Valentine Dyall Movies
British actor Valentine Dyall was a well-known radio performer of the '40s, introducing a weekly "scare" series with "This is your storyteller....the Man in Black." In films, Dyall looked more like a bank president than the voice of doom, and was cast accordingly. On stage since 1930 and films since 1942, Dyall remained busy into the '80s. Some of Dyall's best-known films include The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), Henry V (1945) (as the Duke of Burgundy), Caesar and Cleopatra (1946), Brief Encounter (1946), The Haunting (1963), The Wrong Box (1967) and Casino Royale (1967). Valentine Dyall made many of his final appearances where he began, on radio: he was indispensable to many Halloween broadcasts of the '70s and '80s, sometimes nostalgically recreating "The Man in Black." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
A sneezing epidemic claims the lives of several prominent ear-nose-throat specialists. The only clue tying the deaths together is an empty envelope, found at the scene of each tragedy. Steed and Tara manage to trace this slim lead to a sinister nursing school. Written by Jeremy Burnham (a frequent guest actor on the series), "You'll Catch Your Death" was first shown in America on October 7, 1968, and was seen in England on October 16; the episode is also known as "Atishoo, Atishoo, All Fall Down." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Macnee, Linda Thorson, (more)
- 1983
The Black Death has not only decimated half of England, but has also forced King Richard IV (Brian Blessed) into his sick bed. Hoping to curry favor with the populace and become King himself, the duplicitous Edmund declares that the plague is the result of witchcraft, thus he hires the infamous Witchsmeller (Frank Finlay) to root out all sorcerors in the land. Alas, the first "witch" whom the Witchsmeller smells is Edmund himself! "The Witchsmeller Pursuivant" was originally telecast on July 13, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, (more)
- 1980
Anxious to obtain some crystals necessary to activate the Liberator's weaponry, Avon (Paul Darrow) enters into a slightly unsavory arrangement with criminal leader Bayban the Beserker (Colin Baker). In exchange for Bayban's assistance, Vila (Michael Keating) must use his lock-picking skills to open up a fourth-dimensional space portal. The plot thickens when Vila falls in love with Bayban's henchperson, Kerril (Carol Hawkins). "City at the Edge of the World" first aired on February 11, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Keating, Paul Darrow, (more)
Based on Noël Coward's play "Still Life," Brief Encounter is a romantic, bittersweet drama about two married people who meet by chance in a London railway station and carry on an intense love affair. Sentimental yet down-to-earth and set in pre-World War II England, the film follows British housewife Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson), who is on her way home, but catches a cinder in her eye. By chance, she meets Dr. Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard), who removes it for her. The two talk for a few minutes and strike immediate sparks, but they end up catching different trains. However, both return to the station once a week to meet and, as the film progresses, they grow closer, sharing stories, hopes, and fears about their lives, marriages, and children. One day, when Alec's train is late, both become frantic that they will miss each other. When they finally find each other, they realize that they are in love. But what should be a joyous realization is fraught with tragedy, since both care greatly for their families. Howard and Johnson give flawless performances as two practical, married people who find themselves in a situation in which they know they can never be happy. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, (more)
This dark comedy charts the chaos that results when the panicked staff of a major English hospital attempts to prepare for a visit by the Queen Mother, only to face every problem imaginable. Britannia Hospital clearly attempts to recapture the anarchic bite of director Lindsay Anderson's previous satires If... and O Lucky Man, but fails to achieve the same combination of intelligent political critique, comic lunacy, and skillful filmmaking. (Indeed, the three films are often considered a loosely linked trilogy, largely due to the presence in all three of lead Malcolm McDowell). The film does make a valiant effort, but its commentary on the poor, labor disputes, and the inhumanity of bureaucratic institutions mixes uneasily with the film's broader elements, like the experiments of a cartoonish mad scientist. The result is often quite entertaining on a scene-by-scene basis, but the film never reaches the level of delirious, farcical energy or satirical sharpness to which it clearly aspires. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leonard Rossiter, Graham Crowden, (more)
- 1946
George Bernard Shaw adapted his own play for the screen in this blithe film version of the romance between Caesar (Claude Rains) and Cleopatra (Vivien Leigh). Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra are merely Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle cast back into ancient times with Caesar doting with admiration and burgeoning love upon Cleopatra and expostulating, "You have been growing up since the Sphinx introduced us the other night." The story is a simple one concerning Caesar instructing Cleopatra on how to act like a queen. But Cleopatra is left cold by Caesar and his blatherings. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vivien Leigh, Claude Rains, (more)
- 1948
Based on a novel by Chris Massie, Corridor of Mirrors is a British attempt to match the poetry and lyricism of the French cinema of the late 1940s. Eric Portman plays a contemporary artist who tends to live in the past. He surrounds himself with Renaissance artwork, obsessed with the notion that he and his lady friend (Edana Romney) are reincarnations of the lovers in a centuries-old painting. Portman's delusions eventually lead to murder. Critical reaction to Corridor of Mirrors was split right down the middle: American critics found the film profound, while British commentators dismissed it as empty and ponderous. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Portman, Edana Romney, (more)
- 1983
The four-part "Enlightenment" begins as the Doctor (Peter Davison), acting upon a warning from the White Guardian, materializes the TARDIS on the deck of a vessel which bears a striking resemblance to an Edwardian sailing yacht. The yacht is about to embark upon a race, the prize of which is dearly coveted by a rather nasty alien species known as the Eternals. Written by Barbara Clegg, "Enlightenment, Episode 1" first aired on March 1, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, (more)
- 1983
In the second episode of the four-part story "Enlightenment," the Doctor (Peter Davison) finds himself on board an Edwardian-style yacht, presently engaged in a race through space. The prize is the titular "Enlightenment," an element coveted by the Eternals, an alien civilization which survives by syphoning off the thoughts and emotions of its prisoners. Also figuring into the action is the Doctor's old enemy, the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall). Written by Barbara Clegg, "Enlightenment, Episode 2" first aired on March 2, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, (more)
- 1983
In the third episode of the four-part story "Enlightenment," the Doctor (Peter Davison) must prevent the Eternals, a parasitic alien race, from winning an extraterrestrial yachting competition, thereby placing themselves in a position to rule the Universe. Complicating matters is Captain Wrack (Lynda Baron) of the space yacht Buccaneer, who has been anointed with awesome special powers by the Doctor's old nemesis, the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall). Written by Barbara Clegg, "Enlightenment, Episode 3" first aired on March 8, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, (more)
- 1983
In the conclusion of the four-part story "Enlightenment," the Doctor (Peter Davison) races against the evil Captain Wrack (Lynda Baron) to win a yachting competition in space, the prize of which would prove disastrous should it fall into the wrong hands. The Doctor's old enemy the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall) attempts to determine the race's outcome, but he eventually faces defeat from an unexpected source. With this episode, Mark Strickson officially becomes a regular in the role of Turlough. Written by Barbara Clegg, "Enlightenment, Episode 4" first aired on March 9, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, (more)
- 1983
The four-part Doctor Who adventure "Mawdryn Undead" begins on a seemingly arbitrary note, as a pair of juvenile delinquents go for a joyride in the Brigadier's vintage automobile. After the inevitable crash, one of the boys, actually a space alien named Vizlor Turlough (Mark Strickson), is recruited for a daunting assignment. The recruiter is the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall); the assignment is to kill the Black Guardian's sworn enemy -- the Doctor (Peter Davison). Originally telecast on February 1, 1983, "Mawdryn Undead, Episode 1" was written by Peter Grimwade. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, (more)
- 1983
In the second episode of the four-part story "Mawdryn Undead," the TARDIS is trapped in an orbital pattern around the earth, giving the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall) ample time to plot vengeance against his old enemy, the Doctor (Peter Davison). To that end, the Guardian has recruited a young, innocent-looking lad named Vizlor Turlough (Mark Strickson) as a potential assassin. This episode features stock-footage "flashbacks" to several previous Doctor Who adventures, notably "The Three Doctors" and "Terror of the Zygons." Originally telecast on February 2, 1983, "Mawdryn Undead, Episode 2" was written by Peter Grimwade. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, (more)
- 1983
In the third episode of the four-part story "Mawdryn Undead," the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall) continues to groom young Turlough (Peter Davison) to assassinate the Doctor (Peter Davison). Meanwhile, the crew of the TARDIS is subject to a daunting series of time-hopping misadventures that have been cleverly engineered by the villain. Originally telecast on February 8, 1983, "Mawdryn Undead, Episode 3" was written by Peter Grimwade. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, (more)
- 1983
In the conclusion of the four-part story "Mawdryn Undead," the Doctor (Peter Davison) risks giving up his ability to regenerate in order to rescue several innocent victims of the Black Guardian's time-hopping mischief. And what has become of Turlough (Mark Strickson), the baby-faced teenager whom the Guardian has chosen to assassinate the Doctor? Originally telecast on February 9, 1983, "Mawdryn Undead, Episode 4" was written by Peter Grimwade. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, (more)
- 1983
Hand-picked by the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall) to assassinate the Doctor (Peter Davison) in the previous adventure "Mawdryn Undead," juvenile delinquent Turlough (Mark Strickson) sets his deadly plan in motion in the four-episode follow-up "Terminus." Not yet under suspicion, Turlough materializes in the hold of the TARDIS -- then promptly proceeds to sabotage the vessel's console. First telecast on February 15, 1983, "Terminus, Episode 1" was written by Stephen Gallagher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, (more)
- 1983
In the second episode of the four-part story "Terminus," the efforts by Turlough (Mark Strickson) to destroy the TARDIS forces the vessel to lock itself into the flight pattern of an alien space station. To the Doctor (Peter Davison), this is danger enough, but things are far worse than they seem; the space station is populated by victims of the highly contagious Lazar's Disease. First telecast on February 16, 1983, "Terminus, Episode 2" was written by Stephen Gallagher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, (more)
- 1983
In the third episode of the four-part story "Terminus," young Turlough (Mark Strickson), acting on orders from the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall), has locked the TARDIS into the flight pattern of a space stration peopled by victims of the dreaded Lazar's Disease. The Doctor (Peter Davison) tries to deal with this contingency, as well as a greater danger: An unstable thrust engine which may explode at any minute -- thereby destroying the entire Universe. First telecast on February 23, 1983, "Terminus, Episode 3" was written by Stephen Gallagher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, (more)
- 1983
In the conclusion of the four-part story "Terminus," the Doctor (Peter Davison) tries to wrest the TARDIS free from the space pattern of a disease-ridden space station -- and to avoid triggering a fuel dump that would result in "Event Two," aka the End of the Universe. With the help of a creature known as the Garm (R.J. Bell), the Doctor may well succeed in saving himself and his companions, including young Turlough (Mark Strickson), who may or may not still be determined to assassinate the Doctor on behalf of the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall). First telecast on February 24, 1983, "Terminus, Episode 4" was written by Stephen Gallagher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, (more)
- 1979
In the conclusion of the six-part story "The Armageddon Factor," the Doctor (Tom Baker) has discovered that Princess Astra (Lalla Ward) of the planet Atrios is, in fact, the much sought-after sixth element of the Key to Time. Armed with this knowledge, the Doctor and Romana (Mary Tamm) are at last able to reassemble the Key, thereby restoring the balance between universal Good and Evil. The one remaining fly in the ointment is the dreaded Black Guardian, who has a vested interest in upsetting that aforementioned balance. Capped by a surprising but logical ending (logical by the Doctor's standards, at any rate), "The Armageddon Factor" was written by Bob Baker and David Martin, and originally aired on February 24, 1979, as the final episode of Doctor Who's 16th season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1949
Detective Dyall is requested to solve the mystery of the incinerated heiress, a friend of his secretary Lang. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1962
Fate Takes a Hand is a throwback to the British "portmanteau" films of the 1950s. One solitary incident leads to ramifications for several different people, whose triumphs or travails are dealt with individually. In this instance, the catalyst is a mailbag, which pops up after a 15-year disappearance. The letters are finally mailed, with a variety of results for five of the mail-ees. Fate Takes a Hand didn't get much play in the US, but its basic premise was good for at least two made-for-TV movies in the 1970s, The Letters (73) and Letters From Three Lovers (73). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1949
In this drama, a frustrated upper-class writer decides that he will find real inspiration by examining his subjects first-hand. This leads him to begin wandering about the seamiest side of town where he witnesses a murder. When an innocent man is arrested, the writer refuses to assist him as the knowledge that he has been "slumming" could destroy his career. The young man is sentenced to 15 years in prison. Upon his release, he hears his own story in a radio drama written by the author. This enables the ex-con to get the necessary evidence to clear his name. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Murray, Richard Todd, (more)
