Damaris Hayman Movies

Based on what some consider to be Elizabeth Bowen's best novel, The Death of the Heart focuses on one of her primary themes, a young woman's first love. Portia Quayne (Jojo Cole) is orphaned, and at the age of 16 she must go live with her relatives, Anna (Patricia Hodge) and Thomas Quayne (Nigel Havers). The time is 1937, and this upper-crust couple are a bit too selfish and amoral (Anna) or just aloof (Thomas) for Portia; she cannot relate to them. Complicating matters is young Eddie (Daniel Chatto), a high-society do-nothing who awakens Portia's romantic ardor and then makes fun of her in front of her friends. Besides, he is interested in Anna. Portia cannot tolerate either her home environment or her mistreatment at the hands of Eddie, and she runs away looking for help from a sympathic Major Brutt (Robert Hardy). ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Britain's Confessions series, like the Carry On films, were episodic slapstickfests with emphasis on questionable taste. Based on an autobiographical novel by Timothy Lea, the film stars Robin Askwith as a feckless driving teacher named...Tom Lea. His customers range from inept to dangerous. Their "victims" include golfing dowagers, violinists and boy hikers. Somehow or other, a group of former borstal boys (reform school students) gets mixed up with Lea and his reckless charges. Chronologically, Confessions of a Driving Instructor was wedged between Confessions of a Window Cleaner (one of the few series entries to get an American release) and Confessions of Holiday Camp. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the five-part story "The Daemons," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) is unable prevent the Master (Roger Delgado) from stealing the powers of Azal, last of the Daemon race. It takes an act of awe-inspiring selflessness on the part of the Doctor's companion, Jo (Katy Manning), to persuade Azal not to destroy the world at the Master's behest. But the story is far from over as the Doctor tries yet again to put the Master out of commission for good and all. The miniature shot of a church exploding resulted in an abundance of call-in complaints to the BBC. Written by Barry Letts and Robert Sloman, "The Daemons, Episode 5" originally aired on June 19, 1971, as the final episode of Doctor Who's eighth season. (All five episodes were edited into a single compilation special on December 28, 1971, and it is this version that has traditionally been telecast since). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the third episode of the five-part story "The Daemons," the renegade Time Lord the Master (Roger Delgado) has summoned the spirit of Azal, last of the Daemon race. Though in the past Azal has benefited mankind with his scientific expertise, the Master hopes to use the spirits awesome powers for his own evil purposes -- and the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) may not be able to thwart this scheme. Written by Barry Letts and Robert Sloman, "The Daemons, Episode 3" originally aired on June 5, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Based on the mystery novel by Marryam Modell (using the pseudonym Evelyn Piper), Bunny Lake Is Missing is a bizarre study in motherhood, kindness, enigma, and insanity. Ann Lake (Carol Lynley), an American freshly relocated to England, wishes to drop off her daughter Bunny for the girl's first day at a new nursery school. Oddly, Ann cannot locate any teachers or administrators, only the school's disgruntled cook (Lucie Mannheim). She is forced to leave Bunny unsupervised in the building's "first day" room, under the reassurance that the cook will be responsible for the child. When Ann returns in the afternoon, the cook has quit and Bunny Lake is missing. The school's remaining employees vehemently deny ever seeing the child, and Ann desperately calls her older brother Stephen (Keir Dullea) for help. Ann was raised fatherless and never married; she and Bunny have lived under Stephen's care and protection for the majority of both their lives. Stephen is enraged by the irresponsibility of the staff, but as Scotland Yard begins its investigation, it comes to light that he had never officially enrolled a child at the school. When Police Superintendent Newhouse (Laurence Olivier) begins to unravel the Lakes' lives and search their belongings, he discovers that not only did Ann once have an imaginary childhood daughter named "Bunny," but that the young Bunny seemed to have no tangible possessions at the Lake apartment. Bunny Lake (whom we have yet to see onscreen) may not be missing: she may not even be real. Terrified that Newhouse will now abandon the search for the girl, the hysterical Ann sets out to prove her sanity and, in the process, surprisingly uncovers the true psychosis behind the disappearance of her little Bunny Lake. ~ Aubry Anne D'Arminio, Rovi