Honor Blackman Movies
British actress Honor Blackman began as a J. Arthur Rank contractee, where she was groomed for demure "English rose" types in films like Fame is the Spur (1947) and Quartet (1948). Honor would not realize major stardom until 1962, when she was cast as leather-clad karate expert Cathy Gale in the British TV adventure series The Avengers (until recently, U.S. audiences were permitted to see only the Avengers episodes featuring Ms. Blackman's successors, Diana Rigg and Linda Thorson). International stardom ensued when Honor was seen in another martial-arts gig as the gloriously yclept Pussy Galore in Goldfinger (1964). She has played a wide variety of roles since, with special emphasis on droll comedy. Honor Blackman's last picture was the 1978 remake of The Cat and the Canary, though she continues to appear in British television, most recently on the weekly series The Upper Hand (1990-93). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In the mid-'90s, an Englishman by the name of Alan Conway (John Malkovich) conned many people into believing that he was the reclusive American director Stanley Kubrick, despite the fact that Conway was openly gay, bore no physical resemblance to Kubrick, and knew little about the director's work. Conway's story has been loosely adapted into the comedic feature Colour Me Kubrick. Anthony Frewin, who worked as Kubrick's personal assistance for many years, wrote the script, and Brian Cook, who served as Kubrick's assistant director on several films, including Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut, marks his directorial debut with the film. Colour Me Kubrick follows Conway on a number of adventures, wherein he cadges drinks, cash, sex, and more from unsuspecting victims, ranging from a heavy metal band to a wine bar owner (Richard E. Grant) to a British lounge singer (British television comic Jim Davidson making his feature-film debut), who are awestruck by his purported fame and fortune, and willing to overlook Conway's genuinely bizarre behavior in the hopes of impressing the great director. Conway's act reached its pinnacle when he temporarily pulled the wool over the eyes of then-New York Times theater critic Frank Rich (William Hootkins). Colour Me Kubrick features cameos by Ken Russell, Honor Blackman, Peter Sallis, and Marc Warren. The French production had its international premiere at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Malkovich, Jim Davidson, (more)
The story of George Adamson, whose work helped inspire the book and subsequent film Born Free, is continued in the fact-based drama To Walk With Lions. In Kenya in the late 1980's, Tony Fitzjohn (John Michie) is a young man from London who has a job as a driver with a safari guide company. However, Tony's commitment is less to exploring the wilds than in picking up women (especially wealthy tourists), so when he's fired, Tony just wants to get another job fast to get airfare home. The first position he finds is assisting George Adamson (Richard Harris), who with his bother Terence (Ian Bannen) helps "rehabilitate" lions from zoos and returns them to the wild. George is more devoted to his animals than to most people, but a bond of respect and understanding develops between George and Tony, and Tony develops a similar rapport with the lions. Tony also develops a different sort of attachment to Lucy (Kerry Fox), a British anthropologist studying indigenous tribes in Kenya. However, the tone shifts when George's ex-wife, Joy (Honor Blackman) arrives for a visit. George and Joy did not separate on cordial terms, and their meeting is brief and contentious (while Joy made a tidy sum from the book Born Free, George never received any of the money for his continuing work with the lions). Shortly after her departure, Joy is killed by one of her servants. While To Walk With Lions is in several respects critical of the wildlife policies of the Kenyan government, the film was financed in part by Kenyans and was filmed in Kenya with the support and cooperation of state authorities. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Harris, John Michie, (more)
Best known for his Highlander series, Russell Mulcahy pays homage to the Hammer films of the 1960s with this all-star recreation of the Mummy story. Centuries ago, a sadistic prince named Talos was buried and his tomb was infinitely cursed so that no man would ever again suffer from his evil ways. But hundreds of years later, a group of archeologists break the seal of the tomb and are brutally massacred. The bandages of Talos are discovered years later by the head archeologist's daughter and brought back to London to be displayed in a museum. But the bandages go on a violent rampage. His evil threatens to spread around the world when the approaching alignment of the planets will raise the legendary Talos to a level of immortal power. The American detective in charge of the affair and the daughter of the archeologist race against time to defeat the malicious mummy. Russell Mulcahy has modern computer graphics techniques on his side in this remake of the classic Mummy monster story. At the same time, he has invited the legendary Christopher Lee to appear in the role of the ill-fated archeologist who discovers Talos. Shelley Duvall and Jason Scott Lee round out the main cast. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Scott Lee, Louise Lombard, (more)
- 1994
From Anchor Bay Entertainment comes the feature-length, animated version of the children's classic, The Secret Garden. The timeless tale chronicles the life of Mary Lennox, an orphan who, after being sent to live in a large, eerie Victorian house with her brooding uncle, discovers a magical secret garden. The only people Mary feels comfortable enough to share her secret with are Dickon, her friend, and Colin Craven, the sickly son of her uncle. This video contains footage previously unaired in the television broadcast. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The Upper Hand was the British version of the long-running American sitcom Who's the Boss? Taking over the Tony Danza role was Joe McGann as former football player Charlie Burrow. On his uppers, Charlie landed a job as housekeeper and "nanny" for businesswoman and single mom Caroline Wheatley (Diane Weston). Also on hand were Charlie's daughter Joanna (Kellie Bright), Caroline's son Tom (William Puttock) and her own spunky mom Laura West (played by former Avengers star Honor Blackman). By the time the series had run its course, Charlie and Caroline were husband and wife. Lasting an impressive seven seasons and 95 episodes (a rarity for an American derivation on British TV), The Upper Hand was carried by Central Television from May 1, 1990 to October 14, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This drama, adapted from a best-seller by Barbara Taylor Bradford chronicles the convoluted love-lives of two rich women over 23 years. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1986
In the 11th episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord," the Doctor (Colin Baker) presents videotaped evidence that he and his companion, Mel (Bonnie Langford), used the Laws of Time to rescue the passengers of the spaceliner Hyperion III from the Vervoids, a species of voracious plants. But the Valeyard (Michael Jayston), determined to condemn the Doctor for violating the rules of the Time Lords, insists that the images on the videotape do not correspond with the actual facts. Curiously, both the Doctor and the Valeyard are telling the truth. Written by Pip and Jane Baker and first broadcast on November 15, 1986, this episode is officially known as "Terror of the Vervoids, Episode 3." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Bonnie Langford, (more)
- 1986
In the 12th episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord," the Valeyard (Michael Jayston), bent upon condemning the Doctor (Colin Baker) for violating the Laws of Time, argues that the Doctor's videotaped evidence does not correspond with the facts. But the Doctor argues that, contrary to those "facts," he and his companion, Mel (Bonnie Langford), were indeed responsible for rescuing the passengers of the spaceliner Hyperion III from being devoured by a series of ravenous plants -- and that the Hyperion III did not meet its doom in the Black Hole of Tartarus. Written by Pip and Jane Baker and first broadcast on November 22, 1986, Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 12 was actually the concluding installment of the four-part story arc "Terror of the Vervoids." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Bonnie Langford, (more)
- 1986
In the tenth episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord," the Doctor (Colin Baker) presents videotaped evidence which he hopes will clear him of charges that he has violated the Laws of Time. The tape shows the Doctor and his companion, Mel (Bonnie Langford), on board the spaceliner Hyperion III, attempting to solve a series of mysterious deaths. But the Valeyard (Michael Jayston), who is conducting the trial against the Doctor, is skeptical, since the images on the tape do not correspond with the facts -- or at least, with the facts as they currently exist. Written by Pip and Jane Baker and first broadcast on November 8, 1986, this episode is officially known as Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 10. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Bonnie Langford, (more)
- 1986
The season-long Doctor Who adventure "The Trial of a Time Lord" continued on November 1, 1986 with episode one of the story's third chapter, "Terror of the Vervoids" (a subtitle that did not appear onscreen). Still defending himself against charges of breaking the Laws of Time, the Doctor (Colin Baker) presents videotaped evidence of his innocence. It should not surprise fans of the series that the evidence consists of events that have yet to transpire, and that the Doctor has suddenly acquired a new companion: Earth girl Melanie "Mel" Bush (Bonnie Langford). Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 9 was written by Pip and Jane Baker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Lynda Bellingham, (more)
- 1984
A notorious, internationally known sex symbol (Phoebe Cates) attempts to track down her birth mother in this glitzy, deliciously trashy melodrama. The mother could be one of three women, all of whom have vowed to never reveal the secret truth behind the child's illegitimate birth. Based on the novel by Shirley Conran. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bess Armstrong, Brooke Adams, (more)
- 1984
- Add The First Olympics: Athens 1896 to QueueAdd The First Olympics: Athens 1896 to top of Queue
Five Emmy nominations went to the two-part TV drama The First Olympics: Athens 1896. The story begins in 1894, when Baron Pierre de Courbetin (Louis Jourdan) announces his intention to stage the first Olympic games of the Modern Era within two years in Athens. The baron heads to the US to recruit an athletic team. Despite disinterest, opposition and spotty funding, de Courbetin assembles his team with the help of Princeton professor William Sloane. The thirteen chosen Americans have a pretty bumpy time of it, but most survive to the final Olympic contest: the grueling Marathon. The supporting cast is top-heavy with veterans from both America and England, including Angela Lansbury, Honor Blackman, Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna. Among the leading players is future NYPD Blue star David Caruso as Irish-American athlete James Connolly. Originally running five hours, The First Olympics was first telecast May 20 and 21, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In this drama set in London during the 1920s, two amateur detectives try to find an important document before the enemy does. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Frank Willard's 1927 stage play The Cat and the Canary was filmed several times before this 1978 version saw the light of day. In the story, Annabelle West (Carol Lynley) is one of several potential heirs to a huge fortune. Brought to his foreboding mansion to learn who will benefit from his death, the anxious heirs must sit still for the deceased's taped recitation of his bequests. The dead man, Cyrus West (Wilfred Hyde-White), takes advantage of the occasion to scold his greedy and unpleasant relatives. He leaves behind several posthumous practical jokes which drive his points home. It's a rainy night, the mansion is full of surprises, most of the heirs are an anxious, unpleasant lot, and at least one of them is not above committing murder to have his way. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Honor Blackman, Michael Callan, (more)
- 1977
In this drama, a British ex-con, incarcerated for conscientiously objecting to the war, is finally released. He immediately takes of to Canada where he begins teaching in a boys' academy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Veterans and war-sympathizers get angry when a Canadian professor begins speaking out with his pacifist ideals shortly after World War II. The tension rises as threats and violence soon erupt. ~ All Movie Guide
Christopher Lee stars in this weak occult melodrama as Father Michael Rayner, an excommunicated priest who decides to save the world from its decadence by teaming up with Satan. Richard Widmark is on hand as John Verney, out to stop Rayner's satanic rituals and helped along on the path of goodness by friends Anna Fountain (Honor Blackman) and David (Anthony Valentine). The plot centers on distraught father Henry Beddows (Denholm Elliott), who has signed over his daughter Catherine (Nastassja Kinski) to Rayner in order to save his own skin and now regrets it. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Widmark, Christopher Lee, (more)
- 1973
- PG
Richard Lester's adaptation of The Three Musketeers was only the latest of many when released in 1974, but it arrived with a spirit all its own, one influenced as much by Lester's '60s work as the Alexandre Dumas classic. Even so, it followed the plot of Dumas' novel fairly closely, its liberties in interpretation taken elsewhere. Coming off the success of Cabaret, Michael York plays D'Artagnan, the provincial, would-be swashbuckler who travels to Paris to make his name. There he encounters the eponymous heroes: cynical Athos (Oliver Reed), dashing Aramis (Richard Chamberlain), and arrogant Porthos (Frank Finlay). The trio introduces him to the world of court intrigue as they work to protect the Queen (Geraldine Chaplin) from the schemes of the villainous Richelieu (Charlton Heston) and his followers, Rochefort (Christopher Lee) and Milady (Faye Dunaway). Lester shot the film in conjunction with its sequel, The Four Musketeers. Originally intended as a single film, the split prompted a lawsuit from the cast demanding payment for both films. ~ Keith Phipps, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Oliver Reed, Charlton Heston, (more)
- 1971
- PG
In this western, an outlaw anxiously awaits the arrival of his betrothed, who is under the false impression that her fiancé is worth a fortune. Unfortunately, the fellow has earned nothing during his stint in the West. Desperate to keep her, he begins plotting the theft of a Mexican bandit's loot. But before he can, he will need a Gatling gun. He knows a man who has one, but the gun owner refuses to part with it unless the outlaw agrees to find him a woman. The outlaw then kidnaps a likely candidate from a stage coach. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize that the woman is a colonel's wife. Later as he is hauling his heavy gun, he runs into the colonel who is looking for his missing wife. A shoot out ensues and things look bleak for the outlaw until the colonel's wife intervenes and suggests to her husband that since he is about to retire, he ought to allow the fellow to take the chance and try to pull off the heist. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
In this violent, grim thriller, a baby-sitter's routine job turns out to be anything but when she and her young charge are terrorized by an escaped mental patient who bursts in and holds them hostage. He claims to be the three-year-old boy's father and has come to murder his ex-wife. Meanwhile to stall for time until the cops can save them, the baby-sitter seduces the fugitive father. A deadly stand-off ensues when the cops finally surround the place and he begins threatening to slice the throats of the girl and his son. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
- R
In this grim wartime drama, two vengeful soldiers of fortune engage in a deadly competition to see who can kill the other first. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stanley Baker, Alex Cord, (more)
This melodrama is taken from a story by D.H. Lawrence. Yvette (Joanna Shimkus) and her sister Lucille (Harriet Harper) are two country girls who return home after attending a provincial school. Yvette is smitten by the sight of a handsome gypsy (Franco Nero). Her stern matriarchal grandmother (Fay Compton) objects, but Yvette continues to see the dashing young man who awakens her sexual curiosity. She is comforted by Mrs. Fawcett (Honor Blackman) and Major Eastwood (Mark Burns), two people living in sin, much to the chagrin of the moralistic townsfolk. Yvette and the gypsy finally engage in a forbidden romantic encounter after weeks of longing gazes and social disapproval from friends and family on both sides. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joanna Shimkus, Franco Nero, (more)
