Tom Chadbon Movies
Director Paul Seed and screenwriter Rosie Thomas adapt author William Humble's novel about an irreversible tragedy, and the havoc that it wrecks on the life of a divorced mother. Jess Arrowsmith (Siobahn Redmond) is a divorced mother of two whose grown children Beth and Danny were about to strike out on their own when Danny was killed in a drunk driving accident. Inconsolable, the grieving mother enters into an intense love affair with Danny's best friend Rob (Paul Bettany) - who was actually at the wheel of the car when the accident occurred. Her family torn apart by the affair, Jess escapes to Italy with her young lover only to find that you can't escape the secrets of the past no matter how far you run. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Siobhan Redmond, Paul Bettany, (more)
- 1989
A seemingly harmless man comes to a small town with a deadly mission in mind in this British made-for-television movie. Jack Shepherd stars as Peplow, a reserved man who meets up with a disenchanted, crippled veteran (Peter Egan) on the day of their town's annual fair. Unbeknownst to the curmudgeon vet, Peplow has come to town for more than just the fair. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1986
In the second episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord," the Doctor (Colin Baker) faces a death sentence unless he can prove that his breaking of the Laws of Time was for a good purpose. As evidence for the prosecution, the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) shows the Doctor and his travelling companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant), acting in a highly suspicious manner on the earthlike planet Ravolox. Subtitled "The Mysterious Planet," this chapter of "The Trial of a Time Lord" was written by Robert Holmes and originally aired on September 13, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, (more)
- 1986
In the third episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of the Time Lord," the Doctor (Colin Baker), on trial for his life, is confronted with videotaped evidence of his "disobedient" behavior on the planet Ravolox. It is up to the Doctor and his companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant), that their mission to Ravolox was intended to rescue the inhabitants from malevolent con artist Glitz (Tony Selby). Written by Robert Holmes and originally telecast on September 20, 1986, Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 3 was technically the third chapter of a story arc subtitled "The Mysterious Planet." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, (more)
- 1986
Returning to television after an overlong hiatus (save for a brief "revival" in the BBC radio serial "Slipback"), Doctor Who launched its 23rd season on September 6, 1986. In an unusual move, the producers decided to devote the entire season to a single continuity, with the overall title "The Trial of a Time Lord." The story was subdivided into four chapters, each given its own subtitle (those these subtitles did not appear onscreen), each running between two to four episodes. In "The Mysterious Planet, Episode 1," the Doctor (Colin Baker) is put on trial for his life for breaking the Laws of Time. The Valeyard (Michael Jayston), or chief prosecutor, endeavors to seal the Doctor's doom with selected videotaped examples of the Doctor's "treachery." Doctor Who: The Mysterious Planet, Episode 1 was written by Robert Holmes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, (more)
- 1986
In the fourth episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of the Time Lord," the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) uses videotaped evidence in hopes of proving that the Doctor (Colin Baker) was guilty of breaking the Laws of Time on the planet Ravolox. But the Doctor contends that he and his companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant), were actually responsible for saving Ravolox from the villainous machinations of intergalactic con artist Glitz (Tony Selby). Written by Robert Holmes and originally telecast on September 27, 1986, Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 4 was technically the concluding chapter of a four-part story arc subtitled "The Mysterious Planet." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, (more)
- 1982
Coming Out of the Ice stars John Savage as the real-life Victor Herman, an American athlete born to Ukrainian immigrants. In 1931, when Herman was sixteen, he and his family moved to the Soviet Union when his father was transferred there for his job with Ford Motor Company. Four years later, Victor won the world parachute jump competition, but refused to accept an award bestowed by Josef Stalin or to renounce his American citizenship. Presumably as a result, Herman was sentenced to hard labor and then exile in Siberia; he would not be cleared of "counterrevolutionary" charges until 1955. He eventually returned to the United States nearly 45 years after he was first imprisoned. Filmed in Finland, Coming Out the Ice was first telecast on May 23, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
A revolution against the Federation takes place on the planet Albion. Blake (Gareth Thomas) and his crew arrive on the planet in hopes of soliciting the aid of Space Major Provine (Paul Shelley), who supposedly knows the location of the Federation's Central Control. First, however, a powerful bomb must be defused by Avon (Paul Darrow) -- a task complicated by the non-cooperation of Del Grant (Tom Chadbon), the embittered brother of Avon's former lover. "Countdown" was initially telecast on March 6, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gareth Thomas, Sally Knyvette, (more)
- 1979
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
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, (more)
- 1979
In the second episode of the four-part story "City of Death," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Lalla Ward) team with private eye Duggan (Tom Chadbon) to find out why Count Scarlioni (Julian Glover), who has everything a man could want in life, is so determined to steal DaVinci's Mona Lisa from the Louvre. Besides, the Count already possesses six other Mona Lisas -- all of them originals. Catherine Schell co-stars as Countess Scarlioni. First telecast October 6, 1979, "City of Death, Episode 2" was written by Douglas Adams and Graham Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, (more)
- 1979
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
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, (more)
- 1979
In the conclusion of the four-part story "City of Death," Count Scarlioni (Julian Glover) -- aka the notorious art thief Scaroth -- has vanished into the past, with the Doctor (Tom Baker), Romana (Lalla Ward), and detective Duggan (Tom Chadbon) in hot pursuit. Unless the Doctor can stop Scaroth, the entire Time Continuum will be cataclysmically disrupted. Catherine Schell appears as Countess Scarlioni, while comic actors John Cleese and Eleanor Bron make uncredited cameo appearances as a pair of looney art dealers. First telecast October 20, 1979, "City of Death, Episode 4" was written by Douglas Adams and Graham Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, (more)
- 1972
In this little horror film, a wealthy sportsman (Calvin Lockhart) invites a house full of guests to a big-game hunt that he's devised. He's sure that one of the guests is a werewolf, and he intends to stalk it, find it, and kill it. As a film viewer, you are alerted at the outset that a mystery awaits and that clues will be unveiled that can point to the identity of the werewolf. In fact, near the conclusion, the film has inserted a 30-second interlude during which you must decide, once and for all, who the hunted beast is. This film is based upon a story by James Blish titled There Shall Be No Darkness. ~ All Movie Guide
This darkly haunting slightly fictionalized film is a retelling of the life and death of Ruth Ellis (Miranda Richardson), the last woman to be executed in England. Ellis, a divorcee and ex-prostitute works as a "hostess" in a tacky nightclub. There she meets and begins an obsessive love affair with upper-class David Blakely (Rupert Everett), who eventually discards her. Still obsessed and jealous because of David's upcoming marriage to a woman of his own class, Ellis murders him. Miranda Richardson, in a stark, knock-out performance is outstanding as the cold, calculating Ellis, unscrupulous in her use of everyone to get what she wants. Ian Holm, in an often-overlooked performance, is superb as the man who loves Ellis, supporting her and her teenage son, without ever gaining her love. He is her mainstay and the surrogate father to her teenage son, who Ellis has little time for. In his own, quiet way he is as obsessed as Ellis. The screenplay, adapted by Shelagh Delaney remains faithful to the true story, taking only minor dramatic license. Dance With a Stranger is an uncompromising look at obsessive love and its consequences on others. The story is made even more poignant because of the sad life and eventual suicide of Ellis' real son. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Miranda Richardson, Rupert Everett, (more)
Actor Daniel Craig assumes the role formerly occupied by such screen greats as Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Timothy Dalton to set out on the character's very first 007 mission. James Bond has earned his "00" status by masterfully executing a pair of death-defying professional assassinations. Now assigned the task of traveling to Madagascar to spy on notorious terrorist Mollaka (Sebastien Foucan) for his maiden voyage as a 007 agent, Bond boldly goes against MI6 policy to launch an independent investigation that finds him traversing the Bahamas in search of Mollaka's notoriously elusive terror cell. Subsequently led into the company of the mysterious Dimitrios (Simon Abkarian) and his exotic girlfriend, Solange (Caterina Murino), Bond soon realizes that he is closer than ever to locating well-guarded terrorist financier Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), the man who has personally bankrolled some of the most prevalent terrorist organizations on the planet. When Bond learns that Le Chiffre is planning to partake in an upcoming high-stakes poker game to be played at Montenegro's Le Casino Royale and use the winnings to establish his financial grip on the globe, M (Judi Dench) assigns beguiling agent Vesper (Eva Green) the task of watching over the fledgling agent as he plays against Le Chiffre in a covert attempt to destroy the nefarious gambler's well-established monetary stronghold in the underworld once and for all. Bond will need more than his legendary gambling skills in order to win this dangerous game, though, and after allying himself with local MI6 field agent Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) and CIA operative Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), the endlessly suave super-spy puts on his poker face for a high-stakes game of cards in which the stakes are not measured in dollars, but human lives. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Craig, Eva Green, (more)
In Roman Polanski's adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Nastassja Kinski plays Tess, a poor British peasant girl sent to live with her distant and wealthy relatives, the D'Urbervilles. Though Tess' father had hoped that the girl would be permitted a portion of the D'Urberville riches, he is in for a major disappointment: Tess' new housemates are not D'Urbervilles at all, but a social-climbing family that has bought the name. Tess won three Oscars, including a "Best Cinematography" statuette for the late Geoffrey Unsworth and his successor Ghislain Cloquet. The film also served to catapult Nastassja Kinski to stardom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nastassja Kinski, Leigh Lawson, (more)
Following his successful foray into swashbuckler comedy with The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers, director Richard Lester made what has proved to be one of the few quality films from the disaster craze that dominated filmmaking in the mid-'70s. Juggernaut is the pseudonym of a madman (Freddie Jones) who plants several steel drums aboard a luxury liner and calls the company's officials once the boat has put out to sea, demanding a large sum of money in exchange for instructions on how to defuse bombs inside the drums. Anthony Hopkins plays one of the company officials whose wife and children are aboard the ship, Omar Sharif is the ship's captain, Shirley Knight is a passenger who is also his mistress, and Richard Harris and David Hemmings are two members of the bomb disposal team, which is helicoptered onto the ship to defuse the explosives. As in many of Lester's best works, humor pops up in unexpected places; particularly memorable are Harris as the weary but wisecracking top dog among the explosives experts and Lester regular Roy Kinnear as a bumbling entertainment director desperately trying to distract the apprehensive passengers. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Harris, Omar Sharif, (more)
