William Bryant Movies
Not to be confused with variety-show host Willie Bryant, American general purpose actor William Bryant kept busy in outdoors films. He was featured in such westerns as Ride Beyond Vengeance (1966), Heaven with a Gun (1969) and John Wayne's Chisum (1970). His additional non-western credits include Gable and Lombard (1976), Mountain Family Robinson (1977) (in a leading role) and Corvette Summer (1977). From 1976 through 1978, William Bryant costarred as Lieutenant Shilton on the Robert Wagner/Eddie Albert TV detective series Switch, and also appeared for a time as Lamont Corbin on the daytime serial General Hospital. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1989
In the first episode of Murder She Wrote's two-part Season Five finale, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) crosses swords with rival mystery writer Eudora McVeigh Shipton (Jean Simmons). Envious that Jessica's star has risen while hers has fallen, Eudora publicly declares that she intends to murder our heroine! But when Eudora shows up in Cabot Cove, she couldn't be more friendly or effusive towards Jessica. In fact, Eudora is even bearing a gift...a basket of big juicy apples.(Check the title of this episode and you'll see where this is going!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
- R
Nine Las Vegas showgirls are chosen to go fight terrorists in the Middle East (by distracting them?) in this under-par action drama with some nudity and sexual encounters. The son of a diplomat has been kidnapped by Arabs -- as usual cast in the role of villains -- who want to get their hands on the secrets for constructing a special nuclear weapon. It is the mission of the showgirls, should they accept it, to rescue the hostage, get a tan, and jump into that large shared bathtub as often as they can. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bainbridge Scott, Glen Hartford, (more)
- 1984
Veteran bank robber Garwood Huddle (Pat Hingle) escapes from prison--and since Garwood is an old friend of Higgins (John Hillerman), it is only logical that Magnum (Tom Selleck) should end up assisting Huddle in his flight. Fancying himself a modern-day Robin Hood, Huddle insists that he has escaped with the noblest of intentions: his grandson has been kidnapped, and he hopes to be the ransom by digging up a cache of cash he'd stolen back in the 1940s. But when the two men arrive at the burial site, it appears that someone has beaten them to it! Featured in the supporting cast is Nancy DeCarl, the real-life wife of series regular Larry Manetti--and listen for the voice of Phil Hartman as a TV newscaster. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
After literally getting away with murder, sadistic small-town bully Harry Moeller (Brion James) is himself shot to death. Six of Moeller's longtime victims step forward and confesses to the crime, which each man claiming to have taken one shot at the man with the same gun. With no way to determine which bullet was the fatal one, police chief Frank Ollano (John Anderson, happy to be rid of Moeller, is willing to write off his killing as self defense. But Quincy (Jack Klugman), who had appeared as a witness as Moeller's earlier murder trial, isn't about to let anyone get away with a second murder--even one that seems eminently justifiable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
- R
This slow-paced but impeccably stylish ghost story, set at the turn of the century, centers on the plight of elderly dowager Marianna (Sheelagh Gilbey), who is tormented nightly by the alleged specter of a young man roaming the corridors of her decrepit estate. After spotting a face in an old photograph that seems to match the old woman's description of the ethereal visitor, Marianna's sister (Nina Pitt) decides to undertake a bit of amateur ghost-hunting in the hope of revealing the haunting as a hoax. This Scotland-made sleeper from director Anna Thomas is somewhat reminiscent of The Innocents -- itself based on Henry James's "The Turn of the Screw" -- and boasts an excellent classical music score which perfectly complements the proceedings. Though the plot may be a bit too leisurely for more thrill-oriented tastes, The Haunting of M is an involving and intellectual mystery for the Masterpiece Theatre set. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sheelagh Gilbey, Nini Pitt, (more)
- 1980
In this third episode of a four-part story, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) starts making secret land investments so that he can remain in Hawaii for the rest of his life. Only one hitch: George still hasn't revealed his plans to wife Louise (Isabel Sanford). Well, actually, there are two hitches: While on a sailing trip around the islands, George and Tom Willis (Franklin Cover) become hopelessly lost. Originally, parts two and three of "The Jeffersons Go to Hawaii" were telecast in a single one-hour slot; since that time, the two episodes have been divided into separate half-hour segments for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1980
In this second episode of a four-part story, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) is determined to enjoy his Hawaiian vacation despite the fact that his in-laws Tom and Helen Willis (Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker) and his housekeeper, Florence (Marla Gibbs), are also in Hawaii. The tranquility and the restful climate does wonders for George's high blood pressure -- so much so that he starts making plans to remain in Hawaii permanently. But how will he break the news to his wife, Louise (Isabel Sanford)? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
Disgusted with city life, the family Robinson decides to chuck it all and head for the Rockies. There they find that rural living can be just as hectic, with hungry bears as well as the forestry service after them. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Logan, Susan Damante-Shaw, (more)
- 1979
This made-for-TV espionage thriller was approximately fourteen years too late for TV's "spy cycle". Dale Robinette plays a Bondlike secret agent, while Ralph Bellamy is the "M" counterpart. Robinette is assigned to solve the mystery of several UFO sightings in Utah. The instigator turns out to be an eco-villain (Patrick MacNee), who threatens to destroy the ozone layer unless he's paid one billion dollars within 48 hours. When Billion Dollar Threat failed to yield a weekly TV series, its producers revamped the project--and the result was the equally unsuccessful Once Upon a Spy (80). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Several episodes of the TV series were edited together to create this Battlestar Galactica full-length feature. The ship is stranded in space without fuel, and an impending attack by the Cylon robots must be stopped. Two commanders, Commander Adama (Lorne Green) and Commander Cain (Lloyd Bridges), have differing views on how to defeat their enemies. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1978
- PG
This tear-jerking sequel chronicles the further struggles and triumphs of former Olympic-hopeful downhill skier Jill Kinmont who was paralyzed in 1956 after a mishap during a race. This story picks up after she recovers from the death of the daredevil pilot who helped her come to grips with her quadriplegia. Though it has been difficult, Kinmont works hard to live a productive life. Things get even better when she begins a gentle romance with a loving truck driver. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marilyn Hassett, Timothy Bottoms, (more)
The Corvette Ken Dantley's (Mark Hamill) class has been restoring in their high-school shop class is nearly completely fixed up. One day, the students walk in and it is gone - apparently stolen. Ken is larking about in Las Vegas when he spies a car that looks suspiciously like the Corvette he knows so well. He begins looking for the car, but in the meantime Vanessa (Annie Potts), propositions him on the street. Intrigued, he follows the girl back to her van, which is equipped with a waterbed. She hopes to use the van as a travelling brothel, with herself as the bill of fare. Instead, she helps him look for the missing car, and as they search, the two of them fall in love. Though praised by critics, Mark Hamill's second starring feature did poorly at the box-office, and stalled his career. Corvette Summer marks the first star appearance by Annie Potts, perhaps better known for her role in the U.S. television show Designing Women. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Hamill, Annie Potts, (more)
- 1978
The Galactica's landing pods are set ablaze by a Cylon suicide attack. Adama (Lorne Greene) is seriously injured, and Boxey (Noah Hathaway) and Athena (Maren Jensen) are trapped on board the battlestar. Although Apollo (Richard Hatch) and Starbuck (Dirk Benedict) make a daring and treacherous spacewalk to save their comrades, it ultimately falls to Boomer (Herbert Jefferson Jr.) to rescue everyone. "Fire in Space" was later combined with the Battlestar Galactica episode "The Magnificent Warriors" and reissued as the two-hour "TV movie" Curse of the Cylons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, (more)
- 1977
A huge rainstorm traps Johnny (Randolph Mantooth) and Roy (Kevin Tighe) at Station 86. It turns out that the two paramedics are the only medical personnel in the area, as the storm causes major power failures and washed-out roads and bridges. Among the patients treated during the crisis are an old lady with a hip injury, a child suffering from bronchitis, a policeman struck by lightning, and a major traffic pile-up. Lindel Stuart guest stars as Dr. Slade, a psychiatrist who performs above and beyond the call of duty as the storm gets worse and worse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The insufferably rule-bound paramedic Craig Brice (James G. Richardson) makes himself even more obnoxious than usual when he gets his name in the newspapers. Brice's insatiable thirst for self-aggrandizing publicity drives John (Randolph Mantooth) and Roy (Kevin Tighe) crazy throughout the episode. Back on the job, the paramedics attempt to rescue a young girl from a backhoe, while simultaneously mollifying her apoplectic father; a babysitter suffers an anxiety attack when she tries to take care of too many kids at once, a hardware store catches fire, and a boy accidentally wounds himself with a pellet gun. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
After being involved in a fatal car accident, Dr. Brackett (Robert Fuller) is consumed by guilt over the fact that the father of a young girl has been killed--and the girl herself has seemingly gone into shock. Elsewhere, the emergency team is confronted by a raging ammonia fire, and a shootout in which a cop suffers chest pains. And on a lighter note, John (Randolph Mantooth) goes to extreme lengths to win a ticket-selling contest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When the nuclear submarine he captains is rammed by a freighter while surfacing in Atlantic waters just off the coast of Rhode Island, Navy Captain Paul Blanchard (Charlton Heston) is able to radio for help. However, his sub's condition calls for urgent attention. Downed in extremely deep water near an even deeper ocean trench, the sub is perched precariously in waters too deep for conventional rescue efforts and is in danger of plummeting into the ocean trench. When the sub's escape hatch is blocked by debris from an undersea earthquake, the situation becomes even grimmer. Despite assurances that all will be fine, Captain Bennet (Stacy Keach), who is coordinating the official Navy rescue effort, has already warned Blanchard's wife to expect the worst. However, another Navy captain (David Carradine), who is working on an experimental deep-sea exploratory vessel for the Navy, hears of the incident and volunteers his help. This story is based on the novel Event 1000 by David Lavalle. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlton Heston, David Carradine, (more)
- 1976
One of four dramatic miniseries carried by NBC under the blanket title Best Sellers, Captains and the Kings was adapted from a novel by Taylor Caldwell. Covering a time span from 1857 to 1912, this was the saga of the Irish-immigrant Armagh clan, with emphasis on the rags-to-riches career of Joseph Armagh (Richard Jordan). Achieving fame and prominence (if not full-fledged social acceptance) through a Byzantine series of investments in the oil industry, the elder Armagh was obsessed with the notion of having one of his sons become the first Irish-Catholic President of the United States (does this story sound vaguely familiar?). Along the way, Joseph and his offspring indulged in innumerable romantic liaisons, extramarital and otherwise. Featured in the all-star cast is Patty Duke Astin, who won an Emmy award for her portrayal of Bernadette Hennessey Armagh. Captains and the Kings was broadcast from September 30 to November 18, 1976 in seven installments, two of which ran 120 minutes, and the other six lasting 60 minutes -- a total of nine hours' air time in all. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The love affair between two of Hollywood's greatest stars of the 1930s and '40s is recounted in this biopic. Clark Gable (James Brolin), the tough but quick-witted leading man often called "the King of Hollywood," meets tart-tongued comic actress Carole Lombard (Jill Clayburgh) at a party, and while the attraction between them isn't immediate (in fact they hate each other at first), as fate keeps bringing them together, they fall deeply in love. Gable is married at the time, and studio chief Louis B. Mayer (Allen Garfield) is afraid that his affair with Lombard will lead to a scandal that will destroy the career of his most valuable star, but Gable and Lombard weather the storm of negative publicity, and after Gable's wife grants him a divorce, he marries Lombard. However, their happy marriage is cut short by Lombard's tragic death as she was selling defense bonds during World War II. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Brolin, Jill Clayburgh, (more)
- 1976
Newly married to Dr. Curt Willard (Tom Bower), Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) begins to doubt that she is worthy of her husband--especially when she faints dead away while helping him during surgery. Elsewhere, John-Boy (Richard Thomas) comes to regret selling land entrusted to him by Grandpa when it turns out the property is going to be used for hydraulic mining. And Rev. Fordwick's pregnant wife Rosemary (Mariclare Costello) suddenly goes into labor just as a rainstorm comes hammering down on Walton's Mountain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
This costume drama was shot on location in Spain. It tells the story of a traveling student of philosophy who is hired by a lord to tutor his wife. Unfortunately, the teacher soon falls in love with this student. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Bryant
- 1976
14-year-old gymnast Nancy Benedict (Patti Cohoon) is injured while practicing for the Olympics. Despite the warnings of her coach and the staffers at Rampart, Nancy insists upon competing in the games in order to please her demanding father (Charles Knox Robinson). Elsewhere, a drunk driver is trapped in his car; several passengers are jeopardized by a fire on a train carrying ammonium nitrate; and an actress is marooned on a high wire while filming a circus picture. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Mayday at 40,000 Feet is a regulation crisis-in-the-air TV movie distinguished by the accomplished direction of Robert (Hill Street Blues) Butler. David Janssen pilots a 747 chock full of guest stars, battling a snowstorm in order to find his way back to the airport. The plane develops engine trouble, threatening to dump its celebrity cargo in the icy drink. Adding to Janssen's growing list of problems is a maniac who goes on a shooting rampage in the first-class section. It's doubtful that anyone on November 12, 1976 stayed tuned to Mayday at 40,000 Feet upon discovering that its competition on another network was the John Travolta vehicle The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Larry Peerce directed this tired disaster movie about a mad sniper loose in a football stadium. At the beginning, the sniper picks off a cyclist for practice and then takes roost in the top tower of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Sent in to stop the terror is Captain Peter Holly (Charlton Heston), who wants to get his hands on the sniper without endangering the lives of the people in the stadium. Unfortunately, there is a second group of law enforcement officers, a tactical commando group, who want to go into the stadium and rush the sniper -- regardless of the danger such an action would cause to the crowd watching the game. The sniper plans to start blasting at the two-minute warning signal of the football game. Holly has to find the sniper before the two-minute warning is given -- not merely to prevent the killings threatened by the sniper but to head off the tactical force before any other unnecessary deaths are incurred by the force's bulldog techniques. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlton Heston, John Cassavetes, (more)
