Peggy McCay Movies
- 1971
Shelly Winters and John Randolph star in Death of Innocence as distraught small-town parents who learn that their estranged daughter is on trial for murder. They journey to New York City and attend the girl's trial, where the mother learns several details of her daughter's recent life that she'd rather not know. Filmed at the height of the "generation gap" era, Death of Innocence was based on a novel by Zelda Popkin. One of the better TV movies of 1971, the film was first telecast opposite a George Plimpton "wish fulfillment" special, thereby losing out on the large audience it deserved. Casting note: Kim Stanley was to have played the principal juror, but fell ill before shooting. She was replaced by Ann Sothern--the mother of Tisha Sterling, who plays the defendant in the case! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
This video anthology contains excerpts from a number of daily serials from the early '50s including "Guiding Light," "Portia Faces Life" and "The Secret Storm." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Handsome young plumber Jack Staley (Lee Philips) supplements his income by blackmailing his female customers, threatening to tell their husbands of their "illicit" romances. But Staley's career as an extortionist comes to a formidable roadblock when he tries the same shakedown on Margot Brenner (Phyllis Thaxter). It turns out that Margot has a bit of a larcenous streak as well...and she's just a shade smarter than both Jack and her husband (played by Carl Betz). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Per its title, this Fox network TV movie is one of several followups to the shortlived science fiction series AlienNation, which ran on Fox from 1989 to 1991 and was based on the 1988 theatrical feature of the same name. The original series was set in a futuristic Los Angeles wherein human earthlings coexisted more or less peacefully with the Newcomers, a race of aliens from the planet Tencton who had settled in LA after escaping a slave-transport ship, and who, despite the prejudices harbored by the "Purists" and other such xenophobes, had assimilated to the point of were holding down traditionally "human" jobs and living in the 'burbs with their families. Repeating their series roles are Gray Graham as LAPD detective Matthew Sikes and Eric Pierpoint as his Newcomer partner, Detective George Francisco (George is the one with the huge bald cranium and the vestigal ears). The story gets under way when a group of "kamikaze" Newcomers invades Los Angeles, apparently with homicidal intentions towards the humans--but only because they've been brainwashed by a higher power. Tied in with this alien influx is the Udara, the radicalized Newcomer guerillas who had fomented the rebellion on the Tectonese slave ship, and who remain dedicated in their mission to kill off all "Overseers"--including those of the human variety. Much to George's surprise, his own wife Susan (Michele Scarabelli) is part of the Udara movement, resulting in a major conflict of interest. One of the fim's many subplots involves the efforts by George and Susan's son Buck (Sean Six) to follow in dad's footsteps and join the police force; elsewhere, a few unresolved plot strands from the earlier series and its previous TV-movie sequels are tied up. AlienNation: The Udara Legacy originally aired July 29, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The fourth in a seemingly endless parade of Amityville sequels, this passable TV knock-off features an item of possessed furniture from the notorious haunted house -- a concept inspired by a series of novels by John G. Jones and exploited in no less than three films of the series. This time it's a lava lamp from the accursed site that houses the evil, traveling cross-country from an Amityville garage sale (now there's a title for a sequel) to an oceanfront California estate, whereupon it releases the demonic forces within to exert their vile influence on a young girl by assuming the form of her late father. To this end, the demon animates various household appliances to whittle down the cast in death scenes which are neither shocking nor original -- much like the rest of this film. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Amy Medford (Jenny Agutter) is a dutiful housewife of the early 1900s. But when her husband objects to a wife with a career, Amy leaves her husband and comfortable lifestyle. She goes on to devote her life to teaching sight-and-hearing-impaired students at a tradition-bound special school. This film betrays its Disney-studio origins with an audience-rousing action climax, in which Amy's students take on a team of "normal" kids at a football game. Amy was produced by onetime Hollywood leading man Jerome Courtland. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jenny Agutter, Barry Newman, (more)
- 1971
Wounded in an ambush, Joe Cartwright is rescued by the Griswolds, a farming family. Delirious with fever, Joe experiences surrealistic flashbacks and bizarre disturbing visions (in one, he sees Hoss trying to kill him!) As his condition worsens, it becomes obvious that emergency surgery is called for-but Joe is too seriously injured to be moved from the Griswold farm. Featured in the cast of this superbly directed and photographed episode are Richard O'Brien and Peggy McCoy as Mr. and Mrs. Griswold, and David Huddleston as Doc Scully. Originally telecast October 3, 1971, "Bushwacked!" was written by Preston Wood. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1978
Based on the book by Bob Thomas, this made-for-television comedy/drama profiles the careers of the famous comic duo, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello starring Harvey Korman and Buddy Hackett. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
It's The African Queen meets Richard Pryor in this schmaltzy and salty attempt by Pryor to appeal to the family crowd. Pryor plays Joe Braxton, an inept burglar whose parole officer Donald (Robert Christian) wants to help out. Knowing that Joe is an excellent mechanic, he refers him to Vivian Perry (Cicely Tyson), the director of a school for emotionally disturbed children. The school is about to close for lack of funds, and Vivian wants to flee Philadelphia with eight of her charges and get to a farm in Washington State where the children can grow up in the fresh air and away from the urban environment. Joe is enlisted to drive the bus, which continually breaks down en route, permitting Joe plenty of time to interact with the kids -- taking them fishing, teaching them strip poker, and convincing a Vietnamese girl not to sell her body. The prim and proper Vivian holds up her nose at the vulgar and sloppy Joe, so it is inevitable that at journey's end the two will find true romance. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Pryor, Cicely Tyson, (more)
- 1996
- R
The message of this direct-to-video thriller may be that it is possible for a daughter to love her father too much, especially when she will cheerfully murder anyone who threatens to come between them. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Katt, Michele Greene, (more)
- 1987
The made-for-TV Deadly Care stars Cheryl Ladd as an intensive-care nurse. The pressures of her job, coupled with problems at home, lead Cheryl to resort to desperate "coping" measures. She develops an addiction to drugs and liquor, a deadly combination for anyone in the medical profession. Only after a near-disaster during a delicate heart transplant operation does she realize she needs help, and needs it fast. Written by Lane Slate, Deadly Care was originally telecast March 22, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
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The winner of 11 Emmy awards, the made-for-TV Eleanor and Franklin stars Edward Herrmann as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Jane Alexander as Eleanor Roosevelt. The film traces the first four decades of the lives of cousins Franklin and Eleanor, beginning with their marriage in 1905. Conflicts loom in the form of FDR's domineering mother (Rosemary Murphy) and Eleanor's discovery of an affair between her husband and artist Lucy Mercer (Linda Kelsey). After Franklin is stricken by polio in 1921, Eleanor emerges as a formidable and influential public figure. James Costigan wrote the teleplay for Eleanor and Franklin, which first aired as a two-parter on January 11 and 12, 1976. The film was followed several months later by a multipart sequel, Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Herrmann, Jane Alexander, (more)
- 1977
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First aired March 13, 1977, Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years was the brilliant follow-up to the equally praiseworthy 1976 TV movie Eleanor and Franklin: The Early Years. The film is framed in a flashback experienced by first lady Eleanor Roosevelt (Jane Alexander) while accompanying the casket carrying the body of her husband Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Edward Herrmann) to its final resting place in Hyde Park. Elected in 1933, FDR endeavors to pull the country out of the Depression with the New Deal during his first term, while Eleanor emerges as a formidable public figure in her own right during the second term, tirelessly working on behalf of social change and reforms. Ever under the baleful eye of his mother Sara (Rosemary Murphy), Roosevelt tries to maintain family equilibrium in the White House as he seeks an unprecedented third term. Sara dies in December of 1941, two days before Roosevelt, in his "Day of Infamy" speech, declares war on Japan. Despite health problems, FDR successfully pursues a fourth term in 1944; he dies in office in April of 1945, a scant few months before the end of World War II. Despite her long-standing displeasure over her husband's long-ago affair with artist Lucy Mercer (Linda Kelsey), a stiff-lipped Eleanor puts on a brave front when Roosevelt dies in the company of Deakins at a health spa in Georgia. Based on Joseph P. Lash's Pulitzer prize-winning biography, Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years earned Emmies for "Outstanding Special" and for director Daniel Petrie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Herrmann, Jane Alexander, (more)
- 1957
Balzac's celebrated novel Eugenie Grandet was boiled down to 60 minutes for this Matinee Theatre presentation. Originally telecast live on December 21, 1956, the play stars Peggy McCay and Dayton Lummis. The story: A headstrong young heiress wants to marry her handsome cousin. Her father is against this union, insisting that it can only end in tragedy. He's right. A color kinescope of Eugenie Grandet was included in the 1959 syndicated TV package Cameo Theatre. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
A full year before the debut of Warner Bros.' TV series The FBI, a pilot of sorts was filmed under the title FBI Code 98. Jack Kelly heads the cast of this Dragnet-style docudrama, wherein the action is underlined by William Woodson's stentorian off-camera narration. The main plot concerns a disgruntled mad bomber, who uses his heightened knowledge of electronics to stay one step ahead of detection. The all-Warner-contractee cast includes Maverick's Kelly, Ray Danton, Andrew Duggan, Philip Carey, William Reynolds (later a regular on The FBI), Peggy McCay and Merry Anders. Originally intended as a TV special, FBI Code 98 was released theatrically instead. The film was produced by Stanley Niss, the author of the book on which the screenplay was based. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Kelly, Ray Danton, (more)
- 1980
The overused title Fighting Back made its first appearance of the 1980s in this TV biopic. Robert Urich stars as real-life football player Rocky Bleier, who joins the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1968. Rocky's career is curtailed by military service in Vietnam. On August 20, 1969, Bleier is seriously wounded by a hand grenade. The doctors are certain that he'll never walk properly again, much less play football. But several grueling years of physical therapy yield positive results--all the way to the Super Bowl. The 1980 Pittsburgh Steelers costar with Robert Urich in this inspirational tale, which utilizes stock footage of the real Rocky Bleier in action. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Margaret Hayes plays the title character in From the Desk of Margaret Tyding. A successful businesswoman, Margaret has reason to believe that someone wants to do her ill. Her suspicions are confirmed when it is discovered that somebody has been slipping her small doses of poison. The chief suspects: Margaret's loving husband and trusted assistant. First telecast in color in the spring of 1958 on TV's Matinee Theater, the 60-minute From the Desk of Margaret Tyding later resurfaced in kinescope form as part of the syndicated series Cameo Theater. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
The "real" world clashes head-on with the Heavenly afterworld when probationary angel Jonathan (Michael Landon) is assigned to straighten out the trouble-prone son (Wil Wheaton) of an attractive divorcee named Libby (Robin Dearden). What Jonathan hadn't counted on was that he would fall in love with the woman. Will this breach of celestial protocol result in disaster for all concerned -- and, more specifically, does this mean that Jonathan will never, ever earn his wings? ~ All Movie Guide
- 1958
Journey Into Darkness was originally telecast live and in color on the NBC anthology series Matinee Theatre. Skip Homeier plays a young man who holds down two jobs for two years. After suffering a nervous breakdown, Homeier moves himself and his family to Florida, where he takes a less taxing job. One morning, he is knocked unconscious-and when awakens, he has lost his memory and has been transported some 900 miles from home. This 60-minute drama offers a fascinating depiction of Homeier's tortured subconscious, utilizing black backdrops, cubist props and off-kilter camera angles. Peggy McKay costars as Homeier's anxious wife. Originally telecast March 6, 1958, Journey Into Darkness resurfaced in kinescope form as part of the syndicated Cameo Theatre series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Nightclub singer Francesca Milano (Andrea Marcovicci) is reunited with her father K.C. (William Windom), paroled after serving 14 years for a murder he didn't commit. Worried that her dad will wreak a terrible vengeance against the men who set him up, Francesca goes to Kojak (Telly Savalas), imploring him to help clear her father's name and prevent the old man from ruining what is left of his life. Guest star Andrea Marcovicci sings "You Don't Know Me" and "For All We Know". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
This sentimental children's film is based on the true adventures of author Albert Payson Terhune's collie dog, as immortalized in Terhune's early 1920's novel. The story about the dog Lad's saving graces is very much directed toward the youngest moppets whose love of animals has yet to be jaded by ruined carpets, chewed-up books, or all-night barking. Lad comes to the rescue again and again, implying in more than one instance that dogs can be smarter than at least a few people. The canine saves his little mistress Angela (a nine-year-old Angela Cartwright just before her role in TV's Lost in Space) from a poisonous snake bite and is mistakenly ill-treated as a consequence, his actions help cure her need for a wheelchair, and furthermore, the dog prevents a local troublemaker from torching the family's barn. A younger Carroll O'Connor of redneck Archie Bunker TV fame, plays a crotchety neighbor. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Breck, Peggy McCay, (more)
- 1980
Based on Hal W. Painter's autobiography, Mark, I Love You stars Kevin Dobson as Painter. Recently and suddenly widowed, Painter is so emotionally distraught that he permits his in-laws (James Whitmore and Peggy McCay) to gain custody of his son Mark (Justin Dana). Now that he has recovered, found a good job, and entered into a serious relationship with a young woman (Cassie Yates), Painter wants his son back. But his in-laws refuse, and the whole unfortunate affair ends up with an emotional court battle. While it could have been dismissed as yet another TV-movie variation of Kramer vs. Kramer, Mark, I Love You stands up admirably on its own merits. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
When scatterbrained millionairess Kiz Bouchet (Kathleen Crowley) insists that somebody is trying to murder her, Beau Maverick (Roger Moore) is convinced that the girl is out of her mind. But he soon comes to believe Kiz's story--and in so doing, he tries to thwart a scheme hatched by the girl's cousin (Peggy McCay) and a crooked doctor (Tristam Coffin) to cheat Kiz out of her inheritance. Devotees of humorist Mark Twain will get a chuckle out of the character name bestowed upon supporting actor Whit Bissell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
In an episode originally filmed for Maverick's third season--and originally intended as the fourth-season opener--Bret and Bart Maverick (James Garner, Jack Kelly) inherit a stagecoach line from their late Uncle Micah. Unfortunately, they have also inherited Micah's mountainous debts--and to make matters worse, the coach line is being systematically plundered by flamboyant highwayman Ramsey Plum (a pre-Beverly Hillbillies Buddy Ebsen). This episode marks the final series appearance of James Garner as Bret Maverick, though he would return to the role for a 1981 TV revival of Maverick, as well as a 1994 theatrical feature. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
A kick from an angry horse knocks out the town bully, but it is Bret Maverick who is given credit for the blow--and that's how Bret becomes the new sheriff of Duck 'N' Shoot. His contract calls for him to stay on the job for six months, but the locals give odds that Bret won't last the week. Surprisingly, Bret proves to be an efficient if somewhat unorthodox peacekeeper (thereby foreshadowing James Garner's similar role in the 1969 comedy western Support Your Local Sheriff), but ultimately he is toppled from his perch by beautiful-but-larcenous Melissa Maybrook (Peggy McCay) and ends up locked in his own jail. Fortunately, brother Bart (Jack Kelly) shows up to give Bret a helping hand...but there's a hefty price to pay for his services. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
