Dennis Saylor Movies
- 2002
One of the worst snowstorms in New England history threatens to cancel the marriage of overbearing young bride Liz (Kim Rhodes) and her long-suffering fiance Jonas (Neil Patrick Harris). It's bad enough that none of the guests are able to make an appearance at the wedding in the lobby of Washington DC's Perry Hotel; it's even worse when the only people who do show up are Liz's much-despised Aunt Meg (Lainie Kazan) and a seedy derelict. Meanwhile, angel Andrew (John Dye), posing as a cab driver, has driven poor Jonas (remember him?) to the wrong location, where the groom-to-be is robbed of his money and clothes and ends up in a homeless mission. Can there really be a Heavenly conspiracy to ruin what should be the happiest day in Liz and Jonas' life--or is something wonderful about to happen? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Season Seven of Touched by an Angel begins as overage playboy Everett Clay (Richard Chamberlain is disinherited by his millionaire father Benjamin (Ray Walston). Inspired by the story of the Prodigal Son, Benjamin intends to make Everett miserable enough to change his ways and learn something about self-reliance. With a bit of prodding from Heavenly caseworker Monica (Roma Downey)--and through the auspices of a mysterious painting on a barroom floor in Central City, Colorado--Everett flashes back to the misadventures of his great-grandfather Jack (also Richard Chamberlain), who started the family business. It turns out that young Jack was an even less admirable character than his great-grandson...but all this changed during a memorable stopover at Central City. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
John Larkin (Timothy Hutton would seem to have the ideal life: A great job, a beautiful home, a happy marriage. Nonetheless, John has always been nagged by the feeling that "something is missing." The truth of this suspicion is violently driven home when John is inexplicably kidnapped from his home in the middle of the night by two sinister strangers. Managing to escape, John makes his way back to his wife (Suzy Amis--only to find out that she's not his wife at all, but instead a doctor for a top-secret government agency. Laboriously putting the pieces together, John realizes that he has never truly existed as a human being since he was nearly killed in a car crash: Instead, he is a semi-android, his brain implanted with false and misleading memories--all part of a master scheme to transform him into a "perfect" government assassin! Not dissimilar to such theatrical technothrillers as Total Recall, the made-for-TV Dead By Midnight (you'll have to see the film to understand the title's grim significance) was first aired by ABC on November 23, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Based on Virginia Sorenson's novel On the Star, this ABC TV movie is set in a small Mormon community in rural Utah. Returning to his home town after many years is Erik Eriksen (Rob Estes), a world-famous piano virtuoso. Although beloved by millions of music fans, Erik is treated with disdain by his family, who resent his popularity and are shocked by his all-consuming passion for his art. The only people who truly "understand" Erik are his brother Jens (Mike Doyle) and Jens' fiancée Chel (Jennie Garth), herself a pianist of no small talent. In keeping with the film's title, innocence is lost beyond recall when Erik, much against his better nature, betrays Jens and enters into a torrid romance with Chel. A Loss of Innocence was first broadcast September 29, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Alyson Hannigan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) guest stars as pregnant teenager Cassie Peters. At first willing to give up her baby daughter for adoption, Cassie abruptly changes her mind and runs away with the child, breaking the hearts of adoptive couple Lydia and Ben Feldman (Murphy Cross, Michael Flynn). Assigned to watch over Cassie and her daughter, Monica (Roma Downey) and Tess (Della Reese) are told by Angel of Death Adam (Charles Rocket) that the baby is seriously ill--and that Cassie must decide for herself what is best for the child, without heavenly intervention. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
