David Jason Movies

This refreshingly realistic British cop show starred David Jason as Detective Inspector William George "Jack" Frost of Denton, whose seeming indifference to orthodox police procedure, his carelessness in handling the paperwork necessary to his profession, and his ofttimes overbearing arrogance was but a smokescreen for his keen sense of observation and his dedication to his job. Bruce Alexander co-starred as Frost's uptight boss, Superintendent Norman Mullett, who, though constantly vexed by Frost's flippant attitude -- not to mention his profanely colorful vocabulary -- could not deny that Frost always got results, even while rubbing the higher-ups the wrong way. Others in Frost's orbit knew that the detective was at heart an old softie, with humanity and compassion oozing from every orifice. Among Frost's colleagues were WPC (and later DC) Hazel Wallace (Caroline Harker), DS George Toolan (John Lyons), and Sgt. Brady (James McKenna). Based on a series of novels by Ronald D. Wingfield, A Touch of Frost debuted over ITV1 on December 6, 1992. Turning out anywhere from three to six 120-minute episodes per season, the series remained in production throughout the first decade of the 21st century. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The second season of A Touch of Frost serves up a quartet of 120-minute dramas, in which irreverent-but-compassionate Detective Inspector "Jack" Frost (David Jason) is intimately involved. The season opens with "A Minority of One," in which Frost, teamed with West Indian DC Clive Tanner (Lennie James) sets his sights on an East End family of professional criminals. "Widows and Orphans" finds Frost investigating a series of vicious attacks on senior citizens, aided and abetted by a female detective sergeant who has trouble minding her own business. "Nothing to Hide" involves an accident that was no accident, and an old personal demon which Frost must overcome. And finally, "A Stranger in the House" has Frost agonizing over an assignment in which his colleague Hazel Wallace (Caroline Harker) serves as bait for a serial rapist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

David Jason stars as fiercely independent but deeply compassionate Detective Inspector "Jack" Frost in the five 120-minute mysteries comprising season four of A Touch of Frost. Frost's professional travails literally hit home when his house is torched in "Paying the Price," giving him way too much on his mind while he tries to track down a motorcycle-riding kidnapper and his latest victim. "Unknown Soldiers" is all about the improper use of firearms, with Frost, a soldier, and a security cop all finding themselves on the business end of various illicitly purchased guns. The public suicide of a naked woman and the death of a local Lothario leads Frost to a cricket pavilion frequented by his dyspeptic boss, Supt. Mullett (Bruce Alexander), in "Fun Times for Swingers." Next, "The Things We Do For Love" finds Frost conducting a murder investigation in a strange religious compound. And last but not least, "Deep Waters" obliges Frost to seek out a link between the murder of a postal worker and the vicious assault on a beautiful psychology student -- and beyond that, a long-unsolved death outside Frost's current jurisdiction. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season six of A Touch of Frost (which begins two years after the conclusion of season five) finds titular protagonist DI "Jack" Frost (David Jason) feigning indifference over the promotion of his colleague Hazel Wallace (Caroline Harker) from policewoman to detective -- once Frost returns from compassionate leave in order to help Wallace and Supt. Mullet (Bruce Alexander) solve a suspicious-looking suicide and the theft of a painting. So goes the plot of the season's first two-hour episode, "Appendix Man." The remaining three episodes include "One Man's Meet," in which Frost investigates two seemingly unrelated murders: that of a homeless teen and of an environmental health official; "Private Lives," exposing the seamy underside of a "respectable" rural community; and "Keys to the Car," wherein Frost seeks out a link between a stolen car, a murdered drug dealer, and a con artist. During the three-year period following the end of its sixth season, the Frost series format briefly morphs into a trio of one-shot specials, each one presented in a two-part format: 1999's "Line of Fire," with Frost going after the killer of a fellow detective; 2001's "Benefit of the Doubt," in which a con artist posing as Frost wreaks havoc during an intense investigation of a murder and a possible kidnapping; and 2002's "Mistaken Identity," wherein while probing the death of an unidentified drowning victim, a reluctant Frost is teamed with a psychological profiler (Susan Penhaligon) and a new female partner (Michelle Foster), the latter accusing Frost of thinly veiled racism. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dauntless, dashing secret agent Danger Mouse and his mild-mannered mole sidekick Penfold make the world safe for bad British music hall puns in six new episodes, telecast during the series' second season. Future A Touch of Frost star David Jason provides not only the voice of Danger Mouse but also the dreaded Custard Might of Glut in the season two opener. Next, "Close Encounters of the Absurd Kind" whisks D.M. and Penfold to the Bermuda Triangle. "The Duel" is between Danger Mouse and his worthy adversary Baron Silas Greenback, winner take all. In "The Day of the Suds," London is besieged by killer washing machines. The title tells all -- practically -- in "The Bad Luck Eye of the Little Yellow God." Finally we have "The Four Tasks of Danger Mouse," in which our hero crosses paths with another Cosgrove-Hall Productions cartoon character, Count Duckula. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The animated secret agent satire Danger Mouse enters its fourth season with nine new episodes, originally seen on British television in 1983. First up is "The Wild Wild Goose Chase," which allows the daring-and-resourceful Danger Mouse to utilize his new Computerized Hideout Locator. In "The Return of Count Duckula," Danger Mouse and his sidekick Penfold square off against another Cosgrove-Hall cartoon creation, while Parliament is hit with a bad case of showbiz fever. "Demons Aren't Dull" elucidates its title with a foray into the fourth dimension. "150 Million Years Lost" is the result of another misbegotten invention of dotty Professor Squakenduck. "The Planet of the Cats" is a takeoff of guess what. (Hint: "you blew it up, darn you to heck!") In "Four Heads Are Better Than Two," a robot Penfold causes trouble for Danger Mouse while a robot Danger Mouse causes trouble for Penfold. (Didn't The Flintstones do this one?) "Tower of Terror" takes place in a Manhattan skyscraper."The Great Bone Idol" chronicles the chaotic results of when Count Duckula joins forces with the evil Baron Silas Greenback. And Penfold unexpectedly saves the day in "Public Enemy No. 1." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the light of the sale of the satirical cartoon show Danger Mouse to American television, the series' British producers assembled its biggest season yet, with no fewer than 24 episodes in its season six manifest. For openers, there is "Once Upon a Time Slip," in which super-spy Danger Mouse and assistant Penfold are accidentally transported to the future -- by the series' narrator! Later adventures take our heroes to Stonehenge, Egypt, Mexico, and the Swiss Alps. Also on deck are a musical adventure (with "singing credits"), a sneeze that causes the sneezer to change costumes with each ker-choo, a recalcitrant car that threatens to spoil Danger Mouse's award ceremony, a toadying henchman helpfully taking over the villainy when the sinister Baron Greenback takes a long-overdue vacation, and Penfold's brief career as a caped superhero. The season's final episode is "Journey to the Earth's...'Cor," wherein Danger Mouse tries to stem noise pollution at the center of the earth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season eight of Danger Mouse was the animated series' shortest to date, yielding only two half-hour episodes. In the first, "Gremlin Alert," resourceful secret agent Danger Mouse and his assistant Penfold face off against the dreaded Illogical Gremlin in order to save the planet's sunlight. And in the second, "'Cor! What a Picture," arch villain Baron Silas Greenback uses his mind-control machine to turn Penfold against Danger Mouse -- and there isn't anything that the Narrator can do about it! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide