Maureen O'Brien Movies

In a small Irish village where herding sheep is still one of the major industries, the largely male, unmarried population has grown dissatisfied with their lot in life; when a shipping error sends the wrong film to the local movie house, the citizens are treated to a racy item from the United States. The movie is cut short by the village priest, but it plants an idea in a few of the men: America is overflowing with beautiful women, so why not get a few of them to come to Ireland? Pooling their resources, a group of men places personal ads in an American newspaper in hopes of luring a few ladies away from life in the States for the more rustic pleasures of the Irish countryside. The debut film from director Aileen Ritchie, The Closer You Get stars Niamh Cusack, Ian Hart, Sean McGinley, and Ruth McCabe. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

David Leland (Wish You Were Here) directed this adaptation of Angela Huth's novel about the British Women's Land Army (aka "land girls"), a WW II regiment which recruited women to work on farms during the war. The volunteer "land girls," from all walks of life, were dispatched across the British countryside to replace the farm workers who had gone to the front. Answering the call and ready to pitch in, three young WLA women arrive at a remote farm in the Dorset countryside. Romantic Stella (Catherine McCormack) plans to wed naval officer Philip (Paul Bettany). Cambridge grad Ag (Rachel Weisz) is quirky and cerebral. Working-class Prue (Anna Friel) is a flirt whose impudent wit conceals her innocence. The farm is owned by the Lawrences (Tom Georgeson, Maureen O'Brien), whose handsome son Joe (Steven Mackintosh) gets involved with all three land girls. Joe dreams of leaving the family farm to become a fighter pilot, but he's thwarted by health problems. For the women, the work is hard, the days are long, and the war is never far from their thoughts. But the women's camaraderie strengthens them, individually and as a unit. They form close friendships with each other, and Stella finds true love with Joe. All experience exhilaration and passion, and with the war's end, altered destinies (revealed in an epilogue in which the land girls are reunited some years after the war). The soundtrack features memorable '40s songs. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Zina (Domiziana Giordano) is the daughter of Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky. When her father is exiled, Zina heads to Berlin in hopes of leading a normal life. Tormented by nightmares, Zina turns to a psychiatrist (Ian McKellan) for aid. The doctor comes to the conclusion that Zina's nocturnal visions are portents for future horrors--specifically the rise of the Nazis. This thought-provoking British film ends with the symbolic death of the ideals set down by the "visionary" Leon Trotsky. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Eight British women sign up for a week-long survival course. They hope to counter their boredom with life by sweating through a regimen of cliff-climbing and rope-pulling in Britain's Lake district. In between, the ladies discuss their sex lives, with the best lines going to Julie Walters as she rambles on about her three years' abstention from sex. The other actress, who haven't scaled the same professional heights as Ms. Walters since 1984, include Jane Evers, Janet Henfrey, Paula Jacobs, Penelope Nice, Maureen O'Brien and Alyson Spiro. She'll Be Wearing Pink Pajamas was written, apparently from first-hand experience, by Eva Hardy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the third episode of the six-part story "The Web Planet," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions are still mired in a power struggle on the planet Vortis. Aligning himself with the exiled butterfly-like race the Menoptera, the Doctor endeavors to free the planet from the rule of the ant-like Zarbi. This requires him to make a perilous foray into the Web Centre, the better to solve the mystery of the force that holds the planet in thrall. Written by Bill Strutton, "Escape to Danger" first aired on February 27, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the fifth episode of the six-part story "The Web Planet," the Doctor (William Hartnell) is unsuccessful in his efforts to immobilize the Animus, the spider-ish parasite that controls the planet Vortis. Meanwhile, the butterfly-like Menoptra invade the planet, hoping to topple the ant-like Zarbi ruling class (who are themselves the slaves of the Vortis). To say that the Menoptra's efforts are doomed to failure would be putting it mildly. Written by Bill Strutton, "Invasion" first aired on March 13, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Time Meddler," the TARDIS crew finds itself in the thick of things at the Battle of Hastings. Meanwhile, a renegade Time Lord (Peter Butterworth) pulls strings to determine the outcome of the battle. Can the Doctor (William Hartnell) stop the course of history from changing? Written by Dennis Spooner, Doctor Who: Checkmate first aired on July 24, 1965, as the final episode of Doctor Who's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the six-part story "The Web Planet," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his traveling companions come face to face with the two warring tribes of the planet Vortis: The ant-like Zarbi, who ruled the roost, and the butterfly-like Menoptera, who hope to return from years of exile. The mysterious force that sucked the TARDIS into Vortis' atmosphere enslaves the mind of Barbara (Jacqueline Hill). It is up to the Doctor and Ian (William Hartnell) to rescue the girl -- if they themselves can avoid the force. Written by Bill Strutton, "The Zarbi" first aired on February 20, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the concluding episode of the four-part story "The Space Museum," the Doctor (William Hartnell) is still struggling to avoid the fate in store for himself and his companions, as mummified exhibits in a Xeron space museum. In the course of events, the Doctor's travelling companion Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) aligns herself with the Xeron slaves of the despotic Moroks. This is beginning of the end for the Moroks, as the Xeron stage a revolt to gain control of their planet -- and, possibly, to spare the lives of the TARDIS crew. Written by Glyn Jones, "The Final Phase" first aired on May 15, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the four-part story "The Time Meddler," the Doctor arrives in 11th century England in hopes of finding out the plans of a renegade Time Lord (Peter Butterworth). Disguised as a monk, the Doctor begins to realize that the villain's scheme is somehow connected with the impending Battle of Hastings. Meanwhile, fellow TARDIS crew member Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) makes a startling discovery. Written by Dennis Spooner, Doctor Who: The Meddling Monk first aired on July 10, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the four-part story "Galaxy 4," the Rills and the Dravins of the planet Galaxy continue their centuries-old feud as their planet draws nearer and nearer to destruction. Inasmuch as both races hope to use the TARDIS to make their escape, it is only logical that the Doctor's traveling companion Steven (Peter Purves) is taken hostage. In trying to rescue their friend, the Doctor and Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) must first locate the Rill stronghold. Written by William Emms, "Trap of Steel" originally aired on September 18, 1965; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the four-part story "The Crusade," the Doctor (William Hartnell), Ian (William Russell), and Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) are forcibly detained in the camp of King Richard the Lionhearted (Julian Glover). Ian manages to secure Richard's permission to leave so that he can rescue Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), who has been captured by the Saracen followers of Prince Saladin (Bernard Kay). By episode's end, however, Ian has been pressed into service as a marriage broker. Written by David Whitaker, "The Knight of Jaffa" originally aired April 3, 1965. At present, only the soundtrack of this episode is known to survive. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the six-part story "The Chase," the Doctor and his travelling are thrown into a prison cell by the Mechanoids. Also incarcerated is another space fugitive, pilot Steven Taylor. With the help of their new friend, the Doctor and his friends are able to help determine the outcome of the showdown between the Mechanoids and the Daleks. With this episode, Peter Purves became a series regular as Steven Taylor. Written by Terry Nation, "The Planet of Decision" was originally telecast on June 26, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi