Hubert Rees Movies
John Hurt plays the British jockey Bob Champion in this true story of how Champion overcame cancer and the rigors of chemotherapy for an impressive personal and professional comeback. Just as Champion is in the middle of a vacation in Kentucky, he finds out he has cancer, and, like others before him, submits to the full, painful treatments of multiple injections and radiation, suffering as much or more from the cure as from the illness (these treatments are graphic). Gaunt and nauseous, Champion also endures realistic meetings with his doctors that hold forth no guarantee of a cure. His eventual remission leads to yet another grueling physical schedule to get him back into shape for the Grand National Steeplechase -- a 30-fence, well-publicized race that offers difficult hurdles for both the horses and their jockeys. If the 115-minutes running time of this film were cut in places, it would create a better, trim and slim, fast-paced telling of an even more focused tale. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Hurt, Edward Woodward, (more)
Set in London, this three-part British miniseries was adapted by Gerald Seymour from his own novel. A visiting Israeli scientist was targeted for assassination by two different terrorist organizations: one Irish, one Arab. After working at cross-purposes for an extended length of time, the hired killers from both factions decided to join forces to carry out their murderous assignment. American actors Rod Steigerand Anthony Perkins headed the cast of The Glory Boys, which originally aired over Yorkshire Television from October 1-3, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Not a remake of the landmark 1903 Edwin S. Porter film, The Great Train Robbery is a dramatization of the famous first hold-up of a moving train in 1855 England. The conspirators in this undertaking are Edward Pierce (Sean Connery), Agar (Donald Sutherland) and Clean Willy (Wayne Sleep). Pierce is the brains, Clean Willy the brawn, and safecracker Agar provides the finesse. The scheme involves stealing a shipment of gold bars intended to be used in the payroll for the Army in the Crimean War. Lesley Anne Down co-stars as Miriam, the woman on the outside who arranges Connery's getaway. When released in England, this film was titled The First Great Train Robbery, so as not to be confused with Britain's embarrassing 1963 railroad heist. Director Michael Crichton adapted the story from his own, more-clinical novel on the same subject. Filmed in Ireland, The Great Train Robbery was dedicated to the memory of its director of photography, Geoffrey Unsworth, who died shortly after the production wrapped. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland, (more)
- 1979
What happened when best-selling mystery novelist Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days back in 1926? The British Agatha "answers" that question. Vanessa Redgrave is cast as Ms. Christie, who vanished from her home not long after her husband (Timothy Dalton) informed her that he was leaving her. Nearly two weeks later, after being the subject of a nationwide search, Christie showed up none the worse for wear at a health spa in Yorkshire, insisting that she could remember nothing of her experiences during her disappearance. According to scriptwriters Kathleen Tynan and Arthur Hopcraft, Christie was located before her return by American reporter Wally Stanton (an uncomfortable-looking Dustin Hoffman), after enjoying a brief romantic fling with the authoress. The journalist decided to keep his discovery a secret. Another plot wrinkle concerns Christie's plan for revenge against her errant husband -- a scheme with all the earmarks of a Miss Marple or Poirot whodunit. Agatha represented former TV director Michael Apted's matriculation to A-pictures with major stars; he fared better with his subsequent endeavor, Coal Miner's Daughter (1980). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dustin Hoffman, Vanessa Redgrave, (more)
- 1976
In the second episode of the six-part story "The Seeds of Doom," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) are stranded in the Antarctic while investigating a series of attacks on an expedition party. The attacks are related to the discovery of a mysterious vegetable pod, which the Doctor identifies as a Krynoid pod -- and, according to him, these things are highly dangerous and always travel in pairs. Meanwhile, a second pod is stolen by the minions of demented horticulturalist Harrison Chase (Tony Beckley). First telecast February 7, 1976, "The Seeds of Doom, Part 2" was written by Robin Banks Stewart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, (more)
- 1976
The "Seeds of Doom" in this six-part Doctor Who adventure are discovered in a vegetable pod in the Antarctic. This discovery is closely followed by a series of mysterious attacks on the members of the expedition party. UNIT is summoned to Antarctica to investigate -- and when UNIT arrives, can the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah (Elizabeth Sladen) be far behind? First telecast January 31, 1976, "The Seeds of Doom, Part 1" was written by Robin Banks Stewart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, (more)
- 1973
A scheming servant intends to be the new owner of his employer's mansion, but a recent German staff recruit makes things difficult for him. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
This film is a faithful rendition of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas' last major poem, Under Milk Wood. It affectionately examines the day-to-day life of the inhabitants of a small Welsh fishing village. The poem is narrated by Richard Burton, himself a Welshman and a great aficionado of Thomas' work. The narrative framework comes through the character of Captain Cat (Peter O'Toole), a retired seaman who, though blind, knows the village and its inhabitants so well, it is as if he could see. The colorful characters of the village are delineated in short vignettes by a host of very distinguished British actors. Elizabeth Taylor, Burton's wife at the time, makes a brief appearance as Rosie Probert. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, (more)
- 1971
Writer Giles Cooper's Unman, Wittering and Zigo was first presented as a BBC TV drama in the 1960s, which later was telecast in the US on NET Playhouse. David Hemmings plays the new teacher in a macabre classroom where the boys seem demonically recalcitrant. Just after calling roll (Unman, Wittering and Zigo are the last names on the tally), Hemmings is advised by his class that he'd better leave them alone to do as they wish. Hemmings' predecessor had not heeded this warning, and ended up dying a rather nasty death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Hemmings, Carolyn Seymour, (more)
- 1969
The longest and (in retrospect) most significant of the sixth-season Doctor Who adventures, "The War Games" began its ten-week run on April 9, 1969. The TARDIS materializes on a planet that bears a remarkable resemblance to Earth. But there are a few differences: For one thing, the landscape seems to be festooned with battlefields; for another, the combatants are garbed in costumes from a vast and dizzying array of countries and centuries. But the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) hasn't the time to find this out in episode one: He's too busy trying to rescue himself and his companions Jamie (Frazer Hines) and Zoe (Wendy Padbury from their mysterious assailants. "The War Games" was written by Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1969
In the third episode of the ten-part story "The War Games," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton), Jamie (Frazer Hines), and Zoe (Wendy Padbury) manage to escape their uniformed captors and make their getaway across a charred and bloodied battlefield. As they continue their flight, with their pursuers hot on their heels, the TARDIS crew is confronted with all manner of soldiers from a variety of armies -- and different centuries. Who, or what, is behind all this confusion? Written by Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks, "The War Games, Episode 3" first aired on May 3, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1969
In the second episode of the ten-part story "The War Games," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions have arrived in the midst of a bloody battle, apparently somewhere on planet Earth. Things take a nasty turn when Jamie (Frazer Hines) and Zoe (Wendy Padbury) are captured by colorfully uniformed soldiers. And it gets even nastier when the Doctor himself is arrested and sentenced to death. Written by Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks, "The War Games, Episode 2" first aired on April 26, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1968
In the second episode of the six-part story "Fury From the Deep," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) tries to solve the strange disappearance of several oil-refinery crews from a North Sea drilling site. Halfway through the episode, it is revealed that two of the refinery scientists -- Quill (Bill Burridge) and Oak (John Gill) -- are not quite human, and most certainly up to no good. Written by Victor Pemberton, "Fury From the Deep, Episode 2" originally aired on March 23, 1968. Except for a brief vignette showing Quill and Oak disposing of a victim by exhaling toxic gas, this episode no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1968
When the TARDIS lands in the North Sea, the vessel's arrival coincides with the mysterious disappearance of several oil-refinery drilling crews. The authorities natural assume that the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions are responsible for endangering the world's oil supply. But the Doctor has heard strange sounds emanating from one of the gaspipe lines -- strange, inhuman sounds. Written by Victor Pemberton, the first episode of the Doctor Who adventure "Fury of the Deep" originally aired on March 16, 1968. None of the adventure's six episodes are presently available for viewing, though a fragment exists from Episode 1, showing the Doctor's friend Victoria (Deborah Watling) in her usual state of peril. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1968
In the fourth episode of the six-part story "Fury From the Deep," a group of parasitic seaweed creatures step up their attack on an oil refinery in the North Sea. In his efforts to thwart the bad guys, the Doctor and several of his cohorts are terrorized by a huge, anthropomorphic thrashing weed. Written by Victor Pemberton, "Fury From the Deep, Episode 4" originally aired on April 6, 1968. Except for two short sequences, one of which shows the grisly demise of the character Van Lutyens (John Abineri), this episode no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1968
In the third episode of the six-part story "Fury From the Deep," several more workers mysteriously vanish from an oil refinery in the North Sea. The Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions follow the trail of evidence to a horrifying conclusion: The culprits, it seems, are parasitic weed creatures, determined to prevent humankind from despoiling the oceans by any means possible. Written by Victor Pemberton, "Fury From the Deep, Episode 3" originally aired on March 30, 1968. Except for a very brief expository scene, this episode no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1968
In the conclusion of the six-part story "Fury From the Deep," Robson (Victor Maddern) has revealed himself to be in league with the parasitic seaweed creatures who are attacking an oil refinery in the North Sea. Kidnapping Victoria (Deborah Watling), Robson makes a desperate escape, with the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and Jamie (Frazer Hines) in hot pursuit. Unfortunately, not all of the other weed creatures have been disposed of -- certainly not the ones who threaten to choke the life out of the "good guys." Deborah Watling made her last series appearance in "Fury From the Deep, Episode 6," which was written by Victor Pemberton and first aired on April 20, 1968. Alas, this episode no longer exists in complete form. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
- 1968
In the fifth episode of the six-part story "Fury From the Deep," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) continues to fend off an attack by a race of seaweed creatures on a North Sea oil refinery. One of the Doctor's supposed allies, Robson (Victor Maddern), turns out to be among the villains, who have taken human form to avoid capture. Kidnapping the Doctor's companion, Victoria (Deborah Watling), Robson makes a desperate bid for escape, thereby imperiling not only everyone at the refinery, but the rest of the world as well. Written by Victor Pemberton, "Fury From the Deep, Episode 5" originally aired on April 13, 1968. Except for a fragment or two, this episode no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, (more)
