Stephen Harrigan Movies
- 2005
Although the made-for-cable drama Widow on the Hill was based on a true story, the film bears a strong resemblance to the 1947 Joan Crawford theatrical feature Possessed. Natasha Henstridge stars as Linda Dupree, an ambitious hospice nurse who marries Hank Cavanaugh (James Brolin), the very wealthy widower of one of Linda's former patients. Hank enrages his grown daughters by quickly installing Linda in the family's luxurious Virginia mansion, and even more so when he gives his new wife the most precious possessions of his former spouse. Not long afterward, Hank himself falls seriously ill and dies, leaving Linda one of the richest women in Virginia -- and also arousing suspicions that she not only knocked off Hank, but his first wife as well! More questions than answers are offered in this heavy-breathing melodrama, which made its Lifetime network debut on January 24, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Natasha Henstridge, James Brolin, (more)
The made-for-cable The Colt takes place in Virginia in the fourth year of the Civil War. The mare owned by young Jim Rabb (Ryan Merriman) of the First Michigan Cavalry gives birth to a colt, which battle-weary Sgt. Longacre (Steve Bacic) orders Jim to shoot so as not to slow down the other soldiers in the unit. Jim refuses to do so, risking severe disciplinary action. As it turns out, the Confederates strike before Longacre does, stealing both colt and mare. Again defying orders, Jim heads out alone to rescue his beloved horses, saving the life of a dying Rebel prisoner along the way. Ultimately, the colt proves to be an inspiration to Jim's comrades in arms, and is duly immortalized by another member of the First Michigan, army artist Covington (Darcy Belsher). An uplifting tale of unassailable innocence in the midst of America's bloodiest war, The Colt made its Hallmark channel debut on July 9, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ryan Merriman, Steve Bacic, (more)
- 2002
A sequel to the 2000 TV movie Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, this two-hour film chronicles the later events in the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose evocative autobiographical novels also inspired the long-running TV series Little House on the Prairie. After enduring many a hardship in South Dakota, 19th century schoolteacher Laura (Meredith Monroe) and her homesteader husband Almanzo (Walton Goggins) pull up stakes and move to Missouri, along with their daughter Ruth (Skye McCole Bartusiak). The little family's dream of achieving financial security as apple farmers is sorely threatened when Laura, substituting for her ailing husband, attempts to handle all the farming chores herself -- as a cold and merciless winter swiftly and inexorably approaches. Monroe and Goggins repeat their roles from the earlier film, as does Richard Thomas as Laura's father Charles Ingalls. Beyond the Prairie II: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder Continues made its CBS network debut on March 17, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meredith Monroe, Walton Goggins, (more)
Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear is transplanted to 19th century Texas in this made-for-cable drama. Patrick Stewart stars as John Lear, the wealthiest and most powerful rancher in the territory. Failing in body and mind, Lear decides to divide his vast property among his three daughters -- Suzannah (Marcia Gay Harden), Rebecca (Lauren Holly), and Claudia (Julie Cox) -- giving the most land to the girl who most persuasively professes her love and loyalty. While her mercenary sisters fawn all over John, the headstrong Claudia refuses to feed false compliments to her father, and as a result, she is banished from his ranch. But when Lear's spread is threatened by usurpers and landgrabbers, the enfeebled patriarch realizes that Claudia is the only one of his offspring truly worthy of his affection. All of the Shakespearean highlights are intact, albeit retranslated within the genre expectations of the Western. For example, Lear's blinding is done with a branding iron. An uneasy mixture of British theatricality and John Ford-like cinematic spectacle, King of Texas (filmed in Mexico despite its title) originally aired June 2, 2002, on the TNT cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Stewart
Previously filmed by director Sidney Lumet in 1974, Agatha Christie's classic mystery novel Murder on the Orient Express was updated from the 1930s to the early 21st century in this made-for-TV remake. To be sure, the ineffable, insufferable Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (here played by Alfred Molina) uses his own "little grey cells" to solve the train-compartment murder of a ruthless American business executive (Peter Strauss). This time around, however, Poirot is not averse to relying upon computer technology to speed up his investigation; in the same vein, the murder victim has been updated (or perhaps, upgraded) from an industrialist to a software tycoon. Still, Christie's surprise ending (which should be no surprise at all to fans of the 1974 film) remains intact, as does Poirot's ultimate decision to let his heart rule his head. Murder on the Orient Express first aired April 22, 2001, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Four of the autobiographical novels of Laura Ingalls Wilder served as the basic source material for this made-for-TV movie. Covering some of the same ground as the Wilder-inspired TV series Little House on the Prairie, the film stars Meredith Monroe as 19th-century teenager Laura Ingalls, who at the beginning of the story is still living on her South Dakota family farm with her father (Richard Thomas), mother (Lindsay Crouse), and three siblings. Acknowledging her dad's insistence that she has "the wandering strain," Laura yearns for life beyond the prairie, but is obliged to accept a nearby schoolteaching position to help support her loved ones. After her marriage to homesteader Almanzo Wilder (Walt Goggins), Laura endures the usual trials and tribulations of life as a farmer's wife, further complicated by the loss of her first child and a raging diphtheria epidemic. Yet, somehow, Laura and Almanzo survive their many ordeals with renewed hope for the future. Tess Harper, cast as the "older" Laura, narrates the story. Originally broadcast by CBS on January 2, 2000, Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder was followed by a TV-movie sequel over two years later, on the same network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meredith Monroe, Tess Harper, (more)
