Peter Howard Movies
The producers of The Greek Tycoon insisted that their film was not based on any "actual persons, living or dead." Yeh, right. Anthony Quinn stars as Greek shipping-magnate Theo Tomassis, who becomes the second husband of socialite Liz Cassidy (Jacqueline Bisset). It seems that Liz is the widow of young, charismatic American president James Cassidy (James Franciscus), who was felled by an assassin's bullet. When Tomassis marries the former Mrs. Cassidy, it is over the strident protests of his former love, Paola Scotti (Luciana Paluzzi), not to mention the millions of American who consider Liz to be an icon. Too long at 106 minutes, The Greek Tycoon was nonetheless expanded to 112 minutes for home video. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Jacqueline Bisset, (more)
- 1969
In this British tragedy, a man becomes so obsessed with his scientific endeavors that he estranges himself from his family. When he looks up from his work to notice them, he is shocked to find that his pregnant daughter has just committed suicide. This brings him back to the family where he begins to help his terminally ill father. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1967
No, this isn't a sequel to Nick Nack Paddy Whack. This kiddie-oriented British film concerns a young boy named Mickey Merry (Richard Davies) and his faithful dog Ringo (played by comedian Ronnie Stevens, a human being in canine drag). The two heroes come face to face with the Rat King (Richard Warner), a rodent megalomaniac. The Rat King's plans to take over the world are foiled by Mickey and Ringo. Based on the whimsical Christmas Pantomime-style play by Peter Howard, Give a Dog a Bone, represented the next-to-last directorial effort of Henry Cass, who in his days of glory was responsible for such films as the 1950 Alec Guinness vehicle Last Holiday. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1966
Preacher Flynn manages to return Heath, Walker and Richmond to the faith until he is martyrized by the persecutors. ~ Rovi
- 1965
W.W. Jacobs' Grand Guignol classic The Monkey's Paw had previously been filmed as a theatrical feature in 1933 when this updated version was presented on The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. While on vacation in the Bahamas, Paul and Anne White (Leif Erickson, Jane Wyatt) attend a party where the guests are cruelly mocking a wizened gypsy woman (Zolya Talma). Defiantly, the old crone brandishes a tiny, severed monkey's paw, which Paul immediately identifies as a good-luck charm. Indeed, when the gypsy gives the monkey's paw to Mr. White, she informs him that the shriveled artifact will grant him three wishes -- but the third wish will be for death. A young Lee Majors appears as the Whites' son, Howard, whose grisly demise looms large over the story's heart-pounding climax. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Leif Erickson, Jane Wyatt, (more)
One year after his financially successful Promises Promises with Jayne Mansfield, director Tommy Noonan released another nudie comedy with Three Nuts in Search of a Bolt. This time, it is Mamie Van Doren who gets to show various parts of her anatomy as she plays a stripper who collaborates with two other "nuts" seeking psychiatric help. Her partners in the fiasco are a used car salesman Paul Gilbert who gets a thrill from cheating customers and a male model John Cronin who dislikes women. Unable to afford the doctor's fees, the three set out to find a proper patient to represent each of them for the price of one. After they convince the perfect sucker, (Noonan), to play out each of their personalities, Doctor Myra Von (Ziva Rodann) inadvertently televises the sessions to several other doctors--worldwide. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mamie van Doren, Tommy Noonan, (more)
- 1964
Five years after their first motion picture release The Crowning Experience, the Moral ReArmament Movement (MRA) produced this morality piece calling for humanity and racial understanding in British East Africa. It is there where a group of white liberals attempt to make progress between black revolutionaries and bigotted white colonists. Muriel Smith, who also played in MRA's first film, leads in this drama as a determined rebellion leader. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Muriel Smith, Phyllis Konstam, (more)
