Michael Miller Movies

To escape his enormous gambling debts, the highly unlikable Reese Williams (Marc Singer) decides to fake his own death, with the help of his long-suffering wife, Katie (Michele Greene). Once Reese is safely "deceased," Katie will fall heir to a five-million-dollar insurance policy, which will help the couple square their debts and start a new life elsewhere. But can it be that the scheme has not gone the way it was supposed to -- and that Reese is dead for real? Reese's sister-in-law Ginny (Veronica Hamel) may or may not be able to provide the answers to insurance investigators Logan (William Katt) and Mac (George Dzundza), one of whom has fallen in love with Katie. Though innumerable clues are adroitly planted along the way, the outcome of the story remains a jaw-dropping surprise. Originally intended for theatrical release, Determination of Death was not seen until its premiere on German television in 2002; thereafter, the film was added to the "Monday Night Movie" rotation on the American Lifetime cable channel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The idyllic existence of New York art director Mallory Jordan (Sean Young) is shattered when her ad-executive husband Andrew Keswick (Charles Shaughnessy) and their two daughters are brutally slain in a robbery. Suddenly alone, the devastated Mallory can see no reason to ever again emerge from her bedroom--or, for that matter, to go on living. Helping Mallory escape from her self-imposed shell is compassionate police detective Michael DeMarco (Jack Scalia), who makes it his personal mission to track down and prosecute the persons responsible for the tragedy (evidently, DeMarco is the only homicide cop in New York who works without a partner!) As part of her "therapy", Mallory is allowed to accompany DeMarco as he interrogates and arrests the prime suspect--and as the days pass, the couple spends more and more time together, ultimately falling in love. The best part of this made-for-TV drama is the depiction of Mallory's all-consuming grief, which lingers in the memory far longer than her ultimate (and inevitable) healing process. Originally telecast on CBS under the title Barbara Taylor Bradford's Everything to Gain, the film has since been released to video as part of a "Barbara Taylor Bradford Trilogy." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this sudsy adaptation of a popular Danielle Steel novel, a beautiful young wife experiences waves of guilt when she finds herself increasingly distracted from caring for her dying, elderly and rich husband by the attentions of a virile stranger named Alex. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

The initials in its title standing for the Royal Flying Doctors Service, R.F.D.S. was a spinoff of the immensely popular Australian TV series The Flying Doctors. Although the new series dealt with the same medical organization and was filmed in many of the same Outback locations, the cast was comprised almost entirely of "newcomers" to the project. The only Flying Doctors leftover was Lewis Fitz-Gerald, and even he was seen in a completely different role. Unlike the original series, which ran for well over 200 episodes, R.F.D.S. yielded only 13 hour-long installments when it was telecast by Australia's Nine Network in 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A man violates his premarital agreement when he leaves his newly pregnant TV-news producer wife. ~ Rovi

This TV movie's original title was Danielle Steel's Daddy, which was either an invitation or a warning depending upon one's outlook. The usual Steel formula of a big city high-roller finding love in the hinterlands is followed religiously. Patrick Duffy, a chauvinistic advertising man coming off an acrimonious divorce, heads West to film a few commercials. He takes along his infant child, whom his wife (Kate Mulgrew) had up and left behind while finding herself. What Duffy finds is beautiful actress Lynda Carter, as gorgeous a surrogate mommy as you're likely to see in Prime Time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Loni Anderson stars as a woman who must confront her Mafioso husband if she is to retrieve her kidnapped child. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi

On his 16th birthday, Stephen Dorff discovers that he is adopted. This in itself is not so traumatic, but the worst is still to come: His adoptive parents had bought him from a baby broker, who kidnapped the infant from his natural mother. Dorff rejects the protestations of love from his "mother" and "father", and sets out on a long journey to locate his real family. Patty Duke costars as the woman from whom Dorff was stolen some 14 years earlier. Timed for telecast during the Christmas season, Always Remember That I Love You premiered December 23, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Loni Anderson, James Naughton, and John Heard star in this tense tale of a woman whose life is changed forever after discovering that her husband is a dangerous drug kingpin. Deceived by her husband Rick (Naughton) into believing he is an average businessman, devoted housewife Lauren LaSalle (Anderson) is horrified to learn that he is in fact a high-profile drug dealer with a violent reputation. Upon learning this well-guarded secret, Lauren steals $2 million in cash from her husband, rounds up their daughter, and goes into hiding. But Rick isn't willing to let go of his daughter without a fight, and quickly begins using every resource at his disposal to bring his little girl back home. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

This gripping made-for-TV courtroom drama centers on a pair of hard-working lawyers who become obsessed with proving that the tactical division of the Boston Police Force made a fatal mistake when they shot the wrong man following a robbery. The plot is based on a true story. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

A young wife and her husband witness the brutal barroom rape of a young woman and now must decide whether or not to testify against the culprits or remain quiet in this made-for-TV drama that exploits an actual Massachusetts case. Compounding her difficulties is the fact that one of the rapists is her brother-in-law. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi