Peter Smith Movies
- 2000
The 11th feature-length episode of the British detective series Midsomer Murders, "Blue Herrings" finds Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles) taking a "working vacation" so he can redecorate his digs. But first, Barnaby pays a visit to his Aunt Alice (Phyllis Calvert), who is convalescing from an operation at the Lawnside Nursing Home. Murder inevitably rears its ugly head when several of Alice's fellow patients die mysteriously after altering their wills. First telecast in the U.K. on January 22, 2000, "Blue Herrings" made its American cable-TV bow on September 23 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Nettles, Daniel Casey, (more)
Based on the novel by Peter James, the British TV miniseries The Alchemists focused on a one-man crusade conducted by American Connor Molloy. Posing as a patent lawyer, Molloy sets out to prove that the powerful firm of Bentik-Lange Pharmaceuticals was responsible for the death of his father. He is aided in this endeavor by Julia Bannerman, the daughter of a research scientist. The Alchemists aired in two parts over Britain's Channel 5 on November 15 and November 16, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Hardwicke, Ruth Gemmell, (more)
- 1996
Previously adapted for German television as Operation Schmetterling, the four-part British miniseries The Writing on the Wall starred Bill Paterson in the central role of Bull. A government agent working on behalf of NATO, Bull found himself up to his neck in conspiracies and double-crosses as he tried to solve a political kidnapping. American actor Dennis Haysbert, best known for his recurring appearances as the imperiled presidential candidate in the Fox Network series 24, was seen as Sullivan. The Writing on the Wall made its first British TV appearance in 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Paterson, Celia Imrie, (more)
- 1994
The title of this BBC1 drama series referred to a coastal community in Yorkshire. Seaforth was the home of Paula Wickham (Rosemary Martin), a woman comfortably ensconced in the British Middle Class. Upon falling in love with randy blue-collar worker Bob Longman (Linus Roache), Paula ignored the admonitions of her friends and family that she was merely asking for trouble. As it turned out, Paula would have been better off heeding their advice. Opening with a 90-minute pilot episode of October 9, 1994, Seaforth was subsequently telecast in eight 50-minute increments until December 4 of the same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
This refreshingly realistic British cop show starred David Jason as Detective Inspector William George "Jack" Frost of Denton, whose seeming indifference to orthodox police procedure, his carelessness in handling the paperwork necessary to his profession, and his ofttimes overbearing arrogance was but a smokescreen for his keen sense of observation and his dedication to his job. Bruce Alexander co-starred as Frost's uptight boss, Superintendent Norman Mullett, who, though constantly vexed by Frost's flippant attitude -- not to mention his profanely colorful vocabulary -- could not deny that Frost always got results, even while rubbing the higher-ups the wrong way. Others in Frost's orbit knew that the detective was at heart an old softie, with humanity and compassion oozing from every orifice. Among Frost's colleagues were WPC (and later DC) Hazel Wallace (Caroline Harker), DS George Toolan (John Lyons), and Sgt. Brady (James McKenna). Based on a series of novels by Ronald D. Wingfield, A Touch of Frost debuted over ITV1 on December 6, 1992. Turning out anywhere from three to six 120-minute episodes per season, the series remained in production throughout the first decade of the 21st century. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This spy outing hones in on secret agent Magnus Pym (Peter Egan). Having impersonated so many different people during his career as a British spy, Pym eventually lost track of who he really was -- a confusion compounded by the fact that he knew nothing of his actual past. Ultimately feeling that he could trust no one -- not even his so-called friends -- Pym turned his back on the British and began trading secrets with the Enemy. Filmed on location in England, Europe, and the U.S., the seven-episode A Perfect Spy originally aired in the U.K. in 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Egan, Ray McAnally, (more)
- 1985
Peter Barkworth doubled as writer and co-star of this six-part British TV thriller. Barkworth was cast as a British businessman, whose wife and daughter were kidnapped by the IRA. The price for his loved ones' freedom might well have forced the protagonist to turn his back on his own country in favor of a cause he hated. The Price was originally shown from January 10 to February 14, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harriet Walter, Peter Barkworth, (more)
