Richard Todd Movies
Born in Ireland, Richard Todd spent a few of his childhood years in India, where his father served as an army physician. Later his family relocated to West Devon, England. Todd trained for a potential military career at Sandhurst before inaugurating his acting training at the Italia Conta school. He helped organize the Dundee Repertory Theatre, then spent six years' service in World War II, first as an officer in the Yorkshire Light Infantry, then as a paratrooper with the 6th Airbourne. Todd was among those who parachuted into France during the D-Day Invasion of 1944; eighteen years later, he played a cameo in Darryl F. Zanuck's D-Day recreation The Longest Day (1946). After the war, he rejoined the Dundee rep, then made his West End debut as The Scot, the ill-tempered, dying protagonist of John Patrick's play The Hasty Heart. In 1949, Todd began his film career when he was tapped to recreate his Hasty Heart characterization before the cameras; the performance would earn him an Academy Award nomination. Highlights of Todd's 1950s film output include his portrayal of Marlene Dietrich's castaway beau in Hitchcock's Stage Fright (1950), his swashbuckling heroics in Disney's The Story of Robin Hood (1952), The Sword and the Rose (1953) and Rob Roy, The Highland Rogue (1954), his sensitive performance as "Chaplain of the Presidents" Peter Marshall in A Man Called Peter, and his military derring-do in the 1956 British box-office smash The Dam Busters. Although he devoted more and more of his energies to the stage in the late 1950s-early 1960s, Todd served as executive producer on 1961's Why Bother to Knock and later portrayed a Timothy Leary clone in 1967's The Love-Ins. More recently the actor's achievements include stage actor and producer. Todd listed Equus as his favorite stage production, though it's likely that his eight-year run in the Mayfair Theatre presentation The Business of Murder was kinder to his bank account. In 1987, Richard Todd published Caught in the Act, the first volume of his memoirs. He died in 2009 at the age of 90. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
As one might gather from the title, this British documentary details the history of aeronautics, beginning with the primitive turn of the century attempts that preceded the Wright brothers' successful flight. Narrated by Richard Todd, 100 Years of Flight details the people who were at the forefront of early air-travel, the impact of Charles Limburgh's cross-Atlantic flight, the role of aircraft in warfare, the emergence of the commercial airline industry, and contemporary flight. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 1991
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Four countries--Great Britain, Belgium, Italy and Luxembourg--were in on the financing of 1991's Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls. At first glance, Christopher Lee seems too old to play Conan Doyle's master detective, but the script allows for this by having the story takes place on the eve of Holmes' retirement. As Dr. Watson, Patrick McNee returns to the "comic relief" mode established in the 1940s by Nigel Bruce, albeit with less empty-headedness than was customary with Bruce. The plot concerns the safe passage of a valuable South African diamond, and the multitude of robberies, recoveries and major and minor intrigues the transpire before the denouement at the titular falls. To establish time and place, King Edward VI (Joss Ackland) and Teddy Roosevelt (Claude Akins) make brief appearances. When originally presented on European television, Incident at Victoria Falls was a four-hour miniseries, with Jenny Seagrove appearing in a sizeable role. For its American syndicated-TV bow in 1992, the film was somewhat clumsily chopped down to two hours, and Seagrove's part was eliminated (though her name still appears in the opening and closing credits). Incident at Victoria Falls is strongest in its elegant ambience and attention to detail; it is least successful in its ham-handed comic interludes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lee, Patrick Macnee, (more)
- 1991
In this mystery, an aging Sherlock Holmes allows King Edward to persuade him to bring a precious diamond back from South Africa. Along the way, Holmes meets Teddy Roosevelt and finds himself involved in intrigue and adventure. The story was originally a four-hour TV mini-series and was heavily edited for theatrical release. The story is also known as Sherlock Holmes and the Incident at Victoria Falls. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The sixth-season opener of Murder She Wrote takes place in Athens, where mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is reunited with suave but inherently untrustworthy British secret agent Michael Haggerty (Len Cariou). In order to help Haggerty rescue a kidnapped fellow spy, Jessica reluctantly agrees to pose as Haggerty's wife. Before long, our heroine finds herself up to her neck in peril, especially after the authorities find a dead body in her hotel room. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
The TARDIS lands on the jungle planet Deva Loka, around the same time as an expeditionary vessel from earth. Leaving a temporarily disabled Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) behind, the Doctor (Peter Davison), Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), and Tegan (Janet Fielding) decide to explore the planet -- and, eventually, to solve the disappearance of several earth astronauts. Written by Christopher Bailey, the first episode of the four-part "Kinda" originally aired on February 1, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Matthew Waterhouse, (more)
- 1982
In the second episode of the four-part story "Kinda," the TARDIS and an expeditionary earth vessel have both landed on the outwardly tranquil jungle planet of Deva Loka. While helping the Doctor (Peter Davison) explore the planet, Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding) falls under the evil spell of a malignant force known as the Mara. Written by Christopher Bailey, "Kinda, Episode 2" originally aired on February 2, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Matthew Waterhouse, (more)
- 1982
In the third episode of the four-part story "Kinda," the titular telepathic race tries to make contact with several visitors to the planet Deva Loka, including the Doctor (Peter Davison) and his companions. Alas, the Kindas' thoughts are poisoned by a malignant influence known as the Mara, which drives two earth astronauts to madness before going to work on the Doctor's friend Tegan (Janet Fielding). Written by Christopher Bailey, "Kinda, Episode 3" originally aired on February 8, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Matthew Waterhouse, (more)
- 1982
In the conclusion of the four-part story "Kinda," the Doctor (Peter Davison) is among the visitors to the planet Deva Loka who have fallen under the evil spell of a malignant telepathic force known as the Mara. His desperate efforts to free himself, his colleagues, and the native Kinda tribe are dramatically played out amidst a Welles-ian circle of mirrors. Written by Christopher Bailey, "Kinda, Episode 4" originally aired on February 9, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, (more)
- 1982
In this umpteenth remake of the George M. Cohan-Earl Derr Biggers play Seven Keys to Baldpate, Desi Arnaz Jr. plays Kenneth Magee, the young writer who bets that he can bat out a mystery play in one evening. Magee squirrels himself away in a forbidding old mansion where, unbeknownst to him, a bizarre family reunion is scheduled to commence. As the participants begin dropping like flies, Magee finds himself in the middle of a genuine mystery. At least, he thinks he does. At least, the audience thinks he thinks he does. Of historical importance is the fact that House of Long Shadows represents the only co-starring effort of those titans of terror Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and John Carradine. The highlight is the cozy tete-a-tete between Price and Cushing during the climactic party scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, (more)
- 1976
A socially deviant man and his friends find themselves to be sacrificial targets of religious cult members. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1974
The Next Scream You Hear stars graying Christopher George as a ruthless young executive. When George's wife is murdered, he is the prime suspect. The more he tries to prove his innocence, the more the evidence points to him. All this one is missing is a bloody glove and a white Bronco. Shot on videotape, The Next Scream You Hear premiered in 1974 on ABC's late-night anthology Wide World Mystery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Four short stories by master of macabre Robert Bloch are related by the inmates of a mental institution. In the first story, Richard Todd murders his wife and cuts her body into little pieces -- but that doesn't stop her from seeking revenge. In the second, Peter Cushing orders crooked tailor Barry Morse to weave a coat from a magic fabric in order to bring Cushing's son back from the dead (this one was previously dramatized on the TV series Thriller). The third story stars Charlotte Rampling as a schizophrenic whose "doppelganger" is manifested in the person of Britt Ekland. The final tale involves demented toymaker Herbert Lom and his army of killer robots. Robert Bloch himself adapted his original source material for the screen. Asylum was also known as House of Crazies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Cushing, Britt Ekland, (more)
- 1972
A man uses his own mental powers to control one of the largest fortunes known to man. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Hawaii Five-O's Jack Lord stars in this odd little thriller directed by Gunnar Hellstrom. Lord plays a Hungarian man named Lipa who meets the beautiful Mickey (Susan Strasberg) while wandering the highways of Arizona. Mickey runs a gas station in the desert with her mother (T.C. Jones) and two sisters and invites Lipa to stay with them. He does, not knowing that the entire family is stark-raving mad. The usual psychological games ensue, with Lipa being attacked by a rattlesnake, seduced by the psychotic sisters, and run over with a car before figuring out the predictable truth -- that "Mom" is really a man. Gorgeous photography by Vilmos Zsigmond and some amusingly sadistic set-pieces accent this enjoyably trashy thriller. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Lord, Susan Strasberg, (more)
- 1968
CIA agent Donovan (Gene Barry) travels to Britain to untangle a web of international spies. He falls for the estranged wife of local secret agent Langley (Tom Adams). Anne (Joan Collins) starts a romance with Donovan before her son is kidnapped by rival agents. While any other mom would worry herself sick, Anne spends her time getting her hair done and selecting a fabulous gown in which she appears in the following scenes. Donovan narrows the suspects down to a trio of agents, all who may have reason to turn double agent and place their country in political turmoil with counter espionage. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Barry, Joan Collins, (more)
- 1967
In this dated, satirical drama, a college professor 'drops-out,' 'turns-on' and becomes a hippie guru after two students who publish an underground newspaper are unjustly expelled. The new guru promotes the dropping of LSD to find true enlightenment. After he is kicked out of his pad, the psychedelic prof moves in with the two radical journalists who revere him. He then manipulates the woman journalist into sleeping with him. The young man finds out and is crushed. He then uses his newspaper to expose the professor. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Todd, James MacArthur, (more)
This big-budget, big-studio espionage film is set in the last years of World War II. George Peppard, Tom Courtenay and Jeremy Kemp parachute into Germany, with orders to destroy the Nazis' V-1 rocket base at Peenemunde. Given the order of billing, guess which special operative survives the longest. This being an MGM production, Peppard has time to commiserate with Sophia Loren, the wife of the Nazi collaborator whom Peppard is pretending to be. If you're wondering about the film's outcome, remember who won the war. Operation Crossbow failed badly in its first release; MGM, deciding that the title misled moviegoers into thinking that the picture was a "Robin Hood" derivation, cleared up matters by renaming the film The Great Spy Mission. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sophia Loren, George Peppard, (more)
- 1965
In the mid-1960s, Richard Todd starred in two British films based on Edgar Wallace's Sanders of the River. Coast of Skeletons was the sequel to Todd's earlier Death Drums Along the River. Playing insurance investigator Harry Sanders, Todd comes upon an insidious scheme to steal the valuables from the sunken ships insured by Sanders' firm. The mastermind behind the plan is one A. J. Magnus, played by the usually heroic Dale Robertson. Since we know from the get-go that Sanders will be triumphant, suspense is minimal in Coast of Skeletons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Heinz Drache, Marianne Koch, (more)
- 1965
Originally released in Great Britain as The Battle of the Villa Fiorita, this film is not a wartime epic but a cozy domestic drama. Maureen O'Hara plays an American woman who leaves British husband Richard Todd, taking their two children along. While vacationing on the Riviera, Maureen falls in love with Rosanno Brazzi, a widowed Italian concert pianist who also has children. None of the kids are keen on this continental romance, and do their best to break up the affair. One of the children is played by pre-teen Olivia Hussey, several years before her star turn in Zefferelli's Romeo and Juliet. Consistently lovely to look at, Affair at Villa Fiorita is not for those who prefer surprises in their film fare. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maureen O'Hara, Rossano Brazzi, (more)
- 1963
This melodramatic tale of a sexual assault on a married woman has a few implausible moments but is believably acted by Anne Heywood as Tracey, the victim, Richard Todd as her husband Lawrence, and Jack Hedley as the man from Scotland Yard sent to track down the violent attacker. Tracey is pregnant and happily married to Lawrence, an architect. She has few cares in the world until the day a maniac breaks into the house, rapes her, and ultimately causes her to miscarry. Tracey falls to pieces and is so affected by the encounter she finds men repulsive, including her husband. Her attitude does not soften with time, and sooner rather than later, her husband takes up with his secretary. But in the meantime, the Scotland Yard detective has still not been able to track down the psychotic rapist, and there is no guarantee that Tracey is safe. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anne Heywood, Richard Todd, (more)
- 1963
Death Drums Along the River was the come-on American title for this 1963 remake of 1935's Sanders of the River. Both films were loosely based on a very popular Edgar Wallace novel. Richard Todd assumes the leading role of Harry Sanders (originally R. G. Sanders), a British police investigator working in Africa. While counting the clues in a hospital murder case, Sanders is led to hidden diamond mine. The patronizing racial attitudes prevalent in the first Sanders of the River have been muted and altered out of respect for the ever-changing Africa of the 1960s. Sanders did well enough to inspire a 1964 sequel, Coast of Skeletons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
In this western-style film, set in South Africa, circa the late 1900s, a local police sergeant finds himself pursued by the "The Hellions"--a man and his four sons. Unfortunately for the sergeant, the townspeople will not help to save him and his wife. He ignores his wife's plea that he quit his job and leave. After some time, he finally forces a storekeeper to assist him. Soon the rest of the townsfolk begin lending their assistance. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Todd, Anne Aubrey, (more)
- 1962
Director Sidney J. Furie was betwixt and between his Canadian TV work and his theatrical-film prominence vis-a-vis Ipcress File (65) when he helmed the British social melodrama The Boys. The title characters are four youths, all implicated in the murder of a night watchman. Robert Morley plays the defense attorney who tries to convince the jury to render a charitable verdict. His basic argument is that the government expects a death sentence in cases involving robbery, but is more lenient towards crimes of passion. Prosecuting attorney Richard Todd is unmoved; his job is to prove that the boys aren't the innocent victims of society they're made out to be. The Boys benefits from Furie's dextrous use of flashbacks during the testimony scenes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Todd, Robert Morley, (more)
