Louis Marks Movies

In this drama, set after the end of WW II, a young man returns to his father's small Bavarian village and is dismayed to learn that he died after he married a young woman and escaped from the communists. The young man listens, but he believes there is more to the story, and so begins looking into it himself. He then discovers that an important scientist has exchanged places with his father. The woman and another are planning to sneak the doctor to the east, but the son intervenes and helps the scientist escape the country. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Season Two of Doctor Who commenced on October 31, 1964 with the first episode of the three-part adventure "Planet of Giants." Finally arriving in England in 1964, the TARDIS crew discovers that a malfunction has shrunk them to the height of one inch. In these "reduced" circumstances, the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions stumble upon mad scientist Professor Smithers (Reginald Barrett) and evil businessman Forester (Alan Tilvern) to unleash a deadly pesticide called DN6 upon the unsuspecting world. This and the two subsequent episodes of Planet of Giants were written by Louis Marks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

New Year's Day 1972 brought forth the ninth season of Doctor Who, with episode one of the four-part "Day of the Daleks." The action commences when British diplomat Sir Reginald Styles (Wilfred Carter) claims to have seen a ghost at Auderly House. Inasmuch as this sighting may well compromise Sir Reginald's efforts to avert a cataclysmic war between Europe and China, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) are called in to investigate the diplomat's story. It turns out that the "ghost" is not a spectre from the past, but a grim portent from the future. "Day of the Daleks, Episode 1" was written by Louis Marks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "Day of the Daleks," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) have been whisked forward to the 22nd century, where a post-apocalyptic earth is under the dictatorial control of the Doctor's old enemies, the mutant Daleks. A group of guerilla fighters hope to travel back in time and kill diplomat Sir Reginald Styles (Wilfred Carter), whom they hold responsible for the Daleks' triumph. The Doctor wavers uncertainly between rescuing the intended victim -- who is currently under the protection of UNIT -- or casting his lot with the guerrillas. First telecast January 15, 1972, "Day of the Daleks, Episode 3" was written by Louis Marks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "Planet of Evil," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) continue their efforts to prevent deadly anti-matter from the planet Zeta Minor from being unleashed in the Matter Universe. Their efforts are complicated by the duplicity of single-minded Moestran geologist Professor Sorenson (Frederick Jaeger), not to mention a voracious anti-matter monster. Ultimately, the Doctor is forced to land on Zeta Minor, which act may result in his own grisly demise. Written by David Maloney, "Planet of Evil, Episode 3" was originally broadcast on October 11, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Planet of Evil," the efforts by Moestran geologist Professor Sorenson (Frederick Jaeger) to smuggle deadly anti-matter from the planet Zeta Minor has reaped devastating consequences. Racing against time, the Doctor (Tom Baker) must not only save the Universe (again), but also save Sorenson -- a good man withal -- from his own folly. Written by David Maloney, "Planet of Evil, Episode 4" was originally broadcast on October 18, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Mask of Mandragora," both the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) are slated to die at the hands of the Renaissance-era religious coven, The Brotherhood of Demnos. Arriving in the Brotherhood's palace, the Doctor steels himself for a showdown with coven leader Hieronymous (Norman Jones) -- while the Mandragora Helix, which has been using Hieronymous as a pawn in a scheme to take over the world, awaits the outcome of this final battle. An omnimous warning caps the last scene of "The Mask of Mandragora, Episode 4," which was written by Terrance Dicks and first aired on September 25, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "The Mask of Mandragora," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) find themselves trapped in the Italian village of San Martino in the 15th century. The village is held in the grip of terror by an ancient religious coven called the Brotherhood of Demnos -- which, in turn, is under the control of the Mandragora Helix, an entity been on conquering the world. Norman Jones is cast as Hieronymus, leader of the Brotherhood. Originally telecast on September 11, 1976, "The Mask of Mandragora, Episode 2" was written by Terrance Dicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Made for British television by filmmaker Mike Leigh, Grown Ups is a detailed slice-of-life drama about a married, working-class couple in Canterbury, England. The film begins with the young couple, Dick and Mandy, moving to a new, rather small home and becoming neighbors to Mr. Butcher, an abrasive, ill-humored man who they once had as a schoolteacher. This rather awkward living situation soon becomes even more uncomfortable, thanks to the near-constant presence of Mandy's older sister, Gloria. (Gloria is portrayed by Brenda Blethyn, who 17 years later would win recognition and an Oscar nomination for her work in Leigh's Secrets and Lies.) Gloria's eccentricity and desperate, child-like neediness leads her to become increasingly dependent on the young couple, showing up at all hours and rarely leaving. Her behavior grates on the already sour Dick and comes to test Mandy's patience as well. When Mandy's efforts to politely discourage her sister's visits prove fruitless, the extended family is forced into a painful, emotionally charged confrontation. Leigh purposefully alternates the film's more immediate dramatic elements with careful, real-time portraits of daily life, giving equal weight to both traumatic arguments and extended conversations about home decor and vacuum cleaners. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Day After the Fair is a two-part TV adaptation of Thomas Hardy's On the Western Circuit. The unhappy wife (Hannah Gordon) of a brewery owner takes pity on a lonely, pregnant serving girl (Sammi Davis). The illiterate servant prevails upon her protector to write a letter to the London man (Martyn Stanbridge) whom the servant met briefly at a carnival. Almost in spite of herself, the brewer's wife finds herself the referee in the affaires d'amour of the lower orders. Taped in England, both parts of Day After the Fair were telecast in the U.S. back to back on March 12, 1988, as a double-header attraction on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on a novel by Muriel Spark (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie), the British TV drama Memento Mori boasts an impressive cast of veterans, including Maurice Denham, Cyril Cusack, Sir Michael Hordern, Renee Ashershon, and Maggie Smith. The story concerns an eccentric group of senior citizens who are being plagued by a cryptic phone caller. The mystery man (or woman) says only "Remember, you must die!" before hanging up. For a while, it seems as though the domineering Ms. Smith is the instigator of the crank calls, but don't be too sure. Memento Muri premiered in the US as a two-part installment of Masterpiece Theatre, telecast October 25 and November 1, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this 1994 BBC adaptation of George Eliot's novel, altruism, social reform, and romantic love struggle to survive against snobbery, economic oppression, and self-indulgence. Set in the fictional town of Middlemarch in the 1830s, the film begins when Dr. Tertius Lydgate (Douglas Hodge) arrives in the community to begin a medical practice. Because of his knowledge of the latest medical techniques and his desire to do humanitarian work and pioneering laboratory research, Lydgate becomes the ideal candidate for the pro bono position of superintendent of a new Middlemarch hospital. Meanwhile, Dorothea Brooke (Juliet Aubrey), a well-to-do resident of the nearby town of Tipton Grange, desperately searches for a noble cause to occupy her time. She and her sister Celia, both orphans, live with their uncle, Arthur Brooke (Robert Hardy), in a spacious home where they enjoy a comfortable life. After Dorothea observes the plight of poor tenant farmers during a horseback ride in the country, she decides to promote new housing for the farmers. But Dorothea and Lydgate both encounter obstacles as they attempt to realize their dreams. In Dorothea's case, her own uncle, Mr. Brooke, who operates the worst of the tenant farms, refuses to endorse her housing plan. As a self-satisfied member of the local establishment and a possible candidate for Parliament, he deems it wise to maintain the status quo. In Lydgate's case, a corrupt banker, Nicholas Bulstrode (Peter Jeffrey), threatens to block the physician's appointment as hospital superintendent unless he supports Bulstrode's candidate for the hospital chaplaincy. Against his better judgment, Lydgate compromises his integrity and backs Bulstrode's man rather than the man better-suited for the job. But the problems of Dorothea and Lydgate don't stop there. Dorothea, who is strikingly attractive, intelligent, and sensitive, chooses a middle-aged husband, the Rev. Edward Casaubon (Patrick Malahide), because she thinks she can contribute to his scholarly pursuits. But after marrying him, she discovers he is cold and conceited -- a walking book with an attitude. Her real love, though she doesn't fully realize it, is Will Ladislaw (Rufus Sewell), a handsome painter and social reformer who now must keep his distance from the married woman. Lydgate, deeply in love with pretty Rosamond Vincy (Trevyn McDowell), marries her only to discover that she is a self-centered spendthrift. While he dotes on her, she dotes on his bank account. Subplots emerge to add suspense and intrigue. One involves Rosamond's brother, Fred (Jonathan Firth), who abandons his studies for the ministry against his father's wishes to work the land and to pursue a young woman below his social status. Another involves the grasping banker Bulstrode, who is being blackmailed for acquiring money illegally. Casaubon dies of a heart ailment less than two years after he marries Dorothea, but he manages to hold onto her from the grave. His will states that she must forfeit all the property she inherits if she marries Ladislaw. Because she has already committed portions of her considerable inheritance to charitable causes, she rejects Ladislaw, but cannot tell him why. By this time, Rosamond has bankrupted Lydgate. Suspense builds as the film moves toward its conclusion and discloses the fate of the central characters -- Dorothea, Ladislaw, Lydgate, Rosamond, Bulstrode, and the others. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide