Roger Brierley Movies

This sumptuous French drama offers episodes from the notorious life of 18th century socialite and playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. The story begins in the 1770s with a rehearsal of his "The Barber of Seville." Young friend of Voltaire, Philipp Gudin introduces himself to the great playwright and offers to become his personal secretary. He then becomes the adventurous Beaumarchais' keeper as the author gets involved in a variety of situations including a duel with an angry husband, his battle with the corrupt French government and a serious long-term affair with Marie-Theres de Willer. It all comes to a climax when King Louis XV assigns the playwright a secret mission to London. There he must find and retrieve a damning document from transvestite aristocrat Chevalier D'Eon. Unfortunately, Beaumarchais gets tangled up with supporting American rebels and ends up tossed in jail. Louis XVI sees that he is finally released and then the writer becomes an arms smuggler for American revolutionaries. All of his activities bankrupt him and so Beaumarchais must return to writing plays. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Rowan Atkinson is both the star and co-writer of this 30-minute comedy special. As the magnificently clumsy and thick-eared Mr. Bean, Atkinson trips his way through four brief sketches, all unified by a central "hotel" theme. In "The Bath," Bean tries to wash himself, much to the consternation of his neighbor in the next room; in "The Stairs," he encounters difficulty descending; in "The Buffet," he learns the perils of "All You Can Eat"; and in "Locked Out," an embarrassing situation becomes impossible with Bean on the scene. Originally telecast in Britain on February 17, 1993, and in America in January of 1994, "Mr. Bean in Room 426" has since been included in such video compilations as The Merry Mishaps of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 2. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When a father attempts to return to his abandoned family after 23 years his grown son tries to murder his drunk, unemployed father. ~ Rovi

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, Rovi

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, Rovi

Also released under the title Young Sherlock Holmes and the Pyramid of Fear, this film follows the adventures of young John Watson (Alan Cox) when he is shipped off to boarding school and meets up with the brilliantly bizarre Sherlock Holmes (Nicolas Rowe). The two boys strike up a friendship and promptly become involved in the investigation of a number of mysterious murders. When their curiosity gets them into trouble with a dangerous religious cult, Watson and Holmes must struggle to avoid capture while attempting to notify the authorities. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Between giving up his super powers, confronting criminals from outer space, and having problems with his girlfriend, it's a bad time to be the Man of Steel in this sequel to the 1978 blockbuster. When terrorists threaten to destroy Paris with a thermonuclear device as they hold reporter Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) hostage, Superman (Christopher Reeve) comes to the rescue and flings the weapon into space. However, its blast outside the earth's orbit awakens Zod (Terence Stamp), Ursa (Sarah Douglas), and Non (Jack O'Halloran), three villains from Superman's home planet of Krypton who were exiled to outer space for their crimes. Zod and his partners arrive on Earth and use their powers in a bid to take over the U.S., and then the world. However, when Lois realizes that mild mannered Clark Kent and Superman are actually the same person, he brings her to his Fortress of Solitude, where his decision to marry Lois costs him his remarkable strength. Without his super powers, how can Superman vanquish Zod and save the world? Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, Susannah York, and Jackie Cooper return from the first film, which was shot at the same time as parts of the sequel. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi