Gerald Harper Movies
Screenwriter George Axelrod turns Alfred Hitchcock's classic comedy-thriller into a capering screwball comedy showcase for Cybill Shepherd and Elliot Gould in this style-less remake of The Lady Vanishes. On an express train traveling through pre-World War II Germany, Amanda Kelly (Cybill Shepherd) befriends a cute old nanny, Miss Froy (Angela Lansbury). But when Miss Froy disappears and the rest of the passengers profess no knowledge of the old woman, Amanda and Robert Condon (Elliot Gould -- the only person aboard who will believe her story about the missing woman -- search the train trying to find out what happened to Miss Froy. In the meantime, they uncover an insidious German plot and fall in love. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elliott Gould, Cybill Shepherd, (more)
- 1969
Mother regales his two elderly aunts with the thrilling story of "The Great Great Britain Crime." It seems that a group of international criminals planned, Ocean's Eleven-style, to steal all Britain's great treasures simultaneously, using a phony missile attack on London as their cover. Only the two aunties are at all surprised when the villains are thwarted by Steed and Tara. Utilizing generous library footage from the unaired Avengers episode "The Great Great Britain Crime," "Homicide and Old Lace" first aired in America on March 17, 1969, and in England nine days later. The original episode, and its new "wraparound" segments, were written by series stalwart Malcolm Hulke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A Pope contends with the prospects of nuclear world destruction in this Cold-War saga of religious faith and international politics. (Anthony Quinn) plays a Russian priest who has spent 20 years in a Siberian labor camp. When Russian and Chinese relations deteriorate, Russian Premier Kamenev (Laurence Olivier) releases him and he is made a cardinal. Kamenev wishes to have a representative at the Vatican in Rome for future political situations. When the Pope (John Gielgud) dies, a series of events makes the Russian priest the first Pope from a communist country. Taking the name of the saint who spread the gospel to Russia, he becomes Pope Kiril Lakota. He often leaves the Vatican in disguise to mingle with the people to remain in touch with the poor and the needy. When millions of Chinese face starvation, the Pope offers to sell the riches of the church on order to feed the hungry, and he asks that all wealthy countries do the same. David Janssen is the television reporter stationed in Rome whose wife (Barbara Jefford) receives counseling from Kiril, unaware he is the Pope. In a symbolic gesture, Kiril offers his crown as a down payment in an attempt to bring world peace and end the starving of millions. Although a fine drama with a competent international cast, the movie failed at the box office to recoup the 9-million-dollar production costs. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Laurence Olivier, (more)
- 1966
In this mystery, a salesman unearths important evidence concerning the murder of a famous has-been actress. This evidence leads the investigator to the London estate of the actor who was once involved with her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Adam Adamant Lives was first screened on BBC1 on June 23, 1966, and ran for two seasons. Over the 29 episodes this quirky fantasy -- the BBC's answer to The Avengers, conceived by Sydney Newman, the creator of Doctor Who -- became a household name, and family favorite. Adam Adamant, a much-celebrated hero of the Edwardian era (played by RADA-trained actor Gerald Harper), had been frozen in time in 1902 by his archenemy, The Face, only to be discovered by accident, unearthed from a building site in 1966. After initial confusion the out-of-time gentlemen soon finds trusty companions: Swinging '60s Londoner Georgina Jones (Juliet Harmer), and the eccentric entertainer William Simms (Jack May), both of whom help him solve a series of mysterious crimes in '60s London. ~ Jon Mills, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gerald Harper, Juliet Harmer, (more)
- 1965
Invited to attend a party at an air base, Steed and Emma arrive to find the place deserted. Suddenly, Steed is knocked unconscious; when he awakens, the base is crowded with revellers, but Emma is nowhere to be found. Even more disconcerting is the "fact" that Steed has apparently gone back in time, and that he is now reliving the events of an hour ago. Written by John Lucarotti, "The Hour That Never Was" was initially telecast in England on November 27, 1965; its American TV debut occured on April 25, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In this musical comedy, a popular singer and his band find themselves stuck in the Canary Islands. While there a neurotic filmmaker brings his cast and crew to make a film. The singer ends up falling for the leading lady and decides to make a musical version of the film on the sly using the other director's equipment. Both pictures are lousy until the two filmmakers team up and combine them. A smash hit is born. Songs include: "Wonderful Life," "A Girl in Every Port," "Home," "A Little Imagination," "On the Beach," "In the Stars," "We Love a Movie," "Do You Remember," "What I Gotta Do," "All Kinds of People," "A Matter of Moments," "Youth and Experience" (performed by Richard and the Shadows), "Theme from Young Lovers," and "Walkin"' (performed by the Shadows). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cliff Richard, Walter Slezak, (more)
- 1963
Tony Hancock, as big a comedy star as it was possible to be in the Britain of 1963, decided to pull a "Charlie Chaplin" with The Punch and Judy Man. He plays an end-of-pier seashore entertainer who is loved by children but reviled by adults. Hancock's efforts to establish himself as a man of importance invariably end in disappointment and despair. Not even Tony Hancock's legion of fans could be persuaded to drink up the bathos ladled out in The Punch and Judy Man. Ironically, Hancock in real life ended up committing suicide in 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Hancock, Sylvia Syms, (more)
- 1962
Steed and Cathy are sent to Jamaica to investigate the murder of a British courier. Compounding the mystery is the fact that the courier was carrying papers of no major importance. The Avengers end up following the clue trail to Buenos Aires, where they come up against a most unexpected opponent. This episode is a favorite of Avengers buffs, for reasons that will become obvious upon viewing. Written by Leonard Fincham, "Death Dispatch" was first telecast in England on December 22, 1962; it finally made it to American cable TV on February 12, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Wonderful to Be Young! was released in Britain as The Young Ones. Given the later output of director Sidney J. Furie, one might suspect that the original title was meant as irony, but in fact this is an upbeat, life-affirming vehicle for British pop singer Cliff Richard. In this one, Richard, the son of millionaire Robert Morley, wants to buy a piece of property before his father can use it for avaricious purposes. Having no spending money of his own (!), Richard puts on a Big Show with his friends to raise the necessary funds. Morley outwits his son, leading one of the kids to kidnap the old guy out of vengeance. But Richard comes to the rescue with several more swingin' tunes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cliff Richard, Robert Morley, (more)
- 1960
An engrossing suspenser with dashes of comedy, League of Gentlemen is about a daring group of highly trained army men, turned bank robbers. When Hyde (Jack Hawkins) is drummed out of the army after years of devoted service, he decides to get back at society in general. One by one, he finds seven other army officers who are now broke and who walk on the shady side of the law. All eight men go into hiding as they plan the robbery with the care and attention of a behind-the-lines reconnaissance mission. As they undertake tasks like raiding a military depot for explosives and similar stunts, suspense and incidental humor increase, leading up to bank day when the really big show has to be pulled off without a hitch. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hawkins, Nigel Patrick, (more)
Two excellent actors shine in powerful roles in this drama by Ronald Neame that pits one Scottish army colonel against another. Alec Guinness is Lt. Col. Jock Sinclair, a man who temporarily takes over command of a regiment until his replacement, Col. Basil Barrow (John Mills) arrives. Sinclair comes from the lower echelons of the social order but was at least able to work himself up the echelons in the military hierarchy. He is fairly well-liked though still a little rough around the edges for some. When Barrow takes over, the two men clash almost at once. Barrow is from the upper crust, went to all the "right" schools, and believes in discipline and then a little more discipline, as well as efficient and proper bureaucratic processes. The differences between the two men threaten to rupture the unity of the regiment, especially after Sinclair assaults a soldier he finds in the company of his daughter. Barrow opts to report his behavior, leading to a climactic series of events. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alec Guinness, John Mills, (more)
This meticulous re-creation of the sinking of the Titanic was adapted by Eric Ambler from the best-selling book by Walter Lord, and it preceded the blockbuster Titanic by almost 40 years. The film covers the life and death of the huge vessel from its launching celebration to that fateful night of April 14, 1912, when the "unsinkable" ship struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Of the 2224 passengers on board, 1513 were drowned as a result of the bad planning of lifeboats and escape routes. Kenneth More heads a huge and stellar cast, with 200 speaking parts, as second officer Herbert Lightoller, from whose point-of-view the story unfolds. Also in the cast are Laurence Naismith as the ill-fated Captain Smith; Michael Goodliffe as conscience-stricken ship's designer Thomas Andrews; Tucker McGuire as feisty American millionaire Molly Brown, whose courage and tenacity saved many lives; and Anthony Bushell as the captain of the Carpathia, who launched a noble but vain rescue mission once he was apprised of the disaster. Also appearing are two future TV favorites: The Avengers' Honor Blackman as a woman who believes that she has nothing to live for, and The Man From UNCLE's David McCallum as a wireless operator. The climactic sinking of the vessel is re-created with painstaking accuracy; filmed in "real time," it is a mere 37 minutes shorter than the actual tragedy. Two years before the film's release, an American TV adaptation of A Night to Remember set a precedent as the most elaborate and technically complex "live" broadcast of its time. Some viewers will find this movie a more accurate and gripping representation of this sea disaster than the romance-heavy Titanic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenneth More, Honor Blackman, (more)
- 1957
Paradise Lagoon is the American release title of the British The Admirable Crichton. In this Technicolor adaptation of James M. Barrie's oft-filmed stage play, Kenneth More stars as Crichton, the super-efficient butler for a family of haughty British aristocrats. Though More is true master of the household, he keeps his place, honoring the tightly regulated social structure of turn-of-the-century England. When the family, and its servants, are shipwrecked and marooned on a desert island, only Crichton has the skill and resourcefulness to keep everyone alive. Within a few months, the social order has been reversed: Crichton is the "governor", while his former employers are his willing and eager servants. Lady Mary (Sally Ann Howes), assuming that she will never be able to return to her veddy proper fiance, falls in love with Crichton. But once the castaways are rescued and returned to their London estate, the original master-servant status quo is restored. His marriage to Lady Mary now an impossibility-a fact stressed in no uncertain terms by the young lady herself-Crichton calmly packs his bags and leaves, in the company of maidservant Tweeny (Diane Cilento), who has loved him all along. Barries' satirical jabs at class consciousness (notably in the closing "interrogation scene", conducted by the imperious Lady Brocklehurst Martita Hunt) were not altogether relevant in 1957; thus, Paradise Lagoon concentrates on the property's farcical and romantic elements. Taking advantage of its tropical setting, the film also permitted the tired businessmen in the audience to gaze upon the luscious Sally Ann Howes and Diane Cilento in halter tops and short-shorts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenneth More, Diane Cilento, (more)
- 1956
Stars in Your Eyes is a glorified "vaudeville" picture, tied together by the thinnest of plotlines. As the top British vaudeville houses begin closing their doors, a great many entertainers are thrown out of work. At the instigation of music-hall headliners Sally Bishop (Patricia Kirkwood) and Jimmy Knowles (Nat Jackley), a group of veteran performers decide to reopen one of the old theatres, staging a gala opening revue to attract the customers. Financing this project is the wife of alcoholic ex-songwriter David Laws (Bonar Colleano). A gang of crooks tries to sabotage the show, but all ends happily -- especially for Laws, who is reunited with his loving spouse. Among the guest performers in Stars in Your Eyes is Vera Lynn, the sweetheart of WW II, whose famous rendition of "We'll Meet Again" was heard in the unforgettable finale of Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nat Jackley, Patricia Kirkwood, (more)
- 1956
The Extra Day is a portmanteau film in the tradition of the earlier Derby Day. The ball gets rolling when Joe Blake (Richard Basehart), the assistant to film director Kurt Vorn (Laurence Naismith), routinely summons a group of movie extras for a few necessary retakes. The audience then learns the "backstories" of the various extras. Starving artist Steven Marlow (George Baker), who has been doing crowd work to pay the bills, is the object of movie star Michele Blanchard's (Simone Simon) affections, even though he doesn't know it. Prizefighter Barney West (Sidney James) worries that he'll lose his extra job if his face is messed up in the ring. Socialite Toni Howard (Josephine Griffin) works in films to get away from the social whirl; her callback to Vorn's set nearly scotches her impending marriage to a famous singing star. And so it goes until the extras are assembled and Vorn yells "action." Future pop star Shani Wallis makes her screen debut in The Extra Day in a minor role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Basehart, Simone Simon, (more)
- 1956
In this British crime drama, an escaped killer heads for the French coast to find a mysterious treasure reportedly buried in a widow's mansion. The lonely widow is preparing to marry a man she doesn't love. Suddenly she begins receiving mysterious photos of her late spouse; they seem to suggest that he is alive. Frightened, she takes the pictures to the cops; they then implicate the fugitive and just as they get to the widow's mansion, they find the crook holding an invaluable statue of the Madonna. The cops inform the cornered thief that the statue is useless to him because no one will buy it from him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donald Sinden, Muriel Pavlow, (more)
