Clarice Taylor Movies

A Brooklyn cigar shop is the setting for this drama from director Wayne Wang that interweaves the stories of several characters that have fractured family relationships in common. Harvey Keitel is Auggie Wren, poetic owner of the Brooklyn Cigar Company, a store that he considers the center of the world -- a place where all of humanity eventually parades through. One of his regular customers is Paul Benjamin (William Hurt), a writer and a broken shell of a man whose pregnant wife was shot and killed near the store. When Paul's life is saved one day by a young black man named Rashid (Harold Perrineau, Jr., the writer and his rescuer strike up a friendship and begin searching for Rashid's long-lost father (Forest Whitaker). At the store, Auggie is surprised by the appearance of Ruby (Stockard Channing), an ex-girlfriend who informs him that her pregnant, drug-addicted daughter Felicity (Ashley Judd) may also be his -- and is in dire need of help. Screenwriter Paul Auster based the script for Smoke on a 1990 short story he wrote for "The New York Times." He also wrote and directed the film's sequel (of sorts), Blue in the Face (1995). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

This Americanized remake of the French classic The Return of Martin Guerre (1982) transports the story's setting from the 16th century Gallic countryside to 19th century Tennessee at the conclusion of the U.S. Civil War. Richard Gere stars as Jack Sommersby, a wealthy landowner who returns to his small cotton farming town of Vine Hill three years after the Civil War's end. The defeated Confederate soldier is ready to resume his past life with his young wife Laurel (Jodie Foster). Thinking her husband long dead, however, Laurel has become engaged to Orin Meecham (Bill Pullman), an arrangement she quickly calls off, enraging and embittering Orin. Soon it becomes evident that his experiences have changed Jack thoroughly. A callous and cruel man widely feared before the war, he is now charming and sensitive, offering financial opportunities to an ex-slave and caring for Laurel and his young son. Jack even persuades the town's citizenry that he can rescue their fortunes by pooling resources and switching Vine Hill's chief crop from cotton to tobacco. Jack's scheme works, but Orin becomes increasingly convinced that Jack is in fact an impostor masquerading as the wealthy Sommersby, a suspicion that the smitten and quickly pregnant Laurel secretly shares. When Jack is arrested and charged with a murder he drunkenly committed years before, the court trial leads to some startling revelations about the past. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Olivia (Raven-Symone) comes down with a bad case of laryngitis just before she is to sing for her grandparents' 55th anniversary. When none of the family's exotic "home remedies" prove successful, Olivia retreats to her bedroom, refusing to attend the anniversary party because she feels she's let everyone down. At the last moment, Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) come up with a solution to Olivia's plight--a solution involving a spirited lip-synch rendition of Koko Taylor's "I'm a Woman". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Although it has been a year since the wedding of the Huxtables' daughter Denise (Lisa Bonet) and Martin Kendall (Joseph C. Phillips), Denise's brother Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) decides to throw a bachelor party for his brother-in-law--complete with a stripper. Denise can't decide what she's maddest about: the fact that Theo would do such a thing, or that Martin hesitates so long before turning down Theo's idea. The couple's argument spreads to eldest daughter Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf) and HER husband Elvin (Geoffrey Owens), casting a considerable pall over the annual barbecue held by the girls' father Cliff (Bill Cosby). Grandpa Russell (Earle Hyman) saves the day by recalling his own bachelor party--eliciting a surprising reaction from Grandma Anna (Clarice Taylor). This episode was originally intended to air September 20, 1990 as the opener of The Cosby Show's seventh season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

With the rest of the family out of town, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) has the Huxtable house all to himself. Taking advantage of the sitaution, Theo's pals Howard (Reno Wilson) and Denny (Troy Winbush) talk hm into throwing a small, intimate party for themselves and their girl friends. You guessed it: The festivities quickly get out of hand and the house is overrun with a plague of uninvited guests, who wreak both havoc and damage in equal measure--and worst of all, Theo's girl never shows up! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cliff (Bill Cosby) braves a terrific rainstorm to purchase a few extra ingredients for the Huxtables' Thanksgiving dinner--only to be forced back into the deluge time and again because he keeps forgetting one "little" item after another. To top off the situation, Martin's ex-wife Paula (Victoria Rowell) shows up unexpectedly. How will Denise (Lisa Bonet) react upon meeting her matrimonial predecessor face-to-face? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

America's number one-rated series for three years running, The Cosby Show manages to hold on to this lofty status throughout its fifth season on the air. Bill Cosby is of course back as obstetrician Cliff Huxtable, as is Phylicia Rashad as Cliff's attorney wife, Clair. Three of the five Huxtable children are still being seen on a regular basis: Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa, Keshia Knight Pulliam as Rudy, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Theo. Also back after a year's hiatus as star of the spin-off series A Different World is Lisa Bonet as daughter Denise, though the actress' pregnancy would severely curtail her appearances this season. Likewise, oldest daughter Sondra (Sabrina Le Beauf), now the wife of Elvin Tibideaux (Geoffrey Owens) and the mother of twins Nelson and Winnie (born in an hour-long episode, originally aired November 10, 1988), is only seen on a sporadic basis. Season five is distinguished by the fact that Theo has graduated from college and is attending New York University for graduate school, while Denise has dropped out of Hillman College and is preparing to journey to Africa as a photographer's assistant (a plot development which neatly coincides with Lisa Bonet's maternity leave). Likewise worth more than a passing nod is the episode "If the Dress Fits, Wear It," which features appearances by series regular Phylicia Rashad's sister Debbie Allen and husband Ahmad Rashad. And in the episode "No Way, Baby," Sammy Davis Jr. makes one of his last TV appearances as a cranky old cuss named Ray Palomino (Davis earned an Emmy nomination for his performance). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Now that Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf) and Elvin (Geoffrey Owens) are expecting a child, Sondra's parents Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Clair (Phylicia Rashad) are convinced that it's high time the couple move out of their wretched little studio apartment and find more suitable living quarters. The problem is that Sondra and Elvin haven't got the necessary funds--and they stubbornly refuse to accept any financial aid from her folks. This episode was originally slated to air on October 20, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Huxtables head to Hillman College to visit Denise (Lisa Bonet) and to attend a retirement ceremony for school president Dr. Hanes (Joe Seneca). While Denise nervously tries to hide the fact that she isn't the world's best housekeeper, Dr. Hanes invites Cliff (Bill Cosby) to emcee the ceremony, and asks Clair (Phylicia Rashad) to sing with the college choir. Ms. Rashad is heard in a rendition of "All Good Things Will Be Added Unto You" in this episode, which was largely taped at Atlanta's Spellman College, the real-life model for Hillman (Spelman's choir is combined with the one from Morehead college for the occasion). Designed as a lead-in to the spinoff series A Different World--and introducing Gloria Foster in the role of Hillman's new president Dr. Barbara Bracy--this the final episode of The Cosby Show's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

It is the 50th wedding anniversary of Cliff's parents Russell (Earle Hyman) and Anna (Clarice Taylor), and the whole family has gathered to celebrate--including daughters Denise (Lisa Bonet) and Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf), who return from college for the occasion. Along for the ride is Sondra's chauvinistic boyfriend Elvin (Geoffrey Owens), who once again approaches Cliff (Bill Cosby) for advice on how to be more considerate in the presence of women...while Clair (Phylicia Rashad) has issues with Cliff's own apparent lack of consideration. The Count Basie Orchestra performs "Shiny Stockings"--and as a bonus the Huxtables lip-synch to James Brown's "I Got the Feeling". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Huxtables are on pins and needles as Denise (Lisa Bonet) decides upon which college she will attend. Among her final choices is Hillman College, the alma mater of both her dad Cliff (Bill Cosby) and her grandad Russell (Earle Hyman). Naturally, the two men do everything they can to influence Denise's decision--but they're not the only ones with an agenda! This is the final episode of The Cosby Show's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cliff (Bill Cosby), Clair (Phylicia Rashad) and the children put on an elaborate show in honor of Grandpa Russell and Grandma Anna's (Earle Hyman, Clarice Taylor) 49th wedding anniversary. The festivities include a lip-synched rendition of Ray Charles' Night Time is the Right Time, and tons of lavish presents. Russell and Anna are thrilled and touched, but they are reluctant to accept Cliff's biggest gift of all: an expensive European cruise. "Happy Anniversary" has been cited by TV Guide as one of the "best TV episodes ever"--and who are we to argue? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Tom Schiller, best known for the short subjects he wrote and directed for Saturday Night Live's early seasons, made his feature film debut with this offbeat fantasy. In the future, the city of New York is governed by the Port Authority, and aspiring artist Adam Beckett (Zach Galligan) is depressed because the powers that be refuse to grant him a creative license. Instead, Adam is assigned to direct traffic in the Holland Tunnel, where he meets a woman named Mara Hofmeier (Apollonia Van Ravenstein). Adam offers to show Mara a side of New York's underground that few people know about; however, they mistakenly board the wrong bus and find themselves on a trip to the moon, which has been turned into a shopping center. In time, Adam finds his way back to Earth, where at long last he finds artistic success and the love of his life, Ely (Lauren Tom). Incorporating clips from a number of classic silent films, Nothing Lasts Forever also features an interesting supporting cast, including Bill Murray, Sam Jaffe, Eddie Fisher, Dan Aykroyd, Lawrence Tierney, Imogene Coca, and Calvert Deforest (aka Larry "Bud" Melman). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi