James Faulkner Movies
British lead actor James Faulkner first appeared onscreen in the early '70s. ~ All Movie Guide- 1972
The romantic and professional life of composer Johann Strauss Jr. provides the basis of this colorful remake of the 1938 version. Highlights include the location shots in Austria and the soundtrack. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1974
- PG
In this historical drama based on actual events, Sweden's Queen Christina (Liv Ullmann) decides in 1654 to give up her throne in order to embrace Catholicism. However, as she studies the faith, she falls in love with Cardinal Azzolino (Peter Finch), a cleric being considered for the papacy. Greta Garbo previously played the same abdicating monarch in the film Queen Christina. Michael Dunn, who plays the dwarf in The Abdication, died during production, and several of his scenes had to be shot with another actor doubling for him. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liv Ullmann, Peter Finch, (more)
- 1974
This third talking-picture version of Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations stars Michael York as Pip, the humble British lad whose aspirations to become a gentleman are financed by a mysterious benefactor. We first see young Pip (played by Simon Gipps-Kent) coming to the aid of escaped convict Magwitch (James Mason). Once this episode has apparently run its course, we find Pip the guest of the wealthy, reclusive, half-mad Miss Havisham (Margaret Leighton), and the worshipper-from-afar of Havisham's snooty niece Estella (played as both a teenager and an adult by Sarah Miles--breaking the usual cinematic tradition of casting two actresses in the role). This brief exposure to the finer things in life leads Pip on the winding road to betterment, with a few surprises in store for him. Great Expectations premiered November 22, 1974, as a Bell System Family Theatre presentation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael York, Sarah Miles, (more)
Based on a play by Barry England, the British Conduct Unbecoming revolves around a sexual violation--which may or may not have occurred. In British India, highborn Mrs. Scarlett (Susannah York) accuses 2nd Lt. Millington, a Bengal Lancer officer (James Faulkner) of raping her. Lieutenant Arthur Drake (Michael York) is assigned to defend Lt. Millington in a trial held behind closed doors to avoid scandal. Colonel Strang (Trevor Howard.) is a martinet judge who presses for a conviction, only to have his determination shaken by the introduction of new evidence. Conduct Unbecoming has the look and feel of a decades-old stage production, but the dialogue and performances provide a strictly contemporary slant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael York, Richard Attenborough, (more)
- 1976
An albino terrorist stalks Africa in this violent action film from the director of the similar Slavers. Terrick (James Faulkner), a former cop, tries to bring the albino to justice, but not before he scalps and rapes pretty Sally (Sybil Danning), the daughter of an evil plantation owner (Trevor Howard). Christopher Lee co-stars in this British-German-Rhodesian-South African co-production with Horst Frank and Sascha Hehn. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lee, James Faulkner, (more)
- 1978
- R
South Africa provides the setting for this dark tale of racial unrest and turmoil. The story centers upon a policeman out to exact revenge for the man who killed and raped his fiancee. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
This film depicts the events prior to the devastating conflict that occurred in 1879 when British soldiers were held siege by thousands of Zulu warriors. Fifteen hundred soldiers were killed in the epic battle. This film portrays the tensions existing between the tribal factions and the British invaders. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Lancaster, Peter O'Toole, (more)
A reclusive, unhappy gold magnate finds his isolated tropical paradise threatened by the intrusion of organized criminals in director Nicolas Roeg's convoluted, arty drama. Gene Hackman stars as Jack McCann, a one-time gold prospector who his parlayed the discovery of a rich deposit in the Canadian wilderness into an immense fortune. Instead of satisfaction, McCann's wealth leads to depression and paranoia, and he moves to a remote island and withdraws from the world. The bulk of the film centers on what has become of McCann some thirty years later, as he attempts to deal with a troubled daughter (Theresa Russell) and the attentions of the Mafia, who want to build a new casino on his tropical home. As the pressures increase, his efforts to protect his property and maintain his family become increasingly desperate, culminating in an extended public trial. Even stranger and more stylized than most of Roeg's work, the disjointed Eureka will seem incomprehensible and painfully pretentious to those with little patience for his indirect narratives and purposefully exaggerated approach. Devoted fans, however, will find further proof of the director's impressive visual sense, especially during the film's earlier sequences. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Hackman, Theresa Russell, (more)
- 1981
- R
The later years of the life of author D.H. Lawrence are dramatized in this screen biography. Following the controversial reception of his novel The Rainbow, David Herbert Lawrence (Ian McKellen) and his wife Frieda (Janet Suzman) leave England for the U.S., where they hope that Lawrence's bold themes will be received in a more tolerant climate. Such is not the case, and the Lawrences travel first to Mexico, and then to Italy while David attempts to complete and then publish his best known (and most controversial) work, Lady Chatterley's Lover. However, as the furor over the book taxes David's well being, tuberculosis saps his physical health. The supporting cast includes John Gielgud as censorship crusader Herbert G. Muskett and Ava Gardner as Mabel Dodge Luhan. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ian McKellen, Janet Suzman, (more)
- 1984
The role of media manipulation of the news is also the starring role in this political drama involving a female broadcast journalist who travels to Africa to cover a breaking story about a revolution, only to have her material cut and recast back in her London studios. Lisa Ford (Gayle Hunnicutt), her cameraman (Siegfried Rauch), and her Cuban advisor (James Faulkner) are taken to the head of the guerrilla forces (Ken Gampu) who holds two young women hostage (to attract world attention to his cause). As the cameraman films the story and Lisa adds her commentary, they themselves have to choose and select what they show since there is not enough air time to run hours and hours of videotape. Once their installments reach the program controller in London (Trevor Howard), he uses his own judgment to basically censor Lisa's story. Although director Francis Megahy's point is well-taken, it may be stated one too many times for some viewers -- for others, perhaps, it could not be stated enough. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gayle Hunnicutt, James Faulkner, (more)
- 1984
In this British romance, a lively London lad decides to create a little excitement by dreaming up a convincing story involving the theft of a Rembrandt; he then tells the story to a local newspaper. According to the imaginative imp, the painting was stolen by a motely gang who worked for a powerful South African guerilla leader. Unfortunately for the boy, there is a real Rembrandt thief about, and he is out to get the boy before his lies end up getting the crook captured. Meanwhile, the boy is in love with a pretty girl, about whom he frequently fantasizes. He does get together with the girl for a while, but the she jilts him. Fortunately, by the story's end, the crook is captured, she returns, and happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rupert Everett, Cristina Raines, (more)
- 1985
In this sequel to the original miniseries, Lili (Phoebe Cates), having discovered the true identity of her mother, now begins looking for her father. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brooke Adams, Deborah Raffin, (more)
- 1985
Stefanie Powers does double duty as twin sisters in the two-part TV movie Deceptions. Stefanie #1 is a glamorous globetrotter; Stefanie #2 is a drab New Jersey housewife. On a whim, the two siblings exchange identities, leading to a dizzying series of unexpected complications. Filmed on location in England and Italy, Deceptions is too thin to be stretched over two days (it was originally telecast May 27 and 28, 1985), but Stefanie Powers can make anything work. The film is based on a novel by Judith Michaels (the joint pen name for Judith Barnard and Michael Fain); it was adapted for television by Oscar-winning writer/director Melville Shavelson, who also shared directorial responsibilities with Robert Chenault. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Still Crazy Like a Fox was a 1987 TV-movie effort to revive the lighthearted detective series originally telecast in 1984-86. Jack Warden is back as eccentric detective Harry Fox, with John Rubinstein as his conservative lawyer son Harrison. Father and son are lifted from their natural San Francisco habitat and sent on a vacation in England. While in London, Harry spots a man in the act of stealing. But the man is the above-reproach Duke of Kent (James Faulkner), and Harry's accusations are ignored. When the Duke is murdered, Harry goes to the head of the suspect list. Costarring in Still Crazy Like a Fox is British comic actor Graham (Monty Python) Chapman as Harry's dyspeptic Scotland Yard antagonist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Warden, John Rubinstein, (more)
Roger Young's made-for-TV adaptation of the Robert Ludlum novel, The Bourne Identity stars Richard Chamberlain as Jason Bourne, who washes up on the beach and is cared for by a doctor. Bourne has no memories, but is intrigued enough to investigate why he has the number of a Swiss bank account on his thigh. As Jason travels to various European cities following clues about his past, he begins to discover that his actions match those of the feared international terrorist Carlos. The book was filmed a second time in 2002 by Doug Liman with Matt Damon in the title role. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Chamberlain, Jaclyn Smith, (more)
- 1988
This thrilling tale of Cold War espionage follows a British spy helping a Russian scientist defect from the Soviet Union by taking a perilous journey through the Eastern Bloc. The BBC telefilm stars acclaimed English actors Kevin McNally, Bernard Hepton, and James Faulkner. ~ Sandra Bencic, All Movie Guide
- 1988
There is certainly nothing wrong with this remake of the Basil Rathbone, Peter Cushing mystery of 1939. The question, however, is why one would want to substitute others when the original was so superlative. Jeremy Brett, however, does a fine job as Sherlock Holms as he investigates strange happenings at the Baskerville Hall--all of which seem to prove that the family is being haunted by the ghost of a dog. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeremy Brett
- 1989
In this made-for-cable espionage adventure, a U.S. espionage agent's look into the disappearance of a colleague stationed in East Berlin leads to his uncovering a conspiracy to murder a prominent Soviet leader. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Beau Bridges, Alan Howard, (more)
- 1990
- PG
Martin Sheen and Jacqueline Bisset star in this romantic comedy based and filmed in Paris. An American businessman (Sheen) travels to France to work at a bank, and falls in love with its president (Bisset). He then poses as her new housekeeper to see more of her, and must try to keep up the charade at home as well as at the office. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Sheen, Jacqueline Bisset, (more)
- 1991
- Add Inspector Morse: Greeks Bearing Gifts to QueueAdd Inspector Morse: Greeks Bearing Gifts to top of Queue
Inspector Morse (John Thaw) and Sergeant Lewis (Kevin Whately) dig up another mystery in this episode of the popular British TV series. In "Greeks Bearing Gifts," the city of Oxford is turned upside-down when one of the area's Greek chefs is found dead and a baby goes missing. It's up to Morse and Lewis to get information from the town's Greek community, who are very tight-lipped on the matter. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Jarvis
Based on the 1978 novel by Julian Symons, the two-part, four-hour British miniseries The Blackheath Poisonings was set during the Victorian era. When the head of a prominent household is poisoned, virtually everyone within a 50 mile radius falls under suspicion. As the plot thickens, more suspicious deaths occur, the final one proving to be a means of "escape" for the guilty party. Deftly exploring the sinister underpinnings of 19th century British gentility, The Blackheath Poisonings was broadcast by Central Television on December 7 and 9, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christine Kavanagh, Ian McNeice, (more)
- 1992
- R
In this last gasp of the "Carry On" series, minus most of the "Carry On" players, Jim Dale plays Spanish map-maker Christopher Columbus, who has a plan to navigate a new route to India, bypassing the Sultan of Turkey (Rik Mayall) and his sky-high tributes. He convinces King Ferdinand of Spain (Leslie Phillips) and Queen Isabella (June Whitfield) to finance his trip, and he sets off for points east with a cabin boy in tow. But what Columbus doesn't realize is that his cabin boy is, in fact, a cabin girl. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Dale, Bernard Cribbins, (more)
- 1994
Nia Peeples guest stars as Nefertiti, handmaiden to Egyptian queen Nefertiti. Released from her sarcophagus after 2000 years, Nefertiti swears vengeance against her ex-lover, immortal Roman General Marcus Constantine (James Faulkner). Now a gentle museum curator, Constantine insists that Nefertiti is over-reacting. Duncan (Adrian Paul) promises to protect Constantine by any means available -- even though he himself has fallen in love with Nefertiti. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
This made-for-TV romance is a reworking of the legend of King Arthur's queen and tells how she forsook her real love and married Arthur in order to bring England together. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sheryl Lee, Sean Patrick Flanery, (more)
- 1996
- R
Set in a future in which the media has become nearly omnipotent, this violent and gory crime thriller blurs the thin line between life and art while commenting upon the insanity of those who would do anything for fame. The trouble begins when unemployed actor Bobby is hired to play a serial killer on a crime reenactment television series. Wanting to fully understand the killer's motivations, Bobby begins researching the crimes and even gets helpful police officers to furnish the grisly details of recent murders. By the show's taping, Bobby has become an expert. Soon afterward, Bobby becomes a star, something that delights the real culprit and inspires him to go on to even more lurid, headline-grabbing crimes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Baldwin, Pete Postlethwaite, (more)
