Andrew Clarke Movies
Loosely based on the 1958 comedy The Reluctant Debutante starring Sandra Dee, the family-friendly comedy What a Girl Wants features popular Nickelodeon teen star Amanda Bynes in her first feature-starring performance after her debut in Big Fat Liar. She plays teenager Daphne Reynolds, who lives in New York City with her musician mother, Libby (Kelly Preston). After she turns 17, Daphne is undecided about her future, so she takes off by herself to London in search of her father. She immediately meets cute musician Ian (Oliver James) before sneaking in to her father's estate to surprise him. He turns out to be Lord Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth), a fabulously wealthy aristocrat who doesn't even know that she exists. He had met her mother in Morocco and the two were married in a tribal ceremony. Upon their return to England, she left him and went back to the U.S. without ever revealing that she was pregnant. The uptight Henry is already flustered by his campaign for election, advised by doting aide Alistair Payne (Jonathan Pryce). His no-nonsense fiancée, Glynnis (Anna Chancellor), and her bratty daughter, Clarissa (Christina Cole), are threatened by Daphne's presence, thinking that she will hurt Henry's political aspirations by causing a scandal. However, the family matriarch (Eileen Atkins) takes a liking to her and she soon finds herself trying to liven things up at several stuffy aristocratic parties. Meanwhile, the evil Glynnis and Clarissa conspire against her by trying to sabotage her appearance, leading up to the conclusion at Daphne's very own coming-out party. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth, (more)
- 2002
Based on a true story, the Australian feelgood comedy Dalkeith takes place in a tranquil retirement home. The elderly residents are bored to tears until they get a thoroughbred greyhound as a pet. The old folks name it Dalkeith, after the name of their home, and soon discover the dog's talent for running. When they enter her in the greyhound dog races, Dalkeith actually starts winning. The residents make bets on the dog's races and even go watch the action at the race track, providing them with a renewed sense of livelihood. The retirement home board of trustees object to the situation and try to put a stop to it, until resident Tarquin (Ray Barrett) revives his past in the legal profession and settles the matter in court. Also starring veteran Australian actors Gus Mercurio, Esme Melville, and Alan Hopgood. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ray Barrett, Gus Mercurio, (more)
- 1993
- Add Snowy River: The McGregor Saga - The Race to QueueAdd Snowy River: The McGregor Saga - The Race to top of Queue
In this made-for-TV movie, originally produced as the premier episode of the television series Snowy River, master horseman Matt McGregor (Andrew Clarke) is widely acknowledged to be the fastest rider in the Snowy Mountains, but when his nephew Luke (Josh Lucas) returns after a stay in America, Matt discovers he may have found an adversary he can't beat. Meanwhile, Matt finds himself beguiled by Kathleen (Wendy Hughes), a beautiful woman who is determined to work the farm she inherited after the death of her husband. Snowy River: The McGregor Saga -- The Race was inspired by the hit motion picture The Man From Snowy River, which, in turn, was based on a narrative poem by Australian author A.B. "Banjo" Paterson. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The Australian children's adventure show The Girl From Tomorrow was the saga of Alana (Katharine Cullen), a teenaged girl from the year 3000. Through a wrinkle in time, Alana found herself hurled backward to 1990, along with a time-travelling villain named Silverthorn (John Howard), who hailed from the 26th century. With the help of her "contemporary" friends, Jenny (Melissa Marshall) and Petey (James Findlay), Alana tried to retrieve her space capsule from Silverthorn's clutches. Making its Australian Nine Network debut in 1990, The Girl From Tomorrow lasted two seasons and 24 half-hour episodes. The second season, which aired in 1992, was officially titled The Girl From Tomorrow: Tomorrow's End. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Hollywood actress Heather Thomas was center of attention in the Australian miniseries Flair. Thomas was cast as New York-based fashion designer Tessa Clarke, who in the course of events returned to her native Australia to make her mark in that country's dressmaking industry. Created by Paul Davies and Gayle Hopgood, the two-part, four-hour drama boasted an impressive Austral-American supporting cast, including Joseph Bottoms, Rowena Wallace, and Charles "Bud" Tingwell. Flair originally aired over the Seven Nework on August 1 and 8, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The IMF pays a visit to a popular Old West theme park in Nevada, but it isn't for the purpose of rest and relaxation. The park is the headquarters of former congressman Ian McClintock (Michael Greene), the head of an organization specializing in arming terrorists. Well aware that McClintock was responsible for the brutal murder of an FBI investigator, Jim Phelps nonetheless engages the villain in a potentially deadly poker game (both literally and figuratively!). Written by Ted Roberts, "Gunslinger" was originally broadcast on February 10, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1989
The IMF is assigned to cure a computer virus that is capable of sinking the US Navy's entire submarine fleet. But when the only antidote to the virus is destroyed, the agents resort to "Plan B" --- which requires the assistance of a brilliant Hollywood art director. Mitchell Ryan guest-star as Admiral Sheppard, an ex-navy man turned traitor. Written by Dale Duguid and telecast on April 29, 1989, "Submarine" is an updated remake of the 1969 Mission:Impossible episode of the same name; the earlier version was scripted by Donald James. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1988
Outback Bound is a made-for-TV film tailored to the talents of Donna Mills. She plays a pampered Beverly Hills resident whose cash flow bottoms out. Learning that her late father owned an opal mine in Australia, Mills packs what's left of her things and heads for the Outback. The mine is virtually tapped out, but that won't stop our dauntless Mills. Filmed on location in late 1987, Outback Bound made the syndication and cable rounds in the US in 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
David Keith both directs and stars in this Sri Lanka-filmed adventure spoof. Taking equal portions of "Indiana Jones," King Solomon's Mines and The Macomber Affair, the film finds Keith playing Buck Malone, a mercenary hunter, headquartered in Borneo. Hired to guide a cotton-witted married couple through the wilderness, Malone falls in love with the wife (former Playboy foldout Kathy Shower) while hubby (Brant van Hoffman) walks around in a perpetual daze. The film ventures into John & Bo Derek territory when the intrepid trio cross the path of erotically-inclined cannibals. Further Adventures of Tennesse Buck isn't exactly rocket science, but it's immensely enjoyable on a low-comedy level. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Keith, Kathy Shower, (more)
- 1987
- R
Essentially a showcase for the talents of Australian comedian Barry Humphries, this earthy comedy tells the tale of a boorish and boozy Aussie ambassador and his wife (Humphries plays both characters) who are stationed in a Middle Eastern country. There, they end up saving the world from the bio-hazard engineered by the nefarious Dr. Herpes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Humphries, Pamela Stephenson, (more)
- 1985
Anzacs: The War Down Under is a two-part Australian TV movie dramatizing the activities of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). This all-volunteer outfit fought shoulder to shoulder with enlisted men during the First World War. The film concentrates on three Anzacs: An aristocrat (Andrew Clarke), his best friend (Mark Hembrow) and his friend's sister (Megan Williams). Part One details the training of the volunteers, and their first taste of true combat. Part Two details the further activities of the all-volunteer Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACS). During the first few months of World War I, aristocratic Anzac Andrew Clarke is wounded, and is urged to go home to convalesce by Megan Williams, the sister of his best friend (Mark Hembrow). Meanwhile, heavy fighting in France has thinned the ranks and battered the morale of the other Anzacs. Featured in the cast as a military man is Paul Hogan. It was Hogan's new-found international stardom in 1986's Crocodile Dundee which sparked the American distribution of Anzacs, two years after its initial 1985 Australian run. The video release is edited from the 10-hour Australian miniseries. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
