Jack Cunningham Movies
- 1964
In the second episode of the six-part story "The Reign of Terror," the crew of the TARDIS has landed smack in the middle of the French Revolution. Separated from the Doctor (William Hartnell), his travelling companions -- Ian (William Russell), Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), and Susan (Carole Ann Ford) -- are captured and thrown into the Conciergie Prison. As the time-traveling trio dolefully awaits a rendezvous with the guillotine, the Doctor hits upon a desperate, but brilliant, rescue plan. Written by Dennis Spooner, "Guests of Madame Guillotine" first aired on August 15, 1964, and is one of four episodes of "The Reign of Terror" still known to exist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, William Russell, (more)
- 1964
In the third episode of the six-part story "The Reign of Terror," the Doctor (William Hartnell) arrives in the Paris of 1794, intending to save Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) and Susan (Carole Ann Ford). Meanwhile, Ian (William Russell) has managed to link up with a moderate underground revolutionary group, headed by a mercurial, and not altogether trustworthy, spy. As the Doctor prepares to impersonate the Superintendent of Parisian Prisons, Barbara and Susan are unexpectedly snatched from the jaws of doom by underground leader Jules Renan (Donald Morley). Written by Dennis Spooner, "A Change of Identity" first aired on August 22, 1964, and is one of four episodes of "The Reign of Terror" still known to exist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, William Russell, (more)
- 1964
In the fourth episode of the six-part story "The Reign of Terror," the Doctor (William Hartnell), still impersonating the Superintendent of Parisian Prisons, comes face to face with "the architect of the Revolution," the dreaded Robespierre (Keith Anderson). Meanwhile, with the help of underground leader Jules Renan (Donald Morley), Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), and Susan (Carole Ann Ford) are reunited with Ian (William Russell). Alas, all three of the Doctor's companions fall into a trap set by a traitor within the Underground. Written by Dennis Spooner, "The Tyrant of France" first aired on August 29, 1964; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, William Russell, (more)
- 1964
In the fifth episode of the six-part story "The Reign of Terror," a so-called friend of 18th century French underground leader Jules (Donald Morley) turns out to be a spy for the Revolutionary Tribunal and turns Ian (William Russell) over to the authorities. Likewise recaptured are Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) and Susan (Carole Ann Ford), whom the Doctor (William Hartnell), still disguised as the Superintendent of Parisian Prisons, hopes to rescue. By episode's end, the Doctor is forced to strike an unholy bargain with the eminently untrustworthy Lemaitre (James Cairncross) to save the lives of his companions. Written by Dennis Spooner, "A Bargain of Necessity" first aired on September 5, 1964 and apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, William Russell, (more)
- 1964
In the final episode of the six-part story "The Reign of Terror" -- which, incidentally, was also the final episode of Doctor Who's first season -- the crew of the TARDIS is still trapped in France at the time of the Revolution. Admidst much treachery, the Doctor (William Hartnell) makes a new friend who may be able to expedite the rescue of Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), Susan (Carole Ann Ford), and Ian (William Russell) from the guillotine. As it happens, however, the fate of all concerned may rest with an obscure Corsican corporal named Napoleon Bonaparte (Tony Wall). Written by Dennis Spooner, Doctor Who: Prisoners of the Conciergerie first aired on September 12, 1964, and is one of four episodes of "The Reign of Terror" still known to exist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, William Russell, (more)
Brendan Behan, the quixotic, eternally sloshed Irish poet/playwright, peppered his play The Quare Fellow with plenty of "gallows humor." The film version dispenses with most the play's morbid jests, leaving us with a grim, straightforward account of a Dublin death-row prison guard (Patrick McGoohan) and his growing empathy with two condemned prisoners. One could understand the removal of the play's comic elements had the film been made in timorous Hollywood. But since Quare Fellow was financed and produced in Ireland, it seems a inappropriately glum tribute to one of the country's boldest and most brilliant talents. Quare Fellow was directed by American "B" specialist Arthur Dreifuss, who also adapted Behan's play for the screen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick McGoohan, Sylvia Syms, (more)
- 1961
This horror film is set in a small turn-of-the-century English village where a herpetologist is trying to cure his wife's insanity with injections of snake venom. He seems to succeed and soon afterward she gets pregnant and bears him a beautiful little girl with a horrible talent: she can transform herself into a snake whenever she wants to. She soon grows up to become the scourge of the village men. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John McCarthy, Susan Travers, (more)
- 1958
Befitting its title, Dublin Nightmare deals with the activities of the Irish Republican Army. British photographer John Kevin (William Sylvester) arrives in Dublin to attend the funeral of his friend. It turns, out however, that the friend isn't dead at all. Moreover, the "decedent" is an IRA leader, preparing for a bloody all-out offensive. John Tully's screenplay tries to cram way too much into a 64-minute running time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
In this British mystery, set backstage at a theater, a beautiful actress is starring in a successful playwright's newest hit. Unbeknownst to her, the writer is in love with her. Because he is jealous of all those who might steal her away, he refuses to allow her to break her contract and work in an American playwright's newest show. Trouble ensues when the jealous playwright is found stabbed with a pair of the actress's scissors. The American is afraid that she is being framed and so helps her move the body. When the police find it, everyone becomes a suspect until it is learned that the actress was guilty all along. The American, who also loves her, takes the rap for her crime. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dale Robertson, Lois Maxwell, (more)
- 1957
Time Lock is a textbook example of how a talented director and cast can do a lot with a little. Lensed in Canada, the story gets under way when a child is accidentally locked in a bank vault. The vault's time-lock isn't set to open for another 63 hours -- by which time, of course, the child will have suffocated. One expert after another tries to open the lock, to no avail. Finally, an appeal for help over the local radio station yields salvation. Though the film works best as an ensemble effort, Robert Beatty emerges as the star of the proceedings in the role of a no-nonsense vault expert. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Beatty, Betty McDowall, (more)
Based on the popular mystery play by Frederick Knott, Dial M For Murder is more talky and stagebound than most Hitchcock films, but no less enjoyable. British tennis pro Ray Milland suspects that his wealthy wife Grace Kelly is fooling around with handsome American Robert Cummings. Milland blackmails a disgraced former army comrade (Anthony Dawson) into murdering Kelly and making it look like the work of a burglar. But Milland's carefully mapped-out scheme does not take into account the notion that Kelly might fight back and kill her assailant. When the police (represented by John Williams) investigate, Milland improvises quickly, subtly planting the suggestion that his wife has committed first-degree murder. He almost gets away with it; to tell you more would spoil the fun of the film's final thirty minutes. Hitchcock claimed that he chose this single-set play because he was worn out from several earlier, more ambitious projects, and wanted to "recharge his batteries." Compelled by Warner Bros. to film Dial M for Murder in 3-D, Hitchcock perversely refused to throw in the standard in-your-face gimmickry of most stereoscopic films of the era--though watch how he visually emphasizes an important piece of evidence towards the end of the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, (more)
