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
- Add Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls to QueueAdd Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls to top of Queue
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
- 1990
- PG13
This drama telling the exploits of seriously ill teens who are spending the summer at a camp for cancer victims makes an effort to bring a light touch to this otherwise gloomy subject. In the story, Ryan (Zachary Ansley), who has a brain tumor, is pretty certain he'll die before long. Before he does, he wants to have sex with a woman. Robert (Nicholas Shields), who has leukemia, isn't afraid to perform any stunt or get into any kind of adventure. Holly (Stacie Mistysyn) has lost a leg due to bone cancer, but is interested in helping Ryan fulfill his wish. One of the highlights of the movie is a theatrical in which the campers lampoon their doctors, parents, and one another. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zachary Ansley, Stacie Mistysyn, (more)
- 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
- 1986
- R
Prolific actor-stuntman Conrad Palmisano directed this average action-thriller about the owner of an inner-city gym. Earl (Paul Coufos) happens to also be a skilled fighter, and when he is pressured by real-estate developers to close the gym, he fights in order to save it. Former Saturday Night Live regular Tony Rosato co-stars with Irene Cara, who sings a cover version of "She Works Hard for the Money," as well as portraying Earl's love interest, Simone. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Coufos, Irene Cara, (more)
- 1985
- PG
Dyan Cannon stars in this 4-hour TV drama as Jenny Baines, an American woman of the pre-WW II era. Anxious to learn the fate of her son, a pilot who was shot down over Germany, Jenny travels to Berlin. Here she is reunited with her husband Hartmut Becker, who is now a high-ranking Nazi officer. With the help of allied prisoners, Jenny is smuggled into the POW camp where her son is presumably being held. The part of Jenny's son is played by Hugh Grant, meaning that Jenny's War is probably due for a revival. The 2-part drama was originally syndicated the week of October 26, 1985, as part of the Operation Prime Time series. ~ 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)
Robert Mitchum reprises his role as Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe from Farewell, My Lovely, in this misconceived remake of Howard Hawks's classic 1946 film -- transferring the setting from 1940s California to 1970s London. Marlowe is hired by a rich and dying General Sternwood (James Stewart) to find out who is blackmailing him. Marlowe then meets Sterwood's daughters -- the crazy and degenerate Camilla (Candy Clark) and the more even-tempered Charlotte (Sarah Miles). Opening up a can of worms, Marlowe unveils a collection of unsavory characters -- Eddie Mars (Oliver Reed), an inveterate gambler having an affair with Charlotte; Joe Brody (Edward Fox), Camilla's ex-lover; and Agnes (Joan Collins), a sexy bookstore clerk. The plot becomes even more chaotic when it is found that Camilla has been posing in the nude for pornographer Arthur Geiger (John Justin). When Geiger turns up dead, Camilla becomes implicated in Geiger's murder. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Mitchum, Sarah Miles, (more)
- 1977
- PG
A dashing secret agent takes on a murderous villain in this parody of spy movies. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicky Henson, Richard Todd, (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
- 1970
- R
The classic story of evil by Oscar Wilde is a plodding, campy, trashy production that gives the viewer moments of unintentional laughter. Dorian Gray (Helmut Berger) is the vain young Englishman who sells his soul to the devil to remain eternally youthful in appearance. His portrait is being painted by Basil (Richard Todd), much to the delight of his first true love Sybil (Marie Liljedahl). Lord Henry Wolton (Herbert Lom )is Dorian's partner in collaborating with evil. Gray remains the same but the picture reflects his image to show the ravages of old age and time. The drama, mystery and psychology of the original book is absent from this poorly made remake done 25 years earlier. Herbert Lom goves the only noteworthy performance of the film. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helmut Berger, Richard Todd, (more)
- 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)
