Neil Hallett Movies

Robert Ashby guest stars in the Doctor Who adventure "Timelash" as the Borad, a mutant dictator. Hoping to wipe out the population of his own planet so that he can create a new, "superior" race, the Borad declares war on a neighboring world. Those who oppose his plans are exiled to a time corridor called the Timelash -- which is where the Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) have arrived to rescue an old friend. Written by Glen McCoy, the two-part "Timelash" originally aired on March 9 and March 16, 1985; it has since been edited into a four-part serial for American television. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

An international swindler intends to destroy Steed (Patrick MacNee) by framing him as a turncoat and a murderer. Somehow or other, a fake spiritualist, Victoria Stanton (Sue Holderness), picks up on the villain's plans and warns Steed. It would seem that Victoria is able to anticipate the bad guy's every move--but can she be trusted? And if not, what new dangers lie in store for our bowled-hatted hero? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Steed (Patrick MacNee) Purdey (Joanna Lumley) and Gambit (Gareth Hunt) go undercover in one of the seamier neighborhoods of London. The Reason? Several prominent governmnet officials, including a friend of Steed's, have turned up dead. It turns out that someone is using disguised derelicts to replace the dead officials. The real trouble begins when the identical doubles for Gambit and Purdey show up (though it does permit Purdey the plum acting assignment of doubling for her own double). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this film, two beautiful country sisters, Christine (Anne Michelle) and Betty (Vicki Michelle), travel to London to try to break into the modeling business. However, they soon discover that the agency they've joined is actually a coven of witches that participates in human sacrifice. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

An excellent musical score by the Bee Gees adds appeal to this curious little movie about two ten-year olds, Daniel and Melody (Mark Lester and Tracy Hyde) who are completely taken with each other and announce to their parents, in all seriousness, that they plan to get married. This marriage is not planned for the distant future, but as soon as possible. The uproar that is caused when their seriousness becomes clear is not too surprising. Their best friend Ornshaw (Jack Wild) is not too thrilled with their plan either. What makes the film work is that the entire story is told from the children's point of view in which the grownups' objections, since they have no relation to the truth of what the children are feeling, come across as silly or inconsequential. This film is a reunion of sorts for Oscar-winning Oliver! co-stars Mark Lester and Jack Wild ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Several enemy agents escape from a top-security prison, determined to wreak vengeance against the persons responsible for their arrest. When two of Steed's friends are murdered by the escapees, he decides it is time to end the reign of terror once and for all. But the still-imprisoned leader of the enemy minions calmly informs Steed that he is next on the list -- and that his assassin will be completely invisble. Written by Philip Levene, "Get-a-Way" made its American TV debut on April 24, 1969, and its British TV bow on May 14 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

England's famed comedy brothers John Boulting and Roy Boulting created this caper about a trio of crooks plotting to retrieve their ill-gotten booty. Jelly Knight (Dudley Sutton), Lenny the Dip (Kenneth Griffith), and Scapa Flood (James Beckett) are released from the stir upon finishing their sentence for pulling off a heist. They immediately go in search of their one-time leader, The Duke (Anton Rodgers), who was supposed to safeguard their share of the money. When they find the Duke's girlfriend Sara (Charlotte Rampling), she tells them that the Duke is dead, and the money is long gone. It's not long before the gang discovers that she's lying, however, and that the Duke is masquerading as the head of a spa, the Hope Springs Nature Clinic, where he is planning a felony with some criminal cronies. Jelly, Lenny, and Scapa get in on the scam, while Sara dallies with Lieutenant Vine (Ian Bannen), an officer from a nearby army camp. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

A frozen body is discovered in a shipment of beef -- and it's all the handiwork of a neo-Nazi group called the Phoenix. Assigned to infiltrate the organization, Keel discovers that one of its members has perfected a method of cryogenics. Alas, his true identity is revealed, whereupon Keel is scheduled for the next "freezing session." Though videotaped on September 7, 1961, "Dead of Winter" would not be telecast until December 9, 1961; the episode was written by Eric Paice. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this romantic comedy, three bunglers find jobs at a matchmaking service. None are pleased with their jobs until a beautiful con-artist, posing as an heiress appears to spice up their lives. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this crime drama, an amiable widow must use her savings to raise her son. One day she happens upon some stolen money which she takes and squirrels away for her boy's education. Unfortunately, the thieves return to find it. Fortunately, a friend is there to defend her from them, and later she turns the money into the police. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

X the Unknown is a well-crafted imitation of the Quatermass British sci-fi pictures of the 1950s. A group of soldiers on maneuvers in Scotland stumble across a gravel pit which emanates an unusual amount of radiation. Several deaths occur before the radioactive material is mysteriously stolen. Researcher Dr. Adam Royston (Dean Jagger) speculates that the thief is some sort of inhuman monstrosity dwelling at the Earth's core. He points out that past radioactive disturbances have been occurring at 50-year intervals, each followed by sudden deaths and the disappearance of the material. Royston suggests that the unknown monster has been resuscitated by humankind's recent atomic experiments. Sure enough, the monster manifests itself as a huge slab of glowing radioactive mud (laugh now if you must -- you won't laugh when you see it). X the Unknown works well within its limited budget; unfortunately, many TV prints have been truncated, robbing some of the best horrific moments of their full impact. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The always welcome Greta Gynt plays a mystery writer in Three Steps in the Dark. Greta's uncle, millionaire Nicholas Hannen, calls his heirs together to announce a change in his will. Someone isn't pleased with this codocil, and Hannen is promptly done away with. Herself a suspect, Greta circumvents the cops to solve the mystery herself. With only 60 minutes at its disposal, this British meller dispenses with such inconsequentials as characterization and logic. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi