Robert Tronson Movies
- 1993
A production of Britain's Meridian Television, the seven-part miniseries Under the Hammer managed to extract humor and thrills from the auctioning business. Richard Wilson of One Foot in the Grave fame starred as Ben Glazier, an employee of London's art-auction house Klinsky. In each hour-long installment, Ben and his intrepid female assistant Maggie Perowne (Jan Francis) went to great and sometimes ridiculous lengths to authenticate a specific auctioned item. Under the Hammer originally aired in 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Adapted for television by T.R. Bowen (of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes fame), Just Desserts was based on a 1979 novel by Tim Heald. Billed as a "comedy thriller," the program starred David Horovitch as Heald's famous literary creation, diligent Board of Trade investigator Simon Bognor. On this occasion, Bognor was put on the trail of a cartel of dishonest restaurateurs, whose eating establishments were both disreputable and unhygienic. Designed as a sequel to the twice-weekly series Bognor (1981), the three half-hour installments of Just Desserts were seen courtesy of Thames Television in 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Not long after making his film debut in 1973's National Health, Bob Hoskins popped up in the British made-for-TV quickie Cry Terror. Top billing went to the more firmly-established Susan Hampshire, playing one of two young women held hostage by criminal Hoskins and his cohort. Within its budgetary limits, the film manages to build up a satisfactory amount of suspense. Cry Terror was an American-British co-production, designed for small-screen release in both countries. The film made its US premiere on very late-night television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Ian Carmichael essayed the title role in Lord Peter Wimsey, an on-and-off British TV series based on the seriocomic mystery novels by Dorothy L. Sayers. The quintessential upper-class twit (albeit a likeable one), Lord Peter was also a dilettante detective, and in each multi-part adventure, he managed to find himself up to his well-tailored collar in murder and mystery. Acting as Lord Peter's Watson was his valet Bunter (Glyn Houston), a man whose (apparently) checkered past served him well when analyzing the criminal mind. Telecast by BBC1 from 1972 to 1975, the series' 21 50-minute episodes were adapted from five of Sayers' novels: Clouds of Witness, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, Murder Must Advertise, The Nine Tailors, and Five Red Herrings. In America, the individual Lord Peter Wimsey story arcs were seen as part of PBS' Masterpiece Theatre anthology beginning in 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
In this drama, based on an Edgar Wallace story, a thief is doing time in prison after a major heist goes awry. Meanwhile, the ringleader, wanting to know where the thief stashed the loot, conspires to spring him. Unfortunately, the thief refuses to be sprung until the mastermind abducts his girl. He then agrees, but then both are captured en route to the loot. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Bernard Lee plays an irresponsible British warrant officer who loses his post in Warsaw. Lee is reassigned to a navy underwater weapons establishment in Portland. Humiliated, he falls for the entreaties of enemy spy William Sylvester, who recruits him to steal secret papers. Lee convinces a female coworker (Margaret Tyzack) that Sylvester is a NATO agent; thus, the woman is unwittingly sucked into the spy ring. The British turncoat outsmarts himself when he begins spending more money than he makes, arousing the suspicions of the government. Ring of Spies was based on the real-life Portland espionage scandal which dominated British headlines throughout the very early 1960s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bernard Lee, William Sylvester, (more)
- 1963
In this suspenseful espionage film a British agent and a man from NATO attempt to bust a communist spy ring. Following the discovery of a roll of top secret microfilm following a plane crash, the two finds themselves embroiled in a complex web of treachery and double agents. Fortunately, they survive all and bring the rogue spies to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1963
With a title like Farewell Performance, it's a safe wager that this British film has a showbiz theme. And that it does: Alfred Burke plays a wild animal trainer, married to beautiful but faithless Delphi Lawrence. When her pop-star lover is murdered, Delphi tries to solve the mystery herself. Shall we tell her? Featured in Farewell Performance are such real-life variety acts as The Tornadoes and Tommy Devel And Partner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Based on a tale by Edgar Wallace, this taut crime drama centers on the exploits of an heiress who finds herself the intended victim in an upcoming robbery. Fortunately, Scotland Yard's mysterious Agent Number Six is around to protect her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1961
In this Edgar Wallace mystery, a burglar, arrested for possessing counterfeit money, is forced by the police to pose as a decoy to attract a ruthless killer who has murdered a photographer and is holding a secretary hostage. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Steed swings into action when the janitor (Geroge Pravda) at a medical research lab steals a vial of radiactive material. The search becomes even more intense when Keel discovers that the stolen vial will soon kill the janitor and everyone else with whom he comes in contact. Meanwhile, the thief and his girlfriend arrange to leave for Europe, but the contact man making the arrangements has murder on his mind. Originally telecast live on February 25, 1961, "The Radioactive Man" was written by Fred Edge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
In this Edgar Wallace mystery, the trouble begins when a Rhodesian jewel thief kills a policeman and simply disappears. Now it is up to an intrepid detective, a former cop, to solve the crime. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1961
An insurance investigator looks into the mystery surrounding the "accidental" death of a jockey. He finds that the death was actually caused by a gambling ring and is able to save the life of another jockey who has already had a couple of "accidents." ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- 1954
Two of Britain's best and most popular farceurs headed the cast of the children's sitcom Happy Holidays. Hattie Jacques and John Le Mesurier were seen as the Mulberrys, a middle-aged couple trapped in the world's silliest holiday camp. Also on hand was Clive Dunn as the aptly named Mr. Grimble. Broadcast every other Saturday afternoon by the BBC, the six episodes of Happy Holidays were aired lived from July 10 through September 18, 1954. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
