Daniel Benzali Movies
An aggressive publicity campaign mounted by ABC in the fall of 1996 left no doubt that the first season of the network's new courtroom drama Murder One would break standard weekly series precedent by focusing on a single, solitary murder case throughout the entire season. Led by ruthless criminal attorney Theodore Hoffman (Daniel Benzali), a crack team of lawyers builds a persuasive defense on behalf of arrogant movie star Neil Avedon (Jason Gedrick), who is the prime suspect in the murder of his drug-abusing girlfriend Jessica. Even as Hoffman and his associates Chris Docknovich (Michael Hayden), Arnold Spivak (J.C. MacKenzie), Justine Appleton (Mary McCormick), and Lisa Gillespie (Grace Phillips) move heaven and earth to get Neil off, the equally diligent prosecution team, headed by DA Roger Garfield (Gregory Itzin) and ADA Miriam Grasso (Barbara Bosson), are dedicated to establishing Neil's guilt. Complicating matters is the presence of another suspect: Richard Cross (Stanley Tucci), multimillionaire businessman and owner of the building where Jessica died. Even so, Avedon is tried and convicted -- but there's a breathtaking twist at the very end of season one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Benzali, Michael Hayden, (more)
Retired Boston policeman Pally (Kiefer Sutherland) finds himself mired in murder, mobsters, and misfired romance when he well-meaningly agrees to help his stepbrother, Ray (Anthony LaPaglia), finance a long-shot racehorse. A mob kingpin (Daniel Benzali) has his eyes on the nag as well, and he exploits a debt by a lowlife jockey (Lothaire Bluteau) to take control of the horse. Naturally, it all comes down to the Big Race, and it seems no matter where the horse finishes, Pally's going to be a loser. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kiefer Sutherland, Anthony LaPaglia, (more)
Paul Castellano was once one of the most powerful and most feared figures in American organized crime. Starting his criminal career as a runner for numbers agents, Castellano became an associate of the Gambino crime family, and in 1976 was named the top man in New York's Mafia as he attempted to merge the mob's illegal businesses with more legitimate money-making concerns. However, Castellano's hatred and distrust of rising mob boss John Gotti earned him some very powerful enemies, and in 1985 he was murdered by Gotti's associates. Boss of Bosses is a made-for-TV movie that chronicles the rise and fall of Castellano's career in organized crime. Chazz Palinteri stars as Castellano, with Patricia Mauceri as his wife Nina, Angela Alvarado Rose as his mistress Gloria, Sonny Marinelli as John Gotti, and Al Ruscio as Carlo Gambino. Boss of Bosses was first aired on the TNT cable network on June 3, 2001. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chazz Palminteri, Daniel Benzali, (more)
- 1999
After private eye Mike Roberts is murdered, John (Bill Brochtrup) tells Sipowicz about Mike's cryptic warning. It all ties in with the wealthy Malcolm Cullinan (Todd Waring), whom John believes was responsible for the death of the benighted Dolores Mayo. Subsequent events relating to this development cause Jill (Andrea Thompson) to sever her relationship with Cohen (Michael B. Silver). And former series regular Gail O'Grady makes a most surprising cameo appearance -- and to tell any more would be unthinkable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) and Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) pursue their theory that a man whose body was found in a dumpster may have been killed by his violence-prone brothers. Diane (Kim Delaney) and Jill (Andrea Thompson) investigate when a young girl disappears, a case that leads to a bizarre videotaped confession. And John (Bill Brochtrup), already distressed that Dolores (Lola Glaudini) has turned to prostitution, is worried when she fails to return from a trip with the wealthy and well-connected Malcolm Cullinan (Todd Waring). Daniel Benzali returns in the role of high-priced attorney James Sinclair in this, the first episode of a crucial NYPD Blue story arc. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Worried that Andy (Dennis Franz) may be too emotionally strung out, Sylvia (Sharon Lawrence) considers using Danny (Rick Schroder) as the main witness against Cullinen. Meanwhile, defense attorney Sinclair (Daniel Benzali) begins cataloguing the dirty tricks he intends to use on Cullinen's behalf. And back at the precinct, the case of a woman (Julie Carmen) who may have murdered her husband for his insurance dredges up unpleasant memories of an earlier, similar investigation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
As Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) prepares for his courtroom confrontation with Sinclair (Daniel Benzali) during the Cullinen trial, John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) tries again to mollify the father (Bob Glaudini) of Cullinen's possible victim Dolores Mayo. Back at the 15th, Danny (Rick Schroder) tries to get an obviously abused 13-year-old boy to open up -- leading to a horrifying revelation. The conclusion of this 90-minute episode is a burst of gunfire, and the sudden, startling demise of yet another familiar NYPD Blue character. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Daniel Benzali stars as a scowling pit bull of a car salesman in this comedy directed by Roger Nygard. Bobby (Louis Mandylor) seeks employment at Southside Motors, where Reggie (Benzali) trains his employees to bilk his customers out of as much cash as possible. Things go astray in Reggie's tightly run venture when loan sharks visit to call in some of Bobby's substantial debts. Suckers was screened at the 1999 AFI/L.A. Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Benzali, Louis Mandylor, (more)
An unexpected death turns lovers into rivals in this thriller. Richard Mannhart (Perry King) is an unhappily married author who is having an affair with Katie Griffin (Roxana Zal), a film editor. Richard is mostly interested in sex, but Katie has become deeply infatuated with him. However, when Richard's wife, Laura (Susan Blakely), dies in a suspicious-looking auto accident, Katie tells the authorities that she has reason to believe Richard sabotaged his spouse's car. Richard angrily denies Katie's allegations and then goes on to deny any involvement with her. Trying to weigh one story against the other, the police tell both Richard and Katie that it's up to them to prove the validity of their stories. So what evidence can they produce to clear themselves and incriminate their lover? Also released as A Clean Kill, Her Married Lover also features Michelle Green, Daniel Benzali, and Terrence "T.C." Carson. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
In this crime thriller, four disparate criminals motivated by a shared desire for money and revenge join forces for a robbery, with a mob boss the surprise target of the crime. The theft goes smoothly, but when the time comes to divvy up the proceeds, it becomes obvious that someone has a hidden agenda, and as the four try to determine who's the rat in the house, all four find the finger is pointed at them. The Heist features James Russo, Robert Pastorelli, Brion James, and Daniel Banzali. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1995
During its first year on the air, the weekly, hour-long ABC series Murder One was unique among legal dramas, in that it dealt with only a single murder case per season. Debuting September 19, 1995, the series spent all of season one focusing on the murder of a young substance-abusing woman, with her lover, obnoxious movie star Neil Avedon (Jason Gedrick), as prime suspect. Handling Avedon's defense were Chris Docknovich (Michael Hayden), Arnold Spivak (J.C. MacKenzie), Justine Appleton (Mary McCormick), and Lisa Gillespie (Grace Phillips), all ambitious young attorneys working for celebrated, controversial, and not entirely ethical criminal lawyer Theodore Hoffman (Daniel Benzali). Appearing for the prosecution were ruthless Assistant DA Miriam Grasso (Barbara Bosson), who worked for the even more ruthless DA Roger Garfield (Gregory Itzin). The Grasso-Garfield team included police detective Arthur Poulson (Dylan Baker) and investigator David Blalock (Kevin Tighe). Among the other first-season regulars were Patricia Clarkson as Theodore Hoffman's long-suffering wife, Ann; John Fleck as Hoffman's office manager, Louis; and Grace Phillips as his receptionist, Lila. While the "one case per year" gimmick attracted a lot of publicity, and -- for a while, anyway -- a lot of viewers, the ratings for Murder One fell precipitously as season one wore on. Thus, when the series returned for its second season, several changes had been imposed, the first being that three cases would be dramatized, rather than merely one. On the docket for season two were a political assassination in which DA Garfield was implicated, an O.J.-like celebrity murder case involving an arrogant basketball star, and a case involving a serial killer who preyed only on professional criminals. Series co-star Daniel Benzali was gone, replaced by younger but no less crafty and cunning defense attorney James "Jimmy" Wyler (Anthony LaPaglia). Also missing was Grace Phillips as Lisa Gillespie, whose replacement, hotheaded junior attorney Aaron Mosely, was played by David Bryan Woodside. Concluding its weekly run on January 23, 1997, Murder One briefly returned five months later in a miniseries format, remaining on the air from May 25 to 29, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Benzali, Anthony LaPaglia, (more)
- 1994
In this drama, a caring doctor investigates a child's home life and deduces that the boy's bizarre infections are psychosomatic and are directly linked to his mother's mental instability. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Veronica Hamel, Pam Dawber, (more)
- 1994
NYPD Blue begins its second season with 15th Precinct police officer Janice Licalsi (Amy Brenneman) on trial for the killing of mob functionary Marino. Despite having suppressed evidence that would have incriminated Janice, Detective John Kelly (David Caruso) testifies on her behalf -- and outside chambers, Kelly tells Robin Wirkus (Debrah Farentino) of his innermost feelings. Elsewhere, the squad investigates a series of robberies targeting drug dealers, and Andy Sipowicz, (Dennis Franz), busy on a case involving a battered wife, must agree to signing a contract with his AA sponsor, Dan Breen (Peter Boyle), before renewing his romance with another recovering alcoholic. With this episode, Gail O'Grady (Donna Abandando), Gordon Clapp (Greg Medavoy), and Sharon Lawrence (Sylvia Costas) graduate from recurring-characters to full "series regular" status. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
The jury reaches a verdict in the murder trial of Janice Licalsi (Amy Brenneman, in her final NYPD Blue appearance). Internal Affairs wants answers from Kelly (David Caruso) regarding his involvement in Janice's defense and Detective Medavoy's (Gordon Clapp) ledger. Kelly and Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) investigate a series of robberies targeting drug dealers and also a double murder. And Andy and Sylvia (Sharon Lawrence) renew their relationship over dinner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
In the final episode of NYPD Blue's first season, Kelly (David Caruso) offers to stand by Janice (Amy Brenneman) as she goes to trial. Later on, Robin (Debrah Farentino) and Kelly have a romantic rendezvous. Meanwhile, Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) unearths evidence pertaining to a nearly cold case at an auction, and also tries to make another go of his relationship with Sylvia (Sharon Lawrence). Dominating all these proceedings is the investigation of the killing of a priest. Sherry Stringfield makes her final series appearance as Laura Michaels Kelly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Just as they're closing in on the Mob, Kelly (David Caruso) and Fancy (James McDaniel) are ordered to turn off the heat. Though Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) will recover from his shooting, he may not be able to remember who tried to kill him. As Kelly's soon-to-be-ex-wife, Laura (Sherry Stringfield), prepares to go into private law practice, her neighbor Goldstein (David Schwimmer) arms himself against the possibility that he'll be mugged again. And despite orders to kill Kelly, Janice (Amy Brenneman) knocks off the man who ordered the hit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
NYPD Blue was already off and running in its debut episode, in which Detective John Kelly (David Caruso), in the middle of an acrimonious marital breakup, is faced with the loss of his partner, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). Kelly's wife, Laura (Sherry Stringfield), is working on her divorce papers with her neighbor Josh "4B" Goldstein (David Schwimmer), who is subsequently the victim of a mugging. Meanwhile, the burned-out Sipowicz gets in dutch with the IAB for putting too much heat on mob boss Giardella (Robert Costanzo), whose partner, Marino (Joe Santos), wants Kelly dead. As the episode draws to a close, Kelly has launched a romance with the woman who may turn out to be his assassin -- and Sipowicz pays a terrible price for his ruthless treatment of Giardella. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Graham Greene stars as Ishi, the lone survivor of the Yahi Indian tribe, who is discovered and cared for by anthropologist Albert Kroeber (Jon Voight) in this made-for-cable docudrama. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Graham Greene, Jon Voight, (more)
Frank Pierson's made-for-cable adaptation of Nicholas VonHoffman's biography, Citizen Cohn stars James Woods as the controversial lawyer Roy Cohn. The film is structured as a series of flashbacks while Cohn lies in a New York hospital dying of AIDS. In the 1940s and early '50s, Cohn became one of the most powerful men in the country after becoming an important associate of Senator Joseph McCarthy (Joe Don Baker) and his Communist witch hunts. The film recounts those turbulent times and features portrayals of such real-life figures as J. Edgar Hoover (Pat Hingle), Dashiell Hammett (Frederic Forrest), Cardinal Spellman (Daniel Benzali), and Walter Winchell (Joseph Bologna). ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Woods, Joe Don Baker, (more)
- 1990
In this first telecast of Law & Order, a case of fatal criminal negligence takes front and center. During a particularly frantic night in an emergency room, a young woman dies, prompting her father to sue the hospital. Investigating detectives Greevey (George Dzundza) and Logan (Chris Noth) uncover evidence that the E.R.'s chief resident, Dr. Edward Auster (Paul Sparer), has a history of alcoholism, and may have been drinking at the time of the tragedy. D.A. Adam Schiff (Steven Hill) orders his subordinates Stone (Michael Moriarty) and Robinette (Richard Brooks) to charge Auster with murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
This "feature film" is comprised of scenes from the six-part sequel to the 1987 TV series Vietnam War Story. Each self-contained playlet involves one or more members of the American forces which occupied Southeast Asia in the 1960s. The first story involves a black GI (Tim Guinee) whose kindness to a Vietnamese girl has tragic consequences. Next, a soldier (Tate Donovan) on leave discovers that the war has taken a toll on his marriage. Then we watch as a group of grunts plan to "frag" their hateful captain. This is followed by the story of a careless soldier who is separated from his comrades in the middle of the jungle. The fifth tale involves a new recruit's last night of "freedom." The film concludes with the story of two nurses--one a vet, one a greenhorn--who are united in their struggle against horrific hospital conditions. Vietnam War Story: The Last Days was originally telecast on a sporadic basis between July 20 and December 7, 1988, over the HBO pay-cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Soviet radicals upset with the thawing of the Cold War explode a nuclear weapon in Russia, setting off a series of events that may very well trigger World War III. The president (Martin Landau) has been isolated after a helicopter accident and must outwit government and military officials who are attempting to go forward with the war. The film centers on the relationship between a pair of American pilots who have been ordered to bomb the U.S.S.R. and the attempts by some factions to bring them home before global Armageddon. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The Enterprise transports Picard to Starbase Scylla 515 for a heart operation. During his absence, Geordi is taken hostage by the Pakleds, a group of primitive aliens who are in dire need of Geordi's technical expertise. The rest of the episode cuts back in forth between Picard's fight for life and Geordi's efforts to save himself and his "hosts." Written by Robert L. McCullough, "Samaritan Snare" was originally broadcast May 20, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
In this unique interpretation of the great detective, the body of Sherlock Holmes has been in suspended animation for over 85 years. It is brought back by one of Watson's descendants and no sooner does Holmes come to than he is out solving a mystery in Boston. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Adapted from the one-act play by Hugh Whitemore, Pack of Lies originally aired as a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation on April 26, 1987. Emmy-nominated Ellen Burstyn plays a Canadian housewife living in England, who dutifully allows a government agent (Alan Bates) into her house. The agent sets up a surveillance post in Burstyn's bedroom, ostensibly to keep close watch on a mysterious stranger. In truth, the agent is investigating Burstyn's neighbors Daniel Benzali and Terri Garr--who happen to be her best friends. Pack of Lies was based on a true story, which like its fictional counterpart coalesced into a melange of skewered ethics, deception and betrayal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
