Helen Shaver Movies

In this made-for-TV western, Willie Nelson portrays a safecracker in the custody of a Texas Ranger (Kris Kristofferson) who is also in pursuit of a serial killer. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

Eleven-year-old Emily (Kaitlyn Burke) is an environmental activist in training, having saved a bear cub wounded by poachers and nursed it back to health . When Emily's 16-year-old sister Melissa (Kimberley Warnat) -- another would-be environmentalist -- and her high school pal Daniel (Kristian Ayre) go to the woods to document evidence of a shady millionaire's (Alan Thicke) clear-cutting operation, Emily follows her and promptly gets washed away down a fast-flowing woodland river. Soon everyone is looking for the lost girl, including Melissa and Scott (Eric Johnson), a hunky slice of logger beefcake. With only the trusty bear cub -- now grown into a 700-pound adult named Masha -- as her guide, Emily struggles to make it out of the woods alive. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide

Having previously essayed the role of real-life Canadian physician/political activist Norman Bethune in a 1977 TV movie, Donald Sutherland returns to the role in the 1989 theatrical feature Bethune: The Making of a Hero. Over a period of several decades, Dr. Bethune grows increasingly disenchanted with the corrupt politics that have fomented so many wars. Radicalized during the Spanish Civil War, he declares himself by fighting with Mao Tse Tung's Chinese Communist forces against the Japanese in World War 2. He remains a staunch Mao supported in the postwar years, winning him both loyal supporters and bitter foes in the West. This warts-and-all film makes no effort to cover up Bethune's personal demons, notably his boozing and philandering. Still, one emerges from the film wishing to learn just a wee bit more about the good doctor's motivations. Bethune: The Making of a Hero was released in the US in 1993 as Doctor Bethune. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The unbreakable bond forged between a troubled boy and a gorilla forms the basis of this family-oriented children's adventure. Fourteen-year old Rick has become quite rebellious since his father abandoned them. Margaret Heller, his mother, is a behavioral scientist who studies communication with gorillas. She is finding it increasingly difficult to communicate with the sullen, isolated Rick. The story opens just as Rick, who had stolen his mother's van for a joyride, is released from jail. To punish him, Margaret forces him to clean out the animal research lab. Rick is especially loathe to clean out the gorilla cage. In that cage is a gorilla adept at sign language, Katie, whom Rick immediately despises. In time, he and Katie begin conversing, and the two become friends. But then Katie's legal owner, the cruel Gus Charnley, reclaims her and forces her to perform caged up in a carnival act. The degradation of his friend is more than Rick can handle, so he frees her and together they hit the road. Mayhem and adventure ensues until the two end up in court where Katie makes a touching plea on their behalf. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

After her child is abducted by her ex-husband, a woman hires a contract killer to find the man and rescue her son. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

Countdown to Looking Glass was a Canadian-produced, 90 minute dramatic special, first telecast in the States over the HBO pay cable service on October 14, 1984. In the tradition of the earlier Special Bulletin, the story frames a nuclear-holocaust threat in the form of an ongoing news broadcast. The setup: A group of South American nations have defaulted on a loan, forcing every bank in America to collapse. The US is thus unable to help Oman when the middle-Eastern nation is invaded by Soviet operatives. This culminates in a Persian-gulf showdown, while all the major cities in the US are evacuated. Scott Glenn plays an anchorman for the fictional CVN news service, while Helen Shaver costars as the CVN Washington correspondent, who is prevented from getting on the air with a potentially world-saving bulletin. Written by MIT professor Lincoln Bloomfeld, Countdown to Looking Glass features real-life newscasters Eric Sevareid, Nancy Dickerson, Patrick Watson and Don Tobin. Note to political-trivia buffs: Appearing briefly as themselves are former Presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy, and a pre-"Contract With America" Newt Gingrich. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The topic of teen pregnancy is covered in this made-for-Showtime melodrama directed by actress Helen Shaver. Clara Bryant stars as Mary Faith, a small-town good girl, and the last person that anyone in her community would expect to find herself with child. When news of the pregnancy gets out, Mary Faith is faced with judgment from the locals as well as her family. Due East also stars Cybill Shepherd, Kate Capshaw, and Robert Forster. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

The made-for-TV Fatal Memories is based on a true story. Shelley Long stars as a California woman whose repressed memories suddenly burst forth. She promptly accuses her father of murder that occurred 20 years earlier. Then she experiences flashes of recollection suggesting that her father was also a party to her preteen rape. Many questions are raised but few are resolved during the climactic courtroom sequence. The theory of Repressed Memory Syndrome is in such disrepute nowadays that it's likely a rebroadcast of Fatal Memories will be even more controversial than its original telecast on November 9, 1992. The film has been syndicated as The Eileen Franklin Story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Also known as Harry Tracy--Desperado, this austere Canadian western stars Bruce Dern in the title role. A charming but unscrupulous train robber, Tracy courts capture and hanging when he falls in love with Helen Shaver, daughter of a judge. Tracy's most trusted lieutenant is Michael C. Gwynne, a would-be painter who tags along with the bandit in order to commit his exploits to canvas. Unfortunately, it is Gwynne who brings about Tracy's demise during the final shootout with sheriff Gordon Lightfoot (the same). In the tradition of such earlier oaters as Jesse James and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the filmmakers do quite a whitewash job on Harry Tracy, who in real life would have probably shot his own grandma if there was money in it. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In Hungary, 12-year-old Andras Vadya supported himself during World War II by serving as a pimp for prostitutes. Once the war is over, he tries his hand at a number of different jobs, but has a sexual fixation on "older" women. Andras (Tom Berenger) tells the story of seven of his affairs. One affair, when he was still a quite young man, was with Bobbie (Susan Strasberg), a woman whose anti-communist views put her in danger in postwar Hungary. In Praise of Older Women features many sexual scenes and situations. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Innocent Victim is a psychological thriller based on the Ruth Rendell novel Tree of Hands. London based, best-selling author, Benet (Helen Shaver), who has just written a controversial novel, lives alone with her young son. Benet's mother, Marsha (Lauren Becall), visiting from the United States, is a manic-depressive who has psychotic episodes. When Benet's young son dies, Marsha kidnaps a local child to serve as a substitute. Benet believes she should return the child but upon investigation she finds out that the child has been severely abused by his parents. After the child's disappearance, the parents are charged with the murder. A more skillful filmmaker might have dealt, as the novel does, with the moral issues of guilt and responsibility and the terrible moral dilemma faced by Benet. Instead, director Giles Foster presents the film in a rather straightforward, nonjudgmental fashion which allows for little character growth and diminishes the impact of what should be an ironic and disturbing ending. Innocent Victim, while at times compelling, and based on an interesting premise, would have been a memorable film if Foster had taken more chances and pushed his actors to give the performances that they are capable of but here are only hinted at. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide

Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part Two is that TV movie rarity: a sequel that is every bit as terrific as the original. Jane Alexander repeats her role from 1977's A Circle of Children as a volunteer teacher specializing in autistic and emotionally disturbed children. Hannah (Kris McKeon) is an 11 year old child nicknamed "Lovey." The girl is given to loud, unexpected and quite violent tantrums, and for a long time it looks as though Ms. Alexander will never get through to her. The social worker's efforts to help Lovey put a severe strain on her off-hours love life. Despite the soap-opera trappings, Lovey: A Circle of Children shines with the light of truth from first frame to last, with Jane Alexander matching the brilliance of her earlier performance in the same role. Like A Circle of Children, this sequel was based on the autobiographical novel by Mary MacCracken. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide