Pat Hingle Movies

A Charlotte lawyer unearths a closely guarded family secret when his father dies and leaves him interest in an obscure entity known as The Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd. in director Gary Wheeler's adaptation of the novel by author Robert Whitlow. Convinced that the fall of the Confederacy is at hand after the Battle of Gettysburg, a group of South Carolina plantation owners gather at the Rice Planter's Inn in Georgetown, South Carolina and hatch a plan to smuggle their fortunes into Europe. Their cover for the operation: a secret society dubbed The Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd. But a weathered prophet opposes the group's nefarious plan, and issues a dire warning to his friends and neighbors that one day the descendents of the group will one day face judgment at the mighty hand of God. Decades later, the interests of the families have been passed down through the generations. The profit margin has exploded, and with each passing year the secret grows more sinister. When Charlotte lawyer Renny Jacobson learns that his father has recently passed away, he returns to Charleston to pay his final respects and attend the reading of the family will. Much to Renny's surprise, his father bequeathed a large portion of his estate to charity. Shortly after discovering that his sole inheritance is an interest in the mysterious Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd., Renny is contacted by The List and approached by a beautiful woman named Jo Johnston. In the following days Renny will become swept up by a whirlwind of deception and greed that will lead him from the picturesque coasts of South Carolina to the closely guarded Swiss bank vaults which house a vast fortune in cursed blood money. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A doctor learns there's more to his profession than making money in this comedy-drama. Charlie Keegan (Robert Capelli Jr.) is a physician who has built up a lucrative practice by caring more about profits and working the loopholes of medical insurance claims than looking after the needs of his patients. While Keegan's scams allow him to live high for a while, eventually his misdeeds catch up with him, and when he's found guilty of insurance fraud, as part of his sentence he's ordered to spend six months doing volunteer work at Shady Pines, an nursing home for the elderly that has seen better days. With the help of Jill (Emmanuelle Chriqui), a pretty and compassionate nurse who works at the home, Keegan makes friends with his often eccentric patients and learns to deal with the other members of the staff and their many problems. In time, Keegan finds himself looking at the Shady Pines residents as people rather than clients, and gains a new perspective on himself and his career; he also finds himself falling in love with the idealistic Jill. Also starring Pat Hingle, Betsy Palmer, Paige Turco, and Artie Lange, Waltzing Anna was the first directorial effort from the team of Doug Bollinger and Bx Giongrete. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A woman in need of a miracle finds one in an unexpected manner in this inspirational comedy-drama. Amanda (Julie Condra) works as a secretary for Sully (Leo Rossi), a mid-level mobster working out of Las Vegas. Amanda, who seems to be perpetually at the end of her rope, and her spineless live-in boyfriend Alan (Jay Underwood), have a habit of living beyond their means, and they find themselves deep in debt. Unable to pay their bills, Amanda gets the bright idea of "borrowing" $250,000 from Sully without telling him, and putting it on a "sure thing" at the racetrack. However, the horse that couldn't lose does just that, and Amanda has to come up with a quarter-million dollars before Sully gets wind of her embezzlement. Amanda learns she has a grandfather that she's never met, Nathan (Pat Hingle), and it seems Grandfather is a multi-millionaire. Amanda tracks Nathan down, and to her relief, he agrees to lend her the money. But there's a string attached -- Nathan, who is in a convalescent home, wants to visit his favorite fishing hole in Redemption, MT, one last time before he dies, and he'll give Amanda the money only if she'll escort him there. Amanda and Nathan soon hit the highway, with Sully's men following close behind, and as Amanda finds herself in the middle of a series of unexpected adventures, she also learns something about her grandfather's deep and abiding Christian faith. Road to Redemption was produced by World Wide Pictures, a media outlet of the Billy Graham Crusade (excerpts from Mr. Graham's radio broadcasts can be heard in the film, though he does not appear on camera). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

This action drama puts a new spin on Shaft, one of the key "blaxploitation" films of the 1970s. John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson), the namesake nephew of the legendary private eye (Richard Roundtree), is a street-smart police detective who with his partner Carmen Velez (Vanessa L. Williams) has been assigned to a racially motivated murder case, in which a black college student was killed in front of a restaurant by Walter Williams Jr. (Christian Bale), the sociopathic son of a New York construction tycoon, who then fled the country rather than face prosecution. Diane Palmieri (Toni Collette), a waitress on a smoke break, saw the murder, but she doesn't want to talk to the police. Two years later, Walter is forced to return to New York, but without Diane's testimony, the city doesn't have much of a case. Soon, Shaft, Walter Junior, and Walter Senior's goons are all looking for Diane, with Junior enlisting the help of Peoples Hernandez (Jeffrey Wright), a small-time drug dealer who will do anything to move into the big leagues. Shaft and Carmen find Diane, but discover that she had a good reason for being on the lam for the past two years. Amidst all this activity, John gets frequent advice from his uncle, with whom he ponders the idea of quitting the force and opening a detective agency. Shaft was directed by John Singleton, from a screenplay by Singleton, Richard Price, and Shane Salerno. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

At long last, the secret of just what the Great Gonzo happens to be is revealed! As Gonzo and his friend Rizzo hit the road in search of their roots, Gonzo makes a shocking discovery: his parents are actually space aliens from another galaxy. After announcing this startling news on Miss Piggy's talk show (hey, if Ricki Lake and Rosie O'Donnell can do it, why not Miss Piggy?), Gonzo finds himself the subject of a dark and mysterious government conspiracy, led by the nefarious K. Edgar Singer (Jeffrey Tambor). In time, Gonzo is forced to choose: should he hop on board the UFO and sail off to live with his family, or stay on Earth with the friends he knows and loves? Muppets From Space once again pairs the late Jim Henson's creations with a stellar cast of human beings, including F. Murray Abraham, David Arquette, Ray Liotta, and Andie MacDowell. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Bill Cosby guest stars as Phil, the Angel of Reconciliation. Phil's current assignment is to mend the rifts that have separated prosperous car dealer Ben Mangione (Pat Hingle) and his prodigal son Buddy (Josh Carmichael). Ben's anger over Buddy's refusal to take over the family business--not to mention the ill feelings of Ben's son-in-law Frankie (Michael Rispoli), who'd hoped to take over himself--casts a pall over the 35th wedding anniversary of Ben and his wife Sylvia (Joyce Van Patten). Even more irksome is that the habitually late Phil has yet to make an appearance, forcing Tess (Della Reese) to cover for him, and possibly complete his assignment. But this may not be possible; halfway through the anniversary, party, word arrives that Buddy has been killed in a car accident! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A feminist farm belt version of William Shakespeare's King Lear, this film is based on Jane Smiley's novel about an aging farmer and his three daughters. The Lear-like farmer, Larry Cook (Jason Robards), decides to divide up his thousand-acre farm among his three daughters, but he disinherits his youngest, Caroline (Jennifer Jason Leigh), an attorney, when she expresses hesitancy. The other sisters, Ginny (Jessica Lange) and Rose (Michelle Pfeiffer), take up the offer, even though they were sexually abused by their father as children. They also take up romantically with the hippie son of a neighboring farmer, Jess Clark (Colin Firth), after their own drunken, demented father moves out to live with Clark's father Harold (Pat Hingle). When Rose's husband Peter (Kevin Anderson) learns of her betrayal, he gets drunk, crashes his truck, and dies. Ginny's husband Ty (Keith Carradine) enlists Caroline's help and sues Ginny and Rose on behalf of their father, whom he feels has been treated badly by the daughters. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

This made-for-TV adaptation of Carson McCullers story features Anna Paquin as Frankie Addams, a 12-year-old tomboy growing up in the deep South in the mid-1940s. Frankie doesn't get along well with most children her age, and she prefers to spend her time with Berenice Brown (Alfre Woodard), the family's housekeeper, and her younger cousin John Henry. However, when Frankie learns that her older sister is getting married -- and that her family may be pulling up stakes and moving away -- she's forced to leave her immaturity behind and, with Berenice's help, begin making her first steps into adulthood. This version of The Member of the Wedding also stars Joanne Pankow and Pat Hingle. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Pat Hingle guests as Jack Hackett, the colorful grandfather of brothers Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian (Steven Weber). While Grandpa Jack regales the boys with stories of his adventures throughout the world, Helen (Crystal Bernard) and Casey (Amy Yasbeck) cannot help but notice that these "adventures" are strikingly similar to the plotlines of several old movies. Even more troubling is the possibility that Joe and Brian's tale-spinning guest may not be the real Grandpa Jack at all! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Director Sam Raimi brings his trademark comic book-influenced visual panache to this post-modern Western. Sharon Stone stars as Ellen, a mysterious female gunslinger who arrives in the frontier hamlet of Redemption for a contest pitting quick-draw artists against each other. The event is the brainchild of Redemption's evil, corrupt mayor, Herod (Gene Hackman), a criminal who has taken over the town and charges a 50% tax on local businesses. The pot for Herod's deadly game has swollen, attracting numerous colorful gunfighters from around the territory. As each battle thins the ranks of players, the pasts of several participants are revealed. Ellen is seeking revenge on Herod for a heinous past injustice. The fast-talking braggart known as "The Kid" (Leonardo DiCaprio) may in fact be Herod's son. The pacifist Reverend Cort (Russell Crowe), who refuses to participate in the bloodshed, is the fastest draw in the West and a former colleague of Herod's. After several spectacular slayings, Ellen and Herod stage a final showdown, but not before he has made her an unexpected proposal. The Quick and the Dead (1995) is dedicated to veteran Western actor Woody Strode, who appears in a cameo as Redemption's coffin maker, his final performance. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

This made-for-television movie is based on the true story of a landmark Supreme Court decision. Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God) stars as Carrie Buck, a woman who was used as the test subject in a 1927 experiment to sterilize mentally-challenged women. The test was allowed after a controversial Supreme Court ruling came down in favor of the procedure. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi

In this humorous Western, Aussie Paul Hogan plays a cowboy running from the law. Lightning Jack Kane is a member of the notorious Younger Brother gang. He is the only member to survive their last shoot-out. Fortunately, he was only a minor member of the gang and escapes notice. Jack decides to rob a bank. He gets away with a small amount of cash and a mute, Ben, as a hostage. Unfortunately for Jack, Ben wants to be an outlaw so Jack is stuck with him. Eventually the two become grudging friends. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this first sequel to 1989's Batman, the Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton) is up against the Penguin (Danny DeVito), the hideously deformed scion of a wealthy Gotham City family. The Penguin plots with evil businessman Max Schreck (Christopher Walken) to become mayor and then turn Gotham into a cathedral of crime. Upon overhearing these plans, Schreck's mousy secretary Selena Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer) is tossed from a high-rise window by her boss. Rescued by a covey of kittens, Selena transforms into the leather-clad Catwoman. In this guise, she teams with the Penguin and Schreck to divvy up their ill-gotten gains and help discredit Batman-but she also has her own scores to settle. Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens, Vincent Schiavelli and Jan Hooks play significant bits, while Pat Hingle and Michael Gough make returns as, respectively, Commissioner Gordon and Alfred the Butler. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi