Linda Marlowe Movies
The ninth feature-length episode in the British mystery series Dalziel and Pascoe, "Child's Play" is set, as usual, in Yorkshire, the home and workplace of weary, aging police detective Andy Dalziel (Warren Clarke) and his young, eager-beaver partner, Peter Pascoe (Colin Buchanan). The case at hand involves a middle-aged man who shows up uninvited at the funeral of a much-hated local dowager, claiming to be the dead woman's long-lost son (lost for fifty years, in fact) -- and the sole heir to her fortune. Meanwhile, Dalziel and Pascoe's colleague Sgt. Wield (David Royle),a closeted homosexual who keeps his preferences secret for fear of being dismissed, is plagued by a blackmailer. These two plot streams converge into one when murder rears its ugly head. Originally telecast as single, two-hour special in the U.K., Dalziel and Pascoe: Child's Play made its American debut as a two-part miniseres, shown on November 6 and 13, 1998, by the A&E cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The satirical Kingsley Amis novel The Green Man served as the basis for this three-part BBC2 miniseries. Albert Finney headed the cast as Maurice Allington, the libidinous, money-grubbing owner of a quaint British bed-and-breakfast hotel. In hopes of attracting customers, and also desirous of bedding every eligible woman in the region, Allington began spreading rumors that his hotel "the Green Man" was haunted by the ghost of a notorious 17th century occult scientist. The hero was hoist on his own petard when it turned out that the ghost actually did "reside" on the premises -- and with several companion ghosts in the bargain. The Green Man was originally broadcast from October 28 to November 11, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This film deftly combines black comedy with sharp political satire. Set in a fictional Eastern European town called Waldheim, a place "where nothing is what it seems," the action is centered around a visiting king, in whom many people are very interested for a variety of reasons. Assassination and lust figure prominently on their minds. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Camilla Soeberg, Alfred Molina, (more)
Another Man Who Loved Women with a slightly different plot, this routine story opens with the funeral of a local projectionist and gardener, Donald Lovelace (Barry Jackson). His widow and daughter are surprised at the number of women who turn out to mourn Donald's passing. Soon the truth about his peccadillos with a string of women ranging from the usherette at the movie theater to an aspiring singer are told in flashbacks, revealing a life that his aloof wife and resentful daughter knew nothing about. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Jackson, Maurice Denham, (more)
The distinguishing feature of this hardcore pornographic feature is that in it, women rape men, rather than the other way round. The chief "rapist" is a woman who was ravaged as a high-school girl. She enjoyed the experience and wants to share the joy. Even played for laughs as this one is, few films, even in the porno genre, have strayed so far beyond acceptable social norms as this one does. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Marlowe, Jake Teague, (more)
The Big Zapper is based on the popular British comic strip of the same name. Linda Marlowe plays a lady private eye, while Gary Hope co-stars as her long-suffering sidekick. They go from one life-threatening adventure to another, Modesty Blaise style. As in the original comic strip, the adventure content is overridden by humor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This award-winning quasi-documentary places the relationship of striptease to the overall London entertainment community under its microscope. The relationship between strippers and their audiences is closely examined. This film is not pornographic, nor is it intended to be, but it does closely and sympathetically examine this popular form of erotomania. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
A serial killer is keeping Chief Inspector Rowan (Gilbert Wynne) busy late at night, much to the frustration of his young wife, Jenny (Linda Marlowe). After being picked at random in a police lineup, self-styled lothario Pete Laver (Donald Sumpter) is arrogant and disdainful to Rowan, and he even makes crude remarks about Jenny when she stops by her husband's office. Pete is released for lack of evidence, and that evening, Jenny is slashed to death by the killer while showering. Choked with rage, Rowan shadows Pete relentlessly, hounding him night and day until he can catch him in a mistake. The maniac strikes again, murdering a prostitute, and Pete is stuck without an alibi, so it appears that the crime has been solved. Judge Lomax (Jack May), long known to be tough on crime and social decay, presides over the case, but in the preceding weeks, his wife and colleagues have noticed a change in his behavior. His temper is short, his demeanor is cold, and he sometimes appears disoriented. Soon it becomes apparent that the judge has been the culprit all along, donning a black leather suit and an ill-fitting wig to commit his crimes. Stoked on pornography and willing to resort to transvestism to elude capture, the judge falls completely under the spell of his dementia and is confronted by the police on the waterfront, pleading for help and waving a pistol. Also available under the titles He Kills Night After Night After Night, Night After Night, and Night Slasher. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide
Bill McLean (Van Heflin) is a former CIA agent living in London. He had been fired when he stuck up for one of the men in his command who turned out to be branded a Russian defector. The embittered ex-agent combines forces with another operative to deliver a top Russian secret police official for a price. Before he can deliver the Russian, a trail of corpses and double crosses changes his plans. When his partner who concocted the scheme is murdered, McLean returns the check to the CIA. They offer him his old job back, but the proud man refuses in this suspenseful spy yarn with plenty of intriguing twists and turns. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Van Heflin, Heidelinde Weis, (more)
Based on the true story of the 1963 British Royal Mail robbery, this late '60s British caper film was directed by Peter Yates a year before he made the action classic Bullitt in the States. Opening with an extended jewel theft sequence followed by a action-packed car chase, Robbery details the events before, during, and immediately following the infamous heist. Paul Clifton (Stanley Baker, who also produced) is the main thief who comes up with the idea to steal three million dollars from the overnight mail train that runs from Glasgow to London. While gathering together a crew of thieves, he helps currency expert Robinson (Frank Finlay) break out of jail. The gang successfully holds up the train, takes the money, and retreats to an empty field to divide it up. When Robinson calls his wife on the phone, Inspector George Langdon (James Booth) from Scotland Yard traces the call and arrests them. As the legend goes, one of them manages to escape with the money. Also starring Joanna Pettet, who played Mata Bond in Casino Royale, and a young Robert Powell, who would go on to appear in the crime caper The Italian Job. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stanley Baker, Joanna Pettet, (more)
In this sci-fi film set in the near future, the civilized world is controlled by an all-powerful computerized government that is carefully choosing colonists for its newest space launch. The candidates are selected on the basis of their age, health and IQ. They are only in space a few weeks when the crew begins to rebel against the inhuman control of the computer. They then mutiny and in place of the autocracy, they establish a small democratic society and begin searching for a planet to call their own. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Williams, Kathleen Breck, (more)
A high-class costume drama with a substantive historical basis, Becket is the true story of the friendship between King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and Thomas à Becket (Richard Burton), a royal courtier and confidant whom Henry appoints as Archbishop of Canterbury. As Becket takes his duties with the Church seriously, he finds himself increasingly at odds with the King, who finally orders the death of his once-close companion when he continues to defy the throne. Burton is very good and O'Toole is even better: both men were nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, while Edward Anhalt's screenplay, based on the stageplay by Jean Anouilh, won for Best Adapted Screenplay. The basic theme of separation of church and state still reverberates today, while the top-notch production values ensure Becket's place as one of Britain's better historical epics. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, (more)
The lively but somehow slightly distasteful The Americanization of Emily stars James Garner as a WWII naval officer who happens to be a craven coward. While his comrades sail off to their deaths, Garner makes himself scarce, generally hiding out in the London flat of his lothario navy buddy James Coburn. Garner falls in love with virtuous war widow Julie Andrews (the "Emily" of the title), but she can't abide his yellow streak. Meanwhile, crack-brained admiral Melvyn Douglas decides that he needs a hero--the first man to die on Omaha Beach during the D-Day Invasion. Coburn is at first elected for this sacrifice, but it is the quivering Garner who ends up hitting the beach. He survives to become a hero in spite of himself, winning Andrews in the process. Paddy Chayefsky's script, based on the novel by William Bradford Huie, attempts to extract humor out of the horrors of war by using broad, vulgar comedy instead of the light satirical touch that would seem to be called for. Americanization of Emily was Julie Andrews' second film; it should have led to a steady stream of adult-oriented roles, but the box-office clout of Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music consigned her to "wholesome family entertainment". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Garner, Julie Andrews, (more)
Released in England under the title The World Ten Times Over, this dour drama is about the misfortunes of two aging single women. Billa (Sylvia Sims) and Ginnie (June Ritchie) live together in an apartment, and each works as a hostess at a night club. Billa is jaded and fed up with men, while Ginnie is an accomplished seductress. When Bob Shelbourne (Edward Judd), a rich executive who is separated from his wife, gets involved with Ginnie, Billa becomes envious. Bob gets Ginnie a job in a business run by his father (Francis De Wolff), who doesn't like the cozy arrangement. Billa's schoolteacher father (William Hartnell) visits, and Billa shocks him by revealing details of her affairs. The romantic entanglements proceed to challenge the friendship between Billa and Ginnie. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvia Syms, Edward Judd, (more)
Purporting to warn young people of premarital sex, this British drama is exploitation with a capital 'E.' Set in a conservative peaceful village, the drama begins with the arrival of a sexy Austrian girl who proceeds to seduce every man in sight. One of her victims is engaged. When his fiancee finds out, she has an insecurity attack and lets her beloved have sex with her. This results in pregnancy. Later the Austrian hussy gets raped by her steady because he is jealous of her other trysts. To top it off, she ends up contracting a dreaded venereal disease. Naturally all of those who sampled her ample wares get into quite a tizzy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

















