Norma Moore Movies

A crucial chapter in the life of famed defense attorney Earl Rogers is re-created in the made-for-TV Final Verdict. Treat Williams stars as Rogers, who matriculates from small-claims court to the judicial Big Time in 1919. Defending a client whom he knows to be guilty, Rogers foments a crisis in his own family--and within himself. Glenn Ford co-stars as Rogers' minister father. Final Verdict debuted September 9, 1991, over the TNT cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The second of three films by co-writer/director Oliver Stone to explore the effects of the Vietnam War (Platoon and Heaven and Earth are the others), Born On The Fourth Of July tells the true story of Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise), a patriotic, All-American small town athlete who shocks his family by enlisting with the Marines to fight in the Vietnam War. Once he is overseas, however, Kovic's gung-ho enthusiasm turns to horror and confusion when he accidentally kills one of his own men in a firefight. His downfall is furthered by a bullet wound that leaves him paralyzed from the chest down. He returns home, spends an appalling, nightmarish stint in a veterans' hospital, and follows an increasingly disillusioned and fragmented path that ultimately leaves him drunk and dissolute in Mexico. However, Kovic somehow turns himself around and pulls his life together, becoming an outspoken anti-war activist in the process. The film is long but emotionally powerful; many consider it Stone's best work and Cruise's best performance. Both were nominated for Oscars, as was the film itself, but only Stone, who co-wrote the film with Kovic from the latter's book, won for Best Director. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide

This low-low-budget exploitation film deals tells the story of a deranged Vietnam veteran who runs amok in the backwoods slaughtering a twisted, incestuous clan of hillbillies. When the film did poorly at the box-office, enterprising producer Mike Ripps bought it and released it as a sequel to a somewhat more popular exploitation film, Poor White Trash (previously known as Bayou in 1957). As a gimmick, he then hired "Special Uniformed Police" to insure that theaters only admitted people who could handle with the film's "abnormal subject matter." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In the sixth episode of Walt Disney's 17-part miniseries Tales of Texas John Slaughter, Slaughter (Tom Tryon) combines his cattle herd with that of fellow rancher Sam Underwood (Sidney Blackmer), intending to drive both herds to Arizona and sell them at the highest price possible. Unfortunately, the two men cannot use the Chisholm Trail because of a recent drought, so Slaughter blazes his own trail -- through Comanche territory. As if the Indians didn't pose enough of a threat, Slaughter must also contend with cattle baron John Chisholm (Harold J. Stone), who is convinced that Slaughter is trying to destroy his business. Originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology, "The Slaughter Trail" and the subsequent episode "The Man From Bitter Creek" were edited together in 1962 and released overseas as the "feature film" Texas John Slaughter: Stampede at Bitter Creek. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of Walt Disney's 17-part miniseries The Tales of Texas John Slaughter, Slaughter (Tom Tryon) has captured outlaw leader Mrs. Barko (Beverly Garland) who, though she faces the gallows, refuses to explain why she was trying to join forces with another notorious bandit, Dan Trask (Dan Duryea). With the nervous approval of his Texas Rangers superior officer Captain Cooper (Judson Platt), Slaughter formulates a plan whereby he and his fiancée Adeline Harris (Norma Moore) will impersonate Mrs. and Mr. Barko and infiltrate the Trask gang. Originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology, "Showdown at Sandoval" and the previous episode "Killers From Kansas" were edited together in 1961 and released overseas as the "feature film" Gunfight at Sandoval. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this exciting western, cowpoke Texas John Slaughter rides out for revenge against the man who killed his friend. He heads for Sandoval, a notorious outlaw lair. Horses gallop, guns blaze, and mayhem ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of Walt Disney's 17-part miniseries Tales of Texas John Slaughter, newly installed Texas ranger Slaughter (Tom Tryon) has succeeded in rounding up the last members of Frank Davis' outlaw gang. Unfortunately, Davis (Robert Middleton) has been released on bail and has fled to Laredo. Together with fellow ranger Ben Jenkins (Harry Carey Jr.), Slaughter tracks Davis down to his new hideout, where he is conferring with five other outlaw bosses in hopes of creating a vast criminal empire. Originally telecast as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology, "Ambush at Laredo" was in 1960 edited together with the previous episode "Texas John Slaughter", and released theatrically overseas as a "feature film", also titled Texas John Slaughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The plot and title of Unwed Mother are virtually one and the same. Betty (Norma Moore), the heroine, falls for the smooth line of patter delivered by no-good heel Dona (Robert Vaughan). Pretending to be a man of wealth, Dona convinces country gal Betty to give him her paychecks, promising to pay her back as soon as his inheritance comes through. He also assures her that he'll marry her when the time is right. When Betty becomes pregnant, she learns what the audience has known all along about the prevaricating Dona. After putting her child up for adoption, Betty has second thoughts, and thus spends the final reel chasing after the foster parents who've taken charge of her baby. Unwed Mother was originally released on a double bill with the equally unsubtle Joy Ride. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Anthony Perkins stars as troubled baseball great Jimmy Piersall in Fear Strikes Out. Based on Piersall's shattering tell-all autobiography, the film traces Jimmy's ascent from the sandlots of Waterbury, CT, to the Boston Red Sox, with his domineering father (Karl Malden) pushing the boy beyond all reasonable limits. Unable to withstand the pressure, Piersall suffers a nervous breakdown and is confined to a mental institution. Through a long period of therapy, Jimmy realizes that he has excelled in baseball not for his own gratification but to please his father. This film was preceded by a 1956 TV version starring Tab Hunter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide