William Kayden Movies
- 1986
Even allowing for her in-and-out Austrian accent, Farrah Fawcett delivers one of her best ever TV-movie performances in Nazi Hunter: The Beate Klarsfeld Story. This fact-based film begins in 1960, when Beate's last name is still Kunzel. A sheltered young miss, Beate has no concept of what went on in the wartime concentration camps--until she meets and falls in love with Holocaust survivor Serge Karsfeld (Tom Conti). Given a crash course in sociopolitical awareness by her husband, Beate herself becomes a tireless hunter of fugitive Nazis. At great personal risk to herself, she travels from Europe to South America to bring to justice Klaus Barbie (Claude Vernier), the "Butcher of Lyon." Filmed in Paris and Nice, Nazi Hunter: The Beate Klarsfeld Story was first telecast in November of 1986, at which time the real Beate Karsfeld was endeavoring to expose UN secretary general Kurt Waldheim as a war criminal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
In this socially conscious drama, set in 1955, three tough New York youths must learn to deal with a troubled world. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1980
The autobiography of Harold Krent, Butterflies Are Free, is the basis for this made-for-television drama about a blind collegian and his struggle to be treated like any other law student. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Future Cop had been a disastrous 1977 TV series about a human cop and his "biosynthetic android" (or robot) partner. Not content to leave bad enough alone, Paramount Television attempted to revive the Future Cop concept under the title The Cops and Robin. As in the earlier TV series, Ernest Borgnine is the flesh-and-blood policeman, teamed with humanlike robot Michael Shannon. Borgnine and Shannon are assigned to protect Robin (Natasha Ryan), the 6-year-old daughter of the witness to a cop killing. Even if Cops and Robin had made it as a series, it would have run into trouble from authors Harlan Ellison and Ben Bova, who sued the producers on the basis that this TV-movie pilot was swiped from their own short story Brillo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The Final Eye began life as the pilot for a futuristic TV series. Joe Cortese stars as Mike Stringer, who in the year 1996 is the last private eye left on earth. Stringer is hired by Lisa Korter (Susan George), the daughter of a mysterious financier (Liam Sullivan). Twenty years earlier, the financier had created Eden Isle, a posh resort. Something very odd has been going on at Eden Isle of late, as indicated by the fact that the financier doesn't look a day younger than he did when he opened the place in 1975. Digging a bit too deep, Stringer discovers an insidious conspiracy linked to a master computer. Filmed in 1977, The Final Eye was shelved until August 1, 1982, when it was finally telecast under the new title Computercide. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Based on a true story, The Family Nobody Wanted was one of the better ABC Movie of the Week entries of the 1970s. James Olson plays a minister whose main concern is society's outcasts, particularly the youngsters. With the loving help and support of his wife (Shirley Jones), the reverend takes in 12 unwanted children of various colors and creeds. Though it's very hard to find suitable lodging for all these kids, the couple provides a loving environment for their ersatz family. Adapted by Suzanne Clauser from a book by Helen Doss (who is portrayed in the film by Shirley Jones), The Family Nobody Wanted was first telecast February 19, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Photographer Christopher George is mistaken for an assassination target by paid killers. Since the actual victim-to-be is now safe, George cannot count on the protection of the authorities, so he takes it on the lam. He is sheltered by former girlfriend Judy Carne, who is kidnapped and threatened with death for her troubles. George decides to take matters in his own hands when it becomes impossible for him to separate the good guys from the bad. Made for television, Dead Men Tell No Tales would dearly love to be a Hitchcock film; it falls short of this goal, but is diverting fun all the same. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
