Melinda Churcher Movies
Glenn Close goes to the dogs once again in this sequel to 101 Dalmatians, Disney's 1996 live-action adaptation of their beloved animated classic. After three years in prison, Cruella De Vil (Close) is judged to have paid her debt to society and is set free, as she pledges to have nothing to do with animal fur (especially dogs) ever again. Meanwhile, Kevin (Ioan Gruffudd) operates an animal shelter that has fallen on hard times; unless he's able to find new financial support, the lost dogs he's been caring for will have nowhere to go. Kevin and his girlfriend Chloe (Alice Evans), who happens to be Cruella's parole officer, get the idea of bringing their plight to the people through the press, but media reports of the shelter's problems attract an unlikely benefactor -- Cruella. While Ms. De Vil claims the purest of intentions, it seems the shelter is housing a large number of dalmatians, and in cahoots with mad fashion designer Monsieur Le Pelt (Gérard Depardieu), she plans to turn the puppies into haute couture. 102 Dalmatians was the first live-action feature for director Kevin Lima, who previously helmed two animated features for Disney, A Goofy Movie and Tarzan. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Close, Ioan Gruffudd, (more)
- 1975
- Add Upstairs, Downstairs: Series 05 to QueueAdd Upstairs, Downstairs: Series 05 to top of Queue
The fifth and final season of Upstairs, Downstairs covers the years 1910 to 1930, bringing the saga of the Bellamy household to a close. So much time has to be dealt with this season that the producers expanded the episode output from 13 to 16 hour-long episodes. And because virtually every one of those episodes deals with the events of a single year, the writers must for the most part abandon the "serialization" format in favor of self-contained plotlines. As the season begins, James Bellamy (Simon Williams), seriously wounded in WW1, has been invalided out of the service. The injuries sustained by James are compounded by the emotional impact of the death from influenza of his wife Hazel. Thoughout the rest of the season, James will desperately cast about for a purpose in life, ultimately entering into a "surefire" stock-speculation scheme that will bring financial ruin to the Bellamys and precipitate James' premature demise. Meanwhile, James' father Richard (David Langton), whose first wife Marjorie went down with the "Titanic" in 1912, marries Virginia Hamilton (Hannah Gordon), a war widow with two children of her own. Richard's ward Georgina (Leslie-Anne Down) returns from an extended stay in America in 1924, as rumors buzz about head butler Hudson (Gordon Jackson) and new housemaid Lily (Karen Dotrice); after a desultory romance with James and a tragic accident which nearly ruins her future, Georgina will eventually wed Robert Stockbridge (Anthony Andrews), the son of a family of noblemen. In 1925, Member of Parliament Richard Bellamy is appointed Britain's Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and the following year, the "upstairs" and "downstairs" factions of the Bellamy household are virtually torn asunder by the General Strike of 1926. In the series' now-legendary final episode, head maid Rose (Jean Marsh) tearfully wanders through the empty halls of 165 Eaton, wistfully recalling the highlights--and a few of the lowlights--of the past 27 years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Jackson, Jean Marsh, (more)
- 1974
- Add Upstairs, Downstairs: Series 04 to QueueAdd Upstairs, Downstairs: Series 04 to top of Queue
The fourth season of the British drama series Upstairs, Downstairs takes place during the war years of 1914 through 1918, a time of great anxiety and upheaval for England in general and the Bellamy household at 165 Eaton Place in particular. The season begins as Hazel Bellamy (Meg Wynn Owen), wife of James Bellamy (Simon Williams), agrees to take in a family of Belgian refugees. Not so politely inclined towards foreigners is the surprisingly emotional head butler Hudson (Gordon Jackson), whose anti-German hysteria all but tears the Bellamy's servant staff apart in the episode "The Beastly Hun" (for which actor Jackson won an Emmy). Maid Daisy (Jacqueline Tong) weds footman Edward (Christopher Beeny) just before he marches off to war; he will return a shellshocked shadow of his former self. Georgina (Leslie Anne-Down), the ward of James Bellamy's father Richard (David Langton), takes nursing training, while scullery maid Ruby (Jenny Tomasin), heretofore dismissed as a dimwit, demonstrates her patriotism and resilience by going to work at a munitions factory. Also, head maid Rose (Jean Marsh) is unexpectedly reunited with her erstwhile Australian sweetheart Gregory (Keith Barron), who is ultimately killed in battle. While James is serving his country in France, Hazel begins a platonic friendship with young airman Jack Dyson (Andrew Ray), and later agonizes when James is reported missing in action. The war comes home in spectacular fashion when 165 Eaton is damaged by a German bomb. And in the episode "Another Year", Hannah Gordon is introduced in the role of Virginia Hamilton, the widow of a Naval officer. The season finale is a riveting combination of happiness and heartbreak: Though seriously injured in the war, James manages to return to the arms of his wife Hazel--who, unfortunately, has become one of the victims of the deadly international influenza epidemic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Jackson, Jean Marsh, (more)
This is one of three Hammer films loosely based on Sheridan LeFanu's book Camilla, which gives the standard vampire story a lesbian twist. The other two films are The Vampire Lovers and Twins of Evil. In this film, Count Karnstein, through a magical ritual, relies on the feedings of the newly re-fleshed and voluptuous vampire Mircalla (Yutte Stensgaard) for his own sustenance. This keeps her very busy indeed. She finds a ready supply of victims at a girls' finishing school. Her troubles begin when two male teachers from the school decide to investigate. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
This sex related comedy features the development of a pill to instill insatiable sexual appetites in women. ~ 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)
