James McDaniel Movies
Born in Washington D.C., actor James McDaniel studied veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania before moving to New York to work in theater, film, and television. His stage credits include Balm in Gilead, A Soldier's Play, and Someone to Watch Over Me. He was also the lead character in both off-Broadway and Broadway productions of John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation. (The role was later played by Will Smith in the 1993 film version.) McDaniel made plenty of TV movies and television guest-star appearances in the '80s, and ended up meeting writer/producer Steven Bochco on shows like L.A. Law, Law & Order, Cop Rock, and Hill Street Blues. When Bochco's NYPD Blue premiered in 1993, McDaniel was cast as Lt. Arthur Fancy. As the man in charge of the 15th Precinct, he earned nominations at the Emmy Awards, Image Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was also the only cast member to direct an episode. In the meantime, McDaniel appeared in the feature films Malcolm X, Truth or Consequences, N.M., and several TV movies. When his character was promoted to captain and sent on assignment in another district, McDaniel left NYPD Blue in search of other projects. In 2000, the actor played Nat "King" Cole in the NBC drama Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story, directed by Robert Townsend. Two years later, McDaniel played opposite Angela Bassett in John Sayles' ensemble drama Sunshine State. He also played an army general in Steven Spielberg's overblown miniseries Taken, broadcast on the Sci Fi channel. McDaniel finally earned his first major starring role in the Showtime original movie Edge of America as a black school teacher who coaches a girls basketball team on an Indian Reservation. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
NYPD Blue seemed destined to end before it began, with leading character Det. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) being gunned down in the very first episode. Andy would recover, but the person responsible for his wounds, mob boss Alfornse Giardella (Robert Costanzo), would prove to be the catalyst of many of the series' initial plot lines and subplots. Attorney Laura Michaels (Sherry Stringfield), ex-wife of Andy's partner, Det. John Kelly (David Caruso), turned out to be the sole eyewitness when Giardella was himself slain by his enemies. And, rather than do the bidding of Giardella crony Angelo Marino (Joe Santos), uniformed officer Janice Licalsi (Amy Brenneman), who had been forced into collusion with the Mob because of her on-the-take policeman father, cold-bloodedly murdered Marino -- a fact that would lead to grief and professional disgrace for Janice's erstwhile lover John Kelly. Other first-season NYPD Blue developments: The contentious Sipowicz almost begrudgingly entered into a romance with Assistant DA Sylvia Costas (Sharon Lawrence), who like Andy, had a serious problem with booze; the drug-addicted brother of Det. James Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) died of a drug overdose; precinct skipper Arthur Fancy (James McDaniel) had problems at home due to a custody battle over a foster child and Mrs. Fancy's difficult pregnancy; and unhappily married Det. Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) began an affair with sexy new administrative assistant Donna Abandando (Gail O'Grady). (Clapp and O'Grady were merely recurring characters this season, but would graduate to full "regular" status for season two). NYPD Blue closed out the 1993-1994 season by winning five Emmy awards, for best lead actor (Dennis Franz), best writer (Ann Biderman), best director (Daniel Sackheim), best art direction (Paul Eads, Mary Ann Biddle) and best casting (Junie Lowry-Johnson, Alexa L. Fogel). The series also endured the first of many cast defections, when Sherry Stringfield relinquished the role of Laura Michaels in order to accept a job on the new medical drama series ER. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Writer-director Spike Lee's epic portrayal of the life and times of the slain civil rights leader Malcolm X begins with the cross-cut imagery of the police beating of black motorist Rodney King juxtaposed with an American flag burning into the shape of the letter X. When the film's narrative begins moments later, it jumps back to World War II-era Boston, where Malcolm Little (Denzel Washington) is making his living as a hustler. The son of a Baptist preacher who was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan, Little was raised by foster parents after his mother was deemed clinically insane; as an adult, he turned to a life of crime, which leads to his imprisonment on burglary charges. In jail, Little receives epiphany in the form of an introduction to Islam; he is especially taken with the lessons of Elijah Mohammed, who comes to him in a vision. Adopting the name 'Malcolm X' as a rejection of the 'Little' surname (given his family by white slave owners), he meets the real Elijah Mohammed (Al Freeman, Jr.) upon exiting prison, and begins work as a spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Marriage to a Muslim nurse named Betty Shabazz (Angela Bassett) follows, after which X spearheads a well-attended march on a Harlem hospital housing a Muslim recovering from an episode of police brutality. The march's success helps elevate X to the position of Islam's national spokesperson. There is dissension in the ranks, however, and soon X is targeted for assassination by other Nation leaders; even Elijah Mohammed fears Malcolm's growing influence. After getting wind of the murder plot, X leaves the Nation of Islam, embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca that proves revelatory; renouncing his separatist beliefs, his oratories begin embracing all races and cultures. During a 1965 speech, Malcolm X is shot and killed, reportedly by Nation of Islam members. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, (more)
- 1991
In another headline-inspired episode of Law & Order, a baby is accidentally murdered by a teenaged hired killer (Justin Crozier). Though assistant D.A. Stone (Michael Moriarty) is understandably outraged by the concept of kids killing kids, he is more interested in nailing the person who hired the youthful assassin. The trail of evidence ultimately leads to a low-life drug dealer and a supposedly respectable real estate agent. S. Epatha Merkerson, who later became a Law & Order regular in the role of Lt. Anita Van Buren, is here cast as Mrs. Denise Winters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this lively comedy, an African American yuppie rethinks life on the corporate fast-track after he falls in love with an ultra hip club promoter. Knowing that she finds him a total square, he seeks the advice of a swinging young mail boy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tommy Davidson, Joseph C. Phillips, (more)
Woody Allen's character study of a well-kept, upscale Manhattan woman (Mia Farrow) takes the title character on a journey through a Wonderland of her own making, in which she learns some truths about herself, her relationships, and the universe in general. Alice leads a comfortable life, except for some nagging aches and pains, but when she visits the mysterious Dr. Yang (Keye Luke), he discovers that what really ails Alice is her own lack of true human experience. Alice has been married for sixteen years to Doug (William Hurt), an emotionally detached stockbroker, and she lives a perfectly maintained life in a perfectly maintained apartment, with a pair of children and the requisite support staff. All that changes when a chance meeting with a neighbor (Joe Mantegna) leads Alice to consider an affair. Dr. Yang, seizing the opportunity, gives Alice herbal potions that make her both invisible and seductive, allowing her to free herself from her inhibitions. Plunging into her new fantasy world, Alice ultimately comes to terms with her family, her husband, and her life. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mia Farrow, Joe Mantegna, (more)
This adaptation of Hemingway's classic story adds a few characters but keeps the basic plotline of an old fisherman's greatest battle intact. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn
- 1990
Richard Crenna returns as New York police detective Frank Janek in Murder Times Seven. This time Janek tackles the case of a mass murder. One of the victims was his ex-partner (an occupational hazard for Janek, who in an earlier film had to turn in his own boss on a murder rap). One of the detective's former lovers (Carolyn Kava) unexpectedly provides a vital clue to the killer's identity. Originally titled Murder X 7, this made-for-TV drama first aired October 14, 1991-though there was a warning in the TV Guide listings that the film risked being bumped by the World Series playoffs (coincidentally, it would have been Game Number Seven!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Richard Crenna returns as Lt. Frank Janek of the NYPD in the TV movie Murder in Black and White. As in his previous appearances in Doubletake (85) and Internal Affairs (89), Janek is called upon to solve a bizarre and baffling murder. This time the victim is Janek's own boss, the new commissioner of police. The lieutenant deduces that this murder is tied in with the killing of a physician, which occurred only a few hours earlier. Diahann Carroll plays the commissioner's widow, who may or may not be privy to a departmental cover-up. Murder in Black and White was the first made-for-TV movie to be telecast in 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Internal Affairs is the second TV-movie based on the works of detective novelist William Bayer. Richard Crenna, who first played NYPD detective Richard Janek in 1985's Doubletake, is back, now as a functionary of Internal Affairs. He has been assigned to solve the murder of a woman who may have been the victim of a kinky serial killer who'd flourished in Saigon 12 years earlier. Meanwhile, Janek's ex-boss (Lee Richardson), now a jailbird, gives the Janek the tip that several cops may be illegally selling guns. Internal Affairs was originally telecast in two parts in November of 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
On the occasion of wealthy patriarch Burt Lancaster's 77th birthday, his Long Island home is invaded by well-meaning family members. Lancaster is bored by the well-meaning interference of his grown children, but he thrives on the company of his grandchildren, especially 5-year-old Macaulay Culkin (in a terrific pre-star performance). To the kids, Lancaster reveals what he really wants as a birthday present: an old-fashioned Viking funeral! From this point on, the ending of Rocket Gibraltar is a "done deal", but getting there is all the fun. A superb, hand-picked cast--including Suzy Amis, Sinead Cusack, John Glover, Bill Pullman and Kevin Spacey -does full justice to Amos Poe's whimsical, often deeply touching script. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Lancaster, Suzy Amis, (more)
