recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Co-ed Call Girl

**Co-ed Call Girl** is a 1996 American television drama film directed by Michael Ray Rhodes.

The film aired on February 11, 1996 on the CBS network.

## Plot

Thanks to her roommate's practical joke, college student Joanna Halbert (Tori Spelling) finds herself becoming a upscale call girl; however, her life takes a turn when she is charged with attempting to kill the owner of the escort service.

## Cast

* Tori Spelling as Joanna Halbert
* Susan Blakely as Teri Halbert
* Scott Plank as Ron Tamblin
* Carmen Argenziano as Henry Binder
* Jeri Ryan as Kimberly
* Barry Watson as Jack Collins
* Ashlee Levitch as Amanda
* Charles Grant as Andrew Carlson
* Siena Goines as Jody
* Jack Knight as Detective Rogers
* Scotch Ellis Loring as Detective Martel

## Production

Filming for "Co-ed Call Girl" took place in Mar Vista, Los Angeles, California.

## Ratings

"Co-ed Call Girl" had an audience of 12.3 million and was the 60th most watched prime-time network television show of the week. It was soundly beaten by TV shows, "Home Improvement" and "Frasier."

## Critical Reception

David Bianculli of The New York Daily News called "Co-ed Call Girl" the *"Worst Tori Ever told"*, adding: *"If only Spelling had learned from the script as she was learning it, she might have wised up enough to turn down this particular acting job."*

Writing for United Feature Syndicate, Kirk Nicewonger said: *"Suffice it to note that [Tori] Spelling is not convincing as a date-for-hire and even less so as a medical student."*

Gail Pennington of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted that Tori Spelling turned in a *"remarkable performance"* as she *"manages to act dumb enough"* to believe her call-girl job will involve *"good money, lovely clothes and no sex unless she wants it."*

Pop culture website Complex.com included "Co-ed Call Girl" in its list of "The 50 Most Ridiculous Lifetime Movies" at #49.

Lauren Otion, who compiled the list, stated: *"If you're in the mood to feel like a horrible person by cracking up at would-be devastating moments (i.e., the creepy piano player that breathily chides a geisha-looking Spelling with one-liners like, "Ron said you like to have a good time!" and "ON THE FIRST NOTE, JOANNA!!" before having her perform the most awkward strip routine ever), this is indeed the movie for you."*

Andy Webb of The Movie Scene wrote: *"Co-ed Call Girl is a routine college fear movie from the 90s which whilst flawed, more so than ever when watched now, is in fact on par with many similar movies. It means that it is now cheesy and ridiculous but also entertaining for being such."*

Michael Ray Rhodes from AllMovie called it a *"howlingly -- though unintentionally -- funny movie."*
A Gun in the House

**A Gun in the House** is a 1981 American television drama film directed by Ivan Nagy.

The film aired on February 11, 1981 on the CBS network.

## Plot

When Emily Cates (Sally Struthers) finds herself being held hostage by intruders who break into her home, she ends up being prosecuted by a district attorney for shooting one of the intruders to death.

## Cast

* Sally Struthers as Emily Cates
* David Ackroyd as Joe Cates
* Missy Francis as Diana Cates
* Dick Anthony Williams as Detective Frank Campbell
* Joel Bailey as Matt Grine
* Frank Koppala as Henry Galsworthy
* Jeffrey Tambor as Lance Kessler
* Allan Rich as Roy Grutman
* Belita Moreno as Marcie Clark
* Valorie Armstrong as Phyllis Thatcher
* Max Showalter as Peter Schechter
* Gary Wood as Tompall Shockley

## Critical Reception

Tom Shales from The Washington Post wrote that "A Gun in the House" uses a *"phony layer of social significance to disguise a sick and lurid thriller"* and that it *"recruits the "issue" of gun control as the pretext for another hard-breathing nail-biter about a terrorized housewife."*

Donald Guarisco from Allmovie said that the script is *"as ambitious as it is tight, managing to offer some interesting commentary on gun control, self-defense and the flaws of the legal system while still delivering plenty of thrills and tension."*

He also said: *"Dick Anthony Williams offers a convincing portrait of a frustrated and overworked cop while Jeffrey Tambor is truly villainous as an overambitious D.A. and Joel Bailey is disturbingly intense as the misogynist leader of the house-robbing duo."*

Guarisco praised Sally Struthers' performance, saying: *"Although she is most often remembered as a comedienne, she does a fine job with demanding dramatic material here, charting her character's course from fear to determination in a sympathetic, believable manner" and that her performance has an "almost shocking emotive power at times."*
Alita: Battle Angel

**Alita: Battle Angel** is a 2019 American action/adventure/sci-fi film directed by Robert Rodriguez based which was released on February 14, 2019 by 20th Century Fox.

It is based on Yukito Kishiro's Japanese manga series, "Battle Angel Alita."

## Plot

The film centers on Alita (Rosa Salazar), a cyborg who awakens in a new body with no memory and sets out to learn her destiny.

## Cast

* Rosa Salazar as Alita
* Christoph Waltz as Dr. Dyson Ido
* Keean Johnson as Hugo
* Mahershala Ali as Vector
* Jennifer Connelly as Dr. Chiren
* Ed Skrein as Zapan
* Jackie Earle Haley as Grewishka
* Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Tanji
* Lana Condor as Koyomi
* Idara Victor as Nurse Gerhad
* Eiza González as Nyssiana
* Jeff Fahey as McTeague
* Rick Yune as Master Clive Lee
* Derek Mears as Romo
* Marko Zaror as Ajakutty
* Leonard Wu as Kinuba
* Elle LaMont as Screwhead
* Casper Van Dien as Amok

## Box Office

"Alita: Battle Angel" grossed $28,525,613 during its opening weekend. Overall, it grossed $404,980,543 worldwide on an estimated budget of $170,000,000.

## Critical Reception

Michael Nordine from IndieWire called the film *"a sci-fi epic that does something rare in an age of endless adaptations and reboots: lives up to its potential while leaving you wanting more."*

Writing for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw wrote: *"Alita: Battle Angel is a film with Imax spectacle and big effects. But for all its scale, it might end up being put on for 13-year-olds as a sleepover entertainment. It doesn’t have the grownup, challenging, complicated ideas of Ghost in the Shell. A vanilla dystopian romance."*

Critic William Bibbiani from IGN called it *" an ambitious, impressive, visually spectacular production with great performances that make its strange world seem real."*

Matt Singer of ScreenCrush said that the film *"barely considers any of the existential questions about humanity that are typically central to this kind of sci-fi film. It’s just a slick action film."*

Variety magazine said: *"This manga-based cyberpunk origin story is a pretty zappy effects showcase, weighed down by a protracted, soul-challenged Frankenstory that short-circuits every time it gets moving."*

Dan Jolin from Empire magazine said the film is *"best enjoyed for the fun, slick action and the astonishing, super-expressive realisation of Alita herself, because elsewhere it’s cyberpunk business as usual, marred by some sloppy plotting."*

Michael Sragow from Film Comment Magazine said: *"As spectacle, the film is aces. It welds Rodriguez's eccentric touch with action and special effects to Cameron's mastery of world-building."*

Sam Adams from Slant Magazine wrote: *"It's goofy as hell and borderline inexcusable at times, but it's also kind of glorious."*

Vanity Fair magazine called it *"a cyberpunk epic based on a popular manga with a strong pedigree behind the camera, should be an event movie, advertised and anticipated as one of the big films of the year."*
About Sarah

**About Sarah** is a 1998 American television drama film written & directed by Susan Rohrer.

The film aired on October 4, 1998 on the CBS network.

## Plot

After the death of her grandmother, college senior Mary Beth McCafffey (Kellie Martin) becomes the legal guardian of her intellectually challenged mother, Sarah (Mary Steenburgen).

## Cast

* Kellie Martin as Mary Beth McCaffrey
* Mary Steenburgen as Sarah Elizabeth McCaffrey
* Diane Baker as Lila Hollingsworth
* Marion Ross as Grandma Rose McCaffrey
* Nick Searcy as Johnny
* Chad Christ as Mike
* Steven Gilborn as Lew Roth
* Karen Rauch as Grace
* William S. Taylor as Judge Hillstrom
* Aloma Wright as Claudia Avery

## Production

"About Sarah" was filmed in Los Angeles, California.

## Critical Reception

Julio Martinez from Variety called "About Sarah" a *"predictable she's more-capable-than-she-looks telepic"* and that *"Susan Rohrer’s chronicle of the transformation of developmentally disabled, middle-aged, unmarried mom Sarah (Mary Steenburgen) is long on angst but short on thematic development."*

Anita Gates from The New York Times called the film *"a satisfying, beautifully acted tear-jerker."*
Aquamarine

**Aquamarine** is a 2006 American teen fantasy comedy film directed by Elizabeth Allen based on Alice Hoffman's 2001 young adult novel of the same name, which was released on March 3, 2006 by 20th Century Fox.

## Plot

Two teenage girls (Emma Roberts & JoJo) discover a mermaid (Sara Paxton) in their beach club's swimming pool, who enlists the girls' help in winning the heart of a handsome lifeguard (Jake McDorman).

## Cast

* Sara Paxton as Aquamarine
* Emma Roberts as Claire Brown
* JoJo as Hailey Rogers
* Jake McDorman as Raymond
* Arielle Kebbel as Cecilia Banks
* Claudia Karvan as Ginny Rogers
* Bruce Spence as Leonard
* Tammin Sursok as Marjorie
* Roy Billing as Bob Brown
* Julia Blake as Maggie Brown
* Shaun Micallef as Storm Banks
* Lulu McClatchy as Bonnie
Alaska

**Alaska** is a 1996 American adventure film directed by Frank Clarke Heston. The film was released on August 14, 1996 by Columbia Pictures.

## Plot

The film centers on siblings Jessie & Sean Barnes who search through the Alaskan wilderness for their lost father, Jake.

During their journey, they find a polar bear that helps lead them to their father. However, a poacher (Charlton Heston) who has a desire to capture the bear follows close behind.

## Cast

* Thora Birch as Jessie Barnes
* Vincent Kartheiser as Sean Barnes
* Dirk Benedict as Jake Barnes
* Charlton Heston as Colin Perry
* Duncan Fraser as Mr. Koontz
* Gordon Tootoosis as Ben
* Ben Cardinal as Charlie
* Ryan Kent as Chip
* Don S. Davis as Sergeant Sam Grazer
* Dolly Madsen as Mrs. Ben
* Stephen E. Miller as Trooper Sam Harvey
* Byron Chief-Moon as Chip's Grandfather
* Kristin Lehman as Florence

## Critical Reception

The Austin Chronicle wrote: "*If you can manage to overlook some annoying gaps in logic and the relentless bombast of the ever-present musical score, Alaska is a pretty decent kids' adventure movie"*, calling the performances of Thora Birch and Vincent Kartheiser "*impeccable*".

Edward Guthmann of the San Francisco Chronicle said: "*Alaska doesn't evoke our emotions: it orders them with the grace of an industrial staple gun.*"

In their review of the film, The San Francisco Examiner stated: "*If familiarity makes you happy, you will revel in the stock characters, stock situations, stock dialogue and stock direction*."
Accidental Friendship

**Accidental Friendship** is a 2008 American television drama film directed by Don McBrearty which aired on November 15, 2008 on the Hallmark Channel.

## Plot

Based on a true story, the film follows Yvonne, a homeless woman with two dogs who befriends Los Angeles police officer Tami Baumann, and the two of them form a friendship that lasts for years.

## Cast

* Chandra Wilson as Yvonne Caldwell
* Kathleen Munroe as Tami Baumann
* Ben Vereen as Wesley "Wes" Smith
* Gabriel Hogan as Kevin Brawner
* Alison Sealy-Smith as Chris Washington
* Jean Yoon as Lila Jones
* Taylor Trowbridge as Gloria

## Critical Reception

Andy Webb of The Movie Scene called it a *"brilliant movie with a brilliant performance from Chandra Wilson."*

The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the film *"is hardly anything in it to offend, doubt or to refute; on the other hand, there is hardly anything to set a spark."*

Laura Fries from Variety said: *"Viewers have been so conditioned by holiday TV's moments of serendipitous redemption that on a superficial level, Hallmark Channel's "Accidental Friendship" may disappoint."*

Writing for Radio Times, Sloan Freer gave the film a two-star rating, saying that it offers a *"thought-provoking glimpse of life on the street and how people end up there. But these serious issues are increasingly used as button-pushing devices and milked for their maximum emotional impact."*

Freer added: *"Fortunately, the heartfelt performances and an overall air of authenticity mitigate some of the film's contrivances, resulting in a humbling and occasionally inspirational experience."*

## Awards

**Primetime Emmy Awards** (2009)

* Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: Chandra Wilson [*Nominated*]

**NAACP Image Awards** (2009)

* Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special [*Nominated*]
* Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: Ben Vereen [*Nominated*]
* Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: Chandra Wilson [*Nominated*]

**Online Film & Television Association** (2009)

* Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: Chandra Wilson [*Nominated*]

**Prism Awards** (2009)

* Prism Award for Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries: Chandra Wilson [**Winner**]
* Prism Award for TV Movie or Miniseries [*Nominated*]
Earth

Earth is the home planet of the Humans and the capital planet of the Dominion. Earth is the 107th most populated planet within the Dominion and is used by protesters as a targeted area due to Earth being a political center. Despite being the home planet of the Humans, Humans are only the 7th most populous specie on Earth! Earth is always the first planet to receive political news and other information. It is also used as a trade port and center of communications.
A Kidnapping in the Family

**A Kidnapping in the Family** is a 1996 American television drama film directed by Colin Bucksey which aired on February 26, 1996 on the
ABC network.

## Plot

A woman's accusations of child abuse & cult worship against her daughter eventually lead to her abducting her grandson.

## Cast

* Tracey Gold as Sarah Landers Taylor
* Kate Jackson as DeDe Cooper
* Jeff Yagher as Jack Taylor
* Robert Bishop as Kyle Landers
* Laura Harris as Josie Cooper
* Michael Hogan as Jimmy Wesley
* Matt Hill as Chris Landers
* Chilton Crane as Alisa Wesley
* Anna Ferguson as Florence Cooper
* Benjamin Ratner as Dan Calder
* Xander Berkeley as Curtis Harrison

## Production

Filming for "A Kidnapping in the Family" took place in British Columbia, Canada.

## Critical Reception

Variety magazine said: *"With no discernible point to develop however, “A Kidnapping in the Family” can only entertain by default."*
Best Seller

**Best Seller** is a 1987 American neo-noir crime thriller\drama film directed by John Flynn which was released by Orion Pictures on September 25, 1987.

## Plot

A career hitman approaches a veteran police officer who is now a best-selling author about turning his life story into a book.

## Cast

* James Woods as Cleve
* Brian Dennehy as Dennis Meechum
* Victoria Tennant as Roberta Gillian
* Allison Balson as Holly Meechum
* Paul Shenar as David Madlock
* George Coe as Graham
* Anne Pitoniak as Mrs. Foster
* Mary Carver as Cleve's Mother
* Sully Boyar as Monks
* Kathleen Lloyd as Annie

## Critical Reception

Roger Ebert gave the film a one-star rating, stating:

*"The problem is that "Best Seller" is light on plot, real light. It doesn't have a compelling story at its center, only the original inspiration of the best-selling cop and the killer who wants to talk. Although it has no central plot, it has any number of other things going on, all kinds of minor characters and subsidiary relationships and heartwarming father-and-daughter chats and fatal shootouts. This is a case of a movie that has too much content, but not enough subject."*

The Washington Post said:

*"James Woods is the soul of "Best Seller," but the film has no body. This unlikely pairing of a corporate assassin and cop-author provides flimsy support for Wood's trademark intensity. He flits about the screen like an edgy sprite in search of a story."*
All Dogs Go to Heaven

**All Dogs Go to Heaven** is a 1989 American animated musical fantasy/comedy-drama film directed and produced by Don Bluth, which was released by United Artists and Goldcrest Films on November 17, 1989.

## Plot

The film follows Charlie B. Barkin, a dog and con artist who is killed by his former friend, Carface Carruthers. He returns to Earth as an angel and vows to seek revenge on Carface, but befriends a little orphan girl named Anne Marie. In the process, Charlie learns a lesson about friendship.

## Voice Cast

* Burt Reynolds as Charlie B. Barkin
* Dom DeLuise as Itchy Itchiford
* Judith Barsi as Anne-Marie
* Vic Tayback as Carface Caruthers
* Charles Nelson Reilly as Killer
* Loni Anderson as Flo
* Melba Moore as Whippet Angel
* Ken Page as King Gator
* Rob Fuller as Harold
* Earleen Carey as Kate
* Godfrey Quigley as Terrier
* Anna Manahan as Stella Dallas
* Candy Devine as Vera

## Box Office

"All Dogs Go to Heaven" grossed $4,712,834 during its opening weekend. Overall, the film grossed a total of $27,100,027 worldwide on an estimated budget of $13,800,000.

## Critical Reception

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said: *"There is a lot of individualism in this movie, both in the filmmaking and in the characters."*

TV Guide Magazine called the animation in the film *"exceptional."* Writing for USA Today, Mike Clark said: *"Despite overlength, this acceptable outing has its moments, most of them in the second half."*

The Boston Globe wrote: *"All Dogs Go to Heaven" has the right spirit, and its warmth will offset what for small kids might be some scary moments. But it does seem skimpy and warmed over."*

Janet Maslin of the New York Times wrote: *"The appeal of character and story line here is thoroughly overshadowed by the various technical feats involved in bringing the film to the screen."*

The Washington Post wrote: *"With 10 writers gnawing on it, there is little originality left in the story."*

Peter Rainer from the Los Angeles Times said that the film's plot is a *"garbled pastiche of Oliver Twist and Little Miss Marker."*

The Orlando Sentinel also noted that the film's plot *"meanders and chases its own tail without ever establishing coherent characters."*

Empire Magazine wrote: *"Whilst looking good, it lacks a well-thought out strategy."*

Doris Barclay of the Associated Press said: *"All Dogs Go to Heaven will never be an animated classic, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or Bambi, but it is enjoyable entertainment for the entire family."*

## Awards

**Young Artist Awards** (1990)

* Best Family Motion Picture (Adventure or Cartoon) [*Nominated*]

## Sequel

A sequel, All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 was released in 1996.
Anastasia (1956)

**Anastasia** is a 1956 American historical drama film directed by Arthur Laurents, which was released by 20th Century Fox on December 13, 1956.

## Plot

An opportunistic Russian businessman tries to pass a mysterious impostor as the Grand Duchess Anastasia in order to swindle an inheritance of £10 million.

## Cast

* Ingrid Bergman as Anna Koreff
* Yul Brynner as General Bounine
* Helen Hayes as the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna
* Akim Tamiroff as Boris Adreivich Chernov
* Martita Hunt as Baroness Elena von Livenbaum
* Felix Aylmer as Chamberlain
* Sacha Pitoëff as Piotr Ivanovich Petrovin
* Ivan Desny as Prince Paul von Haraldberg
* Natalie Schafer as Irina Lissemskaia
* Grégoire Gromoff as Stepan
* Karel Stepanek as Mikhail Vlados
* Ina De La Haye as Marusia
* Katherine Kath as Maxime
Circle of Violence: A Family Drama

**Circle of Violence: A Family Drama** is a 1986 American television drama film directed by David Greene.

The film aired on October 12, 1986 on the CBS network.

## Plot

Georgia Benfield (Tuesday Weld) finds herself under so much stress in her life, she begins physically abusing her elderly mother, Charlotte (Geraldine Fitzgerald) in the same manner that Georgia had been abused during her childhood.

## Cast

* Tuesday Weld as Georgia Benfield
* Geraldine Fitzgerald as Charlotte Kessling
* Peter Bonerz as Pete Benfield
* River Phoenix as Chris Benfield
* Christina Maria Hutter as Addie Benfield
* Philip Sterling as Jim McLane
* Zoaunne LeRoy as Florence McLane
* Ellen Travolta as Marion
* Sue Giosa as Dr. Kalmeir

## Production

Filming for "Circle of Violence: A Family Drama" took place in 1985 in California.

The film marks River Phoenix's final acting role on television before his death on October 31, 1993 at the age of 23.

## Critical Reception

Rose Thompson from Radio Times called "Circle of Violence" a powerful television movie, adding that director David Greene *"maintains a steady pace before eventually succumbing to melodrama."*
Bed of Lies

**Bed of Lies** is a 1992 American television drama film directed by William A. Graham which aired on January 20, 1992 on the ABC network.

It is based on Steve Salerno's book, "Deadly Blessing."

## Plot

The film follows Vickie Daniel, a waitress who is charged with murdering her husband, Price (the son of a former Texas governor) after he becomes abusive towards her and her children.

## Cast

* Susan Dey as Vickie Daniel
* Chris Cooper as Price Daniel, Jr.
* G.W. Bailey as Zeke Zbranek
* John Anderson as Price Daniel, Sr.
* Tom Nolan as Larry Moore
* Fred Dalton Thompson as Richard "Racehorse" Haynes
* Mary Kay Place as Jean Daniel Murph
* Tony Frank as Sheriff Eckols
* Sharon Bunn as Comelia
* James Hansen Prince as Houston Daniel

## Critical Reception

David Parkinson from Radio Times said: *"Both [Susan] Dey and [Chris] Cooper give solid performances, but TV-movie specialist William A Graham overdoes the melodrama."*

Chris Willman from the Los Angeles Times wrote: *"[Susan] Dey loses herself in her lower-class character; so, as it happens, does the movie, which is luridly entertaining up to a point."*

The Baltimore Sun stated: *"The movie is in no way a responsible depiction of the plight of battered women. It's about titillation. [Susan] Dey in bed in black negligee and silk stockings and lots of sex and violence."*

Andy Webb of The Movie Scene gave the film a three-star rating, calling it *"just a standard dramatization of a true story which fails to build up characters which in turn almost turns the movie into just a fashion show for Susan Dey whose wardrobe in this made for TV movie must have been larger than some actresses get on big screen movies."*
Against Their Will: Women in Prison

**Against Their Will: Women in Prison** is a 1994 American television drama film directed by Karen Arthur.

The film aired on October 30, 1994 on the ABC network.

## Plot

A lawyer helps a recovering addict press charges against the guards who mistreated her in prison and demanded sexual favors from the inmates.

## Cast

* Judith Light as Alice Needham
* Stacy Keach as Jack Devlin
* Chelcie Ross as Warden Henley
* Tonya Pinkins as Sondra
* Michael Woods as Captain Tandy
* Giuliana Santini as Carrie
* Theresa Tova as Captain Cooney
* Barbara Eve Harris as Captain Williamson
* Kay Lenz as Lisa Jamison

## Production

Filming for "Against Their Will: Women in Prison" took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

## Critical Reception

Variety magazine said: *"Director Karen Arthur pushes all the right buttons, showing the characters’ strengths and weaknesses to sell the story."*
Dangerous Passion

**Dangerous Passion** is a 1990 American television crime thriller film directed by Michael Miller which aired on March 25, 1990 on the ABC network.

## Plot

A security expert escapes with the wife of a mobster who may be setting them up for the murder of a lawyer.

## Cast

* Carl Weathers as Kyle Western
* Billy Dee Williams as Lou Jordan
* Lonette McKee as Meg Jordan
* Michael Beach as Steve
* Charles Boswell as Frank Carmen
* L. Scott Caldwell as Ruby

## Critical Reception

Hal Erickson of Allmovie gave "Dangerous Passion" a rating of two and a half stars, stating: *"This USA Cable network offering stars Carl Weathers as a none-too-ethical security expert. The cool, state-of-the-art cars driven by the protagonists are sometimes more fascinating than the by-the-numbers plotline."*

TV Guide gave the film two of four stars, commenting: *"This is an expert retread of Hollywood crime formulas, infused with new life by a top-flight African-American cast. But the snugly constructed script stands on its own merits. The film rings true even when its skirmishes seem improbable. The film doesn't merely pit its enamored fugitives against an implacable foe; it picks at their own insecurities as they turn on each other in waves of mistrust. Weathers more than fits the movie star bill as a handsome tuna swimming among barracudas like Lou. Matching McKee's enticing performance as the self-destructive Meg is Billy Dee Williams, whose Lou isn't just a grabby businessman but a collector of souls. Dangerous Passion is an invigorating peek into the dark recesses of the human spirit - until McKee is killed off. Afterward, this once-promising film moves into more conventional macho action territory."*
Bad Manners

**Bad Manners** (also known as "Growing Pains") is a 1984 American black comedy film directed & written by Robert Houston.

The film first premiered at the Cannes Film Market in France on May 17, 1984 and was released theatrically in the United States in November of 1984 by New World Pictures.

## Plot

The film follows a group of delinquent teenagers who escape from a Catholic orphanage in order to rescue their friend who was adopted by a phony West Coast couple.

## Cast

* Martin Mull as Warren Fitzpatrick
* Karen Black as Gladys Fitzpatrick
* Anne De Salvo as Sister Serena
* Murphy Dunne as Mr. Kurtz
* Georg Olden as Piper
* Pamela Segall as Girl Joey
* Michael Hentz as Mouse / Bartholomew
* Joey Coleman as Whitey
* Christopher Brown as Blackie
* Stephen Stucker as Dr. Bender
* Kimmy Robertson as Sarah Fitzpatrick
* John Paul Lussier as Garth Fitzpatrick
* Edy Williams as Mrs. Slatt
* Hy Pyke as Mr. Slatt
* Gertrude Flynn as Mother Celestina
Belle Starr's Daughter

**Belle Starr's Daughter** is a 1948 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander which was released on December 31, 1948 by 20th Century Fox.

## Plot

The film follows Cimarron Rose, the daughter of famous outlaw Belle Starr who arrives at the town where her mother was murdered in order to find her killer.

## Cast

* George Montgomery as Marshal Tom Jackson
* Rod Cameron as Bob "Bitter Creek" Yauntis
* Ruth Roman as Cimarron Rose
* Wallace Ford as Lafe Bailey
* Charles Kemper as Deputy Gaffer
* William Edward Phipps as Yuma Talbott
* Edith King as Mrs. Allen
* Jack Lambert as Bronc Wilson
* Fred Libby as Slim Smith
* Isabel Jewell as Belle Starr

## Critical Reception

Derek Winnert.com wrote: *"Belle Starr’s Daughter is mostly entertaining, thanks in part to [Ruth] Roman and [George] Montgomery, but it is hollow and sentimental at the finish."*
A Mom for Christmas

**A Mom for Christmas** is a 1990 American television Christmas fantasy/comedy film directed by George T. Miller which aired on December 17, 1990 on the NBC network.

It is based on Barbara Dillon's book, "A Mom by Magic."

## Plot

Eleven-year-old Jessica Slocum wishes for a mom for Christmas and her wish comes true after Amy, a department store mannequin comes to life.

## Cast

* Olivia Newton-John as Amy Miller
* Juliet Sorci as Jessica Slocum
* Doug Sheehan as Jim Slocum
* Doris Roberts as Philomena
* Carmen Argenziano as Sergeant Morelli
* Brett Harrelson as Kendall
* Elliot Greenebaum as Chip Wright
* Erica Mitchell as Stephanie Clark
* Aubrey Morris as Nicholas
* Jim Piddock as Wilkins
* Gregory Procaccino as Detective Price
* Steve Russell as Mr. Milliman
* Jesse Vincent as Teddy O'Neill
* Kathy Lubow as Lora

## Production

Filming for "A Mom for Christmas" began in October of 1990, lasting for one month.

Filming locations included Cincinnati, Ohio and Wyoming, Ohio. The department store scenes were filmed at Lazarus Department Store in Cincinnati, Ohio.

John Travolta and Michael Beck were both offered the part of Jim Slocum, but they turned it down. The role ultimately went to Doug Sheehan.

## Critical Reception

In his review of "A Mom for Christmas," Andy Webb from The Movie Scene wrote: "*Even the performances are a struggle especially from Olivia Newton-John as Amy because what it calls for is for Olivia playing it dumb and naive but caring which she does but it is all so over the top and corny. Juliet Sorci does a little better as she gets across the whole lonely daughter aspect of the character quite nicely although at times she also ends up a little annoying."*
Dead Before Dawn

**Dead Before Dawn** is a 1993 American television drama/thriller film directed by Charles Correll which aired on January 10, 1993 on the ABC network.

It is based on a true event involving the publicized mid-1980s bitter divorce of Linda and Robert Edelman.

## Plot

After suffering from years of abuse from her husband, Robert, Linda Edelman decides to file for divorce, but when Robert plans to kill her, the FBI convinces Linda to fake her own death.

## Cast

* Cheryl Ladd as Linda DeSilva Edelman
* Jameson Parker as Robert Edelman
* G. W. Bailey as Masterson
* Kim Coates as Zack Bell
* Matt Clark as John DeSilva
* Keone Young as James Young
* Stanley Anderson as Ike Vanden Eykel
* Hope Lange as Virginia DeSilva
* Jensen Daggett as Dana Shoreham
* Hollis McCarthy as Miriam DeSilva

## Critical Reception

In his review of "Dead Before Dawn," John Marriott from Radio Times wrote: *"Cheryl Ladd is generally acceptable in movies that don't require her to provide her characters with much emotional or psychological depth. Here, in a film that cries out for an actress with a greater range, she's merely adequate as the wife threatened by her murderous husband and forced to seek assistance from the FBI. However, director Charles Correll sensibly keeps a tight rein on his material, and manages to come up with the occasional suspenseful and atmospheric scene."*
Better Off Dead

**Better Off Dead** is a 1985 American dark teen romantic comedy film directed by Savage Steve Holland, which was released on August 23, 1985 by Warner Bros. Pictures, A&M Films and CBS Theatrical Films.

## Plot

The film centers on Lane Myer (John Cusack), a teenage boy who becomes suicidal after his girlfriend breaks up with him shortly before Christmas.

## Cast

* John Cusack as Lane Myer
* David Ogden Stiers as Al Myer
* Diane Franklin as Monique Junet
* Kim Darby as Jenny Myer
* Curtis Armstrong as Charles De Mar
* Amanda Wyss as Beth Truss
* Aaron Dozier as Roy Stalin
* Demian Slade as Johnny Gasparini
* Scooter Stevens as Badger Myer
* Yuji Okumoto as Yee Sook Ree
* Brian Imada as Chen Ree
* Laura Waterbury as Mrs. Smith
* Dan Schneider as Ricky Smith
* Chuck Mitchell as Rocko
* Vincent Schiavelli as Mr. Kerber
* Taylor Negron as Mailman
* Rick Rosenthal as Smitty
* Elizabeth Daily as Herself
Benji: Off the Leash!

**Benji: Off the Leash!** is a 2004 American family comedy-drama film directed, written & produced by Joe Camp which was released on March 26, 2004 by Mulberry Square Productions.

## Plot

The film follows Benji, who is rescued by a boy named Colby from his abusive dog-breeding stepfather. He finds himself with a new sidekick, Lizard Tongue as he tries to rescue his mother from overbreeding and avoiding two dog-catchers along the way.

## Cast

* Nick Whitaker as Colby
* Chris Kendrick as Terrance Muncy Hatchett
* Christy Summerhays as Claire
* Neal Barth as Zachariah Finch
* Randall Newsome as Livingston
* Duane Stephens as Sheldon
* Nate Bynum as Sergeant Oswald Lewis
A Time for Miracles

**A Time for Miracles** is a 1980 American television biographical drama film directed by Michael O'Herlihy which aired on December 21, 1980 on the ABC network.

## Plot

The film tells the true story of Elizabeth Bayley Seton, an educator who became the first American to ever be canonized as a saint by the Pope.

## Cast

* Kate Mulgrew as Elizabeth Bayley Seton
* Jean-Pierre Aumont as Father DuBois
* Rossano Brazzi as Fillipo Fillici
* John Forsythe as Postulator
* Lorne Greene as Bishop John Carroll
* Jean LeClerc as Father Brute
* Leonard Mann as Antonio Fillici
* Robin Clarke as William Seton

## Production

Filming for "A Time for Miracles" took place in Westville, Georgia.

## Critical Reception

In his review of "A Time for Miracles", Tom Shales of The Washington Post said that the film *"utterly lacks dramatic tension"*.
A Perfect Match

**A Perfect Match** is a 1980 American television drama film directed & co-written by Mel Damski which aired on October 5, 1980 on the CBS network.

## Plot

The film centers on a dying woman who needs to get a bone marrow transplant from the daughter she gave up for adoption at birth in order to survive.

## Cast

* Linda Kelsey as Miranda McLloyd
* Michael Brandon as Steve Triandos
* Lisa Lucas as Julie Larson
* Charles Durning as Bill Larson
* Colleen Dewhurst as Meg Larson
* Clyde Kusatsu as Dr. Tommy Chang
* Bonnie Bartlett as Judge Greenburg
* Hildy Brooks as Esther
* Alexa Kenin as Angel
* Bever-Leigh Banfield as Rhonda
* Marilyn Kagan as Lisa
A Reason to Live

**A Reason to Live** is a 1985 American television drama film directed by Peter Levin which aired on January 7, 1985 on the NBC network.

## Plot

After Gus Steward starts comtemplating suicide when his wife, Dolores decides to divorce him, his teenage son, Alex tries to give Gus hope and prevent him from taking his own life before it's too late.

## Cast

* Rick Schroder as Alex Stewart
* Peter Fonda as Gus Stewart
* Deidre Hall as Delores Stewart
* Tracey Gold as Ellen Maynes
* Maxine Stuart as Fay Stewart
* Carrie Snodgress as Isobel Bennett
* Bruce Weitz as Bob Cousins
* Peter Jason as Dick Biheller

## Critical Reception

The New York Times described "A Reason to Live" as a *"simply dreadful movie"*, adding: *"Mr. [Peter] Fonda does manage to be touchingly sympathetic, and Mr. [Ricky] Schroder, having reached that awkward age for child actors, can still be wonderfully disarming. But neither stands a chance in this labored exercise."*
Babysitter's Black Book

**Babysitter's Black Book** is a 2015 American television drama film directed by Lee Friedlander.

The film aired on February 21, 2015 on the Lifetime network.

## Plot

The film follows four high school seniors (Spencer Locke, Angeline Fiordella Appel, Lauren York and Steffani Brass) who start a babysitting business in order to pay for college, but their business soon becomes a prostitution service which lands them in trouble.

## Cast

* Spencer Locke as Ashley
* Angeline Fiordella Appel as Rachel
* Lauren York as Janet
* Steffani Brass as Gilli
* Ryan McPartlin as Mark
* Perrey Reeves as Linda
* David Shatraw as Joe
* Stacy Edwards as Bonnie
* Doug Noble as Daniel
* Ashley Dulaney as Principal Burke
* Mercedes Colon as Detective Rodriguez

## Critical Reception

Andy Webb of The Movie Scene gave the film a two-star rating, saying: *"Babysitter's Black Book just didn't work for me and ended up a slog of a movie to stay with till the end."*

Lisa Marie Bowman from Through the Shattered Lens wrote: *"Babysitter’s Black Book features everything that you could possibly want from a Lifetime film. Melodrama, comedy, pretty clothes, sordid happenings in artfully decorated settings, and wonderfully over-the-top dialogue."*
Calendar Girl, Cop, Killer?: The Bambi Bembenek Story

**Calendar Girl, Cop, Killer?: The Bambi Bembenek Story** is a 1993 American television drama film directed by Jerry London.

The film aired on May 18, 1992 on the ABC network.

## Plot

The film tells the true story of police officer Laurencia "Bambi" Bembenek (Lindsay Frost) who was sent to prison in 1982 for murdering her husband's ex-wife in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

## Cast

* Lindsay Frost as Laurencia "Bambi" Bembenek
* Timothy Busfield as Fred Schultz
* John Karlen as John Garner
* Linda Blair as Jane Mader
* James Sloyan as Defense Attorney
* Kathleen Garrett as Paula Fulton
* Tobin Bell as Dan Cushman
* Tom Mason as Frank Rutter
* Ed Lauter as Lieutenant Driscoll
* Don S. Davis as McCann

## Critical Reception

Van Gordon Sauter of Variety magazine wrote: *"This intricate, well-crafted and surprisingly even-handed docudrama is honest enough to let the audience reach its own conclusions about the innocence or guilt of a young woman, a former calendar girl and policewoman, convicted of murdering her husband's ex-wife. One suspects a viewer poll would reveal a hung jury."*
Angel

**Angel** is a 1984 American action thriller film directed by Robert Vincent O'Neil. The film was released by New World Pictures on January 13, 1984.

## Plot

By day, 15-year-old honor student Molly Stewart (Donna Wilkes) attends a private prep school in Los Angeles, California; by night, she transforms herself into a prostitute named Angel, who works Hollywood Boulevard.

After two of her friends are murdered by a necrophiliac serial killer, Molly's two lives start to fall apart, especially when she becomes the killer's next target.

## Cast

* Donna Wilkes as Molly "Angel" Stewart
* Cliff Gorman as Lt. Andrews
* Susan Tyrrell as Solly Mosler
* Dick Shawn as Mae/Marvin Walker
* Rory Calhoun as Kit Carson
* John Diehl as The Killer
* Elaine Giftos as Patricia Allen
* Donna McDaniel as Crystal
* Graem McGavin as Lana
* Mel Carter as Collins
* Steven M. Porter as Yoyo Charlie
* David Underwood as Ric Sawyer
* David Anthony as Howie
* Joshua Cadman as Spike
* Greg Lewis as Themopolis
* Karyn Parker as Diane
* Dennis Kort as Wayne
* Ken Olfson as Mr. Saunders
* Peter Jason as The John

## Production

At the time, lead actress Donna Wilkes was 24 years old when she portrayed the role of 15-year-old Molly Stuart in the film. She prepared for her role by speaking to real-life street prostitutes on Hollywood Boulevard, spent time with the Los Angeles Police Department and in various halfway houses for underage children living on the streets of Los Angeles, California.

The motel in the film is the El Royale Motel at 11117 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City. Most of the film was shot at real locations on and around Hollywood Boulevard.

## Box Office

During its opening weekend, "Angel" grossed $2,214,824 and $17,488,564 worldwide.

## Critical Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Angel" has an audience score of 43% based on 500-plus ratings.

Donald Guarisco from AllMovie wrote: *"In the end, Angel is probably a little too schizophrenic and sleazy for the average viewer but will work as a guaranteed guilty pleasure for anyone who gets nostalgic about trashy drive-in fare."*

TV Guide said: *"Although extremely silly and distasteful, Angel does manage to insert some interesting ideas into standard exploitation material. The characters are fully developed, and Calhoun, Tyrrell, and especially Shawn turn in some genuinely fine performances."*

## Sequels

Due to the cult following and box office profits, "Angel" spawned three sequels: "Avenging Angel" (in 1985), "Angel III: The Final Chapter" (in 1988) and "Angel 4: Undercover" (in 1994).
City Boy

**City Boy** is a 1992 Canadian television adventure\drama film directed by John Kent Harrison. The film aired in 1996 on the PBS network.

It is based on Gene Stratton-Porter's novel, "Freckles."

## Plot

The film follows Nick, a 17-year-old orphan who gets a job working for a lumber company in a small logging town as he searches for his father and falls in love with a girl who wants to prevent the Limberlost forest from being torn down.

## Cast

* Christian Campbell as Nick
* James Brolin as Tom McLean
* Christopher Bolton as Simon Wessner
* Sarah Chalke as Angelica
* Alan C. Peterson as Alar Vytas
* Victor A. Young as McMurrich
* Ken Camroux-Taylor as Liveryman
* David Glyn-Jones as Duncan Ross
* Matthew Walker as Jack Carter
* Wendel Meldrum as Olivia Pollard

## Production companies

* WonderWorks
* Accent Entertainment Corporation
* New City Productions
And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird

**And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird** is a 1991 science-fiction/family comedy film directed & written by Tony Cookson.

The film was released by Trimark Pictures on November 15, 1991.

## Plot

Two brothers (Joshua John Miller and Edan Gross) create a working robot that is inhabited by the spirit of their dead father (Alan Thicke).

## Cast

* Joshua John Miller as Joshua Carson
* Edan Gross as Max Carson
* Marcia Strassman as Sarah Carson
* Alan Thicke as Matthew Carson/Newman (voice)
* Susan Gibney as Alice Woods
* A.J. Langer as Beth Allen
* Gustav Vintas as Jaeger
* Eric Walker as Dwayne Kotswinkle
* Bill Smillie as Henry Kilbrandt
* Robert Clotworthy as Mike Abbott

## Production

Principal photography for "And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird" began on July 10, 1990.

Filming took place in Los Angeles, California.

## Box Office

"And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird" grossed $402,539 at the box office.

## Critical Reception

Roger Ebert gave the film a two-star rating, stating: *"The plot is needlessly labyrinthine; there’s a limit to how many schemes we can keep straight at a time. And the physical stunts seem forced and unlikely. The strangest thing about it is that the parents in the movie are less weird than just about everybody else."*

Brian Costello from Common Sense Media wrote: *"While '80s kids might enjoy the kitsch factor of Alan Thicke from Growing Pains playing a wise-cracking robot, this movie hasn't exactly aged well since its 1991 release."*

Janet Maslin of the New York Times said "And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird" has a *"low-budget look and a lot of strained wholesomeness, although it works best when its eccentricities are allowed to show."*

Hal Peterson from ChucksConnection wrote: *"And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird is a pleasant diversion for the family. Even if it isn’t great art, it still will be an enjoyable ninety minutes for you."*

Richard Scheib from Moria gave the film a one-star rating, saying: *"The sad news about And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird is that its zany title is the most creative thing about it. The rest is a dreary children’s film, made on a low budget and disappointing on all levels."*
A Chance of Snow

**A Chance of Snow** is a 1998 American television drama film directed by Tony Bill which aired on December 7, 1998 on the Lifetime network.

## Plot

An estranged divorced couple find themselves stranded at an airport during Christmas due to a blizzard where they suddenly find the time to re-evaluate their relationship with the help of an older couple.

## Cast

* JoBeth Williams as Maddie Parker-Hill
* Michael Ontkean as Matt Hill
* Charles Durning as Earl Pulmer
* Barbara Barrie as Ruth Pulmer
* Dey Young as Katherine Parker
* Peter Syvertsen as Craig Johnsonta
* Dina Merrill as Merilee Parker

## Production

Filming for "A Chance of Snow" took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.

## Critical Reception

Andy Webb of The Movie Scene called "A Chance of Snow" a *" sweet, pleasant little Christmas movie which has quite an original story but one which for the most is obvious."*
3 Ninjas Kick Back

**3 Ninjas Kick Back** is a 1994 American action martial arts/comedy film directed by Charles T. Kanganis.

The film was released on May 6, 1994 by TriStar Pictures. It is a sequel to the film, "3 Ninjas."

## Plot

The film follows the Douglas brothers (Max Elliot Slade, Sean Fox and J. Evan Bonifant) as they face their grandfather (Victor Wong)'s enemies when they accompany him on a trip to Japan to deliver a priceless dagger.

## Cast

* Victor Wong as Grandpa Mori “Shintarō“ Tanaka
* Max Elliott Slade as Jeffrey "Colt" Douglas
* Sean Fox as Samuel "Rocky" Douglas, Jr.
* J. Evan Bonifant as Michael "Tum Tum" Douglas
* Caroline Junko King as Miyo
* Alan McRae as Sam Douglas Sr.
* Margarita Franco as Jessica Shintaro-Douglas

## Production

Principal photography for "3 Ninjas Kick Back" began on May 17, 1993 and ended on July 21, 1993. Filming took place in Los Angeles, California and Japan (in Hikone, Kanazawa & Nagoya).

Despite being released before "3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up", the film was actually shot at a later time.

Max Elliott Slade (who played Colt) is the only actor from the first film to appear in the sequel. Michael Treanor (who played Rocky) quit acting and was replaced by Sean Fox. Chad Power (who played Tum Tum) was filming a television movie at the time and was replaced by J. Evan Bonifant.

## Box Office

"3 Ninjas Kick Back" grossed $3,556,310 during its opening weekend. Overall, it grossed $11,798,854 on an estimated budget of $20,000,000.

## Critical Reception

"3 Ninjas Kick Back" has an approval rating of 15% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 13 reviews with an average rating of 3.80/10.

Writing for Variety, Emanuel Levy said: *"This high-spirited adventure succeeds in conveying the positive and fun elements of both Japanese and American cultures."*

Kevin Thomas of The Los Angeles Times wrote: *"Although aimed at children, this smart-looking TriStar release is actually more inventive and better-paced than many a comedy for adults."*

John Petrakis of the Chicago Tribune said "3 Ninjas Kick Back" was *"junk food laced with testosterone"* while TV Guide called the film "*infantile*" and "*obnoxious*."

Marjorie Baumgarten from the Austin Chronicle wrote: *"The movie brings no new material to the screen and banks on the fact that its underage audience has an unschooled memory. Don't insult your kids with this choppy, unimaginative film product."*

## Awards

**Young Artist Awards** (1995)

* Best Performance by an Actor Under Ten in a Motion Picture: J. Evan Bonifant [*Nominated*]
* Best Performance by a Young Actor Co-Starring in a Motion Picture: Max Elliott Slade and Sean Fox [*Nominated*]