Sandy Smolan Movies
Two generations of friends and family explore the friendships, loves, and losses of the past while finding out just how events that transpired years ago can still affect the future in this made-for-television miniseries based on the best-selling novel by author Luanne Rice. Years ago, everyone in the quiet Northeastern coastal town of Hubbard's Point knew the three best friends who spent their summers basking in the warm rays of the sun, eventually coming to be known affectionately as "The Beach Girls." Many years have passed since those carefree salad days, though, and as the daughter of one of the Beach Girls returns with her widowed father to walk the same sands that her mother strolled upon years ago, the memories of the past prove invaluable to the growth of the future. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 2004
The impending marriage between Caleb (Alan Dale) and Julie (Melinda Clarke) affects different people in different ways at the O.C. Having been asked to be maid of honor, Caleb's daughter Kirsten (Kelly Rowan) helps organize the wedding shower with Julie's daughter Marissa (Mischa Barton). Angered by recent events, Marissa schemes to spoil the wedding by inviting a most unwelcome guest. And Julie's ex-husband, Jimmy (Tate Donovan), ends up in a ticklish situation with Kirsten's wild sister, Hailey (Amanda Righetti). Elsewhere, Seth (Adam Brody) has an uncomfortable meeting with Summer's (Rachel Bilson) father, and Theresa (Navi Rawat) seems curiously anxious to avoid Ryan (Ben McKenzie). ~ Rovi
- 2004
Flamboyant Hailey Nichol (Amanda Righetti) finds out the hard way that she is not entirely welcome in the Newport home of her sister, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan), and brother-in-law, Sandy (Peter Gallagher). Seth (Adam Brody) and Anna (Samaire Armstrong) are nervous about revealing their relationship to Summer (Rachel Bilson). And while attending a concert where Rooney is performing, Oliver (Taylor Handley) gets into big trouble; will Ryan (Ben McKenzie) come to the rescue despite Oliver's suspiciously close friendship with Marissa (Mischa Barton)? ~ Rovi
- 1991
Hoping to establish the identity of his parents, Ed (Darren E. Burrows) conjures up the 256-year-old spirit of Indian wise man "One-Who-Waits" (Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman). Although the spirit is visible only to Ed, everyone in Cicely cheerfully acknowledges the wise man's presence; Shelly (Cynthia Geary) even offers to cook up a cheeseburger for the venerable ghost. In another development, radio DJ Ed (John Corbett) is struck mute by the sight of a gorgeous woman. According to the locals, the only cure for Ed's affliction is a night in bed with "the most beautiful girl in town" -- who else but Maggie (Janine Turner)? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1990
Ed (Darren E. Burrows) just can't seem to get started on his "Hollywood blockbuster" screenplay. The relationship between Shelly (Cynthia Geary) and Holling (John Cullum) is threatened by the arrival of Wayne Jones (Brandon Douglas), a 19-year-old hockey player from Saskatchewan; it seems that it slipped Shelly's mind to tell Holling that Wayne is her husband. And will Rick Pederson (Grant Goodeve) be the next victim of "Maggie's Curse," whereby all the previous boyfriends of Maggie O'Connell (Janine Turner) have met with untimely (and grimly amusing) deaths? Native-American actor Buffalo Child appears as Dave the Cook, a role essayed in later episodes by William J. White. Watch for the reference to -- of all things -- Midnight Cowboy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1989
This "feature film" is comprised of scenes from the six-part sequel to the 1987 TV series Vietnam War Story. Each self-contained playlet involves one or more members of the American forces which occupied Southeast Asia in the 1960s. The first story involves a black GI (Tim Guinee) whose kindness to a Vietnamese girl has tragic consequences. Next, a soldier (Tate Donovan) on leave discovers that the war has taken a toll on his marriage. Then we watch as a group of grunts plan to "frag" their hateful captain. This is followed by the story of a careless soldier who is separated from his comrades in the middle of the jungle. The fifth tale involves a new recruit's last night of "freedom." The film concludes with the story of two nurses--one a vet, one a greenhorn--who are united in their struggle against horrific hospital conditions. Vietnam War Story: The Last Days was originally telecast on a sporadic basis between July 20 and December 7, 1988, over the HBO pay-cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1987
- PG13
Rachel River is a small town in Minnesota. When local "looney tune" Aileen Cole dies, the town comes to the slow realization that the reclusive Cole has in fact touched the lives of virtually every citizen--and nearly always in a positive manner. That realization is so slow because, immediately after Cole's demise, everyone is more concerned with scrambling to recover a buried treasure rumored to be on the old woman's property. The very thin plotline is fleshed out by individual episodes involving some of the town's more visible denizens: Cole's slobbish nephew Craig T. Nelson, Nelson's viper-tongued sister Jo Henderson, elderly Viveca Lindfors, local radio personality Pamela Reed, covetous undertaker James Olson, and "village idiot" Zeljko Ivanek, whose top billing in the opening credits is justified as the story develops. Rachel River premiered in June of 1989 as a PBS American Playhouse telecast, then enjoyed a brief theatrical distribution. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Zeljko Ivanek, Pamela Reed, (more)
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