Zienia Merton Movies

Cristina Raines plays a pro golfer in The Late Nancy Irving. She's not "late" at the beginning of the film, but it sure looks that she will be ere long. Abducted by dying millionaire Marius Goring, Nancy Irving (Raines) is forced to be an unwilling blood donor. Will she escape while she can still stand up by herself? The Late Nancy Irving premiered in America over the USA network on March 2, 1985, in tandem with another British made-for-TV movie, Czech Mate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A nuclear explosion causes chaos in space, in this British made-for-television sci-fi thriller. The moon seems to be headed for disaster after a nuclear explosion sends it out of orbit and heading for a black sun. Some stranded moon-base personnel may be doomed -- unless someone comes to their rescue. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide

This sci-fi adventure was the pilot for a television series Space: 1999. It is set in the next century just after an enormous blast from an alien ship destroys half the moon and sends the rest hurtling through space. Unfortunately, upon the chunk of speeding rock is the research station Alpha which contains 311 people helmed by cool-headed Commander Koenig. Now the Alpha castaways must not only continue to survive, they must also keep up on their research to discover what happened and why. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

J. Lee Thompson (The Guns of Navarone) directed this Cold War action thriller. Gregory Peck is the American Dr. John Hathaway, a Noble Prize-winning scientist, teaching at a university in London. Lieutenant General Shelby (Arthur Hill), from the American Embassy, asks Hathaway to go on a mission to Communist China to obtain an enzyme, being developed by his old teacher Soong Li (Keye Luke), that permits crops to grow in any climate. Since the country holding the formula to this growth enzyme would be able to control the world, Shelby tells Hathaway that both the United States and the Soviet Union are anxious that the enzyme not stay in China. Hathaway doesn't want to go because of a burgeoning love affair with attractive professor Kay Hanna (Anne Heywood) and an opposition he holds to American foreign policy. But a call from the President changes his mind, and he is off to China. A transmitter is placed in his skull so that he can communicate with London. But Hathaway doesn't realize that the head implant can also be detonated from London, if necessary, and blow Hathaway's brains out. In China, Hathaway works with his old mentor Soong Li to perfect the enzyme. As they are near completion, the Red Guard storms the laboratory and attack Soong Li because of his opposition to the new movement in China, and Hathaway has to flee the country. Detecting the transmitter in Hathaway's head, the Chinese are in full pursuit. Hathaway makes it to the Sino-Soviet border, but then Shelby decides to activate the explosive device in Hathaway's head once he crosses over into Russia. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

The current unavailability of the entire first-season Dr. Who story arc "Marco Polo" is perhaps the most frustrating of the many gaps in the series' chronology. Written by John Lucarotti, this seven-part adventure began on February 22, 1964, with the episode titled "The Roof of the World." The TARDIS ends up in 13th century China, high atop the snowy slopes of Pamir Plateau. Here, the Doctor (William Hartnell), his granddaughter Susan (Carole Ann Ford), and his traveling companions Ian and Barbara (William Russell, Jacqueline Scott) come face to face with Venetian explorer Marco Polo (Mark Eden) and his entourage, including duplicitous warlord Tegana (Derren Nesbitt) and highborn Lady Ping-Cho (Zienia Merton). Given no other choice, the crew of the TARDIS joins Marco Polo's journey to visit Mongol ruler Kublai Khan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the seven-part story arc "Marco Polo," the lives of the Doctor (William Hartnell), Marco Polo (Mark Eden), and their combined companions are imperiled not only by bandits, but also by a traitor in their midst, the warlord Tegana (Derren Nesbitt). Still, the entourage manages to enjoy a (pitifully brief) bit of rest and relaxation at the way-station managed by the philosophical Wang-Lo (Gabor Baraker). Under cover of darkness, the Doctor and his friends manage to elude Polo and prepare to board the TARDIS for a journey homeward -- but Susan (Carole Ann Ford) is seized by a shadowy assailant. Written by John Lucarotti, "Rider From Shang-Tu" first aired on March 21, 1964; alas, none of the episodes in the "Marco Polo" arc are known to have survived. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the seven-part story arc "Marco Polo," the treacherous Tegana (Derren Nesbitt) intends to leave Marco Polo (Mark Eden), the Doctor (William Hartnell), and their traveling companions to die of thirst in the desert. Seeking shelter not only from the elements but also from the bandit hordes which seem to surround them, the travelers are led to the Cave of the Five Hundred Eyes by Lady Ping-Cho (Zienia Merton). The Doctor is at first grateful, but slowly changes his mind when it appears that the grim interior of the Cave may be just as dangerous as what lies outside. Written by John Lucarotti, "The Singing Sands" first aired on March 7, 1964; alas, none of the episodes in the "Marco Polo" arc are known to have survived. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the seven-part story arc "Marco Polo," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and Kublai Khan (Martin Miller) play a high-stakes game of backgammon. Whoever wins the game will be allowed to lay claim to the TARDIS -- and of course, the Doctor and his friends need the vessel to return to their own time. Meanwhile, the ruthless Tegana (Mark Eden) puts into motion his scheme to assassinate Kublai Khan and lay claim to all of Cathay. And where, in all this intrigue, is Venetian explorer Marco Polo (Mark Eden). Written by John Lucarotti, "Assassin at Peking" first aired on April 4, 1964; alas, none of the episodes in the "Marco Polo" arc are known to have survived. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide