Susan Blakely
A quiet community reveals an ugly underside in the wake of a horrible crime in this independent drama. Robbie Levinson (Seth Peterson) and Trey McCoy (Brian J. Smith) are a gay couple who've been together for six years; they've been sharing a comfortable home in suburban Dallas most of that time, and are planning to get married once the legalities work themselves. Robbie and Trey are good neighbors who get along well with the other folks in the community until Chris Boyd (Chad Donella) moves in next door. Chris is a youth pastor at a church run by his father (Bruce Davison), a fundamentalist Christian who preaches often and with great vehemence about the evils of homosexuality. Chris doesn't keep his feelings about gays to himself, and when Trey is found dead in a nearby park, the victim of a sadistic beating with a baseball bat, Robbie believes Chris may be involved. However, Chris' father and mother provide an alibi for him, and the police hand the case from Detective Fisher (Farah White), who investigates hate crimes, to Sgt. Esposito (Giancarlo Esposito) in the homicide department. Robbie is appalled to discover he's now the leading suspect in the murder, and begins making his own investigation into Trey's death. Hate Crime was the first feature film from writer and director Tommy Stovall. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Seth Peterson, Chad E. Donella, (more)
Directed by Sven Pape, L.A. Twister follows a familiar plight -- Lenny McCoy (played by Zack Ward, who some will remember as Ralphie's red-headed nemesis in A Christmas Story) is trying to make a spot for himself in Hollywood, though it seems more likely that Hollywood will make a meal out of Lenny. Far from having hit it big, Lenny decides to split the rent with Ethan (Tony Daly), an old friend whose marital problems and artistic endeavors have left him in a similar position. Rather than continuing their futile attempts to woo the industry, Ethan and Lenny decide it would be more lucrative to make their own film; however, once they get the ball rolling, making their own film seems just as hard as participating in someone else's, and both friends are forced to examine their friendship and personal ethics system in the process. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
The Perfect Neighbor stars Barbara Niven as Donna Germaine, a woman attempting to start her life over in a new location. However, her past as a femme fatale is impossible to outrun. She falls back on some old bad habits when she becomes obsessed with William (Perry King), a neighbor who is having marriage problems. Although the husband and wife are attempting to keep their relationship, Donna's lack of scruples may lead to more than one death. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Upon her release from a mental institution where she was recovering from a suicide attempt, Andrea McBride (Tracy Nelson) applies for the position of nanny for a handsome, wealthy surgeon, Dr. James Lewis (Bruce Boxleitner), a widower with two children. Another applicant is hired, but she dies in an accident and Andrea gets the job after all, excelling and quickly becoming part of the family. Then Lewis' girlfriend, Dr. Julia Bruning (Susan Blakely), is mysteriously killed. When his boss (Charles Glenn) tells Lewis of impending cutbacks at the hospital, the boss is murdered. Meanwhile, Lewis' teenaged daughter Fawn (Dana Barron) begins piecing together the history of the new nanny and discovers that Andrea may be responsible for these and other killings -- but Fawn had better hurry, because the slayings are getting closer to home.
~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracy Nelson, Bruce Boxleitner, (more)
- 2001
Hoping with all her heart that her wayward son Kenny (Chad Allen) has been straightened out by two years in prison, Sharon Carlson (Kate Jackson) welcomes Kenny with open arms on the occasion of his parole, as does everyone in his immediate family and circle of friends. For a while, it seems as though Sharon's prayers have been answered, and that Kenny is finally going to lead a decent life. But when he is reunited with his former prison buddy Warren Stubbs (Keith Szarabajka), Kenny's true nature once again rises to the surface, and it isn't long before his behavior has deteriorated dangerously. Though she was worried that this would happen, Sharon loyally sticks by her son -- and when he is implicated in a murder, she does everything in her power to prove his innocence. The grim outcome of this story, taking place during Sharon's emotional courtroom appearance, is implicit in the film's title. Filmed independently in 2000, A Mother's Testimony had been slated for theatrical release, but when a distributor was not forthcoming, the film was licensed for television exposure; it was telecast several times abroad before making its U.S. cable debut over the Lifetime channel on October 22, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kate Jackson, Susan Blakely, (more)
Renegade adventurer Hunter (John Beck) and his daughter Nadia (Julie St. Claire) discover, in a remote Siberian cave, inventor Nikola Tesla's deadliest device: A machine that can turn human brain waves into explosions, big and small. While returning the doomsday device to civilization by means of passenger plane, a band of terrorists led by Beck (Hannes Jaenicke) gets on the plane with plans to move the machine to a second plane and blow up the first one in mid-air, with the ten other passengers as well. But Hunter thwarts the scheme at a grave cost: His plane crashes in the mountains of British Columbia. The CIA dispatches Jason Ross (Treat Williams) to find the device, rescue the survivors, and stop the terrorists. Meanwhile, the crash survivors struggle with freezing temperatures, an avalanche, and a man-eating bear.
~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Treat Williams, John Beck, (more)
An unexpected death turns lovers into rivals in this thriller. Richard Mannhart (Perry King) is an unhappily married author who is having an affair with Katie Griffin (Roxana Zal), a film editor. Richard is mostly interested in sex, but Katie has become deeply infatuated with him. However, when Richard's wife, Laura (Susan Blakely), dies in a suspicious-looking auto accident, Katie tells the authorities that she has reason to believe Richard sabotaged his spouse's car. Richard angrily denies Katie's allegations and then goes on to deny any involvement with her. Trying to weigh one story against the other, the police tell both Richard and Katie that it's up to them to prove the validity of their stories. So what evidence can they produce to clear themselves and incriminate their lover? Also released as A Clean Kill, Her Married Lover also features Michelle Green, Daniel Benzali, and Terrence "T.C." Carson. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Michele Lee is star, director, producer and cowriter of this inspirational made-for-cable movie. Lee plays Dina Blake, a middle-aged mentally challenged woman living under the care of her nephew. In the tradition of Charly, Dina volunteers to test out an experimental drug designed to enhance intelligence--and within what seems like minutes, she accelerates to the level of genius. At the height of her euphoria, Dina falls in love with one of her doctors, Mitch Conlon (Robin Thomas)--who, alas, must bear the brunt of Dina's outrage when the experiment begins to fail and she painfully reverts to her former "retarded" self. Color Me Perfect made its Lifetime network debut on November 5, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Beverly Hills 90210 star Tori Spelling and Star Trek: Voyager actress Jeri Lynn Ryan headline this made-for-TV movie about a hardworking college student who thinks she's found the answer to her financial and self-esteem issues when she falls into the lifestyle of a high-priced escort. Lonely, plain-Jane, cash-strapped Joanna Halbert (Spelling) attends university classes while also helping out at the bakery run by her no-nonsense, widowed mother, Teri (Susan Blakely). When her classmates jokingly leave Joanna's name and number on the voicemail of a Malibu escort service, Joanna finds her curiosity piqued. After finding a new best gal pal in the form of the vivacious escort Kimberly (Ryan), Joanna soon finds herself working for Kimberly's boss, Ron Tamblin (Scott Plank), who promises her that she doesn't have to sleep with the clients she "dates." Soon, Joanna is dressing like a grown-up, stepping out with fabulous men -- and getting paid hundreds of dollars a night for her trouble. This secret double life soon, however, takes a toll on Joanna's relationships with her mother, her friends and her would-be beau, Jack (Barry Watson). Although Joanna chooses to sleep with one of her clients, she refuses to sleep with another. But when Ron threatens to fire her, she acquiesces, and soon Joanna finds herself going on more dates where the sex is not only compulsory, but kinky. When she tries to quit, violence ensues, ultimately leading Joanna to criminal court, where she must defend herself against a charge of attempted murder. After first airing on CBS in 1996, Co-Ed Call Girl enjoyed a second life on cable, including the Lifetime network. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tori Spelling, Susan Blakely, (more)
- 1994
For a couple of years during the mid '90s, the Menendez Brothers, Lyle and Erik, held the country's interest after they stood trial for cold-bloodedly killing their parents. The murders took place in L.A., where both victims had successful Hollywood careers. What shocked the nation was that the nicely dressed, soft-spoken defendants claimed their parents abused them all their life. This sensationalistic dramatization is the first of several TV movies that exploited the brothers and their trial. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jill Clayburgh, James Farentino, (more)
- 1994
This Italian comedy was filmed in Sarasota, Florida and features the exploits of a would be gigolo and a violinist. Dodo, a Frenchman, is the gigolo, and Jesus is the Italian violinist who pursued his girlfriend to Florida to marry her. When Jesus finds that his gal is helping to support Dodo he is appalled. Suddenly the girlfriend mysteriously disappears. In her wake the two become fast friends and decide to both pursue a career in getting women to support them. At one point, Jesus loses his life savings to a con artist. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Thierry Lhermitte, Maurizio Nichetti, (more)
- 1994
Season Eleven of Murder She Wrote opens with an episode that would seem to have been inspired by the 1933 horror film Murders at the Zoo. Jessica Fletcher ($Angela Lansbury}) pays an extended visit to a California animal park, there to research her latest mystery novel. Inevitably, a real-life mystery begins to unfold when Mark Atwater (David Beecroft), fiancé of one of the park's workers, is killed by the venom of a deadly black mamba snake. It looks like an accident, but Jessica believes that the actual killer was of the two-legged rather than no-legged variety. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this thriller, an American schoolteacher visits St. Petersburg, Russia and ends up entangled in a deadly plot to steal a valuable artifact. Much of the film was shot on location. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1993
In this made-for-television drama a young mother finds herself unable to cope with her daughter's handicap and so puts her up for adoption. When her mother finds out, she launches a courtroom battle for the right to raise her granddaughter herself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patty Duke, Tracy Nelson, (more)
- 1992
Two patients, one with flashbacks and another who remembers the crash of a UFO, lead a well-known Los Angeles psychiatrist into an investigation of UFO abductions in order to help them. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In a sequel to the superior movie entitled The Incident, a small-town lawyer goes against the State of Maryland, suing on behalf of an institutionalized mental patient for release. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Susan Blakely, (more)
- 1992
Two patients, one with flashbacks and another who remembers the crash of a UFO, lead a well-known Los Angeles psychiatrist into an investigation of UFO abductions in order to help them. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Hypnotic regression prompts a pair of sisters to recognize that they've been abducted by aliens. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Crenna, Mare Winningham, (more)
- 1992
Season Nine of Murder, She Wrote gets under way with an episode set at a Milan Film Festival, where Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is attending the premiere of a movie based on one of her novels. The film's producer Catherine Wayne (Susan Blakely) is as well known for her string of box-office successes as she is for her shabby treatment of underlings; in fact, as the story begins, she is seen refusing to release an up-and-coming young director from his ultra-restrictive contract. Inevitably, Catherine is murdered, and Jessica is obliged to investigate the case. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Partially filmed in Hawaii and Tahiti, And the Sea Will Tell was a two-part TV movie based on a real murder case. A wealthy couple (James Brolin and Deidre Hall) are killed on their yacht off the coast of a secluded South American island called Palmyra. The suspects are a hippyish pair (Hart Bochner and Rachel Ward) whom the rich folks had befriended. It's fairly clear that the hippies were involved in the crime: The question is, did the man do it while the girl looked on helplessly, or was she a willing accomplice? Richard Crenna plays real-life defense attorney Vincent Bugliosi, upon whose book And the Sea Will Tell was based. The first part of this teledrama premiered on February 24, 1991; part two, in which the girl's testimony consumes most of the screen time, was shown on February 26. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Set in the rural South of the '30s, the made-for-cable film Wildflower is about a pair of teenaged siblings who become friends with an epileptic girl named Alice (Patricia Arquette), who has been forced to live in the barn behind her father's house because he believed her seizures were the work of the devil. With the help of the two teenagers, the girl is able to become part of everyday society. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patricia Arquette, William McNamara, (more)
- 1991
The fabulously wealthy Susan Blakely is saddled with husband John Saxon, a swarthy number with possible mob connections. Bored and lonely, Blakely falls for charming Dale Midkiff. Soon after beginning her affair, however, Midkiff turns out to be a blackmailer, in league with the even scuzzier Mac Davis. Since this is a USA Cable Network movie, be assured that extortion is the least of the crimes perpetrated during Blackmail's two hours. This heavily plotted melodrama debuted October 23, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Based on a true story, And the Sea Will Tell was originally telecast in two parts on February 24 and 26, 1991. The story takes place in 1974, when two couples sail separately to the South Pacific island of Palmyra. Wealthy marrieds Mac and Muff Grant (James Brolin and Diedre Hall) are looking for thrills. Former convict Buck Walker (Hart Bochner) and his hippie girl friend Jennifer Jenkins (Rachel Ward) are trying to start life over. Only one of the couples returns. Seven years later, the pitiful remains of the missing couple washes up on shore. Part One is the set-up; Part Two is devoted to the trial of accused-murderer Jenkins, and to the defense mounted by famed attorney Vincent Bugliosi (Richard Crenna). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
This is one of several seventh-season Murder She Wrote episodes introduced by Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) but starring Dennis Stanton (Keith Michell), a jewel thief turned insurance investigator. On this occasion, Stanton himself is the primary suspect in a murder case. The victim is the estranged husband of Stanton's old flame Christina (Susan Blakely), whom our hero had been romancing just before the murder. Will Lt. Catalano (Ken Swofford) finally be able to put Stanton behind bars again, or will the wily ex-crook manage to wriggle his way out of danger once more? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Richard Crenna returns as New York police detective Frank Janek in Murder Times Seven. This time Janek tackles the case of a mass murder. One of the victims was his ex-partner (an occupational hazard for Janek, who in an earlier film had to turn in his own boss on a murder rap). One of the detective's former lovers (Carolyn Kava) unexpectedly provides a vital clue to the killer's identity. Originally titled Murder X 7, this made-for-TV drama first aired October 14, 1991-though there was a warning in the TV Guide listings that the film risked being bumped by the World Series playoffs (coincidentally, it would have been Game Number Seven!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
