Jean Marsh Movies
Dancer/model Jean Marsh appeared in her first film, Tales of Hoffman, at the age of 17. For those out there who associate Marsh with prim, severe roles, it will probably come as a mild surprise to discover that she made her first American TV appearance as a sexy, sloe-eyed native girl in a Hallmark Hall of Fame production of The Moon and Sixpence. Laboring in comparative obscurity throughout the 1960s (she was uncredited for her appearance as Marc Antony's wife Octavia in 1963's Cleopatra), Marsh began attracting attention in the 1970s in roles calling for tight-lipped outrage (Hitchcock's 1972 Frenzy) or glazed-eyed lunacy (Mrs. Rochester in the 1971 TV movie version of Jane Eyre). After nearly 20 years in the business, Marsh was voted "Most Outstanding New Actress of 1972" by a British film organization. She achieved international stardom (and won an Emmy) as Rose the maid in Upstairs Downstairs, a multipart British television series co-created by Marsh and actress Eileen Atkins. Subsequent TV-series work included the part of Roz Keith on the American sitcom 9 to 5 and the 1990s British TVer The House of Eliott, which like Upstairs Downstairs sprang largely from Marsh's personal creative input. Jean Marsh was at one time married to Dr. Who star Jon Pertwee. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1989
In this loose adaptation of Mark Twain's biting satire, a hip little girl from the 1980s somehow ends up in medieval England and there has many magical adventures. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Made for British television, Act of Will focuses on three generations of women in a proud, indomitable family. Australian-born director Don Sharp brings to his soap-opera material the same energy and vitality that he'd previously lavished on such theatrical features as Kiss of the Vampire (1963) and Hennessy (1985). Since a portion of the production money was ponied up by Hollywood, American actor Peter Coyote is given a crucial role in the World War II sequences. Among the distaff cast members are the always welcome Jean Marsh (Upstairs, Downstairs), Victoria Tennant (the former Mrs. Steve Martin) and Elizabeth Hurley (who, as of this writing at least, is the girlfriend of Hugh Grant). Act of Will received its widest American exposure on public and cable television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Written by George Eliot (of Silas Marner fame), the 1859 novel Adam Bede trenchantly addresses the issues of ingrained social prejudices. Played in this British TV adaptation by Iain Glen, the titular Adam Bede is a humble carpenter, enamored of the beautiful but shallow Hetty Sorel (Patsy Kensit). Surrendering to the "political correctness" of her times, Hetty spurns Adam in favor of a wealthy marriage to a nobleman, Lord Arthur (James Wilby). Though he is deeply hurt by this, Adam never relinquishes his love for Hetty and spends the balance of the story trying to win her back in his own single-minded, diligent fashion. Counterbalancing the romantic melodrama is the calm, good-hearted presence of Adam's erstwhile sweetheart, Dinah Morris (Susannah Harker), perhaps the only character in the novel without an agenda. Adapted for television by Maggie Wadey, Adam Bede made its BBC debut in 1991, then aired as part of the PBS anthology Masterpiece Theatre on March 1, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patsy Kensit, James Wilby, (more)
- 1991
The made-for-cable Bejewelled stars Emma Samms as a museum curator. Entrusted with collection of valuable jewels, she heads to London. Here she is obligated to fend off any number of potential thieves. It is also up to her to determine whom she can trust and whom she can not. Dennis Lawson, Jade Maigri, Aeryk Egan, Dirk Benedict costar. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
- PG
- Add Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers to QueueAdd Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers to top of Queue
Filmed on location "Somewhere in France", this umpteenth version of Dumas' The Corsican Brothers stars the zoned-out comedy team of Cheech and Chong. Perhaps inspired by the Ritz Bros.' spin on The Three Musketeers, the duo retains enough of the original story (about twin brothers who feel one another's pain) to keep the plot going, but try to inject their own peculiar brand of humor throughout. The film's highlight is a duel with two loaves of stale bread. Yes, that's the highlight. Just as the 1930s comedy team of Wheeler and Woolsey lost their audience when they dropped their risque humor and Prohibition gags, so too do Cheech and Chong falter when not indulging in the drug-oriented comedy which made them famous in the early 1970s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, (more)
In 1963, this colossal and opulent $60 million spectacular was epic in every sense of the word -- an epic investment, an epic in the annals of Hollywood gossip, and, ultimately, an epic flop that nearly dragged 20th Century Fox down the Nile along with Cleopatra's barge. Handsomely mounted by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who replaced Rouben Mamoulian as director after six days of shooting), the drama follows the eighteen tumultuous years that led to the founding of the Roman Empire. Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) meets up with Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and plans to lure Caesar to her boudoir in order to forge an alliance with Rome so that she may hold on to her Egyptian empire. When Caesar is stabbed to death in the Roman Senate, Cleopatra is left without an ally, and Egypt is up for grabs. When Roman general Mark Antony (Richard Burton) comes along, she seduces him in order to make him over into her new protector. But, under the charms of Cleopatra, Mark Antony is reduced from a an awesome and dominating general to a sniveling, drunken wimp. At the Battle of Actium, Mark Antony is defeated and Cleopatra withdraws her troops, dooming Mark Antony and his army. With Egypt in peril, Antony and Cleopatra, the doomed lovers, meet each other for the last time, as the enemy forces close in. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, (more)
- 1985
This version of the classic tale of estranged twin brothers, one good and one evil, whose lives and swords cross as adults, was made for British television. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Danny, the Champion of the World is set in rural England. Nasty country squire Robbie Coltrane, who owns half the land, covets the other half. His principal opponents are a father-and-son team of farmers. The warm relationship between the two "good guys" hardly needs to be forced, since the roles are played by Jeremy Irons and his real-life son Samuel. Cyril Cusack and Jean Marsh also appear in this colorful comedy-drama. Produced for British television, Danny, the Champion of the World was based on a story by Roald Dahl. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
- PG
This tepid supernatural melodrama involves the former director of a mental hospital (Robert Hardy) who inherits the estate of one of his patients -- a house which was once the site of multiple murders. He also stands to inherit a substantial sum of gold... if only he can locate the treasure, which is hidden somewhere on the premises. Before long, Christopher Lee, Joan Collins and Herbert Lom catch the scent, aiming to do a bit of prospecting themselves. As the search progresses, Hardy's mental state begins to degrade, apparently as a result of the malevolent spirits which haunt the mansion, driving him to commit murder. Despite the prominent billing of Joan Collins (at the peak of her popularity on TV's Dynasty) for the video release, she and horror stalwart Lee have rather insignificant roles in this routine thriller. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1989
With episode one of the four-part "Battlefield," Doctor Who launched its 26th (and thus far final) season. The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) travel to the England of the not-too-distant future, arriving on the battlefield where King Arthur once battled Mordred over possession of the sword Excalibur. He soon discovers that this ancient war is far from over and that a UNIT convoy headed by stalwart Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) is in danger of being destroyed -- not only by a group of extra-dimensional villains, but also by galloping inflation. Jean Marsh of Upstairs, Downstairs fame, who previously appeared in the 1965 Doctor Who adventure "The Dalek Masterplan," is here cast as the sorceress Morgaine. Originally telecast on September 6, 1989, "Battlefield, Episode 1" was written by Ben Aaronovitch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, (more)
- 1989
In the second episode of the four-part story "Battlefield," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) discovers that the long-ago battle between King Arthur and Mordred of possession of the sword Excalibur has spilled over into the 20th century. A group of warriors from another dimension insist that the Doctor is actually the ancient wizard Merlin -- a conclusion also jumped to by the resurrected Mordred (Christopher Bowen). Meanwhile, the Doctor's friends, Ace (Sophie Aldred) and the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney), face their own separate perils. Jean Marsh of Upstairs, Downstairs fame, who previously appeared in the 1965 Doctor Who adventure "The Dalek Masterplan," is here cast as the sorceress Morgaine. Originally telecast on September 13, 1989, "Battlefield, Episode 2" was written by Ben Aaronovitch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, (more)
- 1989
In the third episode of the four-part story "Battlefield," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy), armed with the powers of Merlin, squares off against the minions of Mordred (Christopher Bowen) on the same battlefield where the battle for possession of the sword Excalibur was fought centuries before. Meanwhile, the Doctor's friend, Ace (Sophie Aldred), and extra-dimensional warrior Shou Yuing (Ling Tai) are trapped in a hotel room, faced with dangers ranging from the rampaging sorceress Morgaine (Jean Marsh) to an all-out nuclear holocaust. Originally telecast on September 20, 1989, "Battlefield, Episode 3" was written by Ben Aaronovitch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, (more)
- 1989
In the conclusion of the four-part story "Battlefield," the ages-old battle for possession of the Sword Excalibur continues to rage on -- this time with dangerously high-tech weapons -- in the England of the 1990s. According to the scenario at hand, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) is Merlin and Ace (Sophie Aldred) is the Lady of the Lake -- but who, pray tell, has been "cast" as King Arthur? This question must be answered before the sorceress Morgaine (Jean Marsh) is able to lay claim to Excalibur by unleashing the dreaded Destroyer of Worlds. Originally telecast on September 27, 1989, "Battlefield, Episode 4" was written by Ben Aaronovitch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, (more)
- 1965
In the second episode of the four-part story "The Crusade," the Doctor (William Hartnell), Ian (William Russell), and Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) are forcibly detained in the camp of King Richard the Lionhearted (Julian Glover). Ian manages to secure Richard's permission to leave so that he can rescue Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), who has been captured by the Saracen followers of Prince Saladin (Bernard Kay). By episode's end, however, Ian has been pressed into service as a marriage broker. Written by David Whitaker, "The Knight of Jaffa" originally aired April 3, 1965. At present, only the soundtrack of this episode is known to survive. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, William Russell, (more)
- 1965
In the third episode of the four-part story "The Crusade," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions are still marooned in the Holy Land at the time of the Crusades. The good news is that the Doctor and Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) have caught up with Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), who had been captured by Saracen leader Saladin (Bernard Kay). The bad news is that there's a new plot afoot which endangers the life of Richard the Lionhearted (Julian Glover) -- not to mention the Doctor and his friends. Written by David Whitaker, "The Wheel of Fortune" originally aired April 3, 1965. At present, only this episode and the opening chapter of "The Crusade" ("The Lion") are known to have survived. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, William Russell, (more)
- 1966
In the tenth episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," things bode ill for the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions. Steven (Peter Purves) and Sara (Jean Marsh) are taken hostage by the Daleks, who then prepare to recapture the Taranium core and resume their orgy of interplanetary destruction. The Doctor would like to stop the Daleks in their tracks, but he doesn't want to endanger the lives of his friends -- a choice he may have to ultimately take. Written by Dennis Spooner and originally telecast on January 15, 1966, "Escape Switch" is one of only two episodes from this story arc that are known to exist; the other one is episode five, "Counter Plot." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Peter Purves, (more)
- 1966
In the 11th episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," the Doctor tries to stop the Daleks from destroying the universe without risking the lives of his travelling companions. Captured by the villains, Steven (Peter Purves) and Sara (Jean Marsh) are in for the biggest surprise of their lives. And there's more to come; the Doctor abruptly vanishes without a trace. Written by Dennis Spooner, "The Abandoned Planet" originally aired on January 22, 1966; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Peter Purves, (more)
- 1966
In the conclusion of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," things come full circle as the TARDIS crew and the Daleks reconverge on the devastated, dust-covered planet Kembel. Will the Daleks finally succeed in their plans to wreak wholesale havoc with their Time Destructor? Or will the Doctor (William Hartnell) find a way to save the universe yet again? Written by Dennis Spooner, "The Destruction of Time" originally aired on January 29, 1966; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Peter Purves, (more)
- 1965
In the fourth episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," the TARDIS crew persists in its efforts to prevent the Daleks from unleashing their doomsday weapon, the Time Destructor. Captured by the villains, Katarina (Adrienne Hill) nonetheless manages to save the lives of her traveling companions. Meanwhile, Bret (Nicholas Courtney) is faced with a decision that profoundly alters his relationship with the rest of the crew members. Written by Terry Nation, "The Traitors" originally aired on December 4, 1965; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Peter Purves, (more)
- 1965
In the fifth episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions discover that their plan to thwart the Dalek's rampage of destruction is being undermined by a hidden enemy. But there's more -- the enemy in question is utterly invisible. It is up to the Doctor and Steven (Peter Purves) to battle what they cannot see to save the lives of their companions. Written by Terry Nation and originally telecast on December 11, 1965, "Counter Plot" is one of only two episodes from this story arc that are known to exist; the other one is episode ten, "Escape Switch." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Peter Purves, (more)
- 1965
In the sixth episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," the Doctor (William Hartnell) has aligned himself with the valiant Sara Kingdom (Jean Marsh) in his efforts to foil the mass-destruction plans of the dreaded Daleks. Things come to a head when the crew of the TARDIS is forced into a showdown with a full complement of Dalek warriors. In a disturbing turn of events, the Doctor and Sara are compelled to leave Steven (Peter Purves) to face the Daleks all alone. Written by Dennis Spooner, "Coronas of the Sun" originally aired on December 18, 1965; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Peter Purves, (more)
- 1965
In the seventh episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions are still locked in deadly combat with the dreaded Daleks. Though the fate of the universe hangs in the balance, the Doctor still manages to materialize in his favorite London police call-box, just in time to celebrate Christmas. Meanwhile, Steven (Peter Purves) misses an opportunity to bring the present Dalek campaign of terror to a sudden conclusion. Written by Terry Nation, "The Feast of Steven" originally (and appropriately) aired on December 25, 1965; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Peter Purves, (more)
- 1966
In the eighth episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," the Doctor (William Hartnell) resumes his efforts to foil the mass-destruction schemes of the mutant Daleks. Unfortunately, he stymied by the unexpected appearance of his old enemy, the renegade Time Lord known as the Meddling Monk (Peter Butterworth). On another front, the Daleks, angrier than ever, step up their campaign of devastation. Written by Dennis Spooner, "Volcano" originally aired on January 1, 1966; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Peter Purves, (more)
- 1966
In the ninth episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," the Meddling Monk (Peter Butterworth), a renegade Time Lord, unexpectedly offers to help the Doctor (William Hartnell) in his efforts to halt the Daleks' campaign of interplanetary destruction. More characteristically, however, the Monk double-crosses everyone at the first opportunity. Fortunately, Sara Kingdom (Jean Marsh) is on hand to duke it out with the Enemy (the Daleks, that is). Written by Dennis Spooner, "Golden Death" originally aired on January 8, 1966; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Peter Purves, (more)
