Piper Laurie Movies
Signed by Universal in 1950, the perky, redheaded Piper Laurie (born Rosetta Jacobs) was a welcome presence in many a musical, situation comedy and costume drama. In later years, she tended to dismiss her ingenue years, noting that she spent most of her time posing for cheesecake layouts. Thanks in great part to her devastating performance as an alcoholic in the 1958 Playhouse 90 TV drama "The Days of Wine and Roses", Laurie completely altered her cuddly image, reinventing herself as a powerful dramatic actress. She earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Paul Newman's neurotic girlfriend in The Hustler (1961), then suddenly retired from acting upon her marriage to movie critic Joseph Morganstern. She made a brilliant return to films with another Oscar-nominated performance, this time as Sissy Spacek's religious fanatic mother in Carrie (1976). Ten years and several topnotch performances later, she was honored with a third Oscar nomination for Children of a Lesser God (1986). Laurie's television work has included a co-starring assignment opposite a very young Mel Gibson in the superb Australian TV movie Tim (1979) and an Emmy-nominated stint on David Lynch's 1990 "cult" series Twin Peaks. Working only when the spirit moves her in recent years, Piper Laurie has been seen in such prestige productions as Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993) and White Man's Burden (1995). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Actor Sidney Poitier returns to CBS, the same station which originally broadcast his leading role in 1999's The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn, this time adopting the part of a humble brickmaker in the made-for-television drama The Last Brickmaker in America. Without much pride in his job or encouragement from his recently deceased wife, the old brickmaker finds himself feeling lost and hopeless. However, when he meets a troubled 13-year-old who feels equally lost, redemption no longer seems so far away. Directed by Gregg Champion, The Last Brickmaker in America is based on a true story. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sidney Poitier, Piper Laurie, (more)
- 1999
Christine Baranski makes her first series appearance as Seattle radio therapist Dr. Nora Fairchild, a spoof of a certain well-known, ultraconservative talk-show host. Dr. Nora's outspoken, bullying and predominately homophobic "my way or the highway" radio personality is extremely irritating to many observers, including Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), who to his everlasting regret recommended Nora to the KACL management. Even so, the outrageous Nora dramatically increases the station's ratings -- setting the stage for a riotous showdown between the Doctors Crane and Fairchild. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Child-actor turned novelist Joshua Miller now adds directing to his resume with this screen adaptation of his novel The Mao Game. Piper Laurie plays an older woman who gave up an early career as a hoofer to become a respected photographer. Her daughter (Kirstie Alley) has become a film star with emotional problems, with a son (Joshua Miller) who has a failing career as an actor and a drug habit. The Mao Game features a musical score by Vivian Kubrick, daughter of legendary director Stanley Kubrick; Whoopi Goldberg served as executive producer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joshua Miller, Piper Laurie, (more)
- 1997
Monica (Roma Downey) arrives in a small Montana town where dwells an elderly widow named Annie Doyle (Piper Laurie). 35 years ago, Annie's husband Tommy, regarded by the locals as a paragon of virtue and decency, died under mysterious circumstances. This tragic event resulted in friction between Annie and her snoopy neighbors Emily (Bonnie Bartlett), Russell (Sterling Brimley) and Markus (Matt Clark), who in the intervening years succeeded in convincing the entire community that Annie was somehow responsible for her husband's death. With this in mind, Monica must somehow come to Annie's aid--but she isn't sure whether her mission is to reconcile the widow's life before she goes blind, or to fulfill the old lady's lifelong dream of traveling to Europe. Or...is Monica slated to reveal to one and all that the late Tommy Doyle, and NOT Annie, is the true villain of the piece? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Made for television, A Christmas Memory is adapted from the wistful short story by Truman Capote, previously filmed in 1967 as a one-hour episode of ABC Stage 67. Capote himself narrated the original version, in which he recalled his lonely childhood and the strong bond between himself and his simple-minded older cousin Sook, a role brilliantly essayed in 1967 by Geraldine Page. The remake stars Patty Duke as Sook, with whom young Buddy (Eric Lloyd) (the Capote character) lives during one memorable Depression Christmas while his divorced (and detached) mother and father are otherwise occupied. Looked after by her unmarried sisters Jennie (Piper Laurie) and Callie (Anita Gillette), the warm, unfailingly cheerful Sook busies herself with preparing Christmas fruitcakes for everyone she can think of--including President Roosevelt and Jean Harlow!--and, with the innocence of the eternal child, she allows the impressionable Buddy into her own private world. When the time comes for Sook and Buddy to be separated, he prefers to remain with her. . .a decision, alas, that is not his to make. Bereft of Capote's eloquent narration, and including several subplot intrigues not to be found in the original short story, A Christmas Memory is a game effort, but in the end falls short of the 1967 classic. The remake aired December 21, 1997 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Lloyd, Patty Duke, (more)
- 1997
Based on a book by Dean Koontz, who also served as one of the executive producers, this Canadian telefilm directed by Yves Simoneau (Mother's Boys) concerns a young psychology student named Chyna Shepherd. She's played by Molly Parker (who was so wonderful in the 1996 cult film Kissed) as a troubled woman with a frightening past, which is seen in disturbing flashbacks. Chyna attempts to exorcise her own demons by rescuing a 15-year-old girl named Ariel (Tori Paul) from the brilliant but completely insane serial killer Edgler Vess (John C. McGinley). Vess has kidnapped Ariel and is holding her captive in his remote cabin, and only Chyna can save her. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John C. McGinley, Molly Parker, (more)
- 1997
The luck of the Irish is not shining on anyone looking for a spot of whiskey or stout in this comedy about an unusual family get-together. Mary Pat Donnely McDonough (Piper Laurie) is the matriarch of a large Irish-American family, and as is her custom, she has invited as many of her family as can attend to a weekend-long party and reunion to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. However, upon arrival her guests discover this year's gathering will be a bit different; Mary has decided that it's time she gave up alcohol, and not only will she not be drinking any spirits during the weekend, she will not permit anyone else to drink in her home, either. Needless to say, the nearly two-dozen guests on hand are not sure just what to expect from two days together with no social lubricants, and soon more than a few secrets fall by the wayside: Thomas (Redmond M. Gleason), the family servant, decides to proclaim his love for Mary; Priss (Joanne Baron), Mary's daughter, announces she's leaving her husband for a much younger man; a pair of distant cousins decide a roll in the clover is in order; and teenaged Cassie (Colleen Fitzpatrick) is on hand to capture everyone's most embarrassing moments on videotape. Incidentally, Colleen Fitzpatrick would later become a successful pop singer under the name Vitamin C. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Piper Laurie
- 1996
Unable to cope with losing custody of baby Suzy, Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) begins consulting a therapist, whereupon the events in this episode (directed by series regular Anthony Edwards) are unfolded in flashback form. One of the plot developments involves Carol (Julianna Margulies), who in order to save her paramedic boyfriend, Shep (Ron Eldard), from disciplinary action may be forced to lie on his behalf. Elsewhere, Ross (George Clooney) discovers that his father, Ray, has run out on Karen (Marg Helgenberger) -- and with most of Karen's money. And Carter (Noah Wyle) tries to comfort a young girl named TC (Gabrielle Boni), whose surgery will prevent her from participating in a basketball tournament. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In this heartwarming drama, a dying widow "abducts" a trio of women suffering from Alzheimer's disease and embarks upon a journey to the title Texas town in order to fulfill her lifelong fantasy of seeing the ocean. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cicely Tyson, Tess Harper, (more)
After her lifelong friend is jailed for murder, a brave woman launches a private investigation to prove her innocent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Veronica Hamel, Mimi Rogers, (more)
- 1995
Rushing to Milwaukee after his wife, Jenn (Christine Harnos), and daughter, Rachel (Yvonne Zima), are injured in a car accident, Greene (Anthony Edwards) is relieved to learn that they're all right -- but none too happy with the news that Jenn has been withholding from him. Back in Chicago, Carol (Julianna Margulies) is given advice about her new house by Josh Shern (Adam Goldberg), a paranoid schizophrenic with an innate talent for architecture. And Dr. Morganstern (William H. Macy) and Susan Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) clash when he suggests that her personal problems vis-à-vis little Suzy are negatively affecting her job performance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
For his second outing as a director, filmmaker Philip Ridley once again enlisted the talents of Viggo Mortensen, who starred in Ridley's debut, The Reflecting Skin, and co-stars here with Ashley Judd and Brendan Fraser. Fraser plays Darkley Noon, a disturbed young man who received a sheltered upbringing from his strict Christian parents. When the elder Noons pass on, Darkly wanders off aimlessly until he is picked up by a passing truck driver named Jude (Loren Dean). Jude leaves the physically worn Darkly with Callie (Judd) and Clay (Mortensen), a young married couple. As Callie cares for Darkly, he begins to develop romantic and sexual feelings for her, feelings that threaten to turn violent when Darkly is taunted by the love between Callie and Clay. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
Set in Utah (but filmed in Texas), the made-for-TV Shadows of Desire will probably seem fresh and original to anyone who hasn't seen the old Katharine Hepburn-Robert Taylor-Robert Mitchum theatrical feature Undercurrent--or, for that matter, to anyone unfamiliar with the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. Central to the plotline is Rowena Ecklund (Nicollette Sheridan), a woman torn between her sincere love for the kindly, sensitive Jude Snow (Adrian Pasder) and her insatiable lust for Jude's arrogant, dangerous older brother Sonny (Joe Lando) (guess which brother has the longest hair and the sweatiest shirt?) The passions engendered by this triangle are matched only by the all-stops-out histrionics of Piper Laurie as Jude and Sonny's domineering mother Ellis. Originally telecast September 20, 1994, on CBS, Shadows of Desire has since been rerun on cable television and on Canadian TV under the title The Devil's Bed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Christina (Susan Dey) is a cocaine addict in a tumultuous relationship with an equally drug-addicted boyfriend. When she becomes pregnant, the baby is born not only prematurely but with the chemical dependency of its mother. Now Christina is in a fight to make her life clean and stable so that social services will allow her to have custody of her daughter. But first, she'll have to convince not only her jaded case worker, but herself, that she can. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Dey
- 1993
A tongue-tied Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) manages to say all the wrong things at the breakfast table after his father, Martin (John Mahoney), has spent the night with a woman. Realizing that he has embarrassed his dad, Frasier tries to make amends during his radio show -- and succeeds to make things worse, only this time in front of the entire city of Seattle. Our hero's last-ditch effort to smooth out the situation just might work...and then, it just might not. Patrick Kerr makes his first series appearance as irritating Star Trek aficionado Noel Shempsky, eternal nemesis of Frasier's co-worker, Roz (Peri Gilpin). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
When a rebellious young woman's cocaine habit results in an addicted premature baby, authorities whisk the infant away. Devastated, the young mother realizes that she will have to prove herself worthy and capable of motherhood and so sets out to clean up her act. Unfortunately, it may be too little too late as far as the courts are concerned. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Dey, Lorraine Toussaint, (more)
- 1990
Originally broadcast on April 26, 1990, episode three of Twin Peaks, "Rest in Pain," takes place the day of Laura Palmer's funeral. After having breakfast with Audrey (Sherilyn Fenn), Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) explains his dream to Sheriff Harry Truman (Michael Ontkean), claiming it is a code that reveals the identity of Laura's killer. At the morgue, Albert Rosenfield (Miguel Ferrer) wants to continue the autopsy while Doctor Hayward (Warren Frost) wants to release the body for the funeral. Albert doles out insults and Harry punches him out. The autopsy report reveals that Laura had been tied up and cut on the night of her death, and that she was addicted to cocaine. Laura's cousin, Madeline (also played by Sheryl Lee), arrives for the funeral, where Bobby (Dana Ashbrook) and James (James Marshall) get into a fight and Leland Palmer (Ray Wise) loses control. That evening is a full moon, and Cooper gets introduced to the Bookhouse Boys, a secret society formed to get rid of the evil presence in the woods. They find out somebody is running drugs across the Canadian border into Twin Peaks and they capture Bernard Renault (Clay Wilcox). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Originally broadcast on April 19, 1990, the memorable and pivotal second episode of Twin Peaks, "Zen, or the Skill of Catching a Killer," contains the infamous surreal dream sequence with the Little Man From Another Place (Michael J. Anderson). On Saturday night, sleazy businessman Benjamin Horne (Richard Beymer) and his immature brother, Jerry Horne (David Patrick Kelly), visit the brothel One-Eyed Jacks for a night of debauchery. Meanwhile, Bobby (Dana Ashbrook) and Mike (Gary Hershberger) meet Leo (Eric Da Re) in the woods for a drug deal. The next morning, Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) decides to teach Sheriff Truman (Michael Ontkean) and his crew about Tibet. In order to gain perspective on the identity of the "J" name referred to in Laura Palmer's diary, Cooper reads "J" names aloud along with their connection to Laura, then throws a rock at a bottle. The bottle breaks after the name Leo Johnson is read. Also that morning, Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle) and Audrey (Sherilyn Fenn) run into each other at the Double R diner. At the morgue, the angry pathologist Albert Rosenfield (Miguel Ferrer) has arrived to inspect the body, and he wastes no time insulting the residents of Twin Peaks, especially Sheriff Truman. That night, Pete Martell (Jack Nance) complicates Catherine's plans to burn the mill when he sneaks a key to Josie Packard (Joan Chen). Finally, in an unforgettable montage, Cooper has a dream involving the One-Armed Man, the Little Man From Another Place, and Killer Bob in a red-curtained room. He wakes up believing he knows who killed Laura Palmer. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The first official episode of Twin Peaks, entitled "Traces to Nowhere," originally aired on April 12, 1990. Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) of the FBI continues to investigate the mysterious death of Laura Palmer. He interrogates James Hurley (James Marshall), Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook), and Mike Nelson (Gary Hershberger), and James is released from jail. Meanwhile, Bobby's secret girlfriend, Shelley Johnson (Madchen Amick), finds blood on the shirt of her abusive husband, Leo Johnson (Eric Da Re). Big Ed Hurley (Everett McGill) tells Sheriff Truman (Michael Ontkean) that his drink was drugged the previous night at the Roadhouse, and he believes Jacques Renault was tending bar. At the Great Northern Hotel, Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) begins her pattern of flirting with Agent Cooper. Also at the Great Northern, Catherine Martell (Piper Laurie) and secret lover Benjamin Horne (Richard Beymer) reveal their scheme to take over Packard Sawmill. After being released from their cell, Bobby and Mike swear to get revenge on James. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The final cliffhanger episode of the first season of Twin Peaks, entitled "The Last Evening," originally aired on May 24, 1990, and was written and directed by series co-creator Mark Frost. James (James Marshall) and Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle) search for clues and find the missing tape, while Dr. Jacoby (Russ Tamblyn) gets assaulted and ends up in the hospital. Agent Cooper's (Kyle MacLachlan) undercover operation at One-Eyed Jacks is successful in setting up and arresting Jacques Renault (Walter Olkewicz), who confesses details about the night of Laura's murder. Also at One-Eyed Jacks, Audrey's secret investigation is almost discovered when her father, Ben Horne, unwittingly goes to visit "the new girl." The end is near for the Packard Sawmill, as Leo Johnson (Eric Da Re) prepares to burn it down with Shelley and Catherine inside. Hank Jennings (Chris Mulkey) reveals details of his criminal history, as well as his secret connection to Josie Packard. With several characters meeting their fate in this episode, including the two main suspects (Jacques and Leo), the mystery of Laura Palmer's murder is even more puzzling. The season finale ends with Agent Cooper receiving a gun shot in his room at the Great Northern Hotel. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Episode six in the first season of Twin Peaks, "Realization Time," originally aired May 17, 1990, and was directed by Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel. The wounded suspect Leo Johnson (Eric Da Re), shot by Shelly (Madchen Amick) in self-defense, tries to kill Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook), but instead runs off in an attempt to silence the mynah bird Waldo. Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle) and James (James Marshall) listen to the audio tapes Maddy (Sheryl Lee) found of Laura's confessions to Dr. Lawrence Jacoby (Russ Tamblyn). Meanwhile, Josie (Joan Chen) confesses to Sheriff Truman (Michael Ontkean) that she knows Catherine is planning to burn the mill. That evening, most of the action happens at One-Eyed Jacks, just over the Canadian border, where suspect Jacques Renault (Walter Olkewicz) is working as a blackjack dealer. Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) and Ed Hurley (Everett McGill) go undercover as "Fred" and "Barney" and head for the casino. After eavesdropping at the perfume counter, Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) also goes undercover, getting hired at One-Eyed Jacks by impressing madam Blackie O'Reilly (Victoria Catlin) with her cherry stem trick. Also that evening, Donna and James disguise Maddy as Laura Palmer in a plot to lure Dr. Jacoby out of his house. Once inside, they search for Laura's missing audio tapes, but their plan is threatened by sabotage. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Episode five of the first season of Twin Peaks, "Cooper's Dreams," originally aired on May 10, 1990, and was directed by Lesli Linka Glatter. Trying to start her own investigation, Audrey goes to a job interview at her father's department store. She manipulates the manager, Emory Battis (Don Amendolia), into a job at the perfume counter and learns some secret connections between Horne's and One-Eyed Jacks. Hank Jennings (Chris Mulkey) returns from prison to work at the Double R Diner, so Norma tells Ed Hurley (Everett McGill) that they can't continue their affair. Dr. Lawrence Jacoby (Russ Tamblyn) has a counseling session with the Briggs family, and Bobby reveals details about Laura's connection to drugs. Agent Cooper, Hawk, Sheriff Truman, and Doctor Hayward go hiking in the woods and have tea with Margaret Lanterman (Catherine Coulson), also known as the Log Lady, who tells them about her visions on the night of Laura's murder. While out in the woods, they find Jacques Renault's cabin full of clues, along with a possible witness -- a mynah bird named Waldo. That night, the Icelanders have a reception at the Great Northern, where Audrey spies on Catherine and Ben, and Leland dances out of control. James and Donna continue their own investigation with the help of Madeline, who shares clues that she found in Laura's bedroom. The main suspect, Leo Johnson, is assaulted by both Hank and Shelly. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The fourth episode of Twin Peaks' first season, "The One-Armed Man," was originally broadcast on May 3, 1990, and directed by Tim Hunter (River's Edge). Deputy Andy Brennan sketches Sarah Palmer's visions of Killer Bob, resembling the Bob in Agent Cooper's dream from episode two. Another of Cooper's visions appears at a nearby motel, where Deputy Hawk (Michael Horse) finds the One-Armed Man (Al Strobel). Ben Horne and Catherine are also at the same hotel, making plans to burn the mill, while Josie spies on them. Agent Cooper questions the One-Armed Man, who claims to be named Philip Michael Gerard, about his connection to BOB. At the Double R Diner, Norma Jennings (Peggy Lipton) gets word that her husband, Hank Jennings (Chris Mulkey), is up for parole, and he is granted release after she defends him in court. Audrey Horne begs her father for a job at his department store, where Laura Palmer once worked. She plans to conduct her own secret investigation with the additional help of Donna Hayward. Leo Johnson's bloody shirt is found in Jacques Renault's apartment, while Leo and Ben make plans concerning the mill. Later that evening, Donna and James Hurley look for the other half of the gold heart necklace that they had buried. This episode features the voice of series creator David Lynch as Cooper's hard-of-hearing supervisor, Gordon Cole. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Brian Dennehy stars in this made-for-cable drama about a blue-collar family man laid off from his auto-industry job who learns that his resentful son plans to drop out of medical school. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1990
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The groundbreaking and influential Twin Peaks series originally ran on the ABC network for the short time between April 1990 and June 1991. Created by film director David Lynch (Blue Velvet) and writer Mark Frost (Hill Street Blues), it gained an enormous following of viewers while challenging genre conventions and changing the standard of television programming. The story begins with Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) of the FBI arriving in the small town of Twin Peaks, WA, to investigate the murder of a popular high school girl named Laura Palmer. When the first season ended without answering the pressing question of "Who killed Laura Palmer?", the loyal audience had to wait all summer until next season to find out. However, the series proved to be more than just an engaging soap opera or juicy murder mystery. The dark supernatural subject matter was offset by moments of absurd humor, and the haunting musical score from Angelo Badalamenti was well suited to the cinematically rendered images. The creators succeeded in blending a very human drama into a humorous and entertaining crime show against a small-town background of eccentric characters and places. Offering plenty of symbolism, the series became highly discussed for exposing the darkness underneath apple-pie America, among other issues. For a series that gains layers of meaning with repeated viewing, it was also accused of alienating casual viewers. Some of the audience just lost interest during the second season, after the central mystery was solved. Nevertheless, the eerie mood and unusual themes of Twin Peaks continue to influence numerous television series from Northern Exposure to The X-Files. A rebroadcast on the Bravo cable channel in the late '90s added the Log Lady opening introductions to each episode of the series. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
