Kenneth Kendall Movies
- 1988
In the 1988 documentary Forever James Dean, we see Dean in his first appearance on film, in a Pepsi Cola commercial. We see a color vignette from the 1951 religious TV special Hill Number One, with Dean as a Biblical apostle describing the Resurrection. We watch Dean honing his craft in clips from such network TV dramas as "I'm a Fool" and "The Unlighted Road". We are treated to choice selections from his trio of starring films: East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant. And we are invited to cringe at Dean's ominous "Drive carefully" warning during a staged interview with Gig Young. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
In this sci-fi drama, an alien spaceship breaks down and crashes on the moon. These creatures need help to make repairs and so use their powers to possess a few scientists and use them as slaves. Unfortunately for them, one scientist has a metal plate in his head and cannot be controlled. It is he who travels to the moon and has a little chat with the aliens and suggests they might get more help, if they simply asked for it. The story is based on Joseph Millard's book The Gods Hate Kansas. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Hutton, Jennifer Jayne, (more)
- 1966
In the conclusion of the four-part story "The War Machines," the robot army created by power-hungry computer WOTAN (Will Operating Thought Analogue) continues its devastating attack on London. The only hope for mankind's survival rests with the Doctor (William Hartnell), who reasons that the only way to stop a supercomputer is by deploying another supercomputer. With this episode, Anneke Wells and Michael Craze become series regulars in the roles of Polly and Ben. Scripted by Ian Stuart Black from a story idea by Kit Pedler, "The War Machines, Episode Four" first aired on July 2, 1966, as the final episode of Doctor Who's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Gerald Taylor, (more)
- 1962
This third film version of the Curt Siodmak scare piece Donovan's Brain stars Peter Van Eyck as an overly dedicated scientist. When a powerful and ruthless financier dies in a plane crash, Van Eyck keeps the tycoon's brain alive in his laboratory. Gradually, the brain takes over the doctor's mind, forcing him into all sorts of evil chicanery. In a twist not found in the Siodmak original, the brain compels Van Eyck to seek out the financier's murderer. Anne Heywood costars as the dead man's daughter. A strong mulinational supporting cast distinguishes this Anglo-German coproduction. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1949
A blend of melodrama and film noir, The Reckless Moment stars Joan Bennett as Lucia Harper, a suburban housewife whose husband is away on business. Her daughter, Bea (Geraldine Brooks), an aspiring artist, has fallen for Ted Darby (Shepperd Strudwick), a shady older man from Los Angeles who claims to be an ex-art dealer. One night, after a secret rendezvous in the Harpers' boathouse that turns into an argument, Bea accidentally kills Darby. When Lucia discovers his body in the morning, she panics and dumps it in the lagoon instead of contacting the police, who would surely charge her daughter with murder. Her problems only increase when a suave Irish gangster named Donnelly (James Mason) shows up with a package of love letters from Bea to Darby, and blackmail on his mind. With her husband out of town, Lucia has no choice but to give in to his demands, and brings him along on a desperate quest to raise the money that takes them from bank to loan office to pawn shop. Along the way, Donnelly seems to develop sympathy -- even affection -- for her. When his boss shows up to pressure him into finishing the job, Donnelly's surprising decision sets up the film's startling climax. The Reckless Moment was remade in 2001 by Scott McGehee and David Seigel as The Deep End. ~ Tom Vick, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Mason, Joan Bennett, (more)
