David Sibley Movies
Loosely based on an actual incident, this family-friendly British comedy is also a sly satire of class consciousness. Phoebe Cates stars as a woman who appears in the English countryside of 1817 wearing exotic garb and speaking gibberish. Delivered to a nearby manor, the mystery woman is sheltered by the Worralls (Wendy Hughes and Jim Broadbent), who are then persuaded by their suspicious Greek butler Frixos (Kevin Kline, Cates' real-life husband) to have the drifter tried for vagrancy and begging, capital crimes. At the hearing, however, the woman persuades the magistrate through pantomime that she is a princess of Javanese origin named Caraboo, escaped from pirate kidnappers. The Worralls welcome Caraboo back into their home, lavishing upon her the deference due a royal. A society sensation, Caraboo wins over a linguist (John Lithgow), the prince regent (John Session), and even Frixos. Only an Irish reporter, Gutch (Stephen Rea), remains skeptical about Caraboo's origins. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phoebe Cates, Jim Broadbent, (more)
In this entry in the continuing exploits of Sherlock Holmes, the great detective must track down his nemesis Professor Moriarty after the villain kidnaps Holme's brother Mycroft. The evil doctor is forcing his captive to decode highly classified military documents. The film is also called Hands of a Murderer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Woodward, John Hillerman, (more)
Until its last 10 minutes or so, this filmed biography of controversial recording star Jerry Lee Lewis plays like a live-action cartoon. As played by Dennis Quaid, "the killer" is a very mixed-up individual: a saintly sinner, a world-wise naif, a skilled performer with zero sense of discipline, a loving husband who uses his wife for a punching bag. The story takes place during the years 1956 through 1958, as Lewis rises to the top of the charts with such hits as "Crazy Arms," "A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," and the title tune. Along the way, he falls in love with his second cousin Myra (Winona Ryder), eventually marrying the girl. When it is revealed that Myra is only 13 years old, Lewis is condemned as a molester and pervert by the public (his disastrous tour of England during this crisis is depicted in hilarious Tex Avery fashion). After establishing a brisk, satirical tone through most of the proceedings, the film plummets into heavy dramatics in its final portions, jarring disastrously with all that has gone before. Otherwise, Quaid is terrific as Lewis (expertly lip-synching to the original records,) and Ryder is equally good as the long-suffering Myra. Featured in the cast are Alec Baldwin as Jerry's cousin Jimmy Swaggart (the same!), Michael St. Gerard as Lewis' great rival Elvis, and Steve Allen as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder, (more)
- 1986
The six episodes which comprised this British sitcom largely took place in the Sun, a seedy suburban London pub. The stories dealt with the oftimes bizarre misadventures of the pub's staff and customers, à la Cheers. Most of the attention was focused upon unemployed flat-mates Moon (Robin Driscoll) and Cage (David Sibley), to whom the Sun was a second home. The "heavy" of the piece was Keith, played by Gary Olsen of Two Point Four Children fame. Wilderness Road originally aired from July 21 to August 25, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Sands, Robin Driscoll, (more)
It was Richard Attenborough's lifelong dream to bring the life story of Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi to the screen. When it finally reached fruition in 1982, the 188-minute, Oscar-winning Gandhi was one of the most exhaustively thorough biopics ever made. The film begins in the early part of the 20th century, when Mohandas K. Gandhi (Ben Kingsley), a British-trained lawyer, forsakes all worldly possessions to take up the cause of Indian independence. Faced with armed resistance from the British government, Gandhi adopts a policy of "passive resistance," endeavoring to win freedom for his people without resorting to bloodshed. In the horrendous "slaughter" sequence, more extras appear on screen than in any previous historical epic. The supporting cast includes Candice Bergen as photographer Margaret Bourke-White, Athol Fugard as General Smuts, John Gielgud as Lord Irwin, John Mills as the viceroy, Martin Sheen as Walker, Trevor Howard as Judge Broomfield, and, in a tiny part as a street bully, star-to-be Daniel Day-Lewis. Gandhi won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, (more)
- 1980
Tarrant (Steven Pacey) is appalled to discover that his brother, Deeta (also Steven Pacey), is to fight a duel to determine the outcome of an interplanetary field. Even more disturbing is the fact that the evil Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce) has set herself up as a neutral "judge," the better to foment peace rather than war. Deeta is killed at the hands of Servalan's hand-picked opponent (actually an android), whereupon Tarrant swears to avenge his brother's death -- a vow that will result in unbearable pain amongst the citizens of both warring worlds. "Death-Watch" was originally telecast on March 24, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Keating, Paul Darrow, (more)
- 1979
This 3-hour TV adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet features Patrick Ryecart and Rebecca Saire in the title roles. Though these names may not be familiar to the casual viewer, the same cannot be said of the supporting cast. Celia Johnson appears as the Nurse, Michael Hordern is Lord Capulet, Laurence Naismith is Prince Escalus, and Alec Guinness is the Chorus. Also appearing are stars-to-be Anthony Andrews as Mercutio (his "Queen Mab" speech is a singular highlight) and Alan Rickman as Tybalt. Originally presented as part of PBS' "Shakespeare Plays" series, Romeo and Juliet was first aired March 14, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rebecca Saire
- 1978
Beginning its four-episode run on September 30, 1978, "The Pirate Planet" was a follow-up to the previous Doctor Who adventure "The Ribos Operation." Having successful located the first segment of the Key to Time, the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) are that much closer to restoring the balance between Good and Evil. Using his Tracer, the Doctor locates the second segment of the Key on the planet Calufrax -- but his efforts to materialize the TARDIS on the planet's surface are mysteriously unsuccessful. Keep an eye out for star Tom Baker's sore lip, the result of an offscreen misadventure with a pet dog. Largely filmed on-location in Wales, "The Pirate Planet" was written by Douglas Adams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Pirate Planet," the Doctor (Tom Baker) tries to free the planet Calufrax from the grip of a band of space pirates, who are using their own planet to suck the life-forces from other world. Unless the Doctor succeeds, the second segment of the Key to Time will be forever lost -- and with it, the universal balance between Good and Evil. But in rescuing Calufrax, the Doctor may also be destroying his ability to locate the Key's remaining elements. Written by Douglas Adams, "The Pirate Planet, Episode 3" first aired on October 14, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the third episode of the four-part story "The Pirate Planet," the Doctor (Tom Baker) is unable to recover the second segment of the Key to Time, thanks to the villainy of an interplanetary pirate captain (Bruce Purchase). From his subterranean headquarters on the planet Zanak, the captain is able to pilot the planet throughout space, sucking the life forces from other planets all along the way. Could all this have something to do with the still-unseen Black Guardian, who is determined to prevent the Doctor from reassembling the Key to Time, thereby restoring the balance between Good and Evil? Written by Douglas Adams, "The Pirate Planet, Episode 3" first aired on October 14, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
