Andrew Downie Movies
- 1978
- PG
This 1978 re-remake of The 39 Steps adheres more closely to the source novel by John Buchan than Alfred Hitchcock's better-known original, restoring the pre-World War I time frame of the Buchan story. Hannay (Robert Powell) is an innocent bystander, suspected by enemy agents of having intercepted their secret war plans. Pursued by both the spies and the police, Hannay runs for his life in the company of Alex (Karen Dotrice). The Thirty-Nine Steps ends with a "high and dizzy" sequence on the face of Big Ben, borrowed from the 1942 Will Hay comedy My Learned Friend. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Powell, David Warner, (more)
- 1967
In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Highlanders," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and Ben (Michael Craze) are still stranded in Scotland in the days following the battle of Culloden. Another battle -- this one between a group of Scottish prisoners and their British captors -- breaks out on board the slave ship Annabelle. Frazer Hines joins the cast as adventurous young Scots piper Jamie McCrimmon. Written by Elwyn Jones and Gerry Davis, "The Highlanders, Episode 4" originally aired on January 4, 1967; this episode is currently unavailable for reappraisal. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Annika Wills, (more)
- 1966
In the third episode of the four-part story "The Highlanders," Ben manages to outwit Solicitor Grey (David Garth), but remains in forced servitude all the same. As punishment for his insolence, Ben is sentenced to a session with the ducking stool. At the same time, the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) proceeds in his plan to rescue a group of bedraggled Scotsmen who somehow survived the disastrous Battle of Culloden. Written by Elwyn Jones and Gerry Davis, "The Highlanders, Episode 3" originally aired on December 31 1966; this episode is currently unavailable for reappraisal. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Annika Wills, (more)
- 1965
In this sci-fi film set in the near future, the civilized world is controlled by an all-powerful computerized government that is carefully choosing colonists for its newest space launch. The candidates are selected on the basis of their age, health and IQ. They are only in space a few weeks when the crew begins to rebel against the inhuman control of the computer. They then mutiny and in place of the autocracy, they establish a small democratic society and begin searching for a planet to call their own. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bill Williams, Kathleen Breck, (more)
- 1963
The British medical drama series 24 Hour Call was a spin-off of the 1961 weekly Call Oxbridge 2000, with actor Geoffrey Frederick repeating his role from the earlier series. Both programs focused on a group of doctors in private practice. Per its title, the latter series concentrated on those medicos who made themselves available on a 24-7 basis. The weekly, half-hour 24 Hour Call aired over Britain's ATV in 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Godfrey Quigley, Geoffrey Frederick, (more)
Two excellent actors shine in powerful roles in this drama by Ronald Neame that pits one Scottish army colonel against another. Alec Guinness is Lt. Col. Jock Sinclair, a man who temporarily takes over command of a regiment until his replacement, Col. Basil Barrow (John Mills) arrives. Sinclair comes from the lower echelons of the social order but was at least able to work himself up the echelons in the military hierarchy. He is fairly well-liked though still a little rough around the edges for some. When Barrow takes over, the two men clash almost at once. Barrow is from the upper crust, went to all the "right" schools, and believes in discipline and then a little more discipline, as well as efficient and proper bureaucratic processes. The differences between the two men threaten to rupture the unity of the regiment, especially after Sinclair assaults a soldier he finds in the company of his daughter. Barrow opts to report his behavior, leading to a climactic series of events. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alec Guinness, John Mills, (more)
Peter Sellers stars as an inmate in a "model prison" run by Maurice Denham. Though Sellers is disinclined to escape (he's never been as comfortable in his life), he is convinced to do so by phony vicar Wilfred Hyde-White, who breaks into jail to outline a robbery scheme. Hyde-White's plan is to have Sellers and his cellmates David Lodge and Bernard Cribbins take a brief "vacation" from jail, pull off a big-time robbery, then return undetected to prison, thereby establishing a perfect alibi. Within its 87-minute time span, Two-Way Stretch takes satirical potshots at political bleeding hearts, obese Middle Eastern potentates, and regulation-bound British police officials. One cannot be faulted for wishing that Peter Sellers had stuck to engaging small-scale British farces such as this and had never ventured into such unamusing big-budgeters as The Bobo and There's a Girl in My Soup. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Sellers, Wilfrid Hyde-White, (more)
- 1954
Originally released as High and Dry, The Maggie was one of the most endearing of the "regional" British comedies of the 1950s. Hollywood's Paul Douglas plays an American businessman whose brash, glad-handing techniques earn nothing but cold stares in a tiny Scottish village. Ever anxious to cut costs, Douglas arranges with a local "transport company" to move his luggage to a remote Scots island. That's how he gets mixed up with The Maggie, a ranshackle old shipping vessel captained by taciturn Alex Mackenzie. Our only cavil: The Maggie is slow going at times, cutting its humor potential in half. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Paul Douglas, Alex Mackenzie, (more)
- 1952
A notorious Irish rebel poet disguises his true identity while working as a gatekeeper at a Scottish university. He also moonlights as a bookie and things go well until a pretty young relative shows up and spills the beans. Comedy ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
