Joseph Bottoms Movies
Following community theater experiences, Joseph Bottoms began accumulating TV-movie credits. His first theatrical-feature role was Robin Lee Graham, the seafaring protagonist of The Dove (1974). He went on to play Jewish resistance fighter Rudi Weiss in the 1978 TV miniseries Holocaust and Kirk Cranston on the NBC daytime drama Santa Barbara. The "middle" brother in the Bottoms family, actor Joseph Bottoms was born three years after Timothy Bottoms and one year before Sam Bottoms. In the company of his brother Timothy, Joseph Bottoms made his Broadway debut in 1981's The 5th of July; and with both Timothy and Sam Bottoms, Joseph co-starred in the abortive TV pilot Island Sons (1987). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 1998
This TV drama series, produced and scripted by Irwin Winkler and Rob Cowan, is adapted from their feature film, The Net (1995), a thriller with Sandra Bullock as reclusive Venice, California computer expert Angela Bennett, whose life is threatened. Brooke Langton (Melrose Place) portrays Angela Bennett in this new interpretation. During the debut TV series episode, Angela is puzzled by a cryptic computer message on her screen and goes out jogging. On her return, she discovers her bank account closed, her credit cards canceled, and her identity wiped and switched. Files show that she has been given the name Elizabeth, and state secrets are now stored on her hard disk -- which explains why the feds capture her at gunpoint. A stranger, Trelawney (Joseph Bottoms), engineers her release, but his true program is a kill file. After navigating to the info he wants, he intends to delete Angela right out of existence. Her only hope is Sorcerer (voice of Tim Curry), a helpful but anonymous voice from cyberspace. Filmed in Vancouver, B.C., the series premiered July 19, 1998 on the USA Network. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brooke Langton, Joseph Bottoms, (more)
This unusual comedy-drama, set in an experimental psychiatric institute, is a departure for genre director Philippe Mora, whose usual oeuvre is science fiction, horror, and low-budget action films. Rene Auberjonois stars as Dr. Sam Cohen, director of the Temporal Displacement Foundation. Cohen's highly-offbeat but well-funded mission is to treat psychotic patients whose particular dysfunction is the belief that they are famous historical figures, with the chief therapy being psychodrama, the reenactment of passages from that figure's life. Although he has some patients who believe themselves to be artists or religious icons (Mick Fleetwood as Pablo Picasso and Jesse Grey Walken as Jesus Christ), Cohen's star patient (Angus MacFadyen) believes himself to be Adolf Hitler. The clever, mentally ill genius has inexorably drawn several fellow patients into his delusion, including Tessa (T.C. Warner), who now believes herself to be Eva Braun. Enacting the part of Hitler's father, Cohen hopes for a breakthrough with the group. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- 1992
A rich woman's new husband vanishes soon after they board a cruiseboat on their honeymoon--at least that is what she claims. This made-for-television movie is based on John Dickson Carr's radio play, Cabin B-13. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- 1990
Hollywood actress Heather Thomas was center of attention in the Australian miniseries Flair. Thomas was cast as New York-based fashion designer Tessa Clarke, who in the course of events returned to her native Australia to make her mark in that country's dressmaking industry. Created by Paul Davies and Gayle Hopgood, the two-part, four-hour drama boasted an impressive Austral-American supporting cast, including Joseph Bottoms, Rowena Wallace, and Charles "Bud" Tingwell. Flair originally aired over the Seven Nework on August 1 and 8, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1988
Cop Killers was one of five Police Story specials, telecast in the fall of 1988. These "new" 2-hour specials were actually rewrites of scripts from the original Police Story series of 1973-80; there was an industry strike going on in '88, and networks needed material in a hurry. Ken Olin stars in Cop Killers as a police officer who feels unworthy of his medal of valor. He acted "correctly" during a shootout, but his partner was killed in the crossfire. Olin's guilt gradually begins to take a toll on his marriage to Patricia Wettig (the real-life Mrs. Ken Olin). Police Story: Cop Killers was first telecast October 29, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1987
The made-for-TV Island Sons stars real-life brothers Timothy, Joseph, Samuel and Benjamin Bottoms as fictional brothers named Tim, Joe, Sam and Ben (too bad there wasn't any Zeppo Bottoms). When their mogul father disappears in Hawaii in the aftermath of a scandal, the four brothers bury their own differences and head to the Islands. There they operate all of dad's neat stuff (his yacht, his limo, his hotel), while assistant DA Sam investigates the death in prison of his father's head bookkeeper. The boys get to the bottom of the scandal that ruined their father, and find more than they ever imagined. They don't, however, find enough to encourage a network and a sponsor to pick up Island Sons as a weekly TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1987
In this romance, a popular writer locks horns and then falls in love with a powerful executive. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1985
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) heads to a fashionable desert resort for a reunion with her college roommate Peggy (Piper Laurie). Unfortunately, the happiness of the occasion is compromised by the presence of Peggy's ex-husband, nasty showbiz star Johnny Shannon (Ed Ames. In fact, Johnny has made so many enemies that he has equipped his desert home with a wide variety of state-of-the-art security devices, just in case someone should want to murder him. Of course, someone does...and that someone is able to bypass the "infallible" security system with the greatest of ease. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
This TV pilot film stars Carl Weathers as Harry Braker, an ex-Marine who is his city's only African American police lieutenant. Tough but tender, Braker bends the rules to help the helpless. Braker's team of co-workers is the usual cop-show manifest: The gonzo (Randall "Tex" Cobb), the green newcomer (Joseph Bottoms) and the drop-dead gorgeous babe (Ann Schedeen). Their assignment this time out is to find the killer of a prominent producer and director, both of whom were engaged in the manufacture of porno films. Braker was telecast back to back on April 28, 1985 with another busted pilot, Brothers in Law. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
In this action-drama, a crack team of transport specialists try to stop terrorists from hijacking an armored van filled with plutonium. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Morgan Fairchild, Billy Dee Williams, (more)
- 1982
Based on the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, this modern adaptation follows the trials of a woman who trades her soul for eternal youthful beauty. However, as the woman's appearance does not change, her video screen test ages and decays. This film was made for television ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- 1982
This sweet family biopic chronicles the rise of the Osmond family singers and the struggles of their parents, George and Olive, to raise eight talented children. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1981
This made-for-TV Alien clone is set entirely on an offshore oil platform, whose drilling crew inadvertently penetrates a pocket of dormant prehistoric eggs -- as well as the nest's very active, toothy guardian. The slithering little beastie takes up hiding aboard the rig and puts the bite on several crew members, who become infected with a malevolent virus. One such carrier rapes a female driller, who soon gives birth to a bipedal reptile-man (bearing a more than passing resemblance to H.R. Giger's Alien designs). Excellent production values and some effective shocks manage to disguise the film's overall lack of originality, and the Jim Cummins creature designs are fairly sophisticated for man-in-suit monsters. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- 1979
Having devoted countless hours to the local Help Center, Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) would seem to be a shoe-in for the Volunteer of the Year award. Louise's husband George agrees that she should be the hands-down winner. In fact, he is determined to "make it happen" by bribing the judges with exorbitant charity (and other) donations. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
The now-legendary miniseries Holocaust first aired as a presentation in NBC's Big Event series. Written by Gerald Green, the story begins in the Germany of 1935. We are introduced to the family of Jewish doctor Joseph Weiss (Fritz Weaver) his wife Berta (Rosemary Harris), his brother Moses (Sam Wanamaker), his sons Rudi (Joseph Bottoms) and Karl (James Woods), and his daughter Anna (Blanche Baker). We also meet struggling lawyer Erik Dorf (Michael Moriarity), who is urged by his ambitious wife to join the SS. As the Nazis' persecution of the Jews is stepped up, most of the Weiss family is deported to the Polish ghetto--then to Auschwitz, which is overseen by Erik Dorf. Rudi and his Jewish girlfriend Helena (Tovah Feldsuh) witness the 1941 Baba Yar massacre, then join the Russian partisans in their battle against the Nazis. Also appearing in Holocaust is Meryl Streep as Karl Weiss' Christian wife Inga. The winner of eight Emmy awards, Holocaust was originally telecast in four parts on April 16, 17, 18, and 19, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Fritz Weaver, Rosemary Harris, (more)
- 1978
A spinster college teacher falls in love with one of her students. ~ Rovi
- 1977
In this Australian action comedy, Texas and Alby (Joseph Bottoms and Grigor Taylor) mostly work as roustabouts at carnivals, but they are bored with the kind of work they do and take to the road together, looking for some fun and adventure. They are picked up in a beautiful green Corvette owned by a well-heeled man named Arnold (John Clayton). When Arnold starts putting the romantic moves on Alby, he and his buddy beat the driver up and steal his wallet and car. Once underway, they discover that the Corvette is full of drugs, and the wallet is full of money. They pick up Lynn (Judy Davis) a lovely and idealistic female hitchhiker, who brings out Tex's protective instincts. The duo's gift at seeking out trouble continues to provide them with adventures throughout the film. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joseph Bottoms, Greg Taylor, (more)
- 1976
An Americanized version of Truffaut's The Wild Child, this drama centers on the attempts of a behavioral psychologist to educate a boy, raised in the wilds by dogs, and teach him how to function in society. This film spawned a brief television series, Lucan. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1974
Joseph Bottoms plays a 17-year-old high school boy who gets his girl friend Kay Lenz pregnant. The girl wants to put the baby up for adoption, but Bottoms decides to take on the parental responsibilities himself. He battles in court to gain custody of the child, even after being apprised of the heavy financial and personal burdens he's about to assume. Made for TV, Unwed Father has a good concept defeated by poor execution. One wonders whether the boy or the girl would have been the "good guy" had this film been made ten years later. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1972
The "trouble" that comes to a small southern town is (ostensibly) Thomas Evans, an African American youth from the north. Town sheriff Lloyd Bridges, whose life was saved in Korea by Evans' father, invites the boy to live with his family. Racial tensions run high, but temporarily remain under control. All this changes when a rash of auto thefts hits Bridges' town. The belief that Evans is responsible polarizes the community and nearly triggers an all-out race war. Trouble Comes to Town deftly sidesteps the cliches that usually attend issue-oriented TV movies, wrapping the story up with a logical and well-crafted climax. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
When retired lawman Matt Dillon takes off hunting for some stolen cattle, he and his daughter discover a vigilante gang and get involved in one of the bloodiest and most deadly feuds in the history of the West. Gunsmoke fans will not be disappointed by this James Arness outing. ~ Tana Hobart, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Arness, Pat Hingle, (more)
- 1992
- R
In Ron Oliver's erotic psychodrama, Shannon Tweed stars as a mother whose teen-age son is traumatized by her new husband and her husband's freeloading brother. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
- 1991
- R
An invalid suspects that her husband and her sultry new nurse are plotting to do away with her. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
- 1988
- R
This cliché-ridden car-racing feature doesn't even get off the blocks. The unshaven villains have greasy hair and black T-shirts, while the clean-shaven good guys are blonde and sport light-colored action wear. Andrea (Marla Heasley) invents a revolutionary new car engine and goes to the Charlotte Motor Speedway to try it out. She meets driver Al Pagura (Joseph Bottoms), and the two fall in and out of love. George Kennedy plays the heavy, and somewhere an underdeveloped plot about racetrack corruption appears. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joseph Bottoms, Marc Singer, (more)
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