Hywel Bennett Movies
Yes, it's true that Welsh actor Hywel Bennett, a bonafide male, made his London stage debut as Ophelia in Hamlet. It's important to note, however, that the production was staged by the Youth Theatre, that it was traditional for men to play female roles in Shakespeare's time, and that, at 15, Bennett's voice hadn't broken yet. Thereafter, he trafficked in "angry young men" parts on stage, and as crafty characters posing as naifs in films. One of his most famous film roles was his first--in 1966's The Family Way, he played the briefly impotent husband of Hayley Mills. He went on to star in the anti-war The Virgin Soldiers (1970) and Percy (1973), in which he played the first recipient of a penis transplant. On British television, Bennett was seen in such weeklies as Where the Buffalo Roams (1967) and Shelley (1985). Incidentally, Hywel Bennett finally got to play the male lead in Hamlet in a 1974 South African production. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2000
- PG13
- Add Vatel to Queue Add Vatel to top of Queue
A man hoping to win the favor of a King finds that his heart has gotten in the way in this lavishly-produced comedy-drama. In 1671, the Prince du Conde (Julian Glover) is a figure of French nobility who is deep in debt and suffering from gout. Hoping to buoy his fortunes and his reputation, du Conde wants to win command of the French Army in an anticipated conflict with Holland. When du Conde receives word from the Marquis de Lauzun (Tim Roth) that that King Louis XIV (Julian Sands) wishes to spend three days at his estate, du Conde is determined to pull out all the stops, and he asks Francois Vatel (Gerard Depardieu) to make the arrangements. Vatel is a master chef with a genius for arranging spectacular entertainments, and he is determined that this will be a weekend that the king will always remember. But that's before Vatel meets Anne de Montausier (Uma Thurman), a lovely courtesan traveling with the king's party. Anne is the king's new mistress, but that doesn't stop Vatel from falling in love with her, and he is determined to win her heart. Produced in both English and French language versions, Vatel was chosen to open the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Féodor Atkine, Hywel Bennett, (more)
- 1999
Adapted from her play of the same name, Debbie Isitt directs this savage farce about the changing face of British suburban life. After their dear neighbors depart for Australia, Harold and Jean Peach (Ricky Tomlinson and Marion Bailey) wait with baited breath and low expectations for their new lot-mates to arrive. However, they are completely taken aback when snotty young couple Robert and Ellen Chapman (Phil Daniels and Rachel Fielding) move in and rudely snub the Peaches on their first day. Harold's position as the reigning grand high poobah for their suburban block is soon undermined by his neighbors' contempt. As Harold's life slowly disintegrates -- he loses his sales job while Jean disappears into a Valium haze -- he comes to see the Chapmans as the root of all of his problems and plots all-out revenge. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ricky Tomlinson, Marion Bailey, (more)
- 1999
Adapted from the semi-autobiographical fiction of Scandinavian author Askel Sandemose, Misery Harbor concerns Espen (Nikolaj Coster Waldau), an introverted young author in love with a young woman named Jenny (Anneke von der Lippe). Jenny is involved with a literary critic, so, hoping to impress her, Espen asks her to read the manuscript of his first novel. In the novel, the protagonist, much like Espen himself, runs away from the Danish factory town of his birth and finds work on board a British ship, where he meets Wakefield (Stuart Graham), an ill-tempered ne'er-do-well. Wakefield is determined to make Espen's life miserable at every opportunity, and when Espen jumps ship in Newfoundland and begins to court Eva (Margot Finley), Wakefield is on hand to spoil that as well. Misery Harbor was the first in a series of films co-produced by Canadian and Norwegian production companies. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Stuart Graham, (more)
"The Greatest Story Ever Told, As Seen Through a Mother's Eyes." Coproduced by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her son Bobby Shriver, this reverent retelling of the Biblical story of the Madonna stars Melinda Kinnaman as young Mary, Perrilla August as the older Mary, David Threlfall as Joseph, and Toby Bailiff and Christian Bale as, respectively, the younger and adult Jesus. The film takes a decidedly Ecumenical approach, with Mary, already aware of her Son's role in the future of mankind, gently guiding and counseling Jesus as He launches His ministry and accomplishes His miracles. She must also stand by stoically as Her beloved Son is persecuted and crucified, knowing that what must be, will be. Filmed (incredibly) in and around Budapest, Mary, Mother of Jesus debuted November 14, 1999 on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Pernilla August, Christian Bale, (more)
- 1996
The line between reality and fiction becomes increasingly blurred as an ailing screenwriter struggles with a story that seems to come to life before his eyes. A self-destructive loaner whose battle with pancreatic cancer has left him embittered and in great pain, Daniel Feeld (Albert Finney) decides to focus his attention on an a new screenplay entitled "Karaoke." A lurid tale concerning the murder of a young girl working in a seedy karaoke bar, the story soon begins to invade Feeld's reality when he overhears people speaking the dialogue that he had written and finds that the people working in a local karaoke dive not only share his character's names, but their lives as well. Drawn to the suspiciously familiar plight of hostess Sandra (Saffron Burrows), Feeld's suspicions of thuggish club-owner Arthur "Pig" Mallion (Hywel Bennett) begin to mount as Feeld increasingly questions both his health and sanity. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Albert Finney, Richard E. Grant, (more)
A disturbed woman starts getting friendly advice from some of the great murderers of history in this black comedy from Great Britain. Introverted Jody Greenwood (Jane Horrocks) and her bolder sister Beth (Imelda Staunton) both live under the thumb of their domineering mother Iris (Brenda Fricker). Jodie has romantic feelings for Dr. Ted Phillips (Jonathan Pryce), a local physician at least twenty years her senior, while Beth has become involved with a hunky male stripper, but both sisters feel paralyzed to do much about their relationships while Iris is still around. One night, Jody is visited by the ghost of Maj. Herbert Armstrong (Edward Woodward), a locally infamous man who made his small town famous with the spectacular murder of his wife. After he passes on some advice about how to achieve personal freedom, Jody kills Iris with an axe and hides the body with Beth's help. However, bad blood arises between Jody and Beth, and, after a nocturnal visit from well-known murderer Dr. Crippen (Hywel Bennett), Jody is inspired to pick up the hatchet again, doing away with Beth and her stripper. Jody beats the case against her in court and wins the heart of Dr. Phillips, but unfortunately she starts getting visits again ... . Jane Horrocks's performance as Jody won her the Best Actress award at the 1994 Catalonian International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jane Horrocks, Brenda Fricker, (more)
- 1992
Adapted from the novel by Noel Barber, the four-part British-Australian miniseries The Other Side of Paradise stars Jason Connery as idealistic 1930s physician Chris Masters. Hoping to find a new purpose in life, Masters heads to the tiny South Pacific island of Koraluna, to set up a modern hospital with crusty Doc Reid (Richard Wilson). The protagonist's dedication to his duties are sorely tested by a deadly polio epidemic, and even more so by the advent of WWII. Along the way, Masters enters into a three-cornered romance with Reid's daughter, Paula (Josephine Byrnes), and with Aleena (Vivien Tan), daughter of the island's native king. The Other Side of Paradise was telecast by Britain's Central Television and by Australia's 10 Network in 1992; the series was subsequently reissued in a two-part version. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Tumultuous Beirut provides the setting for this political drama that centers on a world-weary, lazy American reporter who has been reluctantly assigned to cover the latest war between the PLO and the Christian Phalangists. He could care less about the conflict and sends in stories stolen from other hard-working journalists until he begins getting more involved and interested after he humiliates himself by interviewing a bogus PLO leader. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Christopher Walken, Hywel Bennett, (more)
- 1986
An Englishwoman (Ali MacGraw) returns to her native land after losing her meager fortune in America, but finds that a serial killer stalking the countryside is more of a threat. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- 1979
The four-part British miniseries Malice Aforethought was based on a 1931 British crime novel, which in its time was considered innovative in that it revealed the identity and motive of the murderer from the outset (though this device had previously been used in a number of stage plays). The TV version starred Hywel Bennett as Dr. Edmund Bickleigh, a neurotic, class-conscious general practitioner living and working in the Devonshire community of Wyvern's Cross. Saddled with a nagging and faithless wife (Judy Parfitt), Dr. Bickleigh formulated a complex scheme to do away with the woman in a way that would not only deflect suspicion from himself, but also lead his friends and neighbors to the conclusion that she richly deserved her demise. Along the way, Bickleigh fell in love with the much-younger Gwynfryd (Cheryl Campbell), who was left completely in the dark so far as his murder plan was concerned -- a blissful ignorance which would, alas, have tragic consequences for the poor girl. Malice Aforethought aired over the BBC in 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Living a premature and somewhat humbling retirement, elderly British spy George Smiley (Alec Guinness) is abruptly resurrected by his former boss Lacon (Anthony Bate) with an ultra-secret mission: find the double agent in the ranks of the British Secret Service. Is it the pompous head of service, Percy Alleline (Michael Aldridge)? The blowsy Bland (Terence Rigby)? The shifty Toby Esterhase (Bernard Hepdon)? Or perhaps the urbane Bill Haydon (Ian Richardson)? Pushed into retirement by a scandal caused by the now-deceased head of service, Control (Alexander Knox), and because he suspected that there was a spy, Smiley journeys through the labyrinthine world of the British spy service layer by layer as he hunts the mole controlled by the mysterious Russian spymaster Karla (Patrick Stewart). Taken from a best-selling novel by internationally famed novelist John Le Carré, this nearly five-hour miniseries was first broadcast by the BBC. The story is loosely based on the infamous Kim Philby spy scandal of the early '60s. ~ Nick Sambides, Jr., Rovi
- Starring:
- Alec Guinness, Michael Aldridge, (more)
Not to be confused with Herbert Ross' 1981 remake starring Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters, the highly acclaimed British television miniseries Pennies from Heaven was the breakthrough work of acclaimed screenwriter Dennis Potter, a rich drama set in 1930s London that uses popular songs as both subject and technique. The story, which centers on the dreams and romances of a sheet-music salesman named Arthur Parker (Bob Hoskins), is punctuated by musical numbers where the characters lip-sync to the original recording, providing the audience with a glimpse of the characters' inner worlds. A dreamer who believes in the perfect world depicted in the pop songs, Arthur is frustrated by financial worries and a strained, sexless marriage. Seeking an escape, on a business trip he falls in love with a small-town teacher; pretending to be a wealthy songwriter, he courts her, and finds a kindred spirit. However, despite the promises of the love songs, they soon finds themselves headed towards further challenges and a potentially tragic end. Potter and director Piers Haggard create a unique sort of musical by using pre-existing songs and setting them in distinctly realistic contexts, contrasting the idealistic, carefree songs with the harsher economic, social, and interpersonal realities of the surrounding world. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bob Hoskins
- 1973
Few theatre marquees could accommodate the title It's a 2'6" Above the Ground World, so most British exhibitors chose the film's alternate title, The Love Ban. Based on a potty-mouthed stage play by Kevin Laffan, this comedy concerns the tribulations of a devoutly Catholic couple, played by Nanette Newman and Hywel Bennett. When Newman decides she doesn't want to be burdened with children, she decides to take the pill--which, as we all know from those ubiquitous posters of the 1960s, was a "No No" so far as the Pope was concerned. What seemed racy and daring in 1973 is now almost as harmless as an episode of Barney and Friends. Best to forget the dated quality of the lines and revel in the performances of Newman, Bennett and Milo O'Shea. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1972
- G
- Add Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to Queue Add Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to top of Queue
A star-studded cast highlights this musical adaptation of the classic fantasy tales of Lewis Carroll. One day young Alice (Fiona Fullerton) takes a nasty spill down the rabbit-hole and finds herself in the bizarre kingdom of Wonderland, where she encounters a number of strange and enchanted characters, including the playful White Rabbit (Michael Crawford), the manic March Hare (Peter Sellers), the mysterious Caterpillar (Ralph Richardson), the Doormouse (Dudley Moore), the imperious Queen of Hearts (Flora Robson), and the quizzical Mad Hatter (Robert Helpmann). The cast also includes Spike Milligan, Peter Bull, Roy Kinnear, and Michael Jayston as Lewis Carroll. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland won two prizes at the 1973 British Academy of Film and Theatre Awards -- for Georfrey Unsworth's photography and Anthony Mendelson's costume design. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Fiona Fullerton, Michael Crawford, (more)
Low-brow British humor abounds in this farcical account of Edwin Anthony, the first man to receive a successful penis transplant. Anthony becomes quite attached to his new appendage and even gives it the title name. The alleged humor comes in when Anthony and Percy set out to investigate the life of the latter's former owner. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
This mystery, adapted from an Agatha Christie story, tells the tale of an ambitious British chauffeur who marries his American employer, one of the richest women in the US and persuades her to buy a palatial country estate. She literally loves it to death and that is where all the real trouble begins. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
The Buttercup Chain, based on Janice Elliot's novel, details the intense friendship among four people that turns tragic over the course of one summer. France (Hywel Bennett) and Margaret (Jane Asher) are first cousins, born of twin sisters on the same day. As children, they were brought up as brother and sister. The two possess such a strong platonic love for each other that they are incapable of loving anyone else. When Margaret travels to London to live with France, he picks out beautiful Swedish student Fred (Sven-Bertil Taube) to be Margaret's lover. For himself, he selects American girl Manny (Leigh Taylor-Young). As they spend their holidays traveling in Spain, the countryside of England, and Sweden, the foursome communicate with each other and try to discover the meaning of love. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hywel Bennett, Leigh Taylor-Young, (more)
- 1970
- PG
Joe Orton's black comedy farce has been adapted to the screen in a fast-paced, but ultimately ineffective, adaptation. Hywel Bennett and Roy Holder are two lay-abouts named Dennis and Hal who decide to improve their lot in life by robbing a bank. After pulling the job, they have to hide the loot -- and where else but in the casket of Holder's recently deceased mother? Unfortunately, although the boys hide the money, they can't hide the casket, so they opt for stashing it in the bathroom of the hotel run by Holder's father (Milo O'Shea). All is well until wacky Inspector Truscott (Richard Attenborough) arrives to investigate. Snapping at his heels is Fay (Lee Remick) -- a sexy nurse looking for the loot. Soon, the father's hotel becomes a cacophony of stomping feet and slamming doors, with the loot and the corpse in a farcical shell-game, one step ahead of discovery by the inept Truscott. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Attenborough, Lee Remick, (more)
- 1969
- R
This situation comedy finds rookie soldiers of the British Army trying to cope with military life while stationed in Malaya. Brigg (Hywel Bennett) is a young clerk who falls for the local school teacher Phillipa (Lynn Redgrave), the daughter of Royal Sergeant Major Raskin (Nigel Patrick). Brigg loses his virginal status in an encounter with the prostitute Juicy Lucy (Tsai Chin), while Phillipa also becomes sexually active for the first time. The film strikes a nice balance between comedy and serious drama as the soldiers are put to the test when a train wreck necessitates their involvement, and later several soldiers try to get sick leave by requesting circumcisions. Brigg and Phillipa finally get together when a bombing raid puts them in close proximity in this engaging military comedy. The Kinks' Ray Davies wrote the title track. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lynn Redgrave, Hywel Bennett, (more)
- 1968
The literal translation of this Italian title is "He's My Husband, I'll Kill Him When I Please." A young woman is married to a man in his 70s. To make sure his wife is taken care of after his death, the husband tries to arrange her marriage to a friend of his. When the young bride discovers this, she plans to hasten his imminent demise. She takes up with a beatnik and goes about planning her husband's murder as if she were merely making out a grocery list of needed items at a convenience store. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Catherine Spaak, Hywel Bennett, (more)
- 1968
In a disturbing movie about psychosis, Hayley Mills plays Susan Harper, a young student who tries to help a rich, emotionally ill and sinister young man, Martin Durnley (Hywel Bennett). Martin is a schizophrenic who assumes the personality of a six-year-old boy when he is in his "nice" phase. Susan talks a store manager out of pressing charges against Martin after he steals a toy duck. Martin wants to take the toy to his mongoloid brother, who is in an institution. Martin's stepfather, Henry (Frank Finlay), enraged by his shoplifting, evicts Martin despite the pleas of his mother, Enid (Phyllis Calvert). Martin, again acting like a young child, is taken in by Susan's mother, Joan Harper (Billie Whitelaw), who runs a boarding house. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett, (more)
This gently farcical British comedy stars Hayley Mills and Hywel Bennett as Jenny and Arthur, a young couple who have just gotten married. However, while both of them are filled with anticipation for their honeymoon, a practical joke played by their "friends" causes their bed to collapse just as they're about to consummate their relationship. Through a variety of misfortunes, they end up spending the night at the home of Arthur's parents, where nervousness and a certain lack of privacy make it difficult for them to enjoy their first night together as they'd wish. While a bit of frank language and some fleeting nudity by former child star Hayley Mills generated a certain amount of controversy upon first release, by today's standards The Family Way is more easily seen as the compassionate relationship comedy its creators intended. The Family Way is also of note to Beatles fans as the first film scored by Paul McCartney. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett, (more)
- 1965
In the second episode of the six-part story "The Chase," the Doctor (William Hartnell), peering into the future, has learned of the mass-destruction plans of the mutant Daleks. He also knows that the villains intend to destroy the TARDIS and its crew. Feeling safer chasing after the Daleks than being chased by the mutants, the Doctor trails the enemy to the planet Aridius -- only to discover that he and his traveling companions have been trapped in the TARDIS and are unable to prevent the ensuing carnage. Written by Terry Nation, "The Death of Time" was originally telecast on May 29, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, William Russell, (more)
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