Richard Shaw Movies

In the third episode of the four-part story "Underworld," the Minyan space ship R1C has located its sister ship P7E, containing the "race bank" with which the ancient Minyan astronauts hope to revitalize their race. Alas, the P7E is under control of a malevolent computer, which has no intention of yielding its race banks. In fact, unless the Doctor (Tom Baker) acts quickly, everyone on board the R1C will perish -- including the Doctor and his companion Leela (Louise Jameson. First telecast January 18, 1978, "Underworld, Part 3" was written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "Frontier in Space," Jo Grant (Katy Manning), traveling companion of the Doctor (Jon Pertwee), experiences some strange and disturbing visions. Meanwhile, the commissioner of Sirius 4 reveals himself to be the Doctor's old nemesis, the Master (Roger Delgado), who has been using his hypnotic powers -- and an army of Ogrons -- to foment a war between the planets Earth and Draconia. Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Frontier in Space, Episode 4" originally aired on March 17, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this exploitation drama, a teenage rock-group fan is so desperate to be with her heroes that she sneaks aboard their van and heads with them for London. Unfortunately for her, the boys are not nice at all and use her as their sex toy and get her addicted to drugs. She then gets in a car crash and more tragedy ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Major James Wilson (Lloyd Bridges) must lead his troops across the English channel in the D-day invasion of Normandy. He trains his regulars for the invasion knowing that many, if not all, may never survive the assault. Wilson is plagued by memories of previous missions that turned out to be suicidal. Captain Franklin (Andrew Keir) is the British officer who opposed the plan and has a personal vendetta against Wilson. The two are thrown together on the same mission when Franklin is slated to command the mine sweepers that transport Wilson's troops to their destination. They face overwhelming odds and a barrage of cannon fire from the Nazi stronghold on the Normandy coast. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Based on an Edgar Wallace mystery, this puzzler centers on the attempts of a crook who goes to great lengths to steal another's fortune. It begins as an unjustly incarcerated heiress finishes a prison sentence. The crook wants to steal her father's money and so tries to convince the ailing tycoon that his own lover is really the rich man's daughter; the old fellow is not so easily gulled. In desperation, the crook kidnaps the real heiress in an attempt to force her to marry him. Fortunately for her, a Scotland Yard detective shows up to foil his plans. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In the concluding episode of the four-part story "The Space Museum," the Doctor (William Hartnell) is still struggling to avoid the fate in store for himself and his companions, as mummified exhibits in a Xeron space museum. In the course of events, the Doctor's travelling companion Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) aligns herself with the Xeron slaves of the despotic Moroks. This is beginning of the end for the Moroks, as the Xeron stage a revolt to gain control of their planet -- and, possibly, to spare the lives of the TARDIS crew. Written by Glyn Jones, "The Final Phase" first aired on May 15, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cliff Robertson and George Chakiris star in this dumbed-down version of The Guns of Navarone. During World War II, the story concerns a Scandinavian underground leader, Erik Bergman (George Chakiris), who reports to British authorities the location of a German V2 fuel plant. As is the case in most World War II action films, the plant is in an impregnable location -- beneath an overhanging cliff at the end of a highly defended fjord. The only way the British can hope to destroy the plant is by collapsing the cliff on top of it. In order to do that, light Mosquito aircraft must be utilized. This is the job assigned to Wing Commander Roy Grant's (Cliff Robertson) 633 Squadron. In order to assist Grant in his air attack, Bergman attempts a simultaneous ground attack, but the ground attack fails, and Bergman is captured by the Germans. When he is tortured in their efforts to uncover the RAF plans, Bergman may not be able to withhold the top-secret information. Howard Koch and James Clavell adapted their screenplay from Frederick E. Smith's novel, reportedly based on a true story. Though Koch and Clavell are each known for their excellent writing, Squadron 633 is notable mostly for its adept cinematography from the co-operative effort of John Wilcox and Edward Scaife. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

In this drama, based on a story by Edgar Wallace, a prominent business man is robbed and killed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

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

In this British thriller, ex-con Howard is an engineer who is blackmailed into assisting with a jewel theft. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

British comic actor Jimmy Edwards demonstrates his versatility in Bottoms Up by playing a character named Jimmy Edwards. Actually, it's Professor Jim Edwards, doctor of dunderheads. In the tradition of Will Hay, Edwards tries to maintain decorum in the boys' school where he serves as headmaster, but it's a losing battle. The fun really begins when the son of Edwards' bookie enrolls while disguised as a Middle-Eastern potentate. Producer/director Mario Zampi knows where the laughs are and knows how to get them in full measure. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this thriller, a novelist is quite upset to discover himself awakening with a gun in his hand. He is more dismayed to find a dead relative nearby. Now he wonders: did he do it? He is assisted by a lady hitchhiker in discovering that the real killer is a female impersonator. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Filmed not long after the launch of Russia's Sputnik satellite, First Man Into Space benefited from a surface realism made possible by enhanced public knowledge of space-travel jargon and paraphernalia. Dashing astronaut Lt. Dan Prescott (Bill Edwards) disappears from view when his experimental spacecraft vanishes in a mysterious cloud. The space capsule returns to Earth, covered in a bizarre extraterrestrial coating. Shortly thereafter, a hulking, half-human creature raids a blood bank, killing the nurse on duty and gulping down the supplies. More bizarre, unexplained events occur before Prescott's older brother Cmdr. C.E. Prescott (Marshall Thompson) concludes that the monster is actually his missing brother, transformed by his experiences in space into a mutant, vampiric beast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide