Helena McCarthy Movies
- 1994
Saffron (Julia Sawalha) cautions her mother to economize in gentle preparation for the revelation by Edina's accountant that she's been cut off by both of her ex-husbands; as revealed in series one's Absolutely Fabulous: Birthday, Edina's been double-dipping, and Justin and Marshall aren't having it. Unaware that she's actually got plenty of investments to support herself and refusing to sell either one of her sham businesses -- the joke PR firm or the tax-shelter knick-knack shop -- Edina (Jennifer Saunders) opts instead for reducing her monthly expenses. Deprived of her daily deliveries from tony department store Harrods, she and Patsy (Joanna Lumley) attempt to mount a trip to the grocery store in the "economy" car that's replaced the limo -- a two-seat sports car. The results of this expedition include assault, battery, robbery, pubic drunkenness, traffic violations, a trip to court, and a course of public service. Originally broadcast on BBC 1 on March 3, 1994, Absolutely Fabulous: Poor marked series two, episode five of this popular Brit-com. Christopher Malcolm reprises his role as Eddy's gay ex-husband, Justin, in an appearance that includes a memorable joke about "going through the motions" of marriage. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- 1983
Faye Dunaway stars in Michael Winner's labored re-make of the 1945 swashbuckler, which was co-scripted by Leslie Arliss, the original director of the 1945 film. Dunaway is Lady Barbara Skelton, a lady of the royal class, who becomes a highway robber, taking up with Captain Jerry Jackson (Alan Bates), a highwayman and her lover. Because of a notorious whiping scene in which Lady Barbara and Jackson's girlfriend (Marina Sirtis) take horsewhips to one another, tearing their clothing to strategically-placed ribbons, the film was held back from release because Winner refused to cut the salacious footage. After corralling author Kingsley Amis, and directors John Schlesinger, Karel Reisz, and Lindsay Anderson to attest to the redeeming social value of the scene, the scene stayed in the film. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Faye Dunaway, Alan Bates, (more)
- 1963
The reclusive millionaire whom Steed was assigned to escort to New York has been spirited away to a private nursing home -- in a coffin. Investigating these mysterious goings-on, Cathy gets a job at the same home. Finally locating the missing person, Cathy discovers that the man has been replaced by an impostor. . .and that the mystery has only begun. A satiric jab at Britain's excessive inheritance taxes (the connection between this plot twist and the rest of the story is made obvious only in the final moments), "The Undertakers" was written by Malcolm Hulke. It was originally telecast in England on October 5, 1963, and it belatedly debuted in America on March 6, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
