Stanley McGeagh Movies
It was Richard Attenborough's lifelong dream to bring the life story of Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi to the screen. When it finally reached fruition in 1982, the 188-minute, Oscar-winning Gandhi was one of the most exhaustively thorough biopics ever made. The film begins in the early part of the 20th century, when Mohandas K. Gandhi (Ben Kingsley), a British-trained lawyer, forsakes all worldly possessions to take up the cause of Indian independence. Faced with armed resistance from the British government, Gandhi adopts a policy of "passive resistance," endeavoring to win freedom for his people without resorting to bloodshed. In the horrendous "slaughter" sequence, more extras appear on screen than in any previous historical epic. The supporting cast includes Candice Bergen as photographer Margaret Bourke-White, Athol Fugard as General Smuts, John Gielgud as Lord Irwin, John Mills as the viceroy, Martin Sheen as Walker, Trevor Howard as Judge Broomfield, and, in a tiny part as a street bully, star-to-be Daniel Day-Lewis. Gandhi won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, (more)
- 1978
- R
The Carry On series is living on fumes in this late entry. An unofficial burlesque of the Emmanuelle series (albeit with a single modification: the spelling of the name was changed to 'Emmannuelle' to avoid legal complications), the film centers upon Emmannuelle Prevert (Suzanne Danielle) and her unsuccessful attempts to make love to her husband Emile (Kenneth Williams), a French ambassador. Emile grants Emmannuelle permission to bed down with anyone she likes and her prodigious intercourse rate turns her into a celebrity and a frequent talk show guest. Meanwhile, Theodore Valentine (Larry Dann) is hopelessly in love with her and wants to marry her. Emmannuelle, however, is obsessed with arousing her husband Emile's sexual desire at almost any cost. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Suzanne Danielle, Kenny Williams, (more)
- 1975
- PG
In this low budget fantasy adventure from Britain, based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' 1918 science fiction novel, a German submarine holding American prisoners of war during World War I, veers off course. Lost at sea, the submarine empties its fuel supply and runs aground on an uncharted island in the Antarctic. The survivors find that the island contains an ancient oil refinery that can be used to fuel the submarine. The only problem is that the group of Germans and Americans have to battle gigantic dinosaurs and primitive cavemen as they make their way through the island. The Land That Time Forgot was enough of a success to spawn a 1976 sequel called The People That Time Forgot. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Doug McClure, John McEnery, (more)
- 1972
In the third episode of the six-part story "The Sea Devils," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) have been called in to investigate the disappearances of several military vessels on the high seas. It isn't long before both of the time travelers are attacked by the Sea Devils, a race of bipedal earth reptiles who have been summoned from the depths by the Master (Roger Delgado) in his latest bid to destroy the human race. Much of this episode was filmed on location, with full cooperation from the Royal Navy. Originally shown on March 11, 1972, "The Sea Devils, Episode 3" was written by Malcolm Hulke. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, (more)
- 1972
In the fourth episode of the six-part story "The Sea Devils," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) tries to "reach" the title characters, a race of bipedal earth reptiles. Knowing that the Master (Roger Delgado) intends to use the Sea Devils to wipe out all mankind, the Doctor attempts to appeal to the creatures' better nature and advanced intelligence -- just as he'd previously done with the Devils' distant relations, the Silurians. But negotiations quickly break down, and the earth is once more plunged into peril. Originally shown on March 18, 1972, "The Sea Devils, Episode 4" was written by Malcolm Hulke. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, (more)
Roger Corman's New World Pictures took a stab at the tale of the nefarious real-life graverobbers -- and filled it with the studio's usual quota of nudity, softcore sex and tacky humor. The result is pretty much as one would expect -- nothing to rival the excellent Flesh and the Fiends, or even Tod Slaughter's campy The Greed of William Hart. Harry Andrews plays the unscrupulous Dr. Knox, who enlists the aid of grave-plundering dirtbags Derren Nesbitt and Glynn Edwards in obtaining fresh cadavers for the medical academy. When the demand increases and local cemeteries begin to run dry, the industrious pair turn to the living to keep the doctor supplied. This time out, Burke and Hare are particularly randy fellows, who spend more time carousing in Edinburgh whorehouses than stalking their prey. Despite the macabre subject matter, the producers opted for sexploitation over gruesome horror, but the end result is decidedly dull. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
