David Wickes Movies
- 1993
Filmed in Eastern Europe, this direct-to-cable adaptation of Mary Shelley's iconographic monster tale features Patrick Bergin as Victor Frankenstein, a medical genius obsessed with the secret of creating life, who uses a bizarre cloning apparatus to grow a complete human being (Randy Quaid) from his own cellular material. Though sensitive and intelligent, the rebellious humanoid is driven by a murderous rage against his creator, compelling him to destroy everything that he holds dear. Aside from the introduction of a psychic link between Victor and his monstrous genetic offspring -- a concept never satisfyingly explored -- this adaptation brings nothing particularly fresh or revolutionary to Shelley's novel. However, production values are admirably high and performances are superb throughout, particularly that of John Mills as the blind forest hermit who befriends the monster. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In assembling the 1990 TV-movie version of Jekyll and Hyde, writer/director David Wickes recycled many of the elements of his 1988 adaptation of Jack the Ripper--including props, costumes, sets, and star Michael Caine. Caine goes through the standard motions as kindly Henry Jekyll, who dabbles where Men Must Not and unleashes his beastly alter ego Mr. Hyde. Anything new here? Well, the character of Dr. Lanyon, Jekyll's best friend in the original Robert Louis Stevenson story, has been rewritten as his worst enemy. Joss Ackland plays the vitriolic Lanyon, while Cheryl Ladd shows up as a newly fabricated love interest. Jekyll and Hyde has some neat makeup transformations, but otherwise is just the same old cloak 'n' fang jazz seen in so many earlier incarnations of the venerable Stevenson yarn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Caine, Cheryl Ladd, (more)
- 1988
TheTV movie Jack the Ripper endeavors to shed new light on one of the most notorious unsolved cases in history. The Ripper, of course, was the London serial killer who, in 1888, killed and disemboweled five prostitutes. Michael Caine stars not as the Ripper but as a Scotland-Yard inspector who is assigned to the case. The trail of evidence leads Caine to some astonishing suspects--including at least one member of the Royal Family. As the public clamors for an arrest in the case of the unsolved evisceration murders of five East End prostitutes, Abberline narrows down his list of suspects: the four most likely to have committed the murders, according to the inspector, are American-actor Richard Mansfield (Armand Assante), Queen Victoria's personal psychic (Ken Bones), a certain Dr. Acland (Richard Morant) and socialist-gadfly Lusk (Michael Gothard). The British government is also pressuring Abberline to produce the killer. Unfortunately, if Abberline were to publicly release all the clues at his disposal, the revelation would probably rock the Empire to its foundations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Caine
Among the first original anthology series to be produced for cable television, The Hitchhiker was a collection of tales of the supernatural and bizarre. The title character, played during the first season by Nicholas Campbell and thereafter by Page Fletcher, was an unnamed drifter who wandered ubiquitously from story to story, sometimes briefly commiserated with the main characters, sometimes acting as a disinterested observer, but always ready with a few pithy and occasional chilling comments of the events which had transpired. Inasmuch as the series carried on pay cable and not "mainstream" commercial TV, the stories contained an abundance of nudity, profanity, and violence. Even so, in most of the half-hour playlets, Evil was severely punished (usually in an ironic "postman always rings twice" fashion) and Virtue more or less triumphed. After 39 episodes on HBO, the series moved to a basic-cable channel, USA, for 46 additional installments. While censorship was somewhat more stringent on USA, The Hitchhiker still managed to serve up rawer and meatier fare than was customary on over-the-air TV of the period. The series was first-run on HBO from November 23, 1983, to May 12, 1987, and on USA from January 4, 1989, to February 22, 1991. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1981
- PG
Coming in around the middle of the pack, this so-so drama about motorcycle racing features David Essex, the British pop star, as Nick Freeman. Nick's brother has died before he is able to test and race the motorcycle he developed, and now Nick has inherited that responsibility. In spite of a series of tough setbacks, including the loss of his girlfriend, Nick goes into the big race he has been waiting for with all his energy and concentration bent on winning. An underhanded American racer (Beau Bridges) is among the competition, so there may be trouble before the finish line is crossed. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Essex, Beau Bridges, (more)
- 1977
One of the most violent series on mainstream British television, the weekly, 50-minute cop drama Target made its BBC1 debut on September 9, 1977. Patrick Mower headed the cast as the two-fisted, impeccably dressed Detective Superintendent Hackett, with frequent movie villain Philip Madoc as his immediate superior, Det. Chief Supt. Tate. The program proved to be so bloodthirsty that, bowing to public pressure, the BBC yanked it off the air after only 18 episodes. It has been speculated that Target has not been rerun since 1978 because of the dated quality of its scripts rather than its body-and-bullet count. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In this feature-film version of the popular British television cop show, Regan (John Thaw) and Carter (Dennis Waterman) are two British Scotland Yard detectives who find themselves involved with the exchange of oil resources on the political and economic fate of the world. Ian Bannen plays Baker, an alcoholic foreign minister involved in a scheme to manipulate a worldwide oil crisis to his benefit. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Thaw, Dennis Waterman, (more)
- 1977
In this feature-film version of the popular British television cop show, Regan (John Thaw) and Carter (Dennis Waterman) are two British Scotland Yard detectives who find themselves involved with the exchange of oil resources on the political and economic fate of the world. Ian Bannen plays Baker, an alcoholic foreign minister involved in a scheme to manipulate a worldwide oil crisis to his benefit. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- 1972
A top-secret government agency called the Web was the catalyst for the action in this weekly, hour-long British TV series. The individual episodes concentrated on the thrilling undercover activities of the Web's three top agents: Lottie Dean (Patricia Cutts), Wallis Ackroyd (Veronica Carlson), and Clive Hawksworth (Anthony Ainley). Roger Lloyd-Pack played the agents' boss, while the guest-star roster included the likes of Ferdy Mayne and Andre Morell. The 13 episodes of Spyder's Web were broadcast by ATV from February 22 to April 14, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Often compared to the popular British crime series The Sweeney (both projects were produced by Euston Films), Thames Television's Special Branch began its weekly, 60-minute run on September 17, 1969. In its earliest episodes, the series focused upon an elite group of tough, unsentimental London cops, presided over by Superintendent Eden (Wesley Pithey), Det. Supt. Inman (Fulton Mackay), and Det. Insp. Jordan (Derren Nesbitt). After ending its second season on November 4, 1970, Special Branch went on a three-year hiatus. When it returned on April 4, 1973, virtually the entire cast had been replaced: Now the activities of the Special Branch were overseen by Commanders Nichols (Richard Butler) and Fletcher (Frederick Jaeger), and Detective Chief Inspectors Craven (George Sewell), and Haggerty (Patrick Mower). The 53rd and final episode of Special Branch aired on May 9, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
