David Marciano Movies

Robert Conrad stars in this 2-hour Police Story TV special, directed by another veteran of 1960s series television, James Darren. Conrad plays an unpopular cop who is being sued for harassment by a prostitute. His mob enemies murder the hooker and frame Conrad for the killing. This results in Conrad being sent to a prison nicknamed "the gladiator school," where many of the inmates eagerly await the opportunity to exact revenge upon the hard-nosed cop. Originally telecast on November 5, 1988, Police Story: Gladiator School is an expanded remake of one of the scripts from Police Story's original 1973-1980 weekly run. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lethal Weapon 2 reteams Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as, respectively, "loose cannon" LA detective Martin Riggs and Riggs' partner, the cautious family man Roger Murtaugh. The villain this time is a South African diplomat (Joss Ackland) who doubles as a drug dealer. Though Riggs knows what's going on thanks to characterless character witness Joe Pesci, he can't touch the villain because of "diplomatic immunity." After perils too numerous to mention, Riggs and Murtaugh shoot it out with the heavies on the deck of a South African cargo ship. Lethal Weapon 2, of course, contains as one of its comic high-points a now famous suspense scene: Mel Gibson agonizingly attempting to extricate a terrified Danny Glover from a booby-trapped toilet seat. Gibson, Glover, Donner and Joe Pesci would be reunited three years later for Lethal Weapon 3 and in 1998 for Lethal Weapon 4. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rock video director Richard Casey makes his feature debut in this violent drama, which delves into the seamy side of the lives of some of L.A.'s wannabe musicians. In return for signing over his soul (?!), Lemmy (Phil Ward) gets the sponsorship of drug-gang leader Tanas (David Marciano), the owner of the Bar Sinister to get music gigs for his band. Having done that, instead of advancing his music career, Lemmy and his girlfriend Angel (Lyn Levand) take drugs and zone out while gang related violence breaks out on every side. The music in this film is by Drowning Pool, Love Supreme, Angry Samoans, Trotsky Icepick and Angst, among others. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

This Canadian made-for-television movie spawned the popular series about a crime-fighting Royal Canadian Mountie. Paul Gross stars as Constable Benton Fraser, an RCMP who sets out to track down his father's killer. His chase takes him all the way to Chicago where he hooks up with Ray Vecchio, (David Marciano) a macho, local Chicago detective. Together they hit the streets as a crime-fighting and justice-seeking duo. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide

In search of the scoundrel who murdered his mountie father, sweet-tempered, straight-arrow RCMP constable Benton Fraser (Paul Gross) shows up in the nail-tough 27th Police Precinct of Chicago as the tongue-in-cheek cop series Due South launches its first season. Teaming with sardonic, streetwise Chicago police detective Ray Vecchio (David Marciano), Benton manages to track down his quarry, but in so doing behaves in such an unorthodox manner that his Canadian superiors deem it wise to keep Fraser permanently in the Windy City, assigning him to the local Canadian Consulate. Season one proves to be quite a period of adjustment for the naïve Constable Fraser and his hearing-impaired pet wolfhound Diefenbaker, as they not only acclimate themselves to Chicago customs and procedures, but also attempt to create a cozy home out of their rundown apartment in one of the town's grungiest neighborhoods. Much to the dismay of rule-bound 27th Precinct Captain Welsh (Beau Starr), Benton continues to assist the brash, flashily-attired Det. Vecchio in his investigations, nearly always getting results despite his bizarre (to say the least methods). Meanwhile, the handsome young mountie becomes the object of attraction to two local females: Elaine Besbriss (Catherine Bruhier), the Precinct's pretty civilian aide, and Ray's loudmouthed younger sister Francesca (Ramona Milano). As for Ray, he welcomes Benton's input if only because it enables him to one-up a team of rival detectives, Jack Huey (Tony Craig) and Louie Gardino (Daniel Kash), otherwise known as "The Duck Boys" (Huey and Louie, get it?) Another of Benton's new friends is police medical examiner Dr. Esther Pearson (Deborah Rennard).
A number of recurring characters are introduced this season, including the Fraser family's longtime friend Buck Frobisher (Leslie Nielsen), and endearing pathological liar Ian McDonald (Rino Romano) -- not to mention the ghost of Benton's father (played by Gordon Pinsent), who occasionally materializes in the closet of Benton's office at the Canadian Consulate to offer advice and consul. Although the proceedings are generally lighthearted, things take a somber turn in a two-part episode wherein Benton is reunited with his "lost love," career criminal Victor Metcalf (Melina Kanakaredes), who enmeshes the impressionable mountie in an unsavory crime caper that threatens to forever drive a wedge between Benton and Ray. Also making trouble for the partners is relentless States Attorney Louise St. Laurent (Lee Purcell), who has persuaded herself that Fraser and Vecchio are "dirty" cops. Though canceled by CBS at the end of its first season, Due South was renewed for a second year on Canadian television, courtesy of the CTV network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Juvenile-hall parolee Lenny (Fab Filippo) lands a job as a pizza delivery man--only to have his car stolen right in front of Benton Fraser's building. With Diefenbaker the wolf leading the way, Fraser (Paul Gross) and Ray (David Marciano) trace the stolen vehicle to a disreputable used-car dealership. Ultimately, Ray ends up trapped in the hood of a car bound for the bottom of Lake Michigan--while robbery victim Lenny, acting on his own, makes the situation worse (if such a thing is possible). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this first episode of a two-part story, Fraser (Paul Gross) is assigned to act as bodyguard and baby-sitter to Christina Nichols (Lisa Jakub), the spoiled teenage daughter of a visiting Canadian diplomat. Slipping away from Fraser, the impulsive Christina runs into a tough customer named Janice De Luca (Stacey Haiduk). Before she quite knows what has happened, Christina is in possession of a dead mobster's contact list--something that criminal Eddie Beets (Stephen Shellen) would dearly like to get his hands on, and never mind whom he has to kill to do so. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Newly moved to Chicago to take on his duties as Deputy Liason Officer at the Canadian Consulate, RCMP constable Benton Fraser (Paul Gross) leaps right into his erstwhile partnership with Chi-town police detective Ray Vecchio (David Marciano) when the two of them appoint themselves protectors of 12-year-old purse snatcher Willie Lambert (Chris Babers). Having witnessed an armed robbery, Willie now knows too much to stay alive--or at least that's his story. By the time Fraser and Vecchio have confirmed to their satisfaction that the habitual-liar Willie is telling the truth this time out, the crooks are in hot pursuit, leading to a climactic chase through the streets of Chicago in a horse-drawn carriage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Leslie Nielsen guest stars as Sgt. Buck Frobisher, a legendary Canadian mountie who is idolized by our hero Benton Fraser (Paul Gross). Frobisher's daughter Julie (Cali Timmins) solicits Fraser's help when Buck disappears from view, one week shy of retirement. Resurfacing in Chicago, an uncharacteristically frightened-looking Frobisher reveals that he is being pursued by an old enemy, escaped criminal Harold Geiger (William Smith). It is up to Fraser to rescue Frobisher and to restore the old trooper's self-respect. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fraser (Paul Gross) and Ray (David Marciano) become temporary daddies when someone leaves a baby in the back of Ray's car. Following the trail of clues, the two lawmen determine that the child has been sold to a black-market adoption racket. Though he is all for turning the kid over to the proper authorities, Ray allows Fraser six hours to track down the infant's birth parents--and to try to talk some sense into their heads. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fraser (Paul Gross) and Ray (David Marciano) appear in Federal court to testify against Randal Bolt (Kenneth Welsh), the terrorist leader who attempted to hijack a trainload of singing mounties in the previous episode "All the Queen's Horses." Unfortunately for the two lawmen, the courtroom is invaded by Ray's cousins, who intend to free the terrorist and kill off his accusers. The climax finds our heroes strapped to a bomb that is set to go off if their combined heartrate exceeds 200 beats per minute. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on May 24, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Fraser's (Paul Gross) former lover Victoria (Melina Kanakeredes reveals her true colors when she kills her former partner Jolly (Denis Forest) and frames Fraser (Paul Gross) and Ray (David Marciano) on a charge of passing stolen money. But is it truly her scheme to destroy Fraser, or does she have something entirely different in mind. A shocking denoument may spell the end of Fraser and Ray's careers--not to mention their friendship. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on June 2, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A valuable collection of masks from the aboriginal Tsimshian tribe has been stolen from the Museum of National History. Hoping to prevent an international crisis between the museum and the French owners of the collection, Fraser (Paul Gross) and Ray (David Marciano) inaugurate a search for the thief. They are assisted by Fraser's old friend, Tsimshian tribal leader Eric (Rodney A. Grant)--who may know more about the heist, and the crook's identity, than he is letting on. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on January 19, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide