Enid Kent Movies
Made by and for the TNT cable network, this sharp, satirical courtroom drama skewers the increasingly symbiotic relationship between the judicial system and popular media. The story centers on the trial of a famous model (Gina Gershon) who has been accused of murder. The media touts it "the trial of the century," a notion notorious celebrity lawyer Norman Keane (James Garner) does nothing to dispel. He also doesn't seem to be concerned about the myriad of rumors flying through the airwaves. Reporter Brenda Whitlas (Kathleen Turner) is not as easily fooled as the public and tries to ferret out the truth. Meanwhile a rookie lawyer involved in the case tries desperately to stay afloat amidst the confusion. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Garner, Gina Gershon, (more)
- 1992
- PG
Taking its cues from the classic Some Like It Hot (1959) and the television series Bosom Buddies (1980-82), this comedy combines the teen campus and cross-dressing subgenres. Jonathan Silverman stars as college freshman Bobby, an eager if naïve student who intends, as a legacy, to pledge his father's fraternity. Forced to endure a series of humiliating initiations, Bobby learns that he must retrieve a painting from a sorority, Zeta Alpha Zeta, as his final rite of passage. Dressed in high heels and a wig and sporting a British accent, he pretends to be "Roberta," a hopeful female pledge. Once he meets the beautiful Diana (Alyssa Milano), however, Bobby decides to keep up his ruse and remain with Zeta Alpha Zeta, in an effort to become better acquainted with her. Although he struggles to maintain his fake identity, Bobby learns what women really think about men, using his newfound wisdom both to become a better man and to separate Diana from her loutish boyfriend. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Silverman, Alyssa Milano, (more)
Aftermath: A Test of Love begins where most TV movies end. Based on fact (as recorded in Gary Kinder's book Victim), the story revolves around the family of Richard Chamberlain, an aloof obstetrician. The family falls victim to a violent, random crime, depicted in gruesome detail. Chamberlain's wife is murdered, and one of his sons is seriously wounded. Surviving this ordeal, Chamberlain must now try to hold his remaining loved ones together emotionally and attempt to reassemble his own battered psyche. The true events which inspired Aftermath: A Test of Love occurred in the 1970s in Ogden, Utah, where this TV movie was partially filmed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Based on a best-selling novel from Danielle Steele, this made-for-television melodrama tells the sad story of a highly successful businessman whose idyllic life is destroyed when his new bride dies of cancer, leaving him with her daughter. To make matters worse, his late wife's ex-husband shows up demanding custody of the child. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Marisa Silver helmed this tightly directed hospital drama reminiscent of David Swift's 1962 The Interns. Jimmy Smits plays Dr. David Redding, who guides seven student doctors through their third year of residency at Los Angeles Central's medical school. The cast includes Laura San Giacomo as Lauren Rose, a hard-working waitress putting her uncaring husband Kenny (Jack Gwaltney) through medical school; Kenny eventually breaks down the resistance of cool fellow student Gena Wyler (Diane Lane). Kenny is also competing with doctor's son Michael Chatham (Adrian Pasdar), who wants to become the best surgeon at L.A. Central; Michael, however, has to reconsider his goals when he realizes that he also needs Gena's love. Bobby Hayes (Tim Ransom) and Suzanne Maloney (Jane Adams) are also struggling with medical school, but they are a support team who study, work, and even sleep together. Through all the competitions and love affairs it eventually takes the wisdom of a dying cancer patient (Norma Aleandro) to make the medical students realize the important things in life. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Pasdar, Diane Lane, (more)
Attacked by a masked assailant, Marjorie (Farrah Fawcett) lives in mortal fear that the unidentified man will strike again -- especially since he knows her address. Sure enough, Joe the attacker (James Russo) breaks into Marjorie's home and subjects her to a night of terror and sexual humiliation. But Marjorie manages to turns the tables on her attacker, knocking him unconscious and rendering him helpless. The remainder of the story charts Marjorie's battle with herself: should she turn Joe over to the authorities, who may very well set him free, or should she mete out her own punishment? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Farrah Fawcett, James Russo, (more)
- 1986
Originally broadcast as an installment of ABC's Disney Sunday Movie anthology, The Leftovers marked the TV acting debut of singer John Denver. He is cast as Max Sinclair, the director f a foster-care facility for older orphans who, for various reasons, no one has ever adopted. Described themselves as "the leftovers", the six kids form a strong bond, refusing to be farmed out to separate families, even though orders have come down for Sinclair to vacate his facility within five weeks. Amidst the seriocomic intrigue, Max falls in love with widow Heather Drew (Cindy Williams), the facility's housekeeper--and an orphan herself. A few potential stars can be glimpsed among the supporting players, notably a pre-Urkel Jaleel White as wisecracking "leftover" Jake. The Leftovers debuted on November 16, 1986. ~Saw Film/TV Guide/Internet/Marrill/Expert ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Richard Pryor gives a compelling performance in Some Kind of Hero, playing a Vietnam veteran who tries to readjust to civilian life. Pryor plays Eddie Keller, who has just spent five years in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp. Most of the time there, Eddie was able to hold his own against his captors, but he eventually was forced to sign a statement denouncing United States involvement in the Vietnam War. Eddie decided to sign the document in order to insure that his friend Vinnie (Ray Sharkey) would be given proper medical treatment. Because of this denunciation, when Eddie returns home from the war he is denied his back pay. He also discovers that his wife has left him for another man, his business has fallen apart, and his mother has been sent to an asylum. Eddie falls into a deep depression and hits rock bottom. But he meets a friendly prostitute, Toni (Margot Kidder), who helps him straighten out his life. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Pryor, Margot Kidder, (more)
- 1982
A nurse that Hawkeye (Alan Alda) once dated casually has died. Inasmuch as he is the only person at the 4077th who knew anything about the decedent, Hawk is called upon to deliver her eulogy. As he investigates the last few days of the departed nurse, Hawk is surprised to discover that she was far more emotionally involved with him than she ever let on. And on a somewhat lighter note, Klinger (Jamie Farr) tries to finagle Charles (David Ogden Stiers) into investing in another get-rich-quick scheme. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
By the admission of its own producers, the made-for-TV Marian Rose White was "extremely loosely based" on a true story. The real Marian Rose White was a 1930s teenager who suffered from a congenital visual defect. This led to her being misdiagnosed as "feebleminded," and locked away in a Sonoma, California institution. Despite the entreaties of sympathetic staffers, Marian was forced to undergo a legally mandated sterilization--which her widowed, impoverished mother readily agreed to. Thirty years passed before this terrible wrong was addressed and Marian was allowed to re-enter society. For the purposes of this film, those three decades were telescoped into four years. The result is a sincere (if somewhat rushed) "injustice of the week" TV effort. Katherine Ross is top-billed as a compassionate nurse, while Valerie Perrine is cast as Marian's unfeeling mother. Marian Rose White is brilliantly essayed by Nancy Cartwright, who is best known today as the voice of cartoon character Bart Simpson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Margaret (Loretta Swit) receives word that her divorce is final. Determined to kick up her heels and revel in her independence, Margaret behaves in a manner too reckless for the tastes of Colonel Potter (Harry Morgan). And in another affair of the heart, Radar (Gary Burghoff) solicits advice from Hawkeye (Alan Alda) on how to woo and win a pretty nurse (Peggy Lee Brennan). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
An unusually heavy barrage of artillery crossfire forces the 4077th to evacuate. The men and women of M*A*S*H to refuge in a tiny, dark, damp cave--whereupon Hawkeye (Alan Alda) reveals in disturbing fashion that his claustrophobic. As the others try to adapt (none too quietly or successfully) to their unhospitable new surroundings, a crisis develops in the form of a seriously wounded patient in dire need of an extremely delicate operation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
A temporary medical exchange sends Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Nurse Bigelow (Enid Kent) to the 8063rd M*A*S*H unit, and surgeon Roy Dupree (George Lindsey) and nurse Lorraine Anderson (Marcia Rodd) to the 4077th. Before long, the doctors have been driven to distraction by Dupree's boorish clumsiness, and head nurse Margaret (Loretta Swit) is outraged by Lorraine's hedonistic behavior. Wonder how the 8063rd is doing? (We'll find out before the final fade-out). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In this opening episode of M*A*S*H's second season, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is temporarily appointed the commanding officer of the 4077th. Now that he has to deal with the many burdens and responsibilities usually shouldered by Col. Potter (Harry Morgan), Hawk undergoes a profound metamorphosis from his self-described "cringing chicken" persona. Trivia buffs will note that this is the episode in which the formerly clean-shaven B.J. (Mike Farrell) finally sprouts his familiar facial hair. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Radar (Gary Burghoff) becomes convinced that he will attract women if he gets a tattoo. The rest of the camp forms a protective circle around Radar, hoping to prevent him from defiling his innocent young epidermis. But Radar is determined, and soon he is sporting a beauty of a skin decoration--but things aren't quite what they appear to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Against not only his better judgment but also that of Col. Potter (Harry Morgan), Hawkeye (Alan Alda) falls in love. The object of his affection is an artistocratic Korean woman who is caring for her mother and children all by herself. The role of Kyung Soon is played by Kieu Chinh, who was one of South Vietnam's top actresses and TV personalities before the fall of Saigon in 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Suffering a shortage of light bulbs, the 4077th sends out a requistion--an ends up with a surplus of ice cream churns and salt tablets. Elsewhere, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is driven to distraction when he finds that the last page in a mystery novel is missing. Before long, everyone in camp has been caught up in Hawkeye's agony, prompting B.J. (Mike Farrell) to place an extremely long long-distance call to the novel's author. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell) generously shell out $40 so that the camp's Korean ping-pong champ Cho Lin (Richard Narita) can purchase a wedding ring for his sweetheart Soony (Sachito Penny Lee). Cynical Frank (Larry Linville) is certain that Cho Lin will abscond with the cash and never be seen again--and for a while, it looks like Frank is right. Meanwhile, ailing Lt. Col. Becket (Frank Maxwell) demands to be released from post-op so he can expedite a promotion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
A screening of Col. Potter's favorite movie My Darling Clementine is constantly interrupted by broken film and faulty projection equipment. When further showing of the movie proves impossible, Potter (Harry Morgan) frets that the 4077's morale will hit an all-time low. Fortunately, the resourceful doctors and nurses are capable of providing their own entertainment: Several people re-enact scenes from the movie (with Klinger [Jamie Farr] a standout as Walter Brennan), while Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) performs an impromptu piano solo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
A stove explosion leaves Hawkeye (Alan Alda) badly burned and blinded. Faced with the prospect of permanent sightlessness, Hawkeye takes some comfort in the consul of a patient who likewise can no longer see (that patient is played by blind singer-composer Tom Sullivan). On a less somber note, Frank (Larry Linville) bets heavily on a baseball game--the outcome of which he already knows. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
