Stacy Dorning Movies
- 1985
Part of the British mystery series based on the books by Agatha Christie, Miss Marple: A Pocketful of Rye was first aired in 1985. The body of wealthy tyrant Rex Fortescue (Timothy West) is found and presumably poisoned. After his wife turns up dead, the maid Gladys Martin (Annette Badland) takes it upon herself to ask her old teacher Miss Jane Marple (Joan Hickson) for help. When Gladys is also killed, Miss Marple starts to piece together the clues in the form of a morbid nursery rhyme. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Hickson
- 1979
Directed by Andrew Gosling, this BBC production features a blend of live action with various pieces of animation and illustrations of the storybook itself in its interpretation of author Greg MacDonald's 1862 fairytale. The story centers around a princess who, though quite beautiful, was cursed at the moment of her birth by a malevolent aunt. The spells conditions rendered the princess physically and emotionally unable to take life seriously--the gravity-free princess literally lives in the air. The danger of blowing away or becoming lost within the clouds is a constant threat, though she does spend a short stint beneath a lake. Once her aunt places another evil spell condeming the lake to a permanently dried up state, however, it looks like the princess' chance at a normal life is wrapped up in a handsome prince who's willing to pay the ultimate price in exchange for her happiness.
~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Just William was one of two identically titled British TV series adapted from Richmal Crompton's best-selling books about naughty schoolboy William Brown. The terror of everyone over the age of consent, William and his youthful gang, the appropriately yclept "the Outlaws," seemed incapable of getting through an entire day without wreaking havoc. At that, William was easier to take than his classroom nemesis Violet Elizabeth (Bonnie Langford), a tantrum-throwing brat who sounded like Elmer Fudd. Telecast on Sunday afternoons, the 1978 version of Just William ran from February 6, 1977 to January 22, 1978, chalking up 26 half-hour episodes and one 60-minute special. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Dannatt, Hugh Cross, (more)
- 1975
Victor Frankenstein is a faithful adaptation of Mary Shelley's 1818 Gothic novel. Rather than being a thrill-packed scare-fest, this film focuses on the consequences of Dr. Frankenstein's act, reanimating the dead. The basically normal-looking "monster" (Per Oscarsson) is clearly bewildered by his new condition and his strength: when he abducts Frankenstein's bride as his own, he inadvertently kills her. In an effort to prevent further harm, Dr. Frankenstein (Leon Vitali) chases his creation over the globe. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon Vitali, Per Oscarsson, (more)
Terror of Frankenstein, an Irish/Swedish coproduction, avoids the gimmickry and anachronisms which have distinguished previous versions of the Frankenstein story. This is done through the simple expedient of returning to the source, the original 19th century Mary Shelley novel. Terror is virtually a page-by-page retelling of the Shelley book, taking us from Dr. Frankenstein's earliest efforts to create synthetic life, progressing through the creation of his monster and the horrible consequences, and ending with the Doctor dead and his doleful monster exiled to an ice floe. This would remain the most faithful version of the classic horror novel until Kenneth Branagh's overproduced, underdeveloped version in 1994. Curiously, Terror of Frankenstein (also known as Victor Frankenstein) has been generally overlooked by film buffs, probably because it lacks star names or a "cult" director at the helm. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
This is one of the programs, which are available separately, of the TV series based on the popular children's story of a beautiful black horse who is much abused by society in general. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
This biography of Oliver Cromwell recalls the political and religious struggles of 17th century England. Cromwell (Richard Harris) is the Anglican religious fanatic who fights corruption and Catholicism with equal zeal, while King Charles (Alec Guinness) is the vacillating monarch who believes his crown gives him a direct pipeline to the wisdom of God. Also starring Robert Morley and Timothy Dalton, Cromwell won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design and was nominated for Best Original Score. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Harris, Alec Guinness, (more)
