Big-Time Stars in Small-Screen Movies

Historical and biographical dramas, a lavish Biblical miniseries and adaptations of contemporary bestsellers are among the movie fare set to air this fall on both the broadcast and cable networks.

Several popular faces will be featured in TV movies and miniseries, including Gerard Depardieu, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Oscar-winners Sissy Spacek and Sally Field, Andy Garcia, Wesley Snipes, Farrah Fawcett and James Garner.

Here’s a glimpse of some of the movies in store for the fall.

ABC

“The Growing Pains Movie”: The cast of the long-running ABC comedy reunites. Nov. 5.

“The Miracle Worker”: New adaptation of William Gibson’s play about Helen Keller (Hallie Kate Eisenberg) and her teacher, Annie Sullivan (Alison Elliott). David Strathairn also stars. Nov. 12.

“Santa Who?”: Leslie Nielsen and Tommy Davidson team for this holiday comedy that finds Santa suffering from amnesia just days before Christmas. Nov. 19.

A&E;

“Catherine the Great”: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Omar Sharif and Jeanne Moreau headline this biopic about the famed Russian empress. Dec. 10.

BRAVO

“Balzac: A Life of Passion”: Gerard Depardieu, Jeanne Moreau and Fanny Ardant star in a four-hour drama about the 19th century French writer, Honore de Balzac. Oct. 23-24.

CBS

“Falling in Love Again”: Valerie Bertinelli and Jeffrey Nordling star in a romantic story about a couple who separate to pursue different dreams, only to be reunited by their three children. Oct. 8.

“Yesterday’s Children”: Jane Seymour, Claire Bloom and Hume Cronyn headline this drama about a woman haunted by dreams of a mysterious mother and her children. Oct. 15.

“Songs in Ordinary Time”: Sissy Spacek and Beau Bridges star in a drama about a divorced mother of three whose life is changed when a handsome drifter arrives in town. Oct. 22.

“Second Honeymoon”: Roma Downey and Tim Matheson are a couple on the verge of divorce until their family surprises them with a 20th-anniversary gift--a second honeymoon on a tropical island. Oct. 29.

“American Tragedy”: Adapted by Norman Mailer from Lawrence Schiller’s book, this four-hour drama focuses on the defense team for O.J. Simpson’s murder trial. Schiller directs. Nov. 12 & 15.

“Lost Child”: Mercedes Ruehl and Jamey Sheridan star in this “Hallmark Hall of Fame” about a woman’s search for her birth parents and the rich cultural heritage she discovers. Nov. 19.

“The Moving of Sophia Myles”: Della Reese headlines this drama about a preacher’s wife who must find her way after she’s widowed. Rue McClanahan also stars. Nov. 26.

THE DISNEY CHANNEL

“Mom’s Got a Date With a Vampire”: Charles Shaughnessy, Laura Vandervoot and Caroline Rhea star in a comedy about three kids who accidentally set their single mother up on a date with a vampire. Oct. 13.

E! ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION

“Murder at the Cannes Film Festival”: French Stewart, Karina Lombard and Bo Derek headline this comedic whodunit. Dec. 17.

FOX

“How to Marry a Billionaire”: This remake of “How to Marry a Millionaire” focuses on three male college graduates as they attempt to win over billionaire girlfriends. John Stamos stars. November or December.

FOX FAMILY

“North Face”: Antonio Sabato Jr. headlines this suspense-thriller set in the Rocky Mountains. November.

“Special Delivery”: Andy Dick stars as a quirky adoption-agency courier in this holiday comedy. December.

FX

“The Sight”: Supernatural thriller starring Andrew McCarthy and Honor Blackman of “Goldfinger” fame. Oct. 29.

HBO

“For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story”: Andy Garcia stars in this biographical drama about the famed Cuban jazz trumpeter. November.

“Disappearing Acts”: Wesley Snipes and Sanaa Lathan star in this bittersweet love story based on the bestseller by Terry McMillan. December.

LIFETIME

“When Andrew Came Home”: Park Overall, Jason Beghe and Seth Adkins star in this drama about a mother’s devotion to her emotionally damaged son. Oct. 30.

“Range of Motion”: Rebecca De Mornay and Melanie Mayron star in this drama based on Elizabeth Berg’s novel about a woman’s unwavering belief that her husband will recover from a coma. December.

MTV

“Love Song”: Monica Arnold stars in this drama about a woman whose life is turned upside-down by a blues musician (Christian Kane). December.

NBC

“In the Beginning”: Billy Campbell, Jacqueline Bisset, Diana Rigg and Martin Landau star in this epic miniseries dramatizing the classic Bible stories of Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, and Moses. November.

“In His Life: The John Lennon Story”: Biopic on the slain Beatle focuses on his early years in Liverpool. November (tentative).

“Unforgettable: The Natalie Cole Story”: Chronicle of the personal struggles of the popular singer. December (tentative).

ODYSSEY NETWORK

“The Hound of the Baskervilles”: Matt Frewer (“Max Headroom”) plays super sleuth Sherlock Holmes in this adaptation of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle classic mystery. Oct. 21.

“Hamlet”: Campbell Scott adapts, stars in and directs Shakespeare’s landmark tragedy. Scott’s version is set in America at the turn of the century. Dec. 10-11.

PAX

“Esther”: Louise Lombard, F. Murray Abraham and Jurgen Prochnow star in this Biblical drama about the Jewish woman who became Queen of Persia, saving her people from extermination. Nov. 5.

“Christy--Return to Cutter Gap”: First of three “Christy” movies based on Catherine Marshall’s book and the CBS series. Lauren Lee Smith stars as Christy. Nov. 19.

SCI-FI CHANNEL

“Nostradamus”: Rob Estes and Joely Fisher star in this murder mystery. Oct. 13.

SHOWTIME

“Frankie and Hazel”: Joan Plowright stars in this family drama about a girl who wants to try out for the baseball team. Directed by JoBeth Williams. Oct. 8.

“Possessed”: Timothy Dalton headlines this true story about an exorcism performed on a young boy by Jesuit priests. Oct. 22.

“Gahan Wilson’s: The Kid”: Animated comedy about a 10-year-old boy with a wild imagination. Oct. 29.

“The Last Debate”: Peter Gallagher, James Garner and Audra McDonald star in an adaptation of Jim Lehrer’s novel about four journalists who change the course of American history. November.

“Seventeen Again”: Tia, Tamera and Tajh Mowry star in this comedy about an experiment which turns a boy’s grandparents into teenagers. Winter.

TBS

“First Target”: Sequel to last year’s popular thriller, “First Daughter.” This time around, the U.S. president (Gregory Harrison) is targeted for assassination and it’s up to Secret Service Agent Daryl Hannah and her beau, Doug Savant, to save him. Oct. 15.

TNT

“Baby”: Farrah Fawcett, Jean Stapleton and Keith Carradine star in a drama based on the book by “Sarah Plain and Tall” author, Patricia MacLachlan. Oct. 8.

“David Copperfield”: Sally Field and Michael Richards headline a four-hour adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved novel. Dec. 10-11.

USA

“The Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula”: Rudolf Martin plays the 15th century Romanian prince Vlad Dracula in this drama about the brutal ruler who became a vampire legend. Jane March and Roger Daltrey also star. Oct. 31.