Quality Acting Makes ‘Defenders’ A Winner
Cable’s Showtime breathes life into the once-beloved, quality legal drama “The Defenders” (1961-65) Sunday at 8.
Known for pushing the limits in its day, the program placed controversial issues such as abortion and blacklisting at the center of attention in many episodes. E.G. Marshall was at the core of this show as the wise father in a father-and-son law firm, which took on tough cases and many times suffered losses.
Showtime’s updated version, “The Defenders: Payback,” is well written by Peter and Andy Wolk (Andy directs as well). Marshall reprises his venerable role as Lawrence Preston.
Martha Plimpton is added to the cast as Preston’s granddaughter M.J. (her father, Ken, from the original series has died), and Beau Bridges joins the firm as Lawrence’s other son, Don, a law professor.
The Prestons are appointed to defend an enraged father (John Larroquette) who admits to killing the man who raped his preteen daughter. The case becomes complicated as these defenders examine the legitimacy of a so-called “an eye-for-an-eye defense.”
At times “Payback” is preachy. Bridges goes over the top with histrionics during many of his speeches.
The Wolks, however, did their homework. They re-create the flavor of the old show where family ties come into play as tough issues are debated and argued. It has the feel of old television; it’s nostalgic and intelligent.
The movie, the first in a series, builds in intensity as the evidence against the Prestons’ client unfolds.
Bridges, Plimpton and Marshall all play their roles well; they make a good case to watch this version of “The Defenders.”
Highlights
“Nature,” KSPS Sunday at 7: A 16th season opens with “Toothwalkers: Giants of the Arctic Ice,” a report on walruses.
You might think of these creatures as clumsy and benign. Actually the huge mammals have a mysterious, possibly dangerous demeanor. Lots of rare footage.
“Final Descent” (1997), CBS Sunday at 9: A small plane crashes into a jumbo jet, causing the jet’s gear to become permanently stuck in the climbing position.
Fortunately, Robert Urich, Annette O’Toole and John de Lancie are in the cockpit, so they can remedy the situation before the plane “reaches the stars.”
It’s a fast-paced mad-dash film with Urich’s character Glen “Lucky” Singer masterminding an air-to-air transfer to save crew and passengers.
Meanwhile, back in the cabin, we come to like all the passengers, and you’ll find yourself cheering for the good guys as they are challenged by this in-air crisis.
“Masterpiece Theatre,” KSPS Sunday at 8: George Eliot’s 1860 “The Mill on the Floss” marks the beginning of “Theatre’s” 27th season. This tale gets off to a slow start as the heroine, Maggie Tulliver (well acted by Emily Watson, “Breaking the Waves”), copes with her overbearing brother (Ifan Meredith) and strict rules over how girls should act.
It seems all too familiar until the tale takes a turn for the better. It becomes a romance story about Maggie’s love for the son (James Frain) of her father’s enemy.
The parallels to “Romeo and Juliet” are many as Maggie is torn between her father’s wishes and the yearnings of her own heart.
“Every 9 Seconds” (1997), NBC Sunday at 9: This movie’s title refers to domestic violence in this country, and the telefilm hits home hard with a nightmarish story about an abused wife (Gail O’Grady) trying to defend herself against her psychotic husband.
“Unwed Father” (1997), ABC Sunday at 9: Brian Austin Green (“Beverly Hills, 90210”) is a spoiled guitar-playing college student put in charge of raising his infant son. As you can guess, fatherhood doesn’t come easy, but he eventually rises to the occasion in this “Kramer vs. Kramer” of the ‘90s.
Cable Calls
“The Ghost and the Darkness” (1996), HBO tonight at 8: This Oscar winner for sound effects serves up Michael Douglas as a top hunter out to halt rampaging man-eating lions in 1896 Africa. It’s a feline “Jaws” that will have fans of this film genre purring.
“Remember WENN,” AMC tonight at 6: “Seinfeld’s” Jason Alexander directs and guest-stars in this charming episode for the series set at a radio station during World War II.
Alexander plays a mind reader/magician with powers that work on the airwaves as well as on skeptical Hilary Booth.
Movie Marquee
“The Wonderful World of Disney,” ABC Sunday at 7: In “Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves!” (1997) a madcap inventor (Rick Moranis) miniaturizes himself and members of his family.