Wendy Gifford Movies

John Hurt plays the British jockey Bob Champion in this true story of how Champion overcame cancer and the rigors of chemotherapy for an impressive personal and professional comeback. Just as Champion is in the middle of a vacation in Kentucky, he finds out he has cancer, and, like others before him, submits to the full, painful treatments of multiple injections and radiation, suffering as much or more from the cure as from the illness (these treatments are graphic). Gaunt and nauseous, Champion also endures realistic meetings with his doctors that hold forth no guarantee of a cure. His eventual remission leads to yet another grueling physical schedule to get him back into shape for the Grand National Steeplechase -- a 30-fence, well-publicized race that offers difficult hurdles for both the horses and their jockeys. If the 115-minutes running time of this film were cut in places, it would create a better, trim and slim, fast-paced telling of an even more focused tale. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Nicol Williamson stars as a Liverpool/Irish layabout who inherits a business from his father. Even in his executive togs, Williamson remains out of step with society. Already a surly sort, Williamson becomes even less likeable as the film progresses, especially when seeking to avenge a long-ago slight against his father. The film is a belated but still compelling entry in Britain's "Angry Young Man" cinematic cycle, with the "protagonist" remaining on top at the expense of his soul. Reckoning was based on The Harp That Once, a novel by Patrick Hall. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The six-episode Doctor Who adventure "The Ice Warriors" is set in 3000 A.D., when the earth is in the midst of a new Ice Age. The Doctor (Patrick Troughton) joins a team of scientists headquartered in an emergency base, all of whom are dedicated to preventing an ice barrier from consuming the world. Unfortunately, the team accidentally revives a frozen Ice Warrior named Varga (Bernard Bresslaw) -- who, to put it mildly, is up to no good. Written by Brian Hayles, "The Ice Warriors, Episode 1" originally aired on November 11, 1967; of the six episodes, only the first and second are presently available in the BBC archives. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the six-part story "The Ice Warriors," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) is forced to revive the comrades and recover the spaceship of hostile Martian Ice Warrior Varga (Patrick Troughton). Meanwhile, Dr. Clent (Peter Barkworth), leader of a team of 31st century scientists dedicated to preventing the world from being totally enveloped in ice, appears to have a solution to the Doctor's dilemma. But for reasons best known to himself, Clent refuses to reveal what he knows. Written by Brian Hayles, "The Ice Warriors, Episode 3" originally aired on November 25, 1967; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the six-part story "The Ice Warriors," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) realizes that the computer he hoped to use to defeat Varga (Bernard Bresslaw) and the Martian Ice Warriors is useless. As an alternate plan, the Doctor intends to deploy a powerful ionizer against the villains. But this also proves impossible, inasmuch as the Doctor and a team of Earth Scientists need the Ice Warriors' space ship to survive. Set during the "New Ice Age" of the 31st century, "The Ice Warriors, Episode 5" was written by Brian Hayles, and originally aired on December 9, 1967; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide