Florence Henderson Movies
Ever since the '50s, each generation has had its definitive sitcom mom, the one woman who symbolizes the attitudes and ideals of the American household (at least according to the major networks). In the late '50s, it was Barbara Billingsley; Donna Reed ruled the '60s; Roseanne repped the '80s; and Florence Henderson was queen of the '70s. As Carol Brady, she was the polyester-clad personification of the "have a nice day" mentality on the Brady Bunch (1969-1974). Prior to becoming Mrs. Brady, Henderson had worked on television during the '50s, getting her start as the "Today Girl" on Today (1952) and as a regular on Sing Along (1958). She also made frequent appearances on the Tonight Show through the early '60s. Henderson was a successful star of Broadway musicals and in 1970, she starred in the musical feature-film biography of Scandinavian composer Edvard Grieg, Song of Norway (1970).Since the end of the Brady Bunch series, Henderson has basically made her living portraying and sometimes spoofing Carol Brady. There was a blessedly short-lived variety show sequel to the program, The Brady Bunch Hour (1977), and Brady Bunch reunion TV movies, such as The Brady Girls Get Married (1981) and A Very Brady Christmas (1988). The show that wouldn't die also spawned two more sequel series, The Brady Brides (1981) and the downbeat drama The Bradys (1990). In 1995, Henderson played a feisty grandmother, the antithesis of Carol, in the feature-film spoof The Brady Bunch Movie. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Having suffered a fatal heart attack on the eve of her adoring granddaughter's eleventh birthday, a devoted grandmother wages a valiant fight in heaven to return to Earth one last time and celebrate alongside the little girl she loves most. Sarah Miller (Florence Henderson) adores her ten year old granddaughter Katie (Stephanie Patton), and the feeling is most certainly mutual. At the moment Katie is planning her eleventh birthday party, an event that Sarah claims she wouldn't miss for the world. But when Sarah drops dead of a heart attack just before the party and finds herself ascending to heaven, her only thought is how disappointed her granddaughter will be if her "Nanny" isn't there to share in the delicious cake and memorable moments. Sarah isn't particularly religious, though her heavenly guide Ashley (Yanni King) vows to do everything within her power to help secure the skeptical newcomer a short reprieve from death so she can attend the upcoming party. Meanwhile, down on Earth, Katie has an unexpectedly severe reaction to the news of her grandmother's passing. As the day of the party arrives, Sarah is still in a bureaucratic nightmare of cosmic proportions. The paperwork required for her return to Earth is taking forever to fill out, and as she races to ensure that every signature is in place Katie collapses in agony. Just as Katie is being rushed to the hospital, however, Sarah secures her passage to Earth and makes good on her promise to attend at the party. Upon returning to heaven, however, Sarah witnesses a sight that prompts her to pray as never before. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Florence Henderson, Allison Lange, (more)
- 2002
Based on a true story, Moms on Strike stars Faith Ford as Pam Harris, a working mother who barely has time to catch a breath between her professional work and her household duties. When her husband Alan (Tim Matheson) and her kids thoughtlessly forget her birthday, Pam rebels, refusing to do any cooking or cleaning until she is appreciated. Pam's strike ultimately becomes a nationwide cause, with her Grandma Betty (Florence Henderson) as her biggest booster. Filmed in Ontario, the made-for-TV Moms on Strike premiered March 17, 2002 on the ABC Family Channel cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Faith Ford, Tim Matheson, (more)
In this animated story based on the book for children by Lori Walburg VandenBosch, the holiday season has come to the small Western town of West Sage, and a mysterious stranger rides into town. As the good people of West Sage try to find out who he is and why he's come to their community, he teaches them an important lesson about the candy cane, in which they learn the traditional holiday treat is more than just another sweet. Legend Of The Candy Cane features the vocal talents of Florence Henderson, Ossie Davis, Tom Bosley, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Florence Henderson, Tom Bosley, (more)
- 1995
A parade of old sitcom stars appear in this made-for-television adaptation of the book by Judy Blume. Peter Hatcher has to suffer through a summer with his worst enemy, Sheila Tubman. Much to his chagrin, his brother Fudge (Luke Taristano) announces that he wants to marry her. The two-hour movie is part of the Fudge television series. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Narrated by Florence Henderson, this video from Precious Moments is the only one in the series that is not fully animated. It features slow dissolves and close-ups of illustrations from the children's picture book Precious Moments, The Story of Joseph. Recommended for ages six and up. ~ Heather M. Fierst, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Florence Henderson
- 1994
Roseanne gets a visit from General Hospital's infamous couple, Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis). Roseanne joins a women's club to get some business connections and meets a bakery owner played by guest star Florence Henderson. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1990
While visiting a friend in Nashville, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) comes face to face with Bobby Diamond (Jimmy Dean), a popular country singer with more than a few of the requisite skeletons in his closet. A maelstrom of greed and philandering yields a murder, whereupon Jessica tries to find out who among Bobby's many enemies hated him enough to kill him. Featured in the cast is C&W entrepreneur-club owner Mickey Gilley, and "Carol Brady" herself, Florence Henderson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
In this made-for-TV movie, the characters from the beloved "Brady Bunch" television series return home to spend the holidays together. All grown up with families of their own, the kids all return to take part in the Brady Christmas reunion. All of the original stars, save one, of the original television series appeared in this special. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1986
This delightful presentation features Shari and her puppet friends telling Bible stories for children. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1986
Though the series proper debuted on Friday, October 3, 1986, L.A. Law was heralded by a two-hour TV movie, which aired Monday, September 15. The Steven Bochco production gets off to a good start, with no fewer than three cases resolved within the first installment. We first meet law-firm partner Michael Kuzak (Harry Hamlin) compromising his personal values with an odious client; our introduction to Arnold Becker (Corbin Bernsen) finds him personally involved in a divorce settlement; and Ann Kelsey (Jill Eikenberry) and Douglas Brackman Jr. (Alan Rachins) spar over a pro-bono case. Also starring is Richard Dysart as senior partner Leland McKenzie, and Jimmy Smits as tyro lawyer Victor Sifuentes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Season Three of Murder She Wrote begins with the first episode of a two-part story, in which mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) pays a visit to the Carmody Circus, an extremely small-time operation. It seems that Jessica has evidence that one of the circus' employees, a roustabout-clown who calls himself Carl, is actually her brother-in-law Neil (Jackie Cooper), who has long been presumed dead. No sooner does Jessica link up with Neil than the man is accused of murdering the circus' hateful manager Hank Sutter (Charles Napier). A young Courtney Cox appears as Neil's granddaughter, Carol Bannister. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
In the second half of Murder She Wrote's two-part Season Three opener, Jessica's long-missing brother in law Neil Fletcher (Jackie Cooper), who has been working under an alias with the Carmody Circus, has confessed to the murder of circus manager Hank Sutter. Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is convinced that Neil is innocent, and that he is covering up for somebody else--and this proves to be a reasonable conclusion when a second murder occurs, in which the victim is rival circus owner Harry Kingman (Joe Dorsey). Seriously hampering Jessica's investigation is the stone wall of resistance built up by the highly clannish circus folk--and by the curiously hostile local authorities. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In this installment of the series, Shari Lewis and Florence Henderson help children learn about the New Testament with the help of Lewis' puppet friend Lambchop. Animation is also used to tell the stories, which include "The Three Wise Men" and "The Good Samaritan". ~ Linda J. Shriver, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Florence Henderson guest stars as Sarah, a popular singer who makes an unexpected stopover at Mel's diner to ask directions. As it turns out, the only direction she's interested in is the one leading to the altar, as proven when she proposes to Mel (Vic Tayback)! But why exactly has the famous Sarah been swept off her feet by the un-famous Phoenix chili entrepreneur? Appearing as Babette is Jean Kasem, the wife of "Top 100 Countdown" deejay Casey Kasem). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Brady Brides was originally telecast as The Brady Girls Get Married; either way, the title tells all. Only two of the three girls from the 1970s sitcom The Brady Bunch take the marital vows. The film's humor is derived from the fact that the Brady Brides and their grooms take a joint honeymoon, with all the anticipated problems regarding temperament and privacy. The entire Brady Bunch cast returns for this well-received reunion film, which led to a brief TV series titled (what else?) The Brady Brides. The fans ate it up; non-fans chose to leave the table. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
The original cast members from the popular comedy series The Brady Bunch reprise their roles in this made-for-television movie. Sisters Marcia (Maureen McCormick) and Jan (Eve Plumb) gather the family together to get ready for their double wedding. This movie was a pilot for a short-lived NBC series which followed called Brady Brides. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maureen McCormick, Eve Plumb, (more)
- 1976
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Love him or hate him comedian Paul Lynde - the master of the slow burn, who presided over the "center square" on Hollywood Squares for years and made famous the character of Uncle Arthur on Bewitched - also mounted this all-star Halloween special in late October 1976. The story, adapted from A Christmas Carol, has the comedic actor cast as "Paul Lynde", a more severe and hateful variant of his typically snide and sarcastic on-camera persona, who detests all things associated with Halloween. Three witches then crop up and determine to change his mind, ala Scrooge. The plethora of guest stars includes Tim Conway, Florence Henderson, Donny and Marie Osmond, the glam rock band KISS, Betty White, Roz Kelly, Billy Barty and Margaret Hamilton, from The Wizard of Oz. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Originally telecast September 17, 1976, Love Boat was the first of two pilot films for the long-running TV series of the same name. On this maiden voyage of the Pacific Princess (from California to Mexico), we zero in on four separate sets of passengers. Gabe Kaplan plays a goofy salesman who falls for sexy model Jette Speer. Tom Bosley and Cloris Leachman are the haughtily rich folks who disapprove of their daughter's "common" boy friend. Suave businessman Hal Linden finds himself attracted by Karen Valentine. And Don Adams, about to undergo an expensive divorce, plots and plans to do away with wife Florence Henderson. The luxury-cruise setting and multistoried format of the subsequent Love Boat series are already in place, but the series' cast of regulars is not. In this first Love Boat film, Ted Hamilton is the Captain, Teri O'Mara is the cruise director, bartender Isaac is Theodore Wilson, the ship's doctor is Dick Van Patten, and Sandy Helberg is Gopher, the purser. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
