Geoffrey Denton Movies
- 1972
- PG
More widely seen in Britain as Nothing but the Night, this atmospheric chiller -- based on the novel Children of the Night by John Blackburn -- stars the ubiquitous Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing as a Scotland Yard inspector and a forensics expert sent to investigate a series of mysterious deaths among the elderly caretakers of a Scottish orphanage. Their probing uncovers a diabolical plot perpetrated by members of a Satanic cult, involving the use of an experimental serum which contains the genetic memories of its departed members. The caretakers have been injecting the serum into their young charges in order to use their bodies as healthy vessels for the Satanists' return, and the resulting possession transforms them into sadistic murderers. Although Christopher Lee acted as co-producer on both this film and the superb mystical classic The Wicker Man, it bears little resemblance to the latter, playing more like a Hammer-style variant on the American-made Brotherhood of Satan, released the previous year. Also known as The Resurrection Syndicate. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Director Anthony Mann's final film (Mann died during the filming, and the production was completed by the film's star, Laurence Harvey) is a kitchen-sink espionage drama with Harvey as Eberlin, a Russian spy and double-agent, homesick and pining for the Russian steppes. It is in this risky mood that Eberlin falls in love with the emaciated Caroline (Mia Farrow). Complications arise when he is directed to kill a Russian spy -- but the Russian spy happens to be himself. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Harvey, Tom Courtenay, (more)
- 1964
Based on a novel by Laurence Meynell, this film tells of a young businessman from England who who gets involved in a scheme to inundate a small communist country in the Middle East with counterfeit money. Things do not go as planned when his wife begins digging into matters. This thriller runs a short 59 minutes. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Reynolds, Dermot Walsh, (more)
- 1962
The 58-minute Touch of Death manages to pack quite a lot into its short lifespan. The action begins when a gang of crooks pulls off a huge heist. What the criminals don't know is that the loot has been treated with a deadly poison. Commandeering a houseboat, the bad guys terrorized the female occupant (Jan Waters) before they start dropping like flies. Director Lance Comfort wasn't what you could call inspired, but he sure knew how to sustain audience interest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
This zany film marks the screen debut of Britain's popular comedy troupe, The Crazy Gang. The story begins as the gang are busy sweeping up for the almost bankrupt circus they work for. The owner of a rival carnival endeavors to put them out of business for good. The Crazies manage to foil his evil scheme after they find a magical oil lamp containing a helpful genie. Along the way, the troupe performs a variety of specialty acts including a comic trapeze act, juggling, magic, cornball jokes, and songs, which include: "Life is a Circus", "For You, For You", and "Underneath the Arches". ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bud Flanagan, Teddy Knox, (more)
- 1959
Naked Fury is a 60-minute British crime quickie. Four robbers kill a night watchman while knocking over a warehouse. They kidnap the daughter (Leigh Madison) of the murdered man and hole up in a squalid shack. One of the robbers (Kenneth Cope) falls in love with the hostage, triggering a falling out with his fellow crooks. Final score: Hostage 1, Crooks 0. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
In this crime drama, an innocent man is imprisoned and his 10-year-old son is left to suffer the consequences at the hands of his schoolmates who taunt him mercilessly. One day the boy witnesses the same type of crime that got his father in prison. To bring the real culprits to justice, the police use the brave boy as a decoy. Though his life is endangered for a time, the ruse works and his father is finally freed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1953
Project M7 is the American title for the British The Net. Based on a novel by John Pudney, the film is set in an aviation research station. At the moment, the researchers are working on a revolutionary new aircraft, and competition to be first with the results is fierce. There's little love lost amongst the scientists, but no one expect the personal animosities to result in murder. The killing in question was committed by an enemy spy...but which one of the scientists is the guilty party? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phyllis Calvert, James Donald, (more)
- 1951
Don't be misled by the title, and by the presence of Glynis Johns in the cast. The "Venus" in Appointment with Venus is a prized cow. The time is World War II: special operatives David Niven and Glynis Johns are dispatched to a Nazi-held island to rescue Venus, who for some reason or other is vital for British morale. Naturally, this isn't easy and leads to all sorts of complications. Released in the US as Island Rescue, Appointment with Venus was based on a novel by Jerrard Tickell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Niven, Glynis Johns, (more)
- 1949
Adam and Evelyne stars Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons, who were husband and wife in the 1950s. Granger plays a "sang froid" gambler with little room for emotional entanglements in his life. When his best friend dies, Granger agrees to adopt the friend's daughter. She grows up to be Jean Simmons; Granger falls in love, but says nothing about his feelings because Jean accepts him as her real father. The denouement is right out of Daddy Long Legs, but is still effective within its new framework. When Adam and Evelyne made the Atlantic crossing and opened in the US, it was retitled Adam and Evelyn. Who knows why? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stewart Granger, Jean Simmons, (more)
