Samantha Eggar Movies
Samantha Eggar's father was a British Army brigadier and her mother was of Dutch/Portuguese extraction. Convent educated, Eggar became a stage actress in her teens. While performing in a Shakespeare play, Eggar was discovered by film producer Betty Box, who cast the tall, auburn-haired 23-year-old actress as a sluttish college coed in The Wild and the Willing (1961). Eggar's first international success was The Collector (1965), replacing Natalie Wood (who'd turned down the film) as the harried kidnap victim of obsessive Terence Stamp. Eggar garnered an Oscar nomination for her demanding performance, and also won the Cannes Film Festival award. Then followed a succession of unremarkable roles in films like Walk, Don't Run (1966) and Doctor Doolittle (1967) (which at least gave Eggar a chance to sing). She was better served in The Molly Maguires (1970) and Seven Per Cent Solution (1976), playing the wife of Sherlock Holmes crony Dr. Watson (Robert Duvall) in the latter. Eggar's prolific American TV work has included the role of Anna Leonowens in the expensive, short-lived weekly Anna and the King (1972). Samantha Eggar has managed to maintain her dignity and integrity despite far too many horror flicks like The Brood (1979). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie GuideIn this crime drama, a talented, ambitious young lawyer takes the case when one of his colleagues, jealous of the other attorney's flawless court record, is found murdered. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
A Ghost in Monte Carlo is based on one of the millions of romance novels penned by Barbara Cartland. True to the Cartland canon, the story is set long ago (1875) and far away (The Riviera). Sarah Miles is top-billed as a pompadoured former madam, while Oliver Reed dispenses tons of Armor Star as a lascivious rajah. Christopher Plummer struts about bedecked with medals as a military hero, and Samantha Eggar is a mystery woman shrouded in black. But the story is carried by Lysette Anthony, the niece of Sarah Miles, who tries to break into upper-crust society--a goal impeded by a long-standing thirst for vengeance on the part of one of the older stars. A Ghost in Monte Carlo was produced in Europe by Sir Lew Grade, and first seen in the US over the TNT Cable Network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A mid-life crisis takes a strange turn in this horror movie. The terror begins when a city couple decide to escape the hub-bub and crime and start new lives in the husband's great-grandfather's mansion located in the isolated North Woods. They are not there long before the wife finds herself tempted by a dashing ghost. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
This made-for-TV rural horror film from director Burt Kennedy benefits from a fine cast and a tense Clyde Ware screenplay. Samantha Eggar and Stacy Keach play motorists held prisoner by a family of seven sweet-faced young orphans and their savage guard dogs. The children only want a mother and father but are willing to kill anyone who rejects them. Jon Savage co-stars with Robby Benson, who sang the theme song. All the Kind Strangers was initially telecast November 12, 1974. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
Samantha Eggar guest stars as daycare worker Laurie Eckhardt, the newest girlfriend of undercover cop Tony Baretta (Robert Blake). Things become tense when Laurie is paid a visit by an escaped murderer. Clearly, she and the escapee have a close personal bond, but until Laurie admits what that bond is, her life is in danger -- and not even Baretta can help her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Edward Grover, (more)
This derivative Canadian thriller plays like a distaff version of Samuel Fuller's cult classic Shock Corridor fused rather crudely to a standard mad-slasher plot. The story takes place primarily at the country villa of a sleazy horror film director (scenery-chomping John Vernon), where auditions for the title role of his new film Audra are taking place. The casting session is called after the film's intended star had herself committed to an asylum in order to properly research her Frances Farmer-type role, then found herself unable to get out. It comes as little surprise, then, that the six actresses vying for the plum role in her absence are not long for this world, as a witch-masked marauder is wandering the premises with some well-honed implements. This film's surprisingly stylish look is probably due to the initial direction of acclaimed cinematographer Richard Ciupka, but the film was actually completed by a pseudonymous replacement. (The credited director, "Jonathan Stryker," is actually the name of Vernon's character.) ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Vernon, Samantha Eggar, (more)
A troubled teen girl finds friendship with a cast-aside horse, in this family drama. Ari Meyers (from TV's Kate & Allie) stars as Allison Mills, a young girl who gets herself into trouble after the death of her mother. Sent to a horse farm as part of a community service sentence, Allison is initially cold and unresponsive, but slowly she begins to open up as she befriends a difficult-to-manage horse named Jet. Unfortunately, just as she begins to find purpose in her work at the farm, Allison's mettle is once again put to test after a devastating accident leaves both she and her prized horse seriously injured. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ed Begley, Jr., Mimi Rogers, (more)
In this episode of the Disney series, which appeared as a presentation of "Magical World of Disney," Davy and President Andrew Jackson reminisce about an Indian uprising they helped put down 25-years before. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
This inept horror film is a rare treat for fans of laughably bad cinema. From the opening flashback, in which a group of hooded cultists chop off a woman's hand and the obviously rubber appendage bounces to the floor, Macabra starts to amuse. By the time the action shifts to present-day Mexico, and the film's heroine (Samantha Eggar) has a discussion with a silver-mine worker as to the sex of a mine and whether silver mines get jealous, it becomes hilarious. The plot concerns the fabled "left hand of power" belonging to Satan, which possesses people's minds, forcing them to chop off their own hands until a priest (Stuart Whitman) turns back the evil. The most unintentionally amusing scenes involve the victims doing everything in their power to chop off their own possessed left hands. They roll around on the floor, put their hands under speeding trains, and force doctors to amputate them at gunpoint. Meanwhile, director Alfredo Zacharias films some explosions and many authentic ruins to promote the idea that Macabra is a professional motion picture. Even in its best moments, however, this film can only approximate a particularly weak episode of Fantasy Island. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Samantha Eggar, Roy Jenson, (more)
This excellent biographical documentary looks at the life and work of director William Wyler. The film is dominated by clips from many of Wyler's better-known works, such as Roman Holiday, Ben-Hur, and Funny Girl. A long interview with the director himself (conducted a few days before he died) provides his personal perspective on his work and interviews with his actors and colleagues offer some surprising comments about the man. Terence Stamp feels Wyler may not have had a good command of English, while Laurence Olivier notes that Wyler taught him how to drop theatrical exaggerations and act for the camera. Bette Davis gives the most extensive commentary. Excerpts from home movies show Wyler and his family on vacation and also record a bit of the making of Wuthering Heights. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Wyler, Bette Davis, (more)
Rex Harrison, although not at all like the portly man described in Hugh Lofting's charming series of children's stories, is sheer perfection as the kindly animal doctor in Leslie Bricusse's musical fantasy Doctor Dolittle. Sadly, Harrison is the only thing nearing perfection in this overstuffed and over-mounted fiasco that nearly brought down 20th Century Fox. Considered a lunatic because he can converse in 498 animal dialects, Dolittle gathers up his friends Matthew Mugg (Anthony Newley) and Emma Fairfax (Samantha Eggar) and heads off on a journey to the South Seas to find the elusive great pink snail and the giant lunar moth. Along the way, the group encounters a succession of bizarre human and animal characters -- most notably the legendary pushme-pullyou, an animal so freakish that it compels Albert Blossom (Richard Attenborough) to burst out into the exuberant song, "I've never Seen Anything Like It in My Life." Incredibly, the film was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar in 1967. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rex Harrison, Samantha Eggar, (more)
After several years' absence, Dirk Bogarde returns to the popular British "Doctor" film series in Doctor in Distress. Where once Bogarde's Dr. Simon Sparrow was naive and wide-eyed, he is a bit more urbane in this edition. He even manages to offer romantic advice to his old mentor/nemesis Sir Lancelot Sprat (James Robertson Justice). Sparrow's efforts to smooth the path for Sir Lancelot's amorous pursuit of physiotherapist Barbara Murray puts a strain on his own relationship with comely Samantha Eggar. Doctor in Distress is based on characters created by Dr. Richard Gordon, though the story is an original and not an adaptation of a Gordon novel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dirk Bogarde, Samantha Eggar, (more)
It goes without saying that the 1973 TV-movie version of Double Indemnity doesn't come within shouting distance of the classic 1944 theatrical-movie version. Still, the basic story is a solid one, and the actors are eager to please. Richard Crenna plays the old Fred MacMurray role of Walter Neff, the slightly larcenous insurance salesman inveigled into an elaborate murder/fraud scheme by sexy Phyllis Dietrichson (Samantha Eggar, replacing the 1944 version's Barbara Stanwyck). The scheme almost goes off without a hitch, but Walter's boss Barton Keyes (Lee J. Cobb; originally Edward G. Robinson) has this "stinking" hunch-and besides, you can't trust Phyllis as far as you can throw her. Originally telecast October 13, 1973, Double Indemnity is based on the Raymond Chandler-Billy Wilder script for the 1944 film, which in turn was adapted from James M. Cain's Three of a Kind. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This crime drama is set in 1910, and tells the tale of a doctor accused of murdering his wife. He swore that he didn't do it. The evidence speaks otherwise. The doctor staunchly claimed the overdose of tranquilizers found in her tea got there by accident and that he and his beautiful mistress had absolutely nothing to do with it. Never mind that after his wife's "accidental" death, he and his lover just happened to choose that moment for a Canadian vacation. Despite their absence, the London police continue investigating until they find the poor wife's body buried in the doctor's cellar. Even after his subsequent capture, extradition and guilty sentence, Dr. Crippen swears his innocence. It's unbelievable, but the story is true. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donald Pleasence, Coral Browne, (more)

- 1983
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For the Term of His Natural Life, Australian novelist Marcus Clarke's epic tale of the hardships and deprivations of his native country in the 1830s, served as the basis for one of the most famous Australian films of the silent era. That was in 1927; 56 years later, Clarke's novel again went before the cameras, this time resulting in a three-part, six-hour TV miniseries. Colin Friels starred as Londoner Rufus Dawes, who thanks to treachery and deceit was arrested on a trumped-up charge and transported to a penal colony in Tasmania, while an impostor laid claim to his birthright. Eighteen years into his incarcaration, Rufus managed to escape, and was subsequently reunited with his sweet Sylvia (Susan Lyons), daughter of the colony's warden. Unfortunately, a happy ending was not in the cards for the hero and heroine. For the Term of His Natural Life aired over Australia's Nine Network in 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A female student, being tutored by a 13 year old genius, wants her tutor to help her cheat on an exam. ~ All Movie Guide
Disney's animation team dipped into the rich well of ancient mythology for this musical comedy. The son of Greek gods Zeus (voice of Rip Torn) and Hera (Samantha Eggar), Hercules (voice of Josh Keaton) is stolen as a boy by the minions of Hades (voice of James Woods), lord of the underworld. Forced to live among humans, Hercules is turned into a half-god and half-mortal after drinking a forbidden potion brewed by Hades' right hand men, Pain (voice of Bob Goldthwait) and Panic (voice of Matt Frewer). Now Hercules has the remarkable strength of a god, but is trapped in the body of a human, and before he learns how to use his power properly he goes through a typically adolescent awkward period. In order to become a god and return to his home on Mount Olympus, Hercules must prove himself a true hero on Earth. With the assistance of Philotes (voice of Danny De Vito), a plucky satyr known as "Phil," the grown-up Hercules (voice of Tate Donovan) learns to use his strength to his advantage and becomes a famous and benevolent protector of those around him, successfully battling a variety of gods and monsters. However, Hades, wanting to cut Hercules down to size, sends his secret weapon after him -- Megara (voice of Susan Egan), a seductively beautiful woman under Hades' control, who is to win Hercules' heart and render him helpless against the forces of the underworld. Acclaimed British cartoonist Gerald Scarfe served as production designer for this project, while Alan Menken wrote the musical score. Incidentally, for the Spanish language version of the film, Latin pop singer Ricky Martin provided the singing voice of Hercules, two years before he became a chart-topping sensation in America with his hit single "Livin' la Vida Loca." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tate Donovan, Josh Keaton, (more)
In this routine action film, Danny Fairchild (Wayne Rogers) and Vincent Reblack (Patrick Macnee) are partners in an art-scam operation in which Danny forges valuable paintings and Vincent authenticates them; both pretend to run a company that legitimately authenticates art for sale at auction. Their illicit operation has been undetected for years until one day someone catches on and Severo (Lloyd Bochner) shows up, threatening to turn them in, or worse, if Danny does not forge a series of paintings that disappeared in World War II. Although the two partners have to agree, they begin to develop a scam that will get Severo and his unknown boss right where it hurts the most. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wayne Rogers, Marie-France Pisier, (more)
The American prints of Battle Force credit the direction to one Humphrey Longan, but in fact the man behind the megaphone of this European war flick was Umberto Lenzi. Orson Welles narrates this crazy-quilt of stock battle footage and hapharzardly staged new scenes. A lot of potent acting talent -- Henry Fonda, Stacy Keach, Helmut Berger, Samantha Eggar -- is squandered herein. Since we know who won the war, it serves no purpose to offer a random series of events leading up to the victory if they aren't going to be interestingly presented. Originally titled Il Grande Attaco, this one was also shipped out as La Battaglia di Mareth, The Biggest Battle and The Great Battle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The uneasy relationship between a naive shrink and the psychotic husband of one of her patients forms the basis for this thriller. After poor Veronica runs screaming hysterically from a theater she is placed in an asylum. Dr. Marcia Stevens who did the initial observations of Veronica places the distraught woman under the care of Dr. Lisa Kelner, an innocent young psychiatrist in the midst of her residency. Dr. Kelner soon learns that Veronica is being abused by her husband Adam Cestare. Despite strict hospital regulations forbidding personal contact the intrigued young Dr.. visits the husband. Lisa is entranced by the charismatic Adam. For a psychiatrist she is incredibly gullible and masochistic. When Adam sees Dr. Lisa accidentally murder someone, he begins to blackmail her and mold her to suit his will. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maxwell Caulfield, Stephanie Knights, (more)
A joint venture between Italian and German production companies, this meandering horror mess stars Alex Cord and Samantha Eggar as a pair of archeologists delving into a series of ancient Etruscan tombs who eventually discover a supernatural connection between a series of grisly murders and the wrath of the vengeful god "Tuchulka." Their ruminations are eventually interrupted by Tuchulka's hordes of the walking dead -- or a handful of them, anyway -- who hunger for the flesh of the living. Cord and Eggar turn in workmanlike performances en route to their paychecks, but the rest of the proceedings are woefully amateurish; some scenes seem like trial runs for Amando de Ossorio's Blind Dead series. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Made for TV on a feature-film budget, Love Among Thieves stars Audrey Hepburn and Robert Wagner--but fails to be worthy of the talents of either star. Ms. Hepburn plays a widowed baroness and classical pianist, who steals three Faberge eggs from a museum in order to ransom her kidnapped fiance. En route to the "drop", Audrey is rescued from a mysterious assailant (Jerry Orbach) by suave stranger Robert Wagner. Wagner proceeds to demonstrate that he's not all he seems by swiping the valuable jeweled eggs. The rest of the film is a maelstrom of double-crosses, clinches and hairbreadth escapes, all evidently intended to emulate Hepburn's 1963 theatrical feature Charade and Wagner's popular 1960s TV series It Takes a Thief. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
From Twentieth Century FOX comes the animated video release of Mozart's classic opera, The Magic Flute. Directed by Ron Myrick and Marlene Robinson May , this child-oriented version of Mozart's timeless opera follows Prince Tamino as he searches for Pamina, the Queen of the Night's kidnapped daughter.
~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
Samantha Eggar guest stars as psychic Laura Bennett, who has been experiencing eerie visions of her own murder. Though skeptical about Laura's ability to foretell the future, Magnum agrees to provide protection to the woman, while simultaneously attempting to collect his fee from a shifty previous client (Kenneth Mars). Need we add that both of Magnum's seemingly unconnected missions are inextricably linked together by episode's end? Meanwhile, Higgins (John Hillerman) becomes more insufferable than usual as he tries to put together a fundraising variety show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide



















