Terence Labrosse Movies
In this thriller, Judge Richard Miller (Ryan O'Neal) is put in a highly precarious position when he is assigned to preside over the trial of Gabrielle Mitchell (Madchen Amick), a high-priced call girl with an exclusive clientele. Gabrielle, who has arranged her own arrest in order to blackmail her better-known customers, presents Miller a list of her regular clients -- as well as an incriminating videotape. Miller is put in the difficult position of either making the information public and destroying the careers of trusted colleagues, or risking his own prosecution by keeping it a secret. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ryan O'Neal, Mädchen Amick, (more)
In this chilling drama, a beautiful widow's gratitude turns to naked fear when she learns that a good Samaritan has been stalking her after saving the life of her son. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maryam D'Abo, Jay Underwood, (more)
This WW II-set drama follows the creation of the first atomic bomb. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, David Strathairn, (more)
In this watered-down fantasy, Cotnoir (Remy Girard) is a middle-aged male virgin who falls in love with the picture of a female author on the back of her novel. He sets out by boat for the island where author Helena Montana (Marie Tifo) presently resides, but when the boat breaks down, he has fantasies that she is a mermaid. Soon the line between fantasy and reality is blurred as Cotnoir returns to Montreal with Montana and is able to convince his friends as well that she is a mermaid. The title refers to a fictional book written by Montana. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marie Tifo, Rémy Girard, (more)
Criminal Law is an inadvertently legal thriller wherein criminal defense attorney Ben Chase (Gary Oldman) decides to prove that his client Martin Thiel (Kevin Bacon) is in fact a serial killer, despite the acquittal that Ben won for him. When new murders occur, Ben takes matters into his own hands, beginning a psychological battle of wills with Martin. Gary Oldman gives an excellent performance as the criminal defense attorney with a conscience, and Kevin Bacon is intriguing and ambiguous as the killer. The action sequences -- particularly when Ben finds a body in the rain in a deserted park -- are terrific as is the fast-paced direction by Martin Campbell. However, the film cannot overcome its ludicrous premise or its laughable, totally unbelievable courtroom sequences. Criminal Law, if not taken very seriously and with more than a grain of salt, can be entertaining, but it fails miserably when compared to accurate, exciting legal thrillers such as Primal Fear. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon, (more)
An obscure and offbeat novel by Andrew Neiderman comes to life as this strange, disturbing, but fairly compelling psychological thriller. The title refers to a life-sized medical dummy (the name is short for Pinocchio) through which strait-laced physician and would-be ventriloquist Doctor Linden (Terry O'Quinn) communicates with his children, Leon (David Hewlett) and Ursula (Cyndy Preston). Although Pin seems to have served a useful purpose by providing the emotionally distant Linden with a means of opening up to his family, the mannequin's importance gradually becomes a decidedly unhealthy influence for Leon, whose latent psychosis emerges fully after his father's death and compels him to "adopt" Pin as a member of the household. As Ursula, now a beautiful woman, begins to enjoy a relatively happy love life, Leon is consumed with jealousy and, goaded by the 'Pin' aspect of his personality, turns to murder as release. In its depiction of a psychotic who loses his will to an increasingly lifelike dummy, Pin is remarkably similar in theme to Richard Attenborough's Magic (which itself owed a debt to films like The Great Gabbo). Though it breaks no new ground in this respect, this quirky horror film does present an irresistibly eerie charm (thanks in large part to Hewlett's fine performance) and generates a decent amount of suspense, building to a chilling, if not entirely surprising, climax. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Hewlett, Cyndy Preston, (more)
In this animated adaptation of L. Frank Baum's novel finds Dorothy, a little girl from Kansas, magically transported by a tornado to the land of Oz. Dorothy needs to find a way home, and with the help of a walking talking scarecrow, a cowardly lion, and a man made of tin, she's sure to have a delightful adventure during her search. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
A Canadian-Australian coproducton which originally aired over Australia's 7 Network, the six-hour miniseries Spearfield's Daughter stars Kim Braden as the title character. The daughter of a prominent and powerful Australian politician (Chris Wiggins), Cleo Spearfield (Kim Braden) incurs her father's wrath by becoming a reporter, with the Vietnam war as her "beat." When not dodging bullets and negotiating rice paddies, Cleo is wooed by two attractive gentemen, gonzo American journalist Tom Border (Steve Railsback) and Murdoch-like British publishing mogul Lord Jack Cruze (Christopher Plummer. Adapted by Jon Cleary from his own novel, Spearfield's Daughter was syndicated to the US beginning the week of May 25, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Convinced that a recently burned-down structure harbors ghosts, young Matthew Mackay and Siluck Saysanasy decide to investigate the ruins. In true "urban legend" fashion, what Mackay sees inside the structure causes him to go bald on the spot! His distress is mollified when a pair of friendly ghosts whip up a "peanut butter solution" that will ostensibly restore his hair. So hirsute does Mackay become that he is kidnapped by a paint-brush manufacturer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mathew Mackay, Siluck Saysanasy, (more)
In this routine action film, Danny Fairchild (Wayne Rogers) and Vincent Reblack (Patrick Macnee) are partners in an art-scam operation in which Danny forges valuable paintings and Vincent authenticates them; both pretend to run a company that legitimately authenticates art for sale at auction. Their illicit operation has been undetected for years until one day someone catches on and Severo (Lloyd Bochner) shows up, threatening to turn them in, or worse, if Danny does not forge a series of paintings that disappeared in World War II. Although the two partners have to agree, they begin to develop a scam that will get Severo and his unknown boss right where it hurts the most. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wayne Rogers, Marie-France Pisier, (more)
Set in India during World War II, this fair action drama relies heavily on the good acting talent gathered to convey its slight, uninvolved story. Gregory Peck is Col. Lewis Pugh, backed up by Roger Moore as Capt. Gavin Stewart, David Niven as Col. Bill Grice, Patrick MacNee as Major Crossley, and several others -- all retired and past the age for active duty. At issue are three German freighters that are parked in the waters off Goa, the Portuguese coastal colony on the subcontinent of India. Since Portugal is neutral, the regular army cannot destroy the freighters, and it is up to the retired army officers and a large corps of over-the-hill volunteers to take on the mission of eliminating the German ships. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, (more)
Making a rare visit to Canada, Claude Chabrol cowrote and directed the low-pressure psychological melodrama Blood Relatives (Les Liens de sang). Donald Sutherland and Donald Pleasence head the cast in this story of the aftermath of a brutal murder. The victim, a 17-year-old girl, was apparently raped before she died, leading Carella (Sutherland) to believe that she was killed by a sex maniac. Pedophile Doniac (Pleasence) tops the suspect list, but don't be too sure. The truth is much "closer to home" than anyone realizes at first. Lisa Langlois, who made something of a career of Canadian scare flicks, makes her screen debut in Blood Relatives; also appearing, is Chabrol's wife Stephane Audran. Blood Relatives was based on a novel by Ed McBain (aka Evan Hunter), of 87th Precinct fame; the film was released in the US in 1981, three years after its completion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donald Sutherland, Stéphane Audran, (more)
In this comedy, a writer tries to scare up some quick cash by writing a book about the Loch Ness monster. Unfortunately, none of the publishers will buy it. The writer and his bohemian friends then create a mock monster, photograph it, and head for Scotland to convince the locals of the picture's veracity. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Faith, Sidney James, (more)
The "Carry On" gang take on employment agencies in this labored edition to the long-running comedy series. Sidney James is Bert Handy, who starts an employment agency by the name of "Helping Hands, Ltd." Bert proceeds to hire a bunch of loonies to do a collection of screwball jobs employers want done. As is usually the case, the employees make hash out of every assignment given to them. In fact, the agency is so unsuccessful that their landlord (Stanley Unwin) tries to have the business removed from his premises by raising their rent. But the landlord makes a deal with Bert that if his company can fix up an old house, they can have a 99-year lease on the property. Chaos ensues. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sidney James, Kenneth Connor, (more)
The "Carry On" gang take on law enforcement in this rude and crude slapstick comedy. When a flu epidemic leaves a British police station decimated with illness, three incompetent rookies are given the chance to prove themselves as police officers. The three screwy recruits are Tom Potter (Leslie Phillips), a two-bit lothario; Stanley Benson (Kenneth Williams), an uppity intellectual with unique views on law enforcement procedures; and Charlie Constable (Kenneth Connor), an obsessive type who is consumed with astrology. With the help of the swishy Special Officer Timothy Gorse (Charles Hawtrey), the stooges manages to mess up every assignment they are given. But when a criminal gang robs a payroll truck, the four nincompoops are forced to prove their worth. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sidney James, Kenny Williams, (more)
This first entry in the long-running (some would say interminable) British "Carry On" series is at base a collection of motheaten army jokes, albeit served up with freshness and energy. Future Doctor Who star William Hartnell plays Sergeant Major Grimshaw, whose fondest wish is to win the coveted Best Troop Award before his retirement. Alas, this may never come to pass: his newest batch of conscripts include some of the biggest and stupidest foul-ups in military history. Popular comedian-cartoonist Bob Monkhouse and cockney bombshell Shirley Eaton head up the supporting cast, which includes such "Carry On" stalwarts-to-be as Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey and Kenneth Williams. Carry On Sergeant was very loosely based on The Bull Boys, a novel by R. F. Delderfield. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Bob Monkhouse, (more)
Lana Turner stars as Sara Scott, an American war correspondent whose whirlwind romance with a young British journalist (Sean Connery) ends in tragedy when his plane crashes while covering an assignment. After recovering from a nervous breakdown, Sara tries to come to terms with her grief by visiting her lover's widow (Glynis Johns). Based on the novel Weep No More by Lenore Coffee, Another Time, Another Place did excellent box-office business thanks to the concurrent real-life scandal involving the death of Turner's gangster boyfriend Johnny Stompanato at the hands of her teenage daughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lana Turner, Barry Sullivan, (more)
The Man Who Never Was is the true story of how the Allies threw the Nazis off track in planning the invasion of Sicily. The British Royal Navy exhumes the corpse of a man who died of natural causes, arranging to make it appear as though the dead man was a special services operative carrying the secret invasion plans. The elaborate ruse includes creating a fictional identity for the "spy," then faking a drowning for the corpse and having the body wash up on shore with false information. The plan is complicated by Lucy Sherwood (Gloria Grahame), the girl friend of the dead man, and Patrick O'Reilly (Stephen Boyd), a German espionage agent. The Man Who Never Was moves too slowly to maintain excitement, but it works well on a pure storytelling level. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clifton Webb, Gloria Grahame, (more)
Ribald music hall comedian Frankie Howerd stars in the British laughspinner Jumping for Joy. Set in the rarefied world of dog racing, the film stars Howerd as trackboy Willie, who is unceremoniously booted from his job. Teaming up with con artist Jack (Stanley Holloway), Willie decides to get even by raising his own greyhound racer. Unfortunately, the dog Willie and Jack purchase has one paw in the grave. As our heroes nurse the pooch back to health, they are forced to spend their spare time keeping a narcotics gang at bay. The delightful harmonica score in Jumping for Joy is provided by American expatriate Larry Adler. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stanley Holloway, A.E. Matthews, (more)
Rossana Podesta may not quite possess the face that would launch a thousand ships, but she is otherwise convincing in the title role of Helen of Troy. Filmed in Italy, this super-epic costars Jacques Sernas as Paris of Troy, who sails to Sparta to secure a peace treaty between the two powerful Greek city-states. When he falls in love with Helen, Queen of Sparta, Paris loses all sense of diplomacy. Helen is willingly "abducted" by Paris and spirited off to Troy, thereby sparking a long and bloody war, which culminates with the legendary Trojan Horse. Torin Thatcher costars as warrior leader Ulysses, while Sir Cedric Hardwicke plays Priam, the pacifistic king of Troy who is overwhelmed by circumstances beyond his control. Also on hand is Stanley Baker as Achilles (who ends up with an arrow you-know-where) and Niall MacGinnis as Helen's husband Menelaus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rossana Podestà, Jacques Sernas, (more)
Set in 1943, Appointment in London stars Dirk Bogarde as Wing Commander Tim Mason. It is Mason's hope to complete 90 bombing missions before his automatic rotation to a desk job. After the 89th mission, however, he is grounded and ordered to remain so by his superior officer. When a bomber pilot is injured, Mason defies his orders and takes the pilot's place. By rights, he should be court-martialed for this, but the outcome is rather different that what he and the audience are led to expect. Somewhat similar in tone to the Hollywood production 12 O'Clock High, Appointment in London proved to be a moneymaker on both sides of the Big Pond. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dirk Bogarde, Ian Hunter, (more)
"Angels One Five" is the cognomen bestowed upon a group of WW II British fighter pilots. The squadron leader is Tiger Small (Jack Hawkins), who is taken out of commission after an accident. Despite the protests from his fellow flyboys, Tiger insists upon taking to the air again, thereby setting the stage for the film's exciting and inspirational finale. Angels One Five differs from other combat films in that the battles generally take place offscreen; the progress of the principal characters is relayed to the audience via radio reports and control-room charts. If this sounds dull and static, it isn't: in fact, Angels One Five is among the best of the "Battle of Britain" war epics. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, (more)























