Martha Coolidge Movies

It's always tough to move to a brand new school, especially when the year is already half over. This is exactly the spot Chrissa is in after finding herself the newest kid in the fourth grade and a prime target for the popular girls known as the "Mean Bees". When the biggest, meanest bully of the bunch becomes Chrissa's biggest competition on the swim team, Chrissa must find a way to stand her ground and end the bullying. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

The daughter of a philandering father (whose own father likewise "played the field"), successful New Orleans therapist Danielle Montet (Kim Delaney) is nonetheless secure in her happy marriage to her husband Jim (Kyle Secor). In fact, she is so content in her matrimonial state that she can't help but feel pity for the troubled husbands and wives who come in to her office for help and advice. But circumstances are radically altered when, after meeting a handsome younger man named Miguel (Cristian De La Fuente), she enters into a torrid affair with the man. Now Danielle finds herself in the same predicament as her cheating father: No matter what decision she makes vis-à-vis her love life, someone is going to be irreparably hurt--and she has absolutely no control over her own libido. Made for cable, Infidelity originally aired April 19, 2004 on the Lifetime channel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A money-minded modern day Scrooge with no time for family is given twelve days to discover the true meaning of Christmas in this holiday comedy from director Martha Coolidge. Calvin Carter (Steven Weber) is strictly business. The owner of a popular discount store chain whose lowbrow business ethics has earned him the fear of his employees and isolated his family, Calvin spend Christmas Eve tending to business instead of celebrating the holiday with his wife and children. When Calvin's car is hit by a falling sign on his way home from work and he awakens in a hospital, the no-nonsense nurse on duty gives him twelve days to discover the true meaning of Christmas, or risk dire consequences by continuing to place the value of a dollar over the value of his family. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Martha Coolidge (Real Genius, Out to Sea) directed this light PBS drama about a rich eccentric who is overly generous with his fortune. Ally McBeal's Peter MacNicol stars as Daniel Ponder, the wealthy man in question, who finds himself charged with murder after his young bride is found dead. Produced in 2001, The Ponder Heart co-stars JoBeth Williams, Angela Bettis, Boyce Holleman, and Star Trek: The Next Generation's Brent Spiner. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

This three-part drama, produced for HBO, examines the changing tides of the lives of lesbians in America, both politically and personally, as we eavesdrop on three stories taking place in the same house over a span of five decades. In 1961, the house is home to Edith (Vanessa Redgrave) and Abby (Marian Seldes), an elderly lesbian couple whose lifestyle is not accepted or acknowledged by their families. When Abby suffers a serious stroke and is on the verge of death, her family rallies to her side, but not understanding the nature of her relationship with Edith, she is not included as her loved ones say their final good-byes. After Abby's death, her nephew (Paul Giamatti) and his wife (Elizabeth Perkins) arrive from out of state with plans to sell the house, without consulting Edith. In 1972, the house is now home to four college students, Michelle (Amy Carlson), Linda (Michelle Williams), Karen (Nia Long), and Jeanne (Natasha Lyonne), all of whom are actively involved in the women's movement and also happen to be lesbians. The four find themselves at odds with the campus women's group when they try to promote an all-women's dance, while the other members of the group feel that feminism, not lesbianism, should be the focus of the group. Similarly, Linda faces hostility from her friends when she becomes involved with Amy (Chloe Sevigny), a very butch townie; Linda's friends see Amy's masculine attire and attitude as a form of self-loathing against being a woman, and while Linda cares deeply for Amy, she's not always comfortable with her and isn't sure that she wants to be public with their relationship. In 2000, Fran (Sharon Stone) and Kal (Ellen DeGeneres), a happy and firmly committed couple, are sharing the house, and after much discussion, they decide that they want to take their relationship to the next level and have a baby. However, deciding that they want a child and dealing with the practicalities of getting pregnant are two different things; Fran and Kal first debate about going to a sperm bank as opposed to asking one of their male friends to help out, and later, either going to a doctor to perform the procedure or trying it at home. DeGeneres' significant other, Anne Heche, wrote and directed the final segment; the 1972 story was directed by Martha Coolidge, and the 1961 episode was directed by Jane Anderson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A pair of grumpy old men hit the high seas in this comedy. Small-time con man Charlie (Walter Matthau) fast-talks his considerably more straight-laced friend Herb (Jack Lemmon) into joining him for a luxury cruise on an ocean liner headed to the Bahamas. Charlie tells Herb that the trip is free and will be a good way to meet rich widows; both parts are true enough, but Herb doesn't know that Charlie has signed them on as dance hosts (hence the free tickets), and Herb isn't sure if he's ready for romance after the recent death of his wife. As the men struggle with the fact that Herb isn't much of a hoofer (and Charlie can't dance at all) under the strict tutelage of cruise director Godwyn (Brent Spiner), Charlie starts sweet-talking beautiful heiress Liz (Dyan Cannon), while Herb finds a soul mate in Vivian (Gloria DeHaven), who lost her husband not long ago. Out to Sea also stars Elaine Stritch, Hal Linden, Rue McClanahan, and Donald O'Connor, who pulled his dancing shoes out of mothballs for his role. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Angie is the study of a believable Italian-American woman who takes an honest look at herself and sees she's on a predictable path that will soon include an altar and a baby carriage. "There's gotta' be more!" she feels, and she's one gal with courage enough to find the answer. Geena Davis stars in this worthwhile effort. ~ Rovi

An adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning, semi-autobiographical stage play by popular dramatist Neil Simon, this comedy-drama focuses on the difficulties faced by two young brothers forced to live with a group of eccentric relatives. Arty (Mike Damus) and Jay (Brad Stoll) are young teenagers when their their widower father heads South to seek work, leaving the boys with their stern, intimidating grandmother (Irene Worth). Also part of the household is the more likable Aunt Bella (Mercedes Ruehl), an odd duck with a scattered personality and childlike enthusiasm that make her seem more like a fellow kid than an adult. Bella is kept under close watch by Grandma, who reacts strongly when she attempts to show her independence, leaving Arty and Jay as witnesses to a conflict that could tear the family apart. Lost in Yonkers offers much of Simon's trademark humor with a more bittersweet feel than in most of the playwright's other work, thanks in large part to the performance by Ruehl, who reprises her Tony Award-winning role as the troubled but cheerful Bella. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

A yuppie couple find themselves marooned on a desert isle with only the company of two others--a native girl and her American boyfriend. Stripped of their accustomed world of gadgetry as well as most of their clothes, they find the situation prompts them toward a more introspective mode, and they examine the nuts and bolts of their relationship. ~ Rovi

In this detective yarn, a very traditional investigator from New Jersey moves to Hawaii and begins looking into the death of a prominent real-estate developer. Unfortunately, few locals welcome the detective's arrival. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Glory Days might have easily been titled "A Glorified Robert Conrad Home Movie." Actor Robert Conrad both produced and directed, while his co-star was his son Shane Conrad. The plot concerns a 50-year-old family man who feels that life has passed him by. Determined to fulfill a long-standing dream, he closes down his business, enrolls in the same college attended by his son, and goes out for the football team. It seems superfluous to add that he becomes the team's star quarterback: could any less have been expected of Bob "Iron Man" Conrad? This two-hour production originally aired December 11, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi