Michael Goldie Movies

This film is a '90s version of the classic Robin Hood story, with Kevin Costner starring as the good-guy thief. Costner is joined in his efforts against the murdering Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) by Morgan Freeman who plays a philosophizing Moor, and by Nick Brimble, who plays Little John (anything but little). After Robin barely survives a watery skirmish with Little John, the two become allies and Robin joins forces with Little John's band of robber thieves to overcome the evils of the dastardly Nottingham sheriff. ~ All Movie Guide

Lady Jane Grey, the 16-year-old girl who for nine days in the 16th century was Queen of England, is here portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter. Lady Jane Grey's sickly cousin, who becomes Edward VI upon the death of Henry VIII, is on the threshold of death himself. The Protestant powers-that-be, fearing that England will fall under Catholic rule, contrive to marry off Edward VI's most likely successor Lady Jane to the wastrelly Guilford Dudley (Cary Elwes), the future Duke of Suffolk. The dying Edward is coerced into naming Jane as his successor. Jane is forced to assume the throne, attempting to impose reforms on the corrupt Protestant government during her brief reign. A coup led by Jane's cousin Princess Mary (Jane Lapotaire) results in the ouster, and eventual execution, of Queen Jane and her consort. The story is told through anti-establishment themes; teen-agers Lady Jane and Guilford Dudley are seen as the only hope for a brighter future, making their deaths all the more tragic. An earlier version of the same story, Tudor Rose, was filmed in 1936. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Pied Piper eschews the romanticism of Robert Browning's poem and returns to the grim Grimm Brothers source. Pop singer Donovan plays the 14th century piper hired by duplicitous burgomaster Donald Pleasance to rid the town of Hamelin of its rats. The piper does what he's asked, but is denied the payment promised him; in revenge, he leads all of Hamelin's children out of town, never to be seen again. Though the story is a familiar one, this 1972 Pied Piper is not a kiddie movie. Director Jacques Demy's depiction of the 14th century as a muddy, backward, superstitious, disease-ridden, vermin-infested era transforms this fable into a squalid tale of revenge (incidentally, all those repulsive rodents are real; note John Holmes' screen credit as "rat trainer"). Donovan is quite good in the lead, and is matched by a remarkably restrained Jack Wild as the crippled boy. If you want the sugary sweet Pied Piper that your mother used to recite at bedtime, stay away from this film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "The Wheel in Space," the Cybermen continue their attack on the Space Wheel defense station. In helping the crew fend off the aliens, the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and Jamie (Frazer Hines) are faced with the gravest of grave dangers. Even worse, morale on the Wheel drops to the point that the crew members are their own worst enemies. Scripted by David Whitaker from a story by Kit Parker, "The Wheel in Space, Part 4" first aired on May 18, 1968; excerpt for a very brief action sequence, this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story "The Wheel in Space," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and Jamie (Frazer Hines) are rescued from the Cybermen and brought to the huge Space Wheel defense station. The crew of the Wheel are all for destroying the derelict vessel where the TARDIS had materialized in episode one, but the Doctor begs them not to do so, lest he have no way of returning to his own time and place. Wendy Padbury makes her series debut as astrophysicist Zoe Heriot, who joins Jamie in attempting to retrieve the TARDIS' all-important vector generator rod. Scripted by David Whitaker from a story by Kit Parker, "The Wheel in Space, Part 2" first aired on May 4, 1968; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story "Dalek Invasion of Earth," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and Ian (William Russell) are captured by the Daleks, who rule the Earth of the 22nd century. Rescued by freedom fighters, the two time travelers learn of the plague that has enslaved all of humankind. As his other companions, Susan (Carole Ann Ford) and Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), spearhead an attack against the Daleks, the poor Doctor is recaptured and strapped to a Dalek operating table. Written by Terry Nation, "The Daleks" first aired on November 28, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The third season of The Avengers arrived with the happy news that Cathy Gale would henceforth be John Steed's full-time partner, displacing such second-season "temps" as Venus Smith (Julie Stevens) and Dr. Martin King (Jon Rollason). Even so, the first episode of the season, "Brief for Murder," found Steed methodically plotting Cathy's murder. It's all part of a master plan to trap a pair of crooked lawyers (Harold Scott and John Laurie), but this isn't made apparent until after Cathy has (apparently) shuffled off her mortal coil. Written by the dependable Brian Clemens, "Brief for Murder" originally aired in England on September 29, 1963; it was first shown in America on March 5, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide