Neil McCarthy Movies

Also known as Time of the Beast, Mutator concerns a gene corporation that creates--and accidentally unleashes--an evil cat that proceeds to kill and eat as many victims as it can get its claws on. ~ John Bush, Rovi

Ten Little Indians, the classic mystery by Agatha Christie, is again adapted, with enjoyable results. The setting of the now familiar mystery is moved to Africa, where the ten guests of a mysterious host are killed one by one as they travel on safari. None of the guests, played with great fun by a cast including Donald Pleasence, Brenda Vaccaro, Frank Stallone and Herbert Lom, know why they have been invited, but as they begin to be murdered, one by one, they fear for their safety and begin to suspect each other. The ending of this wonderful mystery should never be divulged, and the story remains surprisingly fresh despite its many adaptations. This film, while only average, remains highly enjoyable because of the charm and surprise of Christie's wonderful plot and great surprise ending. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi

The eschewing of modern optical effects techniques in favor of the classic stop-motion animation work of special effects legend Ray Harryhausen was a delightful highlight of this action adventure that attempted to give Greek mythology the Star Wars (1977) treatment. Harry Hamlin stars as Perseus, a mortal who, due to the interference of the mighty god Zeus (Laurence Olivier), finds himself in the city of Joppa, far away from his island home. There, he falls in love with Andromeda (Judi Bowker), an imprisoned princess. To free her, win her hand, and thus half of the kingdom, Perseus solves a riddle, but Joppa's enraged ruler orders Andromeda fed to the Kraken, a towering sea monster that's the last of the powerful Titans. In his quest to save Andromeda, Perseus must endure a series of trials with the help of the winged horse Pegasus and a friendly playwright, Ammon (Burgess Meredith). His ultimate goal is to secure the head of the grotesque Gorgon named Medusa and use it to turn the Kraken into stone, but dangers await, including the hideously deformed Calibos (Neil McCarthy). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

In the third episode of the four-part story "The Power of Kroll," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) are forced to deal not only with the superstitious natives of the swamp moon of Delta Magna, but also with a gun smuggler named Rohm Dutt, who has been attempting to foment violence that will benefit the owners of a despotic Methane refinery. Adding to the Doctor's headaches is the fact that he has yet been able to locate the all-important fifth segment of the Key to Time. Written by Robert Holmes, "The Power of Kroll, Episode 3" originally aired on January 6, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Vincentio (Kenneth Colley), Duke of Vienna, is a good and kindly ruler, but his leniency has allowed vice to thrive. So he decides to leave town temporarily, putting in charge his stern chief deputy, Angelo (Tim Piggott-Smith). Immediately, Angelo condemns the young nobleman, Claudio (Christopher Strauli), to death for getting his sweetheart, Juliet (Jacqueline Pearce), pregnant. Isabella (Kate Nelligan), an aspiring nun who is Claudio's sister, is disgusted by Angelo's suggestion that she "lay down the treasures" of her body to save her brother's life. Meanwhile, the Duke returns to town in the guise of a friar to see how his domain is faring in his absence. When he spies around, he learns of Claudio's imprisonment, and he overhears the dilemma that Angelo has created for Isabella. The helpful ''friar'' then suggests to Isabella that Mariana (Jacqueline Pearce), who was once betrothed to Angelo, take her place in the darkness of Angelo's bedroom. Mariana agrees, and the scheme goes according to plan. However, Angelo reneges on his promise because he fears Claudio will seek revenge if he is released, and instead he orders Claudio's immediate execution. However, Duke Vincentio, still disguised as a friar, persuades the prison warden to spare Claudio and to trick Angelo into thinking Claudio is dead. When Duke Vincentio doffs his disguise and reappears as himself, Angelo, realizing the game is up, asks to be executed to avoid a degrading trial. But Mariana, steadfast in her love for Angelo, pleads for his life. Mercy and a happy ending triumph. Claudio returns from the dead to wed Juliet. Angelo is spared and marries Mariana. The Duke then begs the hand of Isabella. He tells her, ''Dear Isabel, I have a motion much imports your good; whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, what's mine is yours and what is yours is mine.'' ~ Mike Cummings, Rovi

The Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) land on the third moon of Delta Magna, in search of the fifth segment of the Key to Time. The moon is little more than an overgrown swamp, populated by a hostile tribe who worship a god called Kroll -- and that's only the beginning of the Doctor's headaches in this four-part adventure. A follow-up to the previous Doctor Who continuity "The Androids of Tara," "The Power of Kroll, Episode 1" was written by Robert Holmes and was originally telecast on December 23, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Also titled The Price of Freedom, Operation Daybreak is a retelling of the terrible consequences attending the assassination of Nazi-occupation leader Richard Heydrich. When Heydrich puts all of Czechoslovakia under his thumb, a group of Czech expatriates parachute into their homeland to kill the man known as "The Hangman." They succeed, and in retaliation the Nazis wipe the tiny Czech village of Lidice off the map, killing its male residents and carting off its women and children to concentration camps. For the purposes of the plot, assassins Timothy Bottoms and Martin Shaw survive the massacre, albeit only briefly. The Heydrich/Lidice tragedy was previously dramatized in two wartime films, Hangmen Also Die (1943) and Hitler's Madman (1943). Operation Daybreak was adapted from Seven Men at Daybreak, a novel by Alan Burgess. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This English comedy is based on a short play by Peter Shaffer (better known for Equus). Belinda is a free-spirited American woman married to a stuffy English rolled-umbrella man. When he leaves for work each day, she leaves their London apartment too. She says she's just sightseeing, but he doesn't believe her. He hires a private eye (Chaim Topol) to follow her around and find the "other man" in her life. What she said was true, however, and the private eye becomes her traveling companion. He tells his employer that she was telling the truth, but he doesn't believe him. At that point, the detective admits to being the "other man," complicating things thoroughly. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

In the first episode of the six-part story "The Mind of Evil," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) head to Stangmoor Prison to see the Keller Machine, a new rehabilitation aid. Alas, the deployment of the machine causes several other observers to literally die of fright. Somehow, this phenomenon is related to an upcoming World Peace Council -- and somewhere in the background lurks the Doctor's perennial nemesis, the Master. Written by Don Houghton, "The Mind of Evil, Episode 1" first aired on January 30, 1971. Originally filmed in color, this episode currently exists only in a black-and-white version. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the six-part story "The Mind of Evil," the Master (Roger Delgado) has launched a nerve-gas missile, armed with the combined negative emotions of a group of imprisoned criminal and aimed at a world peace conference. The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) hurriedly attempts to deactivate the hate-inducing weapon -- and also endeavors, yet again, to put the Master out of business once and for all. The huge sets and props utilized in this story arc pushed the otherwise parsimonious Doctor Who budget far beyond its usual boundaries. Written by Don Houghton, "The Mind of Evil, Episode 6" first aired on March 6, 1971. Originally filmed in color, this episode currently exists only in a black-and-white version. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

An expensive but enormously profitable war picture, Where Eagles Dare centers upon a daring rescue and even more daring escape. Disguised as Nazi officers, commandoes Maj. John Smith (Richard Burton), Lt. Morris Schaffer Clint Eastwood and six other courageous souls parachute behind enemy lines. Their mission: to rescue an American general, held captive in a supposedly impenetrable Alpine castle. Aiding and abetting the commandoes are Allied undercover agents Mary (Mary Ure) and Heidi (Ingrid Pitt). Also on hand is a British officer (Patrick Wymark), who masterminded the mission. Somewhere, somehow, someone amongst the Allies is going to turn out to be a traitor. There's also a neat plot twist in store when the commandoes manage to reach the American general -- which leads to yet another twist. The vertigo-inducing climax has made Where Eagles Dare one of the most sought-after of "early" Eastwood starring features. The film was written directly for the screen by espionage novelist Alistair MacLean. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this British crime drama a small-town detective gets tired of Scotland Yard's constant meddling and takes a leave-of-absence from his regular duties to start his own detective agency. It is there that he solves the puzzling jewelry store heist that caused the death of the owner's wife who worked there. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi