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Doris Goddard Movies

1983  
 
The German-Australian Savage Attraction was originally released as Hostage: The Christine Maresch Story. Kerry Mack portrays the real-life Christine, whose youth and idealism is cut short when she is strong-armed into a marriage with a neo-Nazi (Ralph Shicha). Even though this takes place in the 1970s, Christine is treated no better by her craftily sadistic husband than she would have been at the height of National Socialist domination in the 1940s. The film tends to make the same points over and over, but the fact-based story has enough in-built drama to sustain interest. Savage Attraction is a grimly suspenseful tale of obsession, possession and desperation: an R rating was definitely called for, and duly applied. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Kerry MackRalph Schicha, (more)
 
1957  
 
One of several feature film versions of the late 19th century novel by Rolf Boldrewood, this frontier adventure is set not in the Wild West of the U.S., but in the equally untamed Australian Outback of the same era. Two brothers, Jim (David McCallum) and Dick Marsten (Ronald Lewis) follow in their father's footsteps by leaving home to seek adventure as gunfighters. They become outlaws in the roving band led by stylish Captain Starlight (Peter Finch), who leads them on a series of escapades robbing banks and rustling cattle. Though they find the excitement and romance they craved, the Marstens soon become disillusioned with a life on the run and begin to wish that they could resume the mantle of honest, hard-working citizens. Unfortunately, events transpire to put the entire Starlight gang out of operation before the brothers can recommence their formerly law-abiding ways. Produced by Britain's Rank Organization, Robbery Under Arms (1957) was followed by a television series remake in 1985 and a handful of other films set against the colorful backdrop of the Australian frontier, including The Man from Snowy River (1982) and Quigley Down Under (1990). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Starring:
Peter FinchRonald Lewis, (more)
 
1956  
 
Lensed in England, The Iron Petticoat has been out of circulation for so long that it's difficult to determine whether it is a long-lost classic or the unmitigated disaster many have claimed it to be. Essentially a rehash of Ninotchka, the film stars Bob Hope as Chuck Lockwood, an American military officer assigned to "de-Communize" defecting Russian aviator Vinka Kovelonko (Katharine Hepburn). Meanwhile, Vinka tries to win Chuck over to the glories of the People's Republic. The film remains on a fairly subtle comic level until its unecessarily slapsticky finale, which, in to paraphrase one reviewer, caused many film fans to completely "give up Hope." Those who've seen The Iron Petticoat are astounded at how well Bob Hope and Katharine Hepburn worked together, especially since it has been well documented that the two stars were decidedly not close chums off screen. The film sparked a now-famous war of words between Hope and scriptwriter Ben Hecht, both of whom took out long, rambling trade-paper ads to lambaste each other for "ruining" the project. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Bob HopeKatharine Hepburn, (more)
 
1955  
 
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Also known as Geordie, the British comedy Wee Geordie was immensely popular worldwide. A slight of frame and puny gamekeeper's son named Geordie (Paul Young), who is coming of age in the Scottish highlands, grows sick and tired of being picked on. He thus decides to answer a Charles Atlas-style bodybuilding ad. Flash forward several years: the little runt is now a strapping, muscle-bound, disgustingly healthy Olympic champ (portrayed by Bill Travers, who actually did "pump up" and slim down to play this role). Evidently his muscles have spread to his head, for Geordie sees no need for emotional fulfillment, and alienates his longtime girlfriend (Norah Gorsen). But in the process, he becomes the top-ranked hammer thrower at the Highland Games and is chosen to represent the UK in the Olympics at Melbourne, Australia. When Geordie finally falls in love again, it is with towering shot-putter Helga Doris Goddard -- the first woman ever able to best him on the athletic field. Director Frank Launder cowrote the screenplay for Wee Geordie with his longtime collaborator Sidney Gilliat; the film is based on a novel by David Walker. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Alastair SimBill Travers, (more)
 
1979  
PG  
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Based on a novel by Colleen McCullough (The Thorn Birds), this "May-December romance" stars Piper Laurie as Mary Horton, a lonely middle-aged American career woman who hires a handsome, mildly retarded young handyman named Tim (played by 22-year-old Mel Gibson in his third screen role). At first keeping her distance, Mary is drawn closer to Tim as the days pass. When Tim's mother dies, Mary becomes his surrogate mother, a relationship that deepens into romantic love. Tim's older sister Dawn (Deborah Kennedy) resents Mary's "intrusion" into their lives, but Tim's dad Ron (Alwyn Kurts) blesses the relationship, realizing that it is beneficial to both parties. Director Michael Pate avoids all opportunities to cheapen or sensationalize the material; while Tim and Mary do end up in bed, it is a sweet moment, not a prurient one. Tim was produced for Australian television. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Piper LaurieMel Gibson, (more)