William Daniels Movies
American actor William Daniels was teamed at age 6 with his sister Jackie in a song-and-dance act that would become "The Daniels Family" when his other sister Carol joined. At the height of their activity, the Daniels were performing in as many as three radio shows per week, a welcome break from the harshness of their Brooklyn neighborhood. Acting in the long-running Broadway play Life with Father in 1945, Daniels was advised by the play's star and co-author Howard Lindsey to attend college just in case the acting business fell apart; after Army service and graduation from Northwestern University, Daniels found that, for him, the business had fallen apart. His confidence eroded by several years of relative inactivity, Daniels nearly turned down an opportunity to play Brick in a road company production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, but the play's author Tennessee Williams insisted upon casting Daniels. In 1960, the actor was cast with George Maharis in the Edward Albee play The Zoo Story, which won him the Obie and Clarence Derwent Awards and led to such choice Broadway assignments as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and A Thousand Clowns. Much to his own amazement, Daniels found himself cast in a superhero-spoof sitcom, Captain Nice, in 1967, which fortunately wasn't on long enough to typecast him. The actor achieved recognition of a more positive nature for his role as Dustin Hoffman's obtuse father in The Graduate (1967) (he was all of ten years older than Hoffman). Daniels' role as John Adams in the 1969 Broadway musical 1776 resulted in another strong film showing when the play was transferred to celluloid in 1972. Reportedly as reserved and taciturn as his screen characters in real life, Daniels was perhaps ideally cast as the abrasive Dr. Mark Craig on the long-running (1982-88) TV drama St. Elsewhere; appearing as Mrs. Craig was Bonnie Bartlett, to whom Daniels had been married since college. Despite his high visibility in both films and television, William Daniels is probably best known internationally for a continuing TV role in which he was never seen--the ever-correct computerized voice of K.I.T.T., the superpowered automobile on the action series Knight Rider (1982-86). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The first independent production of former studio mogul Jack Warner, 1776 was adapted from the hit 1969 Broadway musical by Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards. William Daniels, Ken Howard, and Howard Da Silva are among the many actors who recreate their Broadway roles. The story is set during the first Continental Congress, when the Declaration of Independence was drafted by such founding fathers as John Adams (Daniels) and Benjamin Franklin (Da Silva). The script attempts to "humanize" these remote historical figures by contemporizing them -- particularly the character of Ben Franklin. Blythe Danner's character of Martha Jefferson is expanded for the film version to allow for an elaborate outdoor production number. After 1776, Warner made only one more film, the 1972 "grunge Western" Dirty Little Billy. On an added note: the picture was originally rated G with its theatrical running time of 141 minutes. It was later expanded to 166 minutes; the added scenes caused the MPAA to re-rate it PG (for language) in 1992. Both versions are available on video. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, (more)
- 1974
Of the two rape-oriented TV movies of the 1973-74 season, A Case of Rape, first telecast February 20, 1974, is far and away the finer film (the other was the compelling but contrived Cry Rape). Elizabeth Montgomery stars as a housewife who is sexually assaulted not once but twice by a so-called family friend (Cliff Potts). The rape is only the beginning of a long cycle of humiliation and self-doubt: the investigating police are dismissive of Montgomery's charges, the female defense attorney (Rosemary Murphy) tries to put the victim on trial, and Montgomery's reputation and marriage (to Ronny Cox) are irrevocably damaged. Though things don't go well for her in the courtroom, Montgomery emerges from the experience a stronger and more self-reliant person, unwilling to allow herself to be destroyed by outside influences. Don't miss the final confrontation between raper and rapist after the trial--an underplayed but bone-chilling vignette. Had not Cicely Tyson sewn up the Emmy with The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Elizabeth Montgomery would certainly have copped the prize with A Case of Rape. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Jason Robards Jr. superbly re-creates his Broadway role in this 1965 film version of Herb Gardner's play. Robards plays Murray Burns, head writer of TV's popular Chuckles the Chipmunk show. Fed up with the rat race, Murray quits his job and retreats to his cluttered Manhattan apartment, where he carries on a nonconformist, laissez-faire existence with his 12-year-old nephew Nick (Barry Gordon). Though they're as close as father and son, Robards has never gotten around to legally adopting Nick, which brings him to the attention of social workers Sandra (Barbara Harris) and Albert (William Daniels). While Albert is disgusted by Murray's irreverence, Sandra falls in love with the free-spirited writer. Teaming up with Nick, Sandra tries to convince Murray to get another job. Arnold Burns (Oscar-winner Martin Balsam), Murray's agent-brother, is amused by his sibling's independence, but can find no work for him. Desperate not to lose Nick to the authorities, Murray offers to go back to Chuckles the Chipmunk -- aka Leo (Gene Saks), a neurotic bug who bullies his staff and hates kids. Young Nick is disillusioned by Murray's willingness to conform, and he throws an uncharacteristic temper tantrum. But the boy comes around to Murray's sudden realization that compromise is sometimes necessary if it's for the sake of someone you love. While the central message of A Thousand Clowns may grate on some viewers, the film is saved by the exuberance of the cast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Robards, Jr., Barbara Harris, (more)
- 1981
- R
Gene Hackman plays a disgruntled suburbanite who manages the Ultra-Sav, an all-night drugstore. He hates his job, hates his debts and responsibilities, and isn't overly fond of his wife (Diane Ladd) and son (Dennis Quaid). Partly as a form of protest, Hackman enters into an affair with Barbra Streisand, one of his wife's distant relatives (don't ask how she's related - it takes Hackman about thirty seconds to explain it to another character). Streisand doesn't belong in this picture at all, but she can be forgiven her acting excesses because she wasn't the first choice for the role anyway (Lisa Eichhorn dropped out just before shooting began). The best moments in All Night Long involve the steady stream of oddballs and losers who trickle into Hackman's establishment. There is also a cute Apocalypse Now parody involving a battery-operated toy helicopter. The principal attraction of All Night Long is Gene Hackman playing an endearingly recognizable modern type. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Hackman, Barbra Streisand, (more)
- 1992
Hard-boiled San Francisco police detective Captain Mike Stone returns to his old beat in order to find the crook who killed his partner (played during the 1972- 1977 series by Michael Douglas, whose scenes are taken from clips of the original series) in this crime drama. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Karl Malden
- 1978
Nice to see veteran hardcase character actor Charles Napier in a leading role, even if it's in something as eminently forgettable as Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus. The eponymous Big Bob (Napier) is head man of a spit-and-vinegar auto racing team. Bob's aggregation makes a brief pit stop to save a deserving young man from being swindled by his devious uncle (William Daniels). The upshot of all this is a cross-country race between two souped-up Rolls Royce. Aimed squarely at the Smokey and the Bandit crowd, the made-for-TV Big Bob Johnson debuted June 27, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Napier
Bruce Dern is ideally cast as Lander, a crazed Vietnam veteran, in Black Sunday. Lander joins terrorists Dahlia (Marthe Keller) and Fasil (Bekim Fehmu) in a plot to create a bloodbath at the annual Super Bowl. Piloting the ubiquitous Goodyear blimp, Lander is to ram the aircraft into the capacity Orange Bowl crowd, then fire thousands of poisoned darts into the fleeing spectators. Israeli military officer Kabakov (Robert Shaw) struggles to thwart Lander's plan before it comes to fruition. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Shaw, Bruce Dern, (more)
Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, and Will Arnett headline this high-concept comedy concerning two male figure-skating rivals aching to compete despite having been banned from the sport. Their medals stripped after getting into a highly publicized fight at the World Championships, star figure skaters Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Heder) are barred from ever competing in the sport again. Upon discovering a loophole that will allow them to perform together in the pairs figure skating category, the two athletes determine to put their differences aside in order to pursue their gold medal aspirations. Amy Poehler, Jenna Fischer, Craig T. Nelson, and Rob Corddry co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, (more)
- 1979
The 8-hour TV miniseries Blind Ambition was originally telecast May 20 through 23, 1979. This 105-minute feature-film version, prepared in 1982, seems a bit rushed at times, but overall does a credible and coherent job of storytelling. Based on John Dean's book Blind Ambition, with elements of Maureen Dean's Mo woven in by screenwriter Stanley R. Greenberg, this is the saga of the Watergate affair, as experienced by Dean (Martin Sheen) and hia wife Maureen (Theresa Russell). As the Nixon administration goes down in flames, the Deans' marriage is sorely tested-as is Dean's success-at-any-price credo. Rip Torn plays Nixon like something out of a Greek Tragedy; some viewers accepted his interpretation, others found it jarringly inaccurate. Others in the cast of "usual suspects" include Michael Callan as Charles Colson, Lonny Chapman as L. Patrick Gray, William Daniels as G. Gordon Liddy, Fred Grandy as Donald Segretti, Christopher Guest as Jeb Magruder, Lawrence Pressman as H. R. Haldeman, William Windom as Richard Kleindienst, James Greene as E. Howard Hunt, Logan Ramsey as J. Edgar Hoover, and Al Checco as judge John Sirica. Also known as The John Dean Story, Blind Ambition earned two Emmy nominations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Sheen, Theresa Russell, (more)
When speaking of Laurel and Hardy's first feature film Pardon Us, Stan Laurel described it as "a three-story building on a one-story base"-in other words, a 2-reeler stretched and bloated into 6 reels. Much the same could be said of Blake Edwards's Blind Date, though one wonders if Stan Laurel could have even gotten two reels out of its wafer-thin premise. At the outset, yuppie Bruce Willis is warned not to let his blind date, southern belle Kim Basinger, drink anything stronger than lemonade. So what does Willis do the first chance he gets? That's right, kids; he plies poor Basinger with champagne. And then he wonders why his life rapidly goes to hell in a handbasket. In his first starring movie role, Bruce Willis manages to find all sorts of nuances in his one-note role, while Kim Basinger is very funny when she's blotto-at least, for the first five minutes or so. John Laroquette costars as a character straight out of a 1920s bedroom farce; he's also pretty good, even though his dialogue is numbingly unamusing. Blake Edwards is famous for his ability to make a lot out of a little...but there has to be a limit somewhere. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kim Basinger, Bruce Willis, (more)
Series protagonist Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) is all of 11 years old as Boy Meets World launches its first season, but even at that tender age he has drawn up what he considers a definitive list of friends and enemies. In the "friends" column are his best friends, Topanga (Danielle Fishel), Shawn (Rider Strong), and Stuart (Lee Norris) -- whose last name changes from Lempke to Minkus early on because of a legal entanglement. Looming large in the "enemies" column is Cory's least favorite teacher, the highly demanding and unpredictable George Feeny (William Daniels) -- and worse still, Mr. Feeny lives right next door to Cory's family! A few facts about season one of Boy Meets World: the character of Nicholas (Chauncey Leopoldi) was supposed to have been a regular as one of Cory's school pals, but the part was minimized as the season rolled on; conversely, Topanga Lawrence, introduced in the fourth episode ("Cory's Alternative Friends") was intended to be a minor character, but her status was suddenly elevated after she and Cory shared their first on-screen kiss! A handful of other characters make their first-and-only Boy Meets World appearances during the series' freshman season: "Grandma Was a Rolling Stone" features Rue McClanahan as Cory's grandmother Bernice and a very young Keri Russell as Feeny's niece Jessica; and "She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not" marks the only apperance of Topanga's sister Nebula (Krystee Clark). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Savage, Rider Strong, (more)
Season two of Boy Meets World evidently takes place two years after season one, because series protagonist Cory Matthews (Ben Savage), an 11-year-old attending sixth grade in the first season, has now become a 13-year-old high school freshman. Likewise aging rather rapidly are Cory's best friend Shawn (Rider Strong) and erstwhile girlfriend Topanga (Danielle Fishel), who are also launching their first year at John Adams High School. Also on hand -- much to Cory's dismay -- is his least favorite elementary school teacher Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) who has been appointed principal of John Adams. Incidentally, this plot development represents one of the many in-jokes pervading Boy Meets World: William Daniels had played president John Adams in both the Broadway and film versions of the musical 1776. Another excellent example of this strain of humor can be found in the second season episode "Who's Afraid of Cory Wolf," in which Phyllis Diller guest stars as a gypsy woman named Madame Ouspenskaya -- an homage to actress Maria Ouspenskaya, who essayed the same type of role in the original Wolf Man movies of the '40s! But getting back to Boy Meets World, season two ushers in several new recurring characters: high school bully Harley Keiner (Danny McNulty); Cory's new buddies Joey (Blake Soper) and Frank (Ethan Suplee) -- aka "The Rat" and "The Enforcer"; and the school's coolest teacher, Mr. Hunter (Anthony Tyler Quinn), who favors leather jackets and drives a motorcycle, Fonzie-style. Also, this season introduces the kids' favorite after school hangout, Chubbie's Malt Shoppe. Perhaps the most noteworthy plot development this season is the desertion of Shawn Hunter, whose truck driver dad heads off for parts unknown to search for Shawn's runaway mom. As a result, Shawn moves out of his trailer park home and into the Matthews household, the first of many relocations for this nervously nomadic character. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Savage, Rider Strong, (more)
Just as seasons one and two of Boy Meets World were seemingly separated by a two year time lapse, so too does season three apparently begin two years after the previous season. How else can one explain how Cory Matthews (Ben Savage), Shawn Hunter (Rider Strong), and Topanga Lawrence (Danielle Fishel) have suddenly surged ahead in age from 13 to 15 years old? Most of the familiar faces are back in their familiar roles this season, with one noteworthy exception. Lily Nicksay, who had played Cory's kid sister Morgan during the first two seasons, has been replaced by Lindsay Ridgeway, who makes her debut as Morgan in the episode "A Kiss Is More Than a Kiss." In other developments, Cory is cold shouldered by Topanga after impulsively telling her he loves her, whereupon he begins dating Melissa (Anndi McAfee) on the rebound. Shawn has moved in with high school teacher Mr. Turner (Anthony Tyler Quinn), who has become his legal guardian. School bully Harley Keiner (Danny McNulty), written out of the series at the end of season two, returns (ostensibly from reform school) for one last appearance in "He Said, She Said." And Cory's school chum Joey (Blake Soper) drops out of sight, not to appear again until the fifth season finale episode "Graduation." Season three's many highlights include another of the series' pure fantasy episodes, "I Was a Teenage Spy," in which Cory is electronically transported back to the '50s -- where he meets former Happy Days regulars Tom Bosley, Anson Williams, and Pat Morita! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Savage, Rider Strong, (more)
- 1996
Season four of Boy Meets World finds the now 16-year-old Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) still trying to make sense of the world around him and the people in it. More specifically, Cory's relationship with classmate Topanga Lawrence (Danielle Fishel) has gone far beyond mere friendship...but is he willing to risk her anger and scorn by once more declaring his love? Elsewhere, John Adams High School's coolest teacher Mr. Turner (Anthony Tyler Quinn) is no longer on the series, his absence explained away as the result of a serious motorcycle accident. Since Turner had been the legal guardian of Cory's best friend Shawn Hunter (Rider Strong), Shawn has no choice but to move back in with his irresponsible truck driver father Chet (Blake Clark). Also, Cory's older brother Eric is having trouble gaining admittance to the college of his choice, forcing him to make some serious decisions about the future. Similarly, Cory's dad Alan (William Russ) has begun asking himself if he really, truly wants to spend the rest of his life working in a grocery store. And finally, Cory loses track of another longtime buddy when the character of Frankie (Ethan Suplee) is written out of the series, not to return until the fifth season finale episode "Graduation." Of the many fourth season Boy Meets World episodes, a handful are standouts, notably the Christmas episode "Easy Street," featuring comedy legends Buddy Hackett and Soupy Sales; and the two-part "A Long Walk to Pittsburgh," wherein Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film version of Romeo and Juliet, appears as Topanga's Aunt Prudence. And we mustn't forget the first appearance of Bonnie Bartlett as Ms. Bolander, Dean of Admissions at Penbrook College -- and future wife of the redoubtable high school principal Mr. Feeny (played by Bonnie Bartlett's real-life husband William Daniels). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Savage, Rider Strong, (more)
- 1997
When Boy Meets World began its ABC run in 1993, hero Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) and his friends Shawn (Rider Strong) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) were all 11-year-old sixth graders. But as the series launched its fifth season in the fall of 1997, Cory, Shawn, and Topanga had all miraculously aged to the point that they were high school seniors! As Cory prepares to culminate his high school career, his older brother Eric (Will Friedle) heads off to Penbrook College, there to be introduced to his new roommate Jack Newman (Matthew Lawrence) -- who happened to be the long-lost half brother of Cory's best pal Shawn Hunter. At first hostile towards Jack, Shawn ends up moving in with his brother and with Eric. In the episode "Boy Meets Real World," the notoriously fickle and faithless Shawn finds true and lasting love in the form of Angela Moore (Trina McGee-Davis). In other developments, irascible high school principal Feeny (William Daniels) falls in love with Penbrook's Dean of Admissions, Ms. Bolander (played by Daniels' real life wife Bonnie Bartlett). And after innumerable roadblocks and setbacks, the romance between Cory and Topanga seems destined for a happy ending when, in the season finale, Topanga proposes to Cory at their high school graduation ceremony. Among the highlights during season five are a brace of crossover episodes: "The Witches of Penbrook" finds Melissa Joan Hart reprising the title character of her own series, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and "No Guts, No Cory" represents Boy Meets World's contribution to an experiment conducted by ABC, in which all of the network's Friday night TGIF sitcoms were linked together for one memorable evening by a single theme. And on a more serious note, the episode "If You Can't Be With the One You Love..." addresses the issue of teen drinking, with series star Ben Savage appearing as himself at the end of the episode, delivering a public service announcement for the National Clearinghouse of Alcohol and Drug Information. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Savage, Rider Strong, (more)
- 1998
Season six of Boy Meets World instantly resolves the cliffhanger ending of season five, with 18-year-old Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) saying yes to the marriage proposal delivered by his childhood sweetheart Topanga Lawrence (Danielle Fishel) -- though he balks when Topanga suggests that they elope immediately! Having both graduated from John Adams High School, Cory and Topanga enroll at nearby Penbrook College, where Cory's brother Eric (Will Friedle) is entering his sophomore year. Cory's pal Shawn (Rider Strong) has moved out of the apartment he shares with Eric and Jack Newman (Matthew Lawrence), whereupon Eric and Jack welcome a new roomie in the very attractive form of no-nonsense, take-charge Rachel McGuire (Maitland Ward). Elsewhere, Cory's mother Amy (Betsy Randle) gives birth to her fourth child, a boy named Joshua; and former John Adams High principal Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) contemplates retirement, but moves back to town to ask for the hand of Ms. Bolander (Bonnie Bartlett). The season finale takes place at the wedding of Feeny and Bolander, during which a tearful Topanga, unnerved by the impending divorce of her parents, is on the verge of breaking off her engagement with Cory. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Savage, Rider Strong, (more)
- 1999
The seventh and final season of Boy Meets World opens on a less than lighthearted note, with Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) and Topanga Lawrence (Danielle Fishel) having broken off their engagement, and Cory's pal Shawn Hunter (Rider Strong) splitting up with his sweetie Angela Moore (Trina McGee-Davis). Eventually however, at least one of the couples patches things up, and Cory and Topanga are married in the appropriately titled episode "It's About Time." Later on, the newlyweds move to New York, where Topanga has accepted an internship. Back in Philadelphia, Cory's brother Eric (Will Friedle) exhibits a heretofore carefully hidden streak of responsibility as he and his roomie Jack (Matthew Lawrence) take over management of the student union at Penbrook College. In many ways, this turn of events is even more unbelievable than season seven's obligatory fantasy episode "As Time Goes By," in which the series regulars are recast as the characters from the 1942 film classic Casablanca. Without giving away too many details regarding the series finale, it can be noted that Angela moves to Europe to be nearer to her father; Shawn and Jack join the Peace Corps; and Cory's longtime friendly enemy, school principal George Feeny (William Daniels), delivers the poignant curtain speech. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Savage, Rider Strong, (more)
- 1980
In his last appearance before the cameras, David Janssen plays an alcoholic journalist desperate for a comeback. Janssen hitches his star to ruthless publisher Robert Vaughn, who is exploiting a rash of brutal murders to sell papers. The danger here is that the unknown serial killer, who preys upon beautiful young women, is rapidly becoming a media celebrity--and may be prompted to continue killing just to see his name in print. Beyond its own potential for sensationalism, City in Fear raises several provocative questions about the responsibility (and culpability) of the press. For its March 30, 1980 premiere, City in Fear was given a two hour and fifty minute timeslot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
This TV movie consists of two episodes of Galactica 1980 edited together. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1980
More formally known as Father Damien: The Leper Priest, this made-for-TV biopic stars a heavily-wigged Ken Howard in the title role. Father Damien was a Belgian priest who, in 1873, was assigned a far-from-desirable congregation: the leper colony of Molokai in the Hawaiian islands. At first appalled by the colony and its denizens, Damien devoted his life to administering to their needs and improving their living conditions. He died in 1889 at the age of 49, having long earlier contacted leprosy himself. When originally telecast October 27, 1980, Damien: The Leper Priest was dedicated to the memory of David Janssen, who before his death was slated to portray Father Damien. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Dick Van Dyke is the Drop-Out Father in this lighthearted TV movie. A successful but unsatisfied insurance executive, Van Dyke decides one day to kick over the traces. As his wife (Mariette Hartley) and family listen in fascinated horror, our hero announces his plans to move from the suburbs to a Manhattan loft, there to "find himself." With the exception of his loyal youngest daughter, Van Dyke's family elects to stay put, permitting him to carve out a new life on his own. Peter Matz won an Emmy nomination for his sprightly musical score. Originally telecast September 17, 1982, Drop-Out Father was followed in 1988 by a made-for-TV sequel, innovatively titled Drop-Out Mother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1948
In this family farce, an older couple falls in love and decide to marry and embark upon a peaceful honeymoon without the bride's three bratty children. Unfortunately, the way things work out, the whole family ends up tagging along. The little darlings are less than pleased that their widowed mother has remarried and behave as monstrously as possible. Eventually their frustrated step-daddy has his fill and gives each of the brats a well-deserved licking. After a major quarrel, they each return home alone. Meanwhile a sly seductress who has her eye on the husband for a while, and who just happened to be staying at the same hotel, rushes back home and plans a little party designed to further humiliate the bride. Fortunately, a change of heart scuttle's the vixen's plans and happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, (more)
- 1976
Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy is a TV dramatization of the notorious Cold War incident of 1960. The story is told from the point of view of Powers (Lee Majors), an American pilot who was shot down over Russia while taking photographs on behalf of the CIA. The event occurs just before a crucial summit meeting between American President Dwight D. Eisenhower (James Flavin) and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev (Thayer David). Eisenhower tries to cover up the incident, allowing Khrushchev to make propagandistic hay of the whole affair. Robert E. Thompson's teleplay tends to depict the Americans as jerks, and the Russians as essentially good guys; even Powers' Soviet interrogator, portrayed by Nehemiah Persoff, comes off comparatively sympathetic. Also in the cast are Noah Beery as Powers' father and Lew Ayres as Allen Dulles. Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy was originally telecast September 29, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A frustrated writer helps save a woman being railroaded by the law -- or is she? -- in this comic mystery with romantic overtones. Phil Blackwood (Tom Selleck) is a best-selling mystery novelist who has run into a bad case of writer's block. Hoping to find inspiration for his next book, Phil goes to the city courthouse and witnesses the arraignment of Nina Ionescu (Paulina Porizkova), a beautiful Romanian immigrant who is accused of killing a man with a pair of scissors. For Phil, it's love at first sight, and after sneaking into jail disguised as a priest, he makes her an offer. Phil offers to let her stay at his house, and he provides her with an alibi -- she can claim that she couldn't have committed the crime, because she was with him at the time of the attack. Nina agrees, but after Phil encounters a handful of dangerous foreign agents, Nina's acrobatic parents, and a highly suspicious district attorney, he begins to wonder if Nina might have committed the murder after all. Her Alibi also features William Daniels as Sam, and James Farentino as Frank Polito; the song "Falling In Love" was written and recorded for the film by Randy Newman. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Selleck, Paulina Porizkova, (more)
- 1989
The controversial case of a black man killed in Howard Beach, a working-class all white neighborhood of Queens, NY provides the basis of this docudrama. Much of the story centers around the attempts of Joe Hynes, the state prosecutor to bring the case to trial. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
