William Marlowe Movies

Richard Attenborough directed this dramatic story, based on actual events, about the friendship between two men struggling against apartheid in South Africa in the 1970s. Donald Woods (Kevin Kline) is a white liberal journalist in South Africa who begins to follow the activities of Stephen Biko (Denzel Washington), a courageous and outspoken black anti-apartheid activist. Woods and his wife Wendy (Penelope Wilton) get to know Biko, and they become friends, until Biko is brutally murdered at the hands of government troops in 1977 for his activities against the country's repression of the black majority population. Donald is shocked and appalled by Biko's murder and determined that the truth about Biko will become known to the world; eventually, Donald and Wendy Woods and their children must leave South Africa (and nearly everything they have) as they spread the word about Biko's life and death to ensure that he did not die in vain. Washington received an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Biko. ~ 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

Like the earlier BBC anthology The Villains, the similarly titled Villains dramatized the lives of criminals both famous and obscure. Unlike the earlier series, which focused on England's North Country, the later program detailed stories about crooks and scoundrels from all parts of the British Isles, and from all walks of life. Bob Hoskins and Alun Armstrong were among the many major actors who appeared in the series' 13 hour-long episodes. Villains aired in Great Britain beginning July 22, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the six-part story "The Mind of Evil," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) once more crosses the path of his arch-rival, the Master, who has assumed the guise of mild-mannered Professor Emil Keller, and infiltrated a world peace conference. It doesn't take long for the Master to wreak his usual havoc, this time by utilizing a mind-altering nerve gas. The Doctor knows what is going on, but he still doesn't know why. Written by Don Houghton, "The Mind of Evil, Episode 3" first aired on February 13, 1971. Originally filmed in color, this episode currently exists only in a black-and-white version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the six-part story "The Mind of Evil," the Master (Roger Delgado) has set his latest plan in motion. This time, he intends to use the combined negative energy gleaned from imprisoned criminals to seize a nerve-gas missile, with which he hopes to bomb a world peace conference. Will the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) be able to deactivate the weapon in time to save the delegates from descending into mass hatred? Written by Don Houghton, "The Mind of Evil, Episode 5" first aired on February 27, 1971. Originally filmed in color, this episode currently exists only in a black-and-white version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tara is accused of being in cahoots with an enemy agent. Given 24 hours to clear her of all charges, Steed runs up against one dead end after another. Meanwhile, the instigators of Tara's frame-up prepare to nuke London back to the stone age. Written by frequent Avengers guest star Jeremy Burnham, "Who Was That Man I Saw You With?" made its American TV debut on March 3, 1969, and was first seen in England 16 days later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jack Sheppard (Tommy Steele) is the locksmith's apprentice who is forced into highway robbery when he is betrayed by Jonathan Wild (Stanley Baker). Jack runs for his life and takes to a life of crime. He is captured but breaks out of jail, quickly becoming the subject of lore, legend and song. The arrogant and popular Jack ends up heading for the gallows after taunting the King, the Lord Chancellor and a harridan aristocratic dowager. Wild tries to track down the elusive robber and collect on the reward like he has done so many times before in this dramatic adventure biography. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

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

In this tale of espionage and adventure set during World War II, Norway has fallen under Nazi occupation, and a factory is producing "heavy water" (a key ingredient in the manufacture of atomic weapons), under the order of the German military. Knut Straud (Richard Harris), a leading figure in the Norwegian underground, joins forces with scientist Dr. Rolf Pederson (Kirk Douglas), who is working with British intelligence agents to destroy the factory in hopes of keeping the Atomic Bomb out of Axis hands. However, while originally Straud and Pederson are only supposed to infiltrate the factory as a reconnaissance force while awaiting British troops, the English army is forced to retreat from their plans, leaving the Norwegians to destroy the factory and scuttle a shipment of the "heavy water" all by themselves. Inspired by a true story, The Heroes of Telemark also features Michael Redgrave and Anton Diffring. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Two excellent actors shine in powerful roles in this drama by Ronald Neame that pits one Scottish army colonel against another. Alec Guinness is Lt. Col. Jock Sinclair, a man who temporarily takes over command of a regiment until his replacement, Col. Basil Barrow (John Mills) arrives. Sinclair comes from the lower echelons of the social order but was at least able to work himself up the echelons in the military hierarchy. He is fairly well-liked though still a little rough around the edges for some. When Barrow takes over, the two men clash almost at once. Barrow is from the upper crust, went to all the "right" schools, and believes in discipline and then a little more discipline, as well as efficient and proper bureaucratic processes. The differences between the two men threaten to rupture the unity of the regiment, especially after Sinclair assaults a soldier he finds in the company of his daughter. Barrow opts to report his behavior, leading to a climactic series of events. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide