Daniel Haller Movies

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Quincy (Jack Klugman) races against time to locate and neutralize the mysterious neurological disease that has already claimed three lives on a luxury liner. Though some of the pasengers have managed to escape to shore, the ship is now quarantined and prohibited from docking at any port. Thus Quincy must not only stem the epidemic, but also track down those on dry land who may still be spreading it--and worse yet, his own girlfriend Janet (Diana Muldaur) is now gravely ill. Originally telecast over a two-week period, Slow Boat to Madness has since been syndicated as a single two-hour "TV movie." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A 1981 made-for-TV movie, Margin for Murder focuses on detective Mike Hammer. His investigation into a friend's murder eventually leads to a gang of smugglers. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, the Colonials have fallen under the spell of godlike alien Iblis (Patrick MacNee), who offers them safe passage to the 13th Colony in exchange for their total and unquestioning obedience. Once Iblis successfully brings the treacherous Baltar (John Colicos) to justice, the Colonials have no reason to question their sincerity. But Cmdr. Adama (Lorne Greene) is not so easily swayed--especially after witnessing Iblis' terrified reaction to the three shimmering balls of light which seem to be dogging his trail. A climactic confrontation with the Forces of Darkness caps this thrilling adventure. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Starbuck (Dirk Benedict) is startled when his former lover Aurora (Ana Alicia), whom he assumed to be dead, turns up very much alive on the Celestra, the Galactica support vessel helmed by Commander Kronus (Paul Fix). Urged on by Aurora, who claims that Kronus is a cruel dictator, Starbuck joins Apollo (Richard Hatch) in fomenting a mutiny against the Commander. But is Kronus truly as villainous as Aurora claims? "Take the Celestra" was later combined with the Battlestar Galactica episode "The Long Patrol" and reissued as the two-hour "TV movie" Space Casanova. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Though tenuously based on fact, High Midnight is the sort of TV movie that could only have been made in the fuzzy-headed 70s. David Birney is a blue-collar type whose wife and daughter are killed in a no-knock drug bust. Nasty narcotics officer Michael Connors refuses to admit that he's made a mistake. Connors tries to cover up his own ineptitude, and eventually targets Birney for elimination. With the help of sympathetic cop Christine Belford, Birney avenges his family's murder. It's not likely that a TV movie in which a narcotics cop is the villain will get much play in the 1990s, but High Midnight is a nonetheless fascinating time capsule. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The locale of Anna Sewell's 1906 novel Black Beauty was changed from England to Maryland in this five-part TV miniseries. Still, the script adheres to the basic chronology of the Sewell original. In Part One the wife of incapacitated farmer Tom Gray sells the frisky colt Black Beauty. In Part Two, first telecast February 1, 1978, Beauty does the "Lassie" bit by rescuing her new master (Cameron Mitchell) from a storm and locating a doctor for her expectant mistress (Diane Ladd). This episode ends with Beauty facing certain death, first from a fire, then from a fever. The remaining three 60-minute episodes of Black Beauty were broadcast on February 2, 3 and 4, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this sci-fi drama, pieced together from the Battlestar Galactica television series, handsome-hero Starbuck's womanizing gets him thrown into a space prison during a revolt. When the dreaded Cylons attack, real mayhem ensues, culminating in a special-effects-laden final battle. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Initially telecast September 9, 1978, A Double Life was the pilot film for the weekly TV series Sword of Justice. Dack Rambo stars as Jeff Cole, who has just spent three years in prison after being framed on an embezzlement charge. Swearing vengeance against the actual crook -- who was also responsible for his father's death -- Cole devotes his post-prison life to bringing to justice criminals beyond the reach of the life. Having learned a great deal about such underhanded activities as electronic bugging and lock-picking while in stir, Cole utilizes these talents for good rather than evil (shades of It Takes a Thief--and no wonder, since Glen A. Larson produced both series). Aiding Cole in his mission is his ex-cellmate Hector Ramirez (Bert Rosario), while federal agent Arthur Woods (Alex Courtney) spends most of his time trying to second-guess the elusive hero. Sword of Justice remained on the NBC prime time schedule until August 11, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lieutenant Kojak (Telly Savalas) investigates the death of police chemist Harry Sentman (Whit Bissell), seemingly in a hit-and-run accident, and becomes convinced it was murder. He finds a connection between the victim and the case of Joey Fiorello (Anthony Ponzini), a police detective serving a prison term for allegedly stealing the evidence in a drug case; and Aaron Fisk (Tige Andrews), a respectable businessman, and Fisk's son Max (Stephen Macht). The Fisks never crossed paths with the detective in his work, but the lieutenant discovers a very personal reason they have for wanting to destroy the officer. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

Things get personal for Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) when an undercover cop is found murdered, gangland style. Figuratively tossing the rule book out the window, Kojak sets his sights on bringing elusive crime boss Franco "Six Bits" Donatello (Harold J. Stone) to justice. Actress Diana Hyland, whose stellar career was tragically cut short by cancer one year after "A Grave Too Soon" first aired on March 7, 1976, plays a key role in this final episode of Kojak's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tony Musante has the unenviable task of portraying the least appealing paraplegic hero in TV-movie history in Desperate Miles. Musante plays Joe Larkin, a disabled Vietnam vet who wants to prove to the world that neither he nor his incapacitated brethren are helpless. To do this, he takes to the highway in his wheelchair, bound and determined to complete a 130-mile journey. His progress is threatened by a mean-tempered truck driver (John Chandler), who tailgates Larkin's chair, honks his horn, and screams things like "You think you're someone special?" Unfortunately, Larkin is such a strident and obnoxious character that the audience may be inclined to sympathize with the driver. This is not a hindsight observation: many critics turned thumbs down on the well-intentioned Desperate Miles when it was first broadcast on March 5, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After murdering the son of a retired hit man known as The Angel, ex-con Al Williams (William Elliott) leaves his own son (Jarrod Johnson) in the care of Chief Ironside (Raymond Burr). At first, the Chief is unaware of the child's identity, but a bit of adroit detective work reveals all. Now Ironside must search the length and breadth of San Francisco to locate Williams before "The Angel" wreaks his own brand of vengeance. Radio deejay Casey Kasem appears as a lab technician. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Three armed criminals invade a bank, take everyone inside hostage, and nervously await the arrival of a payroll truck. Among the hostages is Chief Ironside (Raymond Burr), who hopes to take advantage of the robbers' internal squabbling in order to play one against the other--but the thieves may be a bit too smart to fall for that trick. Reportedly based on a true story, this episode features a young actress named Kathleen Gackle, better known in later years as Kathleen Lloyd. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide