James Marshall Movies

Also known as "The Northwest Passage," the two-hour pilot episode of Twin Peaks originally aired April 8, 1990. The central plot of the series is set when Pete Martell (Jack Nance) finds the body of high school student Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) wrapped in plastic by the water at the Packard Sawmill dock. As the town slowly gets word of her murder, Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) from the FBI arrives in the Washington town of Twin Peaks to investigate. Assisted by Sheriff Harry S. Truman (Michael Ontkean), Cooper retrieves Laura's secret diary and a videotape. At the morgue, Cooper discovers the letter "R" from under Laura's fingernail, evidence similar to the murder case of Theresa Banks a year ago. Meanwhile, at the Great Northern Hotel, Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) disrupts her father's business deal, causing the would-be investors to back out. Deputy Hawk (Michael Horse) and Deputy Andy Brennan (Harry Goaz) locate the scene of the murder and find half of a gold heart necklace. Also, Laura's safe deposit box is opened, revealing a copy of Fleshworld magazine and about ten thousand dollars. Laura's boyfriend, Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook), who is having a secret affair with waitress Shelly Johnson (Madchen Amick), is brought in for questioning. Later on at the Roadhouse, Laura's other boyfriend, James Hurley (James Marshall), kisses Donna Hayward (Lara Flynn Boyle), Laura's best friend. This episode features Julee Cruise singing "Falling" and "The Nightingale" during the scenes at the Roadhouse. The American broadcast version ends with Sarah Palmer (Grace Zabriskie) having a vision about the other half of the heart necklace. The European release contains extra scenes and an alternate ending. The Twin Peaks pilot episode was not included on the 2001 Artisan Entertainment DVD release of Twin Peaks: The First Season due to rights restrictions. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Father-and-son actors Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez star in the made-for-TV movie Nightbreaker. The film was first telecast March 9, 1989, two months after the debut of another TNT Cable Service "original", Finish Line. The earlier film also starred a father and son, James and Josh Brolin; but, whereas the Brolins were cast in parent-child roles, Sheen and Estevez portray the same character. Nightbreaker is based on the recent revelation that the US government, in the interests of scientific research, deliberately exposed servicemen to radiation during the Nevada atomic bomb tests of the 1950s. Sheen plays a former military doctor, inexplicably suffering from sterility in the 1980s. Searching for answers, Sheen flashes back thirty years, to the time that he was a witness to the A-bomb tests. Estevez plays the younger Sheen in the 1950s sequences. Nightbreaker was written with what Jonathan Swift used to call "savage indignation" by T. S. Cook. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The sixth season of Growing Pains gets under way with the latest in a long line of crises for the Seaver family. When he lands a part in an off-Broadway play, Mike (Kirk Cameron) decides to drop out of college to pursue an acting career. But dad Jason (Alan Thicke) will have none of it: Unless Mike studies for a skill that will actually earn him money, Jason will cut off all financial support. Meanwhile, Carol (Tracey Gold) is upset that the Jason-Mike crisis has taken all attention away from her own problems. With this episode, Ashley Johnson takes over the role of Chrissy Johnson, who in the course of a single season has miraculously aged four years! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this wild spoof of The Twilight Zone in general and that series' 1960 episode "A World of Difference" in particular, Ben (Jeremy Miller) expresses the wish that Real Life were more like TV. In true "be careful what you wish for" fashion, Ben dreams that he and his family are actually characters in a TV sitcom called "Meet the Seavers"--and that he is really an actor named Jeremy Miller! The concept is played for all it is worth, with the rest of the Growing Pains cast members identified by their real names, not to mention cameo appearances by the series' production staff and by Joanna Kerns' daughter Ashley Kerns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Gladiator is the kind of boxing movie that goes that extra mile -- a self-loathing boxing saga that relishes in bare-knuckled sucker punches, illegal eye-rubs, and gentlemen boxers who obey the Marquis of Queensbury rules by drop-kicking opponents when the are not only down but unconscious. James Marshall plays Tommy Riley, a Windy City high school student conned into participating in the illegal underground boxing arenas of the South Side of Chicago. In high school, Tommy was a prize boxer, and this skill comes in handy when his Father (John Heard) runs up a large gambling debt. When a sleazy boxing manager (Robert Loggia) spots Tommy defending himself during recess, he offers him quick money to box. Tommy, although he hates the sport, readily agrees, thinking his winnings will help his father pay off his debts. He quickly comes under the thumb of unscrupulous boxing promoter Horn (Brian Dennehy), who is involved in fight-fixing and dirty fighting. Manipulating the odds and exploiting his boxers make Horn rich and more venal. In the rancid environment, Tommy befriends another fighter, Lincoln (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a black fighter who sees fighting as his way out of poverty. Inevitably, Horn arranges for the two friends to duke it out in the ring together. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

This Canadian family drama follows a yuppie couple as they try to reclaim their hippy idealism to save the life of their young son. Andy and Jayne Blake used to be hippies. Now they are living the yuppie dream in suburban Vancouver. They have two kids and great jobs. When their son Max is given six months to live after being diagnosed with a rare immune disorder that may have been caused by environmental toxins, Andy and his family escape to rural British Columbia where they buy a farm. As Andy reaches back into his past for natural cures and his old idealism, he becomes increasingly fanatical. Jayne who is unsure about all these changes, tries to help him find a balance. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Two aspiring mobsters follow a stranger in this drama. A local mafioso assigns free-lancers Dommy, an explosive young man, and Mickey, the inward one, a job following a "mark." They are to tail him until he comes finds a special briefcase; to get that briefcase, they are to use any means. The two novices are inept at their job. Finally, their stalking ends successfully in a shoot-out. Unfortunately they meet with revenge. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Made for television, The Unspoken Truth is the factual story of Brianne Hawkins (Lea Thompson), who after enduring a lifetime of abuse at the hands of her family marries the even more abusive Clay Hawkins (James Marshall). Given to beating his wife at the slightest provocation, Clay finally goes completely over the edge when he shoots and kills a man who had the temerity to speak to Brianne without Clay's permission. Thinking quickly for a change, Clay persuades Brianne to take the rap for the killing, whereupon she complicity (if not willingly) concocts an elaborate story as to how she shot the man accidentally. Not only do the authorities refuse to swallow this fabrication, but they end up sending both Clay and Brianne to prison for life! Only when the future of her daughter, Lily (Karis Paige Bryant), is jeopardized does the long-suffering Brianne finally work up the courage to fight for her freedom and her long-denied fundamental rights as a human being. A shocking mid-film revelation elevates this story from the usual battered-wife TV-movie syndrome. Filmed on location in Austin, TX, The Unspoken Truth originally aired September 24, 1995, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Per the title of this made-for-TV drama, all Rachel Stockman (played by future "Desperate Housewife" Marcia Cross) has ever wanted is to bear children. Unfortunately, Rachel suffers from a bipolar disorder, requiring her to take lithium, which thus far has prevented her from becoming pregnant. In desperation, Rachel discontinues her medication, and before long she is "with child." She is also undergoing severe and horrifying mood swings, leading to confinement in a hospital--and ultimately a competency hearing that will determine whether or not she can be legally obliged to take lithium...and to terminate her pregnancy. All She Ever Wanted originally aired April 14, 1996, on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this family comedy, a successful man with nostalgia for his days as a soccer player, attempts to adopt an orphan so he can teach him all about his favorite sport. But soon after bringing the lad home, the new father is disappointed to discover that the lad is not interested in playing soccer. This creates tension, until a stray dog with a remarkable talent for playing soccer shows up and helps to bring father and new son together. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This television series follows the adventures of four teenagers who in their spare time help to serve their community as volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMT's). Hank (Danso Gordon), the son of a successful surgeon, is eager to prove that he has talents of his own. Jamie (Christopher Ralph) is a boy with a checkered past who is under court order to perform community service, which he approaches with a certain reluctance, but also an awareness that this may be his last chance to turn his life around. Val (Reagan Pasternak) is a bright, ambitious girl who wants to be a doctor someday. And Tyler (Shawn Ashmore) uses a cheerful disposition and enthusiastic attitude to camouflage the fact that he doesn't get along with his family. As the four youngsters balance school and their responsibilities as EMT's, they also have to deal with the trials and tribulations of growing up, and Val has to contend with her cynical friend Caitie (Jackie Rosenbaum) and her overly ambitious little sister Brooke (Lauren Collins). In a Heartbeat premiered on the Disney Channel on August 26, 2000. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

At the Millennium Building in NYC, the elevators have a problem... they just can't stop killing people! Pregnant women, skater dudes -- they're all on the menu for these possessed motorized beasts. As elevator repairman Mark Newman (James Marshal) delves deeper into the mystery, everyone from his boss to the building manager stand in his way. His only help comes from Jennifer Naomi Watts, a nosy reporter that smells a cover-up when she sees it. As the "accidents" pile up, the President and FBI get involved as the heroic couple come face to face with technology gone horribly, horribly wrong. Down is a direct remake (shot for shot at times) of director Dick Maas' early 80's cult flick The Lift. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

A plant created with the DNA of the long-extinct Nicodemus flower is stolen. While attempting to rescue an apparently unhinged man from harming himself, Jonathan Kent (John Schneider) comes in contact with the pilfered plant. Under the influence of the Nicodemus flower -- which had been responsible for a devastating plague in Smallville in the early 20th century -- Jonathan experiences a bizarre and disturbing change in his own behavior. It falls to Jonathan's adopted son, Clark (Tom Welling), to avert a disaster that threatens to sweep Jonathan, Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), and Pete Ross (Sam Jones III) into its path. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide