Georgia Brown Movies
Husky-voiced British singer/actress Georgia Brown achieved stage stardom during the 1956-1957 theatrical season, when she appeared as Polly Peachum in both the London and New York productions of The Threepenny Opera. In 1961, Brown took Broadway by storm as the original Nancy Sykes in Oliver!. Her later stage triumphs included Side by Side With Sondheim and the mid-'80s revival of Threepenny Opera, in which she co-starred with rock artist Sting. On TV from 1951 and in films since 1965, she had the distinction of appearing in two well-received Sherlock Holmes pictures: in 1965's A Study in Terror, she had a cameo as a saloon singer, while in 1977's The Seven-Percent Solution, she played Mrs. Sigmund Freud. When not on stage or screen, Brown pursued a singing career in choice big-city night spots, notably New York's Blue Angel. Shortly before her death in 1992, Georgia Brown provided voices for the animated TV series Rick Moranis in Gravedale High (1990) and Fish Police (1992). ~ Hal Erickson, RoviAfter several weeks of reruns, Next Generation resumed its first-run manifest on January 4, 1992, with this poignant episode. Resigned to the fact that he has a son named Alexander (Brian Bonsall), Worf reluctantly allows the boy to live with him on the Enterprise. Worf's parenting skills, which even in the best of times are hardly salutary, are put to a grueling test when Alexander begins exhibiting some markedly un-Klingonlike behavior. The inevitable climax is a showdown between father and son (described by one publicity blurb as "Fatherhood: The Final Frontier"). "New Ground" was scripted by Grant Rosenberg from a story by Sara Charno and Stuart Charno. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Georgia Brown returns as Carla's spiritual mentor, flamboyant parapsychic Madame Lazora. The bad news is that Lazora wants to retire from the business; the worse news is that she wants Carla (Rhea Perlman) to be her successor. Meanwhile, Woody (Woody Harrelson) is crushed by a bad review for his latest theatrical endeavor. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This is one of several seventh-season Murder She Wrote episodes introduced by Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) but starring Dennis Stanton (Keith Michell), a jewel thief turned insurance investigator. On this occasion, Stanton is probing into the curious case of a neurotic ventriloquist named Woody Perkins (Grant Shaud) and Woody's prize dummy Billy Boy. Not longer after Woody reports that Billy Boy has been "kidnapped", the dummy turns up in a locked room--along with the corpse of Katie Kelly (Georgia Brown), a nasty comedy-club owner with whom Woody had previously had a violent argument. Stanton tries to unravel the attendant mystery with the help and hindrance of Rhoda Markowitz (Hallie Todd) and Lt. Perry Catalano (Ken Swofford). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
In the made-for-television thriller Victim of Love, a psychologist (JoBeth Williams) falls in love with a widowed professor (Pierce Brosnan), who happens to also be having an affair with one of her patients (Virginia Madsen). When Williams discovers that Brosnan is not only the man responsible for her patient's emotional turmoil, but also that he murdered his wife in order to be with Madsen, the therapist is thrown into a world of danger. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
Safely returned to his own self after briefly being possessed by the Borg, Captain Picard must face a another, more personal crisis. Returning to his home village during a repair stopover on Earth, Picard has an uncomfortable reunion with his envious older brother Robert (Jeremy Kemp). Meanwhile, Worf's adoptive parents, Sergey and Helena Rozhenko (Theodore Bikel and Georgia Brown), pay him a visit on the Enterprise, while Wesley Crusher comes across a hologram message recorded by his long-gone father (Doug Wert). First telecast October 6, 1990, "Family" was written by Ronald D. Moore. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Hoping to get over the loss of her husband Eddie, Carla (Rhea Perlman) begins dating again -- only to be haunted by visions of Eddie's ghost. Clearly, desperate measures are called for; Carla thus engages the services of an exorcist (Georgia Brown). Meanwhile, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) intends to get even big-time when a hair-removal system proves defective. The absence of Ted Danson in this episode is explained away in the opening scenes, when it is revealed that Sam Malone is home in bed with chicken pox. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
At the recommendation of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), a young editor heads to Montana, there to organize the unpublished manuscript of the last novel written by a celebrated, recently deceased author. Unable to make heads or tails of the author's notes, the editor concocts a readable volume from his own imagination. Just as he is poised to tell the world that he, and not the late author, penned the novel, the editor is murdered--and from here on in, it's up to Jessica to solve the crime. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
John Moffitt directed this silly Canadian comedy about a falsely accused Salem witch (Kelly Preston). Terry Sweeney's script seems to find most of its humor in sex, drugs, and bathroom jokes, none of which are very amusing. Genre devotees will be quite pleased, however, with a cast featuring Barbara Carrera, SCTV member Dave Thomas, Bud Cort, Stuart Pankin, and Anne Ramsey. Dr. Joyce Brothers makes one of her obligatory cameo appearances as well. Preston appeared in another witch film, Janet Greek's Spellbinder, the following year. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Starring:
- Patrick Cassidy, Kelly Preston, (more)
The life of famous theatre and film star Paul Muni provides the basis for this musical. It begins in Hungary where he worked as a traveling actor and ends with his successful life in New York. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Nicholas Meyer based his screenplay for the "retro" Sherlock Holmes adventure The Seven Percent Solution on his own best-selling novel. As any Baker Street Irregular will tell you, the title refers to the dosage of cocaine taken by Sherlock Holmes (Nicol Williamson). The Great Detective's friend and chronicler Doctor Watson (Robert Duvall), concerned that Holmes' drug dependency is getting out of hand, suggests a cure under the auspices of Viennese psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (top-billed Alan Arkin). While undergoing treatment, Holmes comes to the realization that his archival Professor Moriarty (Laurence Olivier) is not the Napoleon of Crime, but instead a somewhat pathetic philanderer. Not yet completely cured, Holmes recharges his deductive batteries by undertaking a tricky conspiracy case involving another ex-addict, beautiful actress Lola Devereaux (Vanessa Redgrave). The traditional Holmesian sleuthing and split-second rescues of the film's second half are not as innovative as the Holmes-Freud scenes at the beginning of The Seven Percent Solution, but they provide this largely cerebral effort with a rousing climax. A success with both critics and filmgoers, The Seven Percent Solution opened the floodgates for subsequent TV and movie "reprises" of Conan Doyle's immortal literary figure. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alan Arkin, Vanessa Redgrave, (more)
This is not the same kind of film as the 1962 production, Tom Jones. In fact, it is a "nudie musical", as evidenced by the presence of singing star Georgia Brown in the dual role of Jenny Jones and Mrs. Waters. The project originated as a Las Vegas stage presentation, with Nicky Henson in the lead. The plot of the Henry Fielding novel about the "boy born to be hanged" is followed in spirit rather than to the letter, with busty Joan Collins thrown in like a lagniappe as a lady highwayman. Wandering through the proceedings are such English stalwarts as Trevor Howard and Terry-Thomas. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nicky Henson, Trevor Howard, (more)
Filmed in England, Galileo is based on Charles Laughton's 1947 adaptation of the play by Bertolt Brecht, which, like this 1975 film, was directed by Joseph Losey. Israeli film-star Topol plays the 17th century Italian astronomer, whose theories run contrary to the edicts of the Catholic Church. Forced to renounce his ideas about planetary movement, Galileo nonetheless holds fast to those beliefs to the end of his days, certain that time will vindicate him. Brecht's trademarked "alienation" technique, wherein the audience is constantly reminded that it is watching a play, is muted by Losey's cerebral direction. Galileo was one of producer Ely Landau's American Film Theatre presentations. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Topol, Colin Blakely, (more)
Essentially a reworking of their earlier omnibus Asylum, this is another anthology of pulp horror tales from Amicus, this one helmed by the ever-reliable Freddie Francis. It features a quartet of eerie vignettes involving four patients in the care of psychiatrist Dr. Tremayne (Donald Pleasence), who is attempting to justify his strange theories to a colleague (Jack Hawkins, who died shortly after his scenes were filmed) by explaining the horrific events that drove the patients to their current state. The first tale centers on a young boy (Russell Lewis), whose parents' constant squabbling prompts him to conjure an imaginary tiger to devour them. The second involves a Victorian-era bicycle which allows its finder (Peter McEnery) to travel back in time and live as his own ancestor. The goofy third chapter pits a jealous wife (Joan Collins) against a strange rival for her husband's attention: a tree possessed by a human soul. The final segment stars Kim Novak (a last-minute replacement for Rita Hayworth) as a literary agent who must sacrifice her own daughter (Mary Tamm) to appease the restless spirit of her client's mother. Although certainly not the studio's best effort, this is still an amusing diversion, featuring the standard twist ending and a flamboyant approach suggestive of EC horror comics. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
In this grim drama, a college student remains passive as his friend commits suicide causing his friends to blame him for the death. Eventually he too, kills himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
More widely seen in Britain as Nothing but the Night, this atmospheric chiller -- based on the novel Children of the Night by John Blackburn -- stars the ubiquitous Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing as a Scotland Yard inspector and a forensics expert sent to investigate a series of mysterious deaths among the elderly caretakers of a Scottish orphanage. Their probing uncovers a diabolical plot perpetrated by members of a Satanic cult, involving the use of an experimental serum which contains the genetic memories of its departed members. The caretakers have been injecting the serum into their young charges in order to use their bodies as healthy vessels for the Satanists' return, and the resulting possession transforms them into sadistic murderers. Although Christopher Lee acted as co-producer on both this film and the superb mystical classic The Wicker Man, it bears little resemblance to the latter, playing more like a Hammer-style variant on the American-made Brotherhood of Satan, released the previous year. Also known as The Resurrection Syndicate. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
Malcom McDowell, who went on to play a chillingly heartless young man in A Clockwork Orange, here plays Bruce, a cheerful young athlete and aspiring writer whose injuries get the better of him on the evening of his colorless brother's wedding. He loses the use of his legs and is sent to a home for the handicapped. As a result of his disability, his attitude undergoes a profound change, and he becomes a surly, resentful and difficult young man. At the home, he meets a young woman (Nanette Newman) whose disability has lasted much longer than his, and they fall in love. They become engaged, but she dies before they can get married. While this sounds relentlessly melancholy, the heart of the movie is the way in which each of the two has enriched the life of the other, and the movie is a good deal more upbeat than it sounds. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Malcolm McDowell, Nanette Newman, (more)
Three sailors on shore leave engage in a series of comedic sexual pursuits in Lock Up Your Daughters!. Jim Dale, Ian Bannen, and Tom Bell hit dry land with one thing on their minds -- something that lands everyone in jail in this comedic romp. Susannah York, Glynis Johns, and Elaine Taylor become the objects of the lovesick sailors' alleged affections. The farcical proceedings are witnessed by Lord Foppington (Christopher Plummer), the aristocratic dandy who shudders in horror over the trouble the three salts cause in their efforts to spice up their love lives. This film version is taken from the musical of the same name, sans the music. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Christopher Plummer, Susannah York, (more)
John Frankenheimer directed this intense film adaptation of the Bernard Malamud novel. During the days of Czarist Russia, a poor but educated Jew, Yakov Bok (Alan Bates) is abandoned by his wife Raisl (Carol White). Yakov decides to leave his small village and travel to Kiev. Since it is the time of the pogroms, Yakov poses as a gentile and takes a job as a handyman for Lebedev (Hugh Griffith), a drunken anti-Semitic merchant. Yakov rises up the ladder in Lebedev's establishment, and he is eventually promoted to factory overseer-accountant. But when a neighborhood boy is murdered, Yakov's true identity is discovered. Yakov is unjustly accused of the murder and arrested. Bibikov (Dirk Bogarde), a government attorney, believes Yakov to be innocent and attempts to discover the true killer -- realizing that if a confession is forced out of Yakov, the entire Jewish population could be in dire trouble. Bravely, Yakov puts up with the brutal prison life, refusing to confess, hoping Bibikov may discover some new evidence to re-open his case. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alan Bates, Dirk Bogarde, (more)
In A Study in Terror the ever popular Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. Watson search for the Victorian serial killerJack the Ripper in this well-made and exciting mystery produced, written and directed by James Hill. In this adaptation of the popular character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes (John Neville) aided by Dr. Watson (Donald Houston) and his brother Mycroft (Robert Morley) are called in to help catch the crazed killer of prostitutes. This film combines all the elements beloved by fans of Sherlock Holmes resulting in a satisfying and well-acted mystery. John Neville is good as the cool, logical Holmes and Robert Morley adds a nice dash of humor to liven up the story. A Study in Terror is highly recommended for fans of Sherlock Holmes and should be enjoyed by any viewer who loves vintage mysteries. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Neville, Donald Houston, (more)
In this mystery, an ace reporter is assigned to investigate the murder of a politician whose body was found stashed in a trunk. The reporter's enthusiasm soon wanes when his editor insists that he take his daughter with him to investigate. Fortunately, the girl has a real knack for investigative reporting and they make a good team. Eventually they fall in love. They also discover that the killer was the politician's rival. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Paul Carpenter, Melissa Stribling, (more)












