Duane B. Clark Movies
- 2009
- R
Stephen Dorff, Val Kilmer, Jessica Gilsig, and Stephen McHattie star in this two-part mini-series inspired by the 1984 comic book series of the same name (which was later adapted into a popular video game by Ubisoft Entertainment). A young man with no recollection of the past is discovered in a forest, the only clue to his past being a tattoo that reads "XIII." Subsequently accused of assassinating the president, the man embarks on a desperate quest to discover his true identity and expose the conspirators attempting to use him as a scapegoat for a crime he didn't commit. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Dorff, Val Kilmer, (more)
- 2002
The tragically short life of one of TV's favorite funny ladies is the subject of the network-movie biopic It's Always Something: The Gilda Radner Story. The story begins in Gilda's native Canada, where as a child she develops her comic skills to overcome her shyness and feelings of inadequacy. Gravitating to show business, Gilda (played as an adult by Jami Gertz) becomes a topnotch sketch performer with the famed Second City Troupe, leading to an even more prestigious stint as one of the original "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" on the irreverent American variety series Saturday Night Live. Earning the love and devotion of TV viewers throughout the nation with such ditsy comic characters as Emily Latella and Roseanne Roseanadana, Gilda nonetheless has trouble settling down in a satisfactory romantic relationship in her private life. But after a few go-nowhere affairs and an in-name-only marriage to musician G.E. Smith, Gilda at last finds happiness as the sweetheart -- and later the wife -- of actor Gene Wilder (played by Tom Rooney), her costar in the 1982 movie Hanky Panky. Just when it seems that Gilda's life is on the right course with all cylinders clicking, she is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Based on her 1989 autobiography (published the same year as her death), It's Always Something: The Gilda Radner Story debuted April 29, 2002, as part of an evening-long ABC network tribute to Radner and her career. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jami Gertz, Tom Rooney, (more)
- 2001
An aspiring comic who has to hide behind others to get her humor in front of an audience finds you can't do the same thing when it comes to romance. Samantha Berger (Camryn Manheim) works as a bartender at a New York comedy club; possessing a sharp imagination and a quick wit , Samantha writes jokes of her own in her spare time. Samantha's material is good, but she's severely self-conscious about her weight problem, so she shops her routines to up-and-coming comics who play the room, most frequently Jennie (Alexondra Lee), a friend who is slim and beautiful but can't write a good gag to save her life. Michael True (cott Cohen) is an agent who frequents the club looking for new talent, and he thinks Jennie might have what it takes to make the big time. Michael soon finds himself developing a relationship with Jennie off stage as well, but she's never sure what to say to him and is afraid that one day he'll realize the killer material she's been using isn't her own. Michael starts e-mailing Jennie on a regular basis, and Jennie convinces Samantha to play Cyrano and answer his missives posing as Jennie. But the longer Samantha finds herself "chatting" with Michael, the more she realizes he's just the sort of man she's always wanted -- but lacks the courage to approach on her own. Camryn Manheim also served as executive producer for Kiss My Act, which debuted on the ABC television network on April 23, 2001; the supporting cast includes Dabney Coleman and Marlee Matlin. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Camryn Manheim, Scott Cohen, (more)
- 2001
The Red Series members are back, still intent on capturing Max (Jessica Alba) and stealing her DNA, thereby rendering themselves invulnerable. To force Max out in the open, the Reds kidnap her friend Original Cindy (Valarie Rae Miller). Meanwhile, the wheelchair-bound Logan (Michael Weatherly) experiences some interesting side effects after receiving a transfusion of Manticore blood. Jennifer Blanc makes her last series appearance in the role of Kendra. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
- G
In this drama, Henry Musser (Robert Forster) fights an uphill battle to keep open a small-town factory that supports his family and his community. Family Tree also stars Cliff Robertson, Krystal Benn, Genevieve Butler, and Naomi Judd, best known as half of the Judds and mother of Ashley Judd. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Forster, Naomi Judd, (more)
A police detective gets in over his head after he falls in love with the moll of a recently murdered gangster. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Sha're (Vaitiare Bandera), the alien wife of SG-1 crew member Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), has returned to her home planet Abydos. But don't excpect a tender reunion: Nine months pregnant, Sha're is about to give birth to the son of SG-1's sworn enemy Apophis (Peter Williams). As if this wasn't bad enough, a nosy reporter (Chris Owens) has stumbled onto the secret of the Stargate project, and the father (Carmen Argenziano) of Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) is dying of cancer. The episode's climax is a showdown involving SG-1's O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), Apophis, and their mutual nemesis Heru'ur (Douglas H. Arthurs). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
- R
Set in a nursing home, this drama is the brainchild of writer and director Duane B. Clark, the son of television legend Dick Clark. Zachary Throne stars as Dean Carter, an aspiring musical composer who is shocked when his own father fires him from a gig writing the score of a period motion picture. Dumped by his girlfriend at about the same time, Dean drowns his sorrows at a pub and decides on a complete change of career. He takes a job working in a financially struggling nursing home, where he befriends a cynical nurse, Anna (Christine Cavanugh). Dean also meets a depressed elderly resident, Mr. Williams (Bill Cobbs), who is terrified of an upcoming surgery that may leave him paralyzed. After Williams attempts to kill himself and Dean intervenes, the two men become friendly, and Dean eventually realizes that Williams is none other than the legendary saxophone player Eddie "Coffee Cup" Williams. Through his dedication to helping Williams regain his musical abilities, Dean rediscovers his own love of music. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zachary Throne, Bill Cobbs, (more)
- 1993
When the call went out for a Baldwin, Stephen answered and was cast in the lead of Bitter Harvest. Patsy Kensit and Jennifer Rubin costar as a pair of oversexed young ladies who get their jollies by victimizing their male lovers. Wide-eyed Baldwin, in need of emotional aid and comfort after the death of his father, finds himself the object of the girls' attentions. Even when he realizes he's being played for a chump, Baldwin hasn't got the inclination to escape the ladies' clutches. And then things take a sinister turn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patsy Kensit, Stephen Baldwin, (more)
- 1990
- PG13
Shaking the Tree is an ensemble dramedy about four male friends living in Chicago, pushing 30, who help each other through a series of crises. Barry (Arye Gross) is a real estate salesman and a huge White Sox fan who's nervous about his impending wedding to Michelle (Christina Haag). When he presses her about her sexual past, he finds out she once slept with one of his pals. Duke (Steven Wilde, who co-wrote the script with director Duane B. Clark) was forced to give up boxing due to an injury, and is unhappy with his life as a womanizing bartender. Sully (Gale Hansen) comes from a wealthy family. He is also a womanizer, and his gambling problem is spiraling out of control. When he loses ten grand to some shady characters, his family refuses to bail him out. Michael (Doug Savant of Melrose Place) is a college professor with a massively pregnant wife, Kathleen (Courteney Cox), and his fear of becoming a father leads him to consider an affair with a seductive student, Brigette (played by actor Gale Hansen's wife, Brittney Hansen). After Cox became a success on television with Friends, the film was re-released on video with the photo on the box changed to feature the actress prominently, although she plays a supporting role in the film. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arye Gross, Gale Hansen, (more)
- 1985
- PG13
- Add Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins to QueueAdd Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins to top of Queue
Adapted from the "Destroyer" series of novels and comic books (not exactly the level of Ian Fleming), Remo Williams (Fred Ward) is a New York cop who works for a top-secret government agency accountable directly to the President of the U.S. After his reluctant induction into this agency, Remo is trained in a near-magical Korean martial arts form by Chiun (Joel Grey) in great sequences where walking on water is taken in stride. After his training, Remo goes after a corrupt arms manufacturer with connections in the U.S. military and acquires the necessary help-mate in the form of Major Rayner Fleming (Kate Mulgrew). Antics at the Statue of Liberty and other stunts enliven the action, but cannot make up for comic-book level characters. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
