Christine Kavanagh Movies
A man who fails to respect the dead pays a high price for his arrogance in this horrifying thriller. For decades, the city of New York has buried the bodies of the unknown and the destitute on Hart Island, a tiny slip of land near the Big Apple's harbor, with inmates from a nearby prison on hand to do the labor. Now, multi-millionaire land developer Mr. King (Malcolm McDowell) has decided to buy the island and build a resort. King scoffs when he's told it's bad luck to disturb the resting place of the dead, but he soon learns there's a kernel of truth in their warnings -- Hart Island is also home to huge swarms of disease-carrying flies, and when King, his associates, and a crew of prisoners are trapped on the island, there's no telling if they'll make it out alive as the insects try to claim the humans as their prey. Island of the Dead also stars Bruce Ramsay, Talisa Soto, and hip-hop artist Mos Def. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Talisa Soto, Bruce Ramsay, (more)
A boy plays matchmaker for his mother with unfortunate results in this emotional drama. Katie (Nastassja Kinski) is a single mother with more than her share of problems; she drinks too much, smokes too much, and is involved with an abusive man named Curt (Jason Cairns). Katie's 9-year-old son James (Cody Morgan) doesn't get along with Curt, and with Katie usually either busy at work or hitting the bottle, she has little time for him. James becomes friendly with Henry (Robert Forster), a wealthy widower who is fixing up a boat for a trip around the world. James likes Henry, and when Katie finally breaks up with Curt, James tries to fix Henry up with his mother. However, Henry sees Katie's problems more clearly than her son can, and opts to keep his distance from her, which is a crushing blow to James -- especially when Curt comes back into Katie's life. The Magic of Marciano was warmly received in its screening at the 2000 L.A. Independent Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nastassja Kinski, Robert Forster, (more)
- 1995
The Glass Virgin is a 1995 UK television miniseries directed by Sarah Hellings, adapted from the best-selling novel by Catherine Cookson. In 19th century England, wealthy young Annabella Lagrange lives a comfortable and secluded life on her family's country estate, where her parents (Nigel Havers and Christine Kavanagh) own a glass works. As a child (played by Samantha Glenn), she develops a special friendship with the charming stable boy Manuel Mendoza (Brendan Coyle). When she turns 18 (played by Emily Mortimer), she marries her cousin Stephen (Anthony Walters) and sees what the world is really like. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Based on the 1978 novel by Julian Symons, the two-part, four-hour British miniseries The Blackheath Poisonings was set during the Victorian era. When the head of a prominent household is poisoned, virtually everyone within a 50 mile radius falls under suspicion. As the plot thickens, more suspicious deaths occur, the final one proving to be a means of "escape" for the guilty party. Deftly exploring the sinister underpinnings of 19th century British gentility, The Blackheath Poisonings was broadcast by Central Television on December 7 and 9, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christine Kavanagh, Ian McNeice, (more)
- 1991
Chimera was originally produced for Britain's BBC television network. The title creature is a half man, half ape (Douglas Mann), the product of a hush-hush government project. Journalist John Lynch gets wind of the experiment when his girlfriend dies in a fertility clinic explosion. At the center of things is a mad-as-a-hatter scientist, whom the government continues to protect until it's almost Too Late. Christine Kavanaugh costars in this new twist on the old Frankenstein story. Chimera premiered in the US over the A&E Cable service on November 1, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Re-titled for American release, Monkey Boy is actually an edited version of Lawrence Clark's British production Chimera, about a half-human, half-ape creature who plots a murderous plan of escape from the genetics lab that gave him life. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1988
No Crying He Makes is a BBC-produced thriller starring George Baker. The scene is the British town of Kingomarkham; the time is Christmas Eve. Detectives Waxford and Burden are assigned to probe the case of an "infant switch" in a local hospital. The real mother may be in just as much danger as her missing baby. Based on a story by Ruth Rendell, No Crying He Makes was telecast in the US over the Arts & Entertainment cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Robert Ashby guest stars in the Doctor Who adventure "Timelash" as the Borad, a mutant dictator. Hoping to wipe out the population of his own planet so that he can create a new, "superior" race, the Borad declares war on a neighboring world. Those who oppose his plans are exiled to a time corridor called the Timelash -- which is where the Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) have arrived to rescue an old friend. Written by Glen McCoy, the two-part "Timelash" originally aired on March 9 and March 16, 1985; it has since been edited into a four-part serial for American television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, (more)
