William Holmes Movies
Written by George Eliot (of Silas Marner fame), the 1859 novel Adam Bede trenchantly addresses the issues of ingrained social prejudices. Played in this British TV adaptation by Iain Glen, the titular Adam Bede is a humble carpenter, enamored of the beautiful but shallow Hetty Sorel (Patsy Kensit). Surrendering to the "political correctness" of her times, Hetty spurns Adam in favor of a wealthy marriage to a nobleman, Lord Arthur (James Wilby). Though he is deeply hurt by this, Adam never relinquishes his love for Hetty and spends the balance of the story trying to win her back in his own single-minded, diligent fashion. Counterbalancing the romantic melodrama is the calm, good-hearted presence of Adam's erstwhile sweetheart, Dinah Morris (Susannah Harker), perhaps the only character in the novel without an agenda. Adapted for television by Maggie Wadey, Adam Bede made its BBC debut in 1991, then aired as part of the PBS anthology Masterpiece Theatre on March 1, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patsy Kensit, James Wilby, (more)
- 1962
This adventure chronicles the exploits of an author/explorer on a trip to Peru to hunt for the missing uncle of his pretty young companion. Her archaeologist uncle disappeared while searching for a lost Incan city that he found upon an ancient map. Together the writer and the girl launch an expedition to search for this legendary city. They are guided by another Yankee archaeologist. It is he who swiped the map from the woman's uncle. With their help, he hopes to find the city so he and his gang of thieves can loot it. Along the way they encounter many dangers including, snakes, crocodiles, jaguars, and quicksand. The writer and the niece get their first and warn the Incas living their. The Indians neatly dispatch the evil archaeologist and his band. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1951
"Arizona Cowboy" Rex Allen and his faithful horse Koko head the cast of Republic's Utah Wagon Train. Allen plays a modern-day cowpoke who agrees to shepherd a group of Easterners along the same route used by a long-ago wagon train. The purpose is to hopefully locate a fortune in gold, left behind by the original pilgrims. There's something suspicious about the whole enterprise: for starters, Rex's uncle is killed just before he was to join the expedition. The plot gradually evolves into a murder mystery, complete with the Least Likely Suspect who turns out to be the killer. Penny Edwards co-stars as the pert heroine who instigates the reconstructed wagon train, while Buddy Ebsen once more proves to be a suitable sidekick for the personable Rex Allen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rex Allen, Penny Edwards, (more)
Yet another Roy Rogers Western whose title refers to a song, In Old Amarillo actually takes place in and around Amarillo of 1951. Fired by cattleman George Hills (Minor Watson), foreman Clint Burnside (Roy Barcroft) plans to avenge himself by ruining Hills' wastrel son, Philip (Ken Howell). Along with local saloon owner Mike Carver (William Holmes), Burnside is also attempting to buy up all the area's ranches during a prolonged drought. When Roy Rogers, Hills' new foreman, suggests that the ranchers come together and use modern rainmaking equipment, including airplanes armed with dry ice, Burnside and Carver lure Philip into committing a bit of sabotage. At first Roy accuses the young man of shooting down the rainmaking aircraft but then discovers that he was forced to pilot the attacking plane by Burnside, the real killer, who is himself killed in a climactic fistfight. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, (more)
- 1947
Usually associated with erudite, urbane comedies, the legendary screen team of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy goes intensely dramatic in the expensive western Sea of Grass. Tracy plays cattle baron Colonel James Brewton, who staunchly opposes opening the western frontier to homesteaders. Standing steadfastly beside Brewton-at least at the beginning--is his headstrong wife Lutie (Hepburn). Eventually disillusioned by the stern implacability of her husband, Lutie leaves Brewton and goes off to Denver, where she falls in love with liberal attorney Brice Chamberlain (Melvyn Douglas), the champion of the homesteaders' cause. Upon giving birth to Chamberlain's son, Lutie confesses her indiscretion to Brewton, who takes the news with commendable restraint, even offering to accept the baby as his own. Unfortunately, the Brewtons' standing in the community is weakened by the revelation of Lutie's infidelity, causing her to leave her husband for a second time. Years later, Lutie's grown-up boy Brock (Robert Walker) drifts to the wrong side of the law, leading to his death at the hands of a posse. Though it hardly seems possible under the circumstances, Brewton and Lutie are at long last reconciled through the intervention of their daughter Sara Beth (Phyllis Thaxter). Elaborately produced in the traditional MGM manner and adroitly directed by Elia Kazan, Sea of Grass is still one of the lesser Tracy-Hepburns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, (more)
