Jon Pertwee Movies

A Yank at Oxford was filmed in England at MGM's "sister studio", Elstree. Robert Taylor plays Lee Sheridan, an arrogant young American scholar/athlete who intends to show the "Brits" a thing or two while attending Oxford University. His abrasive attitude grates against the Oxonian students, who retaliate by subjecting Sheridan to a rather humiliating hazing. Romance enters the picture in the form of Molly Beaumont (Maureen O'Sullivan), the sister of Sheridan's chief academic rival Paul Beaumont (Griffith Jones). When Paul faces disgrace over a breach of student ethics, Sheridan nobly shoulders the blame, simultaneously endangering his own future at Oxford and proving that he's really a "right guy" underneath. All is forgiven during the annual rowing competition against Cambridge, with Sheridan coming through in jolly good fashion. Cast as campus vamp Elsa Craddock is the stunningly beautiful Vivien Leigh, still two years away from Gone With the Wind. A Yank at Oxford was remade in 1984 as Oxford Blues, and mercilessly lampooned by Laurel & Hardy in 1940's A Chump at Oxford. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The British "Adventures Of..." series can be described as a dirtier "Carry On" (if such a thing is possible). Christopher Neil plays the title character in 1987's Adventures of a Private Eye. Neil's life is plunged into peril when he agrees to deal with a blackmailer. To achieve his purposes, our hero is obliged to make love to every beautiful girl he meets; it's meant to be satirical, but the laughs often take second place to the heavy breathing. If nothing else, Adventures of a Private Eye treats us to a performance by the delectable 1960s leading lady Suzy Kendall. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The multi-million dollar film extravaganza Cleopatra was too convenient a target for Britain's "Carry On" funsters to ignore. The plot of Carry on Cleo, if one can discern a plot amidst the sight gags and outrageous puns, involves the attempts by a bungling slave (Kenneth Connor) to rescue Julius Caesar (Kenneth Williams) from assassination. Instigators of the plot are Cleopatra (Amanda Barrie) and Mark Anthony (Sidney James), who comport themselves like a couple of Liverpool pub owners. The best bit involves Mark Anthony's "beheading" of the legendary asp. Filmed on a tight 160,000 pound budget and utilizing leftover sets from the Taylor/Burton epic, Carry On Cleo's reputation rests chiefly on a legal brouhaha involving its advertising artwork, which was deliberately patterned after the ads for the "real" Cleopatra. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In one of the best of the long-running Carry On series, Western clichés are run through the Carry-On wringer. The film takes place in wild and woolly Stodge City, a town held in thrall to the nasty dealings of The Rumpo Kid (Sidney James). The Rumpo Kid holds the town in such abject terror that Judge Burke (Kenneth Williams) compels Sheriff Albert Earp (Jon Pertwee) to run The Rumpo Kid out of town. But when Earp confronts The Rumpo Kid, Earp is shot dead for his troubles. Burke puts out a call for a new lawman for the town and, due to a series of misunderstandings, an English custodian, Marshall P. Knutt (Jim Dale) is hired for the job. Arriving at the same time as Knutt is Annie Oakley (Angela Douglas), who has come to town to get vengeance for her father's murder (her father being the deceased sheriff). Events simmer and boil to a final confrontation between The Rumpo Kid and Nutt, who utilizes his custodial skills to defeat The Rumpo Kid and his evil gang. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Cecil Parker is the whole show in Dear Mr. Prohack, just as he'd been in the stage version by Edward Knoblock. The eponymous Prohack is a Royal Treasury official who is an expert at managing other people's money. Alas, when he himself inherits a fortune, Prohack is as financially naïve as a kid with a piggy bank. Denholm Elliot makes his film debut in the role of Ozzie Morfrey; others in the high-powered cast include Glynis Johns, Dirk Bogarde, Hermione Baddely, Ian Carmichael, future director Bryan Forbes, and Jon "Dr. Who" Pertwee. Both the play and film versions of Dear Mr. Prohack were based on a novel by Arnold Bennett. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Carnival of Monsters," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) have apparently materialized on an ocean liner in the year 1935. But the time-travelers soon discover that the ship is actually a tiny scale model and that they have been miniaturized and trapped inside a carnival sideshow device called the Miniscope. Written by Robert Holmes, "Carnival of Monsters, Episode 2" first aired on February 3, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Carnival of Monsters," the miniaturized Doctor and Jo attempt to escape from the traveling carnival sideshow display in which they have been imprisoned. Their getaway is impeded by such nuisances as a political revolution, a swarm of carnivorous worms, a pair of crooked carnival entrepreneurs, and a team of obstreperous customs officials. Written by Robert Holmes, "Carnival of Monsters, Episode 4" first aired on February 17, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story "Colony in Space," the Earth colonists on the planet Uxarius are embroiled in a property-rights battle with the Interplanetary Mining Corporation. Hoping to mediate between the two combatants, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) will soon be aided and abetted by the newly arrived Adjudicator. Unfortunately, this "ally" is actually his old nemesis, the Master (Roger Delgado), in disguise. Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Colony in Space, Episode 2" first aired on April 17, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "Colony in Space," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) discovers that the natives of the planet Uxarius have deified a machine which is capable of wiping out entire planets. Likewise taking an interest in this doomsday device is the Master (Roger Delgado), who has arrived on Uxarius in the guise of a land-dispute mediator. Naturally, the Master wants to steal the machine in order to take over the universe -- or destroy in the process. Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Colony in Space, Episode 4" first aired on May 1, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion to the six-part story "Colony in Space," the Adjudicator, sent from earth to mediate a land dispute between the colonists of the planet Uxarius and the Interplanetary Mining Corporation, has revealed himself to be the Master (Roger Delgado), longtime nemesis of the Doctor (Jon Pertwee). Now in control of a doomsday device that is worshipped as an idol by the planet's natives, the Master intends to wreak havoc throughout the Universe. Inasmuch as this story is set in the year 2472 A.D., there is no telling how things will turn out until the very end. Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Colony in Space, Episode 6" first aired on May 15, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Day of the Daleks," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) are taken prisoner by the Ogrons, a group of guerilla fighters from the 22nd century. Having traveled 200 years back in time, the Ogrons are determined to assassinate diplomat Sir Reginald Styles (Wilfred Carter), whom they hold responsible for a cataclysmic World War which allowed the Daleks to conquer the Earth. First telecast January 8, 1972, "Day of the Daleks, Episode 2" was written by Louis Marks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Day of the Daleks," the 22nd century Ogrons prepare to journey back in time to assassinate Sir Reginald Styles (Wilfred Carter), the diplomat whom they hold responsible for plunging the world into nuclear war, thereby paving the way for a Dalek takeover. But the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) discovers that Styles was not the culprit; instead, it was a renegade Ogron who caused all the trouble. Now the Doctor must not only save Sir Reginald, but also alter the course of the future. First telecast January 22, 1972, "Day of the Daleks, Episode 4" was written by Louis Marks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Death to the Daleks," an energy drain on the planet Exxilon has rendered the TARDIS useless. During his enforced stay on the planet, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) ends up seeking out an antidote for a plague which has spread throughout the galaxy. Things take a deadly turn when the instigators of the plague, the mutant Daleks, likewise show up on Exxilon. Written by Terry Nation, "Death to the Daleks, Episode 2" first aired on March 2, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide