Bernard Horsfall Movies
- 1957
In this drama, the commanding officer of a British Royal Air Force flight training school must deal with an ornery, irresponsible cadet. The lad reminds the officer of himself when he was young. It also reminds him that his own youthful arrogance and foolishness caused the death of the new recruit's father. The young man only settles down when the C.O. saves him during maneuvers. The boy is injured during the flight which gives him serious pause for thought. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ray Milland, Bernard Lee, (more)
- 1958
This British WW II drama takes place in the wilds of Tunis. Major Gerrard (Leo Genn) is ordered to lead a desperate mission to capture a Nazi-held farmhouse. Despite the fact that this undertaking is tantamount to committing suicide, Gerrard has no trouble rounding up volunteers. There's a bit too much of the old "stiff upper lip" in the dialogue, though the action sequences are first-rate and believable. Of interest to modern viewers is the presence in the cast of Michael Caine; he isn't billed, and barely has a line, but he's instantly recognizable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kieron Moore, Michael Medwin, (more)
- 1960
Kenneth More was beginning to segue into comedy roles when he took on the character of William in this standard sci-fi parody by director Basil Dearden. William is an unsuccessful guinea pig for a medical group interested in researching the common cold when he is soon fired and offered a job by the nearby National Atomic Research Center. They figure anyone who could fail at being a guinea pig is just what they need. They con William into thinking he will continue his guinea pig career by testing out some equipment for them before they send a group of astronauts to the moon. What they neglect to tell him is that the testing will be done by actually sending him to the moon. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenneth More, Shirley Ann Field, (more)
Richard Attenborough stars as a stalwart sergeant-major, stationed in British colony in Africa. When the colony declares its independence, Attenborough is assigned to keep the peace during the governmental transition. Trouble begins when an insurgent African officer (Errol John) attempts to overthrow the new, British-approved rulers. As the political situation becomes more and complex, Attenborough finds that his deeply entrenched values and beliefs are no longer valid. Based on a novel by Robert Holles, Guns at Batasi is what used to be called a "thinking man's adventure film." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Attenborough, Jack Hawkins, (more)
- 1965
A classic Avengers entry, this episode originally aired in England on October 16, 1965. Several industrialists are murdered by what appears to be a super-strong karate expert. Sent to investigate the killings, Steed and Emma discover that the murderer is actually a gigantic robot, the creation of a mad scientist bent on developing a race of similar humanoids. Burt Kwouk, the unforgettable "Cato" of the Pink Panther movies, plays an important supporting role. Written by Philip Levene, "The Cybernauts" was the first Avengers episode to be telecast in America, on March 28, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Diana Rigg
- 1965
The gap between the British and American telecast of the individual Avengers episodes narrowed considerably during the series' fifth season; this episode appeared on American television a scant six days after its British TV debut. Steed and Peel investigate the mysterious deaths of several top figures in the ceramics business. It turns out that all of the victims were literally frightened to death. . .and guess which leather-clad female secret agent is next on the villains' "scare" list. Written by Philip Levene, "The Fear Merchants" features a choice performance by Patrick Cargill, best known to American viewers for his work in the Beatles' theatrical film Help! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Diana Rigg
- 1968
In the second episode of the five-part story "The Mind Robber," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) is drawn out of the TARDIS by the same irresistable force that has sucked Zoe (Wendy Padbury) and Jamie (Frazer Hines) into a white void. Though he is successful in rescuing his companions from the fearsome White Robots, the Doctor can only look on in helpless horror as the TARDIS is destroyed. Somehow or other, the three time travellers land on a planet that vaguely resembles Earth -- an Earth that exists only in the imaginations of the world's most famous authors. Written by Derrick Sherwin and Peter Ling, "The Mind Robber, Episode 2" originally aired on September 21, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1968
In the third episode of the five-part story "The Mind Robber," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton), Zoe (Wendy Padbury), and Jamie (Frazer Hines) find themselves in a strange forest, where the trees are in the shape of huge letters. All around them are images apparently culled from the world's most famous literature, and there is talk in the air of a "master" who is in charge of things. The mystery deepens when the time travellers meet a stranger (Bernard Horsfall) in 18th century garb -- who, like the rest of the planet, is oddly familiar to them. Written by Derrick Sherwin and Peter Ling, "The Mind Robber, Episode 3" originally aired on September 28, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1968
In the fourth episode of the five-part story "The Mind Robber," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and Zoe (Wendy Padbury) discover that their new acquaintance (Bernard Horsfall) is actually that other celebrated traveler, Lemuel Gulliver. Now the Doctor realizes that he has been summoned to the Land of Fiction -- but he still doesn't know why. Meanwhile, Jamie enters the citadal of the mysterious Master (Emrys Jones). Written by Derrick Sherwin and Peter Ling, "The Mind Robber, Episode 4" originally aired on October 5, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1968
In the conclusion of the five-part story "The Mind Robber," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and Zoe (Wendy Padbury) wend their way through a Lewis Carroll-like maze, somewhere in the Land of Fiction. Emerging from the confusion, the two time travellers come face to face with the Master (Emrys Jones), who explains he is the creator of a world comprised entirely of characters and locales taken from Earth Literature. The Master then demands that the Doctor take his place -- with dire consequences for Zoe and Jamie (Frazer Hines) if his demands are not met. Written by Derrick Sherwin and Peter Ling, "The Mind Robber, Episode 5" originally aired on October 12, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1969
A demented plastic surgeon creates a duplicate of John Steed, who has ostensibly been killed. Meanwhile, the real Steed, held captive by enemy agents, manages to escape. Racing against time, Steed must prevent his lookalike -- not to mention an additional battalion of Steed clones -- from sabotaging an important peace conference. Written by Brian Clemens, They Keep Killing Steed originally aired in America on November 11, 1968, and in England on December 18 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Macnee, Linda Thorson, (more)
- 1969
In the conclusion of the pivotal ten-part story "The War Games," the Doctor has successfully thwarted the universe-conquering schemes of the War Lord (Philip Madoc). In doing so, however, he has violated his own ethics, and now finds himself hunted down by his own race, the Time Lords. Captured, the Doctor is subjected to a trial, the outcome of which will profoundly alter not only his own existence, but also the lives of his traveling companions Jamie and Zoe. It can be safely stated that every Doctor Who fan in good standing already knows how this particular story ended. For the benefit of the uninitiated, we will observe only that "The War Games, Episode 10," written by Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks, was originally telecast on June 21, 1969 as the final episode of Doctor Who's sixth season, and represented the series swan song for regulars Patrick Troughton (the Doctor), Frazer Hines (Jamie), and Wendy Padbury (Zoe). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1969
- PG
- Add On Her Majesty's Secret Service to QueueAdd On Her Majesty's Secret Service to top of Queue
It wasn't as well received at the box office as the pictures that preceded it or followed it, but Peter Hunt's On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the finest of the James Bond movies and also arguably the last truly great movie in the series. James Bond, portrayed here by George Lazenby (in his only performance in the role) has spent nearly two years trying to track down Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas), the head of SPECTRE. He has been taken off the case by his chief (Bernard Lee), an action the pushes him to the point of considering resigning from Her Majesty's Secret Service, just as he opens a possible new avenue of attack on his quarry. Whilst in the field, Bond has chanced to cross paths with the Contessa Teresa Di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg), a beautiful but desperately unhappy woman, whom he rescues from one apparent suicide attempt and an embarrassing moment at a casino gaming table -- the Contessa, who prefers to be called Tracy ("Teresa was a saint"), is the daughter of Marc Ange Draco (Gabriele Ferzetti), an industrial and construction magnate and also a crime boss, who is impressed with Bond personally as well as professionally, and would like to see him marry his daughter. Bond is, at first, unwilling to involve himself with a woman -- any woman -- on that level, but Draco's underworld contacts give Bond a vital clue to Blofeld's whereabouts that get him back on the case and hot on the man's trail. Journeying incognito to Blofeld's mountaintop retreat in the Swiss Alps, Bond finds the criminal mastermind posing as a would-be nobleman and also as a philanthropist, running a clinic devoted to the treatment and eradication of allergies. It's all a front for a surprisingly sinister (and scientifically valid) plot for international blackmail that would make any previous Bond villain quake in fear. And in the process of staying alive long enough to have a chance of stopping Blofeld, Bond discovers the Tracy is truly like no woman he's ever known before -- one special enough that he finds himself willing to give up his life as a free-living, free-loving bachelor. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, (more)
- 1971
This science fiction/fantasy is loosely based on a story by John Wyndham (best known for The Day of the Triffids). Scientist Collin (Tom Bell) stumbles across a parallel world in which President Kennedy is not shot, Vietnam hasn't happened, and Ottilie (Joan Collins), the woman he loves, dies unexpectedly of a heart condition. While he is happy enough with the rest of his new world, he can't stand by and let his true love die in his original world, and he determines to return to his own place and time to save her. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1973
As the Earth-Draconia war introduced in the previous adventure "Frontier of Space" threatens to break out at any moment, the Daleks pitch camp on the planet Spiridon, where their warriors have been kept in a cryogenic state. Also showing up on Spiridon are the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning), who aren't about to let the Daleks carry out their plans to deplete the Earth and Draconia of their resources, then take over the universe. Written by Terry Nation, "Planet of the Daleks" inaugurated its six-episode run on April 7, 1973; at present, only episodes one, two, three, four, five, and six are available in their original color versions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, (more)
- 1973
In the second episode of the six-part story "Planet of the Daleks," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) arrive on the planet Spiridon, whence the Daleks intend to inaugurate their takeover of the Universe. Having placed himself in a coma to recharge his energies, the Doctor is in danger of freezing to death. Meanwhile, Jo, determined to carry on the Doctor's efforts to stop the Daleks, is knocked out by a falling rock. Written by Terry Nation, "Planet of the Daleks, Episode 2" first aired on April 14, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, (more)
- 1973
In the third episode of the six-part story "Planet of the Daleks," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) continue their efforts to thwart a Dalek scheme to conquer the universe from their new headquarters on planet Spiridon. Rescued from peril by a group of Thals, Jo revives the Doctor from his comatose state, while the Daleks, now some 10,000 strong, endeavor to learn the Spiridon's secret of invisibility. Written by Terry Nation, "Planet of the Daleks, Episode 3" first aired on April 21, 1973. Originally filmed in color, this episode is presently available in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, (more)
- 1973
In the fourth episode of the six-part story "Planet of the Daleks," the Daleks have enslaved the inhabitants of the planet Spiridon, in hopes of learning their captors' secret of invisibility. Meanwhile, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee), Jo (Katy Manning), and a group of Thals step up their efforts to prevent the Daleks from conquering the universe. The highlight of this episode is a terrifying evening in the Spiridon jungle. Written by Terry Nation, "Planet of the Daleks, Episode 4" first aired on April 28, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, (more)
- 1973
In the fifth episode of the six-part story "Planet of the Daleks," the mutant Daleks are on the verge of discovering the Spiridons' secret of invisibility. Despite this grim turn of events, the enslaved Spiridons may still turn on their Dalek masters. Either way, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and his friends remain in dire jeopardy as they try to make their way out of the Spiridon jungle. Written by Terry Nation, "Planet of the Daleks, Episode 5" first aired on May 5, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, (more)
- 1973
In the conclusion of the six-part episode "Planet of the Daleks," the revived Dalek warriors prepare to launch their campaign to conquer the Universe from their new home base on the planet Spiridon. Though it may be too late, the Doctor hopes to prevent this cataclysmic event with the strategic application of a powerful bomb -- not to mention the assistance of a group of Thals, who have a trick or two up their sleeves as well. Written by Terry Nation, "Planet of the Daleks, Episode 6" first aired on May 12, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, (more)
Peter Hunt directed this old fashioned -- if not reactionary -- action film about gold-mining in South Africa. The story concerns a nefarious scheme to control the international price of gold by sabotaging the country's largest gold mine, flooding it with an underground sea. Hurry Hirschfeld (Ray Milland) is a cranky but kind millionaire who owns the gold mine. His granddaughter, Terry Steyner (Susannah York), is a beautiful women suffering from the old ennui. She happens to be married to chief bad-guy Manfred Steyner (Bradford Dillman), who, along with unscrupulous international tycoon Farrell (John Gielgud), hatches the plot to flood Hurry's gold- mine. To the rescue comes Rod Slater (Roger Moore) and his faithful black sidekick Big King (Simon Sabela), ready to right the wrongs and stem the tide in order to make South Africa safe for cheap black labor. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roger Moore, Susannah York, (more)
- 1976
Called back to his home planet Gallifrey, the Doctor (Tom Baker) arrives in time for Presidential Resignation Day. Having experience a premonition that the current president is to be assassinated, the Doctor is framed for the inevitable murder by an old enemy, the Master (played by Peter Pratt, replacing the late Roger Delgado). Written by Robert Holmes, "The Deadly Assassin, Episode 1" of the four-part adventure, first aired on October 30, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Bernard Horsfall, (more)
- 1976
In the second episode of the four-part story "The Deadly Assassin," the Doctor (Tom Baker) is on trial for his life, accused of murdering the President of his home world Gallifrey. Actually, the Doctor has been framed for the killing by his old nemesis, the Master (Peter Pratt). Complicating matters is the ancient Time Lord edict that all political prisoners be set free upon the inauguration of a new President -- and the efforts by the Master to prolong his own existence with the aid of Gallifrey's sacred Eye of Harmony. Written by Robert Holmes, "The Deadly Assassin, Episode 2" first aired on November 6, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Bernard Horsfall, (more)
- 1976
In the third episode of the four-part story "The Deadly Assassin," the Doctor (Tom Baker) persists in his efforts to prove himself innocent of assassinating the President of Gallifrey, and in so doing confronts a fearsome, faceless enemy. Meanwhile, the Master (Peter Pratt), who has framed the Doctor for murder, persists in his efforts to absorb the awesome powers of Gallifrey's Eye of Harmony. Could it be that the Master has a secret ally within the highest ranks of the Time Lords? Written by Robert Holmes, "The Deadly Assassin, Episode 3" first aired on November 13, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Bernard Horsfall, (more)
