Nancy Marchand Movies
Following extensive dramatic training at Carnegie Tech, American actress Nancy Marchand did some stage work, then entered the infant TV medium with a 1950 production of Little Women. One year later she appeared on Broadway for the first time; for the rest of the '50s she fluctuated between on-stage classics (Shakespeare, Euripedes) and TV anthologies and soap operas. In later years, Nancy explained that she retreated to contemporary characters on TV because she was "tired of being a queen or a poor put-upon Greek" on stage. A handsome woman, but not voluptuously beautiful in the then-fashionable Marilyn Monroe tradition, Ms. Marchand was usually cast in character roles: she was the dateless "dog" with whom lonely Bronx butcher Rod Steiger fell in love in the original 1953 telecast of Paddy Chayefsky's Marty. Marchand made her movie bow in another Chayefsky work, The Bachelor Party (1957). In 1960, Ms. Marchand won an Obie for her stage performance as the Madam of a fantasy-granting brothel in Genet's The Balcony (also in the cast were future TV stars Michael Conrad and Jack Dodson). From 1977 through 1982, Ms. Marchand played Mrs. Margaret Pynchon, a powerful newspaper executive said to be patterned after the Washington Post's Katherine Graham, on the TV series Lou Grant; she won four Emmies, one for each year of the series' existence. When at one point her character suffered a stroke and spent several weeks recovering, Ms. Marchand was besieged with get-well cards from fans who believed that the actress' fictional stroke was genuine. Recent film appearances for Nancy Marchand include the role of the long-suffering mayor in The Naked Gun (1988). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A Touch of the Poet is the only completed play in Eugene O'Neill's planned 11-part "American History" cycle. Set in a rundown tavern in 1820s Boston, Poet focuses on the relationships between tavern owner Cornelius Melody, his wife Nora, and daughter Sara. Born into wealth in the old country, Cornelius has fallen on hard times, a consequence of a disgrace he suffered while serving in the Peninsular Wars. He took his family to start over in America but lost his fortune buying a secluded inn that attracts few customers. He maintains his haughty airs, however, and constantly abuses his loving, hard-working wife, which only makes Sara more scornful of her father's inability to face reality. For her part, Sara is in love with Simon, a wealthy American who has taken ill. When Simon's father arrives on the scene, he takes a quick measure of the kind of man Cornelius is and forbids Simon and Sara from marrying. Greatly offended, Cornelius swears to avenge this insult, but the result of his efforts are far different than what he intended. This production originally aired as part of PBS's Theatre in America series. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fritz Weaver
- 1992
- PG
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Brain Donors is a game attempt to redo the Marx Brothers' A Night at the Opera in a contemporary setting. John Turturro plays the "Groucho" character, a shifty lawyer (he's even given a Grouchoesque three-barrelled moniker). Bob Nelson is the "Harpo" counterpart, a puckish handyman. And Mel Smith completes the trio as a Chico-like cabbie. All three conspire to save a failing ballet company on behalf of dowager Nancy Marchand, who does a film-length impersonation of Margaret Dumont. At times, Pat Proft's script comes off more like a 3 Stooges short than a Marx Brothers romp, but that's not so bad. What hurts the film is its fluctuating pace, which shifts into neutral just when it should go into hyperdrive. Will Vinton's Claymation opening titles supply some of the film's biggest laughs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Turturro, Bob Nelson, (more)
- 1984
Nancy Marchand guest stars as the imperious mother of Diane's boyfriend Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer). Preparing to meet Mrs. Crane for the first time, Diane is understandably nervous and on her guard. Even so, she is hardly prepared for the moment in which the gimlet-eyed dowager threatens to kill Diane if she ever marries Frasier! (Fans of Kelsey Grammer's later series, please note: You won't see Frasier's dad [John Mahoney] in this episode.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this comedy, a man trying to turn away from a life of crime starts performing a little larceny in the interest of helping others. Tom Turner (Greg Kinnear) is a small-time con man who makes the mistake of trying to cheat a pair of undercover cops one night. Fortunately for Tom, his case is heard by a lenient judge who orders him to get a straight job and stay out of trouble; if he can stay employed for a year, his conviction will be wiped from the record. Tom is hired at the Post Office and assigned to the Dead Letter Office, where he and his co-workers Rebecca (Laurie Metcalf), Herman (Tim Conway), and Vladek (Hector Elizondo) try to figure out what to do with the sacks of mail addressed to Santa Claus, Elvis Presley, and God. Against orders, Tom opens one of the letters to God and is moved by the sad story of the woman who sent it. He decides to reply and accidentally mails her his pay check; but when he sees how happy the answer made the recipient, Tom and his co-workers start opening more letters and trying to answer a few prayers that would be within their reach -- which leads Tom back to the courthouse again. Director Garry Marshall has a small role as Preston Sweeney. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Greg Kinnear, Laurie Metcalf, (more)
- 1966
Produced by the public affairs department of the American Broadcasting Company, Directions was that network's "answer" to the established religious programs on NBC and CBS. This Sunday-afternoon series ran from November 13, 1960 to March 25, 1984. Each year, the show's title underwent a subtle change, hence this video's cognomen, Directions '66. At this juncture (1966), the series was experimenting with music and drama as means to convey its nondenominational message. In this video, a pious couple (Nancy Marchand and Lawrence Keith) have their faith sorely tested when they take charge of a group of "problem kids." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Director Bob Clark, whose previous cinematic endeavors ran the gamut from Porky's to A Christmas Story, called the shots on From the Hip. Fresh out of law school, Robin Weathers (Judd Nelson) is hired by a law firm not known for its ethics. Weathers' first client is a man who, up to trial time, was perfectly willing to cop a plea. Instead, the novice lawyer sharkishly secures a "not guilty" verdict--not to mention a public reputation as a live wire. His jealous older colleagues decide to get even with Weathers by assigning him a case that cannot possibly be won. Thus it is that Weathers is assigned to defend insufferable murder suspect Douglas Benoit (John Hurt), who refuses to cooperate with his attorney even though he's facing a death sentence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Perkins, John Hurt, (more)
- 1953
Not the 1955 film, but a television version filmed two years earlier, Marty is the story of a lonely New York man (Rod Steiger) who finds solace with an equally introverted woman. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rod Steiger, Nancy Marchand, (more)
- 1994
Christmas is just another day on the calendar for the acerbic Munch (Richard Belzer), especially when he is handed a case involving the murder of a man in a Santa Claus suit. Elsewhere, Lt. Russert (Isabella Hoffman) decides to get back into the hands-on aspects of detective work by joining Lewis (Clark Johnson) in his latest investigation -- only to discover that she has prior knowledge of the persons involved in the case. And as Felton (Daniel Baldwin) wearily prepares to spend his first Christmas without his wife and children, Bayliss (Kyle Secor) seeks out a friendly Yuletide game of Hearts -- at five dollars a hand. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Baldwin, Ned Beatty, (more)
Best known for their historical epics that examine class and social issues in British life through a thick lens of tasteful production design and good manners, director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant set their sights on an American protagonist for a change with Jefferson in Paris. As the title suggests, Jefferson in Paris deals with the five years that Thomas Jefferson (Nick Nolte) spent as U.S. ambassador to France prior to the French Revolution; while Jefferson is sympathetic to the revolutionary forces in France, he's become well enough acquainted with the ruling aristocracy that he finds himself torn between the two sides of the issue. Jefferson, a recent widower, also becomes friends with Maria Cosway (Greta Scacchi), who is married to a foppish British artist; while it's obvious the two are in love, neither is in a position to do anything about their infatuation. And while Jefferson's daughter Patsy (Gwyneth Paltrow) loves her father, she's very upset with him when he sends her to a convent school. In this midst of this personal turmoil, Jefferson's younger daughter Polly (Estelle Eonnet) arrives in Paris, with her slave Sally Hemmings (Thandie Newton) in tow. Attractive and bright (if uneducated), Sally catches Jefferson's eye, and a friendship develops that grows into something deeper; in time, Sally becomes pregnant, and her family claims that Jefferson is the father. At the time Jefferson In Paris was released, the question of Sally Hemmings' relationship with Thomas Jefferson was a matter of lively historical debate; since then, genetic evidence has shown that, while Jefferson's paternity can't be proved beyond a doubt, it is likely that he did father children with Hemmings. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nick Nolte, Greta Scacchi, (more)
- 1963
This thought-provoking and only slightly heavy handed anti-war tract is based on a real incident that occurred during the atomic terror of the Cuban missile crisis. The tragedy begins when a civil defense siren is accidentally tripped while a school is in session. The panic-stricken children are immediately sent home. One young girl has an air-raid shelter in her backyard and invites many children inside. A less popular girl begs to be let in, but the first girl makes excuses and shuts her out leaving the terribly frightened child to hide out in an abandoned refrigerator where she dies. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jane Connell, William Daniels, (more)
- 1992
A wealthy young bride is killed in what appears to be a mugging gone awry. The ensuing investigation reveals that the victim's husband was cheating on her. As it turns out, the solution to the case hinges on a valuable silver pin that was owned by the unfortunate woman. Nancy Marchand, best remembered as the aristocratic newspaper owner on Lou Grant and the mob matriarch on The Sopranos, is here seen as the imperious Mrs. Barbara Ryder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
- PG
Since she was a child, Natalie Miller (Patty Duke) has always thought she was an ugly ducking. When a boy called her "clown face", the six-year-old knocked out his front teeth with a shovel. Despite her mother's encouragement that she will grow up to be pretty, Natalie has never believed it will happen. When her parents bribe a young medical student to date her, Natalie discovers the ruse and moves out of her parent's house. She rents a Greenwich Village apartment from an eccentric landlady (Elsa Lanchester) and gets a job at the Topless Bottom Club. She rides a motorcycle to work, decorates her loft with a moose head, and rides up and down a dumbwaiter to get to her apartment. There Natalie meets David (James Farentino) an artist, and the two have a love affair before she discovers he is married. She considers returning home after finding him in bed with his wife. Al Pacino makes his first screen appearance in a minor role in this engaging drama. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patty Duke, James Farentino, (more)
- 1992
In the first episode of a two-part story (originally networkcast as a single hour-long installment), political consultant Johnny Dugan (Don Amendolia) talks Christine (Markie Post) into running for congress against the seemingly indomitable incumbent Louise Cahill (Nancy Marchand). Meanwhile, Mac (Charlie Robinson) screens his "artsy" video of Bull's wedding for the unimpressed courtroom staff. And Dan (John Larroquette) volunteers to serve as a sex surrogate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally networkcast as a single hour-long installment), the competition heats up between congressional candidate Christine (Markie Post) and her tough-as-nails opponent (Nancy Marchand). Dan (John Larroquette) has less fun as a sexual surrogate than he anticipated. And Mac's (Charlie Robinson) home video of Bull's wedding becomes a "Rocky Horror"-like cult favorite at a local movie house! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In this family drama, a man whose wife has just left him is faced with caring for his children by himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
- PG13
Reckless is a dark, dream-like comedy-fantasy adapted by Craig Lucas from his play that takes place in a strange, hallucinogenic otherworld. Mia Farrow stars as annoying, air-headed housewife Rachel, who discovers on Christmas Eve that her husband Tom (Tony Goldwyn) has arranged for a hit man to murder her. Barely escaping with her life into the snowy wastes of her neighborhood, Rachel crosses paths with a social worker, Lloyd (Scott Glenn), and Lloyd's paraplegic, deaf and mute wife, Pooty (Mary-Louise Parker). Rachel takes up house with the friendly couple, but Lloyd is not quite what he appears to be and the naïve Rachel is forced to flee. This time, her travels take her into contact with a variety of eccentric characters, including game show host Fast Tim Timko (Giancarlo Esposito), the staff of a non-profit group, and a troubled nun. As she crosses America, Rachel visits all 50 states, although she repeatedly ends up in towns called Springfield. Reckless (1995) was the third and final film of director Norman Rene, who passed away the following year. Rene had previously collaborated with Lucas on the films Longtime Companion (1990) and Prelude to a Kiss (1992). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mia Farrow, Scott Glenn, (more)
Combining elements of A Christmas Carol and Rain Man (1988), this modern-day parable of greed and redemption was crafted with generous helpings of sentimentality by director Mike Nicholas. Harrison Ford stars as Henry Turner, a slick, ruthless corporate attorney willing to spin any falsehood to win a case. A bully to his teenage daughter Rachel (Mikki Allen), Henry also cheats on his wife Sarah (Annette Bening) and treats everyone from the maid to his assistant with cruel selfishness. Stepping out to a local mini-market for a pack of cigarettes late one night, Henry accidentally interrupts a burglary and is shot in the head by a stick-up artist. After a long coma, Henry survives only to find that he has no memory and must re-learn everything from reading to tying his shoes. Reborn as a friendly, childlike innocent, Henry charms his therapist (Bill Nunn) and reconnects with his wife and daughter, only to uncover some secrets about how truly appalling he once was. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harrison Ford, Annette Bening, (more)
A remake of a 1954 Billy Wilder romance, this updated version of the play Sabrina Fair was directed by Sydney Pollack. Julia Ormond stars as Sabrina Fairchild, the daughter of a kindly chauffeur (John Wood) at the Long Island estate of the upper-crust Larrabee family. Sabrina has grown up enchanted from afar with the Larrabees' sparkling world of privilege and wealth, but she's especially enamored of younger Larrabee brother David (Greg Kinnear), a charming womanizer. After the once-plain Sabrina returns from a sojourn in Paris transformed into a remarkably poised and attractive young woman, she at long last catches David's eye. In a calculated effort to manipulate David away from her and into a more financially advantageous marriage, older brother Linus (Harrison Ford) pretends to woo Sabrina himself, but finds himself unintentionally falling in love. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, (more)
The 44-minute Soldier's Home is based on a story by Ernest Hemingway. Richard Backus stars as a returning World War I veteran who can't adapt to the changes in his home town. Nancy Marchand, Mark LaMura and Lane Binkley costar. Though released separately on videocassette, Soldier's Home was originally telecast on PBS' American Short Story series in tandem with another short drama: Almos' a Man, based on a Richard Wright story and starring LeVar Burton and Madge Sinclair. The two playlets initially aired on April 25, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
