Corbin Bernsen Movies

This two-hour TV movie served as a reunion for the cast of L.A. Law, a popular NBC legal series which originally aired from 1987 to 1994. Virtually all of the series' regulars were back on the job, with the noteworthy exception of Jimmy Smits. Most of the story takes place within the walls of the high-powered McKenzie-Brackman legal firm, which since the retirement of Leland McKenzie (Richard A. Dysart) had been controlled by the rule-bound Douglas Brackman (Alan Rachins). The main plot strand zeroes in on lawyer Michael Kuzak (Harry Hamlin), who in his efforts to save a former client from execution is pitted against his former partner -- and lover -- Judge Grace Van Owen (Susan Dey). Meanwhile, legal eagle Arnie Becker (Corbin Bernsen) is in the throes of a divorce action brought about by his wife (and ex-colleague) Abby Perkins (Michelle Greene); attorneys Stuart Markowitz (Michael Tucker) and Ann Kelsey (Jill Eikenberry) are being defrauded out of their life savings; and Roxanne Melman (Susan Ruttan) copes with the imminent death of her ailing ex-husband. Known variously as L.A. Law: The Movie and L.A. Law: Return to Justice, the film was telecast by NBC on May 12, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

One of several "Santa Goes to Jail" TV movies appearing during the Christmas season of 2002, The Santa Trap actually has roots going as far back as the 1909 D. W. Griffith one-reeler A Trap for Santa Claus. Transplanted from Connecticut to California, the Emerson family isn't too happy over the prospect of sweltering their way through the Yuletide season. In fact, Bill and Molly Emerson (Robert Hays, Shelley Long) are so displeased with their current plight that they tell their children that Santa Claus doesn't exist. Hoping to prove them wrong, the couple's precocious daughter Judy (Sierra Abel) sets up a Rube Goldberg-like trap in her living room--and sure enough, the little darling snares Santa himself (played by Dick Van Patten) a few hours into Christmas Eve. Naturally, Judy's parents assume that the jolly old elf is a burglar, and promptly have Santa arrested. Thus is set in motion a frantic comedy of errors involving the Emersons, the inept local constabulary, and a burned-out biker named Max (Stacy Keach) who hopes to break out of the slammer by impersonating St. Nick. The Santa Trap first aired December 13, 2002, over the PAX network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This direct-to-video variation on Jurassic Park tells the story of small-town sheriff Jim Tanner (Eric Roberts), who must team up with animal expert Dr. Hyde to discover what has been causing a series of mysterious mutilations. When they discover that dinosaurs are alive and well in their town, the duo must team up to stop the mad scientist responsible for their existence. Corbin Bernsen and Melissa Brasselle co-star in this sci-fi action film directed by Jay Andrews (The Bare Wench Project). ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Overhearing his parents Stephanie and David Carver having a heated argument, young Justin Carver (Cole Sprouse) retreats to his bedroom. A few minutes later, Justin peeks downstairs, only to see his mother Stephanie (Connie Sellecca) locked in a warm, romantic embrace with none other than Santa Claus. Unaware that mom's hirsute "lover" is actually his own father, David (Corbin Bernsen), who has dressed up as Santa in hopes of getting back in Stephanie's good graces, Justin is convinced that his parents' marriage is on the rocks -- just like the recently shattered union of his best friend's parents. Further convinced that jolly old Saint Nick is the cause of all the marital disharmony, little Justin goes on a one-boy vendetta, physically assaulting every department-store and sidewalk Santa who crosses his path. Very loosely based on the 1949 hit song of the same name, the made-for-TV I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus first aired December 9, 2001, on the PAX network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A boy's world is turned upside down when his parents split up in this emotional drama. When Vicky and Benjamin Walling (Stephanie Zimbalist and Corbin Bernsen) file for divorce, their son Jeremy (Robin Dunne) finds himself caught in the middle of an emotional tug of war. Benjamin has decided to stay in his hometown of Detroit with his oldest son Buddy (Will Sanderson), while Vicky is moving to Windsor, Canada, and is taking Jeremy with her. Jeremy has trouble fitting in at his new school, and he begins attending a support group for children of divorced parents. At his meetings, Jeremy meets Beth (Catarina Scorsone), a girl whose tough-as-nails exterior hides the fact that she's still coming to terms with her folks' breakup. Jeremy and Beth start dating, and he decides to give the school's track team a try, where he has to deal with a very demanding coach (Michael Ironside). Between his parents, his brother, his girlfriend, and the track coach, Jeremy finds himself in a position where he isn't sure how to satisfy the demands of everyone around him -- or even make himself happy. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

U.S. commandos storm a Middle East terrorist compound in order to kidnap the leader of the violent sect. But the clandestine operation backfires -- perhaps because of a double-cross by one of the American operatives -- and CIA agent Vince Shannon (Glenn Plummer) is captured and abandoned by his team. The terrorists brainwash Shannon and return him to Florida where he begins slaying his former team members one by one, until he finally reaches Lt. Scott (Matt McCoy), his former best friend. But it turns out that Shannon is a decoy for a massive invasion of the U.S. by heavily armed Middle East troops that come ashore under the dark of night. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide

Children make the mistake of getting involved in their parents' love lives in this made-for-TV comedy. A group of kids whose parents are divorced, led by Lissa (Jessica Bowman), decide that their folks could use a little romantic help and set up a dating service for single moms and dads -- which seems like a good idea at first, but soon turns out to be a lot more work than they ever expected. Young Hearts Unlimited also features Corbin Bernsen, Lesley-Anne Down, Robert Carradine, and Lisa Robin Kelly. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this British-French comedy of manners, Parker Posey stars as Margaret, an award-winning writer of bawdy novels who's grown vaguely dissatisfied with her life in Manhattan -- and her marriage to Edward (Jeremy Northam), a junior poetry professor. Engrossed in the sexually charged 18th century French diary she's adapting for her next book, Margaret heads on a research trip to France only to discover that the chateau at which the diary was written has been turned into a nunnery full of singing sisters. Nevertheless allowing her fertile imagination to get away from her, Margaret experiences the events of the diary as a series of naughty daydreams, simultaneously becoming besotted with Martin (Patrick Bruel), the French music producer who's currently cutting an album with the nuns. When Margaret returns to New York, Martin follows, setting the stage for all sorts of romantic entanglements in Margaret's lofty social circle, which includes Till (Elizabeth McGovern), her playwright sister, and Lily, a bisexual socialite. The feature debut of documentarian Brian Skeet, Misadventures received only a belated video release in America, excised of much of its overt sexuality, including a full-frontal shot of an entire soccer team. What remained, however, was still quite sexy and grown-up. London pop combo Saint Etienne's music didn't fare as well. Although the group's 20-song soundtrack eventually came out in Japan under the title The Misadventures of Saint Etienne, only a few tracks made it into the actual film; in fact, a different subset was included in the American and continental releases. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

In this decidedly pre-9/11 political thriller, the President of the United States (Lloyd Bochner) responds to terrorism by announcing plans to negotiate with the aggressors. This policy does not rest at all well with General Metzger (Nick Mancusco), the fiercely xenophobic chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. With the help of a group of CIA rogues and other conspirators, Metzger stages a White House mutiny, taking the President hostage. It is up to Vice President Lane--who happens to be a woman, played by Joan Van Ark)--to battle against a sea of enemies to prevent a full-scale military junta. Made for cable, Loyal Opposition: Terror in the White House was first shown by the Family channel on March 16, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The only witness to a ruthless murder, a caterer rushes to the police for protection and instead finds herself accused of the crime. Fortunately, a detective believes her story and sets off to prove her innocence. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Love and political ambition both run afoul of deceit in this suspense story. Sam Brady (Corbin Bernsen) is a federal District Attorney willing to do whatever it takes to get to the top, including extorting incriminating information from Mulroney (Thomas G. Waites), a corrupt police officer, in order to ruin the reputation of the son of a prominent senator. Sam is also involved with two women at once, Barbara (Jane Heitmeyer) and Genevieve (Maryam d'Abo), a situation made all the more complicated by the fact that the two women are close friends. When Sam discovers that Genevieve is pregnant with his child, he reluctantly breaks off his relationship with Barbara and asks Genevieve to marry him. However, Sam's flirtation with danger in his career and personal life has dangerous consequences when he discovers that he's being followed, and someone is using supernatural means to get their vengeance against him. An American Affair maked the debut of director Sebastian Shah. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This episode features a rare joint appearance by longtime TV leading man Corbin Bernsen and his real-life mother, daytime-drama diva Jeanne Cooper). Bernsen is cast as celebrated escape artist Eric Weiss, whose lack of concern over his own safety has earned him the Nickname "The Angel of Death". Posing as Eric's assistant, Monica (Roma Downey) becomes painfully aware that her boss harbors a genuine death wish, stemming back to a childhood tragedy involving his twin brother Peter. A visit to Erich's mother (Cooper) brings several long-suppressed secrets to light. Meanwhile, Hudson Leick makes her first appearance as nervous apprentice angel Celeste, who is worried that she won't be able to live up to her Heavenly responsibilities. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this spoofy horror outing from veteran genre director Brian Yuzna, L.A. Law vet Corbin Bernsen plays Dr. Feinstone, an anal-retentive Beverly Hills dentist with an amusement park of an office replete with Planet Hollywood-worthy, themed exam rooms, piped-in opera music, and a crisp, efficient staff. When Feinstone finds out that his lovely wife, Brooke (Linda Hoffman), is fellating the pool boy, he becomes unhinged -- haunted by visions of filthy mouths and faithless spouses. Inviting Brooke back to the office on their anniversary and begging her to indulge him in his hobby of cleaning her teeth, Feinstone performs a little unorthodox oral surgery and soon uses his now-disfigured sweetie to lure her boyfriend into a backyard trap. Revenge doesn't cure Feinstone's homicidal urges, however, and soon his violence and sexual obsessions spill over into his practice -- especially after creepy IRS investigator Marvin Goldblum (Earl Boen) shows up for a little "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine." Soon, patients and staff members alike are interacting with drills and laughing gas in ways they never expected. Filmed for, and originally shown on, HBO, The Dentist did not receive a U.S. theatrical release. Yuzna, Bernsen, and Hoffman reunited two years later for The Dentist II: Brace Yourself. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide