Guy Rolfe Movies

After sampling such professions as race-car driving and boxing, Briton Guy Rolfe turned actor in his early twenties. Rolfe made his first stage appearance in 1936, and that same year appeared fleetingly in his first film, Knight Without Armour (1936). The goateed, saturnine Rolfe alternated with ease between heroes and villains; he also brought as much commitment to such important roles as Caiphas in The King of Kings (1961) and Prince Grigory in Taras Bulba (1962) as he did to such negligible projects as Mister Sardonicus and Snow White and the Three Stooges (both 1961). Late in life, Guy Rolfe became a favorite of the slasher-movie crowd by appearing as insane puppet manufacturer Andre Toulon in the two Puppetmaster horror opuses. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
1999  
PG13  
Add Retro Puppet Master to QueueAdd Retro Puppet Master to top of Queue
The Puppetmaster Andre Toulon (Greg Sestero) battles supernatural forces in order to rescue loved ones. ~ All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Greg SesteroBrigitta Dau, (more)
1994  
R  
In this entry in the thriller series, the puppets and their guardian get into a strange, complex situation involving evil villains desiring to learn their dark secret. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Gordon CurrieChandra West, (more)
1993  
R  
In this gory horror outing, the hellish little self-motivated puppets are back, but this time they working for good to prevent brain-fluid sucking demons from stealing their master's secret. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Gordon CurrieChandra West, (more)
1991  
R  
This entry in the horror thriller series shows how the mad French puppeteer Toulon created his supernaturally animated demonic marionettes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Guy RolfeSarah Douglas, (more)
1991  
 
Taped in Britain, The Dark Angel is an extra-long entry of PBS' Mystery series. Peter O'Toole heads a cast of dissipated, decadent 19th century aristocratic types. The script is based on a novel by Sheridan LeFanu, whose fascination with vampirism and "the undead" precipitated Bram Stoker by nearly thirty years. As in most gothic novels, the characters are motivated by greed, lust and the desire to hide Deep Dark Family Secrets from the outside world. The Dark Angel was originally presented in several weekly installments, here boiled down to 150 minutes for videocassette convenience. The film bears absolutely no relation to the 1935 Hollywood period drama of the same name. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Read More

1987  
R  
Add Dolls to QueueAdd Dolls to top of Queue
Young Judy Bower (Carrie Lorraine) is spending the summer with her stupid, abusive father, David (Ian Williams), and nasty stepmother, Rosemary (Carolyn Purdy-Gordon). On a dark and stormy night, their car breaks down on a lonely road in the woods and they are forced to seek shelter. As they walk, Rosemary throws Judy's beloved teddy bear into the woods, and the imaginative child envisions it coming to life as a great fanged beast which slaughters her tormentors. The idea of loyal toys protecting their young owners from the ravages of the adult world is forcefully made, and imbues the rest of the film. They come upon a creepy old house owned by elderly Gabriel Hartwick (Guy Rolfe) and his wife, Hilary (Hilary Mason). Gabriel is a doll-maker and dazzles Judy with his collection of exquisitely detailed creations. Another car breaks down in the storm as well, bearing amiable Ralph Morris and two trampy hitchhikers. What they and the Bowers don't know is that the dolls are alive, and protect the young (Judy) and the young at heart (Ralph) from the evils of adulthood. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Ian WilliamsCarolyn Purdy-Gordon, (more)
1985  
PG13  
Add The Bride to QueueAdd The Bride to top of Queue
In this update of James Whale's classic The Bride of Frankenstein, pop star Sting furthers his burgeoning film career by portraying cinema's signature mad scientist. Disgusted by his dim-witted and ugly original creation (Clancy Brown), Dr. Frankenstein sets out to animate an improved version. Though lovely on the outside, Eva (Jennifer Beals) begins her new life as little more than an animal. With the help of his trusty housekeeper (Geraldine Page), however, Frankenstein soon grooms the beautiful zombie into a reasonable facsimile of an upper-class debutante. He's unprepared, however, when his ward displays a mind -- and sexual urges -- of her own. Meanwhile, the good doctor's discarded original creation assumes the name of Viktor and takes to the road. Befriended by an enterprising dwarf named Rinaldo (David Rappaport), Viktor becomes a circus performer but continues to pine after his bride. Connected to her psychically, he soon makes his way back to the scene of their mutual creation. There, he finds the girl embroiled in a love triangle between a callow suitor (Cary Elwes) and Frankenstein himself. In addition to its iconic '80s leads, The Bride boasts a famous supporting cast that includes gay memoirist Quentin Crisp and '60s model Veruschka. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
StingJennifer Beals, (more)
1973  
 
This creepy, atmospheric horror film from England's Amicus Productions dispenses with much of the tongue-in-cheek presentation of their popular '70s horror anthologies (such as Asylum and Dr. Terror's House of Horrors) in favor of a more adult-oriented approach. The story begins in the 18th century, as a young stable hand tries to prevent nobleman Fengriffen (Herbert Lom) from raping a young servant girl -- who happens to be the stable hand's wife -- and for this transgression has his hand lopped off. Flash forward to the present, where Fengriffen's ancestor (Ian Ogilvy) and his wife (Stephanie Beacham), now living on the ancestral estate, are haunted by the servant's vengeful spirit, as well as the severed hand itself, which roams the gloomy corridors of the mansion. Most video versions are taken from the TV print, which is missing some scenes of violence and nudity. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Peter CushingHerbert Lom, (more)
1971  
PG  
Add Nicholas and Alexandra to QueueAdd Nicholas and Alexandra to top of Queue
Nicholas and Alexandra covers the rise and fall of the last of the Russian Romanovs. We first meet Czar Nicholas (Michael Jayston) and his German bride Alexandra (Janet Suzman) at their 1894 wedding. Though Nicholas is devoted to Alexandra, the Russian populace is less politely inclined to having a "foreigner" as their Czarina. Alexandra gains favor when she gives birth to the much-loved Prince Alexis (Roderick Noble). Alas, Alexis suffers from hemophilia, a disease which strikes every second generation of Alexandra's family. When all conventional medical ministrations fail, Alexandra puts the fate of her son in the hands of mystical holy man Rasputin (Tom Baker, later famous for his portrayal of Doctor Who). As Rasputin's influence and power grows, the Russian peasantry becomes more restless and disgruntled. They are now willing to listen to the speeches of such rabble-rousers as Lenin (Michael Bryant) and Trotsky (Brian Cox), who sow the seeds of revolution. Even after the murder of Rasputin, the Bolsheviks are unsatisfied: The revolution finally comes to pass in October of 1917. At first, the moderate Kerensky (John McEnery) pleads with his followers to allow the Romanovs safe passage out of Russia. But the radicals seize control, and on July 16, 1918, the royal family is summarily executed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Michael JaystonJanet Suzman, (more)
1969  
PG  
Add Land Raiders to QueueAdd Land Raiders to top of Queue
Vince Carden (Telly Savalas) is the violent Apache-hating landowner obsessed with driving the Indians from the region in this action-packed western. Cavalry troops are sent in to try and bring peace to the troubled area. Vince soon discovers the government plans to donate land for an Indian reservation, causing him to redouble his murderous efforts against the tribe. He and his thugs rob a stagecoach and make it look like an Indian attack. Vince's brother Paul (George Maharis) returns and the brothers resume a long-standing battle over a deceased former flame. As the Indians lay to waste the Forge River settlement, the two brothers face each other in a showdown where only one will ride away. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Telly SavalasArlene Dahl, (more)
1969  
 
A legendary Jack the Ripper-type killer named the Gaslight Ghoul has apparently returned from the dead. Using the London fog as his cover, the Ghoul is systematically bumping off members of a world disarmament conference. Steed and Tara investigate this phenomenon, only to find themselves on the venerable murderer's hit list. Written by frequent Avengers guest star Jeremy Burnham, "Fog" made its British TV bow on March 12, 1969; it had previously aired in America that same year, on February 17. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Read More

1965  
 
Released in Great Britain as The ABC Murders, The Alphabet Murders stars a well-disguised Tony Randall as Agatha Christie's brilliant, insufferable Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Unfortunately, director Frank Tashlin chooses to open the film with one of his Pirandelloian gimmicks by introducing Randall out of make-up as himself, then cutting to Randall as Poirot. This has the effect of taking the audience "out" of the picture, and it takes a while for the film to recover. On its own, the plot is a good one, as Poirot investigates a series of murders, with the victims arranged alphabetically. There's also a well staged mid-film sequence, in which leading lady Anita Ekberg, as Amanda Beatrice Cross, supposedly comes to a soggy demise. But in never deciding whether to play "straight" or for laughs, The Alphabet Murders ends up a wildly uneven experience. Best bit: Poirot inadvertently confronting another Agatha Christie creation, Miss Marple (played without screen credit by Margaret Rutherford). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Tony RandallAnita Ekberg, (more)
1964  
 
Add The Fall of the Roman Empire to QueueAdd The Fall of the Roman Empire to top of Queue
Though Fall of the Roman Empire is now infamous as the epic which destroyed the cinematic "empire" of producer Samuel Bronston, the film is actually an above-average historical drama, attempting to make sense of the political intrigues which resulted in the dissolution of the Glory That Was Rome. The film begins with wise, diplomatic emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) calling together the various representatives of the many nations within the Empire as a means of securing peace and prosperity for all involved. When Marcus intimates that he intends to turn over his crown to adopted son Livius (Stephen Boyd) rather than the logical successor Commodus (Christopher Plummer), he is poisoned by one of Commodus' cronies. Marcus' daughter Lucilla (Sophia Loren) tries to get Livius to claim the throne, but he wants no part of it; thus, the fate of the empire is in the incompetent hands of the preening Commodus. Despite efforts by cooler heads to save Rome from ruin, Commodus vainly declares himself a god and kills anyone who poses a threat to him. When he learns that Lucilla actually has a stronger claim to the throne than he does, Commodus condemns her to be burned at the stake. Only then does Livius intervene, slaying Commodus and promising to try to pick up the pieces of the disintegrating empire. Attempting to find a common ground between history buffs and action fans, Fall of the Roman Empire has come to be regarded as a classic. Alas, audiences in 1964 had grown weary of epics (especially after the highly touted but disappointing Cleopatra), and failed to turn out in sufficient enough numbers to justify Fall's exorbitant cost. Virtually wiped out, Samuel Bronston would not be able to return to filmmaking until 1971, and then only on a much smaller and more pinchpenny scale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Alec GuinnessSophia Loren, (more)
1962  
 
Add Taras Bulba to QueueAdd Taras Bulba to top of Queue
The spectacular hordes of Cossack horsemen flying across the steppes to do battle with first one enemy and then another are the highlights of this otherwise thinly scripted costume drama set in the 16th century in the Ukraine. After the Cossack leader Taras Bulba (Yul Brynner) makes a pact with the Poles to join forces against the Turks and drive them from the European steppes, victory brings betrayal as the Poles then turn on their ally and force the Cossacks into the hills. From there, Taras Bulba decides that one of his sons, Andrei (Tony Curtis), will be sent to Polish schools to better learn the nature of their enemy. While away from home and hearth, the adult Andrei falls in love with a Polish noblewoman, Natalia (Christine Kaufmann, who would become the second Mrs. Curtis). As time progresses, the tensions between father and son, loyalty and love, ethnic identity and assimilation steadily increase until they end in tragedy. Taras Bulba was nominated for a 1963 Academy Award for "Best Music", scored by Franz Waxman. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Tony CurtisYul Brynner, (more)
1961  
NR  
Add Mr. Sardonicus to Queue
In this 1961 William Castle film based on Ray Russell's novel Sardonicus, Guy Rolfe stars as the wicked Sardonicus, a wealthy count who wears a mask because his face is frozen in a horrifying death grimace. Ronald Lewis stars as Sir Robert Cargrave, a brilliant doctor who is at the top of his field in the early 20th century. A curious letter from his former love, Maude (Audrey Dalton), draws him to Europe where she lives in a remote castle with her brooding husband, his badly scarred, but dedicated man-servant, Krull (Oscar Homolka), and a frightened housekeeper whom Sir Robert finds tied up and covered with leeches. The good doctor soon discovers the truth behind the leeches...and the true nature of his visit when Sardonicus reveals his terrible story: He dug up his father's grave in search of a winning lottery ticket, and upon seeing the corpse, his face muscles froze leaving him looking like a living skull. Dangling Maude as his ransom, Sardonicus forces Sir Robert into attempting a radical treatment to make his face normal again, but even when it is a success, the evil Sardonicus can find no cure from the curse of his father's desecrated corpse. Castle appears in the climax to offer viewers an opportunity to afford additional punishment on Sardonicus which leads to a satisfying conclusion. ~ Patrick Legare, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Guy RolfeAudrey Dalton, (more)
1961  
 
Add King of Kings to QueueAdd King of Kings to top of Queue
One major film star referred to director Nicholas Ray as a "loser," because of Ray's alleged willingness to let his more temperamental actors walk all over him. Evidently, Ray had a very compliant and cooperative cast in King of Kings, inasmuch as the film emerged as one of the most disciplined Biblical epics ever made. Jeffrey Hunter is cast as Jesus Christ, delivering a wholly credible performance in this most taxing of roles (never mind the wags who referred to the film as "I Was a Teenage Jesus"). Siobhan McKenna is a radiant if somewhat overaged Mary; Hurd Hatfield offers a properly preening Pontius Pilate; Rip Torn portrays Judas more for the tragedy than the treachery; Robert Ryan (a personal favorite of Ray's) is one of the best John the Baptists you're ever likely to see; and Harry Guardino convincingly interprets Barabbas as a firebrand political extremist. The only false note in the casting is the MGM-dictated selection of teenaged Brigid Bazlen as Salome. The best aspect of the film is its handling of the days after the Resurrection; the "Jesus sightings" are offered as secondhand information, so as to retain some of the mystery inherent in the Scriptures. King of Kings was previously filmed in 1927 by Cecil B. DeMille, with a middle-aged H.B. Warner as Jesus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Jeffrey HunterHurd Hatfield, (more)
1961  
 
Add Snow White and the Three Stooges to QueueAdd Snow White and the Three Stooges to top of Queue
In this family-oriented comedy, Snow White is taken to the woods to be killed at the behest of her evil stepmother and ends up abandoned and alone. Fortunately she stumbles across a charming cottage inhabited by the Three Stooges, and comical fairy-tale chaos ensues. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Carol HeissEdson Stroll, (more)
1960  
 
Loosely based on a cult of assassins in early 19th-century India known as "thaga" (pronounced "tahg"), the villains in this routine, part-horror, part suspense story are causing problems in the East India Company and throughout Bombay. It seems that someone is stealing cargo from the company, and many people are unaccountably disappearing. But as usual, the colonial attitude prevails and one officer in the company is too focused on his goal of playing polo in England to see clearly, while the others are equally opaque. So it takes awhile before these Brits realize that the "thaga" cult is strangling the population and inducting new people into its rituals every day. As the assassins wreak havoc in Bombay, one of the company's officers is captured and slated for execution. The cult became so notorious and well-known in its day that the word "thug" entered into common English usage. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Guy RolfeAllan Cuthbertson, (more)
1959  
 
The scene is Burma during World War II. A small British brigade led by Stanley Baker comes upon a Burmese village controlled by the Japanese. The brigade wipes out the enemy, whereupon Baker discovers that the late Japanese commandant has a coded map secreted on his person. When a Burmese prisoner who can decode the map refuses to talk, Baker orders that two peaceful villagers be executed. Baker's actions seem cruel and extreme until it becomes apparent that the enemy is twice as ruthless as he. Based on a TV play by Peter R. Newman, Yesterday's Enemy is a brutal but insightful look at the blurred line between good and evil in wartime conditions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Stanley BakerGuy Rolfe, (more)
1958  
 
The celebrated stage farce 3DThe Middle Watch3D was the basis of the maritime comedy 3DGirls at Sea3D. While briefly in port, the British battleship 3DScotia3D, hosts a wild party, brimming over with wine, women and more women. Three of the female revellers-Mary (Ann Kimball), Jill (Mary Steele) and Antoinette (Nadine Tallier) are inadvertently left on board when the 3DScotia3D sets sail. It's up to the ship's by-the-book captain (Guy Rolfe) to keep the ladies safe-and out of sight-as the 3DScotia3D engages in maneuvers off the coast of Italy. Michael Hordern has some dryly amusing moments as the hapless Admiral, who suspects that something's amiss-but never suspects that it's 3Dthree3D misses. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Guy RolfeRonald Shiner, (more)
1957  
 
In this comedy, a woman finds herself addicted to auctions and begins bringing the strangest things back to her home. Her husband, ignorant of her passion, begins suspecting her of kleptomania and hires a detective to spy on her. He next sends her to a psychiatrist. After the woman gets wise to the schemes, she reveals the identity of the real thief. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Read More

1956  
 
It's Never Too Late stars Phyllis Calvert as a sedate and settled British wife and mother. Deciding that her family has taken her for granted far too long, the bored Ms. Calvert types up a movie script. Her work becomes a hit film and Phyllis suddenly finds herself a celebrity. Now she must choose between being a highly paid author and a middle-class housewife; since this film is conformist all down the line, her decision holds few surprises. It's Never Too Late was based on a play by Felicity Douglas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Read More

1955  
 
In this thriller, a murderous writer kills his blackmailer and his ex-lover and then tries to convince his fiancee to help him hide the bodies. She does until she learns that he is planning to frame innocent people for his crimes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Read More

1954  
 
The "little lady" in this British melodrama is the amply proportioned Mai Zetterling. The actress plays prima ballerina Nina Gordon, who is exploited by her avaricious husband Mark (Terene Morgan). During a celebration of Nina's triumphal debut at the Royal Opera House, she discovers that Mark is not only greedy, but unfaithful. She becomes so upset by this that she drives off madly into the night, breaking her leg in a motor accident. Told that she'll never dance again, Nina is callously abandoned by Mark. With the help of a kindly doctor (Guy Rolfe), Nina is able to walk once more--and to live her life vicariously through her talented daughter (Mandy Miller) When Mark reenters Nina's life, intending to take control of the daughter's dancing career, it is he who emerges the loser--and how! Dance Little Lady was one of several ballet dramas produced in the wake of the phenominally successful The Red Shoes (1948). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Terence MorganMai Zetterling, (more)
1953  
 
This remake of John Ford's The Black Watch (29) stars Tyrone Power as British army captain stationed in India in 1857. Shunned by his fellow officers because he is a half caste, Power defies the social structure of the era by falling in love with the daughter (Terry Moore) of his superior officer. Power proves his loyalty to the Crown by quelling an uprising, led by his Indian boyhood friend (Guy Rolfe). The actors do their best, but the storyline is trite and stilted when dwelling on matters of honor and romance. King of the Khyber Rifles works best as an action picture--and in this respect it is immensely superior to the earlier John Ford film, which almost plays like a comedy when seen today. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Read More

Starring:
Tyrone PowerTerry Moore, (more)

BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster Inc. © 2009 Blockbuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Portions of Content Provided by All Movie Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.© 2009 All Media Guide, LLC.