William Boyett Movies

When Next Generation kicked off its sixth season on September 26, 1992, it was with the resolution of the fifth-season cliffhanger "Time's Arrow." A quick recap apprises the viewer that, while investigating a curious archeological discovery, Lt. Cmdr. Data was sucked into a time vortex, emerging in 19th century San Francisco. Likewise heading into the past to rescue their comrade, the crew discovers that the Earth is in danger of a devastating alien invasion. Their efforts to ward off this disaster are complicated by the presence of a snoopy reporter by the name of Samuel Clemens (Jerry Hardin). Part two of "Time's Arrow" was scripted by Jeri Taylor, from a story by Joe Menosky and Michael Piller. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this broad but hilarious spoof of the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings, Murphy is dragged before a Senate Committee after she files a story on the personal spending habits of government officials. Mercilessly grilled by a panel of fatuous politicians, Murphy does her best to defend her First Amendment rights, even in the face of a "Contempt of Congress" charge (with possible jail time!) It will not require the services of a political historian to figure out who such characters as "Senator Dennehy" and "Senator Hyden" are really supposed to be! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this made-for-television horror outing, a young married couple and their daughter are terrorized by a pride of ferocious feral felines. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

The Enterprise's Holodeck malfunctions, trapping Captain Picard in a recreation of 1941 San Francisco. In the tradition of the earlier Star Trek episode A Piece of the Action, Picard finds himself smack-dab in the middle of a film noir-style gangster melodrama, with familiar movie stereotypes abounding (two of them played by "cult" actors Lawrence Tierney and Dick Miller). As if this weren't enough, Picard is pestered by hostile aliens who demand that he give them their undivided attention. Nominated for a Best Cinematography Emmy Award, "The Big Goodbye" was written by Tracy Torme, and was first telecast January 16, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Previously filmed in Argentina in 1951, black author Richard Wright's powerful race-conscious novel Native Son was remade in this barely released 1986 version. The story involves Bigger Thomas (Victor Love), an angry Depression-era Chicago black who hopes to elevate himself through his chauffeur's job with a prosperous white Gold Coast family. The family's daughter (Elizabeth McGovern) takes advantage of Bigger's servile status by ordering him to drive her to a rendezvous with her communist-activist lover (Matt Dillon). Their "parlor liberal" attitude both pleases and confuses Bigger, as do the girl's apparent sexual advances toward him. One evening, Bigger drives the girl home after she's gotten herself drunk. She flirts harmlessly with him in her bedroom; when her blind mother (Carroll Baker) stumbles onto the scene, the terrified Bigger, certain that he'll be accused of rape, tries to muffle the girl so she can't talk. He accidentally kills her, whereupon the panicky Bigger hides the body and tries to pin the girl's "kidnapping" on her lover. Tragedy piles upon tragedy before Bigger's climactic murder trial and execution; throughout, we are given the impression that this sorry state of affairs would never have taken place without the black-white tensions and divisiveness that existed in 1930s, and which still exist to this day. During the trial scene, TV talk host Oprah Winfrey makes a heavily-made-up cameo appearance as Bigger's mother. The whole scene has the earmarks of an "Oscar clip," but Oprah's excessive histrionics pale in comparison to her brilliant, well-modulated performance in the earlier The Color Purple. The 1986 version of Native Son was co-produced by PBS' American Playhouse. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

After being mugged by two men, aspiring actress Kendall Gibley (Alexandra Paul) vows that she'll be ready for any future attacks. Kendall decides to "beef up" by undergoing a body-building regimen that would kill a lesser woman. Her devotion to physical culture sorely threatens her personal relationships with her friends, family and boyfriend, Mickey Ritter (David Naughton). Star Alexandra Paul's impressive physique is lovingly photographed by Howard R. Schwartz, as disco music pulsates on the soundtrack. A number of real-life bodybuilders of both sexes appear in supporting and bit roles. Made for television, Getting Physical debuted March 20, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The authorities are placed on high alert when Lane Garrison (Blake Marison), advance man for a notorious assassin, is accidentally killed in an explosion a few days before a major political convention in Los Angeles. Among those monitoring the situation is medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman), who is dating reporter Kate Miles (Devon Ericson). It seems obvious to Kate that one of governmental officials scheduled to appear at the convention is slated for extermination--and the more Quincy listens to her theories, the more he begins to wonder just how much Kate really knows about what will happen next. Originally scheduled to air on March 4, 1981, this episode was filmed at LA's Ambassador Hotel, where Robert F. Kennedy was killed in 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Because the producers couldn't get clearance to film on the real Golden Gate bridge, The Golden Gate Murders is enacted upon a distressingly unconvincing studio mock-up. The film itself is far better than its backdrop: David Janssen stars as a detective investigating the supposed suicide of a priest. Susannah York portrays a nun who is anxious to save the priest's immortal soul by proving that his fatal plunge into San Francisco Bay was murder, not suicide. A curious, chaste romance develops between cop and nun, which turns out to be more interesting at times than the case at hand. Golden Gate Murders was released theatrically as Specter on the Bridge. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Captain Stanley (Michael Norell) traces his grouchy behavior to his arm pains, prompting the staff to suggest that he have a medical checkup. But Stanley balks, worried that he may be suffering from arthritis, thus rendering him expendable. This week's emergency load includes a man who gets his hand caught in a garage-door opener, a raging refinery fire,and a woman whose plastic surgery has resulted in some rather nasty side effects. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The insufferably rule-bound paramedic Craig Brice (James G. Richardson) makes himself even more obnoxious than usual when he gets his name in the newspapers. Brice's insatiable thirst for self-aggrandizing publicity drives John (Randolph Mantooth) and Roy (Kevin Tighe) crazy throughout the episode. Back on the job, the paramedics attempt to rescue a young girl from a backhoe, while simultaneously mollifying her apoplectic father; a babysitter suffers an anxiety attack when she tries to take care of too many kids at once, a hardware store catches fire, and a boy accidentally wounds himself with a pellet gun. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Captain Stanley (Michael Norell) confuses the emergency staff when he begins showing signs of uncharacteristic nervousness and paranoia. The reason? Stanley's former commanding officer Captain McConnike (William Boyett) is scheduled to make inspection of the Rampart team. Back on the job, Marco (Marco Lopez) is seriously injured during a gas station fire; a car crashes into a truck full of toxic pesticides; two professional clowns aren't terribly funny when they start a fight at a skating rink; and a man is "shot" by a nail gun. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this feature-length pilot film for a weekly Jack Webb-produced TV series, Jackie Cooper stars as Peter Campbell, a veteran news reporter whose career has been destroyed by booze. Hoping to redeem himself, Campbell signs on as the senior member of a mobile news team for TV station KONE in an unnamed (but very L.A.-looking) West Coast metropolis. Campbell's associates include news producer Maggie Spencer (Julie Gregg) and ace cameraman Doug McKnight (Mark Wheeler). Some of the team's first assignments are a search for the missing father of a sick child and tracking down a murderous arsonist. When this pilot aired over ABC on September 2, 1975, the proposed series' title was Mobile Two. For no discernible reason, the series itself was re-christened Mobile One, and as such was telecast from September 12 to December 29, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi