Annette Kerr Movies
- 1970
- PG13
- Add The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes to QueueAdd The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes to top of Queue
In Billy Wilder's cinematic homage to the spirit of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, British stage luminary Robert Stephens plays Holmes, while Colin Blakely is his friend and chronicler Dr. Watson. This self-described "hitherto suppressed and thoroughly fascinating" tale concerns Holmes' search for a missing mining engineer -- a case that may have a far-reaching effect on the national security of England. Along the way, Holmes falls in love for the first time in his life, with enigmatic foreign beauty Gabrielle Valladon (Genevieve Page). In this 1970 film, Wilder emphasizes such then-current topics as homosexuality (notably during the film's prologue) and drug addiction. Christopher Lee, a former screen Holmes himself, has a cameo (minus toupee) as Sherlock's brother Mycroft Holmes. Heavily re-edited and rearranged both before and after its release, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes was a box-office disappointment when it came out in 1970. Since that time, its reputation has grown immeasurably, especially among those lucky enough to have seen a complete print. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely, (more)
- 1968
Prudence and the Pill gained minor notoriety in 1968 as the first film comedy dealing with the new birth-control pill. David Niven substitutes aspirin for his wife's (Deborah Kerr) birth control medicine, hoping that she will become pregnant by her lover (Keith Mitchell) -- thereby freeing him to dally with his mistress (Irina Demich). Meanwhile, Niven's niece (Judy Geeson) does a switch job on her parents' pills, hoping that once her mom is pregnant, Geeson will be left alone to pursue her own love life. How did such prominent actors as Niven, Kerr, Robert Coote and Dame Edith Evans get mixed up in this high-gloss sleaze? Prudence and the Pill was not only unfunny, but was rendered anachronistic within a year of its release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Deborah Kerr, David Niven, (more)
- 1962
London's federation of diamond merchants is being plagued by a vicious gang of smugglers. Steed and Cathy pose as husband-and-wife gem dealers in hopes of flushing out the villains. Ultimately, Cathy is targetted for death by the smugglers, but here as elsewhere, she proves to be up to the challenge. First telecast in England on December 1, 1962, Death on the Rocks was written by Eric Paice. The episode made its American cable-TV bow on February 7, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
When an ex-con changes his name and tries to make a new start, everything seems to conspire against him in his efforts. First of all, he is trying to fend of the attentions of his boss' wife. Then, to make things worse, an ex-cellmate shows up and blackmails him by threatening to tell about his past. Push comes to shove and our man, innocent of any crime, winds up back in jail with a murder conviction hanging on him. Not as interesting as it sounds. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
