Barbara Barrie Movies

A self-absorbed college student finds himself reluctantly forced to grow up when he returns home to bid farewell to his grandfather in this soul-stirring drama starring Robert Loggia and Arye Gross. Josh Winters (Jack Carpenter) is too wrapped up in college life to think about anything but partying with his friends. It's his last summer before graduation, and he's eager to spend it at the beach house, savoring every sun-soaked minute. When Josh learns that his grandfather (Loggia) is dying, the gravity of the situation fails to register. But as the relatives gather around to say their goodbyes, old wounds are reopened and Josh assumes the role of peacekeeper, holding his family together through one of the most difficult periods they've ever endured. Though the last thing that Josh wanted was to spend the summer with his dying grandfather, he soon discovers that the experience has taught him more about growing up than four years at college ever could. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A funeral gets sticky when a group of former wives bicker over the burial arrangements in the indie comedy The Six Wives of Henry Lefay. Tim Allen stars in the title role, a salesman whose disappearance after a skydiving trip leads his current and former families to believe that his time has passed. Elisha Cuthbert co-stars as the daughter who has to pick up the pieces as the ex-wives and current wife squabble over how to put Henry in the ground. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Twenty-something L.A. hipsters make some earnest and not-so-earnest attempts at growing up in this ensemble comedy-drama from writer/director Gil Cates Jr., which premiered at the 2000 South-by-Southwest Film Festival in Austin, TX. The film's central dysfunctional relationship concerns Max (Jason London), a writer who agrees to give up his gambling habit for his significant other Brigette (Charlie Spradling) -- but only if she promises to give up her drinking habit. Meanwhile, Max's buddy Doug attempts to hound none other than Jack Nicholson (who does not appear in the film) in hopes that the perma-smirk star will produce his script. To this end, he employs the comely Brigette to woo the superstar at a Lakers game. On the home front, Max's roomie Grant (James Parks) is struggling with the issue of his closeted sexuality -- and more specifically, with the massive crush he harbors for his strapping rent-sharer. Spent is the first feature from Cates, whose father is veteran TV producer/director Gilbert Cates; his cousin is actress Phoebe Cates. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Judy Berlin allows the audience to take a glimpse of a day at once strange and ordinary with the residents of Babylon, Long Island. Judy (Edie Falco) is an aspiring actress who is quitting her job as a "pilgrim" in a local historical museum's display to take her chances in Los Angeles. Her mother is a gifted but bitter schoolteacher (Barbara Barrie) who has long loved principal Arthur Gold (Bob Dishy) from afar. However, Arthur has a wife, Alice (Madeline Kahn), who's more than a bit eccentric and has driven him to distraction. Arthur and Alice have a son, David (Aaron Harnick), who like Judy has showbiz aspirations (he wants to be a filmmaker), though unlike Judy he has no idea of what to do about it; when Judy and David meet, could romance be lurking around the corner? First-time director Eric Mendelsohn has equipped this offbeat comic drama an outstanding cast, which also includes Julie Kavner, Anne Meara, and Novella Nelson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Disney's animation team dipped into the rich well of ancient mythology for this musical comedy. The son of Greek gods Zeus (voice of Rip Torn) and Hera (Samantha Eggar), Hercules (voice of Josh Keaton) is stolen as a boy by the minions of Hades (voice of James Woods), lord of the underworld. Forced to live among humans, Hercules is turned into a half-god and half-mortal after drinking a forbidden potion brewed by Hades' right hand men, Pain (voice of Bob Goldthwait) and Panic (voice of Matt Frewer). Now Hercules has the remarkable strength of a god, but is trapped in the body of a human, and before he learns how to use his power properly he goes through a typically adolescent awkward period. In order to become a god and return to his home on Mount Olympus, Hercules must prove himself a true hero on Earth. With the assistance of Philotes (voice of Danny De Vito), a plucky satyr known as "Phil," the grown-up Hercules (voice of Tate Donovan) learns to use his strength to his advantage and becomes a famous and benevolent protector of those around him, successfully battling a variety of gods and monsters. However, Hades, wanting to cut Hercules down to size, sends his secret weapon after him -- Megara (voice of Susan Egan), a seductively beautiful woman under Hades' control, who is to win Hercules' heart and render him helpless against the forces of the underworld. Acclaimed British cartoonist Gerald Scarfe served as production designer for this project, while Alan Menken wrote the musical score. Incidentally, for the Spanish language version of the film, Latin pop singer Ricky Martin provided the singing voice of Hercules, two years before he became a chart-topping sensation in America with his hit single "Livin' la Vida Loca." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Based on the story of real breast-cancer survivor Joyce Wadler, this drama follows the noted journalist on her quest to stay alive and rebuild her life after she receives news of her potentially fatal condition. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Flowers for Matty was one of a smattering of 2-hour Kojak TV dramas presented on the 1989-90 series The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie. Theo Kojak, now a police inspector, takes on the case of a murdered author. The dead man was just about to publish an inflammatory book about mob activities. There's an overabundance of suspects, chief among them guest star Angie Dickinson. Dickinson plays a TV talk show hostess and the wife of the murdered man. She also happens to be the former love of Theo Kojak. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When she becomes pregnant, Annie May Bonner (Alexandra Paul) is kicked out of the house by her wealthy, intolerant father Matthew (Ned Beatty) in this Depression-era melodrama. Annie May marries Jesse (Dee Law), the father of her baby and the son of Matthew's lumber foreman Byron Monroe (Brian Keith), but Annie May's father considers Jesse an undesirable. Even when Matthew's wife Rachel (Barbara Barrie) dies of heartbreak, the stubborn father refuses to allow Annie May and Jesse into the family. The happy couple soon produce four children who may never know their grandfather. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Made for television, Winnie is adapted from the fact-based book Winnie: My Life in the Institution by Jamie Paster Bolnick. Meredith Baxter-Birney plays Winnie Sprockett, who at age 6 is adjudged moderately retarded and confined to an Iowa mental institution. After being locked away for 30 years, Winnie campaigns for her release, attempting to write a book of her experiences. At one point she escapes with a fellow patient (David Morse). Through the intervention of a compassionate administrator (Barbara Barrie), Winnie is at last allowed to re-enter the outside world. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A CIA agent recruits a meek family man for a secret mission involving interstellar communication and copious violence in this tongue-in-cheek buddy flick from the writer/producer of The Golden Child. Insurance salesman Bob Wilson (John Ritter) is the kind of guy who stands by while suburban punks steal his kid's bike. Nick Pirandello (James Belushi) is the exact opposite -- a brash, womanizing alpha male revered within the CIA for his many successful secret missions. When a fellow agent who looks exactly like Bob gets killed just days before he's due to head up a very delicate mission, Nick recruits the reluctant Bob to help out. As Bob gets drawn deeper into a world of Russian hit men, transsexual beauties, and secret-agent hijinks, he slowly gains the self-confidence that's always escaped him. Meanwhile, he's constantly at the mercy of Nick's tongue-in-cheek humor, so he's a little skeptical when Nick reveals that the big meeting is with a group of aliens who want to share their advanced technology with humans. As it turns out, there may be something to Nick's outrageous story -- if only Bob can survive long enough to find out. The lone directorial credit for screenwriter/producer Dennis Feldman, Real Men features Barney Miller vet Barbara Barrie in a supporting role as Nick's placid, accommodating mother. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Five Holocaust survivors conspire to have revenge upon the Nazi doctor who tormented them in this taut made-for-TV drama. All five are women living in Los Angeles and all have vividly painful memories of the atrocities he performed upon them. The memories come flooding back when they find him innocently running a local restaurant. Realizing that no one else will help them, the ladies conspire to kill him. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Though Two of a Kind was hardly George Burns' television debut, it was his first dramatic TV appearance. Burns is cast as Ross "Boppy" Minor, who is shunted away to a nursing home by his unfeeling son-in-law Cliff Robertson. Robby Benson co-stars as Nolie Minor, Boppy's mentally retarded grandson. Both outcasts from "normal" society, Nolie and Boppy form a strong bond in this touching domestic drama. An Emmy Award went to songwriters James Di Pasquale and Dory Previn for their theme song "We'll Win the World." Two of a Kind first aired October 9, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi