Christopher Pennock Movies

When a convict and his wife are placed on an isolated island with other convicts, the two are separated and the woman learns how to defend herself to stay alive. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi

As played by Jessica Lange, Frances Farmer is a rebel from the word go, winning a high school essay award by writing a piece in defense of Communism. Determining to become an actress, Frances is equally determined not to play the Hollywood game: she refuses to acquiesce to idiotic publicity stunts, and insists upon appearing on screen sans makeup. Her defiance attracts the attention of Broadway playwright Clifford Odets, who convinces Frances that her future rests with the Group Theatre. But once she leaves Hollywood for New York, Frances learns to her chagrin that the Group intends to exploit her movie fame in order to draw in customers. Her desperate attempts to restart her movie career, combined with her increasing dependence on alcohol and the pressures brought to bear by her monster mother (Kim Stanley), result in a complete mental breakdown. Even while institutionalized, Frances is abused by the powers-that-be; she is forced to undergo an injurious brain operation, is treated like a mad animal, and periodically raped by the inmates. Frances is released in the custody of her mother, who persists in browbeating her tortured daughter until Frances discovers the legal means to break away. The real-life Frances spent her last years as host of a local Indianapolis TV program, dying in 1970 at age 57; the film comes to a climax when Frances is feted on the smarmy network program This is Your Life. Other actual personages depicted herein include Clifford Odets (played by Jeffrey DeMunn), Harold Clurman (Jordan Charney) and Ralph Edwards (Donald Craig). Frances' first husband Leif Erickson is fictionalized as "Jeffrey York", and played by Lange's real-life inamorata Sam Shepard. And if you listen closely, you'll hear the voice of Kevin Costner, whose minor role was whittled down to one line when he, like Frances Farmer, had the temerity to argue with the director. The unhappy life of actress Frances Farmer was also covered in Farmer's autobiography, Will There Ever Be a Morning? While the film rights for that book were sold to a TV-movie concern, the producers of the theatrical feature Frances were able to ship their production out to the public first. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Exploitation film vixen Claudia Jennings stars with Jocelyn Jones in this all-trash rip-off of Bonnie and Clyde with Jennings and Morgan playing a pair of sexy bank robbers who blast their way into countryside banks with a carload of fresh dynamite. The story literally begins with a bang as Candy Morgan (Claudia Jennings) dynamites her way out of jail and proceeds to blow up a bank where Ellie-Jo Turner (Jocelyn Jones) has just lost her job. Candy and Ellie-Jo team up and go on a bank-robbing crime spree. When Ellie-Jo is detained for shoplifting, the outlaw girls take Slim (Johnny Crawford) as a hostage. Slim and Ellie-Jo become lovers and Slim joins the merry band, playing the role of hostage during the gals' bank robberies. However, the law is slowly closing in on them. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

This is the second full-length motion picture feature based on the popular television soap-opera/horror melodrama Dark Shadows. The first film was House of Dark Shadows. This film lacks the grand guignol glee provided by Jonathan Frid and Joan Bennet. However, it has a new storyline, not a rehash of one previously explored in the television series. Here, artist Charles Collins (David Selby, who performed the same part in the TV series) brings his new bride to live in the family mansion, which he has just inherited. The gentle and sensitive young Collins, the last of his clan, has troubled sleep. He dreams of the past, of his family, and of the house. Perhaps his dreams are not just dreams? Increasingly deranged by these visions, it begins to look like he will re-enact the atrocities committed by his family in the past. It is interesting to note that the film uses the mansion of 1890s railroad robber/baron Jay Gould for its setting. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Joanna (Lee Beery) helps Quentin (David Selby) and Desmond (John Karlen) escape from jail. She also, reluctantly, admits that Quentin would be happier with Daphne -- who is now missing. In the forbidden wing of Collinwood, Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) peers into Parallel Time and witnesses the apparent murder of Stella Young (Gaye Edmond). This episode was originally broadcast on January 14, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

As he prepares to kill Daphne (Kate Jackson), Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) is stopped by the ghost of his father, Daniel (Louis Edmonds). So unnerved is Gabriel that he plummets off the roof of Collinwood to his death. Joanna (Lee Beery) sends the escaping Daphne and Quentin (David Selby) on their way, blessing their love for one another. In Parallel Time, Julia Collins (Grayson Hall) lies to Kendrick Young (John Karlen) -- who closely resembles the "real time" Desmond Collins -- concerning the whereabouts of Kendrick's sister, Stella. This episode first aired on January 18, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Having briefly glimpsed into Parallel Time, Daphne (Kate Jackson) relates this experience to Julia (Grayson Hall) and Prof. Stokes (Thayer David). In the "other" world itself, the Parallel-Time version of Julia tries to warn Morgan Collins (Keith Prentice) to get out of Collinwood. Back in "real" time -- 1841, that is -- Daphne concludes that Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) was responsible for the death of Edith, and in so doing puts her own life in jeopardy. This episode first aired on January 12, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Justin Collins (David Hurst) dies just after instructing Morgan (Keith Prentice) to hold the dreaded Collins lottery. In this way, one member of the family will be chosen to spend the night in a locked room; if that person survives a visitation from the mysterious Woman in White, the curse of the Collinses will be lifted. Gabriel Collins (Christopher Pennock), the family wastrel, is terrified that he will be the chosen one. Officially the 1,200th episode of Dark Shadows (actually 1,183 due to numerous network preemptions), this installment originally aired on January 29, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Catching up with the cowardly Gabriel (Christopher Pennock), Morgan (Keith Prentice) orders him to return to Collinwood and fulfill his family obligation by spending the night in the cursed room. His "courage" fortified by liquor, Gabriel allows Morgan and Julia to lock himself in the room -- but will he beat the odds and survive the night? This episode initially aired on February 17, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Just as he feared would happen, Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) is chosen by lottery to spend the night in the cursed room. True to his cowardly reputation, Gabriel runs away from Collinwood. As a result, Quentin (David Selby) is the next to fall victim to the plague. This episode first aired on February 16, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

After finding the bodies of Amanda Collins and James Forsythe, Morgan (Keith Prentice) and Julia (Grayson Hall) are trapped in the secret room by the ghost of Brutus Collins (Louis Edmonds). Later, the demented Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) is summoned by Brutus to kill everyone in Collinwood -- with Amanda's lookalike, Melanie (Nancy Barrett), as the first targetted victim. This episode was first broadcast on March 22, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The lunatic Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) tries to kill his own mother, Flora (Joan Bennett). He is stopped by Kendrick (John Karlen), who then tries, but fails to kill Gabriel. Despite all this, Flora insists that Gabriel did not murder Kendrick's sister, Stella, prompting Melanie (Nancy Barrett) to tell Flora that it is time to reveal the whole truth -- whatever that might be. This episode originally aired on March 9, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Desmond (John Karlen) finds the decapitated body of Judah Zachary. With the help of Gabriel (Christopher Pennock), Desmond is also able to decipher clues left behind by the late Otis Greene, which lead him to a jewel-encrusted mask with supernatural powers. This episode initially aired on October 16, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi