J.C. Brandy Movies
- 2005
This Hallmark Channel TV movie is one of a series starring John Larroquette as McBride (no first name), a hard-nosed cop turned compassionate defense lawyer, specializing in "lost causes." McBride's client this time is a hitchhiker named Dudley Banks (Devon Gummesall), who had the rotten luck to accept a ride from a beautiful, affluent-looking woman calling herself Whitney (Maeve Quinlan), just before she is found murdered. As he digs into Whitney's past, he finds that there are several men who had good reason to wish her dead--especially the several husbands she accumulated (and robbed blind) while adopting a plethora of false identities! McBride: The Chameleon Murder originally aired January 14, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
- R
Jon Jacobs wrote, directed, and stars in this fantasy drama set amid Beltane, a Druid celebration. Seeking a mate, wizard descendant Jason (Jacobs) returns to Earth, arriving in New Orleans where members of the local witch coven concoct spells to attract Jason. Eight years earlier, Jason had a child with witch Lucinda (Christina Fulton), now a coven dropout and a prostitute who seeks legal custody of their child. With a clever blend of coven comedy and supernatural social drama, this film won the Golden Warrior prize at the "Cannes You Dig It" alternative sidebar event held during the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jon Jacobs, Christina Fulton, (more)
- 1997
- R
Teenage lust turns deadly in this slightly campy exploitation drama. Debbie Strand (Rose McGowan) is a sexy but troubled teenager with a checkered past who is sent to live with her grandmother after the death of her parents. Grandma attempts to keep Debbie on a short leash, but she's soon sneaking out for not always wholesome fun with her new friends. Debbie, who has never had trouble attracting whatever man she wants, sets her sights on Peter Rinaldi (Alex McArthur), a teacher at her high school. However, Peter has both a fiancée and strong scruples, so he repeatedly rejects Debbie's advances. But Hell hath no fury like a Debbie scorned, and before long Peter finds that his life is ruined and bodies are piling up, as an angry Ms. Strand takes her revenge on her would-be suitor. Also released under the title Dearly Devoted (and not based on the oft-filmed Raymond Radiguet novel), Devil in the Flesh was co-scripted by Kelly Carlin-McCall, daughter of noted comedian George Carlin. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rose McGowan, Alex McArthur, (more)
- 1995
J.C.Brandy is cast as teenage tennis star Louise Henderson, whose father--and manager--Lane Henderson (Leon Russom) is notorious for his domineering attitude towards his daughter. So rattled is Louise by her father's relentless badgering that begins suffering nightmares, and ultimately stands up to Lane and refuse to follow his orders any further. Shortly afterward, Lane is found murdered--and Jessica (Angela Lansbury) steps into court (the tennis court, that is) in hopes of proving that Louise is not the killer. This is the final episode of Murder, She Wrote's 11th season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1994
We'd rather not rehash the sordied Menendez murder case in this space; besides, it isn't necessary, inasmuch as no fewer than two TV movies were produced on the subject in 1994. The first was Fox's Honor Thy Father and Mother; the second, telecast less than a month later, was Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills. Two hours longer than the first film, Menendez spends half of its running time recounting the events leading up to the Menendez brothers' murder of the parents, while the second half devotes itself to their overpublicized trial. Lyle and Eric Menendez are played, respectively, by Damian Chapa and Travis Fine. Edward James Olmos and Beverly D'Angelo costar as the ill-fated parents, while Margaret Whitton is cast as attorney Leslie Abramson. Once past the most lurid aspects of the case-notably the Menendez boys' insistence that their crime was motivated by extreme parental abuse-this 4-hour wallow gets pretty tiresome. Menendez was originally telecast in two parts, on May 22 and 23, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Edward James Olmos, Beverly D'Angelo, (more)
- 1993
"Tapestry" opens with a real jolt, as Captain Picard is killed in a surprise attack. While Picard's soul is in limbo, an angelically-garbed Q (John de Lancie) appears, offering him the opportunity to change his destiny. All Picard has to do is return to the past and correct the decisions in life that had caused him regret, a task far easier said than done for the stubborn and intractable captain, who proclaims that he would "rather die as the man I was." Originally telecast February 20, 1993, "Tapestry" was written by Les Landau. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
Based on a true story, the made-for-television movie Runaway Father is about a husband who fakes his death so he can abandon his family. After surviving 20 years of poverty, his wife discovers he is still alive, and she sues him to collect 17 years of back child support. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- Donna Mills, Jack Scalia, (more)
