Ben Cross Movies
Formerly of the RADA and Royal Shakespeare Company, British leading man Ben Cross made an impressive film debut as Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in Chariots of Fire (1981). Cross' participation in this Oscar-winning film immediately opened up new professional doors and increased his asking price. But he was not about to blindly capitalize on his new fame; he turned down 100,000 dollars to play Prince Charles in a made-for-TV movie in favor of appearing for a comparative pittance in a BBC miniseries adaptation of A.J. Cronin's The Citadel. He has continued to select film, stage, and TV roles on the basis of quality rather than monetary potential. One exception may be Cross' acceptance of the role of centuries-old vampire Barnabas Collins in the failed 1991 revival of the cult-favorite TV series Dark Shadows. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A brilliant and beautiful college professor makes a terrifying discovery about herself after experiencing a frightening blackout in the latest installment of the shocking Species series. Miranda Hollander (Helena Mattsson) is a genius who is about to discover just how little she truly knows about the universe. Upon awakening from a mysterious blackout, Miranda is horrified to find herself surrounded by a mass of mutilated human bodies. When Miranda approaches her uncle in hopes of discovering an answer to this disturbing development, she is shaken to learn that she is in fact a half-human/half-alien clone. Now, the only hope for Miranda is to flee to Mexico with her uncle and seek out the scientist who created her. But it won't be long before Miranda is unable to suppress the killer instincts boiling up within her, and with an endless horde of murderous hybrids on their trail, it's only a matter of time before planet Earth becomes the ultimate extraterrestrial battleground. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helena Mattsson, Ben Cross, (more)
Set in the year 1882, director Pinchas Perry's adaptation of Irvin D. Yalom's fictional 1992 novel finds a depressed Friedrich Nietzsche seeking out the advice of pioneering psychoanalyst Josef Breuer for help in battling mental malaise. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Cross, Armand Assante, (more)
This television miniseries tells the familiar story of Spartacus, played in this endeavor by ER regular Goran Visnjic. Spartacus, who was enslaved by the Romans after they murdered his father, leads fellow slaves in an attempt to overthrow the repressive Roman Empire. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Goran Visnjic, Alan Bates, (more)
This drama was the ninth in a series of made-for-TV features dramatizing famous stories from the Bible. Solomon (Ben Cross), the son of David (Max Von Sydow), inherits his father's kingdom and becomes the ruler of Israel. While Solomon consolidates power through his marriages, it is his intelligence, sense of justice, and desire to see his people live in peace that earns him the respect and admiration of his subjects. Solomon also stars Vivica A. Fox as the Queen of Saba, Anouk Aimee as Bethsabea, and Maria Grazia Cucinotta as Abishag. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Cross, Vivica A. Fox, (more)
- 1999
In this witty drama, the future of art is examined from two vantage points: the years 1699 and 1999. Roland (Dennis Hopper) is an avant-garde artist in Venice, California whose sister, Countess Camilla Volta (Lauren Bacall), lives on their family's estate in Venice, Italy. Their father, The Viscount (John Wood), is near death, and he announces, to the disappointment of both his offspring, that his home and priceless collection of art have been bequeathed to the Italian government. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lauren Bacall, Dennis Hopper, (more)
- 1996
Michael Anderson directed this TV movie version of Jules Verne's oft-adapted science fiction classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Richard Crenna stars as Henry Aronnax, a marine biologist, who, along with his crew, must confront the maniacal genius Captain Nemo (Ben Cross), helmsman of the Nautilus. Paul Gross and Julie Cox also star. This film should not be confused with the other 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea TV movie that aired the same year and starred Michael Caine and Patrick Dempsey. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Crenna
- 1996
Ten years ago Oxford archaeology professor Robert Rylands suddenly and mysteriously left the college and the town to embark upon a long journey. His sudden return creates quite a stir, and most of this English-language Spanish drama, based on a novel by Javier Marias, centers on the effect it has upon those who know and love him. As soon as he arrives, Rylands heads straight for the police department and sits down to tell a policeman and good friend about his adventure. The plot then moves to Alfred, a fellow lecturer who lives with Jill, his sister and her daughter, Sue. Juan, a Spanish guest lecturer is also staying with them. Jill is worried about Alfred who has been suffering from a bizarre illness that causes him to faint and makes it difficult for him to use his left hand. She finds Rylands' sudden reappearance most distracting. Somehow the lives of Rylands, Jill and Alfred are connected, and both Sue and Juan decide to find out how. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1994
The most notable thing about this Italian drama, set in British East Africa (Kenya) during WW II, is it's scenery. It follows the factual adventure of an Italian POW, Franco Distassi, interred in a British camp run by African subjects. The camp is close to Mount Kenya, one of the most challenging peaks for mountain-climbers. The chief officer, Major David Farrell, a recent widower and unambitious officer, wants to climb Mount Kenya. He is also interested in a lovely local widow. He has failed in his attempts for both the mountain and the woman. POWs Franco Distassi challenges Maj. Farrell to a climb. He and a partner, Enzo, create a plan, which may involve an escape, to place the Italian flag at the summit and then sneak back to camp. Franco dislikes the notion of planting the flag, but persists in the endeavor after Enzo must quit. He is pursued by the enraged and envious Major. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Spano, Ben Cross, (more)
- 1993
This compilation tape consists of three episodes from the USA Network's Ray Bradbury Theater syndicated television series. All of the episodes have to do with Mars exploration or Martian beings. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
Pierce Brosnan stars as Danny O'Neill, an FBI explosives expert on the trail of a mad bomber in this made-for-cable thriller. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierce Brosnan, Lisa Eilbacher, (more)
- 1992
In this lively caper film, an ex-con with uncommon expertise in understanding the workings of high-tech security systems begins preparing to steal a rare diamond that is worth over $5 million. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1991
She Stood Alone is the fact-based story of Prudence Crandall, described by her admirers as "the bravest woman in America." In Connecticut in the 1830s, Ms. Crandall establishes a school for young woman. Upon her acceptance of a black girl for admission, Prudence endures racism, threats, renunciations and mob violence. When the white parents pull their children out, Prudence defiantly opens the doors of her school exclusively for African-American girls. Mare Winningham is excellent, and scrupulously accurate in her period costumes and mannerisms, as Prudence Crandall. Produced by Disney, She Stood Alone was originally telecast as part of NBC's "Education 1st" week in April of 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
