Donovan Winter Movies
- 1979
When a locked vault causes problems in the robbery of a bank, the gunman hold a bank manager and his family hostage. ~ Rovi
- 1976
Toothsome Tracy Reed (remember her in Dr. Strangelove and A Shot in the Dark?) heads the cast of Deadly Females. The ladies in question are female assassins, specializing in knocking off lascivious males. Like the proverbial black widow spider, the girls lure their victims with promises of sexual favors, then strike when said victims are exhausted. Naturally, this requires plenty of exposed female flesh. Considered fairly racy in 1976, Deadly Females seems almost quaint when seen today. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tracy Reed, Bernard Holley, (more)
- 1974
A bunch of beautiful actresses and models convene to discuss their difficulties in securing work. They then redirect their energies into an "anything goes" escort service. Also along for the ride are a few prim secretaries, who shed their inhibitions along with their clothing. There's a wisp of a plotline, but for the most part this is a sexploitationer pure and simple (well, maybe just simple). Escort Girls comes to us courtesy of the supplicatively named firm of Video Gems. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1971
The romantic exploits of a lusty London butcher's helper provide the basis of this drama that attempts to scrutinize the free-wheeling morals of young people during the flower-power generation. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1961
In this murder mystery, the trouble begins when a young woman marries a British lawyer. Her jealous ex-boy friend gets his revenge by convincing her that she has killed her husband's ex-girl friend. The bride then offers him money to stay quiet and dispose of the corpse. Unfortunately, the dead woman's other ex-lover sees the two together. After getting his money from the bride, the crook takes the body to an isolated area. There he discovers that the woman is not feigning death; she has been killed by the ex-lover. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1953
Time Gentlemen Please is a phrase that is all too familiar to British pub patrons; it means that it's closing time, and everyone is invited to go home. Actually, the film has less to do with elbow-bending than with the vagaries of British traditions. A tiny English village is thrown into a panic when the Prime Minister announces an impending visit, to honor the community for 100-percent employment. Alas, Irish reprobate Dan Dancer (Eddie Byrne) steadfastly refuses to get a job. In trying to force Dan into seeking work, the locals lock him up in the local almshouse -- where, thanks to an archaic law, Dan finds himself in line for a yearly income of 6000 pounds! Time Gentleman Please is based on R. J. Nimmey's novel Nothing to Lose. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eddie Byrne, Hermione Baddeley, (more)
- 1951
Basil Radford is cast superbly to type as The Galloping Major. The story concerns the efforts by retired Major Arthur Hill (Radford) to purchase a valuable race horse. He manages to attain financial backing from 300 fellow racing enthusiasts--and then messes things up for all concerned by buying the wrong horse. Persevering, Major Hill enters the steed in the Grand National, whereupon the horse disappears on the eve of the big event. The comic frustrations faced by the Major and his creditors are played effectively for light chuckles rather than belly laughs. The cast includes such polished farceurs as Hugh Griffith, Joyce Grenfell (a favorite of director Henry Cornelius, as witness Genevieve), Sydney Tafler and Alfie Bass. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Basil Radford, Jimmy Hanley, (more)
