Jacqueline Pearce Movies

Jan Chappell plays a dual role in this episode, as alien telepath Cally and as Cally's sister, Zelda. Receiving a mental message from Zelda, Cally learns of a deadly plague on her home planet, Auron. The person responsible for this calamity is Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce), who wants to get her hands on Auron's sophisticated cloning process. "Children of Auron" originally aired on February 18, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Vincentio (Kenneth Colley), Duke of Vienna, is a good and kindly ruler, but his leniency has allowed vice to thrive. So he decides to leave town temporarily, putting in charge his stern chief deputy, Angelo (Tim Piggott-Smith). Immediately, Angelo condemns the young nobleman, Claudio (Christopher Strauli), to death for getting his sweetheart, Juliet (Jacqueline Pearce), pregnant. Isabella (Kate Nelligan), an aspiring nun who is Claudio's sister, is disgusted by Angelo's suggestion that she "lay down the treasures" of her body to save her brother's life. Meanwhile, the Duke returns to town in the guise of a friar to see how his domain is faring in his absence. When he spies around, he learns of Claudio's imprisonment, and he overhears the dilemma that Angelo has created for Isabella. The helpful ''friar'' then suggests to Isabella that Mariana (Jacqueline Pearce), who was once betrothed to Angelo, take her place in the darkness of Angelo's bedroom. Mariana agrees, and the scheme goes according to plan. However, Angelo reneges on his promise because he fears Claudio will seek revenge if he is released, and instead he orders Claudio's immediate execution. However, Duke Vincentio, still disguised as a friar, persuades the prison warden to spare Claudio and to trick Angelo into thinking Claudio is dead. When Duke Vincentio doffs his disguise and reappears as himself, Angelo, realizing the game is up, asks to be executed to avoid a degrading trial. But Mariana, steadfast in her love for Angelo, pleads for his life. Mercy and a happy ending triumph. Claudio returns from the dead to wed Juliet. Angelo is spared and marries Mariana. The Duke then begs the hand of Isabella. He tells her, ''Dear Isabel, I have a motion much imports your good; whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, what's mine is yours and what is yours is mine.'' ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide

Blake (Gareth Thomas) sets forth to destroy the Federation's master computer on Earth. Unfortunately, the Federation has relocated the computer to Star One, which cannot be attacked without devastating consequences. Making matters worse, Travis (Brian Croucher) has shown up in hopes of eliminating Blake once and for all. Series regular David Jackson makes his last appearance as Gan in "Pressure Point," which originally aired on February 6, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Now a fugitive from the Federation himself, Travis (Brian Croucher) attempts to draw his old enemy, Blake (Gareth Thomas), out of hiding by holding Blake's cousin, Inga (Judy Buxton), hostage. Obliged to meet his longtime adversary on the planet Exbar, Blake is surprised when Travis insists that he wants to join forces with the Liberator crew. But just because Travis is no longer associated with the Federation doesn't mean that he can be trusted any farther than he can be thrown. "Hostage" first aired on February 27, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Liberator crew touches down at Freedom City, a gigantic floating casino. But their arrival is not for rest and relaxation: Blake (Gareth Thomas) hopes to locate Docholi (Denis Carey), a cybersurgeon who may or may not know the whereabouts of the Federation's control center on Star One. Despite this noble mission, Avon (Paul Darrow) and Vila (Michael Keating) find time to dally at the gaming tables, intent upon breaking the bank with the help of fortune-telling computer Orac. "Gambit" made its first TV appearance on March 20, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Blake (Gareth Thomas) finally arrives at Star One, the location of the Federation's control center. Almost simultaneously, Star One is invaded by an army from another galaxy. This puts Blake in the untenable position of saving the hated Federation from the invaders -- a dilemma that is only made worse by the arrival of his old adversary, Travis (Brian Croucher). Like the final episode of Blakes 7's first season, this climactic installment of season two ends with a cliffhanger. Representing the last regular series appearances of Gareth Thomas as Blake (who would, however, make two crucial guest appearances in future episodes) and Sally Knyvette as Jenna, "Star One" originally aired on April 3, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Travis (Stephen Greif) uses captured female freedom fighter Avalon (Julia Vilder) to lure his longtime enemy, Blake (Gareth Thomas), into a trap. Curiously, Blake is permitted to complete his current mission, that of rescuing Avalon from Travis. The plot hinges on the fact that Avalon isn't really Avalon at all, but a well-crafted android clone -- a fact that both hero and villain intend to use to their advantage (though not, of course, at the same time). "Project Avalon" originally aired on February 27, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After rescuing Jenna (Sally Knyvette) from the hostile natives of Cephelon, Blake (Gareth Thomas) must evade Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce) long enough to deliver much-needed medical supplies to the scientist Ensor (Derek Farr) on the planet Aristo. Alas, Blake is too late: Ensor has died. Fortunately, Blake and his comrades have "inherited" Ensor's high-tech computer Orac, which -- less fortunately -- serves up a future vision showing the utter destruction of the Liberator and its crew. And on this "cliffhanger" note, the first season of Blakes 7 draws to a close. "Orac" originally aired on March 27, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Humorist Max Wilk scripted this listless film version of his book of the same name. Jerry Lewis plays George Lester, an American entrepreneur living in London. After a money-raising scheme fails, his wife Pamela (Jacqueline Pearce) threatens him with divorce. Trying to demonstrate his willingness to get serious with Pamela, George, with crackbrained finesse, turns her country home into a discotheque. Pamela, shocked, demands that George restore her home the way it was. While defending himself, George notes than Pamela now has a snobbish suitor in tow -- Dudley Heath (Nicholas Parsons). To show up Pamela, George contacts an old friend, conman H. William Homer (Terry-Thomas). Together, they concoct a scheme to abscond with Dudley's blueprints for an electronic oil drill and sell it to the Arabs. But complications occur when George catches the mumps and has to rely upon airline steward Fred Davies (Bernard Cribbins) to transport the microfilmed blueprints to Lisbon in his teeth. Once in Lisbon, a local dentist, Dr. Pinto (John Bluthal), is tabbed to remove the blueprints from Davies's mouth, but Dr. Pinto double-crosses them. George flies off to Lisbon with Pamela in pursuit, and the chase is on. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

This chilling monster film metaphorically examines the horrors brought home by British colonialism. Harry and Valerie (Ray Barrett, Jennifer Daniel) inherit the Cornwall home of Harry's brother, who died under mysterious circumstances. The local villagers are tight-lipped and afraid, and the couple's neighbor, the hostile Dr. Franklin (Noel Willman), hides in a large mansion with his frightened daughter Anna (Jacqueline Pearce) and a strange foreign man (Marne Maitland). The truth is that Franklin had been investigating a secret tribe of snake-people on his last trip to Borneo, and they had reacted to his intrusion by making Anna one of them. As a result, the girl turns into a hideous cobra-woman every winter, with bulging eyes, a scaly face, and large, venomous fangs. Other than the unusual monster, The Reptile may as well be a direct remake of Hammer's The Mummy, a film which this one apes in many of its contrivances. Director John Gilling does manage some effective setpieces, such as the sulfur-spring below the mansion, which keeps Anna warm as she writhes beneath a blanket to shed her skin. Underrated character-actor Michael Ripper appears in one of his more substantial roles as Tom, the local pub-owner, who goes from avoidance to digging up graves and risking his life to save the couple. There are some inconsistencies in Anthony Hinds' script, but the film is handsomely mounted and delivers its share of shocks. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

Gypsy Girl was originally released in England as Sky West and Crooked. With this production, John Mills became a one-time film director, guiding his daughter Hayley through a screenplay written by Mills' wife Mary Hayley Bell. Radically cast against type, Hayley plays a mentally traumatized young lady living in a remote North Country rural community. She falls in love with a handsome gypsy (Ian McShane), which stirs up the prejudices of her family and neighbors. In the end, it is the gypsy boy who rescues Hayley from being institutionalized. Less grim than one might expect, Gypsy Girl takes its time telling its story, though the acting makes up for any lulls. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide