Barbara Shelley Movies

Taped in Britain, The Dark Angel is an extra-long entry of PBS' Mystery series. Peter O'Toole heads a cast of dissipated, decadent 19th century aristocratic types. The script is based on a novel by Sheridan LeFanu, whose fascination with vampirism and "the undead" precipitated Bram Stoker by nearly thirty years. As in most gothic novels, the characters are motivated by greed, lust and the desire to hide Deep Dark Family Secrets from the outside world. The Dark Angel was originally presented in several weekly installments, here boiled down to 150 minutes for videocassette convenience. The film bears absolutely no relation to the 1935 Hollywood period drama of the same name. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

While trying to take Turlough (Mark Strickson) to his home planet of Trion, the Doctor (Peter Davison) is unable to prevent the TARDIS from being drawn to the volcanic planet Sarn. This phenomenon is no accident -- in fact, it has been engineered by one of the Doctor's oldest and most malevolent adversaries. Nicola Bryant makes her first series appearance as Earth girl Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown, who sets the plot in motion while trying to sell an ancient artifact (actually an alien beacon), and whom Turlough has taken along for the ride on the TARDIS. Beginning its four-episode run on February 23, 1984, "Planet of Fire" was written by Peter Grimwade. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the third episode of the four-part story "Planet of Fire," the Doctor (Peter Davison) tries to elude the clutches of his old adversary, the Master (Anthony Ainley), who has taken on a formidable henchman, the shape-shifting Kamelion. Meanwhile, Turlough (Mark Strickson) makes several startling discoveries about his home planet Trion. Written by Peter Grimwade, "Planet of Fire, Episode 3" first aired on March 1, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Scorpio crew attempts to get its hands on the hyper-accelerated Photonic Drive, which will provide their ship with unimaginable speed and destructive capabilities. Unfortunately, the Drive is currently controlled by the Space Rats, a band of deranged "speed junkies." There is nothing for the crew to do but attempt the abduction of the Drive's inventor, Dr. Plaxton (Barbara Shelley) -- but can she be trusted? "Stardrive" was originally broadcast on October 19, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Written by horror-film specialist Jimmy Sangster, Spy Killer stars Robert Horton as a secret agent turned private eye. Framed for murder, Horton is released, but only after promising that he'll track down a book containing a list of government agents who are operating covertly in Red China. The reluctant spy discovers that he can't completely trust anyone in this endeavor--not even his former chief (Sebastian Cabot). Spy Killer was produced for American television by Britain's Hammer Films, then released theatrically overseas. The film spawned a sequel, Foreign Exchange (70), once again starring Robert Horton and Sebastian Cabot, with Jill St. John reprising her heroine role from Spy Killer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The life story of the legendary Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin gets the highly fictionalized Hammer Films treatment with this liberal mix of horror and history that presents the mysterious sage as a demonic, otherworldly creature. Christopher Lee stars as the titular monk, who gains entrée to the world of the tsar by casting a hypnotic spell on two courtiers, Dr. Zargo (Richard Pasco) and the beautiful Sonia (Barbara Shelley). Becoming a trusted aide and confidant of the tsarina (Renee Ashershon), Rasputin threatens the national power structure. After Sonia kills herself, Zargo resolves to kill the interloper, but stabbing, poisoning, and even bullets don't seem to be able to kill the diabolical Rasputin. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

This British WWII adventure film concerns a woman trapped in a prisoner of war camp and hidden by her fellow POWs from their Japanese captors. Elaine (Barbara Shelley) is a secret agent whose plane is shot down over the island of Malaya in 1944 by the Japanese. With no other recourse except capture, she enters the POW camp on the island and is hidden by Crewe (Jack Hedley) and his fellow prisoners. The Japanese realize that Elaine must be somewhere on the island, however, and when their search fails to produce her, they suspect that their prisoners know more than they are willing say. So the men are tortured one by one, and eventually a few crack and tell the truth. Elaine is then caught and also tortured. When her inquisitors realize the importance of the information Elaine carries, plans are made to send her to Singapore for interrogation at the hands of experts. The Secret of Blood Island (1965) was one of few features produced by television director Quentin Lawrence. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

A small German town falls prey to an unseen monster that turns its victims into lifeless statues in this mid-'60s outing from Hammer Studios. When the girlfriend of bohemian artist Bruno Heitz (Jeremy Longhurst) becomes the latest townsperson to turn up dead, her corpse transformed to stone, Bruno hangs himself, leaving the town to assume his guilt. But when his father, Prof. Heitz (Michael Goodliffe), comes to investigate, he too encounters the Gorgon and turns to stone. Just before dying, the professor dashes off instructions to his other son, Paul (Richard Pasco), about how to exonerate Bruno. Suspicion falls on Dr. Namaroff (Peter Cushing), proprietor of the local madhouse, although one of his patients (Joyce Hemson) seems just as likely a culprit. Then along comes Prof. Carl Maister (Christopher Lee), a folklore expert from the University of Leipzig, who claims that the murderer is actually a human possessed by the spirit of Magaera, one of Medusa's snake-haired sisters from Greek mythology. Together, Paul and Dr. Namaroff attempt to root out the incognito Gorgon while Paul courts lovely amnesiac Carla Hoffman (Barbara Shelley). Directed by Hammer veteran Terence Fisher, The Gorgon is one of several films to feature British horror mainstays Lee and Cushing side by side. In the States, the film appeared with The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb on a double bill promoted by the distribution of a unique giveaway item: black stamps. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

A movie star is typecast as a ruthless gangster. His troubles begin when he gets reality confused with his job and becomes deluded into believing that he really is a mobster. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Having recently left The Avengers, Ian Hendry (aka Dr. Keel) is conspicuous by his absence in this episode. Going it alone this time around, Steed is assigned to a spacecraft center where radiation shields are being manufactured. One of the scientists has somehow been exposed to radiation, and it is up to Steed to determine whether this was by accident or design. Videotaped several months before its telecast, "Dragonsfield" was written by Terrence Feeley. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This religious epic chronicles the rise to power of a humble but courageous shepherd boy who usurps a ruler and becomes king of Israel. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Before Lee Patterson established himself as an American soap opera star, he made scores of minor-league British films. In Deadly Record, Patterson plays an aviator accused of killing his wife. The actual miscreant is obvious to the audience, but the dimwitted cops continue to persecute Our Hero. Finally, Patterson uncovers the evidence (see the title) that clears himself and points to the genuine murderer. This 58-minute timekiller was adapted from a novel by Nina Warner Hooke. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi