Al Ruscio Movies

The victims of a robbery-homicide turn out to be two old friends of Detective Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder). While helping Sorenson investigate this incident, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) also lobbies to reopen the Suarez murder case -- which hits a snag when Suarez is killed in prison. Elsewhere, John (Bill Brochtrup) fills in for PAA Dolores Mayo (Lola Glaudini), who hasn't been showing up for work lately. Later, while investigating a killing at a strip club, Diane (Kim Delaney) and Jill (Andrea Thompson) are surprised to find Dolores among the club's patrons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having solved many another murder case in the past, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is finally given a crack at the JFK assassination! It seems that a Dallas private eye disappeared at the same time that Kennedy was shot, and now, thirty years later, there is positive proof that the P.I. was also murdered. Jessica suspects that the two killings may have been connected--and as a bonus, both may be linked to a current case that she is working on. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Complete with real ABC News footage shot in Iraq, this made-for-TV film chronicles the lives of a group of American soldiers battling in the Persian Gulf War. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

The press, the police and a neighborhood watch group are swept up in a tsunami of controversy thanks to the actions of an unknown vigilante. Twice in the past week, someone has taken the law into his (or her) own hands--and in the second instance, an innocent black teenager was savagely beaten. Hunter (Fred Dryer) is determined to find the truth of the matter and avert a citywide riot (and incidentally, this episode takes place long before the Rodney King debacle!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Siblings Eric Roberts and Julia Roberts appear in this old-fashioned saga about oppressed Sicilian wine-growers in 19th-century California. Giancarlo Giannini stars as Sebastian Collogero, the robust Italian patriarch who is battling with railroad mogul William Bradford Berrigan (Dennis Hopper) to prevent his land from being taken over by the rail company. Sebastian's spirited son, Marco (Eric Roberts), is in love with Angelica (Lara Harris), the daughter of a rival wine-grower's clan. Marco is not very concerned about the warfare about to erupt between the wine-growers and the railroad until Berrigan's thugs torture and kill Sebastian in front of his daughter Maria (Julia Roberts). Marco then gets his friends together and organizes a revolt against Berrigan and his railroad empire. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

"Not since Columbo has catching a killer been this clever!" That was the ad come-on for Diary of a Perfect Murder, a 1986 TV movie starring Andy Griffith as a homespun Georgia defense attorney. Griffith takes the case of a TV reporter (Steve Inwood) who has been accused of the murder of his ex-wife. In the tradition of Perry Mason, Matlock plays his cards close to the vest, then reveals the identity of the true murderer right in the courtroom. Sound familiar? It should: Diary of a Perfect Murder was the pilot film for Andy Griffith's still-running Matlock series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A gangland boss is killed in what seems to be a bungled holdup, but both Hunter (Fred Dryer) and the Mob suspect that a professional hit man was responsible. If he wants to avert an all-out gang war, Hunter must locate the only witness to the crime, a woman named Sandy Newton (Mary-Margaret Humes), who has completely disappeared from view. Ultimately figuring out who ordered the "hit", Hunter calls in favors from his own mob-connected family to prevent any further bloodshed--and to save Sandy in the bargain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This evening's cases involve a porno filmmaker and a blind shoplifter. But most of the attention is focused on court bailiff Bull (Richard Bull), who is depressed because a charitable organization has refused to let him do volunteer work. It seems that Bull's fearsome appearance might scare off potential contributors! The rest of the gang do what they can to lift Bull's spirits, but it's a real uphill climb. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

For years, Tony Banta (Tony Danza) has driven a cab to finance his dream -- that of being a champion boxer. Also, for years Tony has spent more time flat on his back than in the center of the ring. Now, the time has come for Tony to give up his dream -- or at least, that is the conclusion of his friends, his doctor, and the boxing commission. Will Tony listen to this advice, or will his pride score a knockout over common sense? ~ All Movie Guide

This sequel to Every Which Way But Loose finds Philo Beddoe (Clint Eastwood) on the road, orangutan companion Clyde in tow, as he makes his way as a bare-knuckle fighter. The action begins with Philo punching out a new victim while Clyde relieves himself on the seat of a police car, setting the tone for the rest of the story. From there, Philo and Clyde return home, where Philo, who still lives with Ma (Ruth Gordon), is offered a contest with Jack Wilson (William Smith), the Mafia-sponsored East Coast bare-knuckle champ. Philo inadvertently saves Wilson's life, but then the Mafia kidnaps his girlfriend (Sondra Locke) to force him to go ahead with the match. Philo and Wilson team up to battle the Mob, but somehow they end up fighting anyway in a grueling climactic sequence. Country music, bikers, the Mafia, an orangutan, pick-up trucks, defecation jokes, fighting, drinking, and swearing -- it's all here in this lowbrow comic stew. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide

Attending a group therapy session, Jim (James Garner) and Angel (Stuart Margolin) make the acquaintance of former mental patient Mary Jo Flynn (Joanne Nail). Insisting that her life is in danger because she has met a government spy who was being held against his will in a psychiatric hospital, Mary Jo has trouble convincing Jim of her plight--until he, too, finds himself up to his neck in peril. It all has something to do with a Chilean military coup, and a crisis of loyalty within a mob family...and this being The Rockford Files, the estimable Angel (Stuart Margolin) is mixed up in the intrigue! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Despite his animosity towards his former parole officer Marcus Hayes (Louis Gosset Jr. in his first series appearance), Jim (James Garner) agrees to take a case on Hayes' behalf. Jim is to investigate the possibility of criminal involvement in the high-stakes bidding for a valuable pro-basketball franchise, ostensibly to help out Hayes' employer, Athletics commissioner Martin Eastman (David White). It turns out, however, that Eastman never hired Hayes...and with the commissioner turns up murdered, Jim begins to wonder what exactly his old "friend" Marcus is really up to. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide