Christopher Guard Movies
British supporting actor Christopher Guard has done most of his work on television in series and miniseries such as I, Claudius (1976) and Return to Treasure Island (1985). Guard made his feature-film debut in A Little Night Music (1977). His brother, Dominic Guard, is an actor too. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1995
Previously and brilliantly filmed by director Jack Clayton as The Innocents in 1961, Henry James' classic psychological-horror novel The Turn of the Screw was remade 34 years later in the form of this TV movie, which changes the original locale and several character names. American governess Helen Walker (Valerie Bertinelli) arrives at an ornate English country estate, there to take charge of two orphaned siblings, Flora (Florence Hoath) and Mile (Aled Roberts). That the children are rude and ill-mannered does not unduly rattle Helen, who expects this sort of behavior in children of privilege. What is disturbing is that the youngsters' game-playing often takes on an unsavory sexual subtext far beyond their tender years. This, and a few strange "sightings", leads Helen to the startling conclusion that the children are under the power of the ghosts of their former caregivers--a sadistic handyman and an evil governess who died despising one another, and intend to "resolve" their kinky carnal issues using the youngsters as their pawns! Though handled with surprising subtlety and austerity, The Haunting of Helen Walker somehow falls short of the eerie brilliance of the 1961 The Innocents, and without being unduly cruel, it can be said that Valerie Bertinelli is no Deborah Kerr. Filmed on location near Readling, England, the TV movie premiered December 3, 1995 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
In the second episode of the four-part story "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) are attacked by a "killer clown" while attending the Psychic Circus on the planet Segonax. As it turns out, the two time travelers are remarkably fortunate: most of the Circus' previous "customers" were summarily executed by a trio of evil demigods from Ragnarok. But why? Written by Stephen Wyatt, "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Episode 2" first aired on December 21, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, (more)
- 1988
In the third episode of the four-part story "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) are trapped in the Psychic Circus on the planet Segonax, where a triumvirate of evil demigods from Ragnarok have demanded that the two time-travelers entertain them -- or suffer a violent demise. Facing such perils as killer-robot clowns and ancient spirits, the Doctor and Ace are also in danger of being literally bored to death. Written by Stephen Wyatt, "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Episode 3" first aired on December 28, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, (more)
- 1988
The 25th season of Doctor Who came to an end with the modestly titled four-parter "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy." Attracted by an advertising satellite, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) attend the famous "Psychic Circus" on the planet Segonax. Before long, however, the Doctor stumbles upon several ominous warnings -- including a buried robot and an abandoned hippie bus -- that all is not fun and games at the circus. Written by Stephen Wyatt, "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Episode 1" first aired on December 14, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, (more)
- 1986
Peter Ustinov stars once more as Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie's insufferably brilliant Belgian detective. Unlike many of Ustinov's earlier Poirot vehicles, which were set in the 1930s, the made-for-TV Dead Man's Folly takes place in contemporary England. Jean Stapleton costars as an American mystery novelist who organizes a "murder hunt" at a sprawling English manor. It isn't long before several of the guests are also sprawling--on the ground, stone cold dead. American-born British stage star Constance Cummings makes a rare TV appearance as a mysterious noblewoman. Dead Man's Folly was lensed on location at West Wycombe Park in Buckinhamshire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Ustinov
- 1985
Here's another spin-off adventure from the classic Treasure Island story. Volume 4 contains two episodes: "Fugitives" and "In Chains," where the hero Jim Hawkins finds himself in jail with none other than his old pal, Long John Silver. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1985
Here's another spin-off adventure from the classic Treasure Island story. Volume 3 contains two episodes: "Manhunt" and "The Crow's Nest." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1985
This spin-off of the classic Treasure Island story contains two episodes. In "The Island of the Damned" and "Jamaica." Together Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver encounter adventures galore as they go back to the famed island. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1985
Set a decade after the events of the Robert Louis Stevenson novel, this series, produced by the Disney Channel, details the exploits of a reunited Jim Hawkins (Christopher Guard) and Long John Silver (Brian Blessed). Volume One contains the episodes "The Map" and "The Mutiny." ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In this last volume from the Treasure Island series, the young Mr. Hawkins and his cohort Long John Silver flee their prison captivity to return to Treasure Island, again searching for the long-lost pirate treasure. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1982
A disastrous war causes much trauma and a housewife spends much time exploring her relationships with authority, evil street gangs and a teenage boarder. ~ All Movie Guide
Based on the acclaimed novel by Doris Lessing, this dystopian science fiction tale concerns a woman struggling to make her way in a post-apocalyptic society. D (Julie Christie) is living in a city that's at the point of collapse following a catastrophic nuclear war; lawlessness and violence rule the day, and gangs of brutal youth roam the streets. With the help of her teenage companion Emily (Leonie Mellinger), D tries to make her way, and in order to cope, she often escapes into a fantasy world in which she lives in genteel Victorian surroundings in the 19th century. Memoirs of a Survivor received the International Fantasy Film Award and the Audience Jury Award at Portugal's 1982 Fantasporto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julie Christie, Christopher Guard, (more)
- 1981
The four-part British miniseries Wilfred and Eileen starred Christopher Guard and Judi Bowker as the title characters. Set during WWI, the story charted the course of true love, which for hero and heroine did not run smoothly. The series was successful in its efforts to put a human face on the tragic travesty known as war. Wilfred and Eileen originally aired in 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Aldridge
This caper film stars Martin Sheen as Stephen Booker, an unemployed American architect in London who needs to jump-start his finances. Enter criminal mastermind Mike Daniels (Albert Finney), who gathers a group of thieves together to rob an impregnable London bank of millions by coming in through the sewers. Needing the money and the chance, Stephen, when offered, willingly joins the gang in their robbery attempt. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Finney, Martin Sheen, (more)
Controversial animator Ralph Bakshi's literal adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, is brought to the screen in a reverent, stilted way, with Bakshi forsaking his sharp-edged animated looniness for a rotoscoped dullness. Although the film's title encompasses the entire Tolkien trilogy, this longish Bakshi feature, in fact, covers only the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring, and the first half of the second, The Two Towers. Given the complexity of the original story line, this unfortunately means that only those intimately familiar with the books will be able to understand what is happening in the movie. In brief, however, an evil sorcerer from a previous era created a magical ring which enables its users to call upon its tremendous powers to rule the world, but it inevitably warps them to evil. It was believed lost, but during a resurgence of magical evil in the world, Bilbo, a simple, plain-spoken hobbit, recovers it from its hiding place. The forces of good give his nephew Frodo the choice to bear the awful burden of the ring to a place where it may be destroyed. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Guard, William Squire, (more)
The 1979 TV movie Les Miserables was advertised as the 12th feature film to be based on the 1862 Victor Hugo novel (and that was a modest estimate). This time, Richard Jordan is the persecuted French ex-convict Jean Valjean, and Anthony Perkins is the relentless police officer Javert, who dogs Valjean's trail for forty years. Screenwriter John Gay does a nice compression job on Hugo's mammoth novel, including most of the familiar episodes ("The Bishop's Candlesticks" etc.) and reintroducing several vignettes that had been ignored by earlier adaptations. Norman Rosemont produced Les Miserables on a lavish scale in both England and France, populating the cast with several of Europe and America's best actors (including veteran Claude Dauphin, in his last screen appearance). Les Miserables debuted as a three-hour "IBM Special" on December 27, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Beginning its several incarnations as an Ingmar Bergman film named Smiles of a Summer Night, the story was adapted by composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim into a successful Broadway musical directed by Harold Prince. This film, also directed by Prince, is adapted from the stage musical. In the movie, in the early 1900s, a group of friends bound together by complicated romantic entanglements, have come together for an elegant dinner at a country estate. The men present are the current, previous, or prospective lovers of the beautiful actress, Desiree (Elizabeth Taylor), and the other women are all united by their jealousy of her. Sadly, Desiree herself wants to simplify things and settle down -- she envies the wives. The adapted score later won an Oscar. The musical's well-known songs include Every Day a Little Death, A Weekend in the Country, and You Must Meet My Wife. The most famous song from the musical, Send in the Clowns, is sung here by Elizabeth Taylor. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Rigg, (more)
- 1973
This British drama anthology was set in Vienna at the turn of the century, amongst the privileged (and slightly debauched) aristocracy. The six 50-minute episodes were adapted from three famous short stories by master ironist Arthur Schnitzler (whose works were still being adapted for films as late as 1999's Eyes Wide Shut). Individual titles included "A Confirmed Bachelor," "Spring Sonata," and "Mother and Son." Broadcast over the BBC beginning December 8, 1973, Vienna 1900 was seen in America nine years later, thanks to the miracle of cable television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Tutin, Christopher Guard, (more)
