Terence Beesley Movies
This 90-minute Cadfael mystery first aired in England on December 28, 1998. Set in 12th century Shrewbury, the story concerns two religious pilgrims: an older man and his devoted young companion. A corpse is found tied in a sack -- could the pilgrims be responsible for the murder, or is one of the men covering for the other? Brother Cadfael (Derek Jacobi), ex-warrior, present monk, and dilettante detective, uses his scientific know-how to get to the bottom of things. Adapted by Richard Stoneman from the novel by Ellis Peters, "Pilgrim of Hate" was seen in the United States during the 1998-1999 season of the PBS Mystery anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Joan Collins camps it up in this pretentious art-house virago written, directed, and starring Steven Birkoff. In a satirical thrust at British upper-class values, in which the characters spout out dialogue in rhyming couplets, Collins and Birkoff portray snobbish British aristocrats and then, in contrast, a couple of East-enders in a British suburb. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Collins, Steven Berkoff, (more)
- 1990
- PG
Ian Bertram (Robert Lindsay) is a mathematical genius who works as an accountant for a multinational firm based in England. When he meets Cary Porter (Molly Ringwald), who recently started working for the same company, Ian immediately falls in love and quickly proposes marriage. Cary accepts, and they plan a modest wedding, but when Ian's accounting skills earn him the admiration of company head Herbert Dreuther (John Geilgud), Herbert offers to pay for a honeymoon in Monte Carlo and give them a ride back on his yacht. But while Mr. Dreuther means well, he has problems with his memory, and once Ian and Cary get to Monte Carlo, Herbert has forgotten all about them. Stuck at the hotel with a large bill that he can't afford, Ian works out a plan to win at roulette; his scheme works, and he earns enough to pay their bill, get them home, and have plenty left over. But his sudden success at the gambling tables makes Ian drunk with power, and Cary discovers that her new husband has turned into a power-hungry tyrant. Strike It Rich was adapted from the novel Loser Takes All by Graham Greene; it has been shown under the novel's title, as well as under the title Money Talks. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Lindsay, Molly Ringwald, (more)
Gaston Leroux's classic tale of love and suspense gets a face-lift in this horror story loosely adapted from Leroux's novel. Christine (Jill Schoelen) is a young classical vocalist who, in the midst of performing a recently discovered piece by an obscure composer, is struck on the head by a sandbag and wakes up in London in 1884. Eric Destler (Robert Englund) is a composer who is desperate to succeed -- so much so that he sells his soul to the devil in exchange for writing songs that people will love. However, the devil adds a twist to the bargain by horribly scarring Eric's face, which can only be disguised by flesh from a living victim. Living below the London Opera House, Eric works night and day on his music; when he hears Christine's voice he falls in love, he and lures her to his lair. Eric decides that Christine is the perfect woman to sing his music; he coaches her to a perfect interpretation of his work, and he kills anyone who stands between her and success. Future Saturday Night Live star Molly Shannon made her film debut in a small role in the film's modern day sequences. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Englund, Jill Schoelen, (more)
