Frank Jarvis Movies

TheTV movie Jack the Ripper endeavors to shed new light on one of the most notorious unsolved cases in history. The Ripper, of course, was the London serial killer who, in 1888, killed and disemboweled five prostitutes. Michael Caine stars not as the Ripper but as a Scotland-Yard inspector who is assigned to the case. The trail of evidence leads Caine to some astonishing suspects--including at least one member of the Royal Family. As the public clamors for an arrest in the case of the unsolved evisceration murders of five East End prostitutes, Abberline narrows down his list of suspects: the four most likely to have committed the murders, according to the inspector, are American-actor Richard Mansfield (Armand Assante), Queen Victoria's personal psychic (Ken Bones), a certain Dr. Acland (Richard Morant) and socialist-gadfly Lusk (Michael Gothard). The British government is also pressuring Abberline to produce the killer. Unfortunately, if Abberline were to publicly release all the clues at his disposal, the revelation would probably rock the Empire to its foundations. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Power of Kroll," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) are forced to overcome enormous obstacles in their efforts to retrieve the fifth segment of the Key to Time on the swamp moon of Delta Magna. But the cream of the jest occurs at the climax, when the Doctor discovers that the Great God Kroll, whom the local Swampies worship blindly, is actually a huge squid -- and Kroll is, in fact, the elusive Fifth Segment. Written by Robert Holmes, "The Power of Kroll, Episode 4" originally aired on January 13, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) land on the third moon of Delta Magna, in search of the fifth segment of the Key to Time. The moon is little more than an overgrown swamp, populated by a hostile tribe who worship a god called Kroll -- and that's only the beginning of the Doctor's headaches in this four-part adventure. A follow-up to the previous Doctor Who continuity "The Androids of Tara," "The Power of Kroll, Episode 1" was written by Robert Holmes and was originally telecast on December 23, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

It's late 1944, and the Allied armies are confident they'll win the World War II and be home in time for Christmas. What's needed, says British general Bernard Law Montgomery, is a knockout punch, a bold strike through Holland, where German troops are spread thin, that will put the Allies into Germany. Paratroops led by British major general Robert Urquhart (Sean Connery) and American brigadier general James Gavin (Ryan O'Neal) will seize a thin road and five bridges through Holland into Germany, with paratroops led by Lieutenant Col. John Frost (Sir Anthony Hopkins) holding the most critical bridge at a small town called Arnhem. Over this road shall pass combined forces led by British Lieutenant Gen. Brian Horrocks (Edward Fox) and British Lieutenant Col. Joe Vandeleur (Michael Caine). The plan requires precise timing, so much so that one planner tells Lieutenant Gen. Frederick Browning (Dirk Bogarde), "Sir, I think we may be going a bridge too far." The plan also has one critical flaw: Instead of a smattering of German soldiers, the area around Arnhem is loaded with crack SS troops. Disaster ensues. Based on a book by historian Cornelius Ryan, A Bridge Too Far is reminiscent of another movie based on a Ryan book, The Longest Day. Like that movie, it is loaded with more than 15 international stars, including Sir Laurence Olivier, Robert Redford, Hardy Krueger, Gene Hackman, Maximilian Schell, and Liv Ullman. ~ Nick Sambides, Jr., Rovi

The quintessential British caper film of the 1960s, The Italian Job is a flashy, fast romp that chases a team of career criminals throughout one of the biggest international gold heists in history. Michael Caine is Charlie Croker, a stylish robber and skirt-chaser just out of British prison. Shunning rehabilitation for recidivism, Croker takes over "The Italian Job," a complicated plan to hijack gold bullion from Italy -- right from underneath the noses of the Italian Police and the Mafia. The job, whose original mastermind was murdered, clearly requires the sponsorship of a richer, more established criminal than Croker. He turns to the auspices of the eccentric Mr. Bridger (Noël Coward in his last film role), a suave, regal, incarcerated English crime boss with a peculiar fascination with the Queen. Bridger provides Croker with a quirky group of Britain's most infamous computer hackers (including a lascivious Benny Hill), bank robbers, hijackers, and getaway drivers -- the ex-con is soon well on his way to relieving Italy of the gold. ~ Aubry Anne D'Arminio, Rovi

In the third episode of the four-part story "The War Machines," the self-starting computer WOTAN (Will Operating Thought Analogue) begins the first phase of its campaign to conquer the world. As a terrifying army of robot war machines descend upon London, the Doctor (William Hartnell) tries to disable WOTAN -- but alas, it has been designed by Professor Brett (John Harvey) to be impervious to such shutdown efforts. Meanwhile, Brett's secretary Polly (Anneke Wells) and her seaman boyfriend Ben Jackson (Michael Craze) work behind the scenes to help the Doctor, if indeed anyone can help him. Scripted by Ian Stuart Black from a story idea by Kit Pedler, "The War Machines, Episode Three" first aired on July 2, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Purporting to warn young people of premarital sex, this British drama is exploitation with a capital 'E.' Set in a conservative peaceful village, the drama begins with the arrival of a sexy Austrian girl who proceeds to seduce every man in sight. One of her victims is engaged. When his fiancee finds out, she has an insecurity attack and lets her beloved have sex with her. This results in pregnancy. Later the Austrian hussy gets raped by her steady because he is jealous of her other trysts. To top it off, she ends up contracting a dreaded venereal disease. Naturally all of those who sampled her ample wares get into quite a tizzy. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi