Tom Wopat Movies
To Gen-X'ers, particularly those who grew up hooked on prime-time television, Tom Wopat will be forever inseparable from his role as Luke Duke, the more intelligent and responsible of two cousins who spent their days charging around the rural South in a souped-up Dodge Charger and evading the wiles of corrupt politician Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke), on the comedy-adventure series The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985). Born on a dairy farm in Lodi, WI, Wopat attended the University of Wisconsin as a young man, where he displayed strong musical ambition as a trombone player and a singer. Wopat spent his post-collegiate years touring in musical theater productions before being tapped for the Duke role in 1979.The CBS series, of course, took off like a rocket and netted a huge fan base (particularly among preteen boys). By 1982, however, it ran into a snag. Wopat and co-star John Schneider (who played Bo Duke) took issue with Warner Brothers Television over their salaries and shares of Hazzard merchandising revenues; the production company in fact snubbed their demands by bringing in two substitute actors for a single season, only to discover that the ploy didn't work. Wopat and Schneider thus returned in 1983 and stuck with the series for two more seasons, until it wrapped in August 1985.
In the mean time, Wopat parlayed his Hazzard recognition into a recording career as a country singer. An eponymous debut album appeared in 1983 to generally favorable reviews, followed by a sophomore effort, the Capitol release Don't Look Back, in 1990, and a third effort, the Epic release Learning to Love, in 1992. The performer continued to cut his acting chops as well from time to time, signing for roles in such little-seen features as Contagious (1997) and Meteorites! (1998). He scored one of his more prominent post-Hazzard roles in a supporting turn opposite leads Kathy Bates, Jessica Lange, and Joan Allen in the female buddy comedy Bonneville (2006). Wopat also portrayed Jeff Robbins, ex-husband of actress Cybill Sheridan (Cybill Shepherd) in the first season of the CBS sitcom Cybill (1995-1998), and remained extremely active in various musical theater productions. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
A former slave and a German bounty hunter become unlikely allies in the battle against a tyrannical plantation owner in this western from visionary director Quentin Tarantino. Two years before the Civil War pits brother-against-brother, German-born fugitive hunter Dr. King Schultz (Academy Award-winner Christoph Waltz) arrives in America determined to capture the outlaw Brittle brothers dead or alive. In the midst of his search, Dr. Schultz crosses paths with Django (Academy Award-winner Jamie Foxx), a freed slave and skilled tracker who seeks to rescue his beloved wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) from ruthless plantation owner Calvin Candie (Academy Award-nominee Leonardo DiCaprio). Once Django has aided Dr. Schultz in coralling the Brittle brothers, the two team up to capture some of the most wanted men in the South. Meanwhile, Django never loses sight of his mission to free Broomhilda from the treacherous slave trade before it's too late. Upon arriving at Candie's nefarious plantation, dubbed Candyland, Django and Dr. Schultz discover that slaves are being groomed for gladiator-like competitions by Candie's malevolent right-hand man Billy Crash (Walton Goggins), and together they skillfully work their way onto the compound for a closer look. But just as Django and his partner locate Broomhilda and plot a daring escape, Candie's house slave Stephen (Academy Award-nominee Samuel L. Jackson) catches wind of their plan, and informs his master of the betrayal. Now, as a clandestine organization attempts to back them into a corner, Django and Dr. Schultz will have to come out with pistols blazing if they ever hope to free Broomhilda from Candyland and the clutches of its vile proprietor. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, (more)
1970s-era DC antihero Jonah Hex makes his way to the big screen as co-screenwriters Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank, Gamer) team to follow the disfigured gunslinger and part-time bounty hunter on his biggest adventure yet. Supernatural elements combine with Western aesthetics to take viewers on a wild and bloody ride, with Josh Brolin leading the way as Hex and John Malkovich stepping into the villainous role of Turnbull. Jimmy Hayward (Horton Hears a Who) directs. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, (more)
Colin Firth and Patricia Clarkson headline this ensemble drama from Academy Award-winning screenwriter Horton Foote (To Kill a Mockingbird, Tender Mercies) concerning a small North Carolina community that is transformed by a most unusual visitor. When their town falls on hard times, the close-knit locals strive to get back on their feet to no avail. Things begin looking up, however, when a mysterious stranger makes a controversial proposal designed to put the town back on the map. Now it's up to the members of the community to make the personal changes that will transform the town from the inside out. Orlando Bloom, Amber Tamblyn, and Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ellen Burstyn, Colin Firth, (more)
A young scientist and his resourceful band of entomologists feel the fury of Mother Nature firsthand after being summoned to the jungles of Brazil to defeat an army of ants and realizing that these particular insects possess unusual strength and intelligence. The Brazilian jungle is teeming with ravenous predators, none of which are nearly as dangerous as the 200 million flesh-eating ants that are currently devouring anything unfortunate enough to stand in their path. As the fight for the rainforest begins, the army begins to reproduce faster than every before, and as their numbers multiply their appetite for human flesh only grows. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Inspired by the true story of the United States Marine who volunteered to escort the remains of a nineteen year old soldier who was killed in Iraq to his small hometown in remote Wyoming, Taking Chance stars Kevin Bacon in the feature directorial debut of Oscar-nominated producer Ross Katz. Lance Corporal Chance Phelps (USMC) was just nineteen years old when he was killed during active duty. Now, as Lance Corporal Phelps is prepared for his final journey back home, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl (USMC) (Bacon) makes it his personal mission to ensure that his fallen brother is laid to rest with the proper respect. As the journey begins, Lieutenant Colonel Strobl gains a greater appreciation of the sacrifices made in war than ever before. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kevin Bacon, Paige Turco, (more)
- 2007
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As seen on television, the marathon release History of Wisconsin Football traces the many career vicissitudes over the century-plus history of the Wisconsin Badgers football team. Via interview reminiscences and carefully-selected archival footage, the program traces such highlights as: the Heisman victory of Ron Dayne and Alan Ameche; Barry Alvarez's two Rose Bowl teams; the ascent to glory of Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch; and many others - making this an essential item for all Wisconsin Badgers fans. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Wopat, Barry Alvarez, (more)
A woman looking to fulfill her late husband's final wish sets out on a transformative cross-country road trip in director Christopher N. Rowley's warmhearted tale of friendship, self-discovery, and the memories that make life worth living even after the ones we love have gone. Arvilla (Jessica Lange)'s husband Joe has recently died during a trip to Borneo, and his ashes have just arrived at her home in Pocatello, ID. Though Joe had previously specified in his will that he would like his ashes scattered by his beloved wife, the well-intending Arvilla soon becomes locked in a heated battle of wills with Francine (Christine Baranski) -- Joe's well-to-do daughter from a previous marriage. Francine is determined to see her father laid to rest next to her mother in Santa Barbara, and she's threatened to sell the house that her father and Arvilla have lived in since marrying to ensure that she gets her way. Now Arvilla has lost Joe's will, leaving no way to confirm either what he wanted done with his remains or what Arvilla is to receive upon her husband's death. Defeated, Arvilla sets her sights on Santa Barbara to surrender the ashes to Francine and attempt to come to terms with the loss of her husband. When Arvilla's sassy best-friend Margene (Kathy Bates) and uptight pal Carol (Joan Allen) agree to join their recently-widowed friend on her journey and offer some much-needed moral support, the trio soon sets out in Arvilla's vintage '66 Pontiac Bonneville for a journey of a lifetime. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, (more)
- 2000
The second of the Dukes of Hazzard "reunion" films (the first was broadcast in 1997), this one features five regulars from the original series: John Schneider and Tom Wopat as fast-driving Luke and Bo Duke, Catherine Bach as their leggy cousin Daisy Duke, and James Best as inept lawmen Rosco P. Coltrane and Enos Strate. Hoping to raise money for a new Hazzard County hospital, the Duke boys pile into the General Lee and head for Hollywood, there to sell recordings of their singing efforts. Upon arrival in Tinseltown, Luke and Bo are robbed of both the records and the money earned from a contract. In their efforts to retrieve the stolen booty, the superannuated heroes run afoul of a cartel of Russian gangsters and international loan sharks -- and of course, are continually flummoxed by Cletus Hogg (Rick Hurst), the son of their late and unlamented nemesis Boss Hogg. Amazingly, the film contains no car chases and only one brief fistfight; evidently the producers felt that the singing of stars John Schneider and Tom Wopat was attraction enough. The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood premiered May 19, 2000 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Wopat, John Schneider, (more)
- 1998
A shower of meteorites threatens to decimate an entire town until an explosives expert shows up to save the day. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Wopat, Roxanne Hart, (more)
- 1997
The country is thrown into a panic when passengers aboard a routine flight from South American are discovered to have been exposed to cholera during the flight. Following the autopsy of the dread disease's first victim, officials launch a desperate all-out search for the remaining passengers and crew. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lindsay Wagner, Tom Wopat, (more)
- 1996
This episode takes place in Osaka, Japan, where a wealthy motor-company executive has promised his daughter in marriage to the son of a business associate. An American race-car driver (Rick Walsh) dares to defy tradition by romancing the girl himself--and when the girl's husand-to-be is killed, the driver not only faces murder charges, but also the likelihood of his own murder. Having arrived in Osaka to deliver a computer disk to the luckless driver, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) ends up playing detective for the 252nd time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1987
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The Duke boys (John Schneider, Tom Wopat) return to play different characters: arguing brothers who are forced to take a shipment of toys to a remote Alaskan town. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Schneider, Tom Wopat, (more)
- 1985
Boss Hogg's Uncle Silas dies, leaving Boss (Sorrell Booke) $100,000 in his will--on condition that the money is donated to charity. The Duke boys don't trust Boss to do The Right Thing, and for good reason: even before Silas' body is cold, he is conspiring with a crooked attorney to declare the will invalid so that he can claim all the money for himself. Thus, the Dukes rig up an elaborate charade to convince Boss that Uncle Silas is haunting him! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
Poor Deputy Enos (Sonny Shroyer) is framed for a bank robbery--and he may be convicted on the eyewitness testimony of Daisy Duke (Catherine Bach)! Actually, Daisy isn't certain what she has seen, but she IS certain that she doesn't want to be responsible for Enos' incarceration. Thus, she generously agrees to marry Enos, acting upon the knowledge that a wife cannot be forced to testify against her husband. Can Daisy's cousins Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) simultaneously clear Enos and save Daisy from ruining her life (or at least, messin' it up a mite)? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
- Add The Dukes of Hazzard: Season 07 to Queue Add The Dukes of Hazzard: Season 07 to top of Queue
The seventh and final season of Dukes of Hazzard finds the familiar cast back in harness, with the exception of Don Pedro Colley in the recurring role of Chickasaw County Sheriff Ed Little. Once again, hot-rodding cousins Luke and Bo Duke (Tom Wopat, John Schneider), aided and abetted by sexy cousin Daisy (Catherine Bach) and Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle), spend half their time zooming around in their hopped up vehicle "General Lee," and the other half foiling the crooked machinations of County Commissioner Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) and the less crooked but no less irksome interferences of Sheriff Coltrane (James Best) and Deputy Enos (Sonny Shroyer). Season Seven begins with a "flashback" episode, in which we learn for the first time how the Dukes came into possession of the General Lee. Subsequent installments feature guest-star turns by singer Waylon Jennings and pro racer Cale Yarborough, not to mention the usual run-ins with crooks, con artists and other assorted nemeses. The series finale, "Opening Night at the Boar's Nest, not only co-stars John Schneider but was also written and directed by him -- a first (and last) for Dukes of Hazzard, though series regulars Denver Pyle, Tom Wopat, Sorrell Booke, and James Best had all previously directed a few episodes here and there. ~ Rovi
When a rash of coal mine fires breaks out underground in Tennessee, the government sends a geologist to assist the small-town residents in preventing tragedy. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eddie Albert
- 1984
The seventh and final season of The Dukes of Hazzard goes "forward into the past", flashing back eight years to reveal how Duke cousins Bo (John Schneider) and Duke (Tom Wopat) came into possession of their precious souped-up Dodge Charger, the "General Lee". Rescuing a battered black vehicle from a junkyard, the boys fix up the car and paint it orange in order to enter a high-stakes race--and hopefully, save Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle) from being evicted by Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke). Unfortuantely for everyone concerned, the "General Lee" had a previous life as a getaway car for a particularly vicious gang of gold thieves! Country star Janie Fricke guests in this episode, which was directed by series regular Tom Wopat. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) produces a document which "proves" that the Duke farm was deeded to his great-grandfather Thaddeus Hogg by Jesse's great-grandfather Jeremiah Duke way back in 1862. Investigating this surprising turn of events, the Dukes refer to a diary left behind by their great-grandma Jenny Duke (Doris Dowling). All this intrigue is merely an excuse to present an extended "Western" flashback spoof, in which the Dukes of Hazzard regulars all show up in cowboy guise as their 19th-century forebears--and run up against the Jesse James gang (somewhat off their own turf) in the bargain! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
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Season six of Dukes of Hazzard finds hot-rodding cousins Luke and Bo Duke returning to Hazzard County for good and all, cueing the exit of another set of Duke cousins, Coy and Vance. This is because series stars Tom Wopat and John Schneider, who'd ankled the series during season five in the midst of a contract dispute, made their peace with the producers. Thus, it was back to business, with Luke, Bo, their sexy cousin Daisy (Catherine Bach), their farmer-moonshiner Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle) and, of course, their souped up Dodge Charger "General Lee," making life miserable for crooked county commissioner Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) and cloddish sheriff Roscoe Coltrane (James Best). As mentioned, Coy and Vance Duke (played during the previous season by Byron Cherry and Christopher Mayer) had left for parts unknown. Also absent from the sixth season's 22 episodes are Nedra Voltz as postmistress Miz Emma and Rick Hurst as Deputy Cletus. Making up for this gap in more ways than one is actress Peggy Rea in the off-and-on role of Boss Hogg's hefty wife, Lulu. ~ Rovi
- 1983
To avoid breaking their probation, Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) agree to coach the Boar's Nest Bears, a pee-wee basketball team owned by Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke). The Bear are pinning their hopes on their "secret weapon" Rod Moffat (Jason Lively), a farm boy with astonishing athletic skills, to win against a hitherto unbeaten team. Unfortuanately, the boy may not show up in time for the game, thanks to the obligatory crooked gamblers. This episode was directed by series regular Tom Wopat. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
Season Six of Dukes of Hazzard opens as the formidable Lulu Hogg (Peggy Rea) walks out on her husband Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) after an argument. Lulu then moves in with Boss' arch-rivals, the Dukes--who, alas, aren't around to prevent her being kidnapped and held for ransom by a trio of cloddish crooks. Suddenly realizing how much he loves his "Little Kumquat", Boss hopes against hope that Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) will be able to bring her back (whether she wants to come back or not!) This episode, capped by a wild chase through an amusement park, was directed by series regular Tom Wopat. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1982
- Add The Dukes of Hazzard: Season 05 to Queue Add The Dukes of Hazzard: Season 05 to top of Queue
There are many Dukes of Hazzard fans who would just as soon pretend that the series' fifth season never existed. Although perennial co-stars Catherine Bach, Denver Pyle, Sorrell Booke, and James Best are back, and Sonny Shroyer has returned in his familiar role as Deputy Enos Strate (after a brief sabbatical on his own TV series), conspicuous by their absences are leading men Tom Wopat and John Schneider) as hot-rodding cousins Luke and Bo Duke. The two actors had walked off the series over a monetary dispute, obliging the producers to replace them with two more branches from the Duke family tree: cousins Coy Duke (Byron Cherry) and Vance Duke (Christopher Mayer), who according to the scriptwriters had come back to Hazzard country after a six-year absence to help Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle run his farm while Luke and Bo were tooling around the NASCAR circuit. To put it as nicely as possible, diehard Dukes fans did not warm up to Coy and Vance. Fortunately, Tom Wopat and John Schneider patched up their difference with the producers and returned to the series in the middle of season five. The "other" two Dukes hung on until season's end, then disappeared so totally that they might as well have never been born. ~ Rovi
- 1981
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The Dukes of Hazzard spends most of its fourth season entertainingly covering ground already traveled during the series' previous three seasons. Cousins Luke and Bo Duke (Tom Wopat, John Schneider) continue burning up the byways of Hazzard County in "The General Lee," their souped-up Dodge Charger; Luke and Bo's attractive cousin Daisy (Catherine Bach) continues to provide eye candy in her form-fitting short shorts--and to pursue her own car-racing career; their Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle) persists in returning to the moonshining game, just to keep his hand in; and crooked country commissioner Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) never tires of cooking up new get-rich-quick schemes or devising ways to toss the Dukes into the pokey with the aid of non-villainous lawmen Roscoe Coltrane (James Best) and Deputy Cletus (Rick Hurst). Carryovers from season three include a brace of new semi-regulars, postmistress Miz Emma Tisdale (Nedra Voltz) and Chickasaw County Sheriff Little (Don Pedro Colley). Added to the cast lineup during season four are Lila Kent as Laverne and Charlie Dell as Emery Potter. Of the many guest stars appearing in the the 27 Dukes of Hazzard fourth-season episodes, special mention should be made of country & western impresario Mickey Gilley, adroitly cast as "himself" in the episode "The Sound of Music - Hazzard Style." ~ Rovi
- 1980
- Add The Dukes of Hazzard: Season 03 to Queue Add The Dukes of Hazzard: Season 03 to top of Queue
Season three of Dukes of Hazzard is substantially the same as season two, with cousins Luke and Bo Duke (Tom Wopat, John Schneider) manning their hopped up hot rod "The General Lee" in order to confound and confuse crooked county commissioner Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) and dumb-bumb sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane (James Best), and the boys' sexy cousin Daisy Duke (Catherine Bach) and moonshiner Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle) occasionally going along for the ride. The most significant third-season change was the promotion from recurring to regular character of Rick Hurst as Deputy Sheriff Cletus, all the better to fill the gap left when Sonny Shroyer, aka Deputy Enos Strate, left Dukes to star in his own TV series Enos -- the pilot of which found Daisy Duke in the clutches of kidnappers. This season opened with the two-part episode, "Carnival of Thrills," in which the machinations of carnival-owner Diane Benson (Robin Mattson) threatens to drive a wedge between Duke and Bo (the two parts were originally shown as a single "special," but have since been re-divided for syndication purposes). In the course of the next 20 installments, Dukes of Hazzard fans made the acquaintance of two new semi-regular characters: motorcycle-riding postmistress Miz Emma Tizdale (Nedra Voltz), and Chickasaw County Sheriff Edward Thomas "Big Ed" Little (Don Pedro Colley). ~ Rovi
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