Roy Dotrice Movies
Halliwell's Filmgoers Companion states that British character actor Roy Dotrice had "a strong line in senile characterizations". Maybe so, but he certainly seemed chillingly cogent in his portrayal of Mozart's father in the Oscar-winning Amadeus. In films since 1965's The Heroes of Telemark, Dotrice has been equally busy on television: he was a regular on such series as Space: 1999 (1975-76), Going to Extremes (1986), Wizards (1986) and Beauty and the Beast (1987-1990, as "The Beast's" Father). Roy Dotrice is the father of actresses Karen and Michele Dotrice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1971
The young girl who witnessed the auto plant manager's hit-and-run accident doesn't quite blackmail him into giving her a good job, and she also doesn't quite blackmail him into spending time with her and her young friends. Her threat is implied, rather than explicit, and what she wants isn't made entirely clear. The manager doesn't want to break up his marriage or make the young woman his mistress, which might be her objective, and he can't promote her any further in the company. If she talks, his life is ruined. What can he do? When the Japanese owners of his factory ask him to come with an assistant to Japan to test-drive a new car, he has an opportunity to find out. This Danish-made English-language thriller doesn't end quite the way one might expect it to. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
Nicholas and Alexandra covers the rise and fall of the last of the Russian Romanovs. We first meet Czar Nicholas (Michael Jayston) and his German bride Alexandra (Janet Suzman) at their 1894 wedding. Though Nicholas is devoted to Alexandra, the Russian populace is less politely inclined to having a "foreigner" as their Czarina. Alexandra gains favor when she gives birth to the much-loved Prince Alexis (Roderick Noble). Alas, Alexis suffers from hemophilia, a disease which strikes every second generation of Alexandra's family. When all conventional medical ministrations fail, Alexandra puts the fate of her son in the hands of mystical holy man Rasputin (Tom Baker, later famous for his portrayal of Doctor Who). As Rasputin's influence and power grows, the Russian peasantry becomes more restless and disgruntled. They are now willing to listen to the speeches of such rabble-rousers as Lenin (Michael Bryant) and Trotsky (Brian Cox), who sow the seeds of revolution. Even after the murder of Rasputin, the Bolsheviks are unsatisfied: The revolution finally comes to pass in October of 1917. At first, the moderate Kerensky (John McEnery) pleads with his followers to allow the Romanovs safe passage out of Russia. But the radicals seize control, and on July 16, 1918, the royal family is summarily executed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman, (more)
The Buttercup Chain, based on Janice Elliot's novel, details the intense friendship among four people that turns tragic over the course of one summer. France (Hywel Bennett) and Margaret (Jane Asher) are first cousins, born of twin sisters on the same day. As children, they were brought up as brother and sister. The two possess such a strong platonic love for each other that they are incapable of loving anyone else. When Margaret travels to London to live with France, he picks out beautiful Swedish student Fred (Sven-Bertil Taube) to be Margaret's lover. For himself, he selects American girl Manny (Leigh Taylor-Young). As they spend their holidays traveling in Spain, the countryside of England, and Sweden, the foursome communicate with each other and try to discover the meaning of love. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hywel Bennett, Leigh Taylor-Young, (more)
- 1970
This insipid science fiction musical concerns a group of students paying their way through school by forming a pop band. The group is led by Olivia Newton-John, and organist Vic Cooper has invented an instrument called the "tonaliser." The sonic vibrations from the invention causes an extra-terrestrial (Roy Dotrice) to beam up the group to entertain the Alphoid population. The film title refers to the group name. Newton-John would go on to a successful singing and acting career, most notably in the 1978 musical Grease. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia Newton-John, Benny Thomas, (more)
- 1969
- R
Three sailors on shore leave engage in a series of comedic sexual pursuits in Lock Up Your Daughters!. Jim Dale, Ian Bannen, and Tom Bell hit dry land with one thing on their minds -- something that lands everyone in jail in this comedic romp. Susannah York, Glynis Johns, and Elaine Taylor become the objects of the lovesick sailors' alleged affections. The farcical proceedings are witnessed by Lord Foppington (Christopher Plummer), the aristocratic dandy who shudders in horror over the trouble the three salts cause in their efforts to spice up their love lives. This film version is taken from the musical of the same name, sans the music. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Plummer, Susannah York, (more)
- 1968
A former World War II submarine captain and his friend turn to smuggling when a former crew member lays out a plan to retrieve some hidden diamonds. Geoffrey (Richard Johnson) and his sidekick David (Roy Dotrice) listen to Riker (Jeremy Kemp) as he tells of the hidden treasure near the Skeleton Coast of Africa. Julie (Honor Blackman) is the passenger whose late husband supposedly hid the diamonds. With a dim-witted German named Johann (Peter Vaughan) as their guide, the crew battle fierce storms and underwater danger as they make the treacherous trek to collect the missing diamonds in this action adventure. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Johnson, Honor Blackman, (more)
- 1965
In this tale of espionage and adventure set during World War II, Norway has fallen under Nazi occupation, and a factory is producing "heavy water" (a key ingredient in the manufacture of atomic weapons), under the order of the German military. Knut Straud (Richard Harris), a leading figure in the Norwegian underground, joins forces with scientist Dr. Rolf Pederson (Kirk Douglas), who is working with British intelligence agents to destroy the factory in hopes of keeping the Atomic Bomb out of Axis hands. However, while originally Straud and Pederson are only supposed to infiltrate the factory as a reconnaissance force while awaiting British troops, the English army is forced to retreat from their plans, leaving the Norwegians to destroy the factory and scuttle a shipment of the "heavy water" all by themselves. Inspired by a true story, The Heroes of Telemark also features Michael Redgrave and Anton Diffring. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, (more)
- 1964
Originally staged in 1963, War of the Roses was one of the most controversial and ambitious projects ever undertaken by Britain's Royal Shakespeare Company. Flying in the face of adverse criticism from the more conservative theatrical scholars, John Burton and Peter Hall condensed the Bard's Henry VI trilogy and Richard III into a mere three plays, cutting nearly half the text and adding newly-minted Shakespearean iambic pentameter to cover the gaps. Prominent in the cast were such notables as Peggy Ashcroft, David Warner, and Ian Holm. When War of the Roses was presented as an 11-part TV series by the BBC beginning April 8, 1965, Warner repeated his celebrated performance as Henry VI, while Paul Martin replaced Ian Holm as the scheming Richard III. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Warner, Roy Dotrice, (more)
Directed by American expatriate Joseph Losey, the British The Criminal is a gloom-wallow elevated by superb performances. Top crook Stanley Baker plans a clever bank robbery. It goes off hitchless, but the clerk responsible for "laundering" the stolen money insists upon a bigger percentage of the take, else he'll blow the whistle. Baker hides the money, whereupon he is turned over to the law by his ex-girlfriend, who is in cahoots with the clerk. Baker refuses to reveal the whereabouts of the loot, so his old gang arranges to have him broken out of jail -- and also arranges for Baker's "accidental" demise. Appearing as the greedy clerk in Concrete Jungle is Sam Wanamaker, who like Joseph Losey fled to England as a result of the Hollywood blacklist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, (more)
