Michael Peake Movies

Made in England at a time when Morecambe and Wise were popular with TV audiences, this movie is as good as it is because of the inclusion of three of their more popular routines. A surprisingly complicated plot, though very thin, keeps the audience confused, however, in a tale rife with political intrigue, a British-Russian pact and other espionage-type complications which keep the bumbling spies hopping as they try to catch a ring of saboteurs. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "The Romans," the Doctor (William Hartnell) is still in the court of Roman emperor Nero (Derek Francis), still trying to secure the release of his enslaved travelling companions Ian (William Russell) and Barbara (Jacqueline Hill). As if this isn't peril enough, the tone-deaf Doctor is forcibly pressed into service as a court musician. Meanwhile, conspirators plan to murder Nero in mid-debauch. Originally telecast on January 30, 1965, "Conspiracy" was written by Dennis Spooner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A small German town falls prey to an unseen monster that turns its victims into lifeless statues in this mid-'60s outing from Hammer Studios. When the girlfriend of bohemian artist Bruno Heitz (Jeremy Longhurst) becomes the latest townsperson to turn up dead, her corpse transformed to stone, Bruno hangs himself, leaving the town to assume his guilt. But when his father, Prof. Heitz (Michael Goodliffe), comes to investigate, he too encounters the Gorgon and turns to stone. Just before dying, the professor dashes off instructions to his other son, Paul (Richard Pasco), about how to exonerate Bruno. Suspicion falls on Dr. Namaroff (Peter Cushing), proprietor of the local madhouse, although one of his patients (Joyce Hemson) seems just as likely a culprit. Then along comes Prof. Carl Maister (Christopher Lee), a folklore expert from the University of Leipzig, who claims that the murderer is actually a human possessed by the spirit of Magaera, one of Medusa's snake-haired sisters from Greek mythology. Together, Paul and Dr. Namaroff attempt to root out the incognito Gorgon while Paul courts lovely amnesiac Carla Hoffman (Barbara Shelley). Directed by Hammer veteran Terence Fisher, The Gorgon is one of several films to feature British horror mainstays Lee and Cushing side by side. In the States, the film appeared with The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb on a double bill promoted by the distribution of a unique giveaway item: black stamps. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Jazz musician Acker Bilk plays himself in this cinematic jam session of music, melodrama, and low comedy. The film's title is literal: the plot involves a jazz band comprised of ex-convicts. Once released, they supposedly go straight, taking their show on the road. Actually, their tour is a subterfuge to commit a series of robberies. Jimmy Thompson appears in Band of Thieves for comedy relief, while Jennifer Jayne hangs around for sex appeal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An effective, low-budget crime drama about a bank robbery gone wrong, this tale begins when three men get together to plan the bank heist over a long weekend. What they do not count on is the presence of two cleaning women who tragically alter their plans. The thieves end up locking the bank manager and a female teller in the air-tight vault -- thereby dooming them to death by suffocation. After the thieves leave the bank, they agree that one of them should call the police and leave the keys to the vault next to the phone. But that plan is ruined when the lone thief is killed in a traffic accident. Caught between the desire to save the two people in the vault and the need to escape, the remaining two thieves are caught in a serious dilemma. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Throughout his life, Stephen Bolt (Sean Kelly) has been tortured by a recurring nightmare, in which he is murdered at the hands of a stranger. This horrible dream has made a nervous wreck of Bolt, losing him the respect of his father and the love of his sweetheart. To purge himself of his inner demons, Stephen describes the face of his "nightmare killer" to a sketch artist, then sets out sea in hopes of finding his murderer and stopping him before the premonition comes true. This is one of several One Step Beyond episodes filmed in England. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Terry-Thomas plays the military-officer head of an amiable gang of amateur British thieves. He is recruited for this task by wealthy dowager Athene Seyler, who merely wants to retrieve stolen minks from genuine crooks. Any profits accrued by this undertaking are to be turned over to charity. Once we're aware that everyone's heart is in the right place, we can laugh freely at the film's collection of would-be reprobates, and vicariously hold out hopes for their success. Best bit: Terry-Thomas, backed by Anton Karas' "Third Man" theme, skulking into what appears to be a waterfront dive to make contact with a "fence," only to discover that he's stumbled into a Salvation Army mission. Make Mine Mink was based on Breath of Spring, a play by Peter Coke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This thriller centers on the possession of a valuable new metal that is able to withstand nuclear radiation. It had been invented by a Belgian metallurgist, but he was murdered by an international ring of thieves who make some of the valuable alloy into a cigarette case that is placed on an unknowing jewel thief in hopes that he will inadvertently sneak it into East Germany. Unfortunately, he decides to sell the case back to the ring leader and is almost killed. Fortunately, he escapes and gets the case to the proper authorities. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this charming children's adventure, a big game hunter's son doesn't share his father's love of killing; he prefers his animals alive. He dreams of having his very own coatimundi. Trouble begins when one of the rare creatures disappears from the local zoo. A newsreel cameraman is blamed for the theft until the boy steps forward and confesses his crime. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Based on Montague R. James' classic shiver tale Casting the Runes, Curse of the Demon (aka Night of the Demon) is an exercise in psychological terror. American Professor Dana Andrews investigates a devil-worshipping cult active in England. The cult has apparently been responsible for more than one death in recent months, and it's all the handiwork of the group's leader, an Aleister Crowley type played by Niall MacGinnis. When Andrews comes too close to MacGinnis for comfort, the devil worshipper slips a ancient parchment into Andrews' research files. The document carries a curse that will mean death for whoever possesses it. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide