Robert Hays Movies
A graduate of San Diego State University and a veteran of the San Francisco theatre scene, Robert Hays began showing up on TV in the mid-1970s, first as co-star of the well-received television movie Young Pioneers, then in the regular role of Dr. Brad Benson on the 1979 sitcom Angie. On the basis of his dead-pan comedy performances in such films as Airplane (1980) and Take This Job and Shove It (1981), Robert Hays should have been a big-time movie star of the 1980s. Alas, the momentum of Hays' career was laid low by too many bad scripts and too many desultory TV series like Starman (1986) and FM (1989). Robert Hays remains a likeable screen presence into the 1990s, even if it's only in the occasional TV commercial or such Disney family fare as Homeward Bound: An Incredible Journey (1993). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Chappelle's Show and The Boondocks star Charlie Murphy takes the lead for this comedy concerning two best friends sent hurtling through a politically incorrect television landscape thanks to a magical remote control that redefines the concept of interactive entertainment. Now, with each change of the channel, the shows get more bizarre, leaving hapless knuckleheads Bubba and Leroy scrambling to find a way back into the real world. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlie Murphy
- 2004
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Airplane stars Robert Hays and Leslie Nielsen are reunited in this animated fairytale about a bratty prince who learns a lesson about wishes. After carelessly handling some magical nuts, the prince turns everyone in the kingdom into toys. Now it's up the young prince to stop the nasty Mouseking before he claims the kingdom as his own. The Nutcracker and the Mouseking also features the voices of Fred Willard and Eric Idle. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
One of several "Santa Goes to Jail" TV movies appearing during the Christmas season of 2002, The Santa Trap actually has roots going as far back as the 1909 D. W. Griffith one-reeler A Trap for Santa Claus. Transplanted from Connecticut to California, the Emerson family isn't too happy over the prospect of sweltering their way through the Yuletide season. In fact, Bill and Molly Emerson (Robert Hays, Shelley Long) are so displeased with their current plight that they tell their children that Santa Claus doesn't exist. Hoping to prove them wrong, the couple's precocious daughter Judy (Sierra Abel) sets up a Rube Goldberg-like trap in her living room--and sure enough, the little darling snares Santa himself (played by Dick Van Patten) a few hours into Christmas Eve. Naturally, Judy's parents assume that the jolly old elf is a burglar, and promptly have Santa arrested. Thus is set in motion a frantic comedy of errors involving the Emersons, the inept local constabulary, and a burned-out biker named Max (Stacy Keach) who hopes to break out of the slammer by impersonating St. Nick. The Santa Trap first aired December 13, 2002, over the PAX network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stacy Keach, Shelley Long, (more)
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)
- 2001
A woman with a loving husband, a pair of great kids, and the perfect job, Kate Findlay (Victoria Principal) seems to have it all. After her divorce from her first husband Paul (Robert Hayes), everything seems to have fallen into place for Kate -- unfortunately Paul's life hasn't gone so smoothly since his marriage to Kate dissolved. Following a tragic accident that left the former police officer out of work, Paul's mind has rapidly begun to deteriorate, and he can't bear the thought of her in the arms of another man. As Paul begins to stalk his terrified ex-wife, Kate awaits the moment that he will finally cross the line and end up behind bars. Unfortunately for her, the moment arrives all too soon and Kate is trapped alone with the man she fears most. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2000
The made-for-TV Deadly Appearances was originally telecast over Canada's CTV on April 23, 2000, as part of the off-and-on cop series Criminal Instincts. Based on the first of Gail Bowen's Joanne Kilbourn mystery novels, the film stars Wendy Crewson as Kilbourn, a former police detective who dabbles in crimesolving whenever one of her friends or family members is involved. On this occasion, Joanne tries to determine if her longtime chum, philandering political candidate Andy Boychuk (Robert Hays) was the murderer of a young woman. Although the original novel included a subplot about a homosexual love triangle, the film dispensed with this complication. Deadly Appearances made its first TV appearance in the United States on June 5, 2001, courtesy of the Lifetime cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
In this drama, an adolescent grows up in a hurry after he is wrongfully convicted of his stepfather's murder and sent to an adult correctional facility. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hays
- 1997
The recent death of his wife is just one of several blows endured by big-city surgeon Michael (Robert Hays), who has lost confidence in his skills and his been going through the motions only for the sake of his daughter Jilly (Ashley Gorrell). Summoned by his crusty dad Bob (Jack Palance) to come back to his home town for the first time in 20 years, Michael finds out that he is expected to take over the local hospital. None too keen on the prospect, Michael changes his mind when he is reunited with his childhood sweetheart, local veterinarian Sarah (Ann Jillian), who in the absence of anyone else is the hospital's only full time physician. As Michael weighs his future options--can he really go home again, or has he become too jaded by life in the city?--foxy Bob conspires with Jilly to bring Michael and Sarah back together again. First telecast on the CBS network, the made-for-TV I'll Be Home for Christmas originally aired December 23, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Without permission, Monica (Roma Downey) impulsively uses her angelic powers to help Scott Walden (Robert Hays), a "solid citizen" whose sordid past comes to light when he is charged with murder, escape from police custody. Even worse, Monica lies about her complicity in Walden's escape. Enter Special Angel Agent Sam (Paul Winfield), who grimly informs Monica that her future as a Heavenly case worker is in dire jeopardy. Meanwhile, it is revealed that Scott is not guilty as charged--but he is still far from "innocent", and must undergo a harrowing out-of-body experience to face the consequences of his actions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
This real-life drama follows a determined postal inspector as he doggedly tracks down the notorious unabomber who terrorized the mail system during the mid-1990s. It also centers on the accused terrorist's brother, who played a key role in the investigation. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dean Stockwell, Robert Hays, (more)
- 1996
This junior-level Ground Hog Day stars Erik Von Detten as Billy Jackson, a 13-year-old Scrooge in the making. Lacking the athletic prowess to play with his Christmas presents, mooning over a girl who doesn't know he's alive (and whose boyfriend is a bully), and ruminating over the fact that his rich uncle's new Val-U-Mall will put his father's store out of business, Billy has absolutely no reason to believe in Santa Claus--and he relays this sentiment to his kid sister Sarah (Yvonne Zima). In a burst of retaliatory stubbornness, Sarah counters Billy's sourness by wishing that it would be Christmas every day. Wham! She gets her wish, and Billy is trapped in an eternity of Christmases--and of course, he's the only person who is aware that time is standing still. At first intending take advantage of his foreknowledge by getting even with various enemies and selfishly grabbing up whatever he wants, Billy gradually realizes that the only way December 26th will ever dawn is if he stops thinking about himself and starts caring about others. First telecast by the Family Channel on December 17, 1996, the made-for-cable Christmas Every Day has become something of a Yuletide perennial in recent years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Based on a true story, the made-for-cable The Abduction is told in flashback from the viewpoint of Kate Finley (Victoria Principal), who for 11 years was trapped into an abusive marriage with former police officer Paul Olavsky (Robert Hays). Accustomed to violently taking out his frustrations on the long-suffering Kate, Paul finally goes to far when he rapes her, whereupon she divorces him--but makes the mistake of not pressing charges against him. Starting life anew, Kate gets a good job as a college assistant and enters into a warm and loving relationship with new boyfriend Dan Solano (Christopher Lawford). Unfortunately, Paul comes back into her life with a vengeance--and after a lengthy stalking campaign, he ends up kidnapping Kate at gunpoint, handcuffing her to his car, and leaving her to the mercy of the freezing weather as she slowly bleeds to death! The Abduction made itsLifetime Network debut on July 7, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In this sudsy drama, a small boy's disappearances leads his mother to suspect her ex-husband of kidnapping. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lisa Rinna, George Hamilton, (more)
- 1995
An angry swarm of African killer bees attacks the home of a California family causing untold horror and confusion. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hays, Nancy Stafford, (more)
A mother is forced to come to terms with her past in this made-for-television adaptation of the novel by Danielle Steel. Set in the 1930s, Lisa Rinni stars as Marielle Delauney, a wife and mother who harbors a secret about a marriage she once had and a child she lost many years ago in an accident. In an attempt to re-build her life after the trauma, Marielle left her husband, re-married, and started a new family. When her second son suddenly disappears though, and her ex-husband (Maurice Godin) is considered the prime suspect, the truth about all involved is slowly revealed. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Action genre veteran David A. Prior wrote and directed this thriller that unfolds like a B-movie version of Midnight Run (1988). David Keith stars as Mace, a former cop now working as a bounty hunter or "skip tracer." When his daughter is murdered, the mayor (Charles Napier) of a small Southern town hires Mace to find the killer, who's suspected to be Mitch (Robert Hays), the victim's date from the evening of her death. Mace tracks down his target but when Mitch is nearly killed in an explosion, it becomes clear that he's innocent and the real killer is trying to wipe him out. After being ambushed and nearly killed, Mace and Mitch are joined by Sarah (Pamela Anderson), a hooker who witnessed the attack. As the three of them try to stay alive, they uncover a political conspiracy involving the deputy mayor (Stacy Keach) and the corrupt police force that Mace once quit in disgust, led by a crooked detective (Leo Rossi). Also known as Skip-Tracer. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- 1992
The premiere episode of Garry Shandling's searing television satire The Larry Sanders Show finds talk show host Larry Sanders (Garry Shandling) struggling against an intrusive suggestion of on-air advertising. Faced with the prospect of promoting "The Garden Weasel" on his popular late-night talk show, Sanders balks at the prospect and finds himself in a battle of wills with a tenacious network executive. This episode of The Larry Sanders Show features guest stars Deborah May and Robert Hays. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Hoping to prevent his brother's Vietnam death and to prevent the JFK assassination, a time-travelling college professor goes back to the '60s but can't find his way out. Trapped in a time warp, he can't effect a change because he can't return to his present time. This made-for-cable movie is adapted from Stanley Shapiro's A Time to Remember. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1987
Robert Hays stars in Murder by the Book in the dual role of mild-mannered mystery writer D. H. Mercer and his creation, hard-boiled private eye Biff Deegan. While writing his latest book, Mercer becomes so immersed in his material that he inadvertently causes Biff to come to life. Mercer teams up with his Chandleresque doppelganger to solve a genuine mystery involving art fraud, murder, and a beautiful lady in peril (Catherine Mary Stewart). Made for television, Murder By the Book was based on a novel by Mel Arrighi, titled (what else?) Alter Ego. It was filmed late in 1985 and first telecast on March 17, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A Navy lieutenant longing to see some real wartime action enters into a battle of wills with the tyrannical ship captain in this live television production of playwright Joshua Logan's Tony Award-winning Broadway play. The year is 1945. War is raging in the Pacific, and Lt. Doug Roberts (Robert Hays) is torn between his devotion to serving his country, and his duty to serve his men. Lt. Roberts longs to see some real action, though the navy cargo ship he is sailing on couldn't be in more peaceful waters. As the eager lieutenant locks horns with his stubborn and unflinching Captain (Charles Durning), it quickly becomes apparent that not even the support of Ensign Pulver (Kevin Bacon) and Doc (Howard Hessman) will help in convincing the bull-headed Captain to change course and sail his crew into battle. As a result, Lt. Roberts finds himself in the precarious position of wanting to help his fellow countrymen win the war while simultaneously respecting the orders of his superiors. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hays, Charles Durning, (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)
- 1982
A maddened Roderick Usher (Martin Landau) and his dying sister Madeline (Dimitra Arliss) are the only surviving members of the ancient race of the Ushers in this rendition of the classic Edgar Allen Poe tale. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1982
In this drama, two young lovers break out of a mental hospital to try to find love in the outside world. The young man escapes first and gets a menial job working at a carnival. Later he returns to help Jennifer escape. They then begin living together to create their own sane haven in an insane world. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hays, Kathleen Beller, (more)
