John Arnatt Movies
- 1984
Part of the British mystery series based on the books by Agatha Christie, Miss Marple: The Moving Finger was first aired in 1985. Maud Calthorp (Dilys Hamlett) calls in Miss Jane Marple (Joan Hickson) to investigate a hate-mail case in the small village of Lymston. The problem is kept relatively quiet until lawyer Edward Symmington (Michael Culver) discovers his wife dead after receiving one of the letters. The coroner says suicide, but Miss Marple is convinced otherwise. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Hickson
- 1983
- R
One-dimensional characters tend to fall flat, and that seems to be the case in this low-budget parody of a James Bond spy-thriller that has stretched the bravado of the spy genre beyond its elastic limits. The story involves a British agent, Charles Bind (Gareth Hunt) sent on a mission to find Lord Dangerfield (Noel Johnson) and along the way eliminate the evil Lucifer Orchid (Gary Hope). Lucifer is using plastic surgery to create doubles of the U.S. vice-president, agent Bind, and others in order to install the doubles in power and take over the world. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gareth Hunt, Nick Tate, (more)
- 1978
In the conclusion of the six-part story "The Invasion of Time," the Sontarans launch their invasion of the Time Lords' home world of Gallifrey. As Lord President, the Doctor (Tom Baker) tackles the responsibility of fending off the Sontarans. But first, he must assemble the forbidden de-mat gun, controlled by the Great Key of Rassilon -- and this act has a very profound effect on both the Doctor and his traveling companion, Leila (Louise Jameson, making her farewell Doctor Who appearance). Written by Graham Williams and Anthony Read under the joint pen name of David Agnew, "The Invasion of Time, Episode 6" originally aired on March 11, 1978, as the final episode of Doctor Who's 15th season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, (more)
- 1978
In the fifth episode of the six-part story "The Invasion of Time," the Doctor appears to be cooperating with the telepathic Vardans in their efforts to conquer his home planet Gallifrey. But just when victory seems within the Vardans' grasp, the Doctor springs the trap that he has planned all along. Alas, Gallifrey now faces a threat from an even more formidable enemy -- the Sontarans. First telecast March 4, 1978, "The Invasion of Time, Episode 5" was written by Graham Williams and Anthony Read, under the joint pen name of David Agnew. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, (more)
- 1978
In the second episode of the six-part story "The Invasion of Time," the Doctor (Tom Baker), newly appointed the Lord President of Gallifrey, is assigned to help a telepathic race called the Vardans. Curiously, he is also supposed to assist the Vardans in the invasion and takeover of Gallifrey -- and his dedication to duty may have dire consequences for his fellow Time Lords. First telecast February 11, 1978, "The Invasion of Time, Episode 2" was written by Graham Williams and Anthony Read, under the joint pen name of David Agnew. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, (more)
- 1978
Beginning February 4, 1978, the six-episode "The Invasion of Time" was the final adventure of Doctor Who's 15th season. The Doctor (Tom Baker) returns to his home planet, Gallifrey, to assume the presidency of the Time Lords. Almost immediately, he is handed his first assignment: to help a group of telepaths called the Vardans. It is, however, the second part of the assignment that gives the Doctor pause. The script for "The Invasion of Time, Episode 1" was credited to David Agnew -- actually the joint pen name of Graham Williams and Anthony Read. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, (more)
- 1978
In the third episode of the six-part story "The Invasion of Time," the Doctor (Tom Baker) continues to assist the telepathic Vardans, even though they intend to conquer his home world of Gallifrey. Actually, the Doctor has a different agenda in mind -- but, lest the Vardans tumble to his scheme, he is forced into some truly bizarre behavior, including the banishment of his loyal traveling companion, Leela (Louise Jameson). First telecast February 18, 1978, "The Invasion of Time, Episode 3" was written by Graham Williams and Anthony Read, under the joint pen name of David Agnew. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, (more)
A crazed sculptor (Mike Raven) realizes that his craft is made much easier by simply pouring molten bronze over his beautiful female models. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Robin Hood (Barrie Ingham) again robs from the rich to give to the poor. The evil Sheriff of Nottingham (John Arnatt) is still his foe, but Robin's primary adversary is his own cousin Roger (Peter Blythe). Roger has burned the will of Robin's father which promises all land and money to his son. Roger takes control of the estate, and again Robin is an outlaw hiding out in Sherwood Forest. The sheriff is amused at Roger's inability to corral his cousin Robin, who cavorts with Little John and Friar Tuck in bucolic splendor. The trio must rescue Maid Marian (Gay Hamilton) and her brother from the castle of the wicked King John. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barrie Ingham, Leon Greene, (more)
- 1967
Dirk Bogarde is a no-good rotter who returns to his family after several years' absence. Only his seven children are present to greet Bogarde as he enters his shabby London home, and they're somewhat vague as to the whereabouts of the mother. What Bogarde doesn't know is that his wife had died some time ago. The kids (including future stars Pamela Franklin and Mark Lester) decided amongst themselves that they didn't want to be broken up and sent to orphanages; thus, they secretly buried their mother and went on about their business, pretending that mom was still alive. Money-hungry Bogarde threatens this cozy set-up, leaving the children little recourse but to prepare a second grave. Our Mother's House was based on a novel by Julian Gloag; one of the screenwriters was Haya Harareet, who eight years earlier had been Charlton Heston's leading lady in Ben-Hur (59). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dirk Bogarde, Margaret Brooks, (more)
- 1966
In this lively British parody of James Bond movies, a dashing secret agent goes to extremes to save the British Parliament from a communist take-over. To do this, he must keep the Ripper, a notorious double-agent from stealing a newly developed aircraft metal. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Adams, Dawn Addams, (more)
- 1965
Escape by Night was originally released in Great Britain as Clash by Night, which was also the title of the Rupert Croft-Brooke novel on which it was based. Gangster boss Tom Bowman has been arrested and is being transported to prison in a bus containing several innocent "civilians." Bowman's old gang hijacks the bus to rescue their boss, then take refuge in an old barn. The gang holds off the authorities by threatening to torch the barn and all its occupants. The climactic conflagration is predictable, but its outcome isn't. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Terence Longdon, Jennifer Jayne, (more)
- 1965
A British movie originally entitled Licensed to Kill, this is a satire on the James Bond brand of spy which has a bumbling agent attempting to foil the Russian acquisition of a Swedish anti-gravity formula. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Adams, Karel Stepanek, (more)
- 1965
In this British wartime comedy, a group of captured con-artists must choose between jail terms or military service. Naturally they choose the army. Once they are assigned to a post they set up successful gambling and liquor operations. When they go overseas, they do the same thing. They are then asked to start a social club to boost morale. They do so, and the operation is only a hair's breadth away from being a brothel. They attempt to keep the joint a secret from visiting Parliamentary members, but it is not long before the cathouse is out of the bag. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harry H. Corbett, Stanley Baxter, (more)
- 1964
While visiting England, an American tourist (Robert Webber) is involved in an auto accident and suffers from amnesia. Upon his release from the hospital, he recuperates in a home paid for by a mysterious benefactor, where a dead body later appears in the shower. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Webber, Anthony Newlands, (more)
- 1963
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)
- 1963
The Set-Up was another in the long-running British second-feature series based on the works of Edgar Wallace. Maurice Denham plays a businessman who blackmails ex-con Brian Peck into committing a robbery. Peck is told to break into Denham's house and steal some valuable jewels so that the businessman can collect the insurance. But when Peck arrives at the crime scene, he comes across the body of Denham's wife--and is promptly accused of the murder. Inspector Jackson (John Carson) is the dogged detective who unravels the insidious plot woven by the crafty Denham. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
In this espionage thriller, an agent on his way back to London from Baghdad must deliver an important coded message to an operative. Though ordinarily a routine assignment, the agent finds his life jeopardized when word that he has a photographic memory leaks out. Suddenly he finds himself pursued by enemy agents from all over. Later his boss asks the agent and his lover to allow themselves to be captured so the British agents can move in and capture the enemy spies. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Welsh librarian John Lewis (Peter Sellers), unhappily married to Jean Lewis (Virginia Maskell), falls in love with the glamorous Elizabeth Gruffydd Williams (Mai Zetterling). Zetterling is likewise saddled with a dull spouse, wealthy Vernon Gruffyd-Williams (Raymond Huntley). Finding themselves to be kindred spirits, Sellers and Zetterling plan an illicit affair. Alas, none of their carefully calculated schemes for a romantic tryst come to fruition thanks to a series of comic (but utterly credible) complications.
John ultimately concludes that adultery simply isn't worth the bother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
John ultimately concludes that adultery simply isn't worth the bother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Sellers, Mai Zetterling, (more)
- 1962
Also known as Fog of the Killer, Out of the Fog is a characteristically efficient thriller from British workhorse Montgomery Tully. Scotland Yard is thrown into an uproar when a mad killer begins knocking off beautiful young blondes. The killer only strikes during a full moon, enabling the Yard to set an elaborate trap. Policeman David Sumner arranges for the lovely Susan Travers to act as bait....but will he be able to get to her before the maniac finishes the job? Though produced by a company called Eternal Films, Out of the Fog runs but a brisk 68 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Bryan Forbes' first directorial effort is set in a rugged Lancashire farm community. Three impressionable children, played by Hayley Mills, Diane Holgate, and Alan Barnes, come across a bearded vagrant named Arthur Blakey (Alan Bates) sleeping in their barn. Upon awakening, the ill-tempered bum takes a look at the white-eyed kids and mutters the imprecation "Jesus Christ!" In their innocence, the children assume that Arthur is Jesus Christ, and they spread the word to their friends. In truth, he is an escaped killer. But when the authorities come around looking for him, the kids, remembering Christ's persecution, do their best to protect their far-from-deserving new friend. Though the material, based on a novel by Mary Hayley Bell (Hayley Mills's mother) could have been mawkish and obvious in other hands, Forbes handles the situation and the characters realistically; even the blatant New Testament symbolism is logically incorporated into the proceedings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hayley Mills, Alan Bates, (more)
- 1962
In this thriller, set at a British air base, an American airman stationed there becomes the prime suspect after a series of local women are murdered. The man tries to prove that they are wrong so he asks a schoolteacher out on a date. Unfortunately, another murder occurs and he remains accused. Later it is revealed that the true murderer is a female impersonator. Romance between the airman and the teacher ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1961
In this taut thriller, a philandering husband and his pregnant lover plot the death of his wife, her sister. Fortunately things don't happen has planned. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Under his cloak of invisibility, Peter Brady quietly investigates the possibility that Uranium-235 is being smuggled into Great Britain for the purpose of triggering an atomic war. Making Brady's task difficult is the presence of famed pacifist leader Waring (William Squire), who has been duped into helping the villains booby-trap the major capitals of the world. Edward Hardwicke, the son of Sir Cedric Hardwicke and the later "Dr. Watson" to Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes, appears in a featured role. This final episode of The Invisible Man was cowritten by The Avengers' Brian Clemens, pseudonymously billed as Tony O'Grady. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Margaret Leighton stars as a novelist who draws inspiration for her characters from the people around her. While working on a romance novel, she bases the sexy central male character upon her chauffeur (Carlo Justini). He can't understand that Margaret's interest in him is purely professional, and assumes that the woman is crazy about him. Everybody in Leighton's "real" life portrays his or her literary counterpart in a film-within-a-film, few more amusingly than the lady's wheelchair-bound husband (Ralph Richardson). Something of a comic precursor to The French Lieutenant's Woman (81), Passionate Stranger was also released as A Novel Affair. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ralph Richardson, Margaret Leighton, (more)
