two-hour TV-movie spin-off of that episode. This time, Dr. Sloan tags along with his police-sergeant son (Barry Van Dyke, the real life son of you-know-who) on another homicide case. The victim is a powerful business magnate whose questionable ethics have given plenty of people plenty of motive for the killing. Somehow or other, Dick Van Dyke finds time between his hospital rounds and his clue-hunting to perform a brief soft shoe. Diagnosis of Murder was the pilot for a potential series, which was sold under the slightly truncated title Diagnosis Murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Van Dyke, Mariette Hartley, (more)
- 1992
A terrible secret is uncovered in a child's past in this made-for-cable drama. Based on a true story, Ashley Peldon stars as 7-year-old Catherine, the newly adopted child of the Tylers. When Catherine turns increasingly violent towards her new parents and her natural brother, the Tylers try everything in their power to uncover the mysterious root of her anger. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Harris, Dwight Schultz, (more)
- 1991
This Hanna-Barbera animated video tells a version of the Bible story about Esther, whose heroism is commemorated annually by the feast of Purim. Esther, a Jewish orphan girl, is chosen by King Ahasuerus of Persia to be his queen. Meanwhile, the king's counselor schemes to bring about the death of Jews throughout the realm. With the help of God, her courage, and her wits, Queen Esther devises a plan that saves her people. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
The made-for-TV Murder C.O.D. has a plot almost as complex and clever as its psychotic "protagonist." William Devane plays an adroit hitman who selects his victims before he's been hired to kill them. His modus operandi is to approach the person or persons who'd most benefit from the murder, then charge a $100,000 fee to go through with the plan. Patrick Duffy is the cop on the case, who periodically runs out of breath trying to keep up with the slippery Devane. While Duffy loses the acting sweepstakes to Devane, the viewer can be assured that Duffy's character in Murder C.O.D. will emerge triumphant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
