Robert Glenister Movies

Actor Paul Bettany and his real-life wife, Jennifer Connelly, star as controversial English scientist Charles Darwin and his wife, Emily, in this biopic adapted from Randal Keynes' book Annie's Box, which tells the story of Darwin's struggle to reconcile his religious views following the death of his beloved daughter, Annie. John Collee adapts Keynes' revelatory tome (Keynes is Darwin's great-great grandson) for director Jon Amiel. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

As directed by Brian Percival and adapted by scenarist Adrian Hodges from the bestselling period novel by Philip Pullman, the BBC production The Ruby in the Smoke recounts the 19th Century adventures of Sally Lockhart (Billie Piper), an aggressive and determined young Brit. Wielding a loaded pistol, fluency in Hindustani, and a fundamental knowledge of military maneuvers, Sally is anything but a typically submissive, Victorian Era girl. The tale finds her embarking on a quest to uncover the reasons for her father's premature death, and the reason why three seemingly harmless words from her mouth - "The Seven Blessings" - lead to the sudden demise of her father's associate. The film co-stars Robert Glenister, David Harewood and screen veteran Julie Walters as the vile Mrs. Holland. The film marks the first installment in a planned series of BBC productions based on Pullman's series of novels about Sally Lockhart. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

British actor Robert Carlyle stars as the 20th century's most infamous dictator in this two-part TV biopic. The film covers the life of Adolf Hitler from his childhood to his emergence as absolute ruler of Germany in 1934. Most of the ground covered should be familiar to history buffs: Hitler's failed efforts to become a great artist, his frustration at watching his adopted country fall apart at the seams during World War I, his resolve to put Germany back on its feet by exploiting the nation's horrendous postwar economic woes and its ingrained anti-Semitism, his 1923 arrest, the publication of Hitler's virulent screed Mein Kampf, the growing popularity of National Socialism, and the fatal error made by senile German chancellor Von Hindbenburg (Peter O'Toole) to "neutralize" Hitler by giving him a relatively unimportant political post in 1933. Also covered is Hitler's abortive romance with his half-niece Geli Raubal (Jena Malone) and his longer relationship with the estimable Eva Braun (Zoe Telford). Given the difficulties faced by actor Carlyle and the screenwriters to successfully convey pure, unadulterated evil, much of what we learn about Hitler is conveyed by the observations and reactions of other characters, notably crusading but ineffectual anti-Nazi journalist Fritz Gerlich (Matthew Modine), and especially German publisher Ernst Hanfstaengl (Liev Schreiber) and his wife, Helene (Julianna Margulies). Originally a staunch supporter of Hitler, Hanfstaengl eventually comes to realize the danger the man poses to the world ("He's not human. He simply studies others to become human."); in contrast, Helene, who at the outset is vaguely opposed to National Socialism, is ultimately seduced and swept up by the movement. Not surprisingly, this film stirred up a great deal of controversy even before it aired; some Jewish leaders and prominent Holocaust survivors worried that Hitler might come off as being sympathetic (a concern that may have dictated altering the film's title, which was to have been Hitler: The Early Years); and one of the film's producers was summarily dismissed after issuing a public statement which seemed to compare Germany's blind, unthinking allegiance to Hitler to America's rallying behind George W. Bush during the Iraq crisis. Hitler: The Rise of Evil originally aired May 18 and 20, 2003, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Not to be confused with John Duigan's hit 1994 sex comedy of the same name, Nicholas Laughland's 2002 British telemovie Sirens stars Daniela Nardini, Greg Wise, Robert Glenister and Sarah Parish. This psychological thriller concerns Ali (Parish, a London-based female law officer simultaneously involved in a heated and clandestine carnal relationship with her sister's beau and a city-wide police hunt for a serial rapist. When the squads close in on the boyfriend as their number one suspect, it foretells Ali's need to 'lay down her cards' by confessing her relationship to the man in question. But this may mean permanently losing all ties with her sister. Ali suddenly finds herself torn violently in two directions - but she's quickly running out of time, as new details come to light regarding the suspect's background and motivations. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Beginning with its first episode on March 8, 1984, the four-part Doctor Who adventure "The Caves of Androzani" marked yet another milestone in the life of the venerable Doctor, played by Peter Davison (at least at the beginning of the story). Arriving on the planet Androzani Minor, the Doctor and his new companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant), investigate a set of strange tracks leading to a cave -- and promptly become infected with a bizarre "miracle" drug. "The Caves of Androzani, Episode 1" was written by Robert Holmes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the third episode of the pivotal four-part story "The Caves of Androzani," the planet of Androzani Minor continues to be the setting for a three-pronged power struggle between a mad doctor, a corrupt businessman, and an insurrectionist. The catalyst for all the carnage is a drug called Spectrox, which purportedly prolongs life. Both infected with Spectrox, the Doctor (Peter Davison) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) learn to their horror that Spectrox has the exact opposite of the desired effect. Originally telecast on March 15, 1984, "The Caves of Androzani, Episode 3" was written by Robert Holmes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi