Robert Vaughn Movies
To hear him tell it, Robert Vaughn has spent most of his acting career getting very well paid for being artistically frustrated. Born in Manhattan and raised in Minnesota, Vaughn went straight from college drama classes to his first film, the juvenile delinquent opus No Time to Be Young (1957). Ever on the search for "meaningful" roles, Vaughn signed to play a survivor of a nuclear apocalypse in what he assumed would be a serious, politically potent drama: the film was released as Teenage Caveman (1957). Though Oscar-nominated for his performance as a crippled, alcoholic war veteran in The Young Philadelphians (1959), Vaughn didn't rise to full stardom until 1964, where he was signed to play ultra-cool secret agent Napoleon Solo in the TV espionage series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (1964-1968). He swore at that time that he'd never, ever subject himself to the rigors of another television series, but in 1972 he was back to the weekly grind in the British series The Protectors. In films, Vaughn has been most effective as an icy, corporate heavy, notably in Bullitt (1968) and Superman III (1982). On-stage, Vaughn has exhibited a special fondness for Shakespeare (Hamlet in particular); he was given an excellent opportunity to recite the Bard's prose on film when he played Casca in Julius Caesar (1970). A dyed-in-the-wool liberal activist, Vaughn worked on his Masters and Ph.D. in political science at L.A. City College during his U.N.C.L.E. years; his doctoral thesis was later expanded into the 1972 history of the HUAC, Only Victims. Robert Vaughn has been the host of many a late-night infomercial -- no doubt expressing frustration all the way to the payroll office. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The Warrior Class concerns a lawyer who falls in love with the wife of a powerful mobster. He must figure out how to play everyone against each other in order to get away with the girl and his life. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anson Mount, Erica Leerhsen, (more)
Frank (Adam Trese of Laws of Gravity) is in trouble. His dot-com start-up collapses before it goes online, essentially bankrupting him and his partner, Josh (Andrew McCarthy). Frank is forced to leave his fancy Manhattan apartment and move back in with his parents (Robert Vaughn and Hayley Mills), and he can't even bring himself to tell them he's failed. His kooky friend Sal (John Turturro) warns Frank that his priorities are wrong, and sends him to Gina (Aida Turturro), a cheerful psychic. Then Frank comes up with a new idea tailor-made for the dot-com bust, but the first potential investor he meets with, Abrams (Mark Margolis), seems more interested in Frank's diet than his idea, and the second guy (Michael Badalucco) he meets with threatens to steal the idea, causing Frank to collapse in a sweaty panic. Then Abrams calls again. While Frank's project is too small for him to handle, he knows a couple of guys. Soon Frank and Josh are working again, with a new office and a new CFO, Peter (Bruce MacVittie). Things are going swimmingly, until Frank takes a closer look at the books, and begins to suspect that his investors are using the company to launder money. 2BPerfectlyHonest marks the feature debut of writer/director Randel Cole. The movie had its world premiere at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Trese, Andrew McCarthy, (more)
Erik Estrada stars in this straight-to-video sci-fi-action flick featuring the former CHiPs man as a blind psychic cop investigating the killing of a highly ranked government scientist. L.A.P.D. detective Frank Moreno (Estrada) is a top cop that gets a little too close to a murder investigation which lands him in a hospital bed after being horribly electrocuted. Waking up, Frank realizes his sight is gone, but in its place are extraordinary ESP powers. Sightless, the detective reopens the case and is soon on the run from a national security agent (Robert Vaughn) and his team of corrupt government agents who hope to un-coif his hair and silence his psychic powers before their plan is destroyed. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Erik Estrada, Robert Vaughn, (more)
An alcoholic must choose between love, life, and the bottle in this independent comedy drama. Tulley (Anthony LaPaglia) is a self-described "drinker with a writing problem," who after publishing a handful of well-respected short stories, began work on a novel. The novel, however, turned out to be a harder task than Tulley imagined, and he opted to take a job as an advertising copywriter, where he earns a good living but makes scant use of his talent. Tulley has also fallen into a habit of heavy drinking, as his best friend, Levine (Eric Stoltz), looks on with bemused concern. One night at a bar, Tulley meets Natalie (Caroleen Feeney), a teacher who doesn't much care for children, and what starts as a one-night stand turns into a love affair. As Natalie gets to know Tulley better, she discovers the talent lurking behind his alcoholic defenses, and encourages him to devote himself to literature again. However, as they fall deeper in love, Tulley discovers he has a larger problem than his novel to deal with -- he's been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, and won't have long to live if he can't change his ways. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony LaPaglia, Eric Stoltz, (more)
- 2000
James Dalthorp directs the direct-to-video action film Lethal Force (also known as Cottonmouth and Silent Justice). Richard Tyson plays vigilante Texas cop Thomas Carruth, who strikes out on his own after his partner is killed. Lethal Force stars Robert Vaughn as State Judge Mancini and Michelle Stafford as District Attorney Rene. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Tyson, Willie Gault, (more)
- 1998
The investigation following the stabbing of a female police officer could result in either the re-election or defeat of D.A. Adam Schiff (Steven Hill). Meanwhile, Briscoe's (Jerry Orbach) troubled daughter Cathy (Jennifer Bill) is arrested for drug dealing, and his partner Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) is wounded in the line of duty. Robert Vaughn and Charles Grodin make return appearances as, respectively, vindictive millionaire Carl Anderton and politically ambitious judge Gary Feldman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
While investigating the rape of a ten-year-old girl, a grieving detective Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) is afforded the opportunity to avenge the death of his own daughter Cathy. Meanwhile, Assistant D.A. McCoy (Sam Waterston) faces a disciplinary committee to explain the questionable courtroom tactics used in the earlier episode "Under the Influence"; McCoy's assistant Ross (Carey Lowell) may either lose her job or leave it voluntarily; and McCoy and Ross' boss Adam Schiff (Steven Hill) faces stiff opposition (most of it fomented by a couple of longtime enemies) during his re-election campaign. Though the central rape case is resolved, the fates of several series regulars are left hanging in this eighth season finale episode of Law & Order. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
A young girl from a wealthy family is killed in a suspicious fire. Confronted with an incriminating answering-machine message, the teenaged stepbrother of the victim confesses. Things take an even more sinister turn when D.A. Schiff (Steven Hill) tangles with the wealthy and well-connected grandfather of the accused. Robert Vaughn makes his first Law & Order appearance as powerful, paranoiac millionaire Carl Anderton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
A romantic comedy with a few surreal/absurdist twists, the story centers on recent medical school drop-out David who is first seen aimlessly traipsing about Manhattan musing about the rest of his life when he runs into a strange woman who introduces herself as Nancy and asks if he would interested in spending the next couple of years helping her to produce and direct a small film. Another strange woman then appears and makes an equally odd request as does another and another. David chooses to work with Nancy and so goes to her place to begin writing the script. Suddenly, her strange Uncle Andre shows up in a panic. It seems he somehow acquired an enormous herd of cattle and must quickly get rid of them. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
This made-for-television remake of Disney's popular feature tells the tale of two orphan twins with special powers who go looking for their origins. The two are hindered by an avaricious tycoon who only wants to exploit their abilities. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Erik Von Detten, Elisabeth Moss, (more)
Victoria Principal stars as a woman twice-victimized in this made-for-TV drama. Principal stars as Anna Forbes, a married woman who is raped by her father-in-law. Traumatized, Anna keeps this secret to herself until she summons the courage to reveal the truth to her family. Instead of sympathy or understanding, she encounters vehement denial from her husband and family who refuse to believe the accusation. Her troubles only worsen when her husband decides to commit her to a psychiatric ward for treatment, where she not only must fight for justice, but also for her freedom. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victoria Principal, Nicholas Campbell, (more)
- 1994
When a power struggle between a greedy Texas mayor and a sympathetic lawyer threatens to render a band of desperate orphans homeless, a notorious gunslinger is called in to resolve the matter in this Western starring Robert Vaughn and Willie Nelson. As a powerful railroad company sets its sights on the small community of Brambles, the pressure on Mayor Sampson Moses (Robert Vaughn) to acquire the prosperous land of orphan Billy (Shaw Jones) threatens to bring the situation to a head. Though lawyer Neil Morris (Nelson) does his best to negotiate a peaceful solution to the stand-off, the desperate mayor soon calls in a fearsome gunslinger to rid Brambles of its stubborn residents and clear the path for western expansion by deadly force. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Vaughn
- 1992
President Abraham Lincoln leads the Union in the fight to end the awful bloodshed of the Civil War. The year is 1863. The president had a continuous struggle with the commanders of his army, and the bloodshed from the fighting at Antietam and Fredericksburg distressed him greatly. 1863 was the year of his Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address. Listen to the story of the events that led to the amazing address at Gettysburg. Actor Jason Robards brings to life the voice of President Lincoln. PBS originally aired this program, the second of a four-volume set narrated by actor James Earl Jones. ~ Linda J. Shriver, All Movie Guide
- 1992
A shrewd politician, Abraham Lincoln had the intelligence, ambition, and principles to grow into his job as president. This is the first of four videos in the Lincoln series, which originally aired on PBS. Produced and directed by Peter W. Kunhardt, this program is narrated by renowned actor James Earl Jones, and features award-winning actor Jason Robards reading from letters, speeches, and diaries. Highlights include period photographs. The other three programs in the series are titled Lincoln: The Pivotal Year, 1863, Lincoln: I Want to Finish This Job, 1864, and Lincoln: Now He Belongs to the Ages, 1865. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1992
This video is the fourth installment of the Lincoln series, originally aired on PBS. This volume focuses on the last days and hours of Abraham Lincoln's life. Viewers watch as Lincoln's enemies plot their final revenge on the man they believed had dishonored their heritage. The video also reveals how Lincoln's own dreams foreshadowed his murder and how the series of public funerals, following his death, helped fuel his legendary status that has only grown with time. ~ Karla Baker, All Movie Guide
- 1992
By the third year of the Civil War, personal and national tragedy had worn down President Lincoln. However, he focused on his job tenaciously, having a strong sense of history. This is the third of four programs in the Lincoln series, which originally aired on PBS. Produced and directed by Peter W. Kunhardt, this program is narrated by renowned actor James Earl Jones and features award-winning actor Jason Robards reading from letters, speeches, and diaries. Highlights include period photographs. The other three programs in the series are titled Lincoln: The Making of a President, 1860-1862, Lincoln: The Pivotal Year, 1863, and Lincoln: Now He Belongs to the Ages, 1865. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1992
The community players of Cabot Cove have chosen to stage a play about a 17th century witch who had placed a curse on the town just before her execution. Cast in the lead role is Mariah Osborne (Mary Crosby), a newcomer to the town. Before long, strange things begin happening, convincing the townsfolk that Mariah is not merely acting, but is in truth the reincarnation of the notorious witch. Assisting Jessica (Angela Lansbury) in her investigation of the inevitable murder is the town's new deputy Dave Anderson, played by Louis Herthum--who in his previous series appearance was known as "Deputy Andy Bloom." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In this drama, a highly moral judge becomes a secret avenger in the war against crime after his face is disfigured during an assassination attempt. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason listens to the pleas of a 13-year-old girl and helps her father who was falsely accused of murdering a gambler. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
