Dennis Weaver Movies
A track star at the University of Oklahoma, Dennis Weaver went on to serve as a Navy Pilot during World War II. After failing to make the 1948 U.S. decathalon Olympic team, Weaver accepted the invitation of his college chum Lonny Chapman to give the New York theatre world a try. He understudied Chapman as "Turk Fisher" in the Broadway production Come Back Little Sheba, eventually taking over the role in the national company. Deciding that acting was to his liking, Weaver enrolled at the Actors' Studio, supporting his family by selling vacuum cleaners, tricycles and ladies' hosiery. On the recommendation of his Actors' Studio classmate Shelley Winters, Weaver was signed to a contract at Universal studios in 1952, where he made his film debut in The Redhead From Wyoming (1952). Though his acting work increased steadily over the next three years, he still had to take odd jobs to make ends meet. He was making a delivery for the florist's job where he worked when he was informed that he'd won the role of deputy Chester Goode on the TV adult western Gunsmoke. So as not to be continually upstaged by his co-star James Arness (who, at 6'7", was five inches taller than the gangly Weaver), he adopted a limp for his character--a limp which, along with Chester's reedy signature line "Mis-ter Diillon" and the deputy's infamously bad coffee, brought Weaver fame, adulation and a 1959 Emmy Award. Though proud of his work on Gunsmoke--"I don't think any less seriously of Chester than I did about King Lear in college"--Weaver began feeling trapped by Chester sometime around the series' fifth season. Having already proven his versatility in his film work (notably his portrayal of the neurotic motel night clerk in Orson Welles' Touch of Evil [1958]), Weaver saw to it that the Gunsmoke producers permitted him to accept as many "outside" TV assignments as his schedule would allow. Twice during his run as Chester, Weaver quit the series to pursue other projects. He left Gunsmoke permanently in 1964, whereupon he was starred in the one-season "dramedy" series Kentucky Jones (1965). In 1967, he headlined a somewhat more successful weekly, Gentle Ben (1967-69) in which he and everyone else in the cast played second fiddle to a trained bear (commenting upon his relationship with his "co-star", Weaver replied "I liked him, but it was a cold relationship...Ben didn't know me from a bag of doughnuts.") The most successful of Weaver's post-Gunsmoke TV series was McCloud, in which, from 1970 to 1977, he played deputy marshal Sam McCloud, a New Mexico lawman transplanted to the Big Apple. In addition to his series work, Weaver has starred in several made-for-TV movies over the past 25 years, the most famous of which was the Steven Spielberg-directed nailbiter Duel (1971). Dennis Weaver is the father of actor Robby Weaver, who co-starred with his dad on the 1980 TV series Stone. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
As a condition of her parole from juvenile hall, embittered teenager Kris Furillo goes to work at Raintree Horse Farm, located in Fremont, CA, as the ABC Family Channel series Wildfire inaugurates its first season. Upon her arrival, Kris saves the life of Wildfire, an unbroken horse who'd been slated to be destroyed because it was deemed "useless" and "un-trainable." Having herself been consigned to the ash heap of society as an incorrigible loser, Kris forms a strong bond with Wildfire, who will respond only to her commands. As the friendship between girl and horse intensifies, the owner of Raintree, divorcée Jean Ritter (Nana Visitor), begins to see potential in Wildfire as a racing horse, and before long she is pinning her hopes on the notion that Wildfire -- and by extension, Kris -- will enable Jean to restore her family's fortune. Meanwhile, the Ritter family's traditional rivals, the Davis clan, demonstrate that they are willing to do practically anything to prevent Wildfire from stealing thunder from their own stable of horses. In particular, snooty teenager Danielle Davis (Nicole Tubiola) is determined to force Kris off the Raintree property, if for no other reason than Kris has stolen the heart of Danielle's erstwhile boyfriend, Jean's son Matt Ritter (Micah Alberti). Curiously, Danielle's down-to-Earth brother Junior Davis (Ryan Sypek) ends up as one of Kris' best friends and strongest supporters! During the 12 episodes of season one, Kris has a disturbing run-in with her mother Barb (Stacy Haiduk), who is accused of stealing valuables from the Ritter home; Matt develops a gambling problem which siphons much-needed money from his mom's bank account (already depleted by the exigencies of feed bills, IRS payments, and the like); Jean Ritter's troublesome ex-husband Pete (Joe Lando) pops up at the least opportune moment; Kris risks being returned to "juvie" when she starts taking prescription painkillers; and there is intrigue aplenty involving a famous female jockey named Tina Sharp (Amy Jo Johnson). As the season ends, we see a more vulnerable side of the unlovable Danielle Davis as she desperately seeks out the mother who had deserted her many years before. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Genevieve Cortese, Nicole Tubiola, (more)
- 2000
Actor Bill Pullman made his directorial debut with this third screen adaptation of the classic Western novel by Owen Wister. The Virginian (Pullman) leaves the state of his birth to make a new life for himself on the frontier of the American West. He falls in love with Molly Stark (Diane Lane), a schoolteacher also new to Wyoming, and becomes the foreman of a successful cattle ranch, hoping to make good in her eyes. But he is forced to resort to violence when he must protect the ranch against the treacheries of a rival rancher and the betrayal of a former friend; Molly's stern opposition to eye-for-an-eye justice demands that he choose between his conscience and the woman he loves. The Virginian, which received its world premiere on the TNT cable network, co-stars John Savage, Dennis Weaver, and Colm Feore; James Drury, who played the title role in the 1960s TV series based on The Virginian, appears as Rider. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bill Pullman, Diane Lane, (more)
One of Hollywood's most acclaimed Westerns gets a new interpretation in this made-for-TV remake of Fred Zinnemann's 1952 classic. Will Kane (Tom Skerritt), the marshal of the frontier town of Hadleyville, is stepping down to marry his sweetheart Amy (Susanna Thompson) and move on to a less demanding occupation. However, on the day of his wedding, Will gets bad news -- Frank Miller (Michael Madsen), an outlaw Will helped to put behind bars, has just been released from jail and will arrive in Hadleyville on the noon train to settle his score with the marshal. Will appeals for support from the local townspeople, most of whom have done little to help him in the past, and they unfortunately behave in much the same manner in his time of greatest need; Amy even turns her back on her fiancé rather than become a widow on the day of her marriage. In the end, Will finds that he alone must face Miller in a shootout in Hadleyville's main street. Also featuring Dennis Weaver, Maria Conchita Alonso, and Reed Diamond, this version of High Noon was produced for the TNT cable network, where it first aired on August 20, 2000. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Skerritt, Susanna Thompson, (more)
- 2000
- R
- Add Submerged to Queue
In this thriller, an airliner on a routine flight over the Pacific Ocean is hijacked by a gang of terrorists, who deliberately crash the plane into the water. As it turns out, the flight was not as routine as everyone imagined -- one of the passengers is carrying computer hardware that controls a key defense satellite, which can be used to launch America's nuclear arsenal. The terrorists are determined to steal the equipment and use it for their own sinister purposes, but a team of Navy SEALs is given the dangerous assignment of rescuing the airliner and its precious cargo before it's too late. Submerged stars Coolio, Nicole Eggert, Dennis Weaver, Fred Williamson, Brent Huff, and Maxwell Caulfield. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Coolio, Brent Huff, (more)
In this family-oriented outdoor adventure, a boy and his grandfather reconcile family differences while trying to save the life of a pilot after an aircraft crash strands them deep in the dangerous, unforgiving wilderness. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dennis Weaver, Michael Caloz, (more)
- 1997
Small-town housewife Sarah Jenks (Melissa Gilbert) would hardly qualify as the most popular woman in her community: She constantly speaks her mind, contemptuously disdains those who aren't vegetarians like herself, and (horrors!) does not attend church on Sunday. However, no one would ever claim that Sarah was not a loving and devoted mother to her children--at least not until the day that a spiteful woman named Sandy Barlow (Joely Fisher) levies accusations that Sarah is guilty of child abuse. Never bothering to question Sandy's ulterior motives (the audience knows that she has sexual designs on Sarah's husband), the authorities take her charges seriously, and before long Sarah's children have been ripped away from her and placed into foster care. Inspired by actual events, this nailbiting made-for-TV movie exposes the dangers of taking people and events at face value, accepting baseless lies as Gospel and adhering to a rigid "rules are rules" mentality. Seduction in a Small Town made itsABC debut on February 9, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
Based on a true story, the made-for-TV Stolen Women, Captured Hearts takes place in Kansas in 1868. In retribution for the genocidal attacks of General George Armstrong Custer, a band of Lakota Sioux kidnap a pair of white women, Anna Brewster Morgan (Janine Turner) and Sarah White (Jean Louisa Kelly). At first terrified of her captors, Anna eventually falls in love with the noble, honorable Sioux warrior Tokalah (Michael Greyeyes). After a year's captivity, Sarah is returned to her own people--and now she must choose between her new life with Tokalah and her previous existence as the wife of farmer Daniel Morgan (Patrick Bergin), a man she hardly knows. Stolen Women, Captured Hearts made its CBS network bow on March 16, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
In a dual role, Joe Piscopo plays a pair of bungling crooks who kidnap a pair of young girls and hold them hostage. Fortunately for the gals, their talking equine pets, Two-Bits the pony and Pepper the horse, are around to save them, but not without great danger for themselves. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1993
Ancient Secrets of the Bible, Pt. Two contains two episodes and tells the dramatic stories of Noah's Ark and the Ark of the Covenant. ~ Betsy Boyd, Rovi
- 1992
A seven-part series that reviews and recreates the battles and sieges of the Civil War. Included are numerous artifacts and the words of participants. ~ Rovi
- 1992
- Add Smithsonian's Great Battles of the Civil War, Vol. 2 to Queue Add Smithsonian's Great Battles of the Civil War, Vol. 2 to top of Queue
Each episode of this series presents different battles of the war. Each uses re-enactments, expert commentary, and readings by actors such as Burt Reynolds, Charlton Heston, and Richard Dreyfuss, to bring the events of the war to vivid life. Smithsonian's Great Battles of the Civil War, Vol. 2 focuses on the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, the Second Manassas, the Peninsula Campaign, and the series of battles fought for the city of New Orleans. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi
- 1992
Each episode of this series presents different battles from the war. Each uses re-enactments, expert commentary, and readings by actors such as Burt Reynolds, Charlton Heston, and Richard Dreyfuss to bring the events of the war to vivid life. Smithsonian's Great Battles of the Civil War, Vol. 5 focuses on the siege of Vicksburg and the bloody Battle of Chickamauga. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi
- 1990
An explosion in a nuclear warhead silo located near a tiny Texas town causes all kinds of terror in this taut suspensor. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1990
Actor Dennis Weaver is known to many people as the memorable character Chester on the classic television series Gunsmoke. But Weaver has branched out from his acting career into the world of sustainable living. Long an environmentalist, Weaver is a proponent of low-cost, low-stress living. He practices what he preaches, living in Colorado in an Earthship built of used tires, cans, and bottles. Weaver gives the viewer some of his favorite tips for stress reduction, from yoga to walking in the woods. His instruction is accompanied by beautiful scenery and meditative music to calm the mind and spirit. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- 1989
In this western, a senator from New Mexico, who was once a marshal, heads for London to find the one who killed his niece, a research scientist who had been looking into the activities of an international chemical company. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dennis Weaver
- 1988
Several music and film celebrities recall their former lives in this reincarnation-oriented feature with musical accompaniment. K.D. Lang considers herself the reincarnation of the late country singer Patsy Cline, Martin Sheen gives a rambling monologue about his near-death experience while filming Apocalypse Now, and Willie Nelson sings songs about cowboys who come back to live another life. Also included are Rae Dawn Chong, Catherine Oxenberg, Donovan, The Dalai Lama, Ringo Starr, and James Coburn. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Helen Shaver, Rae Dawn Chong, (more)
- 1988
This video presents the accounts of well-known personalities, including Shirley MacLaine and Dennis Weaver, of their belief in reincarnation. The celebrities talk about the use of hypnosis to experience past life regressions. Believers claim that learning about prior lives has resulted in a greater understanding of the present life, and the lessons the soul is trying to master. The program looks at independent corroboration of some remembered lifetimes. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- 1987
Dennis Weaver stars in this TV movie as a blue-collar family man who has earned his own keep for 40 years. He holds down a well-paying job at a Massachusetts factory--until one day, when he is summarily dismissed. The reason? Weaver has spent his adult life harboring a terrible secret: he has never learned to read or write. This compelling pro-literacy tract was first telecast as a Nabisco Showcase presentation on September 13, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Shopping Cart
Your cart is empty.
Any items you add will
appear here until checkout.
Any items you add will
appear here until checkout.
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.