William Mervyn Movies

In this western two misfits, a black man AWOL from the union army, and a crippled Indian hide in a Mexican church following the murder of two people. A bounty hunter is hot on their trail. Violence ensues when he catches up to them. The one that killed the people is stoned to death. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

An institutionalized schizophrenic with a Messiah complex inherits the position of an English Earl in this cutting satire of British society, based on a play by Peter Barnes. The film's irreverent tone is established with the disturbingly hilarious death of the thirteenth Earl of Gurney during a bizarre attempt at auto-erotic asphyxiation. To the dismay of the earl's family, the title passes to his son Jack (Peter O'Toole), who has been locked away for eight years after claiming to be the second coming of Jesus Christ. Mad but harmless, Jack is released to assume his seat. However, his embrace of Christianity proves incompatible with a position of power in "normal" society, where peace and love are considered serious weaknesses, and a somewhat unhinged psychiatrist is called to help him adjust. Meanwhile, Jack's scheming uncle, Sir Charles (William Mervyn), works on developing a complex scheme to trick Jack out of his position. Loaded with idiosyncratic touches from eccentric camera angles to unexpected outbursts of song, the film creates an experience nearly as inspired and mad as O'Toole's brilliantly hilarious central performance. The film's devilish invention may at times seem overloaded, but most drawbacks are redeemed by the sharpness of the satire, particularly during the memorably disturbing finale. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

This badly-dated but interesting variant on the vampire subgenre is loosely based on the Simon Raven novel Doctors Wear Scarlet. The story details the seduction of an Oxford resident (Patrick Mower) into a satanic vampire society while studying in Greece. The chief twist here is that vampirism is treated not as a supernatural affliction, but as a bizarre form of sexual gratification -- an alternative lifestyle in which Mower is soon immersed, thanks to the manipulations of an exotic Greek siren. After some silly scenes featuring a lot of groovin' hippie orgies and silly psychedelic lighting effects, Mower returns to England to continue his sanguinary obsession in earnest, focusing his bloodthirsty desires on his prudish fiancee -- who is not so willing to embrace this new lifestyle. Despite the aforementioned painful attempts at hipness, this film shapes up to be an effective thriller -- perhaps the first to put a psychological spin on the vampire pantheon. Peter Cushing and Patrick Macnee are on hand in very small but effective supporting roles. Released also under the more "trendy" title Incense for the Damned. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

The British "Carry On" series was in its 12th year when Carry On Again, Doctor was unleashed upon a panting public in 1969. Veteran Carry On-ers Kenneth Williams, Sidney James, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Jim Dale and Barbara Windsor fill the principal roles in this hospital farce. Dale has the central role as a manic medico who stumbles upon a formula for weight control. The film's South-Sea setting permits plenty of female pulchritude to insinuate its way across the screen in between the one-liners and slapstick setpieces. Gerald Thomas directs, as ever. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This comedy finds a veteran crook turning to modern computer technology to steal money from various companies. Even before he is released from jail Caesar (Peter Ustinov) is planning his high-tech heist. He cons American executive Klemper (Karl Malden) and sets up three bogus companies to receive funds from the corporate office. Klemper's faithful assistant Gnatpole (Bob Newhart) is suspicious and investigates the unusual activities. Smith (Robert Morley) gives Caesar the computer lesson that puts him on the fast track to thievery. Caesar marries Patty (Maggie Smith), who surprises her husband by earning more money than her crooked spouse by honest means. Cesar Romero is the smiling customs official who lets Caesar pass through with a bagful of money from the crime while Klemper's jar of instant coffee falls under suspicion. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

In this 1967 drama, resourceful British agent Bulldog Drummond, who appeared onscreen in a series of spy stories between 1929 and 1951, returned to duty in the wake of James Bond. Here, Drummond (Richard Johnson) is on the trail of Carl Petersen (Nigel Green), a corrupt industrialist who has a bad habit of stealing the ideas of others and then killing them so he can reap their profits. The nefarious Petersen has a team of female assistants willing to kill on command, led by Irma (Elke Sommer) and Penelope (Sylva Koscina). One more Bulldog Drummond vehicle, Some Girls Do, followed in 1969 before the series was retired again. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Two brothers looking to avoid becoming pawns of the establishment come up with a better way of making a living -- through theft -- in this satiric comedy. David Tremayne (Oliver Reed) is a successful London architect, and his younger brother Michael (Michael Crawford) is weighing his options after being kicked out of school. The brothers share a bemused disgust with the world around them and a desire to get through life without the burden of labor; toward this end, one day they begin plotting an elaborate scheme to steal the British Crown Jewels. Mind you, they don't intend to sell them, or even keep them very long -- the idea is to return them after a week, simply to prove that it could indeed be done, and make themselves famous in the process. After studying the procedures of Scotland Yard's Bomb Disposal Unit, the inner working of the Tower of London's Jewel Room, and the London ambulance services, the Tremaynes come up with a foolproof plan -- they call in a bomb threat to the Tower, and they are able to enter the Jewel Room posing as men from the bomb squad. They then feign injury and are able to escape in an ambulance. It all seems simple enough, and it actually works, until Michael "forgets" his part of the agreement to take half of the responsibility for the theft. The supporting cast includes Edward Fox, Frank Finlay, and Harry Andrews. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "The War Machines," the self-starting computer WOTAN (Will Operating Thought Analogue) begins the first phase of its campaign to conquer the world. As a terrifying army of robot war machines descend upon London, the Doctor (William Hartnell) tries to disable WOTAN -- but alas, it has been designed by Professor Brett (John Harvey) to be impervious to such shutdown efforts. Meanwhile, Brett's secretary Polly (Anneke Wells) and her seaman boyfriend Ben Jackson (Michael Craze) work behind the scenes to help the Doctor, if indeed anyone can help him. Scripted by Ian Stuart Black from a story idea by Kit Pedler, "The War Machines, Episode Three" first aired on July 2, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Returning to modern-day London with Dodo (Jackie Lane) in tow, the Doctor (William Hatnell) discovers that a supercomputer called WOTAN (Will Operating Thought Analogue) has been invented by one Professor Brett (John Harvey). Though impressed by the fact that WOTAN can actually think for itself, the Doctor would be less impressed -- in fact, he'd be outraged -- if he knew that the computer is exercising an insidious form of mind control over thousands upon thousands of helpless Londoners. Anneke Wells makes her first series appearance as Polly, here introduced as Brett's secretary. Scripted by Ian Stuart Black from a story idea by Kit Pedler, the first episode of the four-part Doctor Who adventure "The War Machines" first aired on June 25, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this musical comedy, a dreamy Australian singer comes to London to seek his fortune. There he begins falling for a down-to-earth lass and a high-strung debutante at the same time. In between romances, the singer finds himself involved with a gang of thieves who begin using his home as a hide-out. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this confused parody, a lovely South Seas island girl travels to England following her father's death and becomes the ward of her cousin. The women is exotically beautiful and men turn into fools whenever she passes by. But the innocent lass has no idea that she is so lovely and seductive. At one point she poses nude for an artist and nearly starts a riot amongst the normally staid upper-crust gentlemen. In the end, the beautiful native girl marries the son of her kindly cousin who eventually becomes the head of his father's school. Meanwhile his father moves to the girl's native island. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

One of a small cluster of creepy films to come from England's Amalgamated Studios in the late '60s, this lesser entry details the twisted practices of a deranged German plastic surgeon (Anton Diffring) who hides out in France after mutilating a patient and begins his work anew under an assumed name. Staying mobile by traveling with a circus troupe, Diffring offers his services to disfigured female criminals, who pay him for his services by joining the circus as performers -- and by catering to his perverse whims. Naturally, it's not long before the ladies' gratitude begins to wear thin, and they begin to plan their escape... only to meet horrible ends in carefully-orchestrated catastrophes while performing. Viewers may find themselves haunted by Gary Mills's "Look for a Star" several days afterward like a cloying advertising jingle; the performance of a rug-topped Donald Pleasence (as the show's former owner, who meets with a sticky end) is a nice touch. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide