Britt Ekland Movies
In the earliest stages of her career, Swedish actress Britt Ekland was "famous for being famous" as the wife of film comedian Peter Sellers. She appeared in two Italian pictures before marrying Sellers in 1963, and later co-starred with him in After the Fox (1966) and The Bobo (1967), and enjoyed good reviews for her role as a prim Quaker girl who inadvertently invented the strip-tease in The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968). Most of Ekland's subsequent films were low-budget action melodramas and leering sex comedies; she did acquit herself nicely, however, as James Bond's vis-à-vis in The Man With the Golden Gun (1974) and that year's cult thriller, The Wicker Man. Ekland will not likely be remembered for her cinematic triumphs, and chances are future generations will know her primarily from her brief alliance with Sellers or from her tempestuous and well-documented private life, as recounted in her autobiography True Britt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Edina (Jennifer Saunders) gets in an uproar over the impending visit of Max (Patrick Barlow) and Bettina (Miranda Richardson), a pair of impossibly hip old friends. Terrified that her cluttered house won't be up to snuff with these chic minimalists, she chucks things -- and people -- right and left. Pats (Joanna Lumley), feeling abandoned, sets off to find another lunch partner. She even turns up at her own office, hoping to find Magda but instead encountering Bubble (Jane Horrocks), who is there on loan from Eddy's office. Meanwhile, Eddy, dismayed to find that Bettina and Max have become the shrill, neurotic yuppie parents of a very ordinary newborn, escapes to an imaginary lunch date of her own. Pats and Eddy find themselves at the same hip London eatery, where each tries to impress the other with her dining companions; Eddy gloms onto '60s singer Lulu, while Pats forces herself into the company of Swedish actress Britt Ekland and outrageous fashion designer Zandra Rhodes. Back at the Monsoon house, Eddy still can't stand the company of the hysterical Bettina, so she retires to bed. Strangely enough, so does Max. Originally broadcast on BBC 1 on February 24, 1994, Absolutely Fabulous: New Best Friend marked series two, episode four of this popular Brit-com. Although Richardson, star of such films as The Crying Game, played a fictional character, Ekland, Lulu, and Rhodes all portrayed themselves. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 1991
- R
Ben Kingsley stars in this solid adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel (filmed previously in 1929 as The Marriage Playground). Kingsley plays Martin Boyne, an engineer in 1920s Europe who, after five years of correspondence, is planning to travel overseas to marry the recently widowed Rose Sellars (Kim Novak). On his way to marry Rose, he stops off in Venice to visit his old friend Cliffe Wheater (Joe Don Baker), who with his wife Joyce (Geraldine Chaplin) has a large group of children. Rose then contacts Martin, telling him that due to complications arising from her husband's will, he should wait another year before marrying her. Meanwhile, Cliffe and Joyce's fifteen-year-old daughter Judith (Siri Neal) arrives at Rose's door with the younger children. Because of marital problems, the children convince Martin to become their guardian. But Martin, spending too much time around Judith, ends up falling in love with her. Tongues begin to wag and Rose, crestfallen, leaves for France. Martin and Rose split up and Martin disappears in shame, trying to get control of his life and all that he has lost. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Kingsley, Kim Novak, (more)
- 1989
- R
In 1963, the conservative British government was shaken to its foundations by the Profumo Scandal. The central character in this disastrous affair was John Profumo, Britain's minister of war, who had become sexually involved with call-girl Christine Keeler, whose "sponsor" was high-priced osteopath Dr. Stephen Ward. Fancying himself a dashing international adventurer, Ward had also offered Christine to alleged Soviet spy Eugene Ivanov. Another of Ward's stable, Mandy Rice-Davies, allegedly had slept with numerous British and American luminaries. The whole sordid story, which ended with Ward's suicide and Profumo's public disgrace, was recounted with relish in director Michael Caton-Jones's Scandal, which featured John Hurt as Stephen Ward, Joanne Whalley-Kilmer as Christine Keeler, Ian McKellan as Profumo, Bridget Fonda as Mandy Rice-Davies, and Jeroen Krabbe as Ivanov. In its original form, the film was ripe enough to court an X-rating; post-production trimming enabled it to squeak by with an R. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Hurt, Joanne Whalley, (more)
- 1988
"B"-sleaze auteur Fred Olen Ray pounded out this vampire parody, which stars career nerd Eddie Deezen as an affable dork and wannabe Hollywood hot-shot who discovers that a high-market bordello -- overseen by slinky Madam Cassandra (Britt Ekland) -- is actually a den of lascivious vampire bimbos from hell. Though his companions are easily lured by the ladies' deadly charms, Deezen takes a definite liking to his self-proclaimed title of Vampire Hunter, even going as far as to sew a crucifix into his skivvies. Laughing yet? This is actually one of Ray's more witty efforts -- with a manic pace, some clever in-jokes, copious amounts of skin, and a throwaway attitude that makes the relentless silliness a bit more palatable... although Deezen's hyperkinetic mugging may be more than some viewers can endure. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Deezen, Britt Ekland, (more)
- 1986
- R
In this provocative and scary supernatural thriller, a brides happy honeymoon aboard an Acapulco-bound yacht with her husband, two of his buddies from Vietnam and their girl friends, turns to terror when someone or something begins to kill them one by one. In the end, only she lives to tell the grisly tale via flashback. It seems that the killings have something to do with the terrible things the veterans did to the innocent back during the war. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Britt Ekland, John Phillip Law, (more)
- 1985
Rod Taylor and Britt Ekland lend their talents--and a measure of box-office insurance--to the Spanish Hot Spot. The film is set on the Riviera, where passions run high and the money flows like water. Two lovers intend to top off their vacation on the Cote D'Azur with a daring robbery. Their target: a very wealthy, very nasty tycoon. But the tycoon has a virtual army of henchman, meaning that the plot will not be resolved any sooner than the film's allotted running time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
- R
A psychology teacher nearly loses her husband after her recently published doctoral thesis on sex becomes a best-seller. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Delivering no more and no less than what its title suggests, this teen movie is about three frat brothers chasing down sex and women in Palm Springs for a long weekend escape from blizzard conditions at Iowa State. Wendall (Stephen Geoffreys) is the requisite nerd of the group whose heart throbs for a certain young woman, unfortunately, she is the daughter of Police Chief Ferret (John Vernon), an aptly-named tough cop who is hardly going to welcome anyone who is after his daughter. Wendall's two buddies (Cameron Dye and Leigh McCloskey) are hot on the heels of the beauteous Ashley (Sheree J. Wilson), but so are a few others, and she does not necessarily bestow her favors indiscriminately -- and so they are having a difficult time of it. Between the music, the locations, and the lightweight plot to match the clothing, this is a typical teen comedy, for and about teens, and aimed at a young teen audience. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Geoffreys, Sheree J. Wilson, (more)
- 1985
While at a Spanish resort town, a wealthy man is lifted of $3 million as part of a nefarious scheme. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Canadian sailor and fisherman Sean Phelan (Winston Rekert) has been duped into carrying a cargo of drugs for the Colombian Mafia when all he wants to do is set his business back on course. Unknown to the Colombian smugglers (the Canadian Mounties have been on to them all the time) special-agent Priscilla Lancaster (Britt Ekland) is on board to thwart the smugglers -- and to fall in love with the fisherman while still undercover. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Winston Rekert, Britt Ekland, (more)
- 1982
- R
This sex-filled exploitation favorite has bounced from one double-billing to the next, undergoing numerous re-titlings (including Bride of Satan and Fury of the Succubus) in the process. It stars Lana Wood as a frustrated housewife who begins having nightly trysts with a tall, dark stranger... who, of course, turns out to be Satan himself. Thus begins her descent into dementia, as she begins to distance herself even further from her husband and kids (if that were possible) while painting portraits of her enigmatic new lover. For reasons never detailed in the film, there is a fully-functional guillotine in the cellar, and it's only a matter of time before heads begin to roll. Assorted devil-worshippers pop up out of nowhere for a confusing climax. Not a bad little time-waster, this film relies more on nudity than scares, with a dollop of gore for good measure. Britt Ekland fans be warned: despite her prominent billing in the credits, her role barely amounts to a walk-on. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Britt Ekland, Lana Wood, (more)
This quaint horror anthology is loosely based on the works of horror novelist R. Chetwynd-Hayes -- who is portrayed by John Carradine as an active participant in his own tales. The author is invited by a suave vampire (Vincent Price) to accompany him to the title establishment, where he observes the secret social customs of various species of monsters -- which apparently include drinking, dancing, and watching undead strippers remove more than just their clothing. He is also made privy to the mating patterns of these creatures, whose tendency to inter-breed creates such new strains of monsters as the "shadmock" (a vampire-like entity with a deadly high-pitched whistle) and the "humgoo" (the sullen offspring of a human and a flesh-eating ghoul). Price's descriptions of these new beasties trigger accompanying vignettes far less entertaining than the framing story, which is rife with horror movie in-jokes, cheesy rubber monster masks, and music by pop-reggae band UB40(!). Accomplished horror-omnibus director Roy Ward Baker seems to delight in the opportunity for pure camp, although the overall silliness of the proceedings has put off more than a few horror buffs. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Price, Donald Pleasence, (more)
- 1981
This is the made-for-TV version of the romantic drama that chronicles the exploits of a group of glamorous women caught up in the entertainment industry. This version contains material author Jacqueline Susann omitted from her original novel. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Suspense novelist Alistair MacLean wrote Hostage Tower directly for television. A master criminal takes over the Eiffel Tower, holding the mother of the President of the United States hostage. The criminal demands a $30 million ransom or the tower will be blasted into oblivion. The cast is quite stellar for a TV-movie, including Peter Fonda, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (then in virtual retirement), Celia Johnson and Maude Adams (as one of the villains). Curiously, the director of Hostage Tower is sitcom veteran Claudio Guzman, best known for his long association with I Dream of Jeannie! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the first episode of a two-part story, the Galactica is again attacked by a fleet of Cylon fighters. The crew's only hope of escape is through a space corridor past the ice planet Arcta--which is guarded by a Cylon pulsar cannon. Commander Adama (Lorne Greene) is ultimately forced to place the future of his space vessel in the hards of an army of criminals, led by Adama's son Apollo (Richard Hatch) and Apollo's best friend Starbuck (Richard Hatch). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, (more)
- 1978
Lloyd Bridges stars as stubborn high-wire artist Karl Wallenda in the made-for-TV The Great Wallendas. The famed family aerialist troupe suffered a tragic setback when, during a performance in Detroit on January 30, 1962, an accident caused the death of Karl's son-in-law and nephew, and the crippling of his own son. With grim determination, Karl insists that the Wallendas recreate their fatal "pyramid" routine. Despite several near-disasters, the Wallendas make a triumphant comeback in Fort Worth, Texas on November 19, 1963, which is faithfully recreated in this film under the supervision of the real Karl Wallenda. Also starring in this 2-hour film are Britt Ekland, Taina Elg, and genuine gymnast Cathy Rigby. The Great Wallendas premiered (in the timeslot usually reserved for The Wonderful World of Disney) on February 21, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the conclusion of a two-part story, the fate of the Galactica rests in the hands of an army of criminals and misfits, under the command of Apollo (Richard Hatch) and Starbuck (Dirk Benedict). This ragtag band must destroy the Cylon pulsar cannon mounted on the ice planet Arcta. Can they depend upon the help of a race of clone miners, who have as much reason to hate the Cylons as anyone in the universe -- but who may not be willing or able to fight? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, (more)
- 1978
Ring of Passion is a self-described "docudrama" of the professional rivalry between African-American boxing great Joe Louis and German fistic champ Max Schmeling. On June 19, 1936, Schmeling (Stephen Macht) beats Louis (Bernie Casey) for the European championship. Germany's Nazi government uses this bout to trumpet the superiority of the Aryans over the "inferior" races. But in the return match of 1938, described by such sports scriveners as Damon Runyon (Allen Garfield) and Paul Gallico (Joe Campanella) as the "Fight of the Century," Joe Louis defeats Max Schmeling in one round. This TV movie takes great pains to convince us that, while Schmeling was in effect fighting for political reasons, he himself was not a Nazi (we are told that the public slurs against Louis attributed to Schmeling are the handiwork of Joseph Goebbels' propaganda machine). Given the subject matter at hand, Ring of Passion is surprisingly stingy in its boxing sequences. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
A drug smuggling operation working in the Soviet Union is confronted by deputy marshal Sam McCloud in this episode of the "McCloud" television series. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1977
Set in 19th-century Africa, this film chronicles the horrors of the slave trade and the relationship between an Arab slave-trader and the people he sees as goods to be bought and sold. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Trevor Howard, Ron Ely, (more)
- 1976
With only an ancient medallion to guide him, a British explorer launches an adventure-packed expedition to a mysterious lost Phoenician city in the heart of Africa were Solomon's fabulous treasure is said to be hidden in this low-budget Canadian fantasy-adventure. During the dangerous journey, the treasure hunters encounter dinosaur guardians and an exquisitely statuesque Phoenician queen. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Vietnam veterans Baumgartner and Watson (Ben Gazzara and Paul Winfield) are hired to rescue an executive (Keenan Wynn) abducted by Asian guerrillas. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Gazzara, Britt Ekland, (more)
In a way, the title of Some Like It Cool was a piquant comment on the career of star Tony Curtis, whose stardom had chilled since his 1959 appearance in Some Like It Hot. This time around, Curtis plays famed 18th-century lover Giacomo Casanova. The plot would have us believe that Casanova has suddenly turned impotent, and is deploying all manner of subterfuge to hide the fact. One of Casanova's stratagems is to hire a look-alike (also Curtis) to uphold his reputation between the sheets. The stellar supporting cast -- Marisa Berenson, Hugh Griffith, Britt Ekland et. al. -- seem far more embarrassed by their tawdry, topless surroundings than Curtis, who steamrolls his way through the film with the same dogged determination that he'd demonstrated in his "Yonda lies the castle of my fadduh" formative years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Curtis, Marisa Berenson, (more)
