Recently watched this movie while home alone and bored, and it was a pleasant diversion.
Movie starts with an ancient battle scene between female and male warriors, with the men apparently winning and a surviving Amazon warrior (with bow and sword) escaping.
Now jump forward to a modern emergency room in Washington D.C., where a politician (played by William Schallert) is rushed to surgery for a ruptured appendix. The emergency room surgeon is young doctor Sharon Fields (played by Madeleine Stowe). The operation appears to go well, but during recovery, the politician suddenly becomes violently paranoid, escapes the hospital, and is accidentally killed when struck by an ambulance.
Dr. Fields becomes curious over what caused the paranoid episode… only to find herself framed for a medical error she did not make!
So that's the basic movie: Beautiful young doctor (Madeleine Stowe is usually ranked on those Most Beautiful People lists) trying to save her career, aided by friends Dr. Jerry Menzies (Peter Scolari) and detective Tony Monaco (Jack Scalia).
And as you soon are shown, arrayed against Dr. Fields is a mysterious conspiracy involving the rich and well-connected Kathryn Lundquist (Stella Stevens), hospital administrator Dr. Diane Cosgrove (Jennifer Warren), statuesque hospital worker Rosalund Joseph (Tamara "Cleopatra Jones" Dobson in her final movie role), and a seductive-with-glossy-lipstick character who works in the hospital animal-testing wing (played by the hot Leslie Bevis, I think).
The movie is at its best when being outrageous and campy, and Jennifer Warren steals the show as the sexy older woman who still knows how to fire a crossbow or find a disposable sexual partner for the evening. Tamara Dobson handles her part well, and looks great fighting in a dress. Leslie Bevis (if I have the right actress) sizzles in her small role as a conspiracy member who wants to do things her way. Stella Stevens adds gravitas as a presiding member of the conspiracy.
Alas, the movie also seems to drag at times, and is a bit too long. The script does no favors for Medeleine Stowe's character, who seems to veer abruptly from workaholic to overwhelmed victim to crusading investigator. Likewise, Jack Scalia jumps from being Fields' strong friend to being a coward. Peter Scolari does well as the "guy who likes the pretty girl, but only gets to be a friend."
The movie is also topical, as the plot involves a female vice-presidential candidate at a time when Geraldine Ferraro was Walter Mondale's running mate.
This was an ABC television production, so I assume it was originally broadcast on TV in some format. Which means no nudity, no bad language.
Ultimately, this is a movie with a silly premise pretending to be a serious thriller, with lots of pretty actresses. Kind of fun.
For wargamers, there's definitely enough action here (including a baboon attack!) to inspire a gaming session or two.
paints up some Israeli mortar vehicles.
