B. Billie Greif Movies

A young reporter is forced to take an active role in a story he's covering in this drama inspired by a true story. Jack Daumier (Gabriel Mann) is a journalist who has just been hired to write for The Valley Standard, a newspaper in San Jose, California published by Albion Munson (Pete Postlethwaite). While much of the country is mired in the great depression, San Jose's agricultural industry is prospering, and Jack mostly finds himself covering fluffy, inconsequential stories; he thinks he's following another one when he's asked to attend a party thrown by Horace and Natalie Walsh (Bruce McGill and Diana Scarwid) in honor of their son Blake Walsh (Joe Mandragona), who has been named second-in-command a Horace's successful department store. Jack thinks meeting Blake's beautiful sister Helen (Emily Harrison) is the high point of the evening until Blake disappears after stepping out for a moment. Horace is later contacted by kidnappers, who are holding Blake for ransom. As local and federal authorities squabble over how to handle the case and rival reporters from around the state invade San Jose to cover the kidnapping, two men are arrested and charged with the crime. A handful of powerful local businessmen are determined to see that "justice is served" and are ready to take the law into their own hands, but Jack speaks to a witness who makes a compelling case for the innocence of the accused men, and Jack decides he has to intervene to insure their safety. Valley Of The Heart's Delight was based in part on the 1933 abduction of Brooke L. Hart, though the story has been fictionalized for this adaptation. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A chip designed to instantly train any dog falls into the hands of an evil scientist looking to enslave the children of the world and achieve ultimate power in directors Oren Goldman and Yariv Ozdoba's family-oriented comedy-adventure. Newyville misfit Zach Dylan hasn't had a very good day. In addition to being tormented by his ruthless classmates, his attempts to break the ice with brainy and beautiful classmate Becky Green are met with the kind of cool indifference that can only indicate rejection. Crossing through the park on his way home from school, lonely Zach finds a wandering pup that looks like he could use some human companionship. After smuggling the amiable pooch upstairs to his bedroom as to not irritate his mother's allergies, Zach makes a shocking discovery about his new four-legged friend -- this dog can talk! After explaining that he was the subject of a bold experiment by local scientist Dr. Island designed to train dogs by implanting them with a microchip, Lenny and Zach are soon interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Becky Green. When a group of nefarious scientist Dr. Wagner's henchmen burst into Zach's home, sending the young boy, Lenny, and Becky fleeing for safety, their ensuing investigation leads the trio to discover that the former colleague of Dr. Island has been kidnapping the children of Newyville in a bid to take over the world. Now, with little time left before the children of Newyville are all implanted with the secret microchip, Zach, Lenny, and Becky must work together to get the word out and stop Dr. Wagner before his dastardly plan is set into motion. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi