Morgan Brittany Movies
Suzanne Cupito was among the busiest child actresses in the business in the 1950s and 1960s. Suzanne was generally cast in spoiled-brat roles or essayed the "leading lady as a child" in such films as Gypsy (1963) and Marnie (1964); along with Billy Mumy, she held the distinction of being one of the few actors under the age of 13 to appear in three Twilight Zone episodes. After a long fallow period in the 1970s, Suzanne Cupito reemerged as bewitchingly beautiful leading lady Morgan Brittany. Her remarkable resemblance to actress Vivien Leigh enabled Morgan to portray Ms. Leigh in several films, notably Gable and Lombard (1976) and the made-for-TV The Scarlet O'Hara Wars. Morgan Brittany's series-TV resume includes three seasons as Katherine Wentworth on the nighttime serial Dallas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Hollywood meets Bollywood in director Lorraine Senna's Pygmalion-like tale of a Tinseltown hanger-on who attempts to transform a Himalayan village belle into an A-list American celebrity. Having recently arrived in America to discover the man she was arranged to marry is far from the man of her dreams, Himalayan girl Shalini (Namrata Singh Gujral) sets out to seek her fortune in a foreign land where anything seems possible. Little does Shalini realize that southern-bred west-coast import Rob (Brad Raider) is attempting to make a name for himself in show-business, and has recently been challenged by the CEO of a Hollywood management company (Beau Bridges) pluck a superstar out of thin air. Now, as Shalini becomes Shelley and Rob does his best to school the culturally inquisitive beauty in the ways of Western society, the opportunity to see the world from an entirely different perspective prompts both to reevaluate their lives as love begins to blossom and the quest for fame takes a back seat to romance. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Namrata Singh Gujral, Beau Bridges, (more)
Sally Kirkland produced and starred in this lighthearted family drama about three generations of women. Priscilla (Sheri Hellard) and her mother (Kirkland) couldn't more more different. The younger woman is a hardworking housewife who has always had trouble seeing eye to eye with the elder of the two. Lucky for them, Priscilla's level-headed daughter Wendy (Heidi Marnhout) is around to keep the peace. Mothers & Daughters also stars Happy Days' Tom Bosley. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Kirkland, Sheri Hellard, (more)
How would you react if the frontman for your favorite boy band came knocking on your door looking for a place to hide out? It may be more trouble than it's worth, as a star-stricken teen discovers in this comedy that drives home the age-old adage "be careful what you wish for." Chris Trousdale is the singer for Dream Street, the most popular boy band ever to fill an arena. When he opts to take a breather from fame by crashing at the house of his number one fan, her world is turned upside down at the prospect of spending some personal time with her own personal American idol. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Trousdale, Kaila Amariah, (more)
- 1997
- R
Tired of protecting people he disrespects and despises, a bodyguard becomes a free agent. Soon he finds himself entangled in a potentially deadly situation involving his ex-lover's missing friend and a scientist who has devised some potentially world-devastating biochemical agents. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matt McColm, Annabel Schofield, (more)
- 1995
In this western, Hamilton Monroe's wealthy wife Maria is kidnapped by the treacherous amoral outlaw Billy Van Owen who sticks her in a cave and demands an enormous ransom for her. A chronic philanderer and compulsive gambler, Hamilton has never really loved Maria and rather than spend money on her, offers to free Van Owen's partner Jessup from prison instead. He doesn't know that it was the double-crossing Billy who put Jessup there in the first place. If Jessup can find Billy and bring Maria back, he will be freed. To help with the search, Jessup rounds up a hard-bitten woman, Sandy, a professional scout, Dirty Bob, and a crackshot, Little Swede. Together they ride out to save poor Maria from the evil Billy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Arnold Schwarzenegger appears as a pumped-up Shakespearian hero while an announcer bellows, "Something is rotten in Denmark -- and Hamlet is taking out the trash!" This gag sets the stage for the post-modernist action epic The Last Action Hero. The film concerns Danny Madigan (Austin O'Brien), a lonely eleven-year-old boy who escapes from his bleak New York City reality by glorying in the action adventure movies of his favorite film character, Jack Slater (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Danny's friend is an elderly movie projectionist, Nick (Robert Prosky), who lets Danny into the shabby Times Square movie theater where he works so Danny can see Slater's new movie. He hands Danny a magic ticket given to him years ago by Houdini, and when Nick rips the ticket and gives Danny the stub, Danny finds himself catapulted from the theater into the back seat of Slater's speeding sports car in "Jack Slater IV." Danny becomes Slater's helper as Jack battles a trio of nefarious bad guys --Benedict (Charles Dance), Vivaldi (Anthony Quinn) and The Ripper (Tom Noonan). But things get out of hand when Benedict steals Danny's magic ticket stub and transports himself into Danny's reality. Benedict and The Ripper proceed to wreak havoc along Broadway, forcing Slater to cross into reality to get the villains and, in the process, learn about blood and pain. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O'Brien, (more)
Director Anthony Hickox (Waxwork) crafted this entertaining bit of horror-western fusion about the vampiric residents of a remote, dusty desert town who have chosen to derive their sustenance from a plasma-manufacturing plant in an attempt to put aside their monstrous nature and peacefully co-exist with humans. When the plant begins malfunctioning, the town's leaders summon the designer, David Harrison (Jim Metzler), to look into the problem. Soon after Harrison and his wife Sarah (Morgan Brittany) arrive, however, they find themselves in the thick of an escalating rivalry between two vampire factions -- one led by peaceful Count Mardulak (David Carradine), who ordered the blood plant as part of his plan to integrate the dying vampire race into human society; and the old-school bloodsuckers, under the sinister Jefferson (John Ireland), who consider Mardulak and his followers traitors to their predatory heritage. While the Harrisons' fates hang in the balance, the scales are jostled further by the arrival of a man named Van Helsing (Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell, in a surprisingly low-key performance), descendant of the legendary vampire hunter, whose disorganized efforts at wiping out town's undead populace are impeded by his growing attraction to a pretty young vampire (Deborah Foreman). With tongue firmly in cheek, this semi-parody plays off audiences' familiarity with the conventions of the vampire genre, but it seldom sacrifices creepiness and suspense when needed. It marked a creative step forward for Hickox (who would later stumble with Hellraiser III), who clearly tailors his projects to seasoned horror buffs. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Carradine, Jim Metzler, (more)
- 1990
In this documentary, director and screenwriter James Toback asks a wildly divergent group of people to ponder some basic philosophical questions for his camera -- How did the world begin? How did we get here? What's the purpose of life? What do we love, what do we fear, and how would we spend the rest of our lives if we could choose the circumstances ourselves? Toback's interview subjects range from a pair of ten-year-olds, a nun, a medical school student, and a holocaust survivor to basketball star Darryl Dawkins, movie producer Don Simpson, boxer and author Jose Torres, and classical violinist Eugene Fodor. Some of the responses are funny, some are moving, and most say a great deal about the people who give them, but ultimately most of Toback's subjects come to a similar conclusion -- we all have ideas, but no one really knows for sure. The Big Bang also includes, as a framing device, footage of Toback attempting to secure financing from a producer who sounds a bit dubious about the commercial prospects of a film in which a bunch of people discuss philosophy for 80 minutes. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Toback, Don Simpson, (more)
- 1990
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) shows up on Wall Street, there to make her very first personal investment in the stock market. As inevitably as night follows day, Jessica's stockbroker promptly turns up murdered. The police figure that the dead man's secretary is the culprit...but as usual, Jessica doesn't take stock (ouch!) in the conventional wisdom, and sets out to find the real murderer on her own. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The family celebrates "Bundy Day at the Beach" -- with 100 dollars unwittingly provided by neighbor Steve (David Garrison). As the Bundy kids pursue new romances, Al contemplates a rendezvous with an old flame (Morgan Brittany). This episode, which features series star David Faustino's younger brother (Michael Faustino) has been slightly expurgated for syndication -- though the spectacular car-smash scene remains intact. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
The last of the four Perry Mason movies telecast in 1987, The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel rounds up veterans Raymond Burr (as Mason) and Barbara Hale (as Della Street), with comparative newcomers William Katt (as Paul Drake Jr.) and David Ogden Stiers (as the "Hamilton Burger"-style prosecutor). The accused murderer in this outing is Susan Wilder, a reporter for a sleazy tabloid. The victim is the rag's hateful publisher, Robert Guillaume. Other suspects include Guillaume's ex-lover, and a banker who was ruined by the tabloid's half truths. Unlike most of the Perry Mason TV movies of the 1980s, The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel doesn't play fair with the audience; vital clues and character motivations are withheld from the viewer, robbing us of the pleasure of trying to second-guess the methodical Mr. Mason. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Randy Quaid avoids caricature and cliché in his multifaceted portrayal of Lyndon Baines Johnson in LBJ: The Early Years. This made-for-TV film chronicles the years 1934 through 1963, tracing the beginnings of Johnson's public career, chronicling his reputation for down-and-dirty politicking, and following his progress from congressman to senator to majority leader to vice president. Staunchly at LBJ's side through thick and thin is faithful-wife Lady Bird (Patti LuPone), whose fidelity remains unshaken even while Johnson dallies with other women. Charles Frank co-stars as John F. Kennedy, whose assassination catapults the reluctant Johnson into the presidency that he'd always wanted to win on his own merits. Less than six days before LBJ: The Early Year premiered on February 1, 1987, author Larry L. King picked apart the film's inaccuracies in a TV Guide article. Audiences cared not for absolute truth, and had a grand old time watching Randy Quaid impersonate the amazing Mr. Johnson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is among those in attendance at a literary awards convention when murder strikes. The victim is a novelist who had showed up toting a rather volatile unpublished manuscript. Although Jessica is not among the suspects, one of her close friends is under suspicion, obliging her to do her trademarked surreptitious snooping. Unfortunately, this is a particularly difficult case, inasmuch as virtually everyone else at the convention had a motive for murder--and the clues are not only plentiful, but wildly contradictory! Ron Masak, later seen on Murder She Wrote in the semi-regular role of Sheriff Mort Metzger, is here cast as Lieutenant Meyer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Half-Nelson was a very brief TV cop series which made its bow on March 24, 1985, with a two-hour "special". Joe Pesci, sporting lots and lots of hair, stars as ex-Manhattan cop Rocky Nelson, nicknamed "Half" Nelson because he stands well under six feet. Nelson is now a Beverly Hills security guard who dreams of launching an acting career. Guest star Morgan Brittany shows up just long enough to die along with an old buddy of Nelson's. The official police verdict is suicide, but Nelson suspects foul play. Also showing up in cameo roles are Dean Martin, John Matuszak, Larry Holmes and Jerry Reuss. The Half-Nelson pilot was telecast on a Sunday; the subsequent series settled into a Friday night slot (but not for long). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
- PG
In this conservative drama, a family begins to fall apart after each member succumbs to the many temptations of modern life. They are only saved by turning back to their church. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1982
When a Hollywood sex symbol is kidnapped for ransom, the daredevil team, The Fantastic Seven, head to Miami where the filming occurred. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1982
In this Civil-war era western set in a Missouri mining town, respectable women and floozies join forces to keep renegade Union soldiers from destroying their community. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Daisy (Catherine Bach) tries to help her friend Mary Lou Pringle (Morgan Brittany), who is having trouble selling a house that is rumored to be haunted. It turns out that the "ghosts" are really a gang of thieves who have recently robbed the Boar's Nest and stolen all of Boss Hoggs' (Sorrell Booke) silver. The climactic action sequence is a deft blend of typical Dukes of Hazzard rambunctiousness and good, ol'-fashioned Abbott and Costello-style scare comedy. Tammy Wynette appears as the first of several real-life country singers who are caught in Boss' "celebrity speed trap" and forced to sing at the Boars' Head to pay off their fine: in Tammy's case, the payoff song is "Rocky Top, Tennessee". This episode, originally slated to air on December 6, 1980, was moved up to November 7 by CBS to take advantage of the ratings engendered by Dallas' "Who Shot J.R.?" season-opener on the same night. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Old-time Hollywood director Vincent Sherman brings a glossy studio-bound look to The Dream Merchants, a two-part, four-hour adaptation of Harold Robbins' novel. The story follows the career of a pioneer filmmaker (Mark Harmon), who comes to Hollywood in the early 20th century with a pocketful of dreams and helps build the sleepy California orange-grove community into the world's entertainment capital. Typical of the Harold Robbins ouevre, most of the characters are based on real-life movie personalities: Robert Goulet's vainglorious matinee idol is a combination of John Barrymore and Douglas Fairbanks, while Vincent Gardenia's vitriolic mogul can be taken as a low-budget Louis B. Mayer. The film is rife with historical inaccuracies (Goulet is informed that the closeup has "just been invented by D. W. Griffith" as a means to convince him to sign a long-term contract assuring him plenty of closeups!), while the haircuts and speech patterns are firmly locked into the 1980s. All the same, The Dream Merchants was a profitable entry in the syndicated "Operation Prime Time" series of TV specials. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Based on a portion of Garson Kanin's book Moviola, The Scarlet O'Hara War mixes fact with fiction in recreating producer David O. Selznick's search for an actress to star in Gone With the Wind. Tony Curtis plays Selznick, who turns his search into a major publicity ploy to sustain interest in his upcoming film. Among the likely candidates for the role of Scarlett O'Hara are Carole Lombard (Sharon Gless), Joan Crawford (Barrie Youngfellow) and Tallulah Bankhead (Carrie Nye). A subplot concerns two bogus talent scouts who pretend to be working for Selznick in order to extract money and sexual favors from would-be Scarlets. As Selznick supervises the "Burning of Atlanta" sequence, he is approached by his brother Myron, who is in the company of the perfect Scarlett O'Hara--Vivien Leigh (Morgan Brittany). The Scarlet O'Hara War was one of three TV films based on Moviola; the other two were The Silent Lovers (all about John Gilbert and Greta Garbo) and This Year's Blonde (the early years of Marilyn Monroe). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Curtis, Sharon Gless, (more)
- 1980
An episode of the television series in which, on his birthday, Buck feels out of place and lonesome for his own time. ~ All Movie Guide
