Jonathan Newth Movies

John Hurt plays the British jockey Bob Champion in this true story of how Champion overcame cancer and the rigors of chemotherapy for an impressive personal and professional comeback. Just as Champion is in the middle of a vacation in Kentucky, he finds out he has cancer, and, like others before him, submits to the full, painful treatments of multiple injections and radiation, suffering as much or more from the cure as from the illness (these treatments are graphic). Gaunt and nauseous, Champion also endures realistic meetings with his doctors that hold forth no guarantee of a cure. His eventual remission leads to yet another grueling physical schedule to get him back into shape for the Grand National Steeplechase -- a 30-fence, well-publicized race that offers difficult hurdles for both the horses and their jockeys. If the 115-minutes running time of this film were cut in places, it would create a better, trim and slim, fast-paced telling of an even more focused tale. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Spider's Web is adapted from a lesser-known work by Agatha Christie. The murder victim this time is an erstwhile blackmailer. Accordingly, there are more suspects than you can shake a stick at, if that's your idea of a good time. Penelope Keith leads a cast of hardy British TV and stage veterans. Spider's Web was first shown in the US over the Arts and Entertainment cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the four-part story "Underworld," the Doctor (Tom Baker) has his doubts concerning the avowed mission of the Minyan spacecraft R1C. According to Commander Jackson (James Maxwell), the R1C crew is in search of their sister ship P7E, containing the Minyans' "race bank," with which they hope to repopulate their dying, war-ravaged planet. Though Jackson is telling the truth, he doesn't know that the R1C is being lured into a trap. First telecast January 11, 1978, "Underworld, Part 2" was written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Underworld," the evil computer in charge of the Minyan "race bank" on the space ship P7E is determined to prevent future Minyan procreation by destroying the sister ship R1C. Since both the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Leela (Louise Jameson) are on board the R1C, it is imperative that he prevent this catastrophe. To foil the computer and its robotic servants, the Seers, the Doctor again relies on his own quick-wittedness and ability to mentally outmaneuver his enemies. First telecast January 18, 1978, "Underworld, Part 4" was written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This 1967 version of Thomas Hardy's novel should have done better at the box office than it did, given the star power of Julie Christie and the visual and aural fidelity to its source material. Julie Christie plays Bathsheba Everdene, a country heiress who is loved by three different men: Terence Stamp, Peter Finch and Alan Bates. Convinced that she is the intellectual superior of all three, Bathesheba loses many early opportunities for lasting happiness. Finally shedding herself of her haughty attitude, Bathsheba unconditionally accepts the love of Bates. The euphoric exuberance of Nicolas Roeg's photography is matched by the direction of John Schlesinger and the screenplay by Frederick Raphael. Only the nittiest of nitpickers would complain that some of the medium shots don't match the closeups (watch Terence Stamp's clown makeup in one scene). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi