Michael Ripper Movies

A British officer is slated to parachute into Normandy. What he doesn't know is that he is being set up by British Intelligence to be captured by the enemy and reveal erroneous information to the Nazis. Officer Raine (Bradford Dillman) is the unknowing soldier who has intentionally been given false information. His superiors justify the expenditure of one man verses the thousands of lives that will be saved by his mission. The unlucky officer faces capture, brutal torture and debilitating guilt leading to alcoholism over his perceived "failure" to keep the information secret. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

This effective crime caper involves an attempted robbery of no one less than the U.S. Army, a heist which has its beginnings when Turpin (Stanley Baker) is drummed out of the service for his black-market activities. Apparently chaffing at this unjust treatment and also fueled by greed, Turpin enlists two cohorts -- Swavek and Fenner (Helmut Schmid and Tom Bell) to help him carry out his revenge. After much rehearsal of his plan, the three put on uniforms and walk into an army camp just before the troops are mustered out to the Middle East during a crisis over the Suez Canal. The trio's intention is to rob the payroll ($700,000), stash the cash in a spare tire, and drive out of there. That is the plan, but the reality turns out quite different, after one of the three gets a reaction to a vaccination and another is called up for KP duty ("kitchen police"). ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

A full thirty years before Look Who's Talking would hit the screens with its verbose little infant, Max Bygraves and Shirley Jones starred in this routine comedy about a talking baby. Little Bobbikins (Steven Stocker) is the 14-month-old son of Benjamin and Betty (Bygraves and Jones) who is perfectly normal until his father comes home from his stint in the Navy and decides to reprise a career in show business. When nothing seems to go right for him, little Bobbikins decides to give Dad a few helpful hints. He never talks to anyone else, and this leads others to think his father is hearing things. Soon the baby gives some hot tips when his Dad becomes friends with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, leading to a killing on the stock market. Now rich and definitely affected by it, this new Dad has baby wondering if there is something he could do to bring him back down to earth again. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Season one of the bittersweet British sitcom Butterflies runs six episodes, originally telecast from November 10 through December 15, 1978. The series opens with "When Ria Met Leonard," detailing the humdrum existence of the Parkinson family, and bored housewife Ria Parkinson (Wendy Craig)'s first encounter with the wealthy and outwardly adventurous Leonard Dutton (Bruce Montague). The second episode "Breaking the Silence" further underlines the basic lack of communication amongst the Parkinsons, with a situation between Ria's dentist husband Ben (Geoffrey Palmer) and teenage son Russell (Andrew Hall). "Thinking About a Job" finds Ria figuring out a "respectable" method of staying close to her new dream man by applying for the position of Leonard's chauffeur, while Ben bemoans the fact that Russell and his brother Adam (Nicholas Lyndhurst) have taken to entertaining on the sidewalk to pick up spending money. "How About Lunch" not only delineates Ben's failed attempt at being "spontaneous," but also introduces Michael Ripper in the role of Leonard's new chauffeur, Thomas. In "The Lovers," activist wannabe Russell chains himself to a statue as a means of protesting capitalism. And in the final offering of the season, "He'll Have to Go," Ria strives not to be the "perfect wife" as she prepares for a crucial meeting with Leonard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Like the previous season, season three of the British sitcom Butterflies yields seven episodes, originally broadcast from September 9 through October 21, 1980. Things get rolling with "An Empty Cage," in which Adam (Nicholas Parkhurst), layabout son of Ben and Ria Parkinson (Geoffrey Palmer, Wendy Craig), surprises one and all by getting a job -- while Ria, again depressed over her dead-end existence, once more crosses the path of her would-be lover Leonard (Bruce Montague). Next up is "Ruby's Crisis," wherein the Parkinsons' cleaning lady, Ruby (Joyce Windsor), turns to kleptomania out of boredom. The Parkinsons' other son Russell (Andrew Hall) is given some startling news by his girlfriend Jeannie in "Pregnancy." Small wonder after all this that the next episode is titled "Problems, Problems." Then in "Happy Birthday, Ria," the Parkinsons' holiday in Paris turns sour when Ria renews a bad friendship. And in the season finale, "Parting," it looks as though Ria and Leonard's relationship will take a serious turn when Leonard insists that Ria spend some time with him before he leaves for New York. As a coda to the third season, a ten minute Butterflies sketch was included in the December 1982 BBC1special "The Funny Side of Christmas." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This British drama chronicles the exploits of a brutal Liverpudlian gang leader/would-be rock star who finds himself inducted into the army. The troubled youth undergoes basic training and emerges a man. Later his best friend from boot camp is killed by the camp bully. Courageously, he stands up to the bully and wounds him. Fearing retribution, he flees the barracks. Time passes and he eventually rights the wrong, matures, and marries his singing partner. Songs include: "Isn't It a Lovely Evening?" "These Dangerous Years," and "Cold, Cold Shower." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Adapted from the book Lake of Darkness, the story concerns an innocent young man who tries his hand at gambling. After winning a bag of loot, he finds himself mixed up with a sorry bunch of undesirables. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

A con man with fake land development plans provides the impetus for the uniting of business rivals, owners of a cement works and a brick factory. This union is further enhanced by a romance between family members. ~ All Movie Guide

In this strange drama, a clown secretly aspires to becoming a great prizefighter. Someone spots him in a fight and hires him to play a pugilist in a movie. Unfortunately, he engages in real fisticuffs on the set and gets fired. This leads him to his big break in the ring. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A very popular and fondly remembered British TV series from the Swingin' Sixties, Freewheelers was a "boy's own adventure"-style actioner involving a band of intrepid teenagers. Linking up with a secret government agency, the kids did battle against an exhausting array of villains, beginning with Von Gelb, an ex-Nazi who tried to resuscitate the Third Reich from his motor-launch headquarters. Though played tongue in cheek and larger than life, the series seldom descended into outrageous camp. The large and ever changing cast of regulars included, at one time or another, Hammer Films stalwarts Geoffrey Toone and Michael Ripper, onetime Bugaloos ingenue Caroline Ellis, and future Doctor Who regular Wendy Padbury. Making its Southern Television debut on April 4, 1968, Freewheelers ultimately clocked in at a daunting 104 episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide