Ronald Fraser Movies
A purveyor of priggish military and law-enforcement types, British actor Ronald Fraser began his film and TV career in 1954 as a bit actor, then graduated to supporting roles. On occasion, Fraser was allowed to play a compassionate human being, but for the most part he was the personification of the "nasty little nit." Some of his larger film appearances are in The Sundowners (1960), The Best of Enemies (1961), Killing of Sister George (1968) and The Bed Sitting Room (1969). American audiences are probably most familiar with Ronald Fraser's performance as Sergeant Watson, one of the gutsier members of Jimmy Stewart's ill-fated airplane crew in Flight of the Phoenix (1965). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Written in 1712, Daniel Defoe's bawdy novel Moll Flanders was given a slick movie treatment with Kim Novak in the lead in 1965, then serialized for British television in 1975. Most 21st century viewers, however, are familiar only with the four-part Granada Television adaptation, which made its first British TV appearance on December 1, 1996. This time around, Alex Kingston was cast as the resourceful Moll Flanders, who, in her determination to attain the uppermost circles of 18th century British society, was not averse to hopping in a few beds in pursuit of that goal. Along the way, Moll got mixed up with highwaymen and other scoundrels, nearly meeting her doom at the end of a hangman's noose in the process. But if nothing else, Moll was a survivor, and a happy ending was never far from view. At the time of its first broadcast, Moll Flanders stirred up controversy by virtue (if that is the word) of its 17 -- count 'em, 17 -- sex scenes. By the time that American cable viewers were treated to this lavish and lurid miniseries, star Alex Kingston had attained network TV stardom as one of the regulars on NBC's E.R., a fact that served only to stir up additional interest in Kingston's full-blooded portrayal of the fearless Ms. Flanders. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
This drama is adapted from Dicken's unfinished novel and centers upon a choirmaster who is insanely jealous of his fiancee. This jealousy causes him many problems down the road. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Powell, Jonathan Phillips, (more)
The Derek Bentley Case has been an uneasy blight on the British legal system since the early 1950s. Two young, frightened boys were caught by police trying to break into to a building. One of the boys had a gun. When the policeman reached out to the youth to turn over the gun, his friend shouted "Let him have it," and the policeman was killed by a gun blast. Whether the boy understood "Let him have it" to mean he should turn over the gun or to kill the police officer has been debated ever since. But the result was the 19-year-old boy was executed for the crime -- only to be posthumously exonerated in 1953. In this dark and biting film by Peter Medak, the life of Derek Bentley (Chris Eccleston) that led up to the crime is recreated in pitiful detail, as well as the ensuing trial and execution. The story begins in 1952, when the likable Bentley is released from reform school. Bentley is an impressionable young man who returns home to his loving family -- his parents (Tom Courtenay and Eileen Atkins) and sister (Clare Holman) -- but becomes involved with a group of friends, led by the intimidating Chris (Paul Reynolds), who live in the poverty of post-World War II Britain and escape their bleak world by emulating the American gangster films they see at the local cinema. They play-act at being gansters, but with real guns ... and tragic results. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Eccleston, Paul Reynolds, (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
The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) arrive on Terra Alpha, an earth colony ruled by the Happiness Patrol. Strictly forbidding anyone to express sadness, the Patrol metes out horrible punishments for violation of the rules. David John Pope guest-stars as the robotic Kandyman, who dispenses those punishments on behalf of dictator Helen A (atypically played by gifted comic actress Sheila Hancock). The first episode of the three-part "The Happiness Patrol" was written by Graeme Curry, and originally aired on November 2, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, (more)
- 1988
In the second episode of the three-part story "The Happiness Patrol," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) have arrived on Terra, a planet governed by the Happiness Patrol, who punish those not expressing eternal joy by killing them on the spot. Since both the Doctor and Ace have been designated as "Killjoys," they are targeted for extinction by the robotic Kandyman (David John Pope). The only hope for the time-travelers is to foment a rebellion against the smiley-faced dictator, Helen A (Sheila Hancock). Written by Graeme Curry, "The Happiness Patrol, Episode 2" first aired on November 9, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, (more)
- 1988
In the conclusion of the three-part story "The Happiness Patrol," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) sparks a revolution against Helen A (Sheila Hancock), dictator of Terra, where the punishment for not expressing constant happiness is death. Once he has neutralized Helen A's robotic henchman, Kandyman (David John Pope), the Doctor goes to work on the dictator herself -- and he doesn't intend to resort to violence. A poignant ending caps Graeme Curry's teleplay for "The Happiness Patrol, Episode 3," which first aired on November 16, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, (more)
The rise of teen culture in 1950s Britain provides the backdrop for Julien Temple's unconventional rock musical Absolute Beginners. The film centers on Colin, an 18-year-old with a talent for photography and a fondness for the neon nightlife of British jazz clubs. He also is in love with Crepe Suzette, an impulsive, ambitious young beauty who abandons him after attracting the attention of a powerful fashion designer. Depressed and aimless, Colin turns for help to a flashy ad executive (David Bowie) who promises to make him a star photographer. The former lovers take parallel paths to success, capitalizing on the youth mania gripping the nation. The film's nostalgic yet gently satirical look at teen culture is tempered by a recognition of the era's social tension, particularly a disturbing rise in racism. Despite these serious undertones, however, the film tells its story with a colorful vibrancy reminiscent of both MTV and old Hollywood musicals, filled with such show-stopping numbers as a memorable sequence in which Bowie dances on a giant typewriter. Critical reception was mixed, with some hailing the film's spectacular cinematography and ambitious scope, while others found the mixture of tones and style too inconsistent. The film also drew lukewarm response at the box office, with the memorable soundtrack receiving more attention than the film itself. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie O'Connell, Patsy Kensit, (more)
- 1982
- PG
Two years after the death of Peter Sellers, Blake Edwards tried to exhume his corpse in this pastiche of clips and out-takes from the old Pink Panther films. The plot concerns the legendary "Pink Panther" diamond which is once more stolen. Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) is again enlisted to find the stolen bauble. When he follows the trail of the diamond to another country, he leaves on an airplane that is soon reported missing. Television reporter Marie Jouvet (Joanna Lumley) then sets out to interview old acquaintances and associates of Clouseau, including Lady Litton (Capucine), Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) and Sir Charles Litton (David Niven), who recall their experiences with the bumbling inspector. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Sellers, David Niven, (more)
- 1978
As the title indicates, this Australian series was a continuation of the long-running British sitcom Father Dear Father. Patrick Cargill repeated his role as widowed novelist Patrick Glover, as did Noel Dyson as Glover's general factotum "Natty" Harris. At last shed of his nubile, slightly daft daughters, Patrick moved to Australia so he could research his next book. But if he hoped for peace and quiet, he was sadly mistaken: Occupying the house owned by his vacationing brother, Patrick also "inherited" a pair of nutty nieces, who were every bit as troublesome as his own offspring. Created by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke, the 14-episode Father, Dear Father in Australia was broadcast by the Seven Network from June 25, 1978, to June 28, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The plot of this of this adaptation of the Daniel Carney's novel, sprinkled throughout a series of extended Sam Peckinpah-inspired action sequences, deals with a collection of mercenary toughguys -- Colonel Allen Faulkner (Richard Burton), Lieutenant Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore), Rafer Janders (Richard Harris), Pieter Coetzee (Hardy Kruger) -- who are hired to parachute into the African bush country and abscond with deposed African president Julius Limbani (Winston Ntshona) and reinstall him as a reigning monarch of an African country, to satisfy British mercantile interests. The action sequences were successful enough to spawn a sequel -- appropriately titled Wild Geese II. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Burton, Roger Moore, (more)
- 1975
- PG
David Niven is an English tutor for the son of the Japanese ambassador to a Southeast Asian country. The two are used as pawns in a politically motivated kidnapping. Niven entertains the boy with fantastic fabrications of his exciting past. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Niven, Toshiro Mifune, (more)
- 1974
A Fleet Street reporter-turned-aspiring novelist experiences the ultimate real life plot twist when his wife is brutally murdered and he is wrongly accused of the crime. Guy Foster (Peter Barkworth) is an ace reporter who has fallen on hard times. One night, as Guy is struggling to pen his first novel, his wife falls prey to a vicious killer. As if losing his beloved bride isn't painful enough, all evidence points to Guy as the culprit. Now, with the authorities fast closing in and a killer on the loose, Guy must race to catch the true party responsible for the crime before it's too late. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Barkworth, Moira Redmond, (more)
- 1974
Swallows and Amazons is based on the popular children's book by Arthur Ransome. The film is set in Britain's Lake District in the 1920s. The "swallows" and "amazons" are the members of an Our Gang-ish group of kids. They enjoy a variety of outdoor adventures, linked together more by locale than plotline, and buoyed by the engaging personalities of the children. Swallows and Amazons was followed a decade later by a sequel, Swallows and Amazons: Coot Club. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Virginia McKenna, Ronald Fraser, (more)
- 1972
In this comedy, two men pursue four very valuable women who have tattooed the location of stolen bonds upon their rumps. The Mafia is also in pursuit of the marked women. The two fellows are lead to Rome where the lead character tries to sell the Sistine Chapel to American tourists. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Emery, Derren Nesbitt, (more)
- 1972
- PG
In this crime drama, a pair of grifters flee from London to Rome in order to find thousands of dollars in missing bonds. The mob is hot on their heels. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1971
A collection of English humor in the form of sketch film are provided on this film which was assisted by comedians Feldman and Chapman. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Forsyth, Joan Sims, (more)
Filmed on location in the Philippines Robert Aldrich's Too Late the Hero is set in the last months of World War II. Lackadaisical navy lieutenant Cliff Robertson, who happens to speak fluent Japanese, is ordered to go on a suicide mission to wipe out an enemy observation post. Robertson's equally unwilling partners in this venture are British captain Denholm Elliot and pugnacious cockney private Michael Caine. All three men prove to have unsuspected reserves of courage when the going gets toughest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Caine, Cliff Robertson, (more)
- 1970
- R
Like Socrates of ancient Athens, Michael Rimmer (Peter Cook) of modern England believes the key to success is to ask the right questions. Lots of questions. So he gets a job with an advertising agency that conducts polls, rises swiftly through the ranks, and eventually runs the agency. Then he bombards England with questions. His ingenious system enables him to predict the outcome of a general election. (Every voter in England had received a questionnaire.) So accomplished is Rimmer at asking questions that he finds his future wife through market research. To insure that he gets the right answers, Rimmer is not above manipulating the polls. For example, when he asks residents of Coventry their religion, 95 percent identify themselves as Buddhists, thanks to an influx of Rimmer stooges. Then he enters politics. In a short time, he gets himself elected to Parliament, becomes a cabinet minister and eventually moves into Ten Downing Street as prime minister after pushing the incumbent prime minister off an oil platform. By this time, every eligible voter in Britain can cast ballots with a television remote control. Alas, the electorate tires of the endless referendum questions that they must answer as part of their daily routine. This development serves only to catapult Rimmer to further success, for the people decide to place all decisions in his hands as dictator of England. So Rimmer keeps rising and rising and rising. And asking questions. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Cook, Denholm Elliott, (more)
- 1969
- PG
Davey Haggart (John Hurt) wishes to follow his father's footsteps and become a highway robber. He also wishes to avoid his father's fate -- which was death by hanging at the tender age of 21 after a botched robbery of the Duke of Argyle (Robert Morley). Davey commits a daring robbery in broad daylight with the help of two henchmen (Ronald Fraser and Fidelma Murphy) and heads for the highlands of Scotland to hide out. The local Constable (Nigel Davenport) warns young Davey he will end up just like his father but helps him escape the fate of dancing on the end of a rope. Annie (Pamela Franklin) is the kind-hearted farm girl who tries to make sweet Davey give up a life of crime and settle down. This comedy was taken from the autobiographical diary"The Life Of David Haggart." ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Hurt, Pamela Franklin, (more)
- 1969
The specter of atomic warfare raises its head once again in this bizarre 1969 black comedy, directed by Richard Lester and hatched from the mind of twisted British comic Spike Milligan. England lays in ruins after World War III, and a number of dazed survivors try to carry on as if nothing is wrong, even when one woman (Rita Tushingham) announces that she is seventeen months pregnant, and others begin to mutate into parrots, wardrobes, and bed-sitting rooms. The often slapstick comedy provides a surreal foreground for the bleak, devastated settings, portions of which were filmed in actual, environmentally blasted industrial areas in Wales. The comedy duo of Dudley Moore and Peter Cook appear as hapless government officials, while Marty Feldman makes his screen debut in a film that could best be described as England's answer to Dr. Strangelove. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rita Tushingham, Ralph Richardson, (more)
- 1968
Sebastian (Dirk Bogarde) is an undisciplined mathematics genius who works in the "cipher bureau" of the British government. While cracking enemy codes, Sebastian finds time to romance co-worker Susannah York. The film dwells upon Sebastian's rather lax morals (even by 1968 standards), culminating in his refusal to commit himself to York once he's rendered her pregnant. This aspect of the story is frankly more fascinating than the main espionage plotline. Keep an eye out for Canadian actor Donald Sutherland in a bit as an American. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dirk Bogarde, Nigel Davenport, (more)
