Roy Roberts Movies

The fourth presentation of Masterpiece Theatre's 1989-90 season, a four-part adaptation of Dickens' Tale of Two Cities, was so lavish an undertaking (especially for TV) that it ended up a Production of Two Cities. Part of the program was taped at London's Granada studios, while the remaining scenes were shot at the Dune Studios of France. Part One, telecast November 11, 1989, begins with the release of Dr. Manette (Jean-Pierre Aumont) from the Bastille in 1775. Five years later, dissipated attorney Sidney Carton (James Wilby) saves the life of Charles Darnay (Xavier DeLuc), the beloved of Dr. Manette's daughter Lucie (Serena Gordon). This expository installment ends with the observation that Carton and Darney closely resemble one another...and all of us who read Tale of Two Cities in high school know where this is going.

The second chapter of the four-part British/French TV adaptation of Tale of Two Cities was telecast November 18, 1989 on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre. We pick up the story with Lucie Manette (Serena Gordon) choosing to wed Charles Darnay (Xavier DeLuc). This leaves Sidney Carton (James Wilby) out in the cold, but also sets the stage for the "far far better thing" he'll do on Lucie's behalf in Part Four. Meanwhile, the seeds of the French Revolution are sown when Gaspard (Jean-Paul Tribout) avenges the death of his child at the hands of the callous nobles. Coming up in parts three and four: The storming of the Bastille, the fancy needlework of Madame DeFarge, and Sidney Carton's curtain speech at the guillotine. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

"You may think you know what you're dealing with, but believe me, you don't," warns water baron Noah Cross (John Huston), when smooth cop-turned-private eye J.J. "Jake" Gittes (Jack Nicholson) starts nosing around Cross's water diversion scheme. That proves to be the ominous lesson of Chinatown, Roman Polanski's critically lauded 1974 revision of 1940s film noir detective movies. In 1930s Los Angeles, "matrimonial work" specialist Gittes is hired by Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) to tail her husband, Water Department engineer Hollis Mulwray (Darrell Zwerling). Gittes photographs him in the company of a young blonde and figures the case is closed, only to discover that the real Mrs. Mulwray had nothing to do with hiring Gittes in the first place. When Hollis turns up dead, Gittes decides to investigate further, encountering a shady old-age home, corrupt bureaucrats, angry orange farmers, and a nostril-slicing thug (Polanski) along the way. By the time he confronts Cross, Evelyn's father and Mulwray's former business partner, Jake thinks he knows everything, but an even more sordid truth awaits him. When circumstances force Jake to return to his old beat in Chinatown, he realizes just how impotent he is against the wealthy, depraved Cross. "Forget it, Jake," his old partner tells him. "It's Chinatown." Reworking the somber underpinnings of detective noir along more pessimistic lines, Polanski and screenwriter Robert Towne convey a '70s-inflected critique of capitalist and bureaucratic malevolence in a carefully detailed period piece harkening back to the genre's roots in the 1930s and '40s. Gittes always has a smart comeback like Humphrey Bogart's Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, but the corruption Gittes finds is too deep for one man to stop. Other noir revisions, such as Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye (1973) and Arthur Penn's Night Moves (1975), also centered on the detective's inefficacy in an uncertain '70s world, but Chinatown's period sheen renders this dilemma at once contemporary and timeless, pointing to larger implications about the effects of corporate rapaciousness on individuals. Polanski and Towne clashed over Chinatown's ending; Polanski won the fight, but Towne won the Oscar for Best Screenplay. Chinatown was nominated for ten other Oscars, including Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costumes, and Score. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

As a new disciple of "sensitivity awareness", Billie Jo (Meredith MacRae) orders her sisters to adopt the same philosophy. Unfortunately, Billie's efforts to spread love and goodwill throughout Hooterville Valley have precisely the opposite effect. Roy Roberts, previously seen on Petticoat Junction as railroad executive Norman Curtis, is here cast as Mr. Hughes, the boss of game warden Orrin Pike (Jonathan Daly). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Softhearted Lisa (Eva Gabor) befriends a dewy-eyed doe that has wandered onto the farm. As a result, our heroine mounts an anti-hunting campaign in Hooterville -- just as hunting season starts. When no one pays her any heed, Lisa decides to take drastic action to disarm the potential hunters one by one. Not unexpectedly, all this activity results in a new cluster of headaches for Lisa's husband Oliver (Eddie Albert) and his erstwhile law partner Brian Williams (Rick Lenz). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Invited to spend the weekend at the home of Darrin's parents, Tabitha is warned by Samantha not to use any of her magic. Little Tabitha tries hard, but her resolve is weakened when an argument breaks out between her parents and Sam's mother, Endora. Believing that she has caused the fight, Tabitha turns herself into a cookie. Written by Peggy Chantler Dick and Douglas M. Dick, "Tabitha's Weekend" first aired on March 6, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Assuming that Samantha will name her new baby after him, Sam's father, Maurice, is outraged when Darrin declares that the child will be named after Darrin's dad, Frank. Not one to do things by halves, Maurice expresses his anger by trapping Darrin inside of a mirror. Sam saves the day by applying a bit of reverse psychology, and all viewers know, the Stephenses' new son is ultimately named Adam. Written by Ed Jurist, "Naming Samantha's New Baby" originally aired on October 23, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

After several years of servitude as the secretary of banker Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon), Lucy (Lucille Ball) finally gets the chance to get Mooney out of her lovely red hair. It seems that Mooney is in line to become president of the bank's San Francisco bank, and Lucy is determined to make this so by lobbying for him to win the "Boss of the Year" award--little realizing that Mooney has nominated his own boss Mr. Cheever (Roy Roberts) for the same award. This 156th and final episode of The Lucy Show culminates with an incredible musical number staged by Lucy in Mooney's honor, utilizing snatches of both "76 Trombones" and "Thanks for the Memory." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

While cutting up at an out-of-town bank convention, staid Mr. Mooney flirts (harmlessly, of course) with sexy waitress Nanette Johnson (guest star Edie Adams). Mooney's minor indiscretion comes back to haunt him--and how!--when Nanette shows up in L.A., insisting that the very married Mooney has proposed to her. In order to save her boss, Lucy (Lucille Ball) impersonates Mr. Mooney and paints a horrifying word picture of her life of abuse at the hands of her heartless "husband." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Now that they're in an accelerated-learning class, Buffy (Anissa Jones) and Jody (Johnnie Whitaker) must face the treacherous perils of "New Math". Unfortunately, their Uncle Bill (Brian Keith) hasn't the time to help with the twins' homework, since he is being kept occupied by his latest lady friend Meg (Kipp Hamilton), a woman constitutionally incapable of making a commitment. Thus, the kids turn to window washer Mr. Frack (Sterling Holloway), who as luck would have it is a mathematics whiz! John Williams again appears as Nigel French, temporary replacement for Bill's butler Giles French. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The posh St. Gregory Hotel in New Orleans is the setting for this drama based on a popular novel by Arthur Hailey. Trent (Melvyn Douglas) is the long-time owner who realizes that the hotel is in dire financial straits. Trent calls on faithful manager Peter McDermott (Rod Taylor) to try and bring about the necessary reversal of fortune so that they can stay in business. After the Duke (Michael Rennie) and Duchess (Merle Oberon) of Lanbourne check in, the Duke is involved in a vehicular homicide after he has too much to drink. His car is traced back to the St. Gregory by hotel detective Dupere (Richard Conte), who blackmails the Duke. Although not on the same level of Grand Hotel, the film contains first-rate performances from a fine cast portraying a variety of eccentric guests. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) has come up with a new scheme to put the Hooterville Cannonball out of commission. This time Homer arranges for bumbling Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) to be appointed General Manager of the Cannonball line. Not unexpectedly, it is only a matter of time before Joe screws up royally--but will his ineptitute be enough to derail the Cannonball for keeps? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

To cover up a 48-cent bank shortage, Lucy (Lucille Ball) secretly takes the missing money out of her own pocket. Unfortunately, when the shortage is revealed, Mr. Cheever (Roy Roberts) becomes convinced that Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) is responsible for the coverup, and promptly fires Mooney. To get her boss' job back, Lucy concocts an elaborate ruse to convince Cheever that he will literally go insane if Mooney is not reinstated! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jacques Bergerac guests in this episode as international movie idol Jacques Dupres, who shows up at the bank in hopes of financing his latest Hollywood movie. On orders from Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon), Lucy arrives at Jacques' apartment to draft a formal letter of agreement. Unfortunately, our heroine is quickly swept off her feet by DuPres' continental charm--not to mention a few too many sips of champagne! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi