Derek Newark Movies

In flashback, we learn how nerdish computer whiz Bernard Hill has gotten himself involved with nasty gang boss Richard Hope. When Hill's wife leaves him and his stepson, he gets drunk and loses his job; before he cleans out his desk, he sells one of his "worthless" computer tapes to Hope. The latter kidnaps Hill's son, forcing the computer geek to do a printout of the tape. The information contained therein turns out to be a map of the National General Bank security system. From this point onward, be prepared for lots of twists, double-crosses and surprises. The question posed by Bellman & Ture: will Bernard Hill, sucked into the criminal gang, retain his own honesty despite big-money temptation? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The two-part TV movie Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil crystallizes that evil by concentrating on two Berlin brothers. In 1931, Helmut Hoffman (Bill Nighy) a brilliant student and self-styled opportunist, joins Hitler's SS. At the same time, his younger brother Karl (John Shea), a top athlete and idealist, becomes a chauffeur for the "S.A." (storm troopers). When the SS topples the SA from power, Karl ends up in Dachau. He is rescued through his brother's influence--if you can describe sending Karl to fight on the Russian Front a "rescue." As he watches the Third Reich deteriorate, Helmut at long last suffers pangs of conscience. As if the story of the rise of Nazism needed any further melodrama, Hitler's SS shoehorns in a romantic triangle involving Karl, Helmut, and beautiful nightclub-singer Lucy Gutteridge. The all-star supporting cast of Hitler's SS includes Carroll Baker as the Hoffman brothers' anguished mother; Tony Randall as an androgynous entertainer named Putzi (shades of Cabaret's Joel Grey); and David Warner, repeating his Holocaust role as SS head man Heydrich. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Michael Caine stars as an espionage agent whose young son is kidnapped. Complicating matters is the fact that the kidnappers (John Vernon and Delphine Seyrig) are Caine's own colleagues. They want to secure Caine's aid in rounding up a diamond smuggling ring, and they don't care who they have to hurt to do so. He agrees to go along, all the while searching for his missing son. Janet Suzman co-stars as Caine's estranged wife, who is compelled to join him in his search. Helmed by veteran filmmaker Don Siegel, The Black Windmill is based on Seven Days to a Killing, a novel by Clive Egleton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ian Carmichael stars as Dorothy L. Sayers blue-blooded detective in this made-for-TV thriller. Armistice Day in 1922 finds a number of old soldiers relaxing at the exclusive Bellona Club, but it turns out one of them is a bit too relaxed -- General Fentiman (Ralph Truman) is dead. As it happens, Fentiman's sister, Lady Dorland, passed away the same day, and since the distribution of her sizable estate hinges upon which sibling died first, Lord Wimsey (Charmichael) is brought in to unravel the truth. It soon becomes obvious that Fentiman was murdered, and the deeper Wimsey digs into the case, the stickier the issue becomes as he discovers an ugly web of treachery involving Fentiman's heirs. Originally produced as a four-part mini-series for the BBC (and aired in the United States on the PBS anthology series Masterpiece Theater, Lord Peter Wimsey: The Unpleasantness At The Bellona Club also stars Derek Newark as Bunter, John Welsh as Mr. Murbles, and Vivien Heilbron, John Quentin, and Terence Alexander as the Fentiman heirs. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The Legend of Spider Forest is also known as Venom, though it bears no relation to the 1982 Klaus Kinski film of that title. Artist Simon Brent goes on working vacation to Bavaria. While in the forest, he meets an alluring young woman. She turns out to be the dreaded "Spider Goddess," who works hand and glove with mad scientists to kill victims with poisonous venom. An interesting if shoddily made variation on the Dracula legend, The Legend of Spider Forest might make a neat companion feature to Arachnophobia. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tara investigates when her uncle doesn't return from his vacation. Following the trail of evidence, she finds herself at a fancy hotel, where guests are permitted to stay as long as they like, but woe betide them if they ever try to leave! While attempting to rescue her uncle, Tara is herself imprisoned by the hotel's ultra-courteous staff. With Steed otherwise occupied, Mother sends his own nephew, an agent in training, to extract Tara from her predicament. Brimmed to overflowing with familiar guest star faces, "Wish You Were Here" was written by Tony Williamson; it was first shown in England on February 12, 1969, having made its "official" debut on American TV on November 18, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on a novel by Jack D. Hunter, The Blue Max is a World War I aviation drama, told from the German point of view. Low-born infantryman George Peppard becomes a pilot, almost deliberately stepping on the sensibilities of his aristocratic comrades in the process. A national hero, Peppard wins the Blue Max, the highest award that can be bestowed upon an aviator. His fame is exploited by general James Mason, who tolerates Peppard's affair with Mason's wife Ursula Andress. The canny Mason knows that, eventually, Peppard will be expendable, and a "heroic" death can be arranged. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this drama, two boys from London--one an abused child, and the other, the son of a neglectful hooker--attempt to board a Jamaica bound ship in order to escape their miserable lives. It is on the exotic island that one of the boys' father is said to live. They get passage by stealing a suitcase from a nearby Rolls belonging to a shipping magnate. They are unfortunately, caught, lectured and sent home. Their one hope is that the fellow informed them that there are many ships leaving from Jamaica. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A horse stable turns out to be the headquarters of a highly sophisticated murder-for-hire service. Hoping to beard the crooks in their den, Steed employs the services of a valuable race horse. Cathy joins in the scheme when she takes a job with a bookmaking operation -- and, in the words of the episode's opening titles, "becomes the favourite for murder." Written by Malcolm Hulke, "The Trojan Horse" originally aired in England on February 8, 1964; American viewers first saw the episode on March 29, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide