Cecil Nash Movies
Not a remake of the landmark 1903 Edwin S. Porter film, The Great Train Robbery is a dramatization of the famous first hold-up of a moving train in 1855 England. The conspirators in this undertaking are Edward Pierce (Sean Connery), Agar (Donald Sutherland) and Clean Willy (Wayne Sleep). Pierce is the brains, Clean Willy the brawn, and safecracker Agar provides the finesse. The scheme involves stealing a shipment of gold bars intended to be used in the payroll for the Army in the Crimean War. Lesley Anne Down co-stars as Miriam, the woman on the outside who arranges Connery's getaway. When released in England, this film was titled The First Great Train Robbery, so as not to be confused with Britain's embarrassing 1963 railroad heist. Director Michael Crichton adapted the story from his own, more-clinical novel on the same subject. Filmed in Ireland, The Great Train Robbery was dedicated to the memory of its director of photography, Geoffrey Unsworth, who died shortly after the production wrapped. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland, (more)
- 1970
- PG
In this drama, an Irish Catholic bride is devastated when her pregnant mother miscarries and dies on her wedding day. The young woman, one of seven children, blames her father's lust for the death. When her own wedding night arrives she is terrified and refuses to consummate the marriage. Her husband is gentle and hopes that she will get over her fear. He decides to give her time and so takes a job as a commercial artist in London. The bride stays in Dublin and takes care of her younger brothers and sisters until another sibling urges her to join her spouse. By this time the husband's patience runs out and he tries to take her by force. The bride becomes hysterical and flees back home. Meanwhile the husband eases his sexual tensions with a former girl friend. The bride goes to the doctor who suggests she use contraceptives. Unfortunately, the Church forbids it. She then asks her priest to annul her marriage, but he will not. The poor girl is so upset that she suffers a breakdown and tries to kill herself in the hospital. When her husband hears of this he comes to her. Together, they swear to take all the time they need to help her overcome her terrible fear with love and understanding. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tessa Wyatt, Dennis Waterman, (more)
- 1969
Jack Sheppard (Tommy Steele) is the locksmith's apprentice who is forced into highway robbery when he is betrayed by Jonathan Wild (Stanley Baker). Jack runs for his life and takes to a life of crime. He is captured but breaks out of jail, quickly becoming the subject of lore, legend and song. The arrogant and popular Jack ends up heading for the gallows after taunting the King, the Lord Chancellor and a harridan aristocratic dowager. Wild tries to track down the elusive robber and collect on the reward like he has done so many times before in this dramatic adventure biography. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tommy Steele, Stanley Baker, (more)
- 1964
This third screen adaptation of Somerset Maugham's novel about the destructiveness of sexual obsession stars Laurence Harvey as Philip Carey, a club-footed artist who after two unsuccessful years in Paris decides to pursue a career in medicine instead. During his medical studies he falls in love with a waitress, Mildred Rogers (Kim Novak), who takes advantage of his attraction to her. When Mildred leaves him to marry another man, Philip falls in love with a writer (Siobhan McKenna), who encourages him to complete his studies. Under her tutelage, Philip excels in medical school. But when Mildred returns, pregnant and abandoned by her husband, Philip takes her in and cares for her, breaking off with the kind-hearted writer. Staying with Philip at his flat, Mildred has an affair with his best friend. Confronting her with her indiscretions, Mildred tells Philip how repulsed she is by his club foot and walks out on him. Philip once again throws himself into his studies, passing his examinations and taking an internship at a London hospital. There he hears Mildred has become a cheap prostitute. Philip travels to the brothel where she is living in poverty with her child and takes her under his wing once again. As before, Mildred walks out on Philip, trashing his apartment and taking to the streets. When Philip comes upon her again, he finds that her child has died and she is suffering from the advanced stages of syphilis. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kim Novak, Laurence Harvey, (more)
