Peter Barkworth Movies

Peter Barkworth doubled as writer and co-star of this six-part British TV thriller. Barkworth was cast as a British businessman, whose wife and daughter were kidnapped by the IRA. The price for his loved ones' freedom might well have forced the protagonist to turn his back on his own country in favor of a cause he hated. The Price was originally shown from January 10 to February 14, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

As indicated by its title, this British miniseries concentrated on the years between the two world wars, when the eminent Winston Churchill (Robert Hardy) was politically out of favor in his own country. Acutely aware of the danger looming in a newly re-armed Germany, Churchill vainly tried to warn his fellow Britishers that Hitler was not a man to be trusted. It was only after the benighted PM Neville Chamberlain (Eric Porter) saw the promise of "Peace in Our Time" blow up in his face that Churchill was ensconced in his proper position as leader of his nation. First telecast in the U.K. in 1981, Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years aired in the U.S. two years later. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Thirty-four years after the release of National Velvet, MGM came up with this attractively filmed sequel. Tatum O'Neal stars as the niece of Velvet Brown, Elizabeth Taylor's character from the first film (the Taylor role is played herein by Nanette Newman, the wife of director Bryan Forbes). Like her aunt, O'Neal is horse-happy, and hopes to become an Olympic equestrienne. There are a few tense moments when O'Neal fails to measure up to her aunt's overexacting standards, and when the girl evinces jealousy concerning auntie's live-in love Christopher Plummer. But with the help of crusty old trainer Anthony Hopkins, O'Neal proves herself every inch the horsewoman that Velvet had been so long ago. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Littlest Horse Thieves is a Walt Disney Production. Set in early 20th-century England, the film concerns three Yorkshire children who take pity on the ponies that are used as beasts of burden in the coal mines. The kids "liberate" the ponies with the help of a sympathetic groom. This action arouses so much public sympathy that the miners threaten to strike if the ponies are returned to their living deaths in the pits. A plot-solving last minute rescue segues into a joyous celebration, stage-managed by twinkly old Lord Harrogate (played by the indispensable Alastair Sim). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A Fleet Street reporter-turned-aspiring novelist experiences the ultimate real life plot twist when his wife is brutally murdered and he is wrongly accused of the crime. Guy Foster (Peter Barkworth) is an ace reporter who has fallen on hard times. One night, as Guy is struggling to pen his first novel, his wife falls prey to a vicious killer. As if losing his beloved bride isn't painful enough, all evidence points to Guy as the culprit. Now, with the authorities fast closing in and a killer on the loose, Guy must race to catch the true party responsible for the crime before it's too late. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

In 1943 North Africa, George Patton (George C. Scott) assumes command of (and instills some much-needed discipline in) the American forces. Engaged in battle against Germany's Field Marshal Rommel (Karl Michael Vogler), Patton drives back "The Desert Fox" by using the German's own tactics. Promoted to Lieutenant General, Patton is sent to Sicily, where he engages in a personal war of egos with British Field Marshal Montgomery (Michael Bates). Performing brilliantly in Italy, Patton seriously jeopardizes his future with a single slap. While touring an Army hospital, the General comes across a GI (Tim Considine) suffering from nervous fatigue. Incensed by what he considers a slacker, Patton smacks the poor soldier and orders him to get well in a hurry. This incident results in his losing his command-and, by extension, missing out on D-Day. In his final campaign, Patton leads the US 3rd Army through Europe. Unabashedly flamboyant, Patton remains a valuable resource, but ultimately proves too much of a "loose cannon" in comparison to the more level-headed tactics of his old friend Omar Bradley (Karl Malden). Patton won 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Scott, an award that he refused. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

An expensive but enormously profitable war picture, Where Eagles Dare centers upon a daring rescue and even more daring escape. Disguised as Nazi officers, commandoes Maj. John Smith (Richard Burton), Lt. Morris Schaffer Clint Eastwood and six other courageous souls parachute behind enemy lines. Their mission: to rescue an American general, held captive in a supposedly impenetrable Alpine castle. Aiding and abetting the commandoes are Allied undercover agents Mary (Mary Ure) and Heidi (Ingrid Pitt). Also on hand is a British officer (Patrick Wymark), who masterminded the mission. Somewhere, somehow, someone amongst the Allies is going to turn out to be a traitor. There's also a neat plot twist in store when the commandoes manage to reach the American general -- which leads to yet another twist. The vertigo-inducing climax has made Where Eagles Dare one of the most sought-after of "early" Eastwood starring features. The film was written directly for the screen by espionage novelist Alistair MacLean. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the six-part story "The Ice Warriors," a team of 31st century scientists has inadvertently revived an ancient Ice Warrior named Varga (Bernard Bresslaw). Revealing himself to be from the planet Mars, Varga demands that his space ship, and his fellow Ice Warriors, also be thawed out. It falls to the reluctant Doctor (Patrick Troughton) to carry out the Warrior's orders -- or else. The thrill quotient in this episode is heightened by the evocative music score by Australian composer Dudley Simpson. Written by Brian Hayles, "The Ice Warriors, Episode 2" originally aired on November 18, 1967; unfortunately, none of the four remaining episodes are known to exist. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "The Ice Warriors," Martian invader Varga (Bernard Bresslaw) and his companions intend to use the earth's 31st Century "New Ice Age" to their advantage. The Doctor (Patrick Troughton) hopes to prevent this by utilizing a super computer -- but a team of scientists, led by Professor Clent (Peter Barkworth), are reluctant to let him do so. Written by Brian Hayles, "The Ice Warriors, Episode 4" originally aired on December 2, 1967; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the six-part story "The Ice Warriors," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) is still figuratively frozen in the earth's "New Ice Age" of the 31st century. Faced with an invasion of Martian Ice Warriors led by the villainous Varga (Bernard Bresslaw), the Doctor persuades scientist Clent (Peter Barkworth) to utilize a powerful ionizer against the enemy. But this counteroffensive tactic yields very strange results. Written by Brian Hayles, "The Ice Warriors, Episode 6" originally aired on December 16, 1967; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Steed is accused of masterminding the murders of several enemy agents. Calling a truce with the "other side," Steed tries to unmask the actual culprit (who is a member of an organization appropriately called The Third Party), with the assistant of statuesque Russian agent Olga (the always delightful Anna Quayle). The trail of evidence leads to a training school for gentlemen, appropriately named "SNOB". A reworking of the "Cathy Gale" episode "The Charmers," "The Correct Way to Kill" was written by Brian Clemens; it was originally telecast in England on March 11, 1967, and was first seen in America 13 days later. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Downfall is yet another hour-long entry in the seemingly endless series of British-filmed Edgar Wallace mysteries. Maurice Denham plays a brilliant attorney who arranges an acquittal for murderer T.P. McKenna. It's all part of Denham's master scheme to divest himself of his wife (Nadja Regan). Denham hires McKenna as his chauffeur, then blackmails the poor bloke into murdering the wife. Downfall was the 22nd entry in Merton Park's Edgar Wallace series. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A stodgy British patriarch sends his naive daughter to Europe so that her rock & roll singing boyfriend will dump her. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned when she ends up linked with a handsome pop idol and his band. Fortunately, she is a good girl at heart and ends up learning some valuable lessons about live, love and rock & roll. Many popular singers from the early '60s perform in this tuneful outing. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi