Paul Savage Movies
- 1996
- NR
In an effort to prove his client's innocence, a determined public defender must find her identical twin. His investigation gets him deeply mired in government corruption. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Monique Parent, Roberta Davis, (more)
The My Left Foot team of star Daniel Day-Lewis and director Jim Sheridan were reunited to make this political docudrama about Irish citizen Gerry Conlon (Day-Lewis), who was wrongly convicted of taking part in an IRA bombing that killed five in Guildford, England in 1974. After a brutal interrogation forces him to sign a false confession, Gerry is sentenced to prison, his family is raked over the coals, and later his father Giuseppe (Pete Postelthwaite) is charged with being an accomplice and is also sent to prison where he lives out the last days of his life. Day-Lewis gives an outstanding performance as a man tormented by the injustice served him. Watch for Emma Thompson as the persevering lawyer who works for years, gathering evidence to clear Gerry's name. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, (more)
- 1991
Chimera was originally produced for Britain's BBC television network. The title creature is a half man, half ape (Douglas Mann), the product of a hush-hush government project. Journalist John Lynch gets wind of the experiment when his girlfriend dies in a fertility clinic explosion. At the center of things is a mad-as-a-hatter scientist, whom the government continues to protect until it's almost Too Late. Christine Kavanaugh costars in this new twist on the old Frankenstein story. Chimera premiered in the US over the A&E Cable service on November 1, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Taking an avant-garde approach, experimental Russian painter turned director Ari Roussimoff creates an offbeat addition to the horror genre. Troubled, doomed Paul returns to his home in an oppressive and stylized Manhattan (filmed in black and white) after spending time with a traveling carnival. As he wanders the gloomy streets in search of love and acceptance, he muses about the correlation between the grim fates of his family and his own destiny. Both his brother and his mother killed themselves, and now Paul sees the Spirit of Death beckoning him to do the same. He does not realize that Death is really only offering him more of the same. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
At the recommendation of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), a young editor heads to Montana, there to organize the unpublished manuscript of the last novel written by a celebrated, recently deceased author. Unable to make heads or tails of the author's notes, the editor concocts a readable volume from his own imagination. Just as he is poised to tell the world that he, and not the late author, penned the novel, the editor is murdered--and from here on in, it's up to Jessica to solve the crime. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
When Mary Rose Welch (Joan Caulfield) is injured in a car accident, she prevails upon Jessica (Angela Lansbury) to travel to the town of Eden, where Mary's sister has recently died under mysterious circumstances. Figuring that the best way to get to the truth is to adopt a guise, Jessica poses as Mary and shows up in Eden for the funeral. It doesn't take her long to determine that this "idyllic" community is hardly Edenlike, and that skeletons in the closet abound! Among the suspects on this occasion are Sheriff Landry (Roy Thinnes), Dr. Lynch (MacDonald Carey) and realtor C.J. Dobbs (Stuart Whitman)--all of whom knew Mary a little more intimately than they're willing to reveal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is appointed foreman of the jury in an apparently "open and shut" murder trial. The accused claims that he killed the victim in self-defense, when said victim found the accused in bed with his wife. Half of the jury is for conviction, half for acquittal; as for Jessica, she is convinced that there is more to the case than meets the eye. Indeed, she believes that more than one murder is in play here--and as usual, she's right! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Season Three of Murder She Wrote begins with the first episode of a two-part story, in which mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) pays a visit to the Carmody Circus, an extremely small-time operation. It seems that Jessica has evidence that one of the circus' employees, a roustabout-clown who calls himself Carl, is actually her brother-in-law Neil (Jackie Cooper), who has long been presumed dead. No sooner does Jessica link up with Neil than the man is accused of murdering the circus' hateful manager Hank Sutter (Charles Napier). A young Courtney Cox appears as Neil's granddaughter, Carol Bannister. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
In the second half of Murder She Wrote's two-part Season Three opener, Jessica's long-missing brother in law Neil Fletcher (Jackie Cooper), who has been working under an alias with the Carmody Circus, has confessed to the murder of circus manager Hank Sutter. Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is convinced that Neil is innocent, and that he is covering up for somebody else--and this proves to be a reasonable conclusion when a second murder occurs, in which the victim is rival circus owner Harry Kingman (Joe Dorsey). Seriously hampering Jessica's investigation is the stone wall of resistance built up by the highly clannish circus folk--and by the curiously hostile local authorities. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Up-and-coming actress Nita Cochran (Alice Krige), who happens to be the niece of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), lands a plum role on a popular TV soap opera. Nita has been cast as a serial murderer--a fact that proves most unfortunate when an actual murder occurs at the TV studio. The victim was Nita's boss, who may or may not have been planning to abruptly write her off the show. . .but it soon develops that Nita was only one of several people with a strong motive. This episode represents the final TV appearance of Lloyd Nolan, whose well-known difficulty in memorizing lines is cleverly woven into the final scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
The setting is New Orleans, where a prominent jazz musician is killed onstage in full view of a nightclub audience. It turns out that the victim was done in by a rare South American poison. So what does all this have to do with Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury? Well, it seems that a similar murder with the same weapon occurred in one of Jessica's mystery novels--a most embarrassing turn of events, especially since Jessica was in the audience at the time of the real murder! B-picture icons Robert Clarke and Jackie Joseph show up in supporting roles in this episode, which also boasts an unusually strong (for 1985!) cast of prominent African American actors. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
- PG
This infamous Korean War drama is best known as the movie produced by Rev. Sung Myung Moon's Unification Church, though more people seem to have read stories about its troubled production or disastrous reception at the box office than to have actually seen it: on its initial release, it grossed less than $2 million on a budget of $50 million. Starring Laurence Olivier as Gen. Douglas MacArthur (psychics reportedly told producers that the late General was happy with the casting choice), Inchon also features Ben Gazzara and Jacqueline Bisset as a married couple whose relationship is tested by the trials of war, and boasts as impressive as supporting cast as money can buy, including David Janssen, Richard Roundtree, Omar Sharif, Toshiro Mifune, and Rex Reed (who was perhaps hoping for a role that could stand beside his work in Myra Breckenridge).The lavish battle scenes are staged by director Terence Young (best known for his work on several early James Bond films), and the film presents one of your only opportunities to see Olivier, the greatest actor of his generation, talk like W.C. Fields while smoking a corn-cob pipe. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Olivier, Jacqueline Bisset, (more)
- 1979
Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) have no sooner delivered a car to demolition-derby Augie Detweiller (John Quade) than they are accused of operating a smuggling ring. Deducing that Detweiller is the real brains behind the smuggles, the boys sign up to race in the derby for investigate purposes--and thus target themselves for demolition of the permanent kind! Deputy Enos (Sonny Shroyer) delivers a terrific "death speech" in this episode, which features future Simon and Simon and Major Dad star Gerald McRaney in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Much to his dismay, Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) must rely on the Dukes for protection when he is slated to testify against a racketeer in a Federal trial. With the blessings of FBI agent Pryor (R.G. Armstrong), Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle) offers to hide Boss from the racketeers' hired gunmen, who have arrived in Hazzard County disguised as Bible salesmen in order to shut Hogg's yap permanently. Meanwhile, Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane (James Best) basks in the glory of being totally in charge of Hazzard County for the first time since he turned crooked. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In his final all-out act of larceny, mechanic "Crazy" Cooter (Ben Jones) hot-wires the Presidential limousine, which President Carter has sent ahead to Hazzard County in preparation for a trip home to Georgia. Taking "Limo One" on a joyride, Cooter ends up hiding it in the Dukes' barn, forcing Jesse (Denver Pyle) to do some quick thinking to return the vehicle without landing in Federal Prison. Meanwhile, Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) worries that the disappearance of the limo will expose his own crooked chop-shop operation. In the light of this episode's plotline, it's a bit ironic that Ben Jones (Cooter) would later leave show business to become a Georgia congressman! Featured among the supporting players Gordon Hurst, brother of Rick Hurst, who would soon join the regular cast in the role of Deputy Cletus Hogg. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
December 7, 1941: The Waltons are among the first people on the Mountain to hear the news that the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor. Especially affected by this catastrophic event is Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor), whose husband Curt (Tom Bower) is serving with the Medical Corps in Hawaii. Likewise nervously awaiting further news is neighbor Verdie Foster (Lynn Hamilton), whose son Josh is also stationed at Pearl Harbor. In the midst of this unfolding crisis, Ben helps matters not at all by introducing his new girlfriend Cindy, who dresses a tad too provocatively for everyone's taste. Though Robin Eisenmann appears as Cindy, the role would soon be taken over on a regular weekly basis by Leslie Winston. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In this gentle drama, a young American man (Beau Bridges) forsakes his promising career working with his father (Lloyd Bridges), a powerful business magnate, in favor of becoming a professional beach bum in Australia. After the boy becomes a world renowned surfer, his dad turns up from the States and tries to reconcile with his estranged son, which must happen soon, as the father only has a few months left to live. This telemovie represented the second of two Australian productions that Beau Bridges did, after the extraordinary Adam's Woman in 1970. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1976
In search of a career criminal named Fred Cavanaugh (Billy Green Bush), Stone (Karl Malden) is hampered by the persistence of the fugitive's precocious daughter Chris (Pamelyn Ferdin), who is likewise looking for her errant daddy. The difference is that Stone knows all too well about Fred's underhanded activities, while Chris is blissfully unaware of her father's transgressions--but a bitter disillusionment is not long in coming. Veteran character actor Walter Burke scores in a cameo role as a childlike casino owner. Originally scheduled to air on March 18, 1976, this final episode of Streets of San Francisco's fourth season was ultimately shown on April 29. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
- Add The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe to QueueAdd The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe to top of Queue
The third and final TV-movie in the "Joshua Cabe" saga, this ABC effort stars John McIntire as rascally rancher-turned-sheriff Joshua Cabe, a role played by Buddy Ebsen in the original The Daughters of Joshua Cabe) and by Dan Dailey in The Daughters of Joshua Cabe Return. This time out, Cabe is accused of a murder he didn't commit and carted off to jail, there to await hanging. Coming to his rescue are Joshua's "daughters"--actually three unrelated shady ladies named Charity (Liberty Williams), Ada (Renne Jarrett) and Mae (Lezlie Dalton)--who devise a brilliant and thoroughly unbelievable escape plan. The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe aired on May 29, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
- PG
After sixteen years of cinematic retirement, Roy Rogers made a surprise return before the cameras in Mackintosh & T. J. Rogers plays Mackintosh, an ageing, tale-spinning ranch hand who befriends T.J., a sullen young boy (Clay O'Brien). The film is low-key, like Rogers himself, and Rogers' faithful fans were gratified to watch him thrash several younger cowpokes who goad him into a fight. Waylon Jennings provides the C&W musical score. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roy Rogers, Clay O'Brien, (more)
- 1975
The fourth season of Streets of San Francisco finds veteran police detective Mike Stone (Karl Malden) and his youthful (but increasingly experienced) partner Steve Keller (Michael Douglas) still operating out of the SFPD's homicide squad. The focus in this episode, however, is on a pair of romantically involved narcotics agents, George (Clu Gulager and Amy Ninette Bravo). When she is killed by an addict, he goes on a bitter rampage, determined to avenge her death--and seriously hampering Stone and Keller's investigation of the murder in the process. This episode is highligted by a wild car-chase finale, as well as a significant pre-Star Wars appearance by Mark Hamill. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Brock Peters plays the central figure in this story, a man charged by Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) with a murder that he didn't commit. Unfortunately, once he surrenders his fingerprints to the authorities, he will be exposed as the same person who ran away from a homicide investigation 25 years earlier. Also in the cast are a pre-stardom Dabney Coleman) and onetime Bonanza regular Mitch Vogel, here playing father and son, and future Lou Grant regular Robert Walden. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Caught in a heavy rainstorm on Walton's Mountain, a family of Gypsies takes refuge it what seems to be a deserted house. Actually, it's the home of the Baldwin sisters, temporarily out of town. The Gypsies' unwitting "break-in" fuels the bigotry of Matt Beckwith (William Bramley), who tries to turn the other residents of the Mountain against the nomadic family. When the Waltons offer to lend a helping hand, the Gypsies are too proud to accept...even though their baby is gravely ill. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Made for television, Girls of Huntington House stars Shirley Jones as schoolteacher Anne Baldwin. Working at a school for unwed mothers, Anne finds she can't keep her professional life and personal life separate. With no children of her own, she becomes deeply involved in the trials and tribulations of her students. This leads to profound emotional difficulties for all concerned. Adapted from a novel by Blossom Elfman, The Girls of Huntington House first aired February 14, 1973, as an ABC Movie of the Week. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
