Jon Manchip White Movies
- 1967
For reasons unknown, few characters in British TV series ever seem to benefit from the experiences of others. In most televised stories of strange, isolated villages, the protagonists were invariably bombarded by supernatural and potentially fatal occurrences. Despite this track record, the hero and heroine of the five-part Witch Hunt insisted upon relocating to one of those selfsame isolated villages -- with the usual spooky results. The five-episode Witch Hunt was originally beamed out to the British Isles from April 29 to May 27, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Kavanagh, Anna Palkl, (more)
- 1966
A witch doctor is blamed for a series of murders in this thriller. The detective investigating the deaths discovers that the voodoo man is actually a servant who does his devilish work in a deep, dark basement. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1965
A scientist trying to better mankind nearly destroys the world as we know it in this sci-fi thriller. Dr. Stephen Sorensen (Dana Andrews) is doing research in geo-thermal energy; he's convinced that if men can find a way to drill through the earth's outer crust into the molten magma near the center, the heat can be harnessed and used to warm dwellings around the world. His assistant, Ted Rampion (Kieron Moore), is skeptical about this idea and believes that there could be dire consequences, but Sorensen boldly moves ahead with his plan, prodded by his secret knowledge that he suffers from a terminal illness and might not live long enough to undergo a longer testing period. However, Rampion's fears soon prove well founded when Sorensen's drilling causes a large crack in the earth which begins to rapidly expand, threatening to split the world in two with disastrous consequences. Crack in the World was praised on initial release for its intelligent approach and solid special effects work. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dana Andrews, Janette Scott, (more)
- 1963
This routine wartime drama is set at sea and involves a British convoy trying to elude a group of German U-Boats. After one of the U-Boats is singled out and captured, the British admiral in charge of the current operation hits upon an ingenious but almost suicidal way of defeating the Nazi boats. He orders Lt. Commander Tarlton (Edward Judd) and a group of men to get in the captured U-Boat and then join the other U-Boats as though they had simply wandered off course for awhile. If done quickly and efficiently, Tarlton should be able to radio back the position of the enemy for a fast British offensive. Not an easy task in itself, and made much worse considering that the RAF and other British ships are going to consider the decoy U-Boat to be the enemy. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Judd, Laurence Payne, (more)
- 1962
The title of this Avengers episode refers to a new liquid rocket fuel. Assigned to rendezvous with the man delivering the fuel to the Government, Steed and Cathy discover that the man has been murdered. They spend the rest of the episode trying to wrest the fuel from the hands of enemy agents, cornering their quarry in a bakery where Cathy deploys a most unusual concealed weapon. Written by Jon Manchip White, "Propellent 23" was originally telecast in England on October 6, 1962; its first American appearance didn't take place until January 28, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
For some reason, this Hammer Studios war melodrama was singled out for constant ridicule by the Monty Python troupe. The story is set at a brutal Japanese POW camp, where sadism is a way of life (the first scene is of a hapless prisoner being forced to dig his own grave). The evil commandant (played by non-Japanese Ronald Radd) has sworn to wipe out all the inmates if Japan loses the war. The English prisoners know that this has already happened, thus they're forced to keep the news secret from their captors-at least until they can stage a daring escape. The portrayal of the Japanese race in Camp on Blood Island is hardly conducive to the cause of political correctness. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carl Möhner, Andre Morell, (more)
- 1955
Less than a month after the release of 20th Century-Fox's The Racers, Lippert Productions picked up the American distribution rights for the British A Race for Life. Richard Conte stars as Peter Wells, a onetime champion race-car driver whose career was interrupted by the war. Linking up with an Italian racing team, Wells hope to stage a comeback, while his wife Pat (Mari Aldon) wishes that he'd give up his dangerous profession. Pat finally walks out on her husband, but has a change of heart when he enters the prestigious Grand Prix. Much of A Race for Life is comprised of thrilling genuine race-car footage, culled from various English and European newsreels and documentaries. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Conte, Mari Aldon, (more)
