Cedric Messina Movies
- 1986
Told from the perspective of an innocent young teen and the writings in her diaries, this drama about an actual, sensational murder committed among the British colonialists in Kenya is compelling and effective in its understatement. The time is the early 1940s and Juanita Carberry (Holly Aird) lives in the priviliged circles of the colonialists in Kenya, rubbing elbows with the elite at house gatherings, official outings, and numerous social occasions. Her father (Michael Byrne) treats her brutally and in order to keep her emotional balance she finds companionship in the animals around her and in the Kenyan servants who are her friends. Sharply conscious of the superficiality and cruelty of the adults in her world, she remains silent and subdued in their presence. Then scandal of the worst kind breaks at the shocking murder of Lord Erroll (Peter Sands) who was having an affair with the wife of Lord Brougham (Denholm Elliott). A front-page trial acquits Lord Brougham of the killing, but then in a moment of weakness and assuming that Juanita is too stupid to react, he lets her know that he actually did kill Lord Erroll. Juanita is thrown into a turmoil since she does not know what her next step should be -- she is obviously young and powerless. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Holly Aird, Denholm Elliott, (more)
- 1980
Part of a television series entitled "The Shakespeare Plays," this episode depicts one of England's most beloved Kings. Beginning with the invasion of France, Henry V is shown as a just King, equally able to inspire the admiration of his soldiers as he tirelessly leads them in battle and the traitors with whom he must deal. Also shown is his marriage to the Princess of France, a marriage of state to ensure peace between the nations. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1979
This 3-hour TV adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet features Patrick Ryecart and Rebecca Saire in the title roles. Though these names may not be familiar to the casual viewer, the same cannot be said of the supporting cast. Celia Johnson appears as the Nurse, Michael Hordern is Lord Capulet, Laurence Naismith is Prince Escalus, and Alec Guinness is the Chorus. Also appearing are stars-to-be Anthony Andrews as Mercutio (his "Queen Mab" speech is a singular highlight) and Alan Rickman as Tybalt. Originally presented as part of PBS' "Shakespeare Plays" series, Romeo and Juliet was first aired March 14, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
This 3-hour TV adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet features Patrick Ryecart and Rebecca Saire in the title roles. Though these names may not be familiar to the casual viewer, the same cannot be said of the supporting cast. Celia Johnson appears as the Nurse, Michael Hordern is Lord Capulet, Laurence Naismith is Prince Escalus, and Alec Guinness is the Chorus. Also appearing are stars-to-be Anthony Andrews as Mercutio (his "Queen Mab" speech is a singular highlight) and Alan Rickman as Tybalt. Originally presented as part of PBS' "Shakespeare Plays" series, Romeo and Juliet was first aired March 14, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rebecca Saire
- 1979
The second presentation of the BBC/PBS 37-installment project The Shakespeare Plays was the Bard's As You Like It. The plot, borrowed from Thomas Lodge's romance tale "Rosalynde", takes place in the forest of Arden. Rosalind (Helen Mirren) is forced by various political intrigues to disguise herself as a man. She loves Orlando (Brian Stirner), but of course can't declare herself in her "male" state. Meanwhile, Phebe (Victoria Plucknett) pines away for Rosalind, who she assumes to be a very good-looking man. Other romantic entanglements involve Rosalind's friend Celia (Angharad Rees), the buffoonish Touchstone (James Bolan), the toothsome Audrey (Marilyn Le Conte) and Silvius the shepherd (Maynard Williams). Taped on location at Glamis Castle in Scotland, As You Like It mades its American TV debut on February 28, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Mirren, Richard Pasco, (more)
- 1979
Part of a television series entitled "The Shakespeare Plays," Henry VIII is the story of political intrigue and betrayal surrounding this besieged monarch's reign. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claire Bloom, John Stride, (more)
- 1979
Vincentio (Kenneth Colley), Duke of Vienna, is a good and kindly ruler, but his leniency has allowed vice to thrive. So he decides to leave town temporarily, putting in charge his stern chief deputy, Angelo (Tim Piggott-Smith). Immediately, Angelo condemns the young nobleman, Claudio (Christopher Strauli), to death for getting his sweetheart, Juliet (Jacqueline Pearce), pregnant. Isabella (Kate Nelligan), an aspiring nun who is Claudio's sister, is disgusted by Angelo's suggestion that she "lay down the treasures" of her body to save her brother's life. Meanwhile, the Duke returns to town in the guise of a friar to see how his domain is faring in his absence. When he spies around, he learns of Claudio's imprisonment, and he overhears the dilemma that Angelo has created for Isabella. The helpful ''friar'' then suggests to Isabella that Mariana (Jacqueline Pearce), who was once betrothed to Angelo, take her place in the darkness of Angelo's bedroom. Mariana agrees, and the scheme goes according to plan. However, Angelo reneges on his promise because he fears Claudio will seek revenge if he is released, and instead he orders Claudio's immediate execution. However, Duke Vincentio, still disguised as a friar, persuades the prison warden to spare Claudio and to trick Angelo into thinking Claudio is dead. When Duke Vincentio doffs his disguise and reappears as himself, Angelo, realizing the game is up, asks to be executed to avoid a degrading trial. But Mariana, steadfast in her love for Angelo, pleads for his life. Mercy and a happy ending triumph. Claudio returns from the dead to wed Juliet. Angelo is spared and marries Mariana. The Duke then begs the hand of Isabella. He tells her, ''Dear Isabel, I have a motion much imports your good; whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, what's mine is yours and what is yours is mine.'' ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kate Nelligan, Kenneth Colley, (more)
- 1979
A quarrel erupts between the Duke of Hereford, Henry Bolingbroke (Jon Finch), and the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray (Richard Owens). According to Bolingbroke, Mowbray misappropriated government money and plotted the death of the Duke of Gloucester. Mowbray denies the charges, accusing Bolingbroke of being a slanderous coward. King Richard II (Derek Jacobi) first approves their proposal to settle their differences in a jousting duel, then decides to banish both of them -- Norfolk for life and Bolingbroke for six years. The lighter sentence for Bolingbroke masks Richard's hatred of Henry, who is so popular with the people that he poses a threat to the crown. While Bolingbroke is in exile, his father, the much-loved John of Gaunt (Sir John Gielgud), dies, and Richard appropriates his estate -- Henry's inheritance -- to help pay for a military campaign he personally conducts against rebels in Ireland. Nobles protest seizure of the inheritance, siding with Bolingbroke. Heartened, Bolingbroke returns from exile, organizes his supporters, and executes two of Richard's friends. Richard returns from Ireland to defend his realm. But after 20,000 Welsh troops desert to Bolingbroke, Richard takes refuge in Flint Castle, then surrenders to his foe. After being forced to give up the throne, Henry imprisons Richard in the Tower of London and announces his own coronation. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Derek Jacobi, John Gielgud, (more)
Except for the omission of several passages in the original play, this 1970 adaptation of Julius Caesar faithfully retells Shakespeare's account of events surrounding the assassination of Caesar in 44 B.C. The film begins when Caesar John Gielgud is at the height of his power after conquering Pompey "the Great" in a civil war. Important senators worry that Caesar means to become king, diminish their power, and abolish their beloved Roman republic. Two senators, Cassius Richard Johnson and Brutus Jason Robards, hatch an assassination plot involving other disenchanted Roman citizens. Although a soothsayer warns Caesar of trouble ("Beware the ides of March") and his own wife reports ominous signs ("A lioness hath whelped in the streets; and graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead"), Caesar decides to go to the senate on the ides (March 15). Upon arrival, the conspirators greet him with daggers. In his funeral oration, Mark Antony Charlton Heston extols Caesar and incites the citizens against Brutus and the other conspirators. Brutus and Cassius flee Rome with their armies, but Antony and two other sympathizers track them down with their armies. When the tide turns against the conspirators, Brutus and Cassius commit suicide. As does Shakespeare's play, the film leaves the discerning viewer wondering who was the real villain -- Caesar, because of his ambition for power, or Brutus, because of his underhanded plot to maintain the status quo. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlton Heston, Jason Robards, Jr., (more)
- 1967
The victorious Don Pedro is returning to Messina after his latest successful skirmish. His troops include his wicked brother Don John, young Claudio and Benedick, a witty confirmed bachelor from Padua. They are welcomed by the governor, Leonato, as well as by his beautiful daughter Hero and Hero's cousin Beatrice, the latter as confirmed in her maidenhood as Benedick is in his bachelorhood. Claudio quickly falls in love Hero, but through a series of complications, Leonato comes to believe it is Don Pedro that wishes to woo his daughter. Eventually, however, Hero and Claudio are brought together and their marriage plans are announced. At the same time, Don Pedro begins a campaign to bring Beatrice and Benedick together. Just before the wedding of the young lovers, Don John deceives laudio and Don Pedro with lies about Hero's purity; at the wedding, Claudio denounces her as a whore and calls off the marriage. Beatrice concocts a plot to discover the source of these lies, said plot involving faking Hero's death. Don John is eventually unmasked as the perpetrator, the young couple again becomes engaged, and Beatrice and Benedick admit their attraction to each other and plan their own wedding. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- 1966
This release constitutes a stage production of Benjamin Britten's celebrated 1951 opera Billy Budd, which Britten, in turn, adapted from Herman Melville's unfinished novella. It was filmed in black-and-white by the BBC in 1966 and stars the legendary Peter Pears as Captain Vere. Basil Coleman directs. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Pears, Peter Glossop, (more)
- 1965
Perhaps the most famous original drama to emerge from the BBC dramatic anthology Theatre 625, The Unman, Wittering and Zigo Trilogy was spread out over three 75-minute episodes (which makes sense in the cast of a trilogy) in June of 1965. Peter Blythe starred as John Ebony, an idealistic young teacher assigned to one of the toughest and most dangerous comprehensive schools in England. The sullen students made no secret of their contempt for everyone over the age of 18, dropping not-so-subtle hints that Ebony's predecessor had been murdered. Before long, Ebony was smack in the middle of an agonizing mystery involving a student named Zigo, who never seemed to be present for the morning roll call. The three individual episodes were officially titled "Seek Her Out," "The Long House," and "Unman Wittering and Zigo." This last title was utilized when the property was streamlined and remade as a theatrical feature in 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Originally presented as a three-part component of the BBC's Theatre 625 anthology, this self-explanatory miniseries offered 90-minute adaptations of the works of George Orwell. In the interests of variety, the "expected" adaptation of Animal Farm never came to fruition; instead, the series offered such comparatively little-known Orwell stories as Keep the Aspidistra Flying and Coming Up for Air. Even so, no Orwell retrospective would truly be complete without a crack at his speculative novel 1984, which was duly dramatized herein. The World of George Orwell was telecast in 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
