James Brolin Movies
When James Brolin was 15, his parents invited Hollywood producer/director William Castle to dinner. Impressed by Brolin's self-confidence and teen-idol looks, Castle invited him to audition for a film role at Columbia Pictures. When he failed to land the part, Brolin decided to "show 'em" by studying diligently for an acting career, eventually logging 5,000 hours of class time. While still attending U.C.L.A., he landed a small role on the Bus Stop TV series, which led to a 20th Century Fox contract. For the next five years, he marked time with bits and minor roles in such Fox features as Take Her, She's Mine (1963), Goodbye Charlie (1964), Von Ryan's Express (1965), Our Man Flint (1966), and Fantastic Voyage (1966). His first real break came with a peripheral but noticeable recurring role on the 1966 TV Western The Monroes.In 1968, Brolin finally attained stardom with his Emmy-winning characterization of Dr. Steve Kiley on the popular TV medical series Marcus Welby, M.D. During his five years with Welby, Brolin returned to films to play such choice roles as the unbalanced Vietnam vet in Skyjacked (1972) and ill-fated vacationer John Blaine in Westworld (1973). The most conspicuous of his post-Welby film assignments was 1976's Gable and Lombard, a cinematic atrocity redeemed only slightly by Brolin's earnest portrayal of Clark Gable. His most endearing screen assignment was his extended cameo as P.W. in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985), and in 1992 he had one of his strongest roles to date as a wayward father in Allison Anders' Gas Food Lodging. Periodically returning to television, Brolin has starred on the weekly series Hotel (1983), Angel Falls (1993), and Extremities (1995). James Brolin is the father of actor Josh Brolin, who co-starred with his dad in the made-for-cable Finish Line (1989). In 1998, Brolin assumed one of his most high-profile real-life roles to date as the husband of Barbra Streisand, whom he married in July of that year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2010
David O. Russell (I Heart Huckabees) directs this politically minded romantic comedy starring Jessica Biel as a small-town waitress who heads to Washington, D.C., to lobby for health care after getting a nail shot in her head. Jake Gyllenhaal co-stars as a dimwitted congressman, with the rest of the cast headed by James Marsden, Catherine Keener, and Tracy Morgan. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Biel, (more)
- 2007
Director/screenwriter Stewart Raffill interweaves the modern world tales of ancient mystical cults by detailing the mysterious relationship between a wealthy film producer and the hypnotically beautiful siren who seems to drift between his dreams and his waking consciousness. Startled to find an ethereal beauty pushed onto the shore of his vast beach estate by a friendly dolphin, film producer Michael Pace brings the girl to safety before phoning the local doctor and police. Later, after all involved determine that the unidentified woman is in good health, she awakens without any knowledge of either her past or identity. That night, after Michael and his strange visitor engage in a rapturous night of sensual bliss, the enamored producer invites the girl to join him for brunch on his friend's yacht. The heated relationship between the passionate pair quickly takes an unexpected turn, however, when Michael's wife shows up at the brunch and the producer is forced to leave the girl in the care of his salacious friend Harry Sugar. Upon awakening the following morning, it appears to Michael as if the events of the previous day had been nothing but a vivid dream. Though he begins to suspect that his encounter with the girl was all a figment of his imagination, Michael is troubled to learn that Harry's yacht has been discovered drifting far into the ocean waters - it's missing captain nowhere to be found. When Michael discovers a video of Harry making out with the woman on the boat, a quick investigation reveals that there has recently been a series of unexplained disappearances involving beautiful women. A film producer who is constantly on the lookout for inspiration, Michael is subsequently inspired to turn his bizarre, seemingly supernatural experience into a movie. As the auditions get underway, an actress who is the spitting image of the disappearing beauty tries out for the role and Michael quickly finds the film reaching deep into his family past, and far into an unknown future. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Brolin, Antonio Sabato, Jr., (more)
- 2005
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The International Bible Society and Pathway Media team to bring viewers the very best of the Bible in the most historically accurate manner possible with this film shot on location in Morocco, Tunisia, and South Africa and designed to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. A film that offers both entertainment value and spiritual nourishment, Acts offers a verbatim translation of one of the Bible's most compelling tales and stars James Brolin as Peter, Dean Jones as Luke, and Jennifer O'Neill as Lydia. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dean Jones, Henry O. Arnold, (more)
- 2005
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A series of devastating storms are leveling major cities across the globe, and it's up to discredited scientist Faith Clavell (Shannon Doherty), dedicated storm chaser Tommy Tornado (Randy Quaid), and the FEMA head Judith Carr (Gina Gerson) to journey into the eye of the storm and find out just why mother nature has turned so violently on mankind in the shocking sequel to 2004's weather-gone-wild thriller Category 6: Day of Destruction. An unprecedented Category Six storm has leveled the Eiffel Tower and reduced the Great Pyramids to rubble, and as the pitch black funnel clouds lay waste to anything and everything in their path, three dedicated heroes attempt to discover whether the malevolent weather is the cause of global warming, or something far more sinister. When a vengeful gang of terrorists threaten to use the storms to their advantage by staging a large scale attack the likes of which the world has never seen, it seems as if it very well may be the end of the world. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gina Gershon, Cameron Daddo, (more)
- 2005
Although the death of the wife of millionaire Las Vegas casino owner Daniel Thorn (James Brolin) has been ruled accidental by the local authorities, Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), who's in Vegas to attend a bachelor party, suspects foul play--and accordingly, calls Monk (Tony Shalhoub) onto the scene. Monk agrees that Mrs. Thorn's demise was no accident, but is stymied by a contradictory clue: How could the victim have been heard screaming for her life if she died of strangulation? And elsewhere in Sin City, Stottlemeyer's assistant Lt. Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) is trying his luck at the blackjack table--but the luck is all bad until Monk shows up and pulls a "Rain Man" with his photographic memory! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Although the made-for-cable drama Widow on the Hill was based on a true story, the film bears a strong resemblance to the 1947 Joan Crawford theatrical feature Possessed. Natasha Henstridge stars as Linda Dupree, an ambitious hospice nurse who marries Hank Cavanaugh (James Brolin), the very wealthy widower of one of Linda's former patients. Hank enrages his grown daughters by quickly installing Linda in the family's luxurious Virginia mansion, and even more so when he gives his new wife the most precious possessions of his former spouse. Not long afterward, Hank himself falls seriously ill and dies, leaving Linda one of the richest women in Virginia -- and also arousing suspicions that she not only knocked off Hank, but his first wife as well! More questions than answers are offered in this heavy-breathing melodrama, which made its Lifetime network debut on January 24, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Natasha Henstridge, James Brolin, (more)
After being pulled from CBS amid a flurry of controversy, The Reagans was finally aired on Showtime and went on to earn Golden Globe nominations for its stars, James Brolin and Judy Davis. Directed by Robert Allan Ackerman (Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows) and based on a book by Carl Sferrazza Anthony, the film offers an intimate and some may say scathing look at the family behind one of the 20th century's most hotly debated presidencies. Also starring John Stamos and Zeljko Ivanek, the made-for-television biography is unrated. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judy Davis, James Brolin, (more)
- 2000
Set in Arizona (but filmed in Alberta), the made-for-TV thriller Children of Fortune stars James Brolin as Navy detective Dave Passenger. Assigned to investigate the murder of a sailor's girlfriend, Dave follows the trail of evidence to a small Arizona community where polygamy is still being practiced. Along for the ride is Passenger's estranged 15-year-old daughter Erica (Amanda Fuller), who has been invited to participate in the investigation by Dave in the hope that he can mend a few family fences while tracking down the culprit. Virginia Madsen appears in the role of the secretive Ingrid Bast, wife of the local sheriff (Michael Moriarty). Children of Fortune made its CBS broadcast debut on November 1, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
This romantic made-for-television drama is based on a novel by Georgia Brockoven and tells the story of a boy who dreams of having a complete set of parents and the two very-different adults who love him enough to grant his wish. The child's mother died when he was an infant, and since then he has been raised by his mother's sister Chris (Jane Seymour). Before he came along, she was a work-obsessed career woman. Seven years after taking custody of the boy, his father Mason (James Brolin), of whom his real mother had never spoken, shows up and sues for custody. The boy likes both of them and in court comes up with an outrageous solution. Rather than having to divide his time between the two, he suggests they marry. On the surface, Chris and Mason are polar opposites, but out of love for the child, they marry and much to their surprise find that their sacrifice has planted the seeds of lasting love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jane Seymour, James Brolin, (more)
- 1997
Jackie accuses Roseanne of being attracted to Edgar Wellman (James Brolin), Mark (Glenn Quinn) gives D.J. advice about Heather (Heather Matarazzo), and Roseanne enjoys a fantasy of herself as Evita and Edgar as Juan Peron. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Roseanne and Jackie go to a luncheon at the Lanford Country Club, where they meet the son of their old boss: Edgar Wellman Jr. (James Brolin) of the Wellman Plastics factory. It appears that the factory is in need of financial help and Roseanne's money could save the factory. Part one of a two-part episode. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
This United States/Philippine co-production examines how the real-life closing of the U.S. naval base at Subic Bay profoundly effected both the local Filipino community and the Americans who had served there. As the base's operations slowly wind down and naval manpower begins to dwindle, Commander Hamilton (Wolfgang Bodison) relies on three Navy SEALs to help keep the base secure. William Hawk (John Haymes Newton), a longtime soldier nearing the end of a tour of duty, is involved with Lisa Velasquez (Nannette Medved), a representative of the Mayor's office in nearby Olongapo City. Lisa has to deal with the economic crisis that the base's closing will doubtlessly bring to her community, as well as her own personal problems brought on by William's imminent departure and the strained relationship of her mother Anna (Daria Ramirez) and stepfather Ed (James Brolin). Paul Bladon (Alexis Arquette), another SEAL with the Subic Bay base, is the son of a U.S. Senator (Michael York), who will be visiting Subic Bay for the base's closing ceremonies. Sen. Bladon is bringing along Paul's girlfriend Angela (Maureen Flannigan), though Paul has fallen in love with Emma (Alma Concepcion), a former prostitute who now plans to marry Paul. The third SEAL, John Stryzack (Corin Nemec), is furious over what he sees as America's betrayal of its responsibilities in the Philippines; he winds up behind bars after a violent incident, but he plans to escape to assassinate Sen. Bladon, whom he believes is responsible for the closing of the base. Rae Dawn Chong also appears as a U.S. military investigator. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Three makes for a dangerous crowd in this darkly comic crime story. Convicted murderer Lewis (Salvator Xuereb) breaks out of prison with Clark (Dan Gunther), who is doing time for computer fraud. The escapees are heading to New Mexico in search of a secret map to a gold mine that was hidden by a prisoner who recently met with a fatal accident. Clark, however, doesn't like Lewis, and Lewis only has Clark around because he's functionally illiterate and needs help reading maps. Meanwhile, George (Rose McGowan), a young woman who never speaks, has hit the highway after lifting the $10,000 that she and her boyfriend Fred (Art LaFleur) were given for a shipment of drugs that they never actually delivered. After Lewis impulsively shoots one person too many, Clark strikes out on his own, and while hitchhiking, he gets picked up by George, who has stolen a car and has a poisonous snake for protection. George learns about Clark's secret gold mine, and eager to get on his good side, she seduces him. While George spells "trouble" so clearly that she should have the word tattooed on her forehead, Clark falls for her like the proverbial ton of bricks; Lewis also finds "romance" of his own with a sleazy woman he meets in a trailer park before meeting up with Clark at the location of the hidden map. Deciding that they work better as a team, Lewis and Clark head out to Mexico in search of the gold, with George tagging along, but what they don't know is that Fred has been following her, convinced that George still has his money. This was Rose McGowan and Salvator Xuereb's second film together, after appearing in Gregg Araki's post-modern road movie The Doom Generation. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rose McGowan, Salvator Xuereb, (more)
- 1996
In this feature-length episode, the world's most wealthy and beautiful pair of amateur detectives go Down Under to buy a wildlife preserve and end up solving a murder mystery. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1996
While being escorted to prison from Phoenix to New York, crazed killer Peter Cronin (Anthony Michael Hall) hijacks a commercial jet in flight with the help of accomplices. Holding the 200 passengers and the crew members hostage, Cronin forces the plane to land in Dallas, then demands another, more powerful aircraft for the last leg of his escape. As FBI agent Frank Layton (Perry King) and detective Deni Patton (Ally Sheedy) attempt to negotiate with Cronin, time runs perilously short for the hostages, who know that the killer isn't bluffing when he threatens to kill one prisoner per hour unless his demands are met. A curious reunion for former Breakfast Club costars Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy, the made-forTV Hijacked: Flight 285--which is so weighed down with the "backstories" of the many characters that it could well have been retitled "The High and the Mighty at Gunpoint"--made its ABC network debut on February 4, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Brolin, Perry King, (more)
- 1996
Knowing that her daughter will die without a bone marrow transplant, a mother is forced to face up to her past mistakes and find the child she gave up years before in hopes of finding a donor match. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patty Duke, Tracey Gold, (more)
- 1995
In this psychological thriller, James Brolin plays David, the head of a large corporation who goes on a winter retreat with his wife Claire (played by Kelly LeBrock) in tow. One of the underlings in the company, Patrick (Wolf Larson), desperately wants David out of the way; in a fit of rage, he snaps and kidnaps Claire, torturing her until David can come to her rescue. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelly LeBrock, James Brolin, (more)
- 1994
A sex therapist is forced to turn detective to keep herself out of prison in this steamy thriller. Journalist Shoshona Reed (Elizabeth Sandifer) has a knack for digging up incriminating information -- enough so that she's begun blackmailing a number of people and threatening to run incriminating stories about them if they don't pay up. Shoshona is a client of sex therapist Rebecca Mathis (Shannon Tweed), and when Shoshona is killed, Rebecca becomes a suspect in the murder investigation. To save her own skin, Rebecca begins investigating Shoshona's death, and she discovers that there are a number of people who might have wanted her dead, including Darrell Martine (Chad McQueen), a disturbed ex-convict, and Tom Mueller (Craig Stepp), a businessman with a secret. Indecent Behavior III followed this picture a year later. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Directed by Linda Yellen, this made-for-cable movie originally aired on the Showtime network and featured a star-studded cast including Dudley Moore, Liza Minelli, and James Belushi. The plot centers around several fraternity and sorority graduates who have decided to regroup at their alma mater. Nick (Belushi), a determined but gloomy reporter, attends on the sole hope of finding some good gossip. His highest hope lies within the career ties of his ex-lover Winnie (JoBeth Williams), who now serves as publicist to rising politician Rebecca Ferguson Stone (Patricia Wetig). Fellow alumni Charlie (Ben Gazzara) is returning for equally dishonest reasons--he's hoping to convince his ex Francie (Gena Rowlands) to pay off his gambling debts. Francie, however, has found herself more interested in bonding with a single mom/housekeeper (Ally Sheedy). All of their lives take a turn for the unexpected when the big man on campus mysteriously dies. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
