Robert Coleby Movies
Actor Robert Coleby has appeared on stage, screen, and television in his native Britain, in the U.S., and in Australia. Although he made his first film appearance in The Last Run (1971), Coleby did not regularly appear in films until the 1980s. Subsequent starring roles include that of a philandering husband falsely accused of rape in Now and Forever (1983) and an impoverished lawyer in Hectors Bunyip (1986). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1971
- PG
George C. Scott stars in The Last Run as an aging mob driver hoping to make one last big haul and retire. Harry Garmes (Scott) is persuaded by his old cronies to drive escaped criminal Paul Ricard (Tony Musante) and his girlfriend, Claudio Schemer (Trish VanDevere), across Spain to safety. Garmes has premonitions throughout the flight of his own demise, but his fate will not be known until the end of his journey. John Huston was supposed to direct, but was replaced after a series of confrontations with Richard Fleischer.The cast includes Scott's then-wife, Colleen Dewhurst, alongside his wife-to-be, Trish VanDevere. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George C. Scott, Tony Musante, (more)
- 1973
June Wyndham-Davies directs this made-for-TV version of the classic children's novel Pollyanna, written by Eleanor H. Porter. This miniseries was broadcast in six half-hour episodes on the BBC in 1973. Elizabeth Archard plays the overly optimistic orphan Pollyanna who goes to live with her lonely, bitter old Aunt Polly (Elaine Stritch). Despite being paralyzed in an accident, her chipper attitude brightens the lives of everyone she encounters, including an old hermit (Donald Bisset), an orphaned boy (Stephen Galloway), and her doctor (Paul Maxwell). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Archard, Elaine Stritch, (more)
- 1979
The plumber (Ivar Kants) shows up at the door of well-to-do Australian couple Robert Coleby and Judy Cowper. Though the plumber apparently hasn't been summoned, he is given unquestioned free reign in the household. He ends up staying several days, his work and personality growing weirder with each passing day. Housewife Cowper is driven to neurotic distraction by the plumber's presence and by his iconoclastic attitudes towards everything she holds dear. Then, the plumber walks out of the flat, never to return...leaving behind a residue of paranoia and shattered values. Filmed for Australian television, The Plumber may well be the most maddening 76 minutes ever committed to celluloid. Naturally, it only served to further the reputation of its gifted writer/director Peter Weir. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judy Morris, Robert Coleby, (more)
This romantic melodrama is based on a novel by Danielle Steele and chronicles a wife's reaction to her husband's run of bad luck. Their troubles begin when she returns home from a business trip and discovers that her husband has been arrested and jailed for raping a woman. Though he tends to philander, he is not a rapist. The only way the wife can cope with the pain is to become an alcoholic drug addict. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cheryl Ladd, Robert Coleby, (more)
- 1983
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For the Term of His Natural Life, Australian novelist Marcus Clarke's epic tale of the hardships and deprivations of his native country in the 1830s, served as the basis for one of the most famous Australian films of the silent era. That was in 1927; 56 years later, Clarke's novel again went before the cameras, this time resulting in a three-part, six-hour TV miniseries. Colin Friels starred as Londoner Rufus Dawes, who thanks to treachery and deceit was arrested on a trumped-up charge and transported to a penal colony in Tasmania, while an impostor laid claim to his birthright. Eighteen years into his incarcaration, Rufus managed to escape, and was subsequently reunited with his sweet Sylvia (Susan Lyons), daughter of the colony's warden. Unfortunately, a happy ending was not in the cards for the hero and heroine. For the Term of His Natural Life aired over Australia's Nine Network in 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Not to be confused with the like-vintage "sword and sorcery" TV pilot of the same name, director Denny Lawrence's Archer's Adventure was lensed in Australia. Brett Climo plays Dave Power, a young and ambitious caretaker of a racehorse named Archer. In order to get Archer to the 1861 Melbourne Cup, where the horse must compete, Power takes him on a 600-mile Outback odyssey, fraught with excitement and peril. The horse then wins the race. Incredibly, this picaresque character study was based on a true story. Also known as Archer's Adventure, the film features 18-year-old Nicole Kidman in a crucial role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
The Australian Hector's Bunyip concerns the misadventures of impoverished inventor Robert Coleby. As if his money problems weren't enough, Hector is being hectored by land developer Brian Moll and child-welfare officer Joan Sydney. The latter antagonist wants to claim Hector's foster child and place the kid in an orphanage. But salvation comes in the most unlikely fashion. First telecast in the US on PBS' Wonderworks series, the 60-minute Hector's Bunyip debuted January 31, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Blue Lightning stars Sam Elliot as an American private eye operating in the Australian outback. Robert Culp is co-starred as a super-criminal in search of a valuable opal. Culp is forced to fight the ethically suspect Elliot for possession of the gem, while Rebecca Gilling vacillates as the heroine. Written by William P. Kelley, who won an Oscar for Witness but no awards for this, Blue Lightning has the distinct aroma of a busted TV pilot. It was first telecast May 7, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Budgeted at six million dollars -- a hefty sum for Australian television -- the six-hour miniseries Great Expectations: The Untold Story helpfully endeavored to plug the plot holes thoughtlessly left behind by Charles Dickens in his original novel. The emphasis was on the escaped convict Magwitch (John Stanton), who, after being helped out by the young Pip (Danny Simmons), was captured by the authorities and transported to Australia. There, Magwitch turned over a new leaf and went into business, building up a huge and profitable operation. Still grateful to Pip for past kindnesses, Magwitch bequeathed his entire fortune to the boy, and it was at this point that the miniseries' narrative ended and the original Dickens story line took over (albeit briefly). Representing a rare collaboration between writer/director Tim Burstall and his producer son, Tom Burstall, Great Expectations: The Untold Story was broadcast by Australia's ABC network in February of 1987. The project was subsequently released theatrically as a feature film, pared down to a more manageable length -- and eliminating an important subplot involving Pip's erstwhile lady friend, Estella (Anne Louise Lambert), in the process. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Sebastian (Alexander Bainbridge) is a 15-year-old boy from a wealthy family. He befriends Sparrow (Jeremy Angerson), a street kid his own age who is the product of the union between a Vietnamese woman and an Australian soldier. Sparrow is busy trying to stay one step ahead of welfare officer Mick (Vincent Gil). He talks Sebastian into skipping his piano lesson to look for his estranged mother in this straightforward, simple story. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alexander Bainbridge, Jeremy Angerson, (more)
- 1989
Guest star Totti Goldsmith is cast as Elaine, the American-born princess of a European kingdom. The IMF must protect Elaine from being assasinated by an anti-American terrorist group run by George Caron (Robert Coleby). To do this, IMF agents Nicholas and Grant go undercover to join Caron's organization, hoping to bore from within by preying upon the paranoia of hit man Coyote (Dale Stevens). Originally telecast October 5, 1989, "The Princess" was written by Ted Roberts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1990
Premiering September 16, 1990, the TV series Earth Force was sort of a live-action Captain Planet, with elements of Mission: Impossible and Edgar Wallace's Four Just Men thrown in. A dying millionaire organizes an elite force-the Earth Alert Research Tactical Headquarters (E.A.R.T.H.)--to combat the ecological rape of our planet. The principal members of this group are trauma care expert Dr. John Harding (Gil Gerrard), nuclear physicist-turned-environmentalist Dr. Carl Dana (Clayton Rohmer) marine biologist and resident save-the-whales type Dr. Catherine Romano (Tiffany Lamb); and Charles Dillion (Stewart Finaly-McLennan), the only mercenary of the bunch. In the opening 2-hour episode, the E.A.R.T.H. Force has but 36 hours to prevent a nuclear meltdown, brought about by a plutonium robbery. Joanne Pacula guest stars as Diana Randall, the obligatory "Force" member who doesn't survive. Filmed in Australia, E.A.R.T.H. Force was dead in the water after three episodes-the first cancellation of the 1990-91 season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The first superhero ever, created by Lee Falk in 1936, gets another shot at movie stardom 60 years after achieving fame in comics and serials. Billy Zane stars as Kit Walker, who discovers that he's the 21st in a line of purple-clad African superheroes known as "The Phantom" or, to superstitious Bengalla Island natives, "the Ghost Who Walks." When he's not fighting the evil Singh Brotherhood with his faithful wolf Devil and white horse Hero, the Phantom lives in the hidden Skull Cave. Kit discovers that Xander Drax (Treat Williams), a slimy industrialist, is plotting to take over the world by uniting the three long lost magical Skulls of Touganda. So he travels to New York, where he finds allies in crusading newspaper publisher Dave (Bill Smitrovich) and his niece, Diana (Kristy Swanson), who's also Kit's ex-girlfriend. Kit and Diana tackle Drax's forces, including the conflicted Sala (Catherine Zeta-Jones), in a quest for the Skulls that brings both sides back to Bengalla for a showdown. The Phantom's mixture of elaborate stunts with liberal doses of tongue-in-cheek humor was characteristic of screenwriter Jeffrey Boam, whose previous films included Innerspace (1987) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson, (more)
- 1998
In the tradition of Babe and Paulie, this Australian family fantasy-adventure features mouthy macaw Mac (portrayed by Tango and three bird stand-ins). Mac, who once witnessed treasure buried on a South Sea Island, is owned by elderly eccentric bird collector Ben Girdis (Jason Robards). His son Rick Girdis (Joe Petruzzi) plans to pay off Ben's debts by putting him in a nursing home and selling Ben's house. Ben's 15-year-old grandson Sam (Jamie Croft), who wants to save Ben's home, discovers that Mac can speak (with a Spanish accent). After Mac proposes a search for the buried treasure, Sam, the bird, and anthropologist Lance Hagen (John Waters) set off on an expedition. Unfortunately, a luxury hotel has been erected directly over the treasure, causing feathers to fly as the determined Sam and Mac continue to seek the treasure while eluding hotel staffers. The film was directed by Mario Andreacchio, who previously made the talking-dog movie Napoleon. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jamie Croft, Jason Robards, Jr., (more)
A con man discovers there is something he can't sell -- namely, a sour-voiced singer he's trying to mold into a star -- in this bittersweet comedy about the outer fringes of show business. Joey Grasso (Salvatore Coco) is an almost pathologically confident man who has just been released from prison after doing time for selling a phony cure for cellulite. Joey lives with his current girlfriend, Bonita (Sacha Horler), who is confined to a wheelchair due to an auto accident, though her father is convinced Joey is only interested in her for the $1 million settlement Bonita is due to receive. One day, at a motivational seminar, Joey makes the acquaintance of Nikki (Nikki Bennett), the daughter of popular nightclub performer Marty Raye (Carter Edwards). Nikki confesses to Joey that she wants more than anything to make it big as a singer, and Joey signs on as her manager, fast-talking a reluctant Bonita into bankrolling Nikki's bid for stardom. However, Nikki isn't a terribly good singer, and is a bit unstable to boot; after an audition for record producer Phil Wehner (Jon English) ends in disaster, Joey discovers just how steep an uphill climb he has in selling Nikki to the public. Walk the Talk was the second feature written and directed by Shirley Barrett, whose debut, Love Serenade, earned her the Camera d'Or at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Salvatore Coco, Sacha Horler, (more)
- 2002
- PG
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Crikey! Following a brief cameo in Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), hyperactive, high-energy cable television star and native Australian naturalist Steve Irwin parlays his success as a confronter of all things scaly, fanged, and venomous into this feature-film adventure. Irwin and his wife Terri Irwin play themselves as animal activists who rescue an endangered crocodile, not realizing that the critter has swallowed a downed top-secret satellite beacon that's the subject of an intense search by CIA personnel. Believing that the spies are poachers out to steal the animal's precious hide, the Irwins evade their pursuers while attempting to get the crocodile to safety in a remote area of the Outback, adopting an orphaned joey (a baby kangaroo), and grappling with bird-eating spiders and poisonous snakes along the way. In the meantime, the secret agents mistakenly believe the Irwins are enemy operatives trying to steal their highly valuable technology. The real-life Irwins donated all of their fees from The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002) to wildlife conservation efforts. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin, (more)
- 2005
In the tradition of Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company and Growing Up Brady comes the telemovie Dynasty: the Making of a Guilty Pleasure: a slightly tongue-in-cheek docudrama that purports to tell the scintillating story behind the scenes of ABC's nine-season prime time soaper about the Carringtons and the Colbys. The feature (produced by ABC itself) reflects on the parent network's own lust after a serial drama in the face of drowning competition from Dallas. To solve this issue, producer Aaron Spelling (here played by Nicholas Hammond) and show creators Richard and Esther Shapiro (Ritchie Singer and Pamela Reed) conceive of a modern American dress version of I, Claudius about the corrupting influences of wealth and power in the Reagan era. The suits devise the scheming character of Alexis Carrington Colby and bring Joan Collins (Alice Krige) in to play her as a kind of feminine equivalent of J.R. Ewing. The main thrust of the story involves the program's rise to one of the top-tiered series on television, followed by its inevitable fall when it disrespects and underestimates its regular audience. John Bart portrays John Forsythe, Melora Hardin plays Linda Evans, and Robert Coleby is Rock Hudson. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pamela Reed, Alice Krige, (more)
WWE Smackdown star and self-proclaimed "Doctor of Thuganomics" John Cena makes his explosive action feature debut as John Triton, an injured U.S. Marine who returns home from duty after violating a commander's order, only to have his wife kidnapped by a ruthless criminal. Robert Patrick co-stars as the villainous Rome -- who is more than willing to kill if it means staying one step ahead of the law -- and Nip/Tuck star Kelly Carlson appears as the endangered object of the vengeful veteran's affections. With nothing left to lose and enough training to take down a small army, the hard-fighting Triton sets out to rescue his wife, and ensure that the psychotic Rome receives a painful taste of Semper Fi justice. Commercial veteran John Bonito takes the rein for his feature directorial debut. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Cena, Robert Patrick, (more)
