TVMovie/Miniseries Trivia

[flashback42]

Mid- 1970s TVM. Later in the decade put out a 6-episode series as a summer replacement for a popular P.I. series. Subsequently guest-starred a couple of times (in that character) in the other series.

[flashback42]

 

Since the late 1980s, the actor in the young PI role has racked up over 30 credits as a director, both TV and Bigscreen. In theatrical movies, he has directed several movies featuring a former SNL regular turned movie star. Also, he's an accomplished artist who has been given personal showings of his work.

 

 

[flashback42]

The client in this case -- A well-regarded actress with both TV and Bigscreen credits, including a wife role in a long-running domestic sitcom.

[flashback42]

ROLE CALL:

 

People participating in this TVM:

 

"Captain Freedom"

"Emily Hartley"

 

Summer replacement series, filling in for "Murphy Jones"

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Early in his career, "Captain Freedom" had a support role in a film about a family discovering their son was gay -- at a time when that was a fresh and daring subject. He played the roommate of the youth in question. Later in his career, he played the nerdy father of a nerdy teen who tried to buy love (actualy, buy popularity).

[flashback42]

"Captain Freedom" has directed several films starring a waterboy.

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Rebooting:

 

Import from Britain's Independent Television (ITV). USA running time 90 min, adapted from a miniseries. Late 1960s. Showcase for a rising young actress, who is still working. Theme: Men's treatment of women. The young woman's experiences with her working-class father. Then a fellow office employee, then an older suitor -- a barrister with a Title. Three prominent British names in these roles, and a fourth big name as narrator.

 

 

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The four performers mentioned earlier -- All UK actors who have given Oscar performances in USA competition.

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Her father, Scottish, is a selfish verbal abuser, a drunk and a womanizer. There is a shouting argument, then she hears his end of a phone conversation with his current girlfriend. "Ae was busy here with a problem with me wee daughter. She's just seven, y'know." (She's in her twenties, but she serves as an excuse when he's neglecting his women.)

 

The actor in this role, also a Scot, had a successful career in action roles.

 

 

[flashback42]

A fellow employee, educated into competence for a middle-management job, but retaining the accents and mannerisms of his Cockney origins. She rejects his quite proper advances, and he writes her off as a social climber and a phoney.

 

This actor had a background in such roles, some in comedy and some in action. Supporting Oscar for a story set in USA.

[flashback42]

The head of a law firm where she worked. -- High socially (a Title). Prestigious in legal circles also, and with a sense of droit du seigneur toward women employees from the "lower" classes. He had manners and charm, but the basis of their relationship was his perceived entitlement.

 

This actor had given an Oscar-winning performance in a well-received historical drama, as it happens, portraying a great legal mind of the past.

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The narrator for these stories. -- Took home his Oscar for playing a Shakespeare role. This man also had an actual Knighthood in real life.

 

On an impulse, checked amazon.com. They have this story on DVD, but in "Non-USA Format."

 

Edited by: flashback42 on Apr 17, 2012 11:30 PM

[flashback42]

Two Primetime Emmys: Outstanding Single performance by an Actor in a Lead Role -- the enobled Barrister, And Outstanding Single performance by an Actress in a Support Role -- the young woman. (The power Names in the cast turned the central character into "support", it seems.)

[flashback42]

The actress, age 24 at the time of this Emmy-winning performance, has one of those hyphenated names. She has worked steadily since that time, mostly in England; shows up in a number of those Brit mysteries that Americans can catch on A&E or BBC America. She has a son, born in 1981, also a steadily-employed in films and Brit TV. A few years after this miniseries performance, she again worked with the knighted actor mentioned earlier, playing Cordelia to his Lear.

 

After her series of bad experiences with men, the young women again crosses paths with her Cockney workmate. He responds to her sniping by pointing out, "The people running around trying to hurt others are the ones who are full of hurt themselves." The story closes with a note of hope for her.

 

Title? Name(s)?

 

Edited by: flashback42 on Apr 19, 2012 9:07 AM

[flashback42]

Again, no Views count, but a week without reaction.

 

3 Jan 1969 -- *Male of the Species*

Anna Calder-Marshall as the young woman. Sean Connery as her father. Michael Caine as her workmate. Paul Schofield as her manipulative boss. Sir Laurence Olivier was the announcer.

 

The bottom of the page of the IMDb site for Anna Calder-Marshall has a trailer vidio for the *Male of the Species* TVM, making use of all the famous faces.

 

Open thread.

[allaboutlana]

Made in 1974, this miniseries has been called tv's first, which tells the story of one of our most important and influential presidents. The actor won an Emmy for his performance and in the 2000s was nominated for his first Oscar. Name the 1974 miniseries and the actor.

[allaboutlana]

Lavender, I tried to pm you, but your mailbox is full. Part of the message is about your response to this thread.

[lavenderblue19]

Thanks Lana. I cleared out some messages, should be OK now.

[lavenderblue19]

I'm taking a shot with Hal Holbrook in the limited TV series Lincoln ?

[allaboutlana]

Absolutely correct! Your turn.

[lavenderblue19]

 

Thanks.

 

A tv movie about the father from hell. The lead actor was well known to tv audiences, he had a very successful long running series at one point, the actress who played his wife started her career in tv and films as a teen, and one of the actresses playing a daughter is an Oscar winner. TV movie and the cast members mentioned????

 

 

[flashback42]

Got a partial matchup here. Robert Blake as John List in *Judgement Day: The John List Story.* Released 23 February 1993. Beverly D'Angelo as the wife. Glitch: Carroll Baker in the role of Daughter Alma List is an Oscar nominee.

 

???

[lavenderblue19]

No, sorry that's not it. The actress who plays one of the daughters IS an Oscar winner. The father cheats on his wife, commits fraud, is a murderer.

[lavenderblue19]

Based on a true story.

[MilesArcher]

It sounds like "Deadly Relations", a 1993 TV movie that starred Robert Urich as the father, Shelly Fabares as his wife, and a young Gwyneth Paltrow as one of the daughters. Matthew Perry, also early in his career, plays a son-in-law.