Harry H. Corbett Movies

Coming in around the middle of the pack, this so-so drama about motorcycle racing features David Essex, the British pop star, as Nick Freeman. Nick's brother has died before he is able to test and race the motorcycle he developed, and now Nick has inherited that responsibility. In spite of a series of tough setbacks, including the loss of his girlfriend, Nick goes into the big race he has been waiting for with all his energy and concentration bent on winning. An underhanded American racer (Beau Bridges) is among the competition, so there may be trouble before the finish line is crossed. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

The British "Adventures Of..." series can be described as a dirtier "Carry On" (if such a thing is possible). Christopher Neil plays the title character in 1987's Adventures of a Private Eye. Neil's life is plunged into peril when he agrees to deal with a blackmailer. To achieve his purposes, our hero is obliged to make love to every beautiful girl he meets; it's meant to be satirical, but the laughs often take second place to the heavy breathing. If nothing else, Adventures of a Private Eye treats us to a performance by the delectable 1960s leading lady Suzy Kendall. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The 1972 British farce Percy was about the world's first penis transplant; Percy's Progress constitutes the sequel, with Leigh Lawson taking over for Hywel Bennett in the leading role. The plot concerns a chemical that contaminates the world's water supply; as a result, every man is rendered impotent -- -except Percy. Percy's Progress was also released as It's Not the Size That Counts. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This video contains a trio of episodes from the popular British sitcom that chronicles the hilarious travails of a junk man and his son. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

This video contains a trio of episodes from the popular British sitcom that chronicles the hilarious travails of a junk man and his son. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Steptoe and Son was the British TV precursor to the American sitcom Sanford and Son. Wilfred Brambell, the "clean old grandfather" from the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night, starred in the "Fred Sanford" role as an irascible cockney junk dealer. Harry H. Corbett was the British series' "Lamont", albeit a far more oafish character. This theatrical-feature adaptation of Steptoe and Son tends to stretch the premise rather than develop it. Still, the stars do their best with the mediocre material at hand. And, to be fair, the film was popular enough to inspire a sequel, 1973's Steptoe and Son Ride Again. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Herbie Hassler (Telly Savalas) and Marty Miller (Warren Oates) are American gangsters who plan to rob an opulent aristocratic home of valuable art treasures. Under the orders of crime boss Nick Marco (Cesar Romero), the duo charms Lady Fitzmore (Edith Evans), a wealthy dowager and proprietress of a monied estate. The plan is to work in collaboration with a British gang lead by Finley (Harry H. Corbett). When the time comes to initiate the big heist, the sentimental American crooks can't bring themselves to rob their eccentric but lovable hostess. They confess the plan and work with Lady Fitzmore and Lord Fitzmore (Nicky Henson) in an effort to catch their British burglar counterparts in this delightful crime comedy. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

One of several satirical films in the British "Carry On" series, this is a broad spoof of horror films in general and of Universal monster movies in particular. The buffoonish heroes -- a pair of inept Scotland Yard inspectors named Bung and Slowbottom -- are investigating the disappearance of several women in the vicinity of Hocomb Woods when they cross paths with mad scientist Dr. Watt (Kenneth Williams) and his slinky, sexy vampire sister Valaria (Fenella Fielding), both of whom have been turning the abducted women into statues. Joining in the fun are the resident werewolf, the mummy, a pseudo-Frankenstein monster and a gaggle of ghouls resurrected by Watt's diabolical experiments. Goofy fun for those looking for a decidedly British take on Addams Family-style monster antics. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

A British charwoman and her colleagues strike it rich on the stock market when she discovers a wastebasket filled with market tips in this drama. Later they decide to use their money for good after they overhear a wicked financier planning to destroy the cleaning woman's neighborhood. Together they manage to save the neighborhood. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

This is a somewhat sensitive story of a virgin 39-year-old British soccer fan who goes to a bar with a bunch of his pals and is goaded into betting that he can sleep with the sassy waitress. What he doesn't know is that she overhears the bet and decides to call better's bluff. They take off to her apartment and carry on an all-night conversation in which finally ends in less talk and more tickle. ~ Rovi

Released in the US as A Boy Ten Feet Tall, Sammy Going South is a rugged youngster's-eye-view adventure set in South Africa. 10-year-old orphan Sammy (Fergus McClelland), who resides in Port Said, tries to locate his only relative, who lives 5000 miles away across the desert in Durban. After the death of his first guide, an erstwhile peddler, Sammy is rescued by a wealthy tourist (Constance Cummings). Not anxious to return to Port Said, Sammy escapes his benefactress and links up with a crafty old hunter/diamond smuggler (Edward G. Robinson), whose life is saved by the boy. When the police search for Sammy, they arrest the old man, who has been a fugitive for years. When Sammy is finally united with his Aunt (Zena Walker), he learns that the old smuggler has willed him his fortune. Released in the US at 88 minutes, Sammy Going South was restored to its full 118 minutes for television. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

More of a corny propaganda film for a British social engineering policy program of the 1960s than a serious attempt to tackle an issue, this youth drama is notable chiefly because it features an early performance by David Hemmings, four years before he rose to prominence in Blow-Up (1966). Bert (Hemmings), Bill (David Andrews), and Johnnie (Ray Brooks) are a trio of juvenile delinquents in Bristol who lose their driver's licenses after a 100 mile-per-hour accident on their motorcycles. Bored without their speed machines and alienated in their economically-depressed factory town, they assemble a rock band with the aid and encouragement of Smith (Kenneth More), the choir director of a local church who offers his facilities for rehearsal space. The band becomes involved with a youth awards program devised as a community outreach vehicle by the Duke of Edinburgh and the British government, and despite some lingering moments of dissension, they begin to turn their lives around, encouraged all the while by a hopeful adult community. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

This is a routine tale about the vice squad versus pornographer and blackmailer Augie Cortona (Terence Morgan). After the petty criminal gets out of prison, he discovers his old partners in crime are not interested in him anymore, and the prostitution ring he once bossed is controlled by someone else. His solution is to set up a fake photographer's and model's studio during the day that becomes a place where porno photo men can do their work at night, as call girls engage in their trade with unsuspecting customers. The photographs bring in extra lucre through a blackmail scheme -- Cortona makes the hookers' clients pay to keep their activities quiet. As he is building up this racket, a gangland boss is out to get him -- and so is the vice squad. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi