Brynn Thayer Movies
- 2005
Jane Doe:The Wrong Face is one of several Hallmark Channel TV-movies starring Lea Thompson as Simi Valley housewife and mom Kathy Davis (Lea Thompson), who unbeknownst to her neighbors occasionally moonlights as an undercover special agent and "problem solver" for the NSA. Kathy is summoned by her NSA superior Frank Darnell (Joe Penny) to tackle the mysterious kidnapping of Caroline Raphaelson (Roxanna Zal), wife of crusading prosecutor Phil Raphaelson (John Rubinstein). No one ever saw anyone entering or leaving the room in the health spa from which Caroline, who'd been undergoing cosmetic surgery, was snatched. Still, the fact remains that a ransom demand has been made, said demand being that Caroline's husband arrange for the release of Ray Jackson (Michael Bailey Smith), a shady construction executive being held on a money-laundering rap. Complicating Kathy's investigation is Jackson's staunch insistence that he is innocent and that he completely disapproves of the kidnapping, and the subsequent disappearance of the 16-year-old girl who'd impersonated Caroline while the abduction was allegedly taking place. Jane Doe: The Wrong Face) was originally telecast on June 19, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Natalie (Traylor Howard) and Lt. Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) attend the wedding of her brother Jonathan (Robert P. Benedict)--an event that is anything but festive for Natalie, since she has been long on the outs with her wealthy and highly judgmental parents. Soon, however, Natalie has a lot more to worry about than family friction when Disher is seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident. Arriving on the scene, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) begins questioning all the guests, despite his discomfort over the possibility that one of Natalie's relatives--or even Theresa (Ashley Williams), the bride-to-be--is a potential murderer. Just before the case is solved, a hostage crisis breaks out during the cutting of the wedding cake! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
While trying to keep the disowned nephew of a slain millionaire out of prison, America's wiliest Southern lawyer stumbles upon clues to an additional pair of murders. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brynn Thayer, Warren Frost, (more)
- 1992
In this feature-length episode of the long-running television show, America's canniest Southern lawyer (Andy Griffith) and his faithful assistant and daughter Leanne (Brynn Thayer) discover a disturbing link between Matlock's dead father and a four-decade-old unsolved murder. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brynn Thayer, Clarence Gilyard, Jr., (more)
- 1992
In a 1991 episode of Jake and the Fatman, Dick Van Dyke guest-starred as Dr. Mark Sloan, who couldn't seem to keep his nose out of a murder investigation. Diagnosis of Murder is the two-hour TV-movie spin-off of that episode. This time, Dr. Sloan tags along with his police-sergeant son (Barry Van Dyke, the real life son of you-know-who) on another homicide case. The victim is a powerful business magnate whose questionable ethics have given plenty of people plenty of motive for the killing. Somehow or other, Dick Van Dyke finds time between his hospital rounds and his clue-hunting to perform a brief soft shoe. Diagnosis of Murder was the pilot for a potential series, which was sold under the slightly truncated title Diagnosis Murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Van Dyke, Mariette Hartley, (more)
- 1992
If Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) could show up every so often in 2-hour TV movies, so too could good old Matlock (Andy Griffith). The Vacation finds the rustic attorney at a resort hotel, in the company of his pretty daughter Leanne (Brynn Thayer). Say, didja ever notice how, whenever someone like Matlock or Jessica Fletcher goes on vacation, someone in the vicinity always gets killed? This time it's the hotel manager, a man with several skeletons in an abundance of closets. The Vacation first aired November 5, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In this episode of the popular courtroom drama, Matlock's objectivity is temporarily displaced by his apparent attraction to a seductive widow. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nancy Stafford, Brynn Thayer, (more)
- 1990
For the first time in Murder She Wrote history, a murderer whom Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) had turned over to the police in a previous episode makes a comeback appearance. The man in question is Jessica's first publisher (and erstwhile sweetheart!) Preston Giles (Arthur Hill), who had been exposed as the killer in the series' very first episode. Released on parole, Preston goes back to work at a high-level corporation. Although Jessica had hoped to avoid a reunion with Giles, she is unable to do so when he is accused of murdering his company's duplicitous financial controller. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
In this drama, a father has an affair with his son's girlfriend and finds it difficult to regain the love of his estranged family. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
A drifter becomes both a bank robber and a hero in this crime thriller. Andrew McCarthy stars as Wade Corey, who hitches a ride on a freight train already occupied by Doyle Kennedy (Matt Dillon), a charming ex-con who convinces Wade to accompany him to his hometown. Once there, Wade realizes too late that Doyle is intent on robbing the local bank. After they are separated following the crime, Wade hides the money. Happening upon a drowning in progress, he saves a young girl who just happens to be the daughter of the state governor, and he becomes an unlikely hero. Finding work at a nearby farm, the meandering Wade becomes a hired hand, falls for the beautiful daughter (Leslie Hope) of his boss, and dreads the return of Doyle, who is sure to come looking for his money. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matt Dillon, Andrew McCarthy, (more)
O'Brien (Chuck Norris) is a detective who captured the psychotic maniac Simon Moon (Jack O'Halloran), aka the Terror, by mistake. When the obese 6' 6'' villain fell from a ladder trying to escape, he was knocked cold and the lucky O'Brien got the credit for his collar. With his psychiatrist sweetheart Kay (Brynn Thayer), pregnant with their first child, the Terror escapes. Although he is large and unforgettable, the terrible Titan manages to evade the police, and no one even notices him when he carts cadavers on his massive shoulders. This routine actioner provides a view of several historic sights in Santa Monica, California. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chuck Norris, Brynn Thayer, (more)
A tracking gunman is joined by his collegian son in an effort to catch a homicidal religious freak in this made-for-cable western. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Consumed by grief when his father is felled by a heart attack, 11-year-old Obie (Ricky Busker) runs away from his white, upper-class surroundings. He ends up in a particularly dismal Chicago ghetto neighborhood where, after enduring a beating administered by gang members, he is befriended by streetwise black youth Jeremy "Scam" Henderson (Darius McCrary). The two become partners in crime, leading to a deadly situation involving a pair of professional hit men. Just when it seems things can't get any worse, they do. Robert Prosky co-stars as a slimy pawnbroker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ricky Busker, Darius McCrary, (more)
Tumultuous Beirut provides the setting for this political drama that centers on a world-weary, lazy American reporter who has been reluctantly assigned to cover the latest war between the PLO and the Christian Phalangists. He could care less about the conflict and sends in stories stolen from other hard-working journalists until he begins getting more involved and interested after he humiliates himself by interviewing a bogus PLO leader. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Walken, Hywel Bennett, (more)
- 1987
Ghost of a Chance is a failed TV pilot starring Redd Foxx and Dick Van Dyke. Foxx is a piano player accidentally killed by hard-hearted narcotics officer Dick Van Dyke. Since he's died before his scheduled time, Foxx is sent back to earth, where he helps Van Dyke track down genuine criminals. Naturally, Foxx is endowed with supernatural abilities, including a penchant for disguise. Ironically, Dick Van Dyke's son Barry had starred in another unsold pilot in 1981, also titled Ghost of a Chance and also dealing with a misplaced spirit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
It's a slow night at the local single's bar, so three guys end up sitting around sharing their widely-differing viewpoints on finding romance. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1986
This opening episode of Moonlighting's third season upholds the series' unique juxtaposition of fact and fancy by carrying a "dedication" to a person who doesn't really exist! Wisecracking private eye David Addison (Bruce Willis) is uncharacteristically at a loss for words when his recently widowed father David Sr. (Paul Sorvino) announces that he is to marry again. But David has plenty to see when he learns the identity of his dad's future bride. In addition, a few unsubtle references are made to the many Emmy nominations received by Moonlighting during its second season; and by the way, what's the story about that sombrero and serape? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Charles Hallahan makes his series bow as Hunter's new superior officer Captain Devane, whose first official act is to separate Hunter (Fred Dryer) and his partner McCall (Stepfanie Kramer). Thinking that the split was Hunter's idea, McCall vents her spleen on her feckless new partner, rookie Reilly Causland (Robert Firth). Meanwhile, Hunter is teamed with hard-nosed Harry Traynor (Tim Thomerson)--who, as it turns out, may have been responsible for the murder of his ex-partner, who'd called Hunter to impart some valuable information just before his death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
