Rachel Davies Movies
In this drama, John McKeown (Pete Postlethwaite) is a police detective who has come to have severe reservations about his job and his life. When two teenage boys are brought in on suspicion of murder, McKeown comes to the conclusion that the kids simply found the body while trying to rob a factory and were not involved with the killing. McKeown discovers that one of the would-be thieves, 17-year-old Dex (Jamie Draven), has no parents and is raising his younger brother and sister on his own. Dex supports himself and his siblings as a gardener and groundskeeper, for which he shows a natural talent, and McKeown believes that poverty rather than a criminal nature led Dex to consider a life of crime. McKeown and his girlfriend Sandra (Alison Newman) befriend Dex and often check in to see how he and his siblings are doing, but subsequent events lead the detective to wonder just how Dex lost his parents in the first place -- and if his role in the murder was as innocent as he first believed. The Butterfly Collector was originally produced as a three-hour mini-series for British television. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pete Postlethwaite, Rachel Davies, (more)
- 1998
This episode introduces yet another in a long line of Xena lookalikes: Leah, the high priestess of the Hestian Virgins (a role played, of course, by Lucy Lawless). When Leah is threatened with death, bordello operator Meg (who also is the spitting image of Xena, and is also enacted by Lucy Lawless) offers to take her place. And as is customary in episodes of this nature, Xena's friend Joxer (Ted Raimi) is hopelessly confused. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless
- 1997
With Xena (Lucy Lawless) elsewhere, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) and Joxer (Ted Raimi) rescue a Princess (Mandie Gillette) who is en route to marry a handsome prince. Unexpectedly, the Princess falls in love with the klutzy Joxer, who, thanks to an inter-celestial tiff between Aphrodite (Alexandra Tydings) and Cupid (Karl Urban), has suddenly been transformed into a dashing hero. This metamorphosis is brought about by the ringing of a local bell -- which also takes away Joxer's new personality at the most embarrassing moments. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1985
- PG
In a gritty teen drama-comedy about racial tensions and high school competition, Christopher Wild stars as Kevin, the son of a white racist who goes against his father's prejudices by making friends with many black kids at school. The blacks have a band and majorette corps called the Crusaders that are blessed with talent but not much discipline. The white kids at school have their own marching band called the Knights, and Kevin is a hot-shot drummer for this otherwise pretty awful group of musicians. The Knights team up with the gorgeous majorette troupe known as the Emeralds and get ready for the big up-coming competition. Kevin gets invited by the Crusaders' conga drummer Melissa (Beverley Hills) to come practice with them and from those simple beginnings, he is caught up in a new romance and racial biases all at the same time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Wild, Warren Mitchell, (more)
A British couple's attempts to circumvent local food-rationing regulations trigger a chaotic series of events in this satirical comedy set in post-World War II England. The couple's scheme centers on a massive hog which has been illegally raised by a local farmer. Seeing a chance to capitalize on pork's scarcity, the ambitious Joyce Chilvers (Maggie Smith) convinces her mild-mannered husband (Michael Palin) to steal the pig. Unfortunately for the Chilverses, a vigilant food inspector is on duty and determined to stop all such illegal activity. The couple's efforts to hide the pig provide much material for frantic and sometimes grotesque farce. Playwright Alan Bennett's acerbic targets the British class system and the wife's social ambitions. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Palin, Maggie Smith, (more)
- 1981
A minor installment in the BBC's otherwise superb Hammer House of Horror television series, this installment details the woes suffered by a suburban family whose house displays the usual earmarks of rampant poltergeistism -- ranging from body parts in the fridge to literal geysers of blood bursting from overhead plumbing during the daughter's birthday party. The setpieces are obviously derivative of The Amityville Horror, with the only original twists arriving at the ending -- which turns out to be quite a groaner. Released in the U.S. first to cable TV, then to the "Thrillervideo" label, with bumper segments hosted by buxom horror vixen Elvira, who peppers the proceedings with her usual banter -- to wit: "When a house starts bleeding, it's darn near impossible to get a tourniquet on that sucker." ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Still roaming about in E-Space, the Doctor (Tom Baker), Romana (Lalla Ward), and Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) land on a mysterious planet governed by a sinister trio known as the Three Who Rule. Though the planet is outwardly primitive, the Doctor cannot help but notice that the aura of high intelligence still lingers in the air. He will soon learn that he is closer to his own Time Lord world of Gallifrey than he suspects. Beginning its four-episode run on November 22, 1980, "State of Decay" was written by Terrance Dicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, (more)
- 1980
In the second episode of the four-part story "State of Decay," the Doctor (Tom Baker), Romana (Lalla Ward), and Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), still lost in E-Space, have landed on a feudalistic planet run by three mysterious, highly intelligent Lords. The Doctor eventually discovers that the rulers are from Earth and that it was on this planet that his own race, the Time Lords, first developed their aversion to violence. If this is true, why does it appear that the Lords keep themselves alive by feeding on the other residents of the planet? First shown on November 29, 1980, "State of Decay, Episode 2" was written by Terrance Dicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, (more)
- 1980
In the conclusion of the four-part story "State of Decay," the Doctor (Tom Baker) must find a way to destroy the minions of the Great Vampire without breaking his Time Lord oath of avoiding violence. Even if he solves this dilemma, will the Doctor, Romana (Lalla Ward), and Adric (Mathew Waterhouse) be able to escape E-Space and answer an urgent summons to Gallifrey? First shown on December 13, 1980, "State of Decay, Episode 4" was written by Terrance Dicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, (more)
- 1980
In the third episode of the four-part story "State of Decay," the Doctor (Tom Baker) discovers that the planet on which he is stranded is ruled by the minions of the Great Vampire, who was exiled after a bloody war with the Time Lords. Bound to an ancient edict, the Doctor must destroy the Vampires' henchmen. How can he do this while simultaneously bound to the edict that no Time Lord should ever resort to violence? First shown on December 6, 1980, "State of Decay, Episode 3" was written by Terrance Dicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, (more)
John Schlesinger directs the war romance Yanks, based on the story by Colin Welland. Set in England at the end of WWII, the story concerns three American GIs and their affairs with British women of varying social status. The central romance concerns Sgt. Matt Dyson (Richard Gere) and Jean Moreton (Lisa Eichhorn making her film debut), who is the daughter of shopkeepers (Rachel Roberts and Tony Melody). He falls in love with her but she is still infatuated with her boyfriend Ken (Derek Thompson). Higher up on the class scale, the officer John (William Devane) has a brief extramarital affair with socialite Helen (Vanessa Redgrave). The third pairing involves Sgt. Danny Ruffelo (Chick Vennera) in a fling with Mollie (Wendy Morgan). Eventually, the Americans and the Britains find themselves surrounded by racism at a New Year's Eve dance. Annie Ross from the vocal jazz group Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross appears briefly as a Red Cross nurse. Yanks won two BAFTA awards in 1980: to Shirley Russell for Best Costume Design and to Rachel Roberts for Best Supporting Actress. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Gere, Lisa Eichhorn, (more)
