Michael Redgrave Movies
The son of British actor Roy Redgrave, Michael Redgrave attended Clifton College and Cambridge University. While teaching high school, Redgrave became involved with amateur theatricals. A professional by 1934, Redgrave made his London debut in Love's Labours Lost in 1936, and that same year appeared in his first film, Hitchcock's The Secret Agent (1936). It was thanks to his leading role in another Hitchcock effort, The Lady Vanishes (1938), that Redgrave achieved stardom. He was excellent in several starring vehicles of the 1940s, and at his very best in his 20-minute turn as a paranoid ventriloquist in Dead of Night (1946). An attempt to become a Hollywood star via Mourning Becomes Electra (1947) was scuttled due to the film's poor box office take, though Redgrave did earn an Oscar nomination for his performance. After starring in The Dam Busters, Britain's most popular 1955 movie release, Redgrave settled into film character roles, continuing all the while to headline on stage. He also wrote and directed several theatrical productions throughout his career, and was the author of four books: the instructional The Actor's Ways and Means, the novel The Mountebank's Tale, and two autobiographies. In 1959, Redgrave was knighted for his achievements in his chosen field. Long married to actress Rachel Kempson, Michael Redgrave was the father of actors Vanessa, Corin and Lynn Redgrave; and the grandfather of actresses Jemma Redgrave, Natasha and Joely Richardson. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Directed by Raul daSilva, this two-part take on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's celebrated epic begins with a biography of the poet himself, beginning with his turbulent childhood and delving into his misguided attempts at machismo, problems with drug addiction, and brief military service. His inspiration for the Rime of the Ancient Mariner is also discussed at length, and segues into an adaptation of the poem as narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave. The cast features Roland Curram and Miriam Margolyes. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
- 1973
This made-for-TV musical adaptation of the oft-filmed Robert Louis Stevenson tale is a curious novelty -- not only because it predated the Tony award-nominated Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical by nearly 25 years, but also because the musical numbers (by Lionel Bart and Irwin Kostal) are tackled by some of the least likely musical performers in movie history. Viewers will scarcely have the opportunity to recover from Kirk Douglas' opening number before having their senses assaulted by a capering, cackling Donald Pleasence belting out strains of "Smudge's Song," and the equally questionable vocal talents of Susan George. These aberrations aside, this is a noticeably threadbare, stage-bound production filmed entirely on a soundstage (whose walls are evident in several shots), giving the proceedings a dark, two-dimensional feel. The rugged-looking Douglas, though miscast as the tender, love-struck Jekyll, manages a clever turn as the doctor's leering alter ego, and there are some interesting twists added to Stevenson's story, particularly at the climax. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- 1971
The third collaboration between director Joseph Losey and writer Harold Pinter, following The Servant and Accident, continues their exploration of class rituals and the darker recesses of desire. Pinter's script adapts the 1953 L.P. Hartley novel about Leo Colston, a middle-aged man (Michael Redgrave), recalling a summer of his early adolescence at a country estate. Young Leo (Dominic Guard) observes the machinations of the adults in the household, all but two of whom conveniently ignore his presence. Marion Maudsley (Julie Christie) is promised in marriage to another aristocrat, but she is secretly in love with farm worker Ted Burgess (Alan Bates). They enlist Leo as their messenger, with tragic consequences for all concerned. The older Leo has never married, and as the story winds on, it becomes clear that his own infatuation with Marion irrevocably altered his life. The Go-Between won several British Academy Awards, including one for Pinter's screenplay, and was one of four films awarded a grand prize at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi
- Starring:
- Julie Christie, Alan Bates, (more)
- 1971
This melodrama explores the relationship between tenants in a boarding house. Included are a street musician, an ex-school teacher, and an angry young man who brings chaos to their quiet lives. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Nicholas and Alexandra covers the rise and fall of the last of the Russian Romanovs. We first meet Czar Nicholas (Michael Jayston) and his German bride Alexandra (Janet Suzman) at their 1894 wedding. Though Nicholas is devoted to Alexandra, the Russian populace is less politely inclined to having a "foreigner" as their Czarina. Alexandra gains favor when she gives birth to the much-loved Prince Alexis (Roderick Noble). Alas, Alexis suffers from hemophilia, a disease which strikes every second generation of Alexandra's family. When all conventional medical ministrations fail, Alexandra puts the fate of her son in the hands of mystical holy man Rasputin (Tom Baker, later famous for his portrayal of Doctor Who). As Rasputin's influence and power grows, the Russian peasantry becomes more restless and disgruntled. They are now willing to listen to the speeches of such rabble-rousers as Lenin (Michael Bryant) and Trotsky (Brian Cox), who sow the seeds of revolution. Even after the murder of Rasputin, the Bolsheviks are unsatisfied: The revolution finally comes to pass in October of 1917. At first, the moderate Kerensky (John McEnery) pleads with his followers to allow the Romanovs safe passage out of Russia. But the radicals seize control, and on July 16, 1918, the royal family is summarily executed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman, (more)
- 1971
This well-animated version of Dickens' classic Christmas story stays quite faithful to its source as it chronicles the painful lesson learned by a bitter old miser whose money lust alienates him from humanity. His lesson comes in the form of ghostly intervention from a trio of spirits who force him to reassess the direction of his life. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alastair Sim, Michael Hordern, (more)
Two 20 year old twins have a bizarre incestuous relationship. Julian (Martin Potter) and his sister Jacki (Judy Geeson) carry on the affair and only reveal their secrets to a stuffed teddy bear named Agamemnon. While their father is absent, they murder the housekeeper and run wild at night. Drugged out parties with transvestites and homosexuals leads to blackmail, debauchery and murder. Julian soon finds himself unable to escape the dark and strange world and finds his fantasies have becomes his worst nightmares. Michael Redgrave appears briefly as a member of Parliament. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Judy Geeson, Martin Potter, (more)
This lackluster 1970 version of Charles Dickens' classic novel, David Copperfield (made as a film twice before) turns Dickens' picaresque tale into an extended flashback, with David Copperfield (Robin Phillips) as a young man, brooding on a deserted beach, recalling his youth. The characters are all trotted out in choppy flashbacks as David remembers his life as a young orphan, brought to London and passed around from relatives, to guardians, to boarding school. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Attenborough, Cyril Cusack, (more)
This is a musical remake of the 1939 film. Arthur Chipping (Peter O'Toole) is the staid instructor at a posh school for boys where he dreams of becoming headmaster. He falls in love with Katherine (Petula Clark) and he helps the singing dance-hall girl polish her social skills. The two are married, but Katherine is killed during in an airplane crash on her way to entertain Allied troops. Arthur carries on, dedicating his life to her memory and teaching two generations of students who were lucky enough to have him for a teacher and a friend. Herbert Ross makes his directorial debut in this sentimental musical that never approached the success of the original. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter O'Toole, Petula Clark, (more)
James Bond-flick director Guy Hamilton helmed this episodic, all-star World War II film. With Sir Laurence Olivier heading up an ensemble cast as flight commander Sir Hugh Dowdling, The Battle of Britain pays tribute to other nationalities instrumental in fending off the waves of Luftwaffe planes, notably the expatriate Polish and Czech pilots. Trevor Howard, Michael Caine, and Michael Redgrave also populate the cast. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harry Andrews, Trevor Howard, (more)
Oh! What a Lovely War is an every-man-for-himself adaptation of Charles Chilton's 1963 play, as staged in London by Joan Littlewood. The tragedy of World War I is redefined in bawdy music-hall terms, beginning with a verbal free-for-all involving the Crowned Heads of Europe. The war is presented as the "new attraction" at the Brighton Amusement Pier, complete with syrupy cheer-up songs, shooting galleries, free prizes and a scoreboard toting up the dead. Throughout the proceedings, the camera concentrates on a middle-class family, whose five sons end up as cannon fodder. The final image is a veddy proper British picnic on a graveyard. Of the many fleeting satiric images parading past the camera, one of the most indelible is the sight of several generals playing leapfrog as the world all around them goes to hell in a handbasket. The awesome all-star cast includes Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, Maggie Smith, John Gielgud, Michael Redgrave, Jack Hawkins, John Mills, Susannah York, Dirk Bogarde and Phyllis Calvert. We haven't seen this many Englishmen in one place since the last Wimbledon match. The whole affair was supervised by Richard Attenborough, making his directorial debut (a question: why was he up to the challenge of this musical extravaganza, yet seemed helpless in the face of 1985's A Chorus Line?). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ralph Richardson, Meriel Forbes, (more)
- 1968
Originating in the first half of the 20th century, the satirical "Beachcomber" column was a regular feature of the British periodical The Daily Express. Though initially written by D.B. Wyndham-Lewis, the column became most closely associated with J.P. Morton, whose surreal, stream-of-consciousness sense of humor influenced several generations of British comedians, among them the great Spike Milligan. It was, in fact, Milligan who brought Morton's zany musings to the TV screen in a weekly, half-hour comedy anthology, World of Beachcomber. In addition to Milligan, the series boasted such stellar guest performers as Michael Redgrave, Fred Emney, and Hattie Jacques, while among the writers was Barry Took, one of the prime movers of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Nineteen episodes of World of Beachcomber were telecast beginning January 22, 1968, and ending October 27, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Spike Milligan, Frank Thornton, (more)
Made-for-television adaptation of Johanna Spyri's classic children's tale about an orphaned girl who goes to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps. Jennifer Edwards, the then-10-year-old daughter of Blake Edwards and Patricia Walker, stars as the title character. ~ Nicole Gagne, Rovi
- Starring:
- Maximilian Schell, Jean Simmons, (more)
- 1967
Adapted from the novel by C. Virgil Gheorghiu, this satirical concentration-camp drama from Turkish-born French director Henri Verneuil stars Anthony Quinn as Johann Moritz, a Romanian peasant who experiences the horrors of World War II when the Nazis invade his country. Because local police chief Dobresco (Gregoire Aslan) is anamorous towards Moritz's wife Suzanna (Virna Lisi), he has the lowly fieldhand falsely labeled a Jew and sent to a work camp. Moritz's troubles continue to mount, as his wife is threatened with losing their property unless she divorces him. Also starring Michael Redgrave, La Vingt-cinquième heure is also known as The 25th Hour, though it should not be confused with and bears no resemblance to the 2002 Spike Lee film of the same name. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Virna Lisi, (more)
- 1967
This lugubrious spy yarn finds Philip Scott (Stephen Boyd) posing as a toy manufacturer to hide his real purpose in life. He and his faithful operative Harris (Michael Redgrave) battle the evil Smith (Leo McKern) in Austria, England and West Germany. Toni Peters (Camilla Sparv) is the love interest in Philip's life, which is in constant danger from shadowy spies and double agents. The low-key direction ends up having no key to unlock anyone's imagination, but there's nothing inspiring about much of anything in this feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stephen Boyd, Camilla Sparv, (more)
You've seen the Disney classic, now experience the tale of Alice in Wonderland as never before in this live-action adaptation of the timeless tale from the BBC and director Jonathan Miller. Capturing all of the menace and wonder of Lewis Carroll's age-old classic while injecting the story with a pinch of subversive Victorian gothic satire, this surreal updating of the children's fantasy classic features an all-star cast including Sir Michael Redgrave, Sir John Gielgud, Leo McKern, Peter Cook, Peter Sellers, and Alan Bennett. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anne-Marie Mallik
- 1966
Sir Michael Redgrave narrates this documentary that looks at six of the palaces belonging to the British monarchy. The splendor and treasures of the palaces at Buckingham, Windsor, Edinburgh, Kensington, St. James, and Hampton Court gives the audience a behind-the-scenes look at the Royal residences. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra provides the appropriate music in this look at the lavish living quarters of the royal family. Art historian Alec Clifton-Taylor and Christopher Hibbert provide background information. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
The Hill was unfairly subjected to ridicule by the more obtuse "critics" of 1965 who harped on the fact that it starred Sean Connery and, unlike Connery's Bond pictures, had no women in it. Bypassing these cretinous comments, it must be noted that The Hill is an above-the-norm entry in the "military prison" genre. The film takes place during World War II, in a Libyan stockade for incorrigible British soldiers. The camp's brutal Sergeant Major (Harry Andrews) puts his charges to work on grueling, monotonous and pointless projects to break their spirits. When one rebellious inmate dies due to this treatment, the Sergeant Major is reprimanded by Joe Roberts (Connery), who has been appointed as the prisoners' spokesman. The result is that Roberts is likewise subjected to the most demeaning and humiliating of prison chores -- but his spirit, and that of his comrades, is not so easily crushed. Based on a TV play by Ray Rigby, The Hill should never be seen in any form other than its dusty, parched original black-and-white; the currently available colorized version is a crime against humanity. One problem: The British dialects in the first 20 minutes are so thick that an American viewer practically needs subtitles (British critics chalked this problem up not to elocution but to poor sound recording). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sean Connery, Harry Andrews, (more)
- 1965
Young Cassidy is based upon the autobiographical writings of firebrand Irish author Sean O'Casey. Rod Taylor is Cassidy, a boisterous boy who digs ditches to support his mother (Flora Robson) and sister (Sian Phillips). In his spare time, Cassidy is active with the Irish revolutionary movement against the occupying British. He still finds time enough for romance, notably with trashy chorine Julie Christie (in her first major role) and timid librarian Maggie Smith. Cassidy's latent writing talents are encouraged by such Irish literary giants as W.B. Yeats (Michael Redgrave) and Lady Gregory (Edith Evans), and in typically expeditious Hollywood fashion Our Hero almost instantly becomes a Man of Letters. John Ford began the direction of Young Cassidy, but fell ill and had to relinquish his responsibilities to Jack Cardiff; even the most diehard auteurist will have trouble discerning the personal "signature" of either director. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rod Taylor, Julie Christie, (more)
In this tale of espionage and adventure set during World War II, Norway has fallen under Nazi occupation, and a factory is producing "heavy water" (a key ingredient in the manufacture of atomic weapons), under the order of the German military. Knut Straud (Richard Harris), a leading figure in the Norwegian underground, joins forces with scientist Dr. Rolf Pederson (Kirk Douglas), who is working with British intelligence agents to destroy the factory in hopes of keeping the Atomic Bomb out of Axis hands. However, while originally Straud and Pederson are only supposed to infiltrate the factory as a reconnaissance force while awaiting British troops, the English army is forced to retreat from their plans, leaving the Norwegians to destroy the factory and scuttle a shipment of the "heavy water" all by themselves. Inspired by a true story, The Heroes of Telemark also features Michael Redgrave and Anton Diffring. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, (more)
- 1963
This version of Chekov's classic play was recorded at the 1963 Chichester Festival. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1962
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One of the key "angry young man" films which helped define the British "Kitchen Sink Drama" style of the late 1950's and early 60's, this story centers on Colin Smith (Tom Courtenay), a bitter young man from a working-class family. Uninterested in school and determined not to follow his father into factory work, Colin and his friend Mike (James Bolam) make their pocket money through petty crime, until they're arrested after the robbery of a baker's shop and sentenced to Borstal (British reform school). The Governor of the school (Michael Redgrave) takes a keen interest in Colin, but he cares less for his rehabilitation than his gifts as a broken-field runner; Colin finds himself torn between the need to please his captors and his determination not to play along with what he sees as a corrupt system. The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner was the first film for Courtenay, whose performance earned him the "Most Promising Newcomer" prize at the 1962 British Film Academy awards. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Courtenay, Michael Redgrave, (more)
In this lugubrious but brilliantly realized adaptation of Henry James' classic novella The Turn of the Screw, 19th century British governess Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr) arrives at a bleak mansion to take care of Flora (Pamela Franklin) and Miles (Martin Stephens), the wealthy household's two children. Outwardly the children are little darlings, but the governess begins to feel that there's something unwholesome behind those beatific smiles. After several disturbing examples of the children's evil impulses, Miss Giddens gets information from the housekeeper (Megs Jenkins) that suggests that the children may be possessed by malign spirits -- or are all these events just the products of Miss Giddens's own imagination? The best and most frightening vignette in The Innocents occurs when the governess casually kisses young Miles, then recoils in horror when she realizes that someone other than Miles has kissed her back. Unlike many CinemaScope productions, The Innocents plays better in the claustrophobic confines of the TV screen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Deborah Kerr, Megs Jenkins, (more)
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