David Nettheim
- 1988
The two-part TV movie Emma: Queen of the South Seas stars the incredibly lovely Barbara Carrera. The film is based on the true story of Samoan princess Emma Coe. Part One takes place in the 1860s, as teenaged Emma (Rebekah Elmaloglou) dreams of an exotic life beyond the confines of her hated convent school. In part two, the grown-up Emma (Carrera), now ensconced in Samoa, valiantly defends her country against British colonization. Hal Holbrook and Thaao Penghlis play the most significant men in Emma's life. Syndicated to independent TV outlets, Emma: Queen of the South Seas was first telecast the week of April 23-29, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
The Promise is a sentimental romantic triangle with a World War II. Russian soldiers John Castle and Ian McKellen fend off the Nazis during the siege of Leningrad. Somehow, they find time to give aid and shelter to homeless peasant Susan Macready. Loving both men equally, Macready must ultimately choose between them. Director Michael Hayes adapted the screenplay of The Promise from a play by Aleksei Arbuzov. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
In the third episode of the six-part story "The Enemy of the World," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) impersonates his lookalike, 21st century would-be dictator Salamander (also Patrick Troughton). He does this to penetrate a research station controlled by Salamander's minions, the better to find out if the villain truly is a villain -- and if so, who his most fervent (and dangerous) followers may be. All of this intrigue naturally has an ominous trickle-down effect on the Doctor's traveling companions, Jamie (Frazer Hines) and Victoria (Deborah Watling). Written by David Whitaker, "The Enemy of the World, Episode 3" first aired on January 6, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1967
Number Six awakens one morning to find that his appearance has been radically altered and that he has been reassigned the "identity" of Number Two. Compounding his confusion, he comes face to face with the new Number Six, who looks exactly like his "old" self (Patrick McGoohan plays both roles). It's all part of a scheme by the New Number Two (Anton Rodgers) to break down the protagonist's resistance --- and possibly, his sanity. Jane Merrow costars as Alison, a woman claiming to have a mental link with Number Six (but which one?) Written by Terence Feely, "The Schizoid Man" first aired in England on October 29, 1967, and in America on July 6, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
In the second episode of the six-part story "The Enemy of the World," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) has arrived on earth in the year 2017 A.D. Rescued from certain death by helicopter pilot Astrid (Mary Peach), the Doctor is informed by Astrid's boss, Kent (Bill Kerr), that the world is on the verge of domination by a charismatic scientist/politician named Salamander. The fact that the Doctor is a dead ringer for Salamander (indeed, both roles are played by Troughton) leads to several even more perplexing plot developments: Who among Kerr's staff can be trusted not to betray their comrades to Salamander's minions, and is Salamander truly the despotic villain that he is made out to be? Written by David Whitaker, "The Enemy of the World, Episode 2" first aired on December 30, 1967; this episode is presently unavailable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1965
In this blend of action-adventure and spy satire, the British government has been negotiating with the Middle Eastern nation of Ramaut to lease their oil fields for drilling by U.K. petroleum companies, but at the last minute, the deal collapses, and Col. Drexel (Jack Hawkins), a military leader who has worked with the authorities in Ramaut before, is given an unusual assignment. The young Prince Jamil of Ramaut (Christopher Witty) is scheduled to take the nation's throne and become the country's leader. Drexel and his men are to kidnap Jamil, hold him until he is of age, and then release him once they've persuaded him to sign the oil lease agreement. American operative David Frazer (Cliff Robertson) is called in to help, and he meets Drexel at the villa where Jamil is being held captive. However, shortly after Frazer is confronted by Sophie (Marisa Mell) and a gang of agents, he's knocked senseless and wakes up to find that Jamil is missing. Drexel's superiors think that Frazer was in on the plot to free Jamil, and while Drexel knows better, it just so happens that he has his own agenda -- Drexel has been negotiating with Jamil's family to release him in exchange for a cash payment that would go directly into his pocket. Incidentally, if you have trouble finding Ramaut on a map, don't worry -- it exists only in the mind of screenwriters William Goldman and Michael Relph. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cliff Robertson, Jack Hawkins, (more)
- 1963
In London for a medical checkup, Emir Abdulla Akaba (Henry Soskin) is murdered by a person or persons unknown. This proves embarrassing for Steed and Cathy, who'd been assigned to protect the Emir. Still in disguise as a hotel chef and social secretary, the Avengers try to determine who knocked off the victim -- and try to keep from being knocked off themselves. With a punch line straight out of the vintage George Arliss vehicle Old English, "Death a la Carte" first aired in England on December 21, 1963. Written by John Lucarotti, the episode made its American cable TV debut on March 20, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
A persuasive ad man cons a British TV makeup artist to slip in a promotion for Bonko Detergent during a show in this comedy. The ploy is a success until the makeup man is fired. He and the ad man team up and create a pirate station that broadcasts their commercials into other shows. They soon find themselves in trouble when thieves, believing their roving broadcast van is filled with gold, steal the vehicle. The adman radios the police and the robbers are captured. This leads him to get a new job with the television network. The makeup man then interrupts the man's first show with his commercials. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arthur Askey, Sidney James, (more)
- 1957
Two longtime stalwarts of the classic British non sequitur comedy series The Goon Show headlined this sort-of spin-off. Peter Sellers and Michael Bentine were the principal instigators of Yes, It's the Cathode-Ray Tube Show, which also featured David Nettheim. In time-honored "Goon" tradition, this six-episode confection was a crazy quilt of wacky sketches, movie and TV parodies, loony recurring characters, sped-up filmed segments, and occasional animated interludes. Originally telecast from February 11 to March 18, 1957, Yes, It's the Cathode-Ray Tube Show might have run even longer had co-star Peter Sellers not had other professional fish to fry. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Sellers, Michael Bentine, (more)
