Peter Halliday Movies

Everyone's favorite collie returns to the screen -- and to her native home back in Britain -- in director Charles Sturridge's faithful adaptation of author Eric Knight's sentimental kid and canine novel Lassie Come Home. When Lassie saves a fox from the hunting hounds of the duke of Rudling (Peter O'Toole), the captivated nobleman becomes obsessed with the idea of purchasing the collie for his adoring granddaughter Cilla (Hester Odgers). Unfortunately for Rudling, the pooch already has a loving family in the form of kindly miner Sam Carraclough (John Lynch), his wife, Sarah (Samantha Morton), and their young son, Joe (Jonathan Mason). When Sam is laid off from his job, however, he is forced to sell the loyal dog to the duke in order to put food on the family table. Incensed at the dog's repeated attempts to escape and seek out her original loving family, the villainous duke charges kennel-keeper Eddie Hynes (Steve Pemberton) with the task of teaching Lassie how to stay as World War II looms ever more heavy on the horizon. When the dogs of war finally stop barking and start biting, Rudling beats a hasty retreat to the safety of northern Scotland with both the child and the canine. Realizing that her newfound companion is far from the people she cares about most, Cilla later helps her ever-loyal four-legged friend escape from the family's heavily fortified compound so that she may begin the 500-mile journey back home to Yorkshire. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Filmed with the usual meticulous attention to period and detail of films from Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, The Remains of the Day is based on a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. Anthony Hopkins plays Stevens, the "perfect" butler to a prosperous British household of the 1930s. He is so unswervingly devoted to serving his master, a well-meaning but callow British lord (James Fox), that he shuts himself off from all emotions and familial relationships. New housekeeper Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson) tries to warm him up and awaken his humanity. But when duty calls, Stevens won't even attend his own dying father's last moments on earth. The butler also refuses to acknowledge the fact that his master is showing signs of pro-Nazi sentiments. Disillusioned by Hitler's duplicity, the master dies an embittered man, and only then does Stevens come to realize how his own silence has helped bring about this sad situation. Years later, regretting his lost opportunities in life, he tries once more to make contact with Miss Kenton, the only person who'd ever cared enough to seek out the human being inside the butler's cold veneer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Comparatively unknown, the British And Nothing But the Truth is a blistering indictment of government-sanctioned corruption, as well as the "facts of life" of the television industry. Filmmaker Glenda Jackson and reporter Jon Finch head to South Wales, where a farm family has taken on the local village government. Accusations have been raised that a powerful corporation has (within legal limits) bribed the village to permit encroachment upon local farm land. In pursuit of the truth, Jackson and Finch are subjected to character assassination and overt threats. Only gradually do they discover that their own bosses are also on the take. And Nothing But the Truth was originally titled Giro City. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the third episode of the four-part story "City of Death," the Doctor (Tom Baker) discovers that Count Scarlioni (Julian Glover) has been stealing and selling valuable works of art in order to raise funds for his time-travel experiments. But there is a more pressing matter at hand: Romana (Lalla Ward) and detective Duggan (Tom Chadbon) are in immediate danger of losing their lives at the Count's hands. Catherine Schell co-stars as Countess Scarlioni. First telecast October 13, 1979, "City of Death, Episode 3" was written by Douglas Adams and Graham Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A successful robbery goes sour when six criminals attempt to divvy up the fruits of their labour. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

The four-part adventure "Carnival of Monsters" begins on a positive note, as the Doctor (Jon Pertwee), finally released from his earthly exile, takes Jo (Katy Manning) for a trip in his newly repaired TARDIS. Unfortunately, the time-traveling machine still has a few bugs in it, and instead of landing on the blue planet Meteblis 3 as the Doctor had intended, the TARDIS materializes on the "S.S. Bernice," a 1930s-vintage ocean liner. But are the Doctor and Jo really adrift on the Indian Ocean, or is everything around them merely an illusion? Written by Robert Holmes, "Carnival of Monsters, Episode 1" first aired on January 27, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the four-part story "Carnival of Monsters," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) have apparently materialized on an ocean liner in the year 1935. But the time-travelers soon discover that the ship is actually a tiny scale model and that they have been miniaturized and trapped inside a carnival sideshow device called the Miniscope. Written by Robert Holmes, "Carnival of Monsters, Episode 2" first aired on February 3, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This British film examines the choices individuals must make when confronted with a romantic relationship which is rewarding but does not offer them everything they want. In this sympathetic and psychologically precise drama, Alexandra Greville (Glenda Jackson), "Alex" to her friends, has a younger man as her sometime lover, the young sculptor Bob Elkin (Murray Head). Elkin is completely open about the fact that he is also the lover of her acquaintance, Dr. Daniel Hirsch (Peter Finch). These relationships continue in some kind of equilibrium until Alex and Bob agree to house-sit the children of a couple known to the three of them. In their roles, neither Head nor Finch "swished," or otherwise catered to homosexual stereotypes, and theirs was considered to be a groundbreaking, sympathetic portrayal of this kind of relationship, not condescending in any way. One highlight of the film is a scene in which Dr. Hirsch attends the Bar Mitzvah of his nephew. This critically well-received movie was unexpectedly successful at the box office. The film's director and screenwriter, as well as Jackson and Finch, were nominated for Academy Awards. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

In the sixth episode of the seven-part story "The Ambassadors of Death," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) discovers that a renegade ex-astronaut on earth is trying to spark an interplanetary war. The only hope for mankind's salvation is the return of three alien ambassadors (who have been forced to take human form) to their own planet. Only the Doctor can accomplish this -- but time is quickly running out for all concerned. Written by Don Houghton, "The Ambassadors of Death, Episode 6" originally aired on April 25, 1970. Filmed in color, this episode presently exists in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the fourth episode of the seven-part story "Doctor Who and the Silurians," the reptile-like Silurians set in motion their plan to regain control of the Earth from mankind. Though the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) is naturally resistant to these efforts, he cannot help but admire the Silurians' intelligence and tenacity, and tries to negotiate a peace treaty. But his efforts are stymied not only by a group of younger, rebellious Silurians, but also by the trigger-happy Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney). Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Doctor Who and the Silurians, Episode 4" first aired on February 21, 1970. Filmed in color, this episode is presently available in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the sixth episode of the seven-part story "Doctor Who and the Silurians," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) is able to prevent an epidemic which would have wiped out all humankind. But the Silurians, an ancient race of superintelligent reptiles bent on reclaiming the world for themselves, will not concede defeat. They hatch a horrifying alternative scheme to destory the Van Allen Belt so that the Earth's atmosphere will be more hospitable to them -- and more deadly to the humans. Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Doctor Who and the Silurians, Episode 6" first aired on March 7, 1970. Filmed in color, this episode is presently available in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the seven-part story "Doctor Who and the Silurians," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) is able to foil the Silurians' scheme to gain control of the earth, and has forced the reptilian race to take shelter underground. Alas, the Doctor's hopes to negotiating a lasting peace with the Silurians -- who, so far as he is concerned, have as much right to claim ownership of the world as the humans -- are dashed by the overzealous Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney). Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Doctor Who and the Silurians, Episode 7" first aired on March 14, 1970. Filmed in color, this episode is presently available in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the eight-part story "The Invasion," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions have landed in the England of 1975, which has been all but conquered by the sinister corporation Intenational Electromatics. Investigating a bizarre conspiracy theory, the Doctor and Jamie (Frazer Hines) become the reluctant guests of all-powerful CEO Tobias Vaughan (Kevin Stoney). Originally shown on November 9, 1968, "The Invasion, Episode 2" apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi