Gareth Hale Movies
- 1998
The popular British comedy duo of Gareth Hale and Norman Pace were the prime creative forces behind this two-part miniseries, which represented the team's big move from ITV to BBC. The setting was a small town populated by zanies, none zanier than a pair of nonspeaking roommates named Nobby (Gareth Hale) and Ginge (Norman Pace). The plot, what there was of it, concerned Nobby's mute but ardent pursuit of the gorgeous lady next door (Miranda Baker). Oddbods made its British TV bow on August 31, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Born in Dorsetshire, Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) fictionalized the region as Wessex in his short stories and novels. In 1973, stories from Thomas Hardy's collection Wessex Tales (1888) were adapted to television for a BBC-2 series (also titled Wessex Tales) that included a memorable contribution ("A Tragedy of Two Ambitions") scripted by acclaimed British dramatist Dennis Potter, who later adapted Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge for the BBC2 in 1978. The Scarlet Tunic is based on another story from Wessex Tales, "The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion," a 20-page tale of thwarted love, structured as a recollection by Phyllis as told to Hardy shortly before she died. For this $800,000-budgeted British period film, set in the early 19th century, the name Phyllis was changed to Frances (Emma Fielding), daughter of retired doctor Edward Groves (Jack Shepherd). Frances is engaged to her father's friend, dull Humphrey Gould (John Sessions), away on business. A German cavalry regiment is encamped on Groves' land, and one day, Frances meets handsome hussar Matthaus (Jean-Marc Barr), who's ready for action. He would like to either fight the French or return to Germany. The two have an immediate attraction. When the bored soldiers, including Matthaus, make plans to desert, Frances decides to leave with Matthaus. Unfortunately, Gould visits the Groves home on that very night, with resulting confrontations and conflicts. Former second-unit director and stunt coordinator Stuart St. Paul makes his feature directorial debut, with the screenplay (St. Paul, Mark Jenkins, Colin Clements) expanding on both the events and characters as penned by Hardy. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Marc Barr, Emma Fielding, (more)
- 1994
Two years before Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan firmly established themselves as detectives Dalziel and Pascoe in the British cop series of the same name, comedians Gareth Hale and Norman Pace essayed the same roles in the semi-serious three-parter A Pinch of Snuff. Based on a novel by Reginald Hill, the story found Inspector Andy Dalziel (Hale) and Sgt. Peter Pascoe (Pace) investigating a murder at an upscale gentleman's club. The fact that the "club" was a front for a porno-film theater only served to add an extra dash of spice to the already zesty proceedings. A Pinch of Snuff made its British-TV premiere on April 9, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gareth Hale, Norman Pace, (more)
- 1989
The 26-year saga of Doctor Who came to an end (albeit temporarily) with the series' final three-part adventure, "Survival." Returning to the 20th century, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) arrive in Ace's hometown of Perivale. The two time travellers are immediately plunged into a mystery involving a strange breed of cats and a series of abrupt disappearances. First telecast on December 5, 1989, "Survival, Episode 1" was written by Rona Munro. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, (more)
