Laurie Paton Movies
- 1998
The flamboyant novelist who brought the world such deathless literary masterpieces as Valley of the Dolls and Once is Not Enough is the subject of this made-for-cable biopic. Michele Lee stars as Jacqueline Susann, a second-string actress and well-known party girl who turned to journalism after her marriage to producer Irving Mansfield (Peter Reigert). Though constantly surrounded by Show Business Glitterati, Susann would not achieve celebrity status herself until age 47, when she published the lurid best-seller Valley of the Dolls. Though outwardly giving the impression that she was tough as nails and utterly invulnerable, Susann in truth had her share of anguish and tragedy, coping with the challenge of raising an autistic son, struggling against substance abuse, and ultimately waging a long, losing battle against breast cancer. According to studio publicity, star Michele Lee (who also served as executive producer) wore some of Susann's own jewelry and wardrobe in the course of making the film. Largely based on the biography by Barbara Seaman, Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story made its USA network debut on December 9, 1998, several months before Bette Midler's theatrically released spin on the Susann legend, Isn't She Great. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michele Lee, Peter Riegert, (more)
- 1994
In this thriller, an assassin's threats cause a single mother, her son, and the G-man assigned to protect them to embark upon a desperate cross-country flight. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rosanna Arquette, Scott Bakula, (more)
- 1993
This is one of the made-for-TV exploits based upon the Amy Fisher/Joey Buttafuoco teen-sex story which stirred up a U.S. media feeding frenzy in 1992. (Amy, having become Joey's young lover, tried to eliminate his real-life wife) Drew Barrymore stars as Amy in this accounting which contains some pretty sizzling sex scenes apparently shot with a Barrymore look-alike. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony John Denison, Laurie Paton, (more)
- 1986
Gerald McRaney flies in the face of his likeable Simon and Simon image in the made-for-TV Easy Prey. McRaney plays real-life serial rapist/murderer Christopher Wilder who, in early 1984, abducted a teenaged girl from a California shopping mall. Repeatedly assaulting the girl and keeping her quiet with threats of death, Wilder forced her to accompany him on a crime spree that ranged from one end of the country to another. Shawnee Smith is excellent as Wilder's terrified victim. Filmed in Canada, Easy Prey was first aired on October 26, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- R
After getting booted out of his latest managerial position, a has-been major league baseball player/coach goes to Russia and becomes the coach for their Olympic baseball team. This good-natured made-for-cable television comedy chronicles his endeavors to turn the bumbling, inexperienced team into winners. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Though this police and courtroom drama did not do well at the box-office, some reviewers thought that the lead performances by Burt Reynolds and Theresa Russell were first-rate. Joe Paris (Reynolds) is a policeman suspended from active duty. He awakens from an alcoholic binge to discover that he is being charged for a murder he has no memory of. Jenny Hudson (Russell) is his court-appointed defense lawyer, a young feminist eager to prove herself in the courtroom. After some initial difficulties, the two cooperate to unravel the tangled circumstances behind the murder. Michael Crichton directed but did not collaborate on the story or screenplay. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Theresa Russell, (more)
- 1988
- PG
The 1920s-era play The Front Page was about a Chicago reporter who wants to retire and get married but is tricked by his editor into doing one last story -- which proves to be complicated. It was made into a classic film in 1931 and inspired the 1940 hit movie His Girl Friday, in which the reporter was changed into a woman. Billy Wilder also remade the original film in 1974. Switching Channels is a 1988 remake of His Girl Friday, with Kathleen Turner in the starring role, which has now morphed into that of a cable television network news anchor, Christy Colleran. She wants to marry a rich and handsome sporting goods manufacturer, Blaine Bingham (Christopher Reeve) and move out of town. But her ex-husband, John L. Sullivan IV (Burt Reynolds), who is also her producer and boss, gives her one final assignment to try to keep her around. Her reporting leads her into an investigation of a jail escape that follows a botched-up execution. Writer Jonathan Reynolds updated the original material. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kathleen Turner, Burt Reynolds, (more)
- 1988
- PG
Basically a knock-off of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, this youth-oriented adventure centers on the time-traveling exploits of a dim-bulbed nuclear scientist and his friends, a fashion model and her fiery photographer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom McCamus, Laurie Paton, (more)
