Michael Hayes Movies

A rousing Disney dog-sled adventure based on a real life event -- a 522-mile dog-sled race between Winnipeg, Canada and St. Paul, Minnesota that occurred in 1917. When his father is accidentally killed, South Dakota farmboy Will Stoneman (Mackenzie Astin) decides to enter the dog-sled race in order to save his family from financial ruin. His mother (Penelope Windust) wants Will to use part of the prospective $10,000 race winnings for college, but Will just wants to save the farm. With the help of Indian handyman Ned Dodd (August Schellenberg), Will begins to train for the race. But the rich mogul underwriting the race, J.P. Harper (David Ogden Stiers), doesn't want Will to enter, thinking the competition too arduous and too dangerous for such a young boy. To Will's aid comes yellow journalist Harry Kingsley (Kevin Spacey), who convinces Harper to permit Will to enter the race. But Harry also has his own agenda -- he sees a great story in Will and thinks it will sell newspapers and advance his journalistic career. With his father's best dog Gus at the head of his dog team, Will is ready and determined to win the race. But Will discovers that winning the race is only half his battle. Dealing with the petty and malevolent human beings involved in the race -- in particular, the egotistical Scandinavian champion Borg Guillarson (George Gerdes) and the wealthy gambler Angus McTeague (Brian Cox) -- prove to be as much of a challenge to his mettle than any natural obstacles Will might encounter. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the six-part story "The Armageddon Factor," the Doctor (Tom Baker) has discovered that Princess Astra (Lalla Ward) of the planet Atrios is, in fact, the much sought-after sixth element of the Key to Time. Armed with this knowledge, the Doctor and Romana (Mary Tamm) are at last able to reassemble the Key, thereby restoring the balance between universal Good and Evil. The one remaining fly in the ointment is the dreaded Black Guardian, who has a vested interest in upsetting that aforementioned balance. Capped by a surprising but logical ending (logical by the Doctor's standards, at any rate), "The Armageddon Factor" was written by Bob Baker and David Martin, and originally aired on February 24, 1979, as the final episode of Doctor Who's 16th season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "The Armageddon Factor," the Doctor (Tom Baker) is still on the planet Atrios, still determined to locate the sixth and final segment of the Key to Time. In this pursuit, he has offered his aid to Princess Astra (Lalla Ward) in Atrios' war against its twin planet Zeos. Gumming up the works is a secret henchman of the Black Guardian, who has vowed that the Key to Time will never be put together again. The henchman is hiding on a mysterious, hidden Third Planet between Atrios and Zeos -- and it is up to the Doctor to locate that planet. Written by Bob Baker and David Martin, "The Armageddon Factor, Episode 4" originally aired on February 10, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story "The Armageddon Factor," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) have materialized on the planet Atrios, in search of the sixth and final missing segment of the Key to Time. Unfortunately, Atrios is locked in deadly combat with its twin planet Zeos -- and the Doctor and Romana are caught in the middle of the fray, along with the fiercely proud and determined Princess Astra (Lalla Ward). Originally telecast on January 27, 1979, as the record-breaking 500th episode of Doctor Who, "The Armageddon Factor, Episode 2" was written by Bob Baker and David Martin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A star-studded supporting cast enhances the enjoyment of the four-episode Doctor Who adventure "City of Death." On holiday in modern-day Paris, the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Lalla Ward) experience what turns out to be a "crack in time." Before long, they have joined forces with a private eye named Duggan (Tom Chadbon) in thwarting the villain of the piece: Count Scarlioni (Julian Glover), who plans to steal the Mona Lisa -- but for reasons that go far beyond financial gain. First telecast September 29, 1979, "City of Death, Episode 1" was written by Douglas Adams and Graham Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "City of Death," the Doctor (Tom Baker) discovers that Count Scarlioni (Julian Glover) has been stealing and selling valuable works of art in order to raise funds for his time-travel experiments. But there is a more pressing matter at hand: Romana (Lalla Ward) and detective Duggan (Tom Chadbon) are in immediate danger of losing their lives at the Count's hands. Catherine Schell co-stars as Countess Scarlioni. First telecast October 13, 1979, "City of Death, Episode 3" was written by Douglas Adams and Graham Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "The Androids of Tara," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) arrive on the medieval planet Tara, in search of the fourth segment of the Key to Time. No sooner has Romana located the segment than she is seized by the minions of the wicked Count Grendel of Gracht (Peter Jeffrey). The reason? Romana happens to be a dead ringer for Princess Strella (also played by Mary Tamm), the reluctant bride-to-be of Prince Reynart (Neville Jason). Written by David Fisher, "The Androids of Tara, Episode 2" first aired on December 2, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Androids of Tara," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) are still mired in a medieval power struggle on the arborial planet Tara. Hoping to arrange a wedding between Prince Reynart (Neville Jason) and Princess Strella, then kill Reynart and wed the Princess himself in order to ascend to the royal throne, Count Grendel of Gracht (Peter Jeffrey) has forced Romana to pose as Strella, her exact double (both roles are played by Mary Tamm). As intrigue piles upon intrigue, the Doctor wonders if he will ever be able to retrieve the fourth segment of the Key to Time, thereby restoring the balance between Good and Evil throughout the universe. Written by David Fisher, "The Androids of Tara, Episode 2" first aired on December 16, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Promise is a sentimental romantic triangle with a World War II. Russian soldiers John Castle and Ian McKellen fend off the Nazis during the siege of Leningrad. Somehow, they find time to give aid and shelter to homeless peasant Susan Macready. Loving both men equally, Macready must ultimately choose between them. Director Michael Hayes adapted the screenplay of The Promise from a play by Aleksei Arbuzov. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally staged in 1963, War of the Roses was one of the most controversial and ambitious projects ever undertaken by Britain's Royal Shakespeare Company. Flying in the face of adverse criticism from the more conservative theatrical scholars, John Burton and Peter Hall condensed the Bard's Henry VI trilogy and Richard III into a mere three plays, cutting nearly half the text and adding newly-minted Shakespearean iambic pentameter to cover the gaps. Prominent in the cast were such notables as Peggy Ashcroft, David Warner, and Ian Holm. When War of the Roses was presented as an 11-part TV series by the BBC beginning April 8, 1965, Warner repeated his celebrated performance as Henry VI, while Paul Martin replaced Ian Holm as the scheming Richard III. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide