Ronald Leigh-Hunt Movies

Jan Chappell plays a dual role in this episode, as alien telepath Cally and as Cally's sister, Zelda. Receiving a mental message from Zelda, Cally learns of a deadly plague on her home planet, Auron. The person responsible for this calamity is Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce), who wants to get her hands on Auron's sophisticated cloning process. "Children of Auron" originally aired on February 18, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This handsomely-mounted historical epic concerns the birth of the Islamic faith and the story of the prophet Mohammed -- who, in accordance with the tenants of Islam, is never seen or heard (any physical depiction of the prophet is considered a heinous sin within the faith). In Mecca in the 7th century, Mohammed is visited by a vision of the Angel Gabriel, who urges him to lead the people of Mecca to cast aside the 300 idols of Kaaba and instead worship the one true God. Speaking out against the corrupt political and military leaders who rule Mecca, Mohammed and his followers struggle to worship God as they see fit, which eventually leads them into exile in Medina. However, one day God gives Mohammed a message to return to Mecca and take up arms against their oppressors -- while recruiting as many followers as they can along the way. With the help of his uncle, a brave warrior named Hamza (Anthony Quinn), Mohammed and his followers return to Mecca to liberate the city in the name of God. The Message (originally screened in the U.S. as Mohammed, Messenger of God) proved to be highly controversial during its production and initial release. Unfounded rumors had it that Mohammed would not only be depicted in the film, but that he was to be played by Charlton Heston or Peter O'Toole. This resulted in angry protests by Muslim extremists, until director Moustapha Akkad hired a staff of respected Islamic clerics as technical advisors. The advisors butted heads with Akkad, and they quit the production, which led the Moroccan government to withdraw their permission to film in their country. In time, Akkad ended up shooting on location in Libya under the sponsorship of Muammar Qaddafi, which presented a whole new set of political and practical problems for the filmmakers. Finally, when the film was scheduled to premier in the U.S., another Muslim extremist group staged a siege against the Washington D.C. chapter of the B'nai B'rith under the mistaken belief that Anthony Quinn played Mohammed in the film, threatening to blow up the building and its inhabitants unless the film's opening was cancelled. The standoff was resolved without explosion or injuries, though the film's American box office prospects never recovered from the unfortunate controversy. The Message was shot in two versions, one in English and one in Arabic (entitled Al-Ris-Alah), with different actors taking over some of the roles due to language requirements. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "Revenge of the Cybermen," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and his friends have gone back in time to the 1970s, in hopes of preventing destruction of the solid-gold asteroid Voga. Their enemies in this pursuit are the Cybermen, to whom exposure to gold means certain death. Clearly, the Cybermen will have to eliminate the Doctor, lest they themselves perish -- and in this, they are given inadvertent "help" by the plague-ridden Vogans themselves. Written by Gerry Davis, "Revenge of the Cybermen, Episode 3" first aired on May 3, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Revenge of the Cybermen," the Doctor (Tom Baker) is on the verge of successfully preventing the destruction of the solid-gold asteroid Voga at the hands of the Cybermen. All that is needed for the Doctor's triumph is the willingness of the plague-ridden Vogans to protect their own home world. Alas, this may not come to pass -- and if it does not, the future of the universe is dire jeopardy. Written by Gerry Davis, "Revenge of the Cybermen, Episode 4" first aired on May 10, 1975, as the final episode of Doctor Who's 12th season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When actor Lionel Jeffries turned to directing in the 1970s, he exhibited a preference for whimsy, as witness The Railway Children. Jeffries' Baxter is a notable exception to this rule, though, as with his other directorial efforts, he shows a keen sensitivity for the travails of troubled youngsters. Scott Jacoby plays Baxter, a boy with a marked speech impediment. His affliction worsens as his parents' marriage disintegrates. Patricia Neal plays a dedicated speech therapist who realizes that Baxter's problems go deeper than his inability to speak normally. Baxter was scripted by "Golden Age" TV veteran Reginald Rose. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the six-part story "The Seeds of Death," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) has managed to escape the possibility of a fatal materialization in Deep Space. But he is still stranded on the Moon, still attempting valiantly -- and vainly -- to thwart the destructive schemes of the Martian Ice Warriors. Meanwhile, the Martian seed pods have begun to pop open on the Earth's surface, spreading a fungus that will wipe out all humankind. Originally telecast on February 22, 1969, "The Seeds of Death, Episode 5" was written by Brian Hayles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the six-part story "The Seeds of Death," the 21st century teleportation system T-Mat has broken down, leaving the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) drifiting helplessly in space. Desperate, the Doctor tries to land on the moon, hoping to use it as a base from which to counterattack the Martian Ice Warriors. Meanwhile, those aforementioned warriors launch phase two of their plan to spread deadly seed pods throughout the Earth. Originally telecast on February 8, 1969, "The Seeds of Death, Episode 3" was written by Brian Hayles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Ice Warriors introduced during Doctor Who's fifth season are back in the six-episode "The Seeds of Death," which launched its original BBC run on January 25, 1969. The Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his friends materialize in the 21st century, when Earth's transportation system is entirely dependent on a teleportation system called T-Mat. After this system mysteriously breaks down, the Doctor tries to find out why -- and in so doing, crosses paths with some old enemies. "The Seeds of Death, Episode 1" was written by Brian Hayles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Gilbert Wynne stars in this British programmer as Harry Clegg, detective. His mission: To track down the crazed prostitute responsible for a string of murders. When he catches up to his quarry, Clegg learns that a wicked man is truly responsible for the carnage. Gilly Grant costars as the killer hooker, who bears the risible moniker Suzy the Slag. Clegg may well be forgettable, but you won't know that for certain unless you see it for yourself--if you can find it. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this lively British parody of James Bond movies, a dashing secret agent goes to extremes to save the British Parliament from a communist take-over. To do this, he must keep the Ripper, a notorious double-agent from stealing a newly developed aircraft metal. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This James Bond parody brings a new sort of jet-set secret agent to the screen -- one who hates flying, is afraid to shoot people, and would rather stay at home! Col. Mostyn (Trevor Howard) is the head of a special branch of British intelligence who is appalled to discover that a number of his best agents are either leaving the force or have turned out to be traitors. It is decided that Mostyn and his men need a special agent to ferret out those who leave his employ while knowing too much and silence them permanently. Mostyn decides the right man for the job is his old army buddy Boysie Oakes (Rod Taylor), but there's a bit of a problem -- while the job requires a globe-trotting assassin who can stare calmly into the face of death, Oakes is a mild-mannered fun seeker who is terrified of airplanes and faints at the sight of blood. None of this dissuades Mostyn, who still gives Oakes the assignment, but when he finds out that flying and guns are a big part of his new job, he hires someone else to do the dirty work for him. Oakes eventually develops a taste for the cars, women, gadgets, and danger of his new career, but the real acid test comes when he actually has to go on an assignment himself. The Liquidator was directed by Jack Cardiff, who along with a respected career as a director was one of the most distinguished cinematographers in the British cinema, lensing such classics as The Red Shoes, The African Queen, and Black Narcissus. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Lion hunters beware! Chief M'Gobo is watching and waiting to throw a deadly voodoo curse upon anyone who harms his sacred cats. Don't believe us? Just watch what happens to a thoughtless British big game hunter in this horror outing. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide