Jonathan Rumbold Movies
- 1992
In this epic historical drama, set in the 10th century, a young Christian man is sent by his Scandinavian superiors to Iceland to assist in the conversion of that island to Christianity. Young Askur is deeply in love with Embla, but he must leave for the remote realm of Iceland on his mission before he can come back and make her his wife. There is much bad blood between those who follow the old ways and those who follow the new, and a strong arm on the side of the Christians is warmly welcomed. This production drew on talent and funding from all over Scandinavia and by local standards was a phenomenally expensive picture, costing around $7 million dollars to make; it did not repay these costs during its Scandinavian release. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Bonnevie, Egil Olafsson, (more)
- 1987
In this somewhat tasteless romantic comedy, a feuding but very wealthy married couple are planning their divorce while relaxing at luxury hotels in Yugoslavia. The husband hires a hitman to kill his wife, while his adulterous wife is trying to persuade one of her many lovers to do her husband in. Should these attempted murders not succeed, the husband will have to give in to his wife's attempts to blackmail him for his long-time incestuous affair with his sixteen-year old daughter. Since the daughter has her own lethal romantic agenda, things don't go quite as planned. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Burns, Fiona Curzon, (more)
- 1972
- PG
Peter Cushing delivers one of his finest hand-wringing performances as Emmanuel Hildern, a Victorian man of science who relates a mad tale of horror to his half-brother and professional rival James (Christopher Lee). His tale begins with the discovery of the weird skeletal remains of a large unknown humanoid in Papua, new Guinea, which he carts back to England for study. Even more unusual than the skeleton's ghastly appearance is its ability to grow new flesh when moistened with water. Further research reveals that the creature may actually be instilled with the very essence of malevolence (basically freeze-dried, instant evil), indicating that it would be best kept out of the rain. Despite an incongruous subplot involving the doctor's insane daughter, whom he believes can be cured by injections of serum derived from the creature's reanimated tissue, this is an effectively creepy period piece with heady Gothic atmosphere (and a neat twist ending) that ranks among director Freddie Francis's finest work. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
