Norman Jones Movies

This long-running TV series features John Thaw as the morose but shrewd detective of the title, who along with his partner -- the dependable Sgt. Lewis -- investigates a variety of murderous crimes against the picturesque back-drop of Oxford, England. ~ Mark Hockley, All Movie Guide

"The Crooked Man" is an episode of the television series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, an excellent adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories, produced in Britain for Granada TV. In this episode, directed by Alan Grint, Jeremy Brett portrays the famed detective, aided by his companion Dr. Watson (David Burke) as the two help investigate and solve the mysterious murder of Colonel Barclay (Denys Hawthorne). This episode, written by Alfred Shaughnessy, re-creates the adventures of Conan Doyle's Victorian detective with impeccable faithfulness to the original story first published in the Strand Magazine during the late-19th century. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide

Duke Turnbeau (David Soul) has come to England, in the 1930s, as a way to improve his fortunes. For some reason, he believes that his larcenous ways will bring him prosperity in the country which at one time or another has had rulership over a large portion of the globe. While there, he meets Rosie McCratchit (Pamela McMyler), a lovely Irish gal who could do with some improvement in her fortunes as well. Together, they have a series of legal, quasi-legal and definitely illegal adventures, including Duke's cow-roping and Rosie's response to the mud-wrestling challenge of the Amazon Lady, as well as an attempted armored-car robbery. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "The Mask of Mandragora," the Doctor (Tom Baker) remains in Renaissance Italy, where the Brotherhood of Demnos, acting under orders from the Mandragora Helix, continue in their efforts to take over the world. As the Powers of Darkness envelope the earth, the Doctor is imprisoned and subjected to the most hideous of tortures -- while Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) is prepared for human sacrifice. Originally telecast on September 18, 1976, "The Mask of Mandragora, Episode 3" was written by Terrance Dicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Doctor Who inaugurated its 14th season on September 4, 1976, with episode one of the four-part "The Mask of Mandragora." The Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) are hijacked by a mysterious power source. Deposited in Renaissance Italy, the two time travelers are forced to match wits with the frighteningly formidable Mandragora Helix, which intends to conquer the earth with "a little help from their friends." "The Mask of Mandragora, Episode 1" was written by Terrance Dicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Long thought dead, the victim of a horrible accident, Dr. Anton Phibes (Vincent Price) still lives, surrounded by art-deco bric-a-brac and attended by mute beauty Vulnavia (Virginia North). Outwardly normal in appearance, Phibes actually wears a rubber mask, covering his hideously deformed countenance; giving away the artifice is the fact that, when he dines, he takes his food through his neck rather than his mouth. Able to speak only when plugging a wire into his damaged vocal chords, Phibes elucidates his plan to murder the medical team whom he holds responsible for the death of his wife. Each of the killings is patterned after the ten deadly plagues. Phibes saves his worst for last: trapping chief surgeon Dr. Vesalius in his lair, Phibes forces the hapless medico into a race against time to save the life of his own son. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the seven-part story "Doctor Who and the Silurians," a series of power failures and sudden electrical upsurges at the Wesley Moore nuclear research station uncovers evidence that an earlier, hyper-intelligent species existed on Earth before the emergence of homo sapiens. The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) wonders if this race was benign or malevolent. He doesn't have to wonder long: Thanks to a freak electrical charge, the reptile-like Silurians emerge from their extremely long hibernation. Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Doctor Who and the Silurians, Episode 2" first aired on February 7, 1970. Filmed in color, this episode is presently available in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Mind of Mr. Soames can be described as a melodramatic Charly. John Soames (Terence Stamp) is a hospital patient who has been in a coma for 30 years. Doctor Bergen (Robert Vaughn) attempts to revitalize Soames by transplanting an infant's brain in the patient's head. When Soames awakens, he has the mental capacity of a baby, but Dr. Bergen is certain that he can accelerate the maturation process, which he does in a matter of weeks. But the pressure on Soames' emotional stability is such that he tragically snaps during a live TV broadcast. Adapted from a novel by Charles Eric Maine, The Mind of Mr. Soames raises more questions than it can possibly answer, but works well on the level of solid science fiction. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the seven-part story "Doctor Who and the Silurians," a freak electrical surge has revived the Silurians, a super-intelligent reptilian race who ruled the earth before the emergence of mankind. Disdainful of the "evolved apes" currently in control of the world, the Silurians intend to regain their former power and glory -- but not if the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) can stop them. Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Doctor Who and the Silurians, Episode 3" first aired on February 14, 1970. Filmed in color, this episode is presently available in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A demented plastic surgeon creates a duplicate of John Steed, who has ostensibly been killed. Meanwhile, the real Steed, held captive by enemy agents, manages to escape. Racing against time, Steed must prevent his lookalike -- not to mention an additional battalion of Steed clones -- from sabotaging an important peace conference. Written by Brian Clemens, They Keep Killing Steed originally aired in America on November 11, 1968, and in England on December 18 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Doctor (Patrick Troughton) arrives at the Det-sen monastery in Tibet, sometime in the mid-'30s. Almost immediately, a colleague of one Professor Travers (Jack Watling) is murdered, and the Doctor finds himself the number one suspect. Written by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln, the six-part adventure "The Abominable Snowmen" was filmed in North Wales, a surprisingly suitable substitute for the rocks and rills of ancient Tibet. The first episode originally aired on September 30, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the six-part story "The Abominable Snowmen," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) continues to face great danger at the Det-sen monastery in Tibet. His only hope for survival is to banish the Great Intelligence, an alien force bent on world domination, from the earth's Solar System. Unfortunately, the Intelligence holds prisoner the soul of the Doctor's very old friend Padmasambhava (Wolfe Morris), the creator of a race of robotic Yetis. Written by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln, "The Abominable Snowmen, Episode 5" first aired on October 28, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the six-part story "The Abominable Snowmen," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) has learned that the Tibetan monastery of Det-sen is being held in thrall by the malevolent Great Intelligence. He also now knows that his alien adversary intends to use an army of Yeti robots to take over the world. But he doesn't what to do about it -- especially since one of his oldest friends is unwillingly mixed up in the intrigue. Written by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln, "The Abominable Snowmen, Episode 3" first aired on October 14, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide