Redmond Phillips Movies
- 1984
Before he directed the cult classic Highlander (1986), music video creator Russell Mulcahy adapted this stylish, tongue-in-cheek horror film from the novel by Peter Brennan. Gregory Harrison stars as Carl Winters, a grief-stricken American husband who has come to a remote corner of Australia to seek answers in the death of his wife, a TV journalist who was investigating a story on kangaroo poaching. Carl meets Jake Cullen (Bill Kerr), a man obsessed with hunting down what he says is an enormous razorback boar that consumed his grandson. Although he was acquitted, most of the locals believe that Jake murdered the boy himself and invented the crazy story about a giant pig. Jake tells Carl that he believes the razorback is also responsible for his wife's death. At first skeptical, Carl becomes a believer when he encounters the beast. He and Jake track it to a dog food processing plant, where the owners are illegally butchering kangaroos for industrial use. The factory operators are also feeding the dog food to the gigantic razorback, increasing its size and carnivorous appetite. Joined by farmer Sarah Cameron (Arkie Whiteley), Carl and Jake set out to kill the powerful mutant. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gregory Harrison, Arkie Whiteley, (more)
- 1983
Phar Lap, the legendary New Zealand-bred racing horse, is as well-known today for his mysterious death as for his fabulous accomplishments in life. Beginning at the end, the film flashes back to the day that Phar Lap, despite his lack of pedigree, is purchased on impulse by trainer Harry Telford (Martin Vaughan). Phar Lap loses his first races, but Telford's faith in the animal is unshakable. Suddenly the horse becomes a winner, thanks to the love and diligence of stableboy Tommy Woodcock (Tom Burlinson). American-promoter Dave Davis (Ron Leibman) arranges for Phar Lap to be entered in several top races, where his "long shot" status results in heavy losses for the professional gamblers. Just after winning an important race in Mexico, Phar Lap collapse and dies; though the film never comes out and says as much, it is assumed that the horse was "murdered" by the gambling interests. The film is based on a book by Michael Wilkinson. The real-life Tommy Woodcock appears in the film as an elderly trainer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Burlinson, Martin Vaughan, (more)
- 1982
The trial of three men in the bombing of a Hilton Hotel in Sidney in 1978 serves as the general focus for this docudrama on the nature of prejudice and justice. After the hotel bombing, authorities suggested that non-Indian members of a Hindu sect called Ananda Marga (path of bliss) had done the deed -- which killed a few people, including a policeman, but did not harm any of the Commonwealth Nations' delegates at the hotel at the time. About a year later, a paid police informant accused three members of the evangelical Hindu sect of making a bomb to kill a right-wing politico. The police arrested the men, a trial ensued with much conflicting evidence, and the trio was acquitted because of a hung jury. As noted at the end of the movie, in a second trial six months later, the men were convicted and sentenced to long prison terms. Several noted Australian actors such as Tony Barry, Max Cullen, Chris Haywood, and Richard Moir) were cast as the attorneys, defendants, and detectives in this drama directed by Esben Storm. Years later, after many appeals, the fact that the whole trial was based on manufactured evidence and that the men were innocent came to light. They were chosen as scapegoats because of their participation in an unpopular religious sect. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Burgess, John Ley, (more)
This romantic melodrama is based on a novel by Danielle Steele and chronicles a wife's reaction to her husband's run of bad luck. Their troubles begin when she returns home from a business trip and discovers that her husband has been arrested and jailed for raping a woman. Though he tends to philander, he is not a rapist. The only way the wife can cope with the pain is to become an alcoholic drug addict. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cheryl Ladd, Robert Coleby, (more)
- 1980
- PG
Despite its title, The Earthling is not a science fiction opus. Instead, it's a low-key character study about a doomed man who finds a new lease on life by helping another lost soul. Suffering from terminal cancer, Patrick Foley (William Holden) returns to his native Australia. Intending to live out his last few months alone, Foley comes out of his shell long enough to teach impressionable young orphan Shawn Daley (Ricky Schroder) a few Bush Country survival skills. Ironically, director Peter Collinson was himself a cancer victim, who died shortly after the film's completion. The Earthling works best on a kiddie-matinee level, with Holden's performance and the gorgeous photography its chief assets. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Holden, Rick Schroder, (more)
- 1978
In this fact-based drama, when Stephen Walls (Nathan Dawes), a four-year old, goes missing in the outback near his home in rural Australia, the population of the entire town (and several nearby towns) turns out to search for him. Unfortunately, they raise such a ruckus that they scare the little tyke, and he hides himself even more thoroughly. For four days, the townsfolk search for him, and during that time, the lad not only avoids capture, but begins to thoroughly enjoy his dangerous game of hide-and-seek. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1971
This futuristic political drama stars Joe James as the Australian minister of defense. In seeking a military alliance with Asia, James is thwarted by his antiwar son Gerard Maguire. The film's "generation gap" seems to be its sole raison d'etre, and as such the story seems terribly antiquated when seen today (and difficult to follow, thanks to the actors' thick regional accents). Still, The Demonstrator was an important stepping stone in the revitalization of the long-dormant Australian film industry. Scripter Kit Denton adapted the film from an original story by Elizabeth Campbell and Don Campbell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
The Avengers' sixth season opened with an exciting harkback to the classic third-season episode "The Cybernauts." The plot is set in motion by the brother of the man whose earlier attempt to use robotic technology to take over the British economy was foiled by Steed and Emma. Thirsting for revenge, the villain conspires with a trio of shady scientists to transform the Avengers into "living puppets." Horror-film perennial Peter Cushing guest stars as the deceptively charming Paul Beresford. Written by Philip Levene, "Return of the Cybernauts" made its British TV debut on September 30, 1967; its first American telecast was delayed until an open timeslot was found on February 21, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In this thriller, an carefully engineered bank robbery goes awry. The plan is masterminded by an American visiting Britain; his accomplices are three unstable fellows. Things go wrong when they must kill the night watchman and kidnap his daughter. They then flee to their secret lair to await the getaway boat. Two days pass and the boat does not come. More trouble ensues when the American finds himself deeply attracted the young woman, and she to him even after he rapes her. He then begins trying to protect her from the others. This makes the men feel slighted; enraged, they decide to steal the loot and a fight ensues. It is a brutal battle and as they tussle, the old building begins to collapse. All of the criminals die. The American dies while saving the girl. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1964
A small German town falls prey to an unseen monster that turns its victims into lifeless statues in this mid-'60s outing from Hammer Studios. When the girlfriend of bohemian artist Bruno Heitz (Jeremy Longhurst) becomes the latest townsperson to turn up dead, her corpse transformed to stone, Bruno hangs himself, leaving the town to assume his guilt. But when his father, Prof. Heitz (Michael Goodliffe), comes to investigate, he too encounters the Gorgon and turns to stone. Just before dying, the professor dashes off instructions to his other son, Paul (Richard Pasco), about how to exonerate Bruno. Suspicion falls on Dr. Namaroff (Peter Cushing), proprietor of the local madhouse, although one of his patients (Joyce Hemson) seems just as likely a culprit. Then along comes Prof. Carl Maister (Christopher Lee), a folklore expert from the University of Leipzig, who claims that the murderer is actually a human possessed by the spirit of Magaera, one of Medusa's snake-haired sisters from Greek mythology. Together, Paul and Dr. Namaroff attempt to root out the incognito Gorgon while Paul courts lovely amnesiac Carla Hoffman (Barbara Shelley). Directed by Hammer veteran Terence Fisher, The Gorgon is one of several films to feature British horror mainstays Lee and Cushing side by side. In the States, the film appeared with The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb on a double bill promoted by the distribution of a unique giveaway item: black stamps. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, (more)
Tony Richardson's adaptation of Henry Fielding's classic novel was one of the most critically acclaimed and popular comedies of its time, winning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film follows Tom Jones (Albert Finney), a country boy who becomes one of the wildest playboys in 18th century England, developing a ravenous taste for women, food, and rowdy adventures. Over the course of the film, Jones tries to amass his own fortune and win the heart of Sophie (Susannah York). Not only does John Osborne's Oscar-winning screenplay stay true to the tone of the novel, but the cast -- including Lynn Redgrave in her first screen role -- tears into the story with spirited abandon, making the movie a wildly entertaining and witty experience. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Finney, Susannah York, (more)
- 1963
In this light romantic comedy Charles Boyer plays the enigmatic Mr. Pimm, a man with a Cupid complex who grooms men to be paired with the ideal wealthy heiress, and once heavenly matrimony is attained, Mr. Pimm gets his cut. He has his eyes set on Millie (Hope Lange) for the handsome but somewhat inept Gaspard (Ricardo Montalban) and knowing that love might need a nudge or two, he places Davis (Glenn Ford) in Millie's home as a chauffeur who will help Gaspard whenever he can. Millie has her own ideas about the most irresistible man around -- and he is not Gaspard. Meanwhile, Gaspard agrees with Millie because there is someone else on his horizon as well. Telly Savalas shines in an early role as Millie's gourmet uncle. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Ford, Hope Lange, (more)
Directed by American expatriate Joseph Losey, the British The Criminal is a gloom-wallow elevated by superb performances. Top crook Stanley Baker plans a clever bank robbery. It goes off hitchless, but the clerk responsible for "laundering" the stolen money insists upon a bigger percentage of the take, else he'll blow the whistle. Baker hides the money, whereupon he is turned over to the law by his ex-girlfriend, who is in cahoots with the clerk. Baker refuses to reveal the whereabouts of the loot, so his old gang arranges to have him broken out of jail -- and also arranges for Baker's "accidental" demise. Appearing as the greedy clerk in Concrete Jungle is Sam Wanamaker, who like Joseph Losey fled to England as a result of the Hollywood blacklist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, (more)
- 1960
In this British comedy, an amiable demolitions expert finds himself entangled with a band of criminals masquerading as doctors. In this guise, the thieves attempt to build a tunnel between the hospital and the bank next door. The expert successfully blows open the vault, and the criminals escape with their loot, leaving the hapless safecracker to take the rap. Five years pass before he is released from prison. The man has learned his lesson and tries to reform by taking a job in a small resort. More trouble ensues when he sees the most prominent citizen in town cheating his neighbors by selling bogus shares in the future of the town. To stop him the ex-safecracker enlists the aid of his old gang who begin masquerading as American soldiers offering to build a missile base in the town. Naturally the avaricious businessman desires a piece of the pie and so buys back all of the land he had sold. Using his special talent, the hero blows up the villain's land. Fortunately, the real American army gets involved by offering to rebuild the destroyed town on the land, causing the townsfolk to cheer the former con-man on as the police haul him back to prison. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Norman Wisdom, Alfred Marks, (more)
- 1959
Naked Fury is a 60-minute British crime quickie. Four robbers kill a night watchman while knocking over a warehouse. They kidnap the daughter (Leigh Madison) of the murdered man and hole up in a squalid shack. One of the robbers (Kenneth Cope) falls in love with the hostage, triggering a falling out with his fellow crooks. Final score: Hostage 1, Crooks 0. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Award-winning director Joseph Losey guides this suspenseful mystery through its paces, beginning with an apparently guilty Dutch artist, Jan Van Rooyen (Hardy Kruger), caught in an upscale cottage where a woman lies murdered. Hard-nosed, irritable Inspector Morgan (Stanley Baker) is certain Van Rooyen is guilty and begins to grill him about his story. The artist finally admits that he and the dead woman, Jacqueline Cousteau (Micheline Presle), had met by accident and eventually began a love affair. She was married, so they kept their liaison a secret. Inspector Morgan then informs him that the woman was single but involved with a high-level diplomat. So what is going on? ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hardy Kruger, Stanley Baker, (more)
- 1959
This rollicking political satire stars Ian Carmichael as an impressionable British TV personality. His vanity is stroked by a group of political managers who talk him into running on the Conservative ticket during a political campaign. The managers hope that Carmichael's name value will draw voters, but don't intend to permit him anything like actual legislative power. Carmichael suddenly develops an abiding interest in politics when he meets his Labour Party opponent--lovely Patricia Breden. Left, Right and Center is blessed with an abundance of supporting character comedians, headed by Alistair Sim as Carmichael's avaricious uncle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patricia Bredin, Eric Barker, (more)
- 1958
Eastern Bloc seaman Stephan Vasa (Stephan Vasa) is being held prisoner by the Communists. A man claiming to represent a refugee agency approaches "Invisible Man" Peter Brady, asking Brady's help in an effort to rescue Vasa. Brady agrees, little suspecting that he is falling into a trap set by Vasa's treacherous wife Sonia (Greta Gynt), who intends to use radar to chart Brady's movements in order to kidnap him on behalf of the Enemy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
In this lightweight drama, an adventurous couple endeavors to open a coffee bar and record production company. They begin searching for a recording star to promote. Their first choice is their own handyman, a bit of an amateur singer. He and some of the other new singers for the company hit the popular charts. This attracts the notice of a major record company that immediately tries to take the little company over. Just as it looks like the little company is to be swallowed up, an American company merges with them and the day is saved. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lee Patterson, Mary Steele, (more)
This meticulous re-creation of the sinking of the Titanic was adapted by Eric Ambler from the best-selling book by Walter Lord, and it preceded the blockbuster Titanic by almost 40 years. The film covers the life and death of the huge vessel from its launching celebration to that fateful night of April 14, 1912, when the "unsinkable" ship struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Of the 2224 passengers on board, 1513 were drowned as a result of the bad planning of lifeboats and escape routes. Kenneth More heads a huge and stellar cast, with 200 speaking parts, as second officer Herbert Lightoller, from whose point-of-view the story unfolds. Also in the cast are Laurence Naismith as the ill-fated Captain Smith; Michael Goodliffe as conscience-stricken ship's designer Thomas Andrews; Tucker McGuire as feisty American millionaire Molly Brown, whose courage and tenacity saved many lives; and Anthony Bushell as the captain of the Carpathia, who launched a noble but vain rescue mission once he was apprised of the disaster. Also appearing are two future TV favorites: The Avengers' Honor Blackman as a woman who believes that she has nothing to live for, and The Man From UNCLE's David McCallum as a wireless operator. The climactic sinking of the vessel is re-created with painstaking accuracy; filmed in "real time," it is a mere 37 minutes shorter than the actual tragedy. Two years before the film's release, an American TV adaptation of A Night to Remember set a precedent as the most elaborate and technically complex "live" broadcast of its time. Some viewers will find this movie a more accurate and gripping representation of this sea disaster than the romance-heavy Titanic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenneth More, Honor Blackman, (more)
