Dallas Adams Movies

Sometimes a family title, among the nobility of England, goes to the "collateral" heirs -- people not in the direct line of decent, like cousins, great-nephews and the like. On rare occasions, these people are not even aware that they are about to be elevated to the House of Lords, and they have been living more-or-less ordinary lives. In this comedy, the family which lacks direct heirs is the Royal Family of England -- as all of the likely heirs have died one after the other in swift succession. In this comedy, the "collateral heir" is an exuberant, fence-busting All-American slob (and pretty good rock n' roll musician) by the name of Ralph (John Goodman). Unknown to him, his grandmother had an affair with a royal prince. Ralph's a good guy, and eager to please. He recognizes the importance of the royal hoopla to England and works very hard to fit in as its new designated king. He is assisted by the ever-unctuous, very serious family factotum Willingham (Peter O'Toole). The trouble is, he doesn't have instincts for politics English-style, and he is constantly "putting a foot wrong," as they might say. The most difficult situation for him is when he develops a new love interest, and she's not "acceptable" to the upper crust. In addition to being hounded by the tabloids, he finds that "the good of the state" requires that he drop his new girlfriend. Things really come to a head just before Ralph's coronation as king. Reviewers generally loathed this feel-good comedy, but audiences seem to have enjoyed it tremendously, and it has done well in video and TV airings. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

While trying to take Turlough (Mark Strickson) to his home planet of Trion, the Doctor (Peter Davison) is unable to prevent the TARDIS from being drawn to the volcanic planet Sarn. This phenomenon is no accident -- in fact, it has been engineered by one of the Doctor's oldest and most malevolent adversaries. Nicola Bryant makes her first series appearance as Earth girl Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown, who sets the plot in motion while trying to sell an ancient artifact (actually an alien beacon), and whom Turlough has taken along for the ride on the TARDIS. Beginning its four-episode run on February 23, 1984, "Planet of Fire" was written by Peter Grimwade. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "Planet of Fire," the Doctor (Peter Davison) tries to elude the clutches of his old adversary, the Master (Anthony Ainley), who has taken on a formidable henchman, the shape-shifting Kamelion. Meanwhile, Turlough (Mark Strickson) makes several startling discoveries about his home planet Trion. Written by Peter Grimwade, "Planet of Fire, Episode 3" first aired on March 1, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ian Bannen and Suzanne Neve star in the videotaped chiller Terror from Within. The scene is an artist's colony, populated with eccentrics. A murder is committed, and everyone is under suspicion. Soon afterward, the colony is haunted by weird voices and visions. Made for British television, Terror from Within was picked up for Stateside play as part of the ABC Wide World Mystery anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide