Tony Melody Movies
- 1996
In this British made-for-TV mystery, the title sleuths investigate the murder of a school principal. It's a puzzling case, because while every one knew he was dead, his body was supposedly buried in Austria. Instead, the body is accidentally unearthed beneath the memorial erected for him on the school grounds. A college student's death further complicates matters. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Warren Clarke, Colin Buchanan, (more)
Patricia Routledge, best known to television viewers as the status-obsessed Hyacinth Bucket on the long-running British comedy series Keeping Up Appearances, takes on a very different role in this made-for-TV mystery. Hetty Wainthropp (Routledge) is a sensible and practical woman in her early sixties. When a close friend's son goes missing, Hetty decides the police aren't doing enough to track him down, and sets out to find him herself. When Hetty's plan proves to be a success, she gets a private detective's license and becomes a full-time sleuth, to the slight annoyance of her kitchen-phobic husband. Missing Persons became a pilot for a series of Hetty Wainthropp mysteries starring Routledge, which ran for four seasons; the character was adapted from the writings of novelist David Cook. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patricia Routledge
- 1988
Bill Coward (Lynton Deardon) is a 14-year-old teenager who is intrigued by stories of a mysterious beast who is killing sheep and chickens. Bill's father Ned (Freddie Fletcher) fears the beast of unemployment when the Haverston mill closes down. The once-bright outlook of the adults and children is darkened by the clouds of economic disaster, with no alternative work available. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynton Deardon, Paul Simpson, (more)
- 1985
- PG
Adapted by Harold Pinter from the novel by Russell Hoban, Turtle Diary stars Glenda Jackson as a famed author/illustrator of children's books. In the midst of her success, Jackson suffers from writer's block. While casting about for new ideas, she makes several visits to the turtle tank at the local aquarium, where she becomes acquainted with shy bookstore clerk Ben Kingsley. From this point on, nothing is in the least predictable. What can one say that's sensible about a plotline that climaxes with a turtle hijacking? Screenwriter Pinter has a cameo role as "Man in Bookshop." Turtle Diary was the maiden effort of United British Artists, a consortium consisting of Glenda Jackson, Harold Pinter, and producer Richard Johnson (who also appears in the film). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenda Jackson, Ben Kingsley, (more)
- 1985
- PG13
Another Man Who Loved Women with a slightly different plot, this routine story opens with the funeral of a local projectionist and gardener, Donald Lovelace (Barry Jackson). His widow and daughter are surprised at the number of women who turn out to mourn Donald's passing. Soon the truth about his peccadillos with a string of women ranging from the usherette at the movie theater to an aspiring singer are told in flashbacks, revealing a life that his aloof wife and resentful daughter knew nothing about. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Jackson, Maurice Denham, (more)
- 1980
Alec Guinness stars as an elderly Brit who takes in his poor New Yorker grandson (Ricky Schroeder) in this made-for-TV modern-day retelling of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
John Schlesinger directs the war romance Yanks, based on the story by Colin Welland. Set in England at the end of WWII, the story concerns three American GIs and their affairs with British women of varying social status. The central romance concerns Sgt. Matt Dyson (Richard Gere) and Jean Moreton (Lisa Eichhorn making her film debut), who is the daughter of shopkeepers (Rachel Roberts and Tony Melody). He falls in love with her but she is still infatuated with her boyfriend Ken (Derek Thompson). Higher up on the class scale, the officer John (William Devane) has a brief extramarital affair with socialite Helen (Vanessa Redgrave). The third pairing involves Sgt. Danny Ruffelo (Chick Vennera) in a fling with Mollie (Wendy Morgan). Eventually, the Americans and the Britains find themselves surrounded by racism at a New Year's Eve dance. Annie Ross from the vocal jazz group Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross appears briefly as a Red Cross nurse. Yanks won two BAFTA awards in 1980: to Shirley Russell for Best Costume Design and to Rachel Roberts for Best Supporting Actress. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Gere, Lisa Eichhorn, (more)
- 1977
Duke Turnbeau (David Soul) has come to England, in the 1930s, as a way to improve his fortunes. For some reason, he believes that his larcenous ways will bring him prosperity in the country which at one time or another has had rulership over a large portion of the globe. While there, he meets Rosie McCratchit (Pamela McMyler), a lovely Irish gal who could do with some improvement in her fortunes as well. Together, they have a series of legal, quasi-legal and definitely illegal adventures, including Duke's cow-roping and Rosie's response to the mud-wrestling challenge of the Amazon Lady, as well as an attempted armored-car robbery. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Soul, Pamela McMyler, (more)
