Robert Powell Movies

In the mid-'90s, an Englishman by the name of Alan Conway (John Malkovich) conned many people into believing that he was the reclusive American director Stanley Kubrick, despite the fact that Conway was openly gay, bore no physical resemblance to Kubrick, and knew little about the director's work. Conway's story has been loosely adapted into the comedic feature Colour Me Kubrick. Anthony Frewin, who worked as Kubrick's personal assistance for many years, wrote the script, and Brian Cook, who served as Kubrick's assistant director on several films, including Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut, marks his directorial debut with the film. Colour Me Kubrick follows Conway on a number of adventures, wherein he cadges drinks, cash, sex, and more from unsuspecting victims, ranging from a heavy metal band to a wine bar owner (Richard E. Grant) to a British lounge singer (British television comic Jim Davidson making his feature-film debut), who are awestruck by his purported fame and fortune, and willing to overlook Conway's genuinely bizarre behavior in the hopes of impressing the great director. Conway's act reached its pinnacle when he temporarily pulled the wool over the eyes of then-New York Times theater critic Frank Rich (William Hootkins). Colour Me Kubrick features cameos by Ken Russell, Honor Blackman, Peter Sallis, and Marc Warren. The French production had its international premiere at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Acclaimed actor Robert Powell (Jesus of Nazareth) narrates this panoramic documentary overview of the American Civil War. The program spans numerous major events of the bloody and visceral four-year conflict, from one of the earliest battles at Fort Sumter, through the surrender of the Confederacy at Appomattox Courthouse. To tell its story, it draws from such resources as dramatic battle reconstructions and acted-out "eyewitness accounts" featuring performers, archival photos and analysis by historians. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

A 19-hour 16th-century Chinese opera written by Tang Xianzu is curtailed to this two-hour video showcase of the poetic dance and performance artistry of the critically acclaimed piece as it was performed on stage. Narrator Robert Powell summarizes the ellipses left by the drastic cut in length, and an hour-long making-of documentary follows the narrative performance. The tale of a young apparition recrudescing to the earthly world for her true love, this expressive love story offers incredible visual interpretation of real-world barriers like parental disapproval and warring on the homefront. ~ Sarah Sloboda, All Movie Guide

As part of the Great Crimes and Trials of the 20th Century series, this video examines the cases murder cases of Butch Defeo and Graham Young. Both men were accused of murdering their families. Defeo was responsible for the "Amityville Murders", having killed six members of his family while they slept in their home. Graham Young became known as the "Teacup Poisoner", after poisoning his step-mother, father, sister and several co-workers. Actor Robert Powell narrates. ~ Ed Atkinson, All Movie Guide

This was the third follow-up to Tim Burton's Batman (1989), the original revisionist look at the Gotham City legend, as well as the second in the Batman series directed by Joel Schumacher and the first featuring George Clooney as the Caped Crusader; it features not one but two super-villains, and a new heroine to fight crime alongside Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) and Dick Grayson (aka Robin) (Chris O'Donnell). The experiments of Dr. Victor Fries (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to preserve his late wife cryogenically have gone horribly wrong, turning him into the evil genius Mr. Freeze, who must keep his body at sub-zero temperature in order to say alive -- and he wants to put Gotham City on ice. Shy horticulturist Pamela Isley (Uma Thurman) goes a bit wild with a Venus Fly Trap-like creation she's been working on and mutates into Poison Ivy, who wants to kill all the people on Earth so plants can take over. Can Batman and Robin stop these fiends before their plans go too far? Meanwhile, Bruce and Dick's faithful butler Alfred (Michael Gough) isn't feeling well, so his niece Barbara (Alicia Silverstone) comes to pay a visit. When Barbara finds out what her uncle's employers do in their spare time, she decides she wants in on the action, and she joins the crime fighting twosome as Batgirl. Batman & Robin also features Jesse Ventura in a small role as a prison guard; it would be his last film role before becoming Governor of Minnesota in 1998. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

As part of the Great Crimes and Trials of the 20th Century series, this video explores the crimes and subsequent trials of Gaston Dominici and Henry Lee Lucas. Gaston Dominici, an illiterate farmer from the south of France, was charged in 1952 with the murder of famed scientist Sir Jack Drummond, his wife and daughter as they camped near Dominici's farm. Henry Lee Lucas, a habitual law breaker who spent most of his life in prison, has been called the most prolific mass murderer in American history, taking credit for over 300 murders. Actor Robert Powell narrates. ~ Ed Atkinson, All Movie Guide

Part of the Great Crimes and Trials of the 20th Century ten-volume series, Public Enemies revisits "the stories that shocked the world." Supported by the American Bar Association, the series provides access to picture libraries, archive footage, and syndicated sources. Included in this installment is the case of Ma Barker, a woman shot down by the FBI in 1935 and said to have aided and masterminded the robberies and kidnappings carried out by her four outlaw sons. Later, historians and investigators wonder if the monster image of Ma Barker was more or less a cover-up for the mistakes of J. Edgar Hoover's FBI. Now, in this investigative documentary, experts ask if Ma Barker was a woman blindly devoted and protective of her sons, or a cold-blooded criminal. ~ Brooke Hodess, All Movie Guide

Part of a series on 20th century crimes and trials that was endorsed by the American Bar Association, Questions of Doubt deals with famous trials that attracted worldwide attention and made history. Whether the defendant was found guilty or innocent, all the trials documented in this video leave some doubt as to whether the verdict was correct. The documentation is supported by excellent worldwide research, and contains archival footage from each crime, along with citations from syndicated sources and picture libraries made available by the involvement of the American Bar Association. ~ Michael McGrath, All Movie Guide

As part of the Great Crimes and Trials of the 20th Century series, this video explores the high profile assinations of Robert F. Kennedy and John Lennon. Using archival news clips and expert commentary, Great Crimes and Trials of the 20th Century: Famous Assinations attempts to show how and the reasons why Sirhan Sirhan and Mark Chapman took the lives of these revered men. Also explored are the legal proceedings that resulted in both killers being imprisoned. Actor Robert Powell narrates. ~ Ed Atkinson, All Movie Guide

As part of the Great Crimes and Trials of the 20th Century series, this documentary examines the cases of Dr. John Bodkin and Dr. Buck Ruxton. Bodkin was charged with the murder of one of his patients after authorities became suspicious when they discovered that nearly one hundred of his deceased patients had bequeathed property to him before their deaths. Dr. Ruxton was tried and convicted for the murder and dismemberment of his wife and maid. Actor Robert Powell narrates. ~ Ed Atkinson, All Movie Guide

This drama is adapted from Dicken's unfinished novel and centers upon a choirmaster who is insanely jealous of his fiancee. This jealousy causes him many problems down the road. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Review the work of Ernst through his perspective as he evaluates his evolution as an artist. ~ All Movie Guide

Despite the use in this film of voices dubbed by greats of English theater, the casting of long-haired cats to play the roles of Romeo and Juliet seems somewhat perverse. Nonetheless, the lines are well read, and the movie contains some fine original musical compositions. Among the voices: Maggie Smith, Ben Kingsley, Vanessa Redgrave, and John Hurt. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide