Sidney Sheldon Movies
American writer/producer/director Sidney Sheldon started his career at the lowest rung, as a radio jokewriter; he then moved to a starvation-wage job at Universal, as a reader of other writers' works. Sheldon's first screenplay credit was for the Republic B-plus mystery Mr. District Attorney and the Carter Case (1941). In 1947, he won an Oscar for his bouncy screenplay for the Cary Grant/Myrna Loy/Shirley Temple comedy The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer, gaining nationwide fame for a chunk of rhyming doggerel about voodoo ("I know a man!/What man?/The man with the power!/What power?"...etc) which was recited in the film by Grant and Temple. Sheldon worked for most of the major comedians of the '50s, and counted Groucho Marx among his closest friends. He made the transition from writer to director with 1953's Dream Wife, but this film, like most of his other directorial efforts, was a disappointment that did little to bolster his reputation. In 1959, Sheldon earned another industry award, sharing a Tony for his libretto contributions to the Broadway musical Redhead. Six years later, Sheldon produced and created the imperishable Barbara Eden sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. At the conclusion of this popular project, Sheldon turned to writing novels. The Naked Face (1970) was not the blockbuster that such later Sheldon efforts as The Other Side of Midnight and The Stranger in the Mirror became, but like his later works it titillated the reader with luxuriously detailed sex scenes and with "a clef" characters based on famous real-life personages (one of Sheldon's later literary characters was an amalgam of Red Skelton, Jerry Lewis and Groucho Marx, deftly encompassing the best and the worst personal aspects of all three men). Many of Sheldon's books have served as the basis for popular films (Bloodline) and TV miniseries (A Rage in Heaven, Windmills of the Gods) -- which usually bestow upon Sheldon the ultimate (and contracturally obligated) accolade: His name within the title, a la Sidney Sheldon's Bloodline. Sidney Sheldon remains a prolific and profitable writer into his eighth decade, as well as one of the most prominent and sought-after figures of Hollywood's social scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1995
This drama examines the behavior of three female resident doctors working at a San Francisco hospital. It is based on a novel by Sidney Sheldon. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vanessa A. Williams, Brooke Shields, (more)
- 1992
In this two-part adventure drama based on a thriller by author Sidney Sheldon, three nuns must run for their lives from a cruel colonel. Their flight leads them straight to a renowned Spanish rebel. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Deborah Raffin, Michael Nouri, (more)
- 1991
Adaptation of Sidney Sheldon's novel features an amnesiac who works to recover her identity and the Greek billionaire who works to make sure that she never does. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1988
Windmills of the Gods was adapted for television by John Gay from a best-selling novel by Sidney Sheldon. Jaclyn Smith plays an American college professor, appointed US ambassador to Romania. While attending a peace conference, Jaclyn's life is placed in jeopardy by an all-powerful secret organization. Whom can she trust: American president Michael Moriarty, Rumanian top dog Franco Nero, fellow scholar David Ackroyd, or confrence chairman Ian McKellan? Or none of the above? This wide-ranging romantic adventure was lensed in several exotic locales, from Bucharest to Chile. Originally presented in two parts, Windmills of the Gods debuted February 7, 1988, directly opposite the ratings-busting TV-movie Elvis and Me. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Not to be confused with the 1971 TV movie of the same name, the three-part CBS miniseries If Tomorrow Comes was based on the best-selling novel by Sidney Sheldon. At the center of all the intrigue is an attractive pair of jewel thieves, rank amateur Tracy Whitney (Madolyn Smith), and slick professional Jeff Stevens (Tom Berenger). Having failed on their own to secure wealthy marriages, Tracy and Jeff bury their rivalry and turn to each other for romance -- provided that they're given a few moments to themselves by their great nemesis, the dangerously single-minded insurance investigator Daniel Cooper (David Keith). Standing out in the huge cast is Richard Kiley as international con artist Gunther Hartog, who endeavors to teach Tracy all the tricks of big-time larceny while passing herself off as a variety of different women. Presented in three installments, If Tomorrow Comes was originally telecast on 1986 on March 16, 17, and 18. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
This two-part TV movie was the sequel to the ratings-grabbing 1983 miniseries Rage of Angels; both were based on the best-seller by Sidney Sheldon. Jaclyn Smith returns as dynamic New York trial lawyer Jennifer Parker, while Ken Howard likewise reprises his role as Jennifer's married lover, politician Adam Warner. Since villain Michael Moretti (Armand Assante) was killed off in Rage of Angels, we are left with Moretti's vengeful brother James (Michael Nouri) in the sequel. Part One, which aired November 2, 1986, recaps the events of the past six years and introduces mobster Moretti. Part Two, telecast November 3, reunites Jennifer with her long-lost mother (Angela Lansbury), while Moretti blackmails Senate-bound Adam Warner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Another of the many Sidney Sheldon novels given the TV-miniseries treatment in the 1970s and '80s, Master of the Game yielded a three-part, nine-hour extravaganza, with enough corporate and romantic intrigue to fill an entire television season. Covering nearly 100 years, the story (which remained astonishingly faithful to the book) begins in the late 19th century, when ruthless young Scottish entrepreneur Jamie McGregor (Ian Charleson) emigrates to South Africa, in hopes of accumulating enough wealth and power to get even with his longtime enemy, Dutch merchant Van der Merwe (Donald Pleasence). Thanks to an extremely prolific diamond mine, the money comes quickly -- as does vengeance, when McGregor deflowers Van der Merwe's convent-educated daughter, Margaret (Cherie Lunghi). The result of this indiscretion is a daughter named Kate (Dyan Cannon), who turns out to be the "Master" of the title. Upon attaining adulthood, Kate assumes control of her father's vast financial empire, ruling her inherited international conglomerate, and her husband, David Blackwell (David Birney), with an iron fist. The story continues into the next several generations, with Kate's lily-livered son, Tony (Harry Hamlin), giving birth to twin daughters, Eve and Alexandra (both played by Liane Langland). One is good, the other evil; the evil twin threatens threaten to destroy everything that Kate has so painstakingly built up. Eventually, they both become the victims of a sneering, malevolent gigolo (Fernando Allende) with a penchant for beating young women senseless. Told in flashback, the narrative comes to a head during Kate's 90th birthday celebration, an event tainted by the efforts of a mysterious killer to wipe the domineering matriarch and her family from the face of the earth. Largely filmed on location, Master of the Game was telecast by CBS from February 19 to 22, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dyan Cannon, Harry Hamlin, (more)
- 1984
In this fast-paced, often complex murder mystery, a psychiatrist's patient and later his secretary are killed, yet the police seem unable to come up with any answers so the doc takes matters into his own hands. Roger Moore is Dr. Judd Stevens, a rather meek Chicago psychiatrist whose patient is killed while wearing a jacket borrowed from Stevens. After Stevens' secretary is brutally slain, Lieutenant McGreavy (Rod Steiger) is certain that Stevens is guilty and is ready to prove it, but when his vendetta gets too obvious, he is taken off the case. That leaves his partner Angeli (Elliott Gould), a much more sympathetic cop, to continue on with the investigation. Even then, the killings continue, so Stevens gives up on the police and goes for help to a wacky P.I. (Art Carney) who lives surrounded by clocks and at first seems like a hopeless nitwit. As Stevens continues in his pursuit of the killers, life is complicated by a Mafia bride who seeks his professional help and clues that lead increasingly to the Mafia and cops on the take. The acting may be a bit uneven, and Moore might have fared better if allowed a little Bond action, but the movie is engaging enough to maintain interest throughout. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roger Moore, Rod Steiger, (more)
- 1983
Another two-part TV movie from the pen of novelist Sidney Sheldon, Rage of Angels stars Jaclyn Smith as attractive lawyer Jennifer Parker. While working as assistant D.A., Parker is targeted for persecution by organized crime, but she perseveres and emerges as one of the most successful defense attorneys in America. She is, however, not quite so lucky in matters of the heart, becoming simultaneously entangled with charismatic mob lawyer Michael Moretti (Armand Assante) and married U.S. Senate aspirant Adam Warner (Ken Howard). Serving up everything but the kitchen sink in plot complications and sinister conspiracies, Rage of Angels was telecast on February 20 and 21, 1983, garnering excellent ratings and an Emmy award for musical composer Billy Goldenberg. The film spawned a two-part sequel in 1986, Rage of Angels: The Story Continues, again with Jaclyn Smith in the lead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
- R
Bloodline, a thriller based on a mystery novel by Sidney Sheldon and directed by Terence Young, is the story of Elizabeth Roffe (Audrey Hepburn), who inherits a huge pharmaceutical company and then discovers that some of her family members may be plotting her death in order to gain control of the company. Despite an all-star cast including the usually excellent James Mason, Irene Papas, Ben Gazzara, the lovely Romy Schneider and Omar Sharif and wonderful locations, this thriller just doesn't generate much suspense despite numerous likely suspects and plot twists. Director Young gets only an average performance from Audrey Hepburn and manages to do little with his distinguished cast. The film while not particularly suspenseful is aided by the lovely color photography of Freddie Young and a lively, original score by Ennio Morricone. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Audrey Hepburn, Ben Gazzara, (more)
- 1979
Originally telecast September 25, 1979, Hart to Hart was the pilot film for a series which officially debuted three days earlier. Robert Wagner and Stephanie Powers play the fabulously wealthy, blissfully happy married couple Jonathan and Jennifer Hart. He's a conglomerate CEO, she's a mystery author; together they solve crimes whenever their schedules allow. In this first escapade, the Harts tackle the case of a friend's death at a fancy health spa. Lionel Stander is on hand as the Harts' gravel-voiced general factotum Max. The closing sequence of Hart to Hart includes a cameo appearance by Robert Wagner's real-life wife Natalie Wood, billed under her real-life name Natasha Gurdin. Coincidentally, the supporting cast features Wagner's future wife Jill St. John. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
One woman's life of love and larceny is recounted in this soapy drama based on the best-selling novel by Sidney Sheldon. In the midst of WWII, innocent French girl Noelle Page (Marie-France Pisier) falls in love with dashing American pilot Larry Douglas (John Beck). When Larry is given new orders taking him back to America, he tells Noelle that he'll come back for her -- when he doesn't, she becomes bitter and pledges to use men for their money and power, not for love. Noelle goes on to become a famous actress and weds Constantin Demeris (Raf Vallone), a Greek multi-millionaire. But she can't shake her passion for Larry, and eventually she hires him to work as her personal pilot. While at first he does not recognize her, soon Larry and Noelle are once again involved in a torrid affair, and when Larry's wife Catherine (Susan Sarandon) refuses to give him a divorce, he and Noelle begin planning a scheme to arrange an "accidental" death for Catherine. The Other Side of Midnight marked the American debut of actress Marie-France Pisier, following her role in the international success Cousin, Cousine. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marie-France Pisier, John Beck, (more)
The fifth and final season of I Dream of Jeannie marks the long-overdue consummation of the romance between sexy genie Jeannie (Barbara Eden) and her "master", astronaut Tony Nelson (Larry Nelson), with Tony finally popping the question in the two-part episode "Guess Who's Going to Be a Bride." The impending marriage of the two principals opens up all sorts of new plot developments: For example, Jeannie is unable to partake of the obligatory blood test because a genie's blood is green; and in the episode "The Wedding", an attempt to snap a picture of the happy couple comes a-cropper because genies can't be photographed! And even though Tony and Jeannie are still husband and wife, Jeannie's duplicitous twin sister (also Barbara Eden) has not given up her efforts to snag Tony for herself, as witness the episode "My Sister the Homemaker", which ironically boasts a guest appearance by Barbara Eden's real-life husband Michael Ansara. And so it goes until the series' 139th and final episode, "My Master, the Chili King". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, (more)
- 1969
Jeannie (Barbara Eden) gets into a legal jam when she tries to charge items at stores where she has no credit. Husband Tony (Larry Hagman) demands that Jeannie immediately go on a strict budget--an order that results in near-disaster when Tony brings visiting Russian cosmonaut Gregorian (Noam Pitlik) home to dinner. And this being a late-1960s sitcom, it is perhaps inevitable that a bunch of hippies are also worked into the story! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Season Four of I Dream of Jeannie opens with the episode "U-F-Oh Jeannie", in which the magical titular heroine Barbara Eden and her astronauts friends Tony (Larry Hagman) and Roger (Bill Daily) skirmish with a family of gun-totin' hillbillies. In the subsequent "Djinn Djinn Go Away", we are introduced to Jeannie's troublesome magical dog, who has a bad habit of making himself invisible after wreaking havoc. Also: Joe Flynn, late of McHale's Navy, plays the no-nonsense replacement of Tony's psychiatrist nemesis Dr. Bellows (Hayden Rorke) in "Dr. Bellows Go Sane"; "The Biggest Star in Hollywood" features guest appearances by several of the regulars from Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, as well as that series' producer George H. Schlatter; and still one year away from becoming the "new Darrin" on Bewitched, Dick Sargent shows up in "Jeannie for the Defense". The season's liveliest episode is the two-part "The Case of the Vanishing Master", wherein enemy agents plant a lookalike for Tony Nelson in his home, causing no end of mischief when the phony Tony tumbles onto Jeannie's secret identity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, (more)
Season Three of I Dream of Jeannie finds the magical Jeannie (Barbara Eden) still loyal and devoted to her mortal "master", astronaut Tony Nelson (Larry Hagman), while Tony's best friend Roger Healy (Bill Daily) continues to hatch schemes to exploit Jeannie's astonishing powers--and Dr. Bellows (Hayden Rorke), flustered Air Force psychiatrist at Cocoa Beach, Florida, persists in his efforts to discover the source of the mysterious occurrences in the Nelson household. This season marks the introduction of Jeannie's twin sister Jeannie II (played by Barbara Eden in a brunette wig) in the episode "Jeannie or the Tiger." As wicked and calculating as her sister is sweet and unassuming, Jeannie II immediately begins plotting and planning to nab Tony for herself, usually by posing as "Jeannie I", bare-midriff harem costume and all. Other episodes of note include the season opener "Fly Me to the Moon", wherein Jeannie transforms a NASA chimp into a human being, played by Larry Storch; "My Master,the Weakling", featuring Don Rickles as a sadistic athletic coach; "Jeannie, the Hip Hippie", a showcase for Screen Gems' resident tunesmiths Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart; "Meet My Master's Mother", with the delightful Spring Byington in the title role; "My Son, the Genie", with Gilligan's Island escapee Bob Denver as a klutzy apprentice djinn; and singer Don Ho as himself in "Jeannie of Honolulu." Plus: In "Who are You Calling a Genie", our heroine develops amnesia; and in the three-part "Genie, Genie, Who's Got the Genie", the duplicitous "twin" Jeannie locks the genuine article in a safe bound for the moon! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, (more)
- 1967
Jeannie (Barbara Eden) wants Tony (Larry Hagman) to take her to a Parisian restaurant, but he is slated to remain at NASA headquarters for a top-secret meeting about "Operation Galaxy". Resourcefullly, Jeannie creates two Tonys, one to fulfill his astronaut duties, the other to escort her to the restaurant. The appearance of the "second Tony" in front of two high-ranking French officials leads Dr. Bellows (Hayden Rorke) to conclude that Cocoa Beach has been invaded by enemy spies! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Stopped by a policeman while driving down a one-way street ("I am only going one way!"), Jeannie (Barbara Eden) is cited for not having a driver's license--and Tony's car is impounded. In order to get his vehicle back, Tony (Larry Hagman) tells the cops that the back seat is full of secret government documents. Hasn't Tony learned by now that a little white lie snowballs into disaster whenever Jeannie is involved? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Jeannie (Barbara Eden) creates a "miracle" spot remover to clean a stain on Tony's jacket. The result: the jacket proves to be indestructible, leading Gen. Peterson (Barton MacLane) to demand that Tony (Larry Hagman) give another demonstration of the remarkable remover--a demonstration so disastrous that it nearly gets one of the regular characters permanently transferred to Iceland. (PS: Want to know who makes a cameo appearance at the end of this episode? Just say the secret word!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Feeling confined by his military duties, Tony (Larry Hagman) seriously considers an offer to resign from NASA and accept a lucrative job with an aeronautics firm in Ohio. Naturally, neither Jeannie (Barbara Eden) nor Roger (Bill Daily) are keen on Tony making such a crucial move. To convince her Master to remain in Cocoa Beach--and in uniform--Jeannie magically conjures up a vision of what a disaster civilian life would be for Tony. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
While visiting Tony's house, Mrs. Bellows (Emmaline Henry) is enchanted by a certain antique bottle. Try though he might, Tony (Larry Hagman) cannot dissuade Mrs. Bellows from asking him to lend her the bottle for duplication, which he does--with Jeannie (Barbara Eden) still inside. Has the day finally come that the redoubtable Dr. Bellows (Hayden Rorke) will have proof incarnate that the Nelson ghousehold is a major source of bizarre magical activity? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Sammy Davis Jr. appears as himself in this episode, in which Tony (Larry Hagman) assures Gen. Peterson (Barton MacLane) that he will be able to book Sammy for an upcoming NASA party. Unfortunately, Davis is unable to fulfill his obligation, whereupon Jeannie (Barbara Eden) creates a duplicate Sammy for the occasion. The fun begins when the real Sammy finds himself whisked hither and thither as a byproduct of Jeannie's mixed-up magic! Sammy Davis Jr. performs "That Old Black Magic" and "The Girl from Ipanema." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Jeannie (Barbara Eden) dutifully informs Tony (Larry Hagman) that "Hajii Day" is coming soon, wherein all displeased Masters are given the option of divesting themselves of their genies. Terrified that Tony will send Jeannie away for her constant bungling and disobedience, our heroine works overtime to persuade him otherwise--but his mind may already be made up. This episode features clips from the earlier installments "Always on Sunday" and "How to Be a Genie in Ten Easy Lessons." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
On one of her usual whims, Jeannie (Barbara Eden) transports herself and Tony (Larry Hagman) back to the 17th century, where they end up on the deck of the pirate ship commandeered by the infamous Captain Kidd (Al Wyatt). It just so happens that one of Tony's ancestors, the beauteous Lady Diane Nelson (Elaine Devry), is being held captive on the ship--and if Captain Kidd goes through with his plan to make Lady Diane walk the plank, Tony will cease to exist in the 20th century! Appearing as Capt. Fenwick in this episode is comedian-writer-producer Digby Wolfe), who later helped create the classic 1960s variety series Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Once again, Jeannie (Barbara Eden) tries to help her master Tony (Larry Hagman), this time by shrinking an outsized missile part so it will function properly. And once again, Jeannie bungles the job, shrinking not only the device but Tony as well! What follows is a hilarious spoof of the sci-fi classic The Incredible Shrinking Man), replete with oversized props and a menacing "giant" pussycat ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
